Study of Genotype X Environment Interaction in Alfalfa Forage Yield

The response of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage yield to eight Alberta test sites was studied for the 1990 and 1991 production years. Cluster analysis was used to group locations and cultivars. Analyses of variances indicated genotype x environment (location) interaction for the first cut yield, the total yield and the difference between first and second cut yields. The Brooks, Bow Island (irrigation), Bow Island (dryland) and Provost locations always clustered together indicating that three of these four test sites may be eliminated without sacrificing reliability

On the upper bound of the electronic kinetic energy in terms of density functionals

We propose a simple density functional expression for the upper bound of the kinetic energy for electronic systems. Such a functional is valid in the limit of slowly varying density, its validity outside this regime is discussed by making a comparison with upper bounds obtained in previous work. The advantages of the functional proposed for applications to realistic systems is briefly discussed.Comment: 10 pages, no figure

Let's Twist Again: General Metrics of G(2) Holonomy from Gauged Supergravity

We construct all complete metrics of cohomogeneity one G(2) holonomy with S^3 x S^3 principal orbits from gauged supergravity. Our approach rests on a generalization of the twisting procedure used in this framework. It corresponds to a non-trivial embedding of the special Lagrangian three-cycle wrapped by the D6-branes in the lower dimensional supergravity. There are constraints that neatly reduce the general ansatz to a six functions one. Within this approach, the Hitchin system and the flop transformation are nicely realized in eight dimensional gauged supergravity.Comment: 31 pages, latex; v2: minor changes, references adde

Supersymmetric Boost on Intersecting D-branes

We study the effect of the Born-Infeld electric field on the supersymmetric configuration of various composite D-branes. We show that the generic values of the electric field do not affect the supersymmetry but, as it approaches $1/2\pi\alpha'$ keeping the magnetic field finite, various combinations of the magnetic fields allow up to 8 supersymmetries. We also explore the unbroken supersymmetries for two intersecting D-strings which are in uniform or relative motion. For a finite uniform Lorentz boost, 16 supersymmetries are guaranteed only when they are parallel. For an infinite one, 8 supersymmetries are preserved only when both the D-strings are oriented to the forward or backward direction of the boost. Under a finite relative boost, 8 supersymmetries are preserved only when the intersecting angle is less than $\pi/2$ and the intersecting point moves at the speed of light. As for an infinite relative boost, 8 supersymmetries are preserved regardless of the values of the intersecting angle.Comment: 27 pages using REVTeX4, 7 figure

Scherk-Schwarz reduction of M-theory on G2-manifolds with fluxes

We analyse the 4-dimensional effective supergravity theories obtained from the Scherk--Schwarz reduction of M-theory on twisted 7-tori in the presence of 4-form fluxes. We implement the appropriate orbifold projection that preserves a G2-structure on the internal 7-manifold and truncates the effective field theory to an N=1, D=4 supergravity. We provide a detailed account of the effective supergravity with explicit expressions for the Kaehler potential and the superpotential in terms of the fluxes and of the geometrical data of the internal manifold. Subsequently, we explore the landscape of vacua of M-theory compactifications on twisted tori, where we emphasize the role of geometric fluxes and discuss the validity of the bottom-up approach. Finally, by reducing along isometries of the internal 7-manifold, we obtain superpotentials for the corresponding type IIA backgrounds.Comment: 43 pages, Latex; v3 typos corrected, one reference added, JHEP versio

Coset Construction of Spin(7),G2Spin(7), G_2 Gravitational Instantons

We study Ricci-flat metrics on non-compact manifolds with the exceptional holonomy $Spin(7), G_2$. We concentrate on the metrics which are defined on ${\bf R} \times G/H$. If the homogeneous coset spaces $G/H$ have weak $G_2$, SU(3) holonomy, the manifold ${\bf R} \times G/H$ may have $Spin(7), G_2$ holonomy metrics. Using the formulation with vector fields, we investigate the metrics with $Spin(7)$ holonomy on ${\bf R}\times Sp(2)/Sp(1), {\bf R}\times SU(3)/U(1)$. We have found the explicit volume-preserving vector fields on these manifold using the elementary coordinate parameterization. This construction is essentially dual to solving the generalized self-duality condition for spin connections. We present most general differential equations for each coset. Then, we develop the similar formulation in order to calculate metrics with $G_2$ holonomyComment: 29 pages, no figure; (v2) Errors are corrected ; (v3) Some explanations are added. More general differential equations for SU(3)/U(1) coset are give

Extended surfaces modulate and can catalyze hydrophobic effects

Interfaces are a most common motif in complex systems. To understand how the presence of interfaces affect hydrophobic phenomena, we use molecular simulations and theory to study hydration of solutes at interfaces. The solutes range in size from sub-nanometer to a few nanometers. The interfaces are self-assembled monolayers with a range of chemistries, from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. We show that the driving force for assembly in the vicinity of a hydrophobic surface is weaker than that in bulk water, and decreases with increasing temperature, in contrast to that in the bulk. We explain these distinct features in terms of an interplay between interfacial fluctuations and excluded volume effects---the physics encoded in Lum-Chandler-Weeks theory [J. Phys. Chem. B 103, 4570--4577 (1999)]. Our results suggest a catalytic role for hydrophobic interfaces in the unfolding of proteins, for example, in the interior of chaperonins and in amyloid formation.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

Hybrid Formalism, Supersymmetry Reduction, and Ramond-Ramond Fluxes

The supersymmetric hybrid formalism for Type II strings is used to study partial supersymmetry breaking in four and three dimensions. We use worldsheet techniques to derive effects of internal Ramond-Ramond fluxes such as torsions, superpotentials and warping.Comment: Harvmac. No figure