2,667 research outputs found
D-branes, KK-theory and duality on noncommutative spaces
We present a new categorical classification framework for D-brane charges on noncommutative manifolds using methods of bivariant K-theory. We describe several applications including an explicit formula for D-brane charge in cyclic homology, a refinement of open string T-duality, and a general criterion for cancellation of global worldsheet anomalies
Materials from renewable resources based on furan monomers and furan chemistry: work in progress
The polymerisation of furan monomers and the exploitation of some of the chemical peculiarities of the furan heterocycle have generated a wide diversity of macromolecular materials based on renewable resources. We present here recent contributions to this field, including ongoing studies on the synthesis and characterisation of novel furan polyesters and on the application of the Diels-Alder reaction to the preparation of linear and branched thermally reversible polyadducts
Accessibility in Metrô Rio prior to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.
ABSTRACT:The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hosted the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games which brought forth an enormous influx of tourists to a large populated city. This study, analyzed accessibility of the Metrô Line 1 of the subway system in preparation for the games. Photo-based research was used to investigate the Metrô Rio services. Findings suggest that the subway system in the city of Rio de Janeiro, is accessible; however, improvement is needed in the areas of communication, through standardization of language used to describe equipment and accommodations, the standardization of signage and equipment, standardization of navigational logic patterns, and predictability of barriers and services for patrons. A tension was also identified between services provided with assistance and services that promote independence for users with disabilities. Results will help transit agencies to consider accessibility features for all patrons.RESUMO:O Rio de Janeiro foi cidade-sede dos Jogos Olímpicos e Paraolímpicos de 2016, evento que gerou um enorme fluxo de turistas em uma cidade bastante populosa. O presente estudo analisou a acessibilidade do Metrô Linha 1 do sistema metroferÂroviário em preparação para os jogos. A investigação utilizou-se do registro fotográÂfico para averiguar os serviços do Metrô Rio. Os resultados sugerem que o sistemade metrô do Rio de Janeiro é acessível; porém, são necessárias melhorias nas áreas de comunicação por meio da padronização da linguagem utilizada para descrever os equipamentos e espaços, da padronização da sinalização e dos equipamentos oferecidos, da uniformização dos modelos de locomoção e do aumento de previsiÂbilidade dos obstáculos e dos serviços oferecidos aos usuários. Também foi idenÂtificada uma tensão entre os serviços que se apoiam na assistência e serviços que promovem a independência para os usuários portadores de deficiência. Os resultaÂdos auxiliarão agências de transporte a considerar características de acessibilidade para todos os usuários
Mothers’ perceptions of family centred care in neonatal intensive care units
Objective
To explore mothers’ perceptions of family centred care (FCC) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in England.
Design
The qualitative experiences of 12 mothers from three NICUs in the UK were elicited using individual interviews. A thematic network analysis was conducted on the transcribed interviews
Main outcome measures
A central global theme supported by a number of organizing themes were developed reflecting the views of the mothers and their experiences of FCC.
Results
A global theme of “Finding My Place” was identified, supported by six organizing themes: Mothering in Limbo; Deference to the Experts; Anxious Surveillance; Muted Relations, Power Struggles and Consistently Inconsistent. Mothers experienced a state of liminality and were acutely sensitive to power struggles, awkward relationships and inconsistencies in care. To try to maintain their equilibrium and protect their baby they formed deferential relationships with health professionals and remained in a state of anxious surveillance.
Conclusions
This study illustrates that despite the rhetoric around the practice of FCC in NICUs, there was little in the mother's narratives to support this. It is of the utmost importance to minimize the consequences of the liminal experience, to improve staff–mother interactions and to facilitate mothers’ opportunities to be primary caregivers
Analysis on the evolution process of BFW-like model with explosive percolation of multiple giant components
Recently, the modified BFW model on random graph [Phys. Rev. Lett., 106,
115701 (2011)], which shows a strongly discontinuous percolation transition
with multiple giant components, has attracted much attention from physicists,
statisticians and materials scientists. In this paper, by establishing the
theoretical expression of evolution equations on the modified BFW model, the
steady-state and evolution process are analyzed and a close correspondence is
built between the values of parameter \alpha and the number of giant components
in steady-states, which fits very well with the numerical simulations. In fact,
with the value of \alpha decreasing to 0.25, the error between theoretical and
numerical results is smaller than 4% and trends to 0 rapidly. Furthermore, the
sizes of giant components for different evolution strategies can also be
obtained by solving some constraints derived from the evolution equations. The
analysis of the steady-state and evolution process is of great help to explain
why the percolation of modified BFW model is explosive and how explosive it is.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Ramond-Ramond Fields, Fractional Branes and Orbifold Differential K-Theory
We study D-branes and Ramond-Ramond fields on global orbifolds of Type II
string theory with vanishing H-flux using methods of equivariant K-theory and
K-homology. We illustrate how Bredon equivariant cohomology naturally realizes
stringy orbifold cohomology. We emphasize its role as the correct cohomological
tool which captures known features of the low-energy effective field theory,
and which provides new consistency conditions for fractional D-branes and
Ramond-Ramond fields on orbifolds. We use an equivariant Chern character from
equivariant K-theory to Bredon cohomology to define new Ramond-Ramond couplings
of D-branes which generalize previous examples. We propose a definition for
groups of differential characters associated to equivariant K-theory. We derive
a Dirac quantization rule for Ramond-Ramond fluxes, and study flat
Ramond-Ramond potentials on orbifolds.Comment: 46 pages; v2: typos correcte
Fluxes, Brane Charges and Chern Morphisms of Hyperbolic Geometry
The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a collection of
results which can be found in the mathematical literature and to apply them to
hyperbolic spaces that may have a role in physical theories. Specifically we
apply K-theory methods for the calculation of brane charges and RR-fields on
hyperbolic spaces (and orbifolds thereof). It is known that by tensoring
K-groups with the rationals, K-theory can be mapped to rational cohomology by
means of the Chern character isomorphisms. The Chern character allows one to
relate the analytic Dirac index with a topological index, which can be
expressed in terms of cohomological characteristic classes. We obtain explicit
formulas for Chern character, spectral invariants, and the index of a twisted
Dirac operator associated with real hyperbolic spaces. Some notes for a
bivariant version of topological K-theory (KK-theory) with its connection to
the index of the twisted Dirac operator and twisted cohomology of hyperbolic
spaces are given. Finally we concentrate on lower K-groups useful for
description of torsion charges.Comment: 26 pages, no figures, LATEX. To appear in the Classical and Quantum
Gravit
Correlation functions in the two-dimensional random-field Ising model
Transfer-matrix methods are used to study the probability distributions of
spin-spin correlation functions in the two-dimensional random-field Ising
model, on long strips of width sites, for binary field
distributions at generic distance , temperature and field intensity
. For moderately high , and of the order of magnitude used in
most experiments, the distributions are singly-peaked, though rather
asymmetric. For low temperatures the single-peaked shape deteriorates, crossing
over towards a double- ground-state structure. A connection is obtained
between the probability distribution for correlation functions and the
underlying distribution of accumulated field fluctuations. Analytical
expressions are in good agreement with numerical results for ,
low , not too small, and near G=1. From a finite-size {\it ansatz} at
, , averaged correlation functions are predicted to
scale with , . From numerical data we estimate y=0.875 \pm
0.025WR/L=1W \sim h_0^{\kappa} f(L h_0^u)\kappa \simeq 0.45u \simeq 0.8f(x)x \to \inftyW \sim
h_0^{\kappa}d=2$.Comment: RevTeX code for 8 pages, 7 eps figures, to appear in Physical Review
E (1999
KO-Homology and Type I String Theory
We study the classification of D-branes and Ramond-Ramond fields in Type I
string theory by developing a geometric description of KO-homology. We define
an analytic version of KO-homology using KK-theory of real C*-algebras, and
construct explicitly the isomorphism between geometric and analytic
KO-homology. The construction involves recasting the Cl(n)-index theorem and a
certain geometric invariant into a homological framework which is used, along
with a definition of the real Chern character in KO-homology, to derive
cohomological index formulas. We show that this invariant also naturally
assigns torsion charges to non-BPS states in Type I string theory, in the
construction of classes of D-branes in terms of topological KO-cycles. The
formalism naturally captures the coupling of Ramond-Ramond fields to background
D-branes which cancel global anomalies in the string theory path integral. We
show that this is related to a physical interpretation of bivariant KK-theory
in terms of decay processes on spacetime-filling branes. We also provide a
construction of the holonomies of Ramond-Ramond fields in Type II string theory
in terms of topological K-chains.Comment: 40 pages; v4: Clarifying comments added, more detailed proof of main
isomorphism theorem given; Final version to be published in Reviews in
Mathematical Physic
Avoiding catastrophic failure in correlated networks of networks
Networks in nature do not act in isolation but instead exchange information,
and depend on each other to function properly. An incipient theory of Networks
of Networks have shown that connected random networks may very easily result in
abrupt failures. This theoretical finding bares an intrinsic paradox: If
natural systems organize in interconnected networks, how can they be so stable?
Here we provide a solution to this conundrum, showing that the stability of a
system of networks relies on the relation between the internal structure of a
network and its pattern of connections to other networks. Specifically, we
demonstrate that if network inter-connections are provided by hubs of the
network and if there is a moderate degree of convergence of inter-network
connection the systems of network are stable and robust to failure. We test
this theoretical prediction in two independent experiments of functional brain
networks (in task- and resting states) which show that brain networks are
connected with a topology that maximizes stability according to the theory.Comment: 40 pages, 7 figure
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