The Gauge Dual of Gauged N=8 Supergravity Theory

The most general SU(3)-singlet space of gauged N=8 supergravity in four-dimensions is studied recently. The SU(3)-invariant six scalar fields are realized by six real four-forms. A family of holographic N=1 supersymmetric RG flows on M2-branes in three-dimensions is described. This family of flows is driven by three independent mass parameters from the N=8 SO(8) theory and is controlled by two IR fixed points, N=1 G_2-invariant one and N=2 SU(3) x U(1)-invariant one. The generic flow with arbitrary mass parameters is N=1 supersymmetric and reaches to the N=2 SU(3) x U(1) fixed point where the three masses become identical. A particular N=1 supersymmetric SU(3)-preserving RG flow from the N=1 G_2-invariant fixed point to the N=2 SU(3) x U(1)-invariant fixed point is also discussed.Comment: 19pp; added the footnote 1, improved the conclusion and to appear in IJMP

Klein tunneling through an oblique barrier in graphene ribbons

We study a transmission coefficient of graphene nanoribbons with a top gate which acts as an oblique barrier. Using a Green function method based on the Dirac-like equation, scattering among transverse modes due to the oblique barrier is taken into account numerically. In contrast to the 2-dimensional graphene sheet, we find that the pattern of transmission in graphene ribbons depends strongly on the electronic structure in the region of the barrier. Consequently, irregular structures in the transmission coefficient are predicted while perfect transmission is still calculated in the case of metallic graphene independently of angle and length of the oblique barrier

Hydrogen adsorption and phase transitions in fullerite

Hydrogen desorption and adsorption properties of the fullerene materials C60, C70, and fullerite (a mixture of C60 and C70) were measured volumetrically using a Sievert's apparatus. Over several cycles of isotherm measurements at 77 K, the hydrogen storage capacities of one of the fullerite samples increased from an initial value of 0.4 wt % for the first cycle to a capacity of 4.4 wt % for the fourth cycle. Correspondingly, the surface area of this sample increased from 0.9 to 11 m^2/g, and there were changes in its x-ray powder diffraction pattern. In comparison, two other fullerite samples, prepared by a different procedure showed no such behavior. Pure C60 and pure C70 were also cycled and exhibited small and constant capacities of 0.7 and 0.33 wt %, respectively, as a function of number of cycles. The enhanced storage capacity of fullerite material is tentatively attributed to the presence of C60 oxide

Pore size distribution and supercritical hydrogen adsorption in activated carbon fibers

Pore size distributions (PSD) and supercritical H_2 isotherms have been measured for two activated carbon fiber (ACF) samples. The surface area and the PSD both depend on the degree of activation to which the ACF has been exposed. The low-surface-area ACF has a narrow PSD centered at 0.5 nm, while the high-surface-area ACF has a broad distribution of pore widths between 0.5 and 2 nm. The H_2 adsorption enthalpy in the zero-coverage limit depends on the relative abundance of the smallest pores relative to the larger pores. Measurements of the H_2 isosteric adsorption enthalpy indicate the presence of energy heterogeneity in both ACF samples. Additional measurements on a microporous, coconut-derived activated carbon are presented for reference

Complex interplay of kinetic factors governs the synergistic properties of HIV-1 entry inhibitors.

The homotrimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) undergoes receptor-triggered structural changes that mediate viral entry through membrane fusion. This process is inhibited by chemokine receptor antagonists (CoRAs) that block Env-receptor interactions and by fusion inhibitors (FIs) that disrupt Env conformational transitions. Synergy between CoRAs and FIs has been attributed to a CoRA-dependent decrease in the rate of viral membrane fusion that extends the lifetime of the intermediate state targeted by FIs. Here, we demonstrated that the magnitude of CoRA/FI synergy unexpectedly depends on FI-binding affinity and the stoichiometry of chemokine receptor binding to trimeric Env. For C-peptide FIs (clinically represented by enfuvirtide), synergy waned as binding strength decreased until inhibitor combinations behaved additively. Curiously, this affinity dependence on synergy was absent for 5-Helix-type FIs. We linked this complex behavior to the CoRA dependence of Env deactivation following FI binding. For both FI classes, reducing chemokine receptor levels on target cells or eliminating competent chemokine receptor-binding sites on Env trimers resulted in a loss of synergistic activity. These data imply that the stoichiometry required for CoRA/FI synergy exceeds that required for HIV-1 entry. Our analysis suggests two distinct roles for chemokine receptor binding, one to trigger formation of the FI-sensitive intermediate state and another to facilitate subsequent conformational transitions. Together, our results could explain the wide variety of previously reported activities for CoRA/FI combinations. These findings also have implications for the combined use of CoRAs and FIs in antiviral therapies and point to a multifaceted role for chemokine receptor binding in promoting HIV-1 entry

Adaptive use of task assignment models in team-based mobile business processes

Most mobile business processes are executed under uncertain and dynamic working environments. This makes the traditional centralized approach for the management of mobile tasks inappropriate to respond to the changes in working environment quickly as collecting the changing information from geographically distributed workforces in real time is expensive if not impossible. This raises the need of a distributed approach in the management of mobile tasks. This paper proposes a distributed architecture for team-based coordination support for mobile task management. In this architecture, tasks are managed via peer-to-peer style coordination between team members who have better understanding on the changing working environment than a centralised system. The novelty of the design of the architecture is explained by applying it to a real business process in the UK