Phase space polarization and the topological string: a case study

We review and elaborate on our discussion in hep-th/0606112 on the interplay between the target space and the worldsheet description of the open topological string partition function, for the example of the conifold. We discuss the appropriate phase space and canonical form for the system. We find a map between choices of polarization and the worldsheet description, based on which we study the behavior of the partition function under canonical transformations.Comment: 18 pages, invited review for MPL

Complexity for megaprojects in the energy sector

Megaprojects are characterised by their large-scale capital costs, long duration and extraordinary levels of technical and process complexity. Empirical data demonstrate that these projects experience alarming rates of failure. One of the main causes of such project failure is the high level of complexity and the absence of effective tools to assess and manage it. This study develops a new project complexity assessment method, which is specifically aimed at megaprojects in the energy sector. The assessment method contains a taxonomy of 51 complexity indicators and their consolidated weights, which are established through a novel Delphi-AHP Group Decision Making method. Numerical Scoring criteria for all indicators are defined on the basis of synthesis of existing knowledge of megaprojects to facilitate the application of the new method. It is reviewed and evaluated by experts and tested through a case study energy megaproject

Comparison of domestic violence and its related factors in pregnant women in both urban and rural population in Zarand city, 2014

Background and aims: Domestic violence is a public cultural and health-related problem that its prevalence varies among different societies and affects pregnancy outcomes in direct and indirect fashions. The aim of this study was to compare domestic violence and its related factors in rural and urban pregnant women in Zarand. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 pregnant women referred to Zarand’s urban and rural healthcare centers during 2014 were included by simple (convenient) sampling method. Demographic and CTS-2 questionnaires were given to the samples. Data was analyzed by means of the independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman’s statistical tests. Results: The study results showed that domestic violence the mean of violence in urban and rural pregnant women was 1.82±2.86 and 1.00±1.60 in physical domain, 2.93±1.61 and 2.04±1.46 in psychological domain, 3.87±2.93 and 1.99±2.89 in sexual domain, and 1.43±1.89 and 2.29±2.36 in injury-resulted violence, respectively. A significant difference between urban and rural groups in physical, psychological and sexual violence was observed (P<0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference in injury-resulted violence between two groups. Woman’s age, spouse’s age and education level, economic (financial) status, number of pregnancies and children, marriage duration and spouse’s addiction (drug/substance abuse) were significantly related to the types of domestic violence (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to project results about high domestic violence, it is recommended screening violence in the all health and therapy centers

A matrix model for the topological string II: The spectral curve and mirror geometry

In a previous paper, we presented a matrix model reproducing the topological string partition function on an arbitrary given toric Calabi-Yau manifold. Here, we study the spectral curve of our matrix model and thus derive, upon imposing certain minimality assumptions on the spectral curve, the large volume limit of the BKMP "remodeling the B-model" conjecture, the claim that Gromov-Witten invariants of any toric Calabi-Yau 3-fold coincide with the spectral invariants of its mirror curve.Comment: 1+37 page

Planet Hunters VII. Discovery of a New Low-Mass, Low-Density Planet (PH3 c) Orbiting Kepler-289 with Mass Measurements of Two Additional Planets (PH3 b and d)

We report the discovery of one newly confirmed planet ($P=66.06$ days, $R_{\rm{P}}=2.68\pm0.17R_\oplus$) and mass determinations of two previously validated Kepler planets, Kepler-289 b ($P=34.55$ days, $R_{\rm{P}}=2.15\pm0.10R_\oplus$) and Kepler-289-c ($P=125.85$ days, $R_{\rm{P}}=11.59\pm0.10R_\oplus$), through their transit timing variations (TTVs). We also exclude the possibility that these three planets reside in a $1:2:4$ Laplace resonance. The outer planet has very deep ($\sim1.3$), high signal-to-noise transits, which puts extremely tight constraints on its host star's stellar properties via Kepler's Third Law. The star PH3 is a young ($\sim1$ Gyr as determined by isochrones and gyrochronology), Sun-like star with $M_*=1.08\pm0.02M_\odot$, $R_*=1.00\pm0.02R_\odot$, and $T_{\rm{eff}}=5990\pm38$ K. The middle planet's large TTV amplitude ($\sim5$ hours) resulted either in non-detections or inaccurate detections in previous searches. A strong chopping signal, a shorter period sinusoid in the TTVs, allows us to break the mass-eccentricity degeneracy and uniquely determine the masses of the inner, middle, and outer planets to be $M=7.3\pm6.8M_\oplus$, $4.0\pm0.9M_\oplus$, and $M=132\pm17M_\oplus$, which we designate PH3 b, c, and d, respectively. Furthermore, the middle planet, PH3 c, has a relatively low density, $\rho=1.2\pm0.3$ g/cm$^3$ for a planet of its mass, requiring a substantial H/He atmosphere of $2.1^{+0.8}_{-0.3}$ by mass, and joins a growing population of low-mass, low-density planets.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables, accepted into Ap

MicroRNA Expression Profiling in Mild Asthmatic Human Airways and Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common disease characterised by reversible airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and chronic inflammation, which is commonly treated using corticosteroids such as budesonide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently identified family of non-protein encoding genes that regulate protein translation by a mechanism entitled RNA interference. Previous studies have shown lung-specific miRNA expression profiles, although their importance in regulating gene expression is unresolved. We determined whether miRNA expression was differentially expressed in mild asthma and the effect of corticosteroid treatment. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have examined changes in miRNA using a highly sensitive RT-PCR based approach to measure the expression of 227 miRNAs in airway biopsies obtained from normal and mild asthmatic patients. We have also determined whether the anti-inflammatory action of corticosteroids are mediated through miRNAs by determining the profile of miRNA expression in mild asthmatics, before and following 1 month twice daily treatment with inhaled budesonide. Furthermore, we have analysed the expression of miRNAs from individual cell populations from the airway and lung. We found no significant difference in the expression of 227 miRNAs in the airway biopsies obtained from normal and mild asthmatic patients. In addition, despite improved lung function, we found no significant difference in the miRNA expression following one month treatment with the corticosteroid, budesonide. However, analysis of bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, airway smooth muscle cells, alveolar macrophages and lung fibroblasts demonstrate a miRNA expression profile that is specific to individual cell types and demonstrates the complex cellular heterogeneity within whole tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in miRNA expression do not appear to be involved in the development of a mild asthmatic phenotype or in the anti-inflammatory action of the corticosteroid budesonid

Kepler Eclipsing Binary Stars. VI. Identification of Eclipsing Binaries in the K2 Campaign 0 Data-set

The original {\it Kepler} mission observed and characterized over 2400 eclipsing binaries in addition to its prolific exoplanet detections. Despite the mechanical malfunction and subsequent non-recovery of two reaction wheels used to stabilize the instrument, the {\it Kepler} satellite continues collecting data in its repurposed {\it K2} mission surveying a series of fields along the ecliptic plane. Here we present an analysis of the first full baseline {\it K2} data release: the Campaign 0 data-set. In the 7761 light curves, we have identified a total of 207 eclipsing binaries. Of these, 97 are new discoveries that were not previously identified. Our pixel-level analysis of these objects has also resulted in identification of several false positives (observed targets contaminated by neighboring eclipsing binaries), as well as the serendipitous discovery of two short period exoplanet candidates. We provide catalog cross-matched source identifications, orbital periods, morphologies and ephemerides for these eclipsing systems. We also describe the incorporation of the K2 sample into the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog\footnote{\url{keplerebs.villanova.edu/k2}}, present spectroscopic follow-up observations for a limited selection of nine systems, and discuss prospects for upcoming {\it K2} campaigns.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 51 pages [20 figures, 8 tables]. Results available online in the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Star Catalog http://keplerebs.villanova.edu/k

Effects of the reaction cavity on metastable optical excitation in ruthenium-sulfur dioxide complexes

We report photoexcited-state crystal structures for two new members of the [Ru(SO_2)(NH_3)_4X]Y family: 1:X=H2O, Y=(+/-)-camphorsulfonate_2; 2:X=isonicotinamide, Y=tosylate_2. The excited states are metastable at 100 K, with a photoconversion fraction of 11.1(7)% achieved in 1, and 22.1(10)% and 26.9(10)% at the two distinct sites in 2.We further show using solid-state density-functional-theory calculations that the excited-state geometries achieved are strongly influenced by the local crystal environment. This result is relevant to attempts to rationally design related photoexcitation systems for optical data-storage applications.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure