Moving Defects in AdS/CFT

We study defects of various dimensions moving through Anti-de Sitter space. Using the AdS/CFT correspondence this allows us to probe aspects of the dual quantum field theory. We focus on the energy loss experienced by these defects as they move through the CFT plasma. We find that the behavior of these physical quantities is governed by induced world-volume horizons. We identify world-volume analogs for several gravitational phenomena including black holes, the Hawking-Page phase transition and expanding cosmological horizons.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures. Version 2 contains two added reference

Background risk of breast cancer and the association between physical activity and mammographic density

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Holographic Brownian Motion in Magnetic Environments

Using the gauge/gravity correspondence, we study the dynamics of a heavy quark in two strongly-coupled systems at finite temperature: Super-Yang-Mills in the presence of a magnetic field and non-commutative Super-Yang-Mills. In the former, our results agree qualitatively with the expected behavior from weakly-coupled theories. In the latter, we propose a Langevin equation that accounts for the effects of non-commutativity and we find new interesting features. The equation resembles the structure of Brownian motion in the presence of a magnetic field and implies that the fluctuations along non-commutative directions are correlated. Moreover, our results show that the viscosity is smaller than the commutative case and that the diffusion properties of the quark are unaffected by non-commutativity. Finally, we compute the random force autocorrelator and verify that the fluctuation-dissipation theorem holds in the presence of non-commutativity.Comment: 34 pages. v2: typos corrected. v3: title and abstract slightly modified in order to better reflect the contents of the paper; footnote 3 and one reference were also added; version accepted for publication in JHE

Effects of Weight Loss Among Metabolically Healthy Obese Men and Women

OBJECTIVE — Weight loss among metabolically healthy obese (MHO) individuals may be unnecessary or result in elevated cardio-metabolic risk. We studied the effects of exercise- or diet-induced weight loss on cardio-metabolic risk among MHO and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — Participants were 63 MHO and 43 MAO adults who took part in 3 to 6 months of exercise- or diet-induced weight loss intervention. Changes in anthropometry, adipose tissue distribution, and cardio-metabolic risk factors were assessed. RESULTS — Body weight, waist circumference, and total abdominal and visceral adipose tissue were reduced in all subjects (P 0.05). Improvements in insulin sensitivity were observed in MHO and MAO men and women (P 0.05), but were greater in the MAO individuals (P 0.05). Fasting insulin was the only other cardio-metabolic improvement among MHO individ-uals (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS — Lifestyle-induced weight loss among MHO subjects is associated with a reduction in total and abdominal obesity and improvement in selected cardio-metabolic risk factors. Diabetes Care 33:1957–1959, 2010 W eight loss among metabolicallyhealthy obese (MHO) individu-als characterized by low cardio-metabolic risk and low prospective risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease may be unnecessary and paradoxically may actually increase health risk (1,2). That weight reduction may be contraindi-cated for MHO individuals is at odds with the standing recommendation from lead-ing health authorities that weight loss be the primary treatment strategy for all obese patients, regardless of cardio-metabolic status (3). We sought to inves-tigate the effects of exercise- and diet-induced weight reduction on cardio-metabolic risk factors among MHO and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) adults

Perturbations of moving membranes in AdS_7

We study the stability of uniformly moving membrane-like objects in seven dimensional Anti-de Sitter space. This is approached by a linear perturbation analysis and a search for growing modes. We examine both analytic and numerical configurations previously found in [1].Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

The Mast Cell Degranulator Compound 48/80 Directly Activates Neurons

Background Compound 48/80 is widely used in animal and tissue models as a “selective” mast cell activator. With this study we demonstrate that compound 48/80 also directly activates enteric neurons and visceral afferents. Methodology/Principal Findings We used in vivo recordings from extrinsic intestinal afferents together with Ca++ imaging from primary cultures of DRG and nodose neurons. Enteric neuronal activation was examined by Ca++ and voltage sensitive dye imaging in isolated gut preparations and primary cultures of enteric neurons. Intraluminal application of compound 48/80 evoked marked afferent firing which desensitized on subsequent administration. In egg albumen-sensitized animals, intraluminal antigen evoked a similar pattern of afferent activation which also desensitized on subsequent exposure to antigen. In cross-desensitization experiments prior administration of compound 48/80 failed to influence the mast cell mediated response. Application of 1 and 10 µg/ml compound 48/80 evoked spike discharge and Ca++ transients in enteric neurons. The same nerve activating effect was observed in primary cultures of DRG and nodose ganglion cells. Enteric neuron cultures were devoid of mast cells confirmed by negative staining for c-kit or toluidine blue. In addition, in cultured enteric neurons the excitatory action of compound 48/80 was preserved in the presence of histamine H1 and H2 antagonists. The mast cell stabilizer cromolyn attenuated compound 48/80 and nicotine evoked Ca++ transients in mast cell-free enteric neuron cultures. Conclusions/Significance The results showed direct excitatory action of compound 48/80 on enteric neurons and visceral afferents. Therefore, functional changes measured in tissue or animal models may involve a mast cell independent effect of compound 48/80 and cromolyn

Method for estimating rockfall failure probability using photogrammetry

Passageways cut through rock might be subjected to rockfalls. If a falling rock reaches the road area, the consequences can be disastrous. The traditional rockfall risk assessment method and risk mitigation are based on on-site investigations performed by a geologist or a rock engineer. The parameters resulting from the investigation, such as discontinuities, orientations and spacings, potential rockfall initiation locations, slope geometry, and ditch profile, are either measured or estimated. We propose a photogrammetry-based method for estimating the probability of failure for rockfall. Several photographs of the rock-cut are taken, and a 3D geometry is computed using photogrammetry. This model already allows remote visual inspection of the site. The information about joint planes can be discovered semiautomatically from the point cloud. Next, the probability of rockfall reaching the road area is computed using probabilistic kinematic analysis on the geometry extracted using photogrammetry. The results can be used to define the rockfall probability for each rock-cut. Furthermore, the results can be used to determine the appropriate rockfall risk mitigation actions for each rock-cut

Consumer–brand identification revisited: An integrative framework of brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image and their role for brand loyalty and word of mouth

Consumer–brand identification has received considerable attraction among scholars and practitioners in recent years. We contribute to previous research by proposing an integrative model that includes consumer–brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image to investigate the interrelationships among these constructs as well as their effects on brand loyalty and positive word of mouth. To provide general results, we empirically test the model using a sample of 1443 respondents from a representative consumer panel and 10 service/product brands. The results demonstrate that identification, satisfaction, and price image significantly influence both loyalty and word of mouth. Moreover, we find significant interrelationships among the constructs: Identification positively influences both satisfaction and price image, which also increases satisfaction. By disclosing the relative importance of three separate ways of gaining and retaining customers, this study helps managers more appropriately choose the right mix of branding, pricing, and relationship marketing. From an academic point of view, our research is the first to explicitly examine the effects of the concept of identification for price management and to integrate variables from the fields of branding, relationship marketing, and behavioral pricing, which have separately been identified as particularly important determinants of marketing outcomes

POLETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, a voluntary unincorporated association

Corporation as a site for construction of an assembly plant. The plaintiffs, a neighborhood association and several individual residents of the affected area, brought suit in Wayne Circuit Court to challenge the project on a number of grounds, not all of which have been argued to this Court. Defendants' motions for summary judgment were denied pending trial on a single question of fact: whether, under 1980 PA 87; M.C.L. § 213.51 et seq ; M.S.A. § 8.265(1) et seq, the city abused its discretion in determining that condemnation of plaintiffs' property was necessary to complete the project