638 research outputs found
Conformal blocks related to the R-R states in the \hat c =1 SCFT
We derive an explicit form of a family of four-point Neveu-Schwarz blocks
with external weights and arbitrary intermediate
weight. The derivation is based on a set of identities obeyed in the free
superscalar theory by correlation functions of fields satisfying Ramond
condition with respect to the bosonic (dimension 1) and the fermionic
(dimension 1/2) currents.Comment: 15 pages, no figure
Recursive representation of the torus 1-point conformal block
The recursive relation for the 1-point conformal block on a torus is derived
and used to prove the identities between conformal blocks recently conjectured
by R. Poghossian. As an illustration of the efficiency of the recurrence method
the modular invariance of the 1-point Liouville correlation function is
numerically analyzed.Comment: 14 pages, 1 eps figure, misprints corrected and a reference adde
A mineralogical record of ocean change: decadal and centennial patterns in the California mussel
Ocean acidification, a product of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, may already have affected calcified organisms in the coastal zone, such as bivalves and other shellfish. Understanding species’ responses to climate change requires the context of long-term dynamics. This can be particularly difficult given the longevity of many important species in contrast with the relatively rapid onset of environmental changes. Here, we present a unique archival dataset of mussel shells from a locale with recent environmental monitoring and historical climate reconstructions. We compare shell structure and composition in modern mussels, mussels from the 1970s, and mussel shells dating back to 1000–2420 years BP. Shell mineralogy has changed dramatically over the past 15 years, despite evidence for consistent mineral structure in the California mussel, Mytilus californianus, over the prior 2500 years. We present evidence for increased disorder in the calcium carbonate shells of mussels and greater variability between individuals. These changes in the last decade contrast markedly from a background of consistent shell mineralogy for centuries. Our results use an archival record of natural specimens to provide centennial-scale context for altered minerology and variability in shell features as a response to acidification stress and illustrate the utility of long-term studies and archival records in global change ecology. Increased variability between individuals is an emerging pattern in climate change responses, which may equally expose the vulnerability of organisms and the potential of populations for resilience
Factors associated with comprehensive medication review completion rates: A national survey of community pharmacists
Background
Completion rates for medication therapy management (MTM) services have been lower than desired and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has added MTM comprehensive medication review (CMR) completion rates as a Part D plan star measure. Over half of plans utilize community pharmacists via contracts with MTM vendors.
Objectives
The primary objective of this survey study was to identify factors associated with the CMR completion rates of community pharmacies contracted with a national MTM vendor.
Methodsl
Representatives from 27,560 pharmacy locations contracted with a national MTM vendor were surveyed. The dependent variable of interest was the pharmacies' CMR completion rate. Independent variables included the pharmacy's progressiveness stratum and number of CMRs assigned by the MTM vendor during the time period, as well as self-reported data to characterize MTM facilitators, barriers, delivery strategies, staffing, selected items from a modified Assessment of Chronic Illness Care, and pharmacist/pharmacy demographics. Univariate negative binomial models were fit for each independent variable, and variables significant at p < 0.05 were entered into a multivariable model.
Results
Representatives from 3836 (13.9%) pharmacy locations responded; of these, 90.9% (n = 3486) responses were useable. The median CMR completion rate was 0.42. Variables remaining significant at p < 0.05 in the multivariable model included: progressiveness strata; pharmacy type; scores on the facilitators scale; responses to two potential barriers items; scores on the patient/caregiver delivery strategies sub-scale; providing MTM at multiple locations; reporting that the MTM vendor sending the survey link is the primary MTM vendor for which the respondent provides MTM; and the number of hours per week that the pharmacy is open.
Conclusions
Factors at the respondent (e.g., responses to facilitators scale) and pharmacy (e.g., pharmacy type) levels were associated with CMR completion rates. These findings could be used by MTM stakeholders to improve CMR completion rates
Multidimensional integration of RDF datasets
Data providers have been uploading RDF datasets on the web to aid researchers and analysts in finding insights. These datasets, made available by different data providers, contain common characteristics that enable their integration. However, since each provider has their own data dictionary, identifying common concepts is not trivial and we require costly and complex entity resolution and transformation rules to perform such integration. In this paper, we propose a novel method, that given a set of independent RDF datasets, provides a multidimensional interpretation of these datasets and integrates them based on a common multidimensional space (if any) identified. To do so, our method first identifies potential dimensional and factual data on the input datasets and performs entity resolution to merge common dimensional and factual concepts. As a result, we generate a common multidimensional space and identify each input dataset as a cuboid of the resulting lattice. With such output, we are able to exploit open data with OLAP operators in a richer fashion than dealing with them separately.This research has been funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Information Technologies for Business Intelligence-Doctoral College (IT4BI-DC) program.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
On "Dotsenko-Fateev" representation of the toric conformal blocks
We demonstrate that the recent ansatz of arXiv:1009.5553, inspired by the
original remark due to R.Dijkgraaf and C.Vafa, reproduces the toric conformal
blocks in the same sense that the spherical blocks are given by the integral
representation of arXiv:1001.0563 with a peculiar choice of open integration
contours for screening insertions. In other words, we provide some evidence
that the toric conformal blocks are reproduced by appropriate beta-ensembles
not only in the large-N limit, but also at finite N. The check is explicitly
performed at the first two levels for the 1-point toric functions.
Generalizations to higher genera are briefly discussed.Comment: 10 page
Chemical characterization of some substituted hydroxyapatites
Synthetic multi-substituted hydroxyapatite nano powders containing silicon and or carbonate prepared by a wet chemical method. The process parameters are set up to allow the simultaneous substitution of carbonate and silicon ions in the place of phosphorus. The chemical and structural characterizations of the prepared powders are determined with the aid of; XRF, ICP, XRD and FTIR. The results show that, the ion substitution in the crystal lattice of HA caused a change in the unit cell dimensions and affected the degree of crystallization of the produced powders. The apatite formation abilityy of the prepared discs from the synthesized powders is determined by immersing in SBF solution for different periods. The degree of ion release was determined in the obtained solutions. The examined surface of the immersed discs under SEM and analyzed by CDS showed a more dense HA layer than those of un-substituted ones. The HA with the substituted silicon and carbonate ions, showed the highest solubility with greater rate of ion release, compared with carbonate-free powder. All prepared powders took sodium ion from the SBF solution during immersion, which was not recorded before
Limits of minimal models and continuous orbifolds
The lambda=0 't Hooft limit of the 2d W_N minimal models is shown to be
equivalent to the singlet sector of a free boson theory, thus paralleling
exactly the structure of the free theory in the Klebanov-Polyakov proposal. In
2d, the singlet sector does not describe a consistent theory by itself since
the corresponding partition function is not modular invariant. However, it can
be interpreted as the untwisted sector of a continuous orbifold, and this point
of view suggests that it can be made consistent by adding in the appropriate
twisted sectors. We show that these twisted sectors account for the `light
states' that were not included in the original 't Hooft limit. We also show
that, for the Virasoro minimal models (N=2), the twisted sector of our orbifold
agrees precisely with the limit theory of Runkel & Watts. In particular, this
implies that our construction satisfies crossing symmetry.Comment: 33 pages; v2: minor improvements and references added, published
versio
Challenges of beta-deformation
A brief review of problems, arising in the study of the beta-deformation,
also known as "refinement", which appears as a central difficult element in a
number of related modern subjects: beta \neq 1 is responsible for deviation
from free fermions in 2d conformal theories, from symmetric omega-backgrounds
with epsilon_2 = - epsilon_1 in instanton sums in 4d SYM theories, from
eigenvalue matrix models to beta-ensembles, from HOMFLY to super-polynomials in
Chern-Simons theory, from quantum groups to elliptic and hyperbolic algebras
etc. The main attention is paid to the context of AGT relation and its possible
generalizations.Comment: 20 page
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