On the Inconsistency of Fayet-Iliopoulos Terms in Supergravity Theories

Motivated by recent discussions, we revisit the issue of whether globally supersymmetric theories with non-zero Fayet-Iliopoulos terms may be consistently coupled to supergravity. In particular, we examine claims that a fundamental inconsistency arises due to the conflicting requirements which are imposed on the $R$-symmetry properties of the theory by the supergravity framework. We also prove that certain kinds of Fayet-Iliopoulos contributions to the supercurrent supermultiplets of theories with non-zero Fayet-Iliopoulos terms fail to exist. A key feature of our discussion is an explicit comparison between results from the chiral (or ``old minimal'') and linear (or ``new minimal'') formulations of supergravity, and the effects within each of these formalisms that are induced by the presence of non-zero Fayet-Iliopoulos terms.Comment: Comments: 69 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures, 7 tables. Significant new material on conformal-compensator formalisms added, previous results clarified and extended, references adde

Plasma proteome correlates of lipid and lipoprotein: biomarkers of metabolic diversity and inflammation in children of rural Nepal.

Proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism can modulate cardiovascular health. While often measured to assess adult metabolic diseases, little is known about the proteomes of lipoproteins and their relation to metabolic dysregulation and underlying inflammation in undernourished child populations. The objective of this population study was to globally characterize plasma proteins systemically associated with HDL, LDL, and triglycerides in 500 Nepalese children. Abnormal lipid profiles characterized by elevated plasma triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were common, especially in children with subclinical inflammation. Among 982 proteins analyzed, the relative abundance of 11, 12, and 52 plasma proteins was correlated with LDL-cholesterol (r = -0.43∼0.70), triglycerides (r = -0.39∼0.53), and HDL-C (r = -0.49∼0.79) concentrations, respectively. These proteins included apolipoproteins and numerous unexpected intracellular and extracellular matrix binding proteins, likely originating in hepatic and peripheral tissues. Relative abundance of two-thirds of the HDL proteome varied with inflammation, with acute phase reactants higher by 4∼40%, and proteins involved in HDL biosynthesis, cholesterol efflux, vitamin transport, angiogenesis, and tissue repair lower by 3∼20%. Untargeted plasma proteomics detects comprehensive sets of both known and novel lipoprotein-associated proteins likely reflecting systemic regulation of lipoprotein metabolism and vascular homeostasis. Inflammation-altered distributions of the HDL proteome may be predisposing undernourished populations to early chronic disease

Training Load, Injury Burden, and Team Success in Professional Rugby Union:Risk Versus Reward

CONTEXT: Individual and team injury burden and performance are 2 key considerations facing practitioners in the daily prescription of an athlete's training load. Whereas a considerable number of researchers have examined univariate relationships between training load and performance, training load and injury, or injury and performance, few investigators have examined all 3 concurrently. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association among training load, injury burden, and performance in professional rugby union. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: The English Premiership competition. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Individual injury and training load data, as well as team performance data, were captured during the 2015–2016 (n = 433 players) and 2016–2017 (n = 569 players) seasons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Data were aggregated into team average scores for each week, including weekly (acute) load, smoothed chronic load, changes in load, injury burden, and weekly performance. Linear mixed modelling techniques were used to assess the association among measures. RESULTS: Injury burden was negatively associated with performance, with a high weekly burden associated with a likely harmful (P = .01) decrease in performance. Training load measures displayed only trivial associations with performance. Only the acute:chronic workload ratio measure was clearly associated with injury burden, with a possibly harmful effect (P = .02). Both squad size and player availability were associated with only trivial changes in performance. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas no association between average training load and performance existed, associations between training load and injury burden and between injury burden and performance were clear. Further investigation using more sensitive and individualized measures of load, performance, and injury may elicit a clearer relationship and should be considered for future work

Current Collection to Electrodynamic Tether Systems in Space

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77109/1/AIAA-2004-5670-600.pd

The importance of mother’s care for improving exclusive breastfeeding practices

ABSTRAKLatar Belakang: Secara global, prevalensi ibu yang memberikan ASI (air susu ibu) secara eksklusif untuk bayinya sampai dengan usia 6 bulan masih rendah (38%). Di Indonesia, pemberian ASI sudah dipraktikkan secara luas, namun yang memberikan hingga 6 bulan hanya 15,3% dan belum meningkat, meskipun Panduan Pemberian Makan Bayi dan Anak dari WHO telah tersedia.Tujuan: Studi ini bertujuan untuk menginvestigasi pentingnya pengasuhan oleh ibu (yaitu ibu memiliki peran terbesar dan menghabiskan waktu terbanyak untuk merawat bayinya sehari-hari) untuk meningkatkan praktik ASI Eksklusif pada populasi dengan tingkat ekonomi rendah.Metode: Studi cross-sectional ini dilakukan pada 408 anak usia 6 - 24 bulan dan pengasuhnya di daerah pedesaan Indonesia. Data riwayat ASI, pengasuhan anak, dan status sosio-ekonomi diambil dengan instrumen kuesioner terstruktur oleh pewawancara yang terlatih.Hasil: Lebih dari setengah (61%) Ibu di populasi ini memberikan ASI secara eksklusif pada bayinya sampai dengan usia 6 bulan. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa bayi mempunyai kesempatan yang lebih besar untuk diberikan ASI eksklusif jika diasuh oleh ibu kandungnya (OR = 4.6., 95% CI = 1.75 - 12.2) dan berasal dari keluarga dengan penghasilan rendah (OR = 1.9 95% CI = 1.08 - 3.2), setelah mengendalikan variabel lain.Kesimpulan: Pada populasi berpenghasilan rendah dimana praktik pemberian ASI telah dilakukan, tetapi pengasuhan anak dilakukan oleh seseorang selain ibu kandung, pentingnya pemberian ASI eksklusif harus terus ditekankan. Edukasi untuk meningkatkan motivasi ibu dan anggota keluarga lainnya dalam memberikan ASI, serta membangun lingkungan kerja yang ramah menyusui adalah hal yang penting untuk dilakukan.KATA KUNCI: ASI eksklusif; pengasuh; ibu kandung; tingkat ekonomi; Indonesia Timur ABSTRACTBackground: Globally, the prevalence of women who exclusively breastfeed their infants to 6 months of age remains low (38%). In Indonesia, breastfeeding is widely practiced but the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months is only 15,3% and has not increased over time, despite WHO IYCF guidelines.Objectives: This study aims to examine the importance of mother’s care for improving exclusive breastfeeding practices in low-income populations in Indonesia.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using 408 children aged 6 - 24 months and their caregivers in rural Indonesia. five districts. Data on breastfeeding history, childcare, and socioeconomic status of families were collected using structured questionnaires by trained interviewers.Results: Over half (61%) of mothers in this population exclusively breastfed their infant at 6 months (?) Results showed that infants are more likely to receive exclusive breastfeeding if they were cared by biological mothers (OR = 4.6., 95% CI = 1.75 - 12.2) and reside in low-income households (OR = 1.9 95% CI = 1.08 - 3.2), after adjusting for confounding variables.Conclusion: In low-income populations where breastfeeding is common but the provision of child care is provided by someone besides the biological mother, the importance of exclusive breastfeeding should continue to be emphasizedKEYWORDS: exclusive breastfeeding; caregivers; biological mothers; economic level; Eastern Indonesi

Maternal vitamin A supplementation increases natural antibody concentrations of preadolescent offspring in rural Nepal

AbstractObjectiveB1a lymphocytes—which constitutively produce most natural antibodies (NAb)—arise from an early wave of progenitors unique to fetal life. Vitamin A regulates early lymphopoiesis. In animals, deficiency during this critical period compromises B1 cell populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with vitamin A or β-carotene from preconception through lactation on NAb concentrations of offspring.MethodsParticipants (N = 290) were born to participants of a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial of weekly maternal vitamin A or β-carotene supplementation (7000 μg retinol equivalents) conducted in Sarlahi, Nepal (1994–1997) and assessed at ages 9 to 13 y (2006–2008). Serum retinol was measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography at mid-pregnancy and 3 mo of age. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure children's plasma NAb concentrations at 9 to 13 y.ResultsUnadjusted geometric mean concentrations were 20.08 U/mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.82–22.64) in the vitamin A group compared with 17.64 U/mL (95% CI, 15.70–19.81) and 15.96 U/mL (95% CI, 13.43–18.96) in the β-carotene and placebo groups (P = 0.07), respectively. After adjustment, maternal vitamin A supplementation was associated with a 0.39 SD increase in NAb concentrations (P = 0.02). The effect was mediated by infant serum retinol in our statistical models. Although girls had 1.4-fold higher NAb concentrations (P < 0.001), sex did not modify the vitamin A effect.ConclusionsIn an undernourished population, maternal vitamin A supplementation enhanced NAb concentrations of preadolescent children. We posit that this was due to a greater allotment of B1a precursors during fetal life and a sustained higher count of NAb-secreting B1a cells

SuperWASP: Wide Angle Search for Planets

SuperWASP is a fully robotic, ultra-wide angle survey for planetary transits. Currently under construction, it will consist of 5 cameras, each monitoring a 9.5 x 9.5 deg field of view. The Torus mount and enclosure will be fully automated and linked to a built-in weather station. We aim to begin observations at the beginning of 2003.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to be published in proceedings of "Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets

Training and match load in professional rugby union: Do contextual factors influence the training week?

Background: Rugby union demands a multifaceted approach to training, given the multiple physical and technical attributes required to play the sport. Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the distribution of training throughout the week and investigate how this may be influenced by match-related factors. Methods: Training load data (session Rating of Perceived Exertion [sRPE], total distance and high-speed running [HSR]) were collected from six professional English rugby teams during the 2017/18 season. Five contextual factors were also recorded including: standard of opposition, competition type, result of previous fixture, surface type, and match venue. Results: The day prior to matches demonstrated the lowest training load (101 AU (95% CIs: 0-216 AU) , 1 047 m (95% CIs:1 128-1 686 m) and 59 m (95% CIs: 0-343 m), respectively), while four days prior to the match demonstrated the highest training load (464 AU (95% CIs: 350-578), 2 983 m (95% CIs: 2 704-3 262m) and 234m (95% CIs: 0-477m), respectively). Of the five contextual factors, competition type was the only variable that demonstrated greater than trivial findings, with training before European fixtures the lowest stimulus across the four different competition types. Standard of opposition, previous result, surface type and venue had only trivial effects on training load (effect sizes = -0.13 to 0.15). Conclusion: Future studies should outline the distribution of other training metrics, including contact and collision training. This study provides a multi-club evaluation that demonstrates the variety of loading strategies prior to competitive match play and highlights competition type as the most influential contextual factor impacting the average training load

Influence of biofilms on transport of fluids in subsurface granitic environments : some mineralogical and petrographical observations of materials from column experiments

Landfill and radioactive waste disposal risk assessments focus on contaminant transport and are principally concerned with understanding the movement of gas, water and solutes through engineered barriers and natural groundwater systems. However, microbiological activity can impact on transport processes changing the chemical and physical characteristics of the subsurface environment. Such effects are generally caused by biofilms attached to rock surfaces. This paper will present some mineralogical and petrographical observations of materials extracted at the completion of an experimental column study which examined the influences of biofilm growth on groundwater flow through crushed diorite from the Äspö Hard Rock Underground Research Laboratory, Sweden