BTZ Black Hole Entropy from a Chern-Simons Matrix Model

We examine a Chern-Simons matrix model which we propose as a toy model for studying the quantum nature of black holes in 2+1 gravity. Its dynamics is described by two $N\times N$ matrices, representing the two spatial coordinates. The model possesses an internal SU(N) gauge symmetry, as well as an external rotation symmetry. The latter corresponds to the rotational isometry of the BTZ solution, and does not decouple from SU(N) gauge transformations. The system contains an invariant which is quadratic in the spatial coordinates. We obtain its spectrum and degeneracy, and find that the degeneracy grows exponentially in the large $N$ limit. The usual BTZ black hole entropy formula is recovered upon identifying the quadratic invariant with the square of the black hole horizon radius. The quantum system behaves collectively as an integer (half-integer) spin particle for even (odd) $N$ under $2\pi$-rotations.Comment: 17 page

The infrared interferometer spectrometer experiment /iris/. volume ii- meteorological mission

IRIS - infrared interferometer spectrometer measurements of atmosphere vertical structure - humidity, temperature, and cloud heigh

Transmissivity of carbon monoxide in the 2.3 microns band region

Line strengths and self and nitrogen broadened half-widths have been determined from high resolution spectroscopic measurements of selected lines in the 2.3 micrometer band region of CO. The CO 0-2 total band strength is estimated to be 2.086 + or - 0.146 cm/1 (ATM-cm)/1 STP which is higher than most previously reported values. The line half-widths are also generally higher than those in the literature

Navigating the Accounting Academic Job Market and Related Advice

Purpose: To disseminate helpful advice to current and future candidates about the accounting academic job market. Methodology/Approach: Literature review, interviews with recently hired faculty members, insights from the author’s experiences as both job candidates and search committee members, and discussions with colleagues. Findings: In this chapter, we discuss the current state of the job market for accounting professors and offer our insights as well as those from a group of recent graduates. It is our recent experience that many rookie candidates pursue initial faculty positions with an incomplete understanding of many aspects of the market, including how the market clears, job expectations, and other issues that we believe are important. While others have adequately addressed the importance of research in the profession and alluded to some aspects of the market, we provide additional useful information about the market and other career aspects in order to assist new graduates in their quests to find fulfilling appointments. Our chapter complements existing literature to form an updated and more complete picture of the market and profession. Practical Implications: This chapter helps prepare candidates for the job market by providing information and advice that complements advice given in Ph.D. programs and the existing literature. Social Implications: Candidates entering the job market will better understand the nuances of the market and can make more informed decisions about the institutions that best meet their needs. Originality/Value of Article: The chapter provides important practical advice for job seekers about the accounting academic job market not available elsewhere

Reliability and Validity of the Telephone-Based eHealth Literacy Scale Among Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Only a handful of studies have examined reliability and validity evidence of scores produced by the 8-item eHealth literacy Scale (eHEALS) among older adults. Older adults are generally more comfortable responding to survey items when asked by a real person rather than by completing self-administered paper-and-pencil or online questionnaires. However, no studies have explored the psychometrics of this scale when administered to older adults over the telephone. Objective: The objective of our study was to examine the reliability and internal structure of eHEALS data collected from older adults aged 50 years or older responding to items over the telephone. Methods: Respondents (N=283) completed eHEALS as part of a cross-sectional landline telephone survey. Exploratory structural equation modeling (E-SEM) analyses examined model fit of eHEALS scores with 1-, 2-, and 3-factor structures. Subsequent analyses based on the partial credit model explored the internal structure of eHEALS data. Results: Compared with 1- and 2-factor models, the 3-factor eHEALS structure showed the best global E-SEM model fit indices (root mean square error of approximation=.07; comparative fit index=1.0; Tucker-Lewis index=1.0). Nonetheless, the 3 factors were highly correlated (r range .36 to .65). Item analyses revealed that eHEALS items 2 through 5 were overfit to a minor degree (mean square infit/outfit values <1.0; t statistics less than –2.0), but the internal structure of Likert scale response options functioned as expected. Overfitting eHEALS items (2-5) displayed a similar degree of information for respondents at similar points on the latent continuum. Test information curves suggested that eHEALS may capture more information about older adults at the higher end of the latent continuum (ie, those with high eHealth literacy) than at the lower end of the continuum (ie, those with low eHealth literacy). Item reliability (value=.92) and item separation (value=11.31) estimates indicated that eHEALS responses were reliable and stable. Conclusions: Results support administering eHEALS over the telephone when surveying older adults regarding their use of the Internet for health information. eHEALS scores best captured 3 factors (or subscales) to measure eHealth literacy in older adults; however, statistically significant correlations between these 3 factors suggest an overarching unidimensional structure with 3 underlying dimensions. As older adults continue to use the Internet more frequently to find and evaluate health information, it will be important to consider modifying the original eHEALS to adequately measure societal shifts in online health information seeking among aging populations.Open Access Fundin

Science Hybrid Orbiter and Lunar Relay (SCHOLR) Architecture and Design

Considered both a stepping-stone to deep space and a key to unlocking the mysteries of planetary formation, the Moon offers a unique opportunity for scientific study. Robotic precursor missions are being developed to improve technology and enable new approaches to exploration. Robots, lunar landers, and satellites play significant roles in advancing science and technologies, offering close range and in-situ observations. Science and exploration data gathered from these nodes and a lunar science satellite is intended to support future human expeditions and facilitate future utilization of lunar resources. To attain a global view of lunar science, the nodes will be distributed over the lunar surface, including locations on the far side of the Moon. Given that nodes on the lunar far side do not have direct line-of-sight for Earth communications, the planned presence of such nodes creates the need for a lunar communications relay satellite. Since the communications relay capability would only be required for a small portion of the satellite s orbit, it may be possible to include communication relay components on a science spacecraft. Furthermore, an integrated satellite has the potential to reduce lunar surface mission costs. A SCience Hybrid Orbiter and Lunar Relay (SCHOLR) is proposed to accomplish scientific goals while also supporting the communications needs of landers on the far side of the Moon. User needs and design drivers for the system were derived from the anticipated needs of future robotic and lander missions. Based on these drivers and user requirements, accommodations for communications payload aboard a science spacecraft were developed. A team of interns identified and compared possible SCHOLR architectures. The final SCHOLR architecture was analyzed in terms of orbiter lifetime, lunar surface coverage, size, mass, power, and communications data rates. This paper presents the driving requirements, operational concept, and architecture views for SCHOLR within a lunar surface nodal network. Orbital and bidirectional link analysis, between lunar nodes, orbiter, and Earth, as well as a conceptual design for the spacecraft are also presente

Topic-Relevance Map: Visualization for Improving Search Result Comprehension

Peer reviewe

Structure and mechanism of human DNA polymerase η

The variant form of the human syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum (XPV) is caused by a deficiency in DNA polymerase eta (Pol eta), a DNA polymerase that enables replication through ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers. Here we report high-resolution crystal structures of human Pol eta at four consecutive steps during DNA synthesis through cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimers. Pol eta acts like a 'molecular splint' to stabilize damaged DNA in a normal B-form conformation. An enlarged active site accommodates the thymine dimer with excellent stereochemistry for two-metal ion catalysis. Two residues conserved among Pol eta orthologues form specific hydrogen bonds with the lesion and the incoming nucleotide to assist translesion synthesis. On the basis of the structures, eight Pol eta missense mutations causing XPV can be rationalized as undermining the molecular splint or perturbing the active-site alignment. The structures also provide an insight into the role of Pol eta in replicating through D loop and DNA fragile sites