Zeta functions of totally ramified p-covers of the projective line

In this paper we prove that there exists a Zariski dense open subset U defined over the rationals Q in the space of all one-variable rational functions with arbitrary k poles of prescribed orders, such that for every geometric point f in U(Qbar)$, the L-function of the exponential sum of f at a prime p has Newton polygon approaching the Hodge polygon as p approaches infinity. As an application to algebraic geometry, we prove that the p-adic Newton polygon of the zeta function of a p-cover of the projective line totally ramified at arbitrary k points of prescribed orders has an asymptotic generic lower bound.Comment: 17 page

Construction of some families of 2-dimensional crystalline representations

We construct explicitly some analytic families of etale (phi,Gamma)-modules, which give rise to analytic families of 2-dimensional crystalline representations. As an application of our constructions, we verify some conjectures of Breuil on the reduction modulo p of those representations, and extend some results (of Deligne, Edixhoven, Fontaine and Serre) on the representations arising from modular forms.Comment: 13 pages, english and french abstract

Whether COVID-19 Infection Affects Human Cognitive Function

The COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, continues to impact the daily lives of individuals worldwide. Although research has been conducted on long-COVID symptoms, the underlying causes remain unclear. Notably, instances of neurological decline have been observed following SARS-CoV-2 infections. 125,573 articles regarding neurological damage and cognitive disfunction were published and can be found from major research databases. For this scholarly project, 25 peer-reviewed journal articles pertaining to long-COVID and neurologic function changes, as well as potential underlying reasons for these changes, were curated. The proposed hypotheses include the virus\u27 ability to pass through and harm the blood-brain barrier and neuronal cells, the release of neurochemicals associated with the SARS-CoV-2 antibody spike protein, as well as vascular ischemia, hypoxia of the brain, and other organs. Urgent attention is required to conduct further research on the treatment of chronic neurologic function changes resulting from long-COVID

Proton NMR Spectroscopy as a Probe of Dinuclear Copper(II) Active Sites in Metalloproteins. Characterization of the Hyperactive Copper(II)-Substituted Aminopeptidase from \u3cem\u3eAeromonas proteolytica\u3c/em\u3e

Proton NMR spectra of the hyperactive Cu(II)-substituted aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP) were recorded in both H2O and D2O buffered solution at pH 6.7. Several remarkably sharp, well resolved hyperfine shifted 1H NMR signals were observed in the 70 to −20 ppm chemical shift range. That hyperfine shifted signals were observed is due to spin-coupling of the two Cu(II) ions. Comparison of the spectra recorded in H2O and D2O buffered solutions indicated that the signals at 44.6, 43.3, and 17.7 ppm were solvent exchangeable. The two most strongly downfield shifted signals were assigned to imidazole N−H protons of the two coordinated histidine residues, while the remaining exchangeable signal was assigned to a peptidyl N−H proton that is in close proximity to the dicopper(II) center. One-dimensional NOE studies at pH 6.7 revealed two Y−CH2−CH\u3c moieties that were assigned to coordinated aspartic acid and histidine residues. In addition, a Y−CH2−CH2−CH\u3c moiety was also identified and was assigned to the coordinated glutamic acid residue, Glu152. All of the hyperfine shifted signals for [CuCu(AAP)] sharpened and shifted toward the diamagnetic region as the temperature was increased following Curie behavior. Fits of these data and those of a series of magnetically diverse μ-phenoxo and μ-alkoxo dicopper(II) model complexes to the population distribution of the ground and first excited states, provided information on the magnetic properties of dicopper(II) clusters. These fits indicated that the two Cu(II) ions in AAP are ferromagnetically coupled with a 2J value of 50 + 40 cm-1. These data provide the first structural information regarding the hyperactive [CuCu(AAP)] enzyme and are discussed in terms of the previously proposed mechanism of action for AAP

A Multiple-Case Study: The Deployment of Allied Educators (Learning and Behavioural Support) in Singapore Mainstream Primary Schools

Despite the growth of international research on paraeducator deployment, the understanding of its working in Singapore remains nascent. This study seeks to address the limited knowledge of paraeducator deployment in Singapore by examining how Allied Educator (Learning and Behavioural Support) [AED(LBS)] spend their time in school, how they work with the school community of teachers and school leaders, and the factors that affect the process of working together using Wenger’s (1998) community of practice framework. This study adopted a multiple case-study design with two phases. Phase One employed a survey questionnaire to determine how AEDs(LBS) spend their time in school. Its findings provided an objective understanding of the AED(LBS) role which is currently lacking in the literature. Its findings also assisted in the shortlisting of cases for Phase Two of the multiple-case study i.e. the interviews. Phase Two consisted of a multiple-case study involving in-depth interviews with AEDs(LBS), teachers and school leaders to understand how AEDs(LBS) worked with the school community. Both phases were piloted to refine the tools used in the main study. Data collected was analysed using the thematic analysis approach. Findings revealed that AEDs(LBS) had an intangible impact on their school community in the form of voice and visibility. Voice enabled AEDs(LBS) to express their participation, proficiency, initiative or confidence while visibility enabled colleagues to see their role-related participation, through their physical presence and the products of their participation. AEDs(LBS) who demonstrated voice and visibility, gained the trust of the school community and were better able to influence the school community to take ownership of students with SEN. Leadership and AED(LBS) factors were found to influence voice and visibility. Crucially, the study found that AEDs’(LBS) voice and visibility can be influenced to improve partnership outcomes in school. The findings encourage a reimagination of the paraeducator role as an agent of change who can influence the school community to assume a shared responsibility in SEN

International students' perspectives of Malaysian English teachers' spoken English

Numerous studies comparing native and non-native English teachers have found that ESL students prefer native teachers for teaching speaking skills and pronunciation. In other words, non-native teachers are viewed as less superior in matters related to spoken language. This study explores international students' views on spoken English of Malaysian teachers in English language classrooms. 81 international students who were attending English language classes as a preparation for university programmes at a Malaysian university participated in the study. The students were given a short writing task which required them to rate as well as stated their views on their Malaysian teachers' spoken English in terms of speech rate, pronunciation, vocabulary, syntax, intelligibility, nativeness and acceptability for global communication. The study found that the international students considered the variety of Malaysian English used in the classroom as highly intelligible with high ratings for speech rates, vocabulary and sentence structures. Malaysian English is also viewed as highly acceptable for global communication. Although the teachers' spoken language was rated lower for pronunciation and nativeness compared to other traits confirming the views that non-native teachers are perceived as less proficient in pronunciation compared to the other skills, the ratings were still high indicating that in general, the acrolectal variety of Malaysian English as spoken in English classes is reasonably well accepted by other non-native speakers. © 2018, IJAL

Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering study of overdoped La2−x_{2-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4}

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the copper K absorption edge has been performed for heavily overdoped samples of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ with $x= 0.25$ and 0.30. We have observed the charge transfer and molecular-orbital excitations which exhibit resonances at incident energies of $E_i= 8.992$ and 8.998 keV, respectively. From a comparison with previous results on undoped and optimally-doped samples, we determine that the charge-transfer excitation energy increases monotonically as doping increases. In addition, the $E_i$-dependences of the RIXS spectral weight and absorption spectrum exhibit no clear peak at $E_i = 8.998$ keV in contrast to results in the underdoped samples. The low-energy ($\leq 3$ eV) continuum excitation intensity has been studied utilizing the high energy resolution of 0.13 eV (FWHM). A comparison of the RIXS profiles at $(\pi ~0)$ and $(\pi ~\pi)$ indicates that the continuum intensity exists even at $(\pi ~\pi)$ in the overdoped samples, whereas it has been reported only at $(0 ~0)$ and $(\pi ~0)$ for the $x=0.17$ sample. Furthermore, we also found an additional excitation on top of the continuum intensity at the $(\pi ~\pi)$ and $(\pi ~0)$ positions.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Reduce Human Cytomegalovirus Infection and Spread in Developing Placentas.

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a leading cause of birth defects worldwide, yet the most effective strategies for preventing virus transmission during pregnancy are unknown. We measured the efficacy of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to HCMV attachment/entry factors glycoprotein B (gB) and the pentameric complex, gH/gL-pUL128-131, in preventing infection and spread of a clinical strain in primary placental cells and explants of developing anchoring villi. A total of 109 explants from five first-trimester placentas were cultured, and infection was analyzed in over 400 cell columns containing ~120,000 cytotrophoblasts (CTBs). mAbs to gB and gH/gL, 3-25 and 3-16, respectively, neutralized infection in stromal fibroblasts and trophoblast progenitor cells. mAbs to pUL128-131 of the pentameric complex, 1-103 and 2-18, neutralized infection of amniotic epithelial cells better than mAbs 3-25 and 3-16 and hyperimmune globulin. Select mAbs neutralized infection of cell column CTBs, with mAb 2-18 most effective, followed by mAb 3-25. Treatment of anchoring villi with mAbs postinfection reduced spread in CTBs and impaired formation of virion assembly compartments, with mAb 2-18 achieving better suppression at lower concentrations. These results predict that antibodies generated by HCMV vaccines or used for passive immunization have the potential to reduce transplacental transmission and congenital disease