Spinning Geodesic Witten Diagrams

We present an expression for the four-point conformal blocks of symmetric traceless operators of arbitrary spin as an integral over a pair of geodesics in Anti-de Sitter space, generalizing the geodesic Witten diagram formalism of Hijano et al [arXiv:1508.00501] to arbitrary spin. As an intermediate step in the derivation, we identify a convenient basis of bulk three-point interaction vertices which give rise to all possible boundary three point structures. We highlight a direct connection between the representation of the conformal block as a geodesic Witten diagram and the shadow operator formalism.Comment: 28+6 pages, 8 figure

Compassionate Play in The Ludic Century

In 2013 game designer Eric Zimmerman wrote a provocative manifesto entitled ‘Manifesto for a Ludic Century’ (2013a), in which Zimmerman declares the 21st Century’s dominant cultural form to be games. Consequently, Zimmerman proposes that the individual occupant of the century is therefore in a continuous state of game engagement. As such, this re-contextualisation of game space and play, indefinitely articulates the individual as a constant player and character, and thusly challenges the notions of selfhood. Importantly it should be noted, the state of a ludic century is explicitly assumed as a truth, however superficial it may appear. Accordingly, this paper is then afforded to be an extended hypothesis of the proposed ludic century, rather than a critical dissection and response to Zimmerman’s manifesto. This enables a hermeneutic framing of the questions: ‘What does it mean to live in a ludic century?’and ‘in what capacity may the self exist in the ludic century?’ These questions will attempt to distinguish play as an inherent cultural logic that extends beyond the limitations of explicit ‘gamification’ or instrumental play (Stenros et al., 2009; Zichermann, 2010). Concluding, it is claimed that the ludic century elicits a sustained delusion of self, as the player is confined to the designed game structure, which inhibits authentic engagement and interaction with environment and self. It is proposed that this evokes a form of suffering, the compassionate play within the ludic century

Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions: Effects of Geothermal Spring Inputs to Jemez River Water Quality

The Jemez River, lies within the Valles Caldera and Jemez Mountains, which is located in North Central New Mexico. In the study area, numerous geothermal springs discharge into the Jemez River. A base line water quality study was conducted to determine salt and metal loading effects of spring inputs. Ten sites along a 25-km reach of the river through San Diego Canyon were sampled for major and selected trace element concentrations to evaluate water quality. The Jemez River and geothermal springs were sampled under summer and baseflow conditions in 2006. Hydrothermal water chemistry data collected in the study are consistent with earlier reports of Trainer, 1984, Goff, 1994; Goff and Shevenell, 1987. Hydrothermal inputs examined include Soda Dam, Jemez Springs, and Indian Springs. Jemez River water displays a consistent increase in total dissolved solids (TDS) and metals reflecting significant geothermal inputs between San Antonio Creek and the confluence with the Guadalupe River, and reflecting mixing of a low TDS calcium, magnesium-bicarbonate water with a high TDS sodium chloride water. The Guadalupe River dilutes these contributions; however, concentrations again increase along the Jemez River between the Guadalupe and San Ysidro. Loading calculations for TDS and arsenic under a variety of flow regimes typical of the Jemez River indicate that the allowable limits are exceeded for these parameters between Soda Dam and the Guadalupe River beginning at discharges below 27.5 ft3/sec as measured at the USGS gauging station near Jemez Springs. In 2006, flows were below this threshold value for many days

The evolution of apomixis in the Asplenium monanthes fern complex

Asexually reproducing eukaryotes provide a window into the evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction, and are challenging our concept of a species. In plants, asexual reproduction (apomixis) is known to cause taxonomic problems and has been indicated to have a disparately high frequency in homosporous ferns. The reasons for such a high frequency of apomictic taxa are unclear, and only add to the enigmatic nature of these ferns. Contemporary studies in ferns are focussing on such questions, and are providing valuable insights into the evolutionary dynamics of apomictic ferns. In this thesis, I investigate the evolution of apomixis in the Asplenium monanthes complex. First, I perform a biosystematic study of the complex, based upon plastid and nuclear DNA sequence data, reproductive mode and polyploidy. I present evidence for reticulate evolution and multiple apomictic lineages. Second, I address the problem of species delimitation in an apomictic species complex. I performed a comparative analysis of AFLP data and sequence data using a variety of species delimitation methods. Results supported the inferences of independent lineages and reticulate evolution made in the previous chapter, but the AFLP data did not support inferences of parentage. Third, I investigated the evolution of genome size in the complex based on DNA C-value data, and tested the utilisation of spore size data to infer ploidy level based on the relationship between genome size and spore size. Genome size variation was shown not only to be due to polyploidy, but also due to expansion of the monoploid genome / chromosome size. Moreover, the evolution of spore size and genome size were not correlated, indicating that spore size is not a good indicator of ploidy level in apomictic complexes. Finally, I investigate the origins of apomixis in A.monanthes based upon AFLP data, sequence data and DNA C-values. I find evidence that the observed genetic and karyological diversity is explained by a single origin of apomixis followed by the spread of apomixis by hybridisation with closely related sexual species by the male function. There is also evidence for post genetic divergence by other mechanisms such as genetic segregation, somatic mutation and unequal meiosis. This thesis presents the first thorough investigation of this complex and has increased our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of apomixis in ferns

Anaesthesia for lung volume reduction surgery

No Abstract Available. Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia & Analgesia Vol. 11 (3) 2005: 103-10

Valuing multifactor real options using an implied binomial tree

Includes bibliographical references (page 23).This paper proposes an approach for solving a multifactor real options problem by approximating the underlying stochastic process with an implied binomial tree. The implied binomial tree is constructed to be consistent with simulated market information. By simulating European option prices as artificial market information, we apply the implied binomial tree method for real options valuation when the options are contingent on the value of market uncertainties that are not traded assets. Compared to the discrete approximations suggested in the current literature, this method offers a more flexible distribution assumption for project values and therefore provides an alternative approach to estimating the value of high-dimensional real options. For risk managers, it serves as a capital budgeting method for projects with managerial flexibility