267 research outputs found
A four-dimensional {\Lambda}CDM-type cosmological model induced from higher dimensions using a kinematical constraint
A class of cosmological solutions of higher dimensional Einstein field
equations with the energy-momentum tensor of a homogeneous, isotropic fluid as
the source are considered with an anisotropic metric that includes the direct
sum of a 3-dimensional (physical, flat) external space metric and an
n-dimensional (compact, flat) internal space metric. A simple kinematical
constraint is postulated that correlates the expansion rates of the external
and internal spaces in terms of a real parameter {\lambda}. A specific solution
for which both the external and internal spaces expand at different rates is
given analytically for n=3. Assuming that the internal dimensions were at
Planck length scales when the external space starts with a Big Bang (t=0), they
expand only 1.49 times and stay at Planck length scales even in the present age
of the universe (13.7 Gyr). The effective four dimensional universe would
exhibit a behavior consistent with our current understanding of the observed
universe. It would start in a stiff fluid dominated phase and evolve through
radiation dominated and pressureless matter dominated phases, eventually going
into a de Sitter phase at late times.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures; matches the version published in General
Relativity and Gravitatio
Dark spinor models in gravitation and cosmology
We introduce and carefully define an entire class of field theories based on
non-standard spinors. Their dominant interaction is via the gravitational field
which makes them naturally dark; we refer to them as Dark Spinors. We provide a
critical analysis of previous proposals for dark spinors noting that they
violate Lorentz invariance. As a working assumption we restrict our analysis to
non-standard spinors which preserve Lorentz invariance, whilst being non-local
and explicitly construct such a theory. We construct the complete
energy-momentum tensor and derive its components explicitly by assuming a
specific projection operator. It is natural to next consider dark spinors in a
cosmological setting. We find various interesting solutions where the spinor
field leads to slow roll and fast roll de Sitter solutions. We also analyse
models where the spinor is coupled conformally to gravity, and consider the
perturbations and stability of the spinor.Comment: 43 pages. Several new sections and details added. JHEP in prin
Brane-World Gravity
The observable universe could be a 1+3-surface (the "brane") embedded in a
1+3+\textit{d}-dimensional spacetime (the "bulk"), with Standard Model
particles and fields trapped on the brane while gravity is free to access the
bulk. At least one of the \textit{d} extra spatial dimensions could be very
large relative to the Planck scale, which lowers the fundamental gravity scale,
possibly even down to the electroweak ( TeV) level. This revolutionary
picture arises in the framework of recent developments in M theory. The
1+10-dimensional M theory encompasses the known 1+9-dimensional superstring
theories, and is widely considered to be a promising potential route to quantum
gravity. At low energies, gravity is localized at the brane and general
relativity is recovered, but at high energies gravity "leaks" into the bulk,
behaving in a truly higher-dimensional way. This introduces significant changes
to gravitational dynamics and perturbations, with interesting and potentially
testable implications for high-energy astrophysics, black holes, and cosmology.
Brane-world models offer a phenomenological way to test some of the novel
predictions and corrections to general relativity that are implied by M theory.
This review analyzes the geometry, dynamics and perturbations of simple
brane-world models for cosmology and astrophysics, mainly focusing on warped
5-dimensional brane-worlds based on the Randall--Sundrum models. We also cover
the simplest brane-world models in which 4-dimensional gravity on the brane is
modified at \emph{low} energies -- the 5-dimensional Dvali--Gabadadze--Porrati
models. Then we discuss co-dimension two branes in 6-dimensional models.Comment: A major update of Living Reviews in Relativity 7:7 (2004)
"Brane-World Gravity", 119 pages, 28 figures, the update contains new
material on RS perturbations, including full numerical solutions of
gravitational waves and scalar perturbations, on DGP models, and also on 6D
models. A published version in Living Reviews in Relativit
The Cosmological Constant
This is a review of the physics and cosmology of the cosmological constant.
Focusing on recent developments, I present a pedagogical overview of cosmology
in the presence of a cosmological constant, observational constraints on its
magnitude, and the physics of a small (and potentially nonzero) vacuum energy.Comment: 50 pages. Submitted to Living Reviews in Relativity
(http://www.livingreviews.org/), December 199
Bulk viscous cosmological model with interacting dark fluids
The objective of the present work is to study a cosmological model for a
spatially flat Universe whose constituents are a dark energy field and a matter
field which includes baryons and dark matter. The constituents are supposed to
be in interaction and irreversible processes are taken into account through the
inclusion of a non-equilibrium pressure. The non-equilibrium pressure is
considered to be proportional to the Hubble parameter within the framework of a
first order thermodynamic theory. The dark energy and matter fields are coupled
by their barotropic indexes, which are considered as functions of the ratio
between their energy densities. The free parameters of the model are adjusted
from the best fits of the Hubble parameter data. A comparison of the viscous
model with the non-viscous one is performed. It is shown that the equality of
the dark energy and matter density parameters and the decelerated-accelerated
transition occur at earlier times when the irreversible processes are present.
Furthermore, the density and deceleration parameters and the distance modulus
have the correct behavior which is expected for a viable scenario of the
present status of the Universe.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Brazilian Journal of Physic
N-Acetylglucosamine Induces White to Opaque Switching, a Mating Prerequisite in Candida albicans
To mate, the fungal pathogen Candida albicans must undergo homozygosis at the mating-type locus and then switch from the white to opaque phenotype. Paradoxically, opaque cells were found to be unstable at physiological temperature, suggesting that mating had little chance of occurring in the host, the main niche of C. albicans. Recently, however, it was demonstrated that high levels of CO2, equivalent to those found in the host gastrointestinal tract and select tissues, induced the white to opaque switch at physiological temperature, providing a possible resolution to the paradox. Here, we demonstrate that a second signal, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a monosaccharide produced primarily by gastrointestinal tract bacteria, also serves as a potent inducer of white to opaque switching and functions primarily through the Ras1/cAMP pathway and phosphorylated Wor1, the gene product of the master switch locus. Our results therefore suggest that signals produced by bacterial co-members of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota regulate switching and therefore mating of C. albicans
f(R) theories
Over the past decade, f(R) theories have been extensively studied as one of
the simplest modifications to General Relativity. In this article we review
various applications of f(R) theories to cosmology and gravity - such as
inflation, dark energy, local gravity constraints, cosmological perturbations,
and spherically symmetric solutions in weak and strong gravitational
backgrounds. We present a number of ways to distinguish those theories from
General Relativity observationally and experimentally. We also discuss the
extension to other modified gravity theories such as Brans-Dicke theory and
Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and address models that can satisfy both cosmological and
local gravity constraints.Comment: 156 pages, 14 figures, Invited review article in Living Reviews in
Relativity, Published version, Comments are welcom
Genes Selectively Up-Regulated by Pheromone in White Cells Are Involved in Biofilm Formation in Candida albicans
To mate, MTL-homozygous strains of the yeast pathogen Candida albicans must switch from the white to opaque phase. Mating-competent opaque cells then release pheromone that induces polarization, a G1 block and conjugation tube formation in opaque cells of opposite mating type. Pheromone also induces mating-incompetent white cells to become adhesive and cohesive, and form thicker biofilms that facilitate mating. The pheromone response pathway of white cells shares the upstream components of that of opaque cells, but targets a different transcription factor. Here we demonstrate that the genes up-regulated by the pheromone in white cells are activated through a common cis-acting sequence, WPRE, which is distinct from the cis-acting sequence, OPRE, responsible for up-regulation in opaque cells. Furthermore, we find that these white-specific genes play roles in white cell biofilm formation, and are essential for biofilm formation in the absence of an added source of pheromone, suggesting either an autocrine or pheromone-independent mechanism. These results suggest an intimate, complex and unique relationship between switching, mating and MTL-homozygous white cell biofilm formation, the latter a presumed virulence factor in C. albicans
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