1,166 research outputs found
A simple stress test of experimenter demand effects
As a stress test of experimenter demand effects, we run an experiment where subjects can physically destroy coupons awarded to them. About one subject out of three does. Giving money back to the experimenter is possible in a separate task but is more consistent with an experimenter demand effect than an explanation based on altruism towards the experimenter. A measure of sensitivity to social pressure helps predict destruction when social information is provided
Meloneis Gen. Nov., a New Epipsammic Genus of Rhaphoneidaceae (Bacillariophyceae)
The diatom family Rhaphoneidaceae is characterized by high generic diversity and low species diversity with most genera known to have long stratigraphic ranges. The genera within this family are neritic marine, and mostly epipsammic. A new modern and epipsammic genus, Meloneis gen. nov., is described herein and is compared to all genera within Rhaphoneidaceae and especially to Rhaphoneis Ehrenberg s.l. Within Meloneis three new species and one variety are distinguished and described herein: M. mimallis sp. nov., M. mimallis var. zephyria var. nov., M. akytos sp. nov., and M. gorgis sp. nov
Searching for plasticity in dissociated cortical cultures on multi-electrode arrays
We attempted to induce functional plasticity in dense cultures of cortical cells using stimulation through extracellular electrodes embedded in the culture dish substrate (multi-electrode arrays, or MEAs). We looked for plasticity expressed in changes in spontaneous burst patterns, and in array-wide response patterns to electrical stimuli, following several induction protocols related to those used in the literature, as well as some novel ones. Experiments were performed with spontaneous culture-wide bursting suppressed by either distributed electrical stimulation or by elevated extracellular magnesium concentrations as well as with spontaneous bursting untreated. Changes concomitant with induction were no larger in magnitude than changes that occurred spontaneously, except in one novel protocol in which spontaneous bursts were quieted using distributed electrical stimulation
High-resolution computed tomography reconstructions of invertebrate burrow systems
The architecture of biogenic structures can be highly influential in determining species contributions to major soil and sediment processes, but detailed 3-D characterisations are rare and descriptors of form and complexity are lacking. Here we provide replicate high-resolution micro-focus computed tomography (μ-CT) data for the complete burrow systems of three co-occurring, but functionally contrasting, sediment-dwelling inter-tidal invertebrates assembled alone, and in combination, in representative model aquaria. These data (≤2,000 raw image slices aquarium−1, isotropic voxel resolution, 81 μm) provide reference models that can be used for the development of novel structural analysis routines that will be of value within the fields of ecology, pedology, geomorphology, palaeobiology, ichnology and mechanical engineering. We also envisage opportunity for those investigating transport networks, vascular systems, plant rooting systems, neuron connectivity patterns, or those developing image analysis or statistics related to pattern or shape recognition. The dataset will allow investigators to develop or test novel methodology and ideas without the need to generate a complete three-dimensional computation of exemplar architecture
de Sitter Supersymmetry Revisited
We present the basic superconformal field theories in
four-dimensional de Sitter space-time, namely the non-abelian super Yang-Mills
theory and the chiral multiplet theory with gauge interactions or cubic
superpotential. These theories have eight supercharges and are invariant under
the full group of conformal symmetries, which includes the de Sitter
isometry group as a subgroup. The theories are ghost-free and the
anti-commutator is positive. SUSY
Ward identities uniquely select the Bunch-Davies vacuum state. This vacuum
state is invariant under superconformal transformations, despite the fact that
de Sitter space has non-zero Hawking temperature. The theories
are classically invariant under the superconformal group, but this
symmetry is broken by radiative corrections. However, no such difficulty is
expected in the theory, which is presented in appendix B.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figure
Graviton 1-loop partition function for 3-dimensional massive gravity
The graviton 1-loop partition function in Euclidean topologically massive
gravity (TMG) is calculated using heat kernel techniques. The partition
function does not factorize holomorphically, and at the chiral point it has the
structure expected from a logarithmic conformal field theory. This gives strong
evidence for the proposal that the dual conformal field theory to TMG at the
chiral point is indeed logarithmic. We also generalize our results to new
massive gravity.Comment: 19 pages, v2: major revision, considerably stronger conclusions,
added comparison with LCFT partition function, confirmation of LCFT
conjecture, added autho
Nonperturbative studies of supersymmetric matrix quantum mechanics with 4 and 8 supercharges at finite temperature
We investigate thermodynamic properties of one-dimensional U(N)
supersymmetric gauge theories with 4 and 8 supercharges in the planar large-N
limit by Monte Carlo calculations. Unlike the 16 supercharge case, the
threshold bound state with zero energy is widely believed not to exist in these
models. This led A.V. Smilga to conjecture that the internal energy decreases
exponentially at low temperature instead of decreasing with a power law. In the
16 supercharge case, the latter behavior was predicted from the dual black
0-brane geometry and confirmed recently by Monte Carlo calculations. Our
results for the models with 4 and 8 supercharges indeed support the exponential
behavior, revealing a qualitative difference from the 16 supercharge case.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX2e, minor corrections in section 3, final
version accepted in JHE
Generalised massive gravity one-loop partition function and AdS/(L)CFT
The graviton 1-loop partition function is calculated for Euclidean
generalised massive gravity (GMG) using AdS heat kernel techniques. We find
that the results fit perfectly into the AdS/(L)CFT picture. Conformal
Chern-Simons gravity, a singular limit of GMG, leads to an additional
contribution in the 1-loop determinant from the conformal ghost. We show that
this contribution has a nice interpretation on the conformal field theory side
in terms of a semi-classical null vector at level two descending from a primary
with conformal weights (3/2,-1/2).Comment: 25 p., 2 jpg figs, v2: added 6 lines of clarifying text after Eq.
(2.38
Defect Perturbations in Landau-Ginzburg Models
Perturbations of B-type defects in Landau-Ginzburg models are considered. In
particular, the effect of perturbations of defects on their fusion is analyzed
in the framework of matrix factorizations. As an application, it is discussed
how fusion with perturbed defects induces perturbations on boundary conditions.
It is shown that in some classes of models all boundary perturbations can be
obtained in this way. Moreover, a universal class of perturbed defects is
constructed, whose fusion under certain conditions obey braid relations. The
functors obtained by fusing these defects with boundary conditions are twist
functors as introduced in the work of Seidel and Thomas.Comment: 46 page
Regulation of mammary gland branching morphogenesis by the extracellular matrix and its remodeling enzymes.
A considerable body of research indicates that mammary gland branching morphogenesis is dependent, in part, on the extracellular matrix (ECM), ECM-receptors, such as integrins and other ECM receptors, and ECM-degrading enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). There is some evidence that these ECM cues affect one or more of the following processes: cell survival, polarity, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. Both three-dimensional culture models and genetic manipulations of the mouse mammary gland have been used to study the signaling pathways that affect these processes. However, the precise mechanisms of ECM-directed mammary morphogenesis are not well understood. Mammary morphogenesis involves epithelial 'invasion' of adipose tissue, a process akin to invasion by breast cancer cells, although the former is a highly regulated developmental process. How these morphogenic pathways are integrated in the normal gland and how they become dysregulated and subverted in the progression of breast cancer also remain largely unanswered questions
- …