Type IIA embeddings of D=5D=5 minimal gauged supergravity via Non-Abelian T-duality

In this note, we construct explicit Type IIA uplifts of $D=5$ minimal gauged supergravity, by T-dualising known Type IIB uplifts on $N_5 = S^5$, $T^{1,1}$ and $Y^{p,q}$ along their $SU(2)$ isometries. When the $D=5$ gauge field is set to zero, our uplifts recover precisely the known non-Abelian T-duals of the $AdS_5\times N_5$ solutions. As an application, we obtain new supersymmetric $AdS_3\times\Sigma\times M_5$ solutions in Type IIA, where $\Sigma = \mathbb{WCP}^1_{[n_-,n_+]}$ is a weighted projective space. Existing holographic results of T-dualised AdS solutions suggest that our solutions capture features of $d = 2$ SCFTs with $\mathcal{N}=(0, 2)$ supersymmetry.Comment: 41 pages, 1 figur

House Market in Chinese Cities: Dynamic Modeling, In0 Sample Fitting and Out-of- Sample Forecasting

This paper attempts to contribute in several ways. Theoretically, it proposes simple models of house price dynamics and construction dynamics, all based on the maximization problems of forward-looking agents, which may carry independent interests. Simplified versions of the model implications are estimated with the data from four major cities in China. Both price and construction dynamics exhibit strong persistence in all cities. Significant heterogeneity across cities is found. Our models out-perform widely used alternatives in in-sample-fitting for all cities, although similar success is only limited to highly developed cities in out-of-sample forecasting. Policy implications and future research directions are also discussed.

A Course-Based Research Experience: How Benefits Change with Increased Investment in Instructional Time

There is widespread agreement that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs should provide undergraduates with research experience. Practical issues and limited resources, however, make this a challenge. We have developed a bioinformatics project that provides a course-based research experience for students at a diverse group of schools and offers the opportunity to tailor this experience to local curriculum and institution-specific student needs. We assessed both attitude and knowledge gains, looking for insights into how students respond given this wide range of curricular and institutional variables. While different approaches all appear to result in learning gains, we find that a significant investment of course time is required to enable students to show gains commensurate to a summer research experience. An alumni survey revealed that time spent on a research project is also a significant factor in the value former students assign to the experience one or more years later. We conclude: 1) implementation of a bioinformatics project within the biology curriculum provides a mechanism for successfully engaging large numbers of students in undergraduate research; 2) benefits to students are achievable at a wide variety of academic institutions; and 3) successful implementation of course-based research experiences requires significant investment of instructional time for students to gain full benefit

Optical Design and Wavelength Calibration of a DMD-based Multi-Object Spectrograph

The multi-object spectrograph (MOS) has been the benchmark for the current generation of astronomical spectrographs, valued for its ability to acquire the spectra of hundreds of objects simultaneously. In the last two decades, the digital micromirror device (DMD) has shown potential in becoming the central component of the MOS, being used as a programmable slit array. We have designed a seeing-limited DMD-based MOS covering a spectral range of 0.4 to 0.7 $\mu$m, with a field of view (FOV) of $10.5^\prime \times 13.98^\prime$ and a spectral resolution of $R\sim1000$. This DMD-MOS employs all-spherical refractive optics, and a volume phase holographic (VPH) grism as the dispersive element for high throughput. In this paper, we present the optical design and optimization process of this DMD-MOS, as well as a preliminary wavelength calibration procedure for hyperspectral data reduction. Using simulated data of the DMD-MOS, a procedure was developed to measure hyperspectral imaging distortion and to construct pixel-to-wavelength mappings on the detector. An investigation into the relationships between DMD micromirrors and detector pixels was conducted. This DMD-MOS will be placed on a 0.5 m diameter telescope as an exploratory study for future DMD-based MOS systems.Comment: 15 pages, 32 figures, 1 table, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 202

Genetically predicted 17beta-estradiol, cognitive function and depressive symptoms in women: A Mendelian randomization in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

© 2016.Objective: The role of estrogen in cognitive function and depressive symptoms is controversial due to discrepancies between results from randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies. Mendelian randomization analysis may provide further insights concerning the role of estrogen in these outcomes as it assesses the effect of lifelong endogenous exposure but is less vulnerable to confounding than observational studies. Method: We used separate sample instrumental variable analysis to estimate the association of log 17β estradiol with cognitive function (Delayed 10 word recall, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)) and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)) in older Chinese women of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS, n = 3086). The estimate was derived based on the Wald estimator, the ratio of the association of genetic determinants (rs1008805 and rs2175898) of log 17β-estradiol with cognitive function and depressive symptoms in GBCS and the association of log 17β-estradiol with genetic determinants in the sample of young women in Hong Kong (n = 236). Results: Genetically predicted 17β-estradiol was not associated with delayed 10-word recall (0.42 words per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% confidence interval (CI) -. 0.49 to 1.34) MMSE (0.39 per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% CI -. 0.87 to 1.65) or GDS (0.24 per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% CI -. 0.57 to 1.05). Conclusion: These results were largely consistent with evidence from RCTs and did not show any beneficial effect of estrogen on cognitive function and depressive symptoms. However, larger Mendelian randomization analyses are needed to identify any minor effects.postprin

Age at menarche and cardiovascular risk factors using Mendelian randomization in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Observational studies show earlier age at menarche associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease although these studies could be confounded by childhood obesity or childhood socioeconomic position. We tested the hypothesis that earlier age at menarche is associated with poorer cardiovascular risk factors using a Mendelian randomization design. We conducted a Mendelian randomization study in a large Southern Chinese cohort, the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (n = 12,279), to clarify the causal role of menarche in cardiovascular disease risk factors including blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose, adiposity and type 2 diabetes. A genetic allele score was obtained from single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with age at menarche using stepwise regression and with cross validation. Estimates of the association of age at menarche with cardiovascular disease risk factors were obtained using two stage least squares regression. Height was included as a positive control outcome. The F-statistic for the allele score (rs17268785, rs1859345, rs2090409, rs4452860 and rs4946651) was 19.9. Older age at menarche was associated with lower glucose (− 0.39 mmol/L per year older menarche, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.78 to − 0.001) but not clearly with any other cardiovascular risk factors. Older age at menarche was also associated with taller height. Age at menarche did not appear to affect cardiovascular disease risk factors except for glucose in an inverse manner. However, these results need to be confirmed in larger Mendelian randomization studies

On-resin N-methylation of cyclic peptides for discovery of orally bioavailable scaffolds.

Backbone N-methylation is common among peptide natural products and has a substantial impact on both the physical properties and the conformational states of cyclic peptides. However, the specific impact of N-methylation on passive membrane diffusion in cyclic peptides has not been investigated systematically. Here we report a method for the selective, on-resin N-methylation of cyclic peptides to generate compounds with drug-like membrane permeability and oral bioavailability. The selectivity and degree of N-methylation of the cyclic peptide was dependent on backbone stereochemistry, suggesting that conformation dictates the regiochemistry of the N-methylation reaction. The permeabilities of the N-methyl variants were corroborated by computational studies on a 1,024-member virtual library of N-methyl cyclic peptides. One of the most permeable compounds, a cyclic hexapeptide (molecular mass = 755 Da) with three N-methyl groups, showed an oral bioavailability of 28% in rat

3D Correlative Imaging of Lithium Ion Concentration in a Vertically Oriented Electrode Microstructure with a Density Gradient

The performance of Li+ ion batteries (LIBs) is hindered by steep Li+ ion concentration gradients in the electrodes. Although thick electrodes (≥300 µm) have the potential for reducing the proportion of inactive components inside LIBs and increasing battery energy density, the Li+ ion concentration gradient problem is exacerbated. Most understanding of Li+ ion diffusion in the electrodes is based on computational modeling because of the low atomic number (Z) of Li. There are few experimental methods to visualize Li+ ion concentration distribution of the electrode within a battery of typical configurations, for example, coin cells with stainless steel casing. Here, for the first time, an interrupted in situ correlative imaging technique is developed, combining novel, full-field X-ray Compton scattering imaging with X-ray computed tomography that allows 3D pixel-by-pixel mapping of both Li+ stoichiometry and electrode microstructure of a LiNi0.8 Mn0.1 Co0.1 O2 cathode to correlate the chemical and physical properties of the electrode inside a working coin cell battery. An electrode microstructure containing vertically oriented pore arrays and a density gradient is fabricated. It is shown how the designed electrode microstructure improves Li+ ion diffusivity, homogenizes Li+ ion concentration through the ultra-thick electrode (1 mm), and improves utilization of electrode active materials

D-branes at Toric Singularities: Model Building, Yukawa Couplings and Flavour Physics

We discuss general properties of D-brane model building at toric singularities. Using dimer techniques to obtain the gauge theory from the structure of the singularity, we extract results on the matter sector and superpotential of the corresponding gauge theory. We show that the number of families in toric phases is always less than or equal to three, with a unique exception being the zeroth Hirzebruch surface. With the physical input of three generations we find that the lightest family of quarks is massless and the masses of the other two can be hierarchically separated. We compute the CKM matrix for explicit models in this setting and find the singularities possess sufficient structure to allow for realistic mixing between generations and CP violation.Comment: 55 pages, v2: typos corrected, minor comments adde

AGN and star formation at cosmic noon: comparison of data to theoretical models

In theoretical models of galaxy evolution, active galactic nucleus (AGN) and star formation (SF) activity are closely linked and AGN feedback is routinely invoked to regulate galaxy growth. In order to constrain such models, we compare the hydrodynamical simulations IllustrisTNG and SIMBA, and the semi-analytical model SAG to the empirical results on AGN and SF at cosmic noon (0.75 1011M⊙⁠) at z ∼ 2. (ii) In SIMBA, the mean SFR of galaxies with high X-ray luminosity AGN is lower than the SFR of galaxies without such AGN. Contrary to the data, many high X-ray luminosity AGN in SIMBA have quenched SF, suggesting that AGN feedback, or other feedback modes in galaxies with such AGN, might be too efficient in SIMBA.Fil: Florez, Jonathan. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Jogee, Shardha. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Guo, Yuchen. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Cora, Sofia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Weinberger, Rainer. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Estados UnidosFil: Davé, Romeel. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Hernquist, Lars. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Estados UnidosFil: Vogelsberger, Mark. Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; Estados UnidosFil: Ciardullo, Robin. The Pennsylvania State University; Estados UnidosFil: Finkelstein, Steven L.. The University Of Texas At Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Gronwall, Caryl. The Pennsylvania State University; Estados UnidosFil: Kawinwanichakij, Lalitwadee. The University of Tokyo; JapónFil: Leung, Gene C. K.. The University Of Texas At Austin; Estados UnidosFil: LaMassa, Stephanie. Space Telescope Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Papovich, Casey. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Stevans, Matthew L.. The University Of Texas At Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Wold, Isak. Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unido