Metastable Flux Configurations and de Sitter Spaces

We derive stability conditions for the critical points of the no-scale scalar potential governing the dynamics of the complex structure moduli and the axio-dilaton in compactifications of type IIB string theory on Calabi-Yau three-folds. We discuss a concrete example of a T^6 orientifold. We then consider the four-dimensional theory obtained from compactifications of type IIB string theory on non-geometric backgrounds which are mirror to rigid Calabi-Yau manifolds and show that the complex structure moduli fields can be stabilized in terms of H_{RR} only, i.e. with no need of orientifold projection. The stabilization of all the fields at weak coupling, including the axio-dilaton, may require to break supersymmetry in the presence of H_{NS} flux or corrections to the scalar potential.Comment: 24 page

Might salicylate exert benefits against childhood cancer?

Childhood cancers are a broad range of diseases. Research on the chemopreventive potential of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin (acetylsalicylate) has yet to be fully directed towards childhood cancers. A prima facie hypothesis on salicylate and childhood cancer would therefore be based on several factors. Firstly, salicylate inhibits the production of inflammatory prostaglandins, which have been shown to stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Secondly, salicylate inhibits the growth of cancer cells in pre-clinical models. Thirdly, salicylate is a natural component of fruits and vegetables so it is consumed within the diet. Further research, of which some possibilities are identified, is recommended

Development of a System of Systems Engineering Method

Systems engineers have been facing challenges with the design and analysis of multiple complex systems. System of Systems Engineering has emerged to assist in this challenge with the systemic analysis, design, and transformation of complex metasystems. This paper outlines a proposed method to overcome these challenges, which is grounded in System of Systems Engineering principles and methodology. An overview of System of Systems Engineering will be provided for understanding of its significance and the attempt to complement Systems Engineering efforts in dealing with the aforementioned challenges. Finally, discussion on the proposed method, with respect to complex system analysis, is provided

Getting virtual 3D landscapes out of the lab

Increasingly realistic virtual three dimensional (3D) models have been created that demonstrate a variety of landscape designs. They have supported a more collaborative and participative approach in planning and design. However, these 3D landscape models are often developed for use in bespoke virtual reality labs that tie the models to expensive graphics hardware, or complex arrays of screens, with the viewer spatially detached from the actual site. Given the increase in prevalence of advanced “smartphone” and tablet technology with GPS and compass functionality, this paper demonstrates two methods for on-demand dissemination of existing virtual 3D landscape models using: (1) a touch based interface with integrated mapping; (2) a standard web browser interface on mobile phones. The latter method demonstrates the potential to reduce the complexity of accessing an existing 3D landscape model on-site to simply pointing a smartphone in a particular direction, loading a web page and seeing the relevant view of the model as an image. A prototype system was developed to demonstrate both methods successfully, but it was also ascertained that the accuracy of GPS positional data can have a negative effect on the browser based method. Finally, potential developments are presented exploring the future of the technology underpinning the method and possible extensions to the prototype as a technique for increasing public participation in planning and design

Chronic tooth pulp inflammation induces persistent expression of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) and phosphorylated p38 (pp38) in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis

Background: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are transiently phosphorylated (activated) in the spinal cord and trigeminal nucleus by acute noxious stimuli. Acute stimulation of dental pulp induces short-lived ERK activation in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), and p38 inhibition attenuates short-term sensitization in Vc induced by acute pulpal stimulation. We have developed a model to study central changes following chronic inflammation of dental pulp that induces long-term sensitization. Here, we examine the effects of chronic inflammation and acute stimulation on the expression of phosphorylated ERK (pERK), phosphorylated p38 (pp38) and Fos in Vc. Results: Chronic inflammation alone induced bilateral expression of pERK and pp38 in Vc, but did not induce Fos expression. Stimulation of both non-inflamed and inflamed pulps significantly increased pERK and pp38 bilaterally; expression was greatest in inflamed, stimulated animals, and was similar following 10-min and 60-min stimulation. Stimulation for 60 min, but not 10 min, induced Fos in ipsilateral Vc; Fos expression was significantly greater in inflamed, stimulated animals. pERK was present in both neurons and astrocytes; pp38 was present in neurons and other non-neuronal, non-astrocytic cell types. Conclusions: This study provides the first demonstration that chronic inflammation of tooth pulp induces persistent bilateral activation of ERK and p38 within Vc, and that this activation is further increased by acute stimulation. This altered activity in intracellular signaling is likely to be linked to the sensitization that is seen in our animal model and in patients with pulpitis. Our data indicate that pERK and pp38 are more accurate markers of central change than Fos expression. In our model, localization of pERK and pp38 within specific cell types differs from that seen following acute stimulation. This may indicate specific roles for different cell types in the induction and maintenance of pulpitic and other types of pain

Effects of demographic factors for fatigue detection in manufacturing

Over the years, advancement in automation technology is allowed the increased integration of humans and machines in a manufacturing environment, these days fewer humans. The use of Knowledge-based Systems in improving and converting human overall performance has been restrained in truth because of a lack of expertise of the way an individual’s overall performance deteriorates with fatigue buildup, which may range from employees to the work environment. As a result, the performance benefits of increased automation in a manufacturing environment, as well as the impact of human factors, must be taken into account. To predict fatigue in physically demanding tasks, this study takes a data-driven strategy. The influence of demographic characteristics, their physical fatigue states, detected workloads, and reactivity to physiological changes are investigated through sensors (Inertial Measurement Unit; IMU and Heart Rate Variability; HRV) in this paper. A framework is established for the selection of key features, machine learning algorithms, and evaluating subjective measures. To attain that, specific application scenarios of the framework are shown, each for different sorts of manufacturing-related tasks

Managing tourist congestion: Insights from Chinese package tours to the UK and Ireland

The UNWTO notes that the successful management of tourist congestion is highly dependent on controlling travel demand. It is surprising, therefore, that demand management has been largely overlooked in the tourism literature, as have the roles of both tour operators and package tours in contributing to congestion or overtourism. Tour operators wield considerable power in ‘channelling’ customers to certain destinations and consequently play a major role in contributing to unsustainable mass tourist congestion. This research visualizes the spatial patterns of People’s Republic of China package tour itineraries at peak season to the UK, which is then confirmed by statistical tests. The study confirms the important role of tour operators and package tours in distributing tourists in the UK and in confirming and accentuating its ‘hotspots’. It highlights the power relationships and the spatial dynamism in the formation of overtourism. The study makes recommendations for managing tourist congestion in the post-pandemic world in the UK and elsewhere, largely related to encouraging tour operators and travel agencies to diversify their tourist product offerings

A data-driven fatigue prediction using recurrent neural networks

Industrial revolution 4.0 has marked the era of advances in interaction among machines and humans and cultivate automation. However, manufacturing industries still have tasks which are labor intensive for humans with lots of repetitive actions. These actions along with other factors can cause the worker to be fatigued or exhausted. These in the long term can develop into work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). Nevertheless, comprehending fatigue in a quantifiable and objective manner is yet an open problem due to the heterogeneity of subjects involved for data collection.In this study a benchmarking dataset comprising of physical fatigue attributes. They are used to perform fatigue prediction for manual material handling task. It includes data collected from Inertial Measurement unit (IMU) and Heart Rate (HR) sensor which is then pre-processed to extract to be used to run the model. The data serves as an input to a time-series prediction model called as Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)

Multilevel Safety Climate in The UK Rail Industry: A Cross Validation of the Zohar and Luria MSC Scale

Despite a downward trend in injury rates in UK workplaces, accident occurrence remains an on-going issue for the rail workforce. Results from the RSSB annual survey reveal that there were 164 major injuries in 2016/17. Safety climate is defined as “shared perceptions with regard to safety policies, procedures and practices.” Many studies have examined the positive effects of safety climate on safety performances by individuals, teams, organizations. Despite widespread attempts to measure safety climate, the validity of measurement tools has not been systematically tested in the rail industry. The primary goal of our research was to validate Zohar and Luria’s (2005) Multilevel Safety Climate Scale in a sample of rail infrastructure workers (N = 528). A cross-validation strategy was adopted. Half of the data were used to conduct exploratory factor analysis (EFA), with the remaining data submitted to confirmative factor analysis (CFA). The statistical results reveal a three-factor structure with organizational safety climate (OSC), supervisor safety communication (SSC), supervisor safety monitoring (SSM). A nomological analysis showed that SSC and SSM presented distinct correlation patterns with other measures of relevance for safety, risk and health management. SSM was found more strongly related with variables such as: safety priorities; safety systems; reporting attitudes; safety compliance. On the other hand, SSC was mainly related with measures refereed to distinct forms of organizational support: supervisor support; peer support; support to change. Overall, our findings showed the validity of a multidimensional approach on the study of safety climate and safety supervision in the rail industry