On the area expectation values in area tensor Regge calculus in the Lorentzian domain

Wick rotation in area tensor Regge calculus is considered. The heuristical expectation is confirmed that the Lorentzian quantum measure on a spacelike area should coincide with the Euclidean measure at the same argument. The consequence is validity of probabilistic interpretation of the Lorentzian measure as well (on the real, i.e. spacelike areas).Comment: LaTeX, 7 pages, introduction and discussion given in more detail, references adde

Physician-owned specialized facilities: focused factories or destructive competition?: a systematic review.

Multiple studies have investigated the business case of physician-owned specialized facilities (specialized hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers). However literature lacks integration. Building on the theoretical insights of disruptive innovation, a systematic review was conducted to assess the evidence base of these innovative delivery models. The Institute of Medicine’s quality framework (safe, effective, equitable, efficient, patient-centered and accessible care) was applied in order to evaluate the performance of such facilities. In addition the corresponding impact on full-service general hospitals was assessed. Database searches yielded 6,108 candidate articles of which 47 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Overall the quality of the included studies was satisfactory. Our results show that little evidence exists in support of competitive advantages in favor of specialized facilities. Moreover even if competitive advantages exist, it is equally important to reflect on the corresponding impact on full service-general hospitals. The development of specialized facilities should therefore be monitored carefully

A Gravitational Effective Action on a Finite Triangulation

We construct a function of the edge-lengths of a triangulated surface whose variation under a rescaling of all the edges that meet at a vertex is the defect angle at that vertex. We interpret this function as a gravitational effective action on the triangulation, and the variation as a trace anomaly.Comment: 5 pages; clarifications, acknowledgements, references adde

Unified Brane Gravity: Cosmological Dark Matter from Scale Dependent Newton Constant

We analyze, within the framework of unified brane gravity, the weak-field perturbations caused by the presence of matter on a 3-brane. Although deviating from the Randall-Sundrum approach, the masslessness of the graviton is still preserved. In particular, the four-dimensional Newton force law is recovered, but serendipitously, the corresponding Newton constant is shown to be necessarily lower than the one which governs FRW cosmology. This has the potential to puzzle out cosmological dark matter. A subsequent conjecture concerning galactic dark matter follows.Comment: 6 pages, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Hierarchies of invariant spin models

In this paper we present classes of state sum models based on the recoupling theory of angular momenta of SU(2) (and of its q-counterpart $U_q(sl(2))$, q a root of unity). Such classes are arranged in hierarchies depending on the dimension d, and include all known closed models, i.e. the Ponzano-Regge state sum and the Turaev-Viro invariant in dimension d=3, the Crane-Yetter invariant in d=4. In general, the recoupling coefficient associated with a d-simplex turns out to be a $\{3(d-2)(d+1)/2\}j$ symbol, or its q-analog. Each of the state sums can be further extended to compact triangulations $(T^d,\partial T^d)$ of a PL-pair $(M^d,\partial M^d)$, where the triangulation of the boundary manifold is not keeped fixed. In both cases we find out the algebraic identities which translate complete sets of topological moves, thus showing that all state sums are actually independent of the particular triangulation chosen. Then, owing to Pachner's theorems, it turns out that classes of PL-invariant models can be defined in any dimension d.Comment: 42 pages, 25 figure

Degeneracies when T=0 Two Body Interacting Matrix Elements are Set Equal to Zero : Talmi's method of calculating coefficients of fractional parentage to states forbidden by the Pauli principle

In a previous work we studied the effects of setting all two body T=0 matrix elements to zero in shell model calculations for $^{43}$Ti ($^{43}$Sc) and $^{44}$Ti. The results for $^{44}$Ti were surprisingly good despite the severity of this approximation. In this approximation degeneracies arose in the T=1/2 I=$({1/2})^-_1$ and $({13/2})^-_1$ states in $^{43}$Sc and the T=1/2 $I=({13/2})_2^-$, $({17/2})^-_1$, and $({19/2})_1^-$ in $^{43}$Sc. The T=0 $3_2^+$, $7_2^+$, $9_1^+$, and $10_1^+$ states in $^{44}$Ti were degenerate as well. The degeneracies can be explained by certain 6j symbols and 9j symbols either vanishing or being equal as indeed they are. Previously we used Regge symmetries of 6j symbols to explain these degeneracies. In this work a simpler more physical method is used. This is Talmi's method of calculating coefficients of fractional parentage for identical particles to states which are forbidden by the Pauli principle. This is done for both one particle cfp to handle 6j symbols and two particle cfp to handle 9j symbols. The states can be classified by the dual quantum numbers ($J_{\pi},J_{\nu}$)

Entropy Count for Extremal Three-Dimensional Black Strings

We compute the entropy of extremal black strings in three dimensions, using Strominger's approach to relate the Anti-de-Sitter near-horizon geometry and the conformal field theory at the asymptotic infinity of this geometry. The result is identical to the geometric Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. We further discuss an embedding of three-dimensional black strings in $N=1 D=10$ supergravity and demonstrate that the extremal strings preserve 1/4 of supersymmetries.Comment: 14 pages, latex, 1 .ps figure, a comment and some references added, as accepted for publication in Phys. Lett.

Gravity action on the rapidly varying metrics

We consider a four-dimensional simplicial complex and the minisuperspace general relativity system described by the metric flat in the most part of the interior of every 4-simplex with exception of a thin layer of thickness $\propto \varepsilon$ along the every three-dimensional face where the metric undergoes jump between the two 4-simplices sharing this face. At $\varepsilon \to 0$ this jump would become discontinuity. Since, however, discontinuity of the (induced on the face) metric is not allowed in general relativity, the terms in the Einstein action tending to infinity at $\varepsilon \to 0$ arise. In the path integral approach, these terms lead to the pre-exponent factor with \dfuns requiring that the induced on the faces metric be continuous, i. e. the 4-simplices fit on their common faces. The other part of the path integral measure corresponds to the action being the sum of independent terms over the 4-simplices. Therefore this part of the path integral measure is the product of independent measures over the 4-simplices. The result obtained is in accordance with our previous one obtained from the symmetry considerations.Comment: 10 page