Maximal unramified 3-extensions of imaginary quadratic fields and SL_2(Z_3)

The structure of the Galois group of the maximal unramified p-extension of an imaginary quadratic field is restricted in various ways. In this paper we construct a family of finite 3-groups satisfying these restrictions. We prove several results about this family and characterize them as finite extensions of certain quotients of a Sylow pro-3 subgroup of SL_2(Z_3). We verify that the first group in the family does indeed arise as such a Galois group and provide a small amount of evidence that this may hold for the other members. If this were the case then it would imply that there is no upper bound on the possible lengths of a finite p-class tower.Comment: 7 pages. No figures. LaTe

Banner News

https://openspace.dmacc.edu/banner_news/1326/thumbnail.jp

Black Students’ Perception of Belonging: A Focus Group Approach with Black Students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background: Finding that enrollment of Underrepresented in Medicine students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences was considerably below the national average, researchers sought to understand the experiences of minority students. The goal is to develop an academic and social support structure that sustains and attracts students of diverse backgrounds and races. Methods: Individual interviews of eight matriculated Black medical students and a focus group were conducted, with Institutional Review Board approval, to obtain feasible methodologies and implement change. Student's perspectives and experiences regarding their institution were investigated using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: The analysis revealed six themes from the individual interviews: Experience as a minority; Admission process; Difference in backgrounds; Curriculum culture; Diversity at the school; Military medicine. The overarching message from the students was “If you don’t see yourself represented somewhere, it’s hard to believe that you belong.” The focus group made four recommendations: Add a minority viewpoint to curriculum; Add textbooks that portray black skin; Collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Increase recruitment of Black students and faculty. Conclusion: It is hard for minority students to believe they belong in environments without the representation and infrastructure needed to support their unique needs. Implementing ideas, such as those described in this report, is an important step towards creating inclusion and equity

D-Branes and Quotient Singularities of Calabi-Yau Fourfolds

We investigate a (0,2) gauge theory realized on the world volume of the type IIB D1-brane at the singular point of a Calabi-Yau fourfold. It is argued that the gauge anomaly can be canceled via coupling to the R-R chiral bosons in bulk IIB string. We find that for a generic choice of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters on the world volume, the Higgs moduli space is a smooth fourfold birational to the original Calabi-Yau fourfold, but is not necessarily a Calabi-Yau manifold.Comment: 24 pages, version 2.1, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Orbifold Resolution by D-Branes

We study topological properties of the D-brane resolution of three-dimensional orbifold singularities, C^3/Gamma, for finite abelian groups Gamma. The D-brane vacuum moduli space is shown to fill out the background spacetime with Fayet--Iliopoulos parameters controlling the size of the blow-ups. This D-brane vacuum moduli space can be classically described by a gauged linear sigma model, which is shown to be non-generic in a manner that projects out non-geometric regions in its phase diagram, as anticipated from a number of perspectives.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures (TeX, harvmac big, epsf

HLA class II regulation and structure. Analysis with HLA-DR3 and HLA-DP point mutants.

Point mutations that affect HLA-DR structure or expression have not previously been described. In the present study, we isolated such mutants by immunoselection of an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized HLA-DR3 cell line with an anti-HLA-DR3 monoclonal antibody, 16.23. To facilitate analysis, we used a parent cell line with a preexisting deletion of one haplotype encompassing DR and DQ alpha and beta. The selection yielded two sets of mutants, one with defects in DR3 structure, the other with defects in different steps leading to DR expression. Of the expression-defective mutants, one had undergone a second deletion removing the remaining DR alpha gene but no other class II genes. It had a normal abundance of DR beta mRNA but had lost binding of DR monomorphic antibodies, indicating that DR beta chains do not form noncognate dimers. A second mutant had an abnormally large DR alpha mRNA, probably resulting from a splice site mutation. Several mutants had marked reductions in DR beta mRNA levels; in two of these, the lesion appeared to be transcriptional because the reduction in DR beta mRNA was paralleled by an altered methylation pattern of one of the DR beta genes. Other expression-defective mutants had different posttranscriptional defects. Some of the mutations were similar to those that have been found in mouse strains defective in I-E expression, whereas others have no known natural counterpart. The matrix of reactivities of anti-HLA class II monomorphic antibodies with these and similar mutants allowed us to define the gene products recognized by these antibodies. A set of seven mutants were "epitope defective," that is, they expressed normal or near normal levels of HLA-DR3 but no longer bound 16.23. Unexpectedly, each of the epitope mutants had decreased DR dimer stability. These mutants should be useful in localizing the DR3 alloepitope and in elucidating its contribution as a restriction element in the presentation of soluble antigen to immune T cells

The Ecological Significance of Emerging Deltas in Regulated Rivers

Sedimentary deltas forming in the world’s regulated rivers are a glaring gap in our knowledge of dammed riverine ecosystems. Basic ecological information is needed to inform the current debate about whether deltas should be retained and managed to gain ecosystem services lost under reservoirs or whether they should be partially removed to improve flow conveyance and to resupply sediment-starved reaches below dams. An examination of nine deltas on the heavily regulated upper and middle Missouri River showed the following: The sizes, dynamics, and biotic communities vary widely across deltas; riparian forest has established on portions of most deltas; the current delta area is over 1000 square kilometers, exceeding forest area in remnant unimpounded reaches and offering considerable land area for restoration actions; and small adjustments to reservoir operations could improve the restoration potential of deltas. Ecological studies are urgently needed to determine the future role that deltas could play in river ecosystem restoration

D-particles on T^4/Z_n orbifolds and their resolutions

We formulate the effective field theory of a D-particle on orbifolds of $T^4$ by a cyclic group as a gauge theory in a $V$-bundle over the dual orbifold. We argue that this theory admits Fayet-Iliopoulos terms analogous to those present in the case of noncompact orbifolds. In the $n=2$ case, we present some evidence that turning on such terms resolves the orbifold singularities and may lead to a $K3$ surface realized as a blow up of the fixed points of the cyclic group action.Comment: 34 pages, 3 figures; very minor typos corrected, 2 references adde