On Einstein Manifolds of Positive Sectional Curvature

Let (M,g) be a compact oriented Einstein 4-manifold. If M has positive intersection form and g has non-negative sectional curvature, we show that, up to rescaling and isometry, (M,g) is CP2, equipped with its standard Fubini-Study metric.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX2

Yamabe Invariants and Spin^c Structures

The Yamabe Invariant of a smooth compact manifold is by definition the supremum of the scalar curvatures of unit-volume Yamabe metrics on the manifold. For an explicit infinite class of 4-manifolds, we show that this invariant is positive but strictly less than that of the 4-sphere. This is done by using spin^c Dirac operators to control the lowest eigenvalue of a perturbation of the Yamabe Laplacian. These results dovetail perfectly with those derived from the perturbed Seiberg-Witten equations, but the present method is much more elementary in spirit.Comment: Standard LaTeX fil

Live Fast, Die Young: GMC lifetimes in the FIRE cosmological simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies

We present the first measurement of the lifetimes of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in cosmological simulations at z = 0, using the Latte suite of FIRE-2 simulations of Milky Way (MW) mass galaxies. We track GMCs with total gas mass ≳10⁵ M⊙ at high spatial (∼1 pc), mass (7100 M⊙), and temporal (1 Myr) resolution. Our simulated GMCs are consistent with the distribution of masses for massive GMCs in the MW and nearby galaxies. We find GMC lifetimes of 5–7 Myr, or 1–2 freefall times, on average, with less than 2 per cent of clouds living longer than 20 Myr. We find decreasing GMC lifetimes with increasing virial parameter, and weakly increasing GMC lifetimes with galactocentric radius, implying that environment affects the evolutionary cycle of GMCs. However, our GMC lifetimes show no systematic dependence on GMC mass or amount of star formation. These results are broadly consistent with inferences from the literature and provide an initial investigation into ultimately understanding the physical processes that govern GMC lifetimes in a cosmological setting

Little Pal Of Long Ago

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/4939/thumbnail.jp

Air Quality Monitoring and Data Acquisition for Livestock and Poultry Environment Studies

The development of analytical instruments and computer technologies in recent decades has facilitated significant changes in the methodologies used in scientific studies of agricultural air quality. A variety of instruments and sensors have been used for long-term and continuous measurements at commercial animal facilities and laboratories for determining baseline pollutant emissions and testing mitigation technologies. New measurement strategies were developed for real-time measurement and multi-location sampling. Optimization of this technology change necessitates an up-to-date system to acquire high-frequency data, control instruments and sampling locations, and monitor system operation. While various air quality research projects involve similar objectives and instrumentation to meet those objectives, they are usually conducted with monitoring plans that differ among sites and among projects. Special data acquisition and control (DAC) hardware and software have to be adapted for each monitoring plan. This paper summarizes various measurement and control devices used for comprehensive air quality studies of livestock and poultry environments. The paper further presents methods for real-time data transformation and processing. It introduces an air quality DAC system, which provided novel, flexible, and user-friendly features. The methodology and technology used in the new DAC system reduces system development and operational cost, increase reliability and work efficiency, and enhances data quality

Transport for language south of the Sylvian fissure: The routes and history of the main tracts and stations in the ventral language network.

AbstractIt is now ten years since a ‘ventral language pathway’ was demonstrated in vivo in the human brain. In the intervening decade, this result has been replicated and expanded to include multiple possible pathways and functions. Despite this considerable level of research interest, age-old debates regarding the origin, course, termination and, indeed, the very existence of the tracts identified still remain. The current review examines four major tracts associated with the ventral ‘semantic’ language network, with the aim of elucidating and clarifying their structural and functional roles. Historical and modern conceptualisations of the tracts' neuroanatomical origins and terminations will be discussed, and key discrepancies and debates examined. It is argued that much of the controversy regarding the language pathways has resulted from inconsistencies in terminology, and the lack of a white matter ‘lingua franca’

Changes in dietary patterns and body composition within 12 months of liver transplantation

Background: Cardiometabolic risk factors are increasing in liver transplant recipients (LTR). Influencing dietary factors have not been assessed. The aim of this observational study was to assess changes in weight, metabolic function, dietary intake and eating behaviours in the first year after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods: Consecutive recruitment of 17 patients (14 males) awaiting OLT at a single tertiary hospital. Dietary intake, food behaviours and anthropometry were recorded at baseline, and 6 and 12 months posttransplant. Results: By 12 months, patients had gained on average 7.3% of body weight. The prevalence of overweight or obesity increased from baseline 53% to 77% (P=0.001). By 6 months, 65% (n=11/17) of patients had altered glucose metabolism. Dietary intake was consistent with a Western-style dietary pattern with high saturated fat. Over half of the patients (69%, n=11/16) reported low to no depressive feelings and rated their self-esteem as good (53%, n=9/16). The Power of Food Scale increased between pre and post-transplant, indicating a stronger appetitive drive. Conclusions: Weight gain occurs early post-transplant, with significant metabolic dysfunction present within 6 months, however is not associated with significant psychological distress. Early dietary intervention designed to limit weight gain and target cardiometabolic health is recommended for this unique patient population