Localization of Interacting Fields in Five-Dimensional Braneworld Models

We study localization properties of fundamental fields which are coupled to one another through the gauge mechanism both in the original Randall-Sundrum (RS) and in the modified Randall-Sundrum (MRS) braneworld models: scalar-vector, vector-vector, and spinor-vector configuration systems. For this purpose we derive conditions of localization, namely the finiteness of integrals over the extra coordinate in the action of the system considered. We also derive field equations for each of the systems and then obtain their solutions corresponding to the extra dimension by a separation of variable method for every field involved in each system. We then insert the obtained solutions into the conditions of localization to seek whether or not the solutions are in accordance with the conditions of localization. We obtain that not all of the configuration systems considered are localizable on the brane of the original RS model while, on the contrary, they are localizable on the MRS braneworld model with some restrictions. In terms of field localizability on the brane, this result shows that the MRS model is much better than the original RS model.Comment: 20 pages revtex4. No figures. Published in IJMP

Rhizome Yourself: Experiencing Deleuze and Guattari from Theory to Practice

The leitmotif of this paper is the act of bridging gaps between the conceptual, methodological and experiential. Foremost it is an attempt to productively fuse aspects of the abstract and literary philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari with anthropological understandings of Global Assemblages (Ong and Collier 2005) through incorporation of theory in to everyday life. Here, we describe our journey exploring Deleuze and Guattari's conceptual Rhizome. It was an experiment, undertaken in order to bring new ideas to bear on our current and future ethnographic research relating to bioethics, clinical trials and the complexities of international science collaborations in Sri Lanka. In working to bridge a perceived gap between Deleuze and Guattari's philosophy and our familiar anthropological canon, we made real the abstract rhizomatic thinking they describe, through interaction with a physical rhizome, or plant root. In this paper we introduce BLAD, the Double Articulated Lobster Body (BLAD, acronym, in reverse) which acts as the focus of the narrative of the journey: how BLAD came to live in our house in a vase, how BLAD got 'its' name, how BLAD is a rhizome, a lobster and a deity, and how we subsequently replanted it. We suggest that just as a root of the rhizomic plant needs to be close to the surface to flower, so does rhizomatic thinking need to be present in daily life to affect thought. It is a tool most effective when personally incorporated. The story we tell in this paper is just one way in which the gap between the physical rhizomatic root and the conceptual tool has been bridged. The method described is as much creative as it is destructive. In order to 'live' the theory as commanded, the tool has been woven into thought as far more than a metaphor. For this to occur, a physical root has served as the means for breaking prior (arborescent) templates of thought, clearing the path for the thinking of new thoughts, extension of ideas and hopefully a fuller understanding of the productive relations between Deleuze-Guattarian Rhizomes and anthropological analysis

The alternate GNB3 splice variant, Gβ3s, exhibits an altered signalling response to EGF stimulation, which leads to enhanced cell migration

It has recently been reported that the duplication of the GNB3 gene has been shown to be directly linked to an obesity phenotype, both in humans and also in a humanised mouse model. Moreover, the common human GNB3 c.825C>T polymorphism (rs5443) causes this ubiquitously expressed gene to be aberrantly spliced approximately 50% of the time leading to the production of both a normal Gβ3 protein and a truncated, possibly less stable subunit, known as Gβ3s. The presence of the GNB3 825T allele has previously been shown to be associated with predisposition to hypertension, obesity, various cancers, Alzheimers, age related cognitive function, erectile dysfunction as well as a marker for pharmacogenetic drug action. Great controversy, however, currently exists as to whether these phenotypes associated with the 825T allele are a) mainly due to the presence of the smaller, possibly more active, Gβ3s subunit or b) merely down to the haploinsufficiency of the normal GNB3 transcript, due to its frequent aberrant splicing. In order to try and address these two conflicting hypothesis, we report on the identification and characterisation of signalling alterations unique to the presence of Gβ3s protein subunit. Moreover we also show the physiological consequences associated with altered signalling, directly induced by the Gβ3s subunit. For this, we used both an EBV transformed lymphoblast cell line homozygote for GNB3 825T/825T (TT) and a stable Gβ3s expressing recombinant COS-7 clone. In both of these cell lines that express the Gβ3s subunit, we found enhanced cytosolic calcium influx upon stimulation with EGF, TGFα and VEGF ligands, as compared to “normal” GNB3 controls with the 825C/825C (CC) genotype. This aberrant calcium influx also led to an increase in ERK, but not AKT1, phosphorylation. Despite the lack of AKT1 activation, we paradoxically observed a significant increase in phosphorylation of its downstream substrates, namely mTOR and p70S6k (KS6B2). Moreover we observed a decrease in phospho FoxO3a only in Gβ3s expressing cells, but not in the “normal” GNB3 (CC) control cell line. The presence of the Gβ3s subunit also appeared to alter the distinct localisation patterns of both Foxo3a and AKT1, while also increasing the colocalisation of mTOR and p70S6K. Subsequent growth factor stimulation studies revealed that EGF treatment, of Gβ3s expressing cells, appeared to cause a significant decrease in cAMP levels, which, in turn resulted in both enhanced caveolin-1a phosphorylation, and an increase in actin stress fibre formation. The identification of these distinct Gβ3s specific signalling alterations were indicative of a more aggressive migratory phenotype. This led us to further investigate and confirm that the presence of the Gβ3s subunit also appears to cause significantly enhanced migration and robust scratch wound healing kinetics, as compared to cells harbouring only the normal copy of the gene. These data therefore present convincing evidence that the Gβ3s subunit is stable, functional and its presence can significantly alter signalling pathways, in different cell types

Isolated Open Rotor Noise Prediction Assessment Using the F31A31 Historical Blade Set

In an effort to mitigate next-generation fuel efficiency and environmental impact concerns for aviation, open rotor propulsion systems have received renewed interest. However, maintaining the high propulsive efficiency while simultaneously meeting noise goals has been one of the challenges in making open rotor propulsion a viable option. Improvements in prediction tools and design methodologies have opened the design space for next generation open rotor designs that satisfy these challenging objectives. As such, validation of aerodynamic and acoustic prediction tools has been an important aspect of open rotor research efforts. This paper describes validation efforts of a combined computational fluid dynamics and Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation methodology for open rotor aeroacoustic modeling. Performance and acoustic predictions were made for a benchmark open rotor blade set and compared with measurements over a range of rotor speeds and observer angles. Overall, the results indicate that the computational approach is acceptable for assessing low-noise open rotor designs. Additionally, this approach may be used to provide realistic incident source fields for acoustic shielding/scattering studies on various aircraft configurations

Localization of Interacting Fields in Five-Dimensional Braneworld Models

We study localization properties of fundamental fields which are coupled to one another through the gauge mechanism both in the original Randall-Sundrum (RS) and in the modified Randall-Sundrum (MRS) braneworld models: scalar-vector, vector-vector, and spinor-vector configuration systems. For this purpose we derive conditions of localization, namely the finiteness of integrals over the extra coordinate in the action of the system considered. We also derive field equations for each of the systems and then obtain their solutions corresponding to the extra dimension by a separation of variable method for every field involved in each system. We then insert the obtained solutions into the conditions of localization to seek whether or not the solutions are in accordance with the conditions of localization. We obtain that not all of the configuration systems considered are localizable on the brane of the original RS model while, on the contrary, they are localizable on the MRS braneworld model with some restrictions. In terms of field localizability on the brane, this result shows that the MRS model is much better than the original RS model

Strontium isotope stratigraphy and age estimates for the Leisey Shell Pit faunas, Hillsborough County, Florida

The vertebrate fauna of the Leisey Shell Pit near Tampa Bay, Florida, represents one of the more significant lrvingtonian mammalian faunas of North America. The fossil vertebrates occur in thin bone beds bounded above and below by massive shell beds containing a rich invertebrate ( chiefly molluscan) fauna. Debate has arisen concerning the precise age of the faunas at Leisey. Although generally agreed to be Pleistocene, estimates based upon vertebrate biostratigraphy suggest a somewhat older age than do estimates based upon molluscan biostratigraphy. To help resolve this controvefliy, 87Sr/86Sr ratios were determined on molluscan shells throughout the section. These ratios were then correlated to the global sea water 87Sr/86Sr curve for age detennination. The Sr isotopes support an early Pleistocene age for the vertebrate fauna and suggest a complex history for the shell accumulations

Ten-year Trends in Physical Dating Victimization among Adolescent Boys and Girls in British Columbia, Canada

Physical dating violence (PDV) victimization among adolescents is a serious global problem. Although knowledge of trends in PDV victimization can help guide programming and health policies, little research has examined whether the prevalence of PDV victimization has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time among non-U.S.-based samples of youth. In addition, few studies have directly tested whether disparities in PDV victimization between boys and girls have narrowed, widened, or remained unchanged in recent years. To address these gaps, we used school-based data from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Surveys (BC AHS) of 2003, 2008, and 2013 (n boys = 18,441 and n girls = 17,459) to examine 10-year trends in PDV victimization. We also tested whether trends differed across self-reported sex. Data from the 2003 to 2013 BC AHS revealed that recent PDV victimization rates had significantly decreased among youth overall (5.9% to 5.0%) and boys (8.0% to 5.8%), but not girls (5.3% to 4.2%). Although boys had steeper declines than girls in PDV victimization rates, year-by-sex interactions indicate that the sex gap in PDV victimization had not significantly narrowed. Moreover, rates of PDV victimization over the 10-year period indicated significantly higher rates of PDV victimization among boys compared to girls. Despite positive declines in recent rates of PDV victimization among youth, important differences in rates of PDV victimization between boys and girls remain. These findings underscore the need for greater attention to sex differences in research and programming and health policies to reduce PDV victimization and the sex disparities therein

Comparison of seasonal habitat selection between threatened woodland caribou ecotypes in central British Columbia

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia have been classified into ecotypes based on differences in use of habitat in winter. Although recovery planning focuses on ecotypes, habitat use and selection varies within ecotypes. Our objectives were to compare habitat use and selection among previously identified woodland caribou herds at the transition zone between northern (Moberly, Quintette, and Kennedy herds) and mountain (Parsnip herd) ecotypes in central British Columbia. We developed selection models for each herd in spring, calving, summer/fall, early and late winter. Topographic models best predicted selection by most herds in most seasons, but importance of vegetation-cover was highlighted by disproportionate use of specific vegetation-cover types by all caribou herds (e.g., in early winter, 75% of Kennedy locations were in pine-leading stands, 84% of Parsnip locations were in fir and fir-leading stands, and 87 and 96% of locations were in alpine for the Moberly and Quintette herds, respectively). Using a combination of GPS and VHF radio-collar locations, we documented some spatial overlap among herds within the year, but use of vegetation-cover types and selection of elevations, aspects, and vegetation-cover types differed among herds and within ecotypes in all seasons. Habitat use and selection were most similar between the two northern-ecotype herds residing on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. This research indicates that habitat use and selection by caribou herds in all seasons is more variable than ecotype classifications suggest and demonstrates the value of undertaking herd-specific mapping of critical habitat for woodland caribou

Potential of Phytoremediation to clean up uranium-contaminated soil with Acacia species

Pollution by depleted uranium (DU) is considered one of the major problems faced by many countries, where this by-product is considered as a major  source of radiotoxic and chemotoxic heavy metal soil pollution. An experiment was designed for uranium uptake from sandy soil treated with different concentration of uranium  by using two species of Acacia  (Acacia albida and A. nelotica ). Results showed there is a difference in the ability of the Acacia seedlings tested to absorb different concentrations of uranium through their roots. Acacia nilotica registered the highest levels of absorption and accumulation of uranium in dry weight of roots in different concentrations (202, 339, 1175, and 1477 µg.g-1 ) respectively of  the concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 500 mgkg-1). Compared to the root of Acacia albida, the absorption of uranium was (60, 54, 133, and 526 µg.g-1) in the concentrations of the same samples. The ability of A. nilotica is better than that of A. albida to uptake uranium from the soil, where 80-90% of the uranium is absorbed by the seedlings, compared to 44-85% in  A. albida. In the case of low concentrations  of uranium (50 and 100 mgkg-1)  A. nilotica seedlings absorbed  about 80-90%  of the original concentration, whereast A. albida absorbed only 44-70% of the same treatment.  In high concentrations (500mgkg-1), we found  that the A. nilotica uptake of 90% of uranium was higher compared to that of  A. albida whose average uptake was about  77%. Also, we found a difference between species and treatment in the remainder of the uranium in the soil. The uranium remaining in the soil at the end of the period of uranium application showed a difference between species and treatments. The uptake of uranium by A. albida was 14-41% while in A. nilotica it it was 58-67%, based upon the concentration in soil solution. In low concentrations (100mg.kg-1) A. albida absorbed only 16%, while A. nilotica absorbed about 67% from the uranium in soil solution. In high concentrations (2000mg.kg-1) of uranium, 23%  was found in A. albida and 66% in A. nilotica. This shows that A. nilotica can uptake uranium from soil solution three times more than A. albida. The  biomass results, the shoot height of  A.nilotica plants decreased with the progression of time during the treatment with high concentrations of uranium, but in low and moderate concentrations (50,100, and 200mg.kg-1) it was less affected than high concentrations (500mg.kg-1). A. albida height was reduced  when treated with (200mg.kg-1)   in all the growth periods, whereas the growth of seedlings gave values less than when treated with the height concentration of uranium (500mg.kg-1) for the two species. Keywords: Phytoremediation,  Depleted Uranium, Acacia albida,  A. Nilotica