The Physics Inside Topological Quantum Field Theories

We show that the equations of motion defined over a specific field space are realizable as operator conditions in the physical sector of a generalized Floer theory defined over that field space. The ghosts associated with such a construction are found not to be dynamical. This construction is applied to gravity on a four dimensional manifold, $M$; whereupon, we obtain Einstein's equations via surgery, along $M$, in a five-dimensional topological quantum field theory.Comment: LaTeX, 7 page

Application of composites to the selective reinforcement of metallic aerospace structures

The use of composite materials to selectively reinforce metallic structures provides a low-cost way to reduce weight and a means of minimizing the risks usually associated with the introduction of new materials. An overview is presented of the NASA Langley Research Center programs to identify the advantages and to develop the potential of the selective reinforcement approach to the use of composites. These programs have shown that selective reinforcement provides excellent strength and stiffness improvements to metallic structures. Significant weight savings can be obtained in a cost effective manner. Flight service programs which have been initiated to validate further the merits of selective reinforcement are described

Method for detecting coliform organisms

A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining the concentration of coliform bacteria in a sample. The sample containing the coliform bacteria is cultured in a liquid growth medium. The cultured bacteria produce hydrogen and the hydrogen is vented to a second cell containing a buffer solution in which the hydrogen dissolves. By measuring the potential change in the buffer solution caused by the hydrogen, as a function of time, the initial concentration of bacteria in the sample is determined. Alternatively, the potential change in the buffer solution can be compared with the potential change in the liquid growth medium to verify that the potential change in the liquid growth medium is produced primarily by the hydrogen gas produced by the coliform bacteria

Moving beyond boundaries: When user-centered design meets sociology

In this paper, we consider the potential of combining design, engineering and sociological perspectives with user perspectives, as part of a user-centered, inclusive design process. Our particular interest lies in the design of inclusive toys and games that disabled and non-disabled children can play together and which foster positive interactions between children across difference. We explore the challenges and opportunities associated with working in a transdisciplinary mode, where knowledge production evolves from dynamic tension between different disciplinary perspectives and those of non-academic stakeholders. We argue that the latter is of particular importance within any design process that seeks to provide accessibility and empower users. Such transdisciplinarity involves an upstream approach to the involvement of non-academic interests in the design process and knowledge production, rather than limiting the engagement of/with users to the dissemination end point stage of research (Barry, forthcoming). The paper draws upon two case studies of projects conducted by the authors. Both projects involve the use of co-operative inquiry [14] with children and we seek to extract the pedagogical implications of both projects for future design, including that within the field of ICT and digital technologies, with and for children

Moving beyond boundaries: When user-centered design meets sociology

In this paper, we consider the potential of combining design, engineering and sociological perspectives with user perspectives, as part of a user-centered, inclusive design process. Our particular interest lies in the design of inclusive toys and games that disabled and non-disabled children can play together and which foster positive interactions between children across difference. We explore the challenges and opportunities associated with working in a transdisciplinary mode, where knowledge production evolves from dynamic tension between different disciplinary perspectives and those of non-academic stakeholders. We argue that the latter is of particular importance within any design process that seeks to provide accessibility and empower users. Such transdisciplinarity involves an upstream approach to the involvement of non-academic interests in the design process and knowledge production, rather than limiting the engagement of/with users to the dissemination end point stage of research (Barry, forthcoming). The paper draws upon two case studies of projects conducted by the authors. Both projects involve the use of co-operative inquiry [14] with children and we seek to extract the pedagogical implications of both projects for future design, including that within the field of ICT and digital technologies, with and for children

Lepton Flavor Violation and Supersymmetric Dirac Leptogenesis

Dirac leptogenesis (or Dirac neutrinogenesis), in which neutrinos are purely Dirac particles, is an interesting alternative to the standard leptogenesis scenario. In its supersymmetric version, the modified form of the superpotential required for successful baryogenesis contributes new, generically non-flavor-diagonal terms to the slepton and sneutrino mass matrices. In this work, we examine how current experimental bounds on flavor-changing effects in the lepton sector (and particularly the bound on Mu -> e Gamma) constrain Dirac leptogenesis and we find that it is capable of succeeding with superpartner masses as low as 100 GeV. For such light scalars and electroweakinos, upcoming experiments such as MEG are generically expected to observe signals of lepton flavor violation.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, corrected parametric dependance on leading LFV term, figure 2 and discussion modified accordingly, conclusions unchange

Mercury in tunas and blue marlin in the North Pacific Ocean

Models and data from the North Pacific Ocean indicate that mercury concentrations in water and biota are increasing in response to (global or hemispheric) anthropogenic mercury releases. In the present study, we provide an updated record of mercury in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) caught near Hawaii that confirms an earlier conclusion that mercury concentrations in these fish are increasing at a rate similar to that observed in waters shallower than 1000 m. We also compiled and reanalyzed data from bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) caught near Hawaii in the 1970s and 2000s. Increases in mercury concentrations in bigeye tuna are consistent with the trend found in yellowfin tuna, in both timing and magnitude. The data available for blue marlin do not allow for a fair comparison among years, because mercury concentrations differ between sexes for this species, and sex was identified (or reported) in only 3 of 7 studies. Also, mercury concentrations in blue marlin may be insensitive to modest changes in mercury exposure, because this species appears to have the ability to detoxify mercury. The North Pacific Ocean is a region of both relatively high rates of atmospheric mercury deposition and capture fisheries production. Other data sets that allow temporal comparisons in mercury concentrations, such as pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in Alaskan waters and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) off the US Pacific coast, should be explored further, to aid in understanding human health and ecological risks and to develop additional baseline knowledge for assessing changes in a region expected to respond strongly to reductions in anthropogenic mercury emissions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1365–1374. © 2017 SETACPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136698/1/etc3757_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136698/2/etc3757.pd

Scaling of Splay and Total Rigidity for Elastic Percolation on the Triangular Lattice

The randomly diluted elastic network with central force interactions is simulated on the triangular lattice using a constraint analysis of cluster displacement vectors. The exponents for the percolation of splay and total rigidity are found to be the same, ν=1.14±0.1, γ=1.6±0.3, and β=0.46±0.4. The concentration of bonds that are in clusters rigid only with respect to a splay deformation is evaluated as a function of bond concentration. The area under the resulting distribution diminishes with lattice size as ∼L−1.1, indicating that splay and total rigidity have the same threshold, pc≊0.64