1,820 research outputs found
Physical States at the Tachyonic Vacuum of Open String Field Theory
We illustrate a method for computing the number of physical states of open
string theory at the stable tachyonic vacuum in level truncation approximation.
The method is based on the analysis of the gauge-fixed open string field theory
quadratic action that includes Fadeev-Popov ghost string fields. Computations
up to level 9 in the scalar sector are consistent with Sen's conjecture about
the absence of physical open string states at the tachyonic vacuum. We also
derive a long exact cohomology sequence that relates relative and absolute
cohomologies of the BRS operator at the non-perturbative vacuum. We use this
exact result in conjunction with our numerical findings to conclude that the
higher ghost number non-perturbative BRS cohomologies are non-empty.Comment: 43 pages, 16 eps figures, LaTe
The shattered glass ceiling and a narrowing gender pay gap in NHS foundation trusts: Gender and salaries of chief executives
Female chief executive officers (CEOs) of NHS foundation trusts have increased from 37% in 2012/13 to 47% in 2017/18. This paper shows that, in the five-year period analysed, the gender pay gap (GPG) has narrowed to become insignificant. The paper suggests the improvement of female presence and the narrowing of the GPG go hand-in-hand, at least for these public sector top managers. It also provides indication that the GPG is multifaceted, women may sacrifice high salaries for future financial security. Women and men could also be negotiating salaries in a different way, signalling gender traits differences. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.IMPACT: For CEOs of NHS foundation trusts gender parity has been reached. In this context over a five-year period (2013–2018), salary differences between female and male CEOs have narrowed to an insignificant level. Results suggest that shattering the glass ceiling helps to reduce the GPG, and hence gender inequalities. However, the study also provides original insights into different components of the GPG: salary and pension benefits and the interplay of female risk aversion. Political leaders must take a wide perspective on pay when considering how to achieve their espoused aims of removing gender inequality
Identifying specific prefrontal neurons that contribute to autism-associated abnormalities in physiology and social behavior.
Functional imaging and gene expression studies both implicate the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), particularly deep-layer projection neurons, as a potential locus for autism pathology. Here, we explored how specific deep-layer prefrontal neurons contribute to abnormal physiology and behavior in mouse models of autism. First, we find that across three etiologically distinct models-in utero valproic acid (VPA) exposure, CNTNAP2 knockout and FMR1 knockout-layer 5 subcortically projecting (SC) neurons consistently exhibit reduced input resistance and action potential firing. To explore how altered SC neuron physiology might impact behavior, we took advantage of the fact that in deep layers of the mPFC, dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) are mainly expressed by SC neurons, and used D2-Cre mice to label D2R+ neurons for calcium imaging or optogenetics. We found that social exploration preferentially recruits mPFC D2R+ cells, but that this recruitment is attenuated in VPA-exposed mice. Stimulating mPFC D2R+ neurons disrupts normal social interaction. Conversely, inhibiting these cells enhances social behavior in VPA-exposed mice. Importantly, this effect was not reproduced by nonspecifically inhibiting mPFC neurons in VPA-exposed mice, or by inhibiting D2R+ neurons in wild-type mice. These findings suggest that multiple forms of autism may alter the physiology of specific deep-layer prefrontal neurons that project to subcortical targets. Furthermore, a highly overlapping population-prefrontal D2R+ neurons-plays an important role in both normal and abnormal social behavior, such that targeting these cells can elicit potentially therapeutic effects
Aeolian sans ripples: experimental study of saturated states
We report an experimental investigation of aeolian sand ripples, performed
both in a wind tunnel and on stoss slopes of dunes. Starting from a flat bed,
we can identify three regimes: appearance of an initial wavelength, coarsening
of the pattern and finally saturation of the ripples. We show that both initial
and final wavelengths, as well as the propagative speed of the ripples, are
linear functions of the wind velocity. Investigating the evolution of an
initially corrugated bed, we exhibit non-linear stable solutions for a finite
range of wavelengths, which demonstrates the existence of a saturation in
amplitude. These results contradict most of the models.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. Title changed,
figures corrected and simplified, more field data included, text clarifie
The conceptual underpinnings of recent advances in international public sector accounting standards: Developing a standard for social benefits
We investigate the conceptual underpinnings of the developing social benefits standard from the consultation paper in 2015 to the exposure draft ED63 in 2017. The purpose of the paper is to assess the conceptual foundations in the IPSASB framework and the links with other financial reporting regimes (International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and National Accounts or Government Financial Statistics (GFS) on the development of international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS). We use documentary analysis of IPSASB papers together with a content study of comment letters on the Consultation Paper. Latent content analysis is deepened by detailed exposition of accounting issues using extracts from the IPSASB documents and comment letters. The 2015 Consultation Paper put forward propositions in apparent accordance with the IPSASB framework and GFS, but respondents to the consultation
paper were unconvinced of some arguments of adherence to the framework and were unsure
how social benefits could be classified on the basis of obligations and largely felt an insurance approach was inappropriate. The alignment with GFS also proved unsatisfactory and is reduced in ED63. This study raises concerns regarding the coherence of the IPSASB framework as a
conceptual underpinning for public sector accounting standards and questions the alignment of public sector accounting to other regimes with different users and objectives
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