7,252 research outputs found
Heat Kernel for Spin-3/2 Rarita-Schwinger Field in General Covariant Gauge
The heat kernel for the spin-3/2 Rarita-Schwinger gauge field on an arbitrary
Ricci flat space-time () is investigated in a family of covariant gauges
with one gauge parameter . The -dependent term of the kernel is
expressed by the spin-1/2 heat kernel. It is shown that the axial anomaly and
the one-loop divegence of the action are -independent, and that the
conformal anomaly has an -dependent total derivative term in
dimensions.Comment: 11 pages, latex, ITP-SB-94-3
Fourier analyses of commensurability oscillations in Fibonacci lateral superlattices
Magnetotransport measurements have been performed on Fibonacci lateral
superlattices (FLSLs) -- two-dimensional electron gases subjected to a weak
potential modulation arranged in the Fibonacci sequence, LSLLSLS..., with
L/S=tau (the golden ratio). Complicated commensurability oscillation (CO) is
observed, which can be accounted for as a superposition of a series of COs each
arising from a sinusoidal modulation representing the characteristic length
scale of one of the self-similar generations in the Fibonacci sequence.
Individual CO components can be separated out from the magnetoresistance trace
by performing a numerical Fourier band-pass filter. From the analysis of the
amplitude of a single-component CO thus extracted, the magnitude of the
corresponding Fourier component in the potential modulation can be evaluated.
By examining all the Fourier contents observed in the magnetoresistance trace,
the profile of the modulated potential seen by the electrons can be
reconstructed with some remaining ambiguity about the interrelation of the
phase between different components.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, added references in Introduction, minor
revision
Z-Selective Homodimerization of Terminal Olefins with a Ruthenium Metathesis Catalyst
The cross-metathesis of terminal olefins using a novel ruthenium catalyst results in excellent selectivity for the Z-olefin homodimer. The reaction was found to tolerate a large number of functional groups, solvents, and temperatures while maintaining excellent Z-selectivity, even at high reaction conversions
Commutators, Lefschetz fibrations and the signatures of surface bundles
We construct examples of Lefschetz fibrations with prescribed singular
fibers. By taking differences of pairs of such fibrations with the same
singular fibers, we obtain new examples of surface bundles over surfaces with
non-zero signature. From these we derive new upper bounds for the minimal genus
of a surface representing a given element in the second homology of a mapping
class group.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Topolog
Origin of positive magnetoresistance in small-amplitude unidirectional lateral superlattices
We report quantitative analysis of positive magnetoresistance (PMR) for
unidirectional-lateral-superlattice samples with relatively small periods
(a=92-184 nm) and modulation amplitudes (V_0=0.015-0.25 meV). By comparing
observed PMR's with ones calculated using experimentally obtained mobilities,
quantum mobilities, and V_0's, it is shown that contribution from streaming
orbits (SO) accounts for only small fraction of the total PMR. For small V_0,
the limiting magnetic field B_e of SO can be identified as an inflection point
of the magnetoresistance trace. The major part of PMR is ascribed to drift
velocity arising from incompleted cyclotron orbits obstructed by scatterings.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, REVTe
Environmental determinants of malaria transmission in African villages
Background
Malaria transmission is complex, involving a range of hydroclimatological, biological, and environmental processes. The high degree of non-linearity in these processes makes it difficult to predict and intervene against malaria. This study seeks both to define a minimal number of malaria transmission determinants, and to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable environmental manipulation to prevent malaria transmission.
Methods
Using a field-tested mechanistic malaria model, HYDREMATS, a theoretical study was conducted under hypothetical conditions. Simulations were conducted with a range of hydroclimatological and environmental conditions: temperature (t), length of wet season (T[subscript wet]), storm inter-arrival time (T[subscript int]), persistence of vector breeding pools (T[subscript on]), and distribution of houses from breeding pools and from each other (X[subscript dist] and Y[subscript dist], respectively). Based on the theoretical study, a malaria time scale, T[subscript o], and a predictive theory of malaria transmission were introduced. The performance of the predictive theory was compared against the observational malaria transmission data in West Africa. Population density was used to estimate the scale that describes the spatial distribution of houses.
Results
The predictive theory shows a universality in malaria endemic conditions when plotted using two newly-introduced dimension-less parameters. The projected malaria transmission potential compared well with the observation data, and the apparent differences were discussed. The results illustrate the importance of spatial aspects in malaria transmission.
Conclusions
The predictive theory is useful in measuring malaria transmission potential, and it can also provide guidelines on how to plan the layout of human habitats in order to prevent endemic malaria. Malaria-resistant villages can be designed by locating houses further than critical distances away from breeding pools or by removing pools within a critical distance from houses; the critical distance is described in the context of local climatology and hydrology.
Keywords
Malaria transmission Hydrology Spatial impact Characteristic time scaleNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Masdar Institute of Science and TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technolog
Modelling and observing the role of wind in Anopheles population dynamics around a reservoir
Background
Wind conditions, as well as other environmental conditions, are likely to influence malaria transmission through the behaviours of Anopheles mosquitoes, especially around water-resource reservoirs. Wind-induced waves in a reservoir impose mortality on aquatic-stage mosquitoes. Mosquitoes’ host-seeking activity is also influenced by wind through dispersion of CO₂. However, no malaria transmission model exists to date that simulated those impacts of wind mechanistically.
Methods
A modelling framework for simulating the three important effects of wind on the behaviours of mosquito is developed: attraction of adult mosquitoes through dispersion of COâ‚‚ (COâ‚‚ attraction), advection of adult mosquitoes (advection), and aquatic-stage mortality due to wind-induced surface waves (waves). The framework was incorporated in a mechanistic malaria transmission simulator, HYDREMATS. The performance of the extended simulator was compared with the observed population dynamics of the Anopheles mosquitoes at a village adjacent to the Koka Reservoir in Ethiopia.
Results
The observed population dynamics of the Anopheles mosquitoes were reproduced with some reasonable accuracy in HYDREMATS that includes the representation of the wind effects. HYDREMATS without the wind model failed to do so. Offshore wind explained the increase in Anopheles population that cannot be expected from other environmental conditions alone. Conclusions
Around large water bodies such as reservoirs, the role of wind in the dynamics of Anopheles population, hence in malaria transmission, can be significant. Modelling the impacts of wind on the behaviours of Anopheles mosquitoes aids in reproducing the seasonality of malaria transmission and in estimation of the risk of malaria around reservoirs. Keywords: Malaria transmission; Water-resource reservoirs; Environmental conditionsNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant EAR-0946280
Environmental determinants of malaria transmission in African villages
Background
Malaria transmission is complex, involving a range of hydroclimatological, biological, and environmental processes. The high degree of non-linearity in these processes makes it difficult to predict and intervene against malaria. This study seeks both to define a minimal number of malaria transmission determinants, and to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable environmental manipulation to prevent malaria transmission.
Methods
Using a field-tested mechanistic malaria model, HYDREMATS, a theoretical study was conducted under hypothetical conditions. Simulations were conducted with a range of hydroclimatological and environmental conditions: temperature (t), length of wet season (Twet), storm inter-arrival time (Tint), persistence of vector breeding pools (Ton), and distribution of houses from breeding pools and from each other (Xdist and Ydist, respectively). Based on the theoretical study, a malaria time scale, To, and a predictive theory of malaria transmission were introduced. The performance of the predictive theory was compared against the observational malaria transmission data in West Africa. Population density was used to estimate the scale that describes the spatial distribution of houses.
Results
The predictive theory shows a universality in malaria endemic conditions when plotted using two newly-introduced dimension-less parameters. The projected malaria transmission potential compared well with the observation data, and the apparent differences were discussed. The results illustrate the importance of spatial aspects in malaria transmission.
Conclusions
The predictive theory is useful in measuring malaria transmission potential, and it can also provide guidelines on how to plan the layout of human habitats in order to prevent endemic malaria. Malaria-resistant villages can be designed by locating houses further than critical distances away from breeding pools or by removing pools within a critical distance from houses; the critical distance is described in the context of local climatology and hydrology.
Keywords: Malaria transmission; Hydrology; Spatial impact; Characteristic time scal
Wind: a neglected factor in the spread of infectious diseases – Authors' reply
We thank Joel Ellwanger and José Chies for their Correspondence regarding our Article. This Correspondence resonates with theirs and highlights a neglected approach in One Health from a larger perspective.
After unprecedented momentum and success in global malaria control in the first decade of 21st century, progress appears to have stalled.1 The easier goals have been achieved, but the remaining challenges require more sustainable and substantial investment in health-related infrastructure in resource-limited countries
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