A note on the index bundle over the moduli space of monopoles

Donaldson has shown that the moduli space of monopoles $M_k$ is diffeomorphic to the space \Rat_k of based rational maps from the two-sphere to itself. We use this diffeomorphism to give an explicit description of the bundle on \Rat_k obtained by pushing out the index bundle from $M_k$. This gives an alternative and more explicit proof of some earlier results of Cohen and Jones.Comment: 9 page

Chasing the identification of ASCA Galactic Objects (ChIcAGO): An X-ray survey of unidentified sources in the galactic plane. I : Source sample and initial results

We present the Chasing the Identification of ASCA Galactic Objects (ChIcAGO) survey, which is designed to identify the unknown X-ray sources discovered during the ASCA Galactic Plane Survey (AGPS). Little is known about most of the AGPS sources, especially those that emit primarily in hard X-rays (2-10 keV) within the Fx 10-13 to 10-11 erg cm -2 s-1 X-ray flux range. In ChIcAGO, the subarcsecond localization capabilities of Chandra have been combined with a detailed multiwavelength follow-up program, with the ultimate goal of classifying the >100 unidentified sources in the AGPS. Overall to date, 93 unidentified AGPS sources have been observed with Chandra as part of the ChIcAGO survey. A total of 253 X-ray point sources have been detected in these Chandra observations within 3′ of the original ASCA positions. We have identified infrared and optical counterparts to the majority of these sources, using both new observations and catalogs from existing Galactic plane surveys. X-ray and infrared population statistics for the X-ray point sources detected in the Chandra observations reveal that the primary populations of Galactic plane X-ray sources that emit in the Fx 10-13 to 10-11 erg cm -2 s-1 flux range are active stellar coronae, massive stars with strong stellar winds that are possibly in colliding wind binaries, X-ray binaries, and magnetars. There is also another primary population that is still unidentified but, on the basis of its X-ray and infrared properties, likely comprises partly Galactic sources and partly active galactic nuclei.Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Optimal path planning for nonholonomic robotics systems via parametric optimisation

Abstract. Motivated by the path planning problem for robotic systems this paper considers nonholonomic path planning on the Euclidean group of motions SE(n) which describes a rigid bodies path in n-dimensional Euclidean space. The problem is formulated as a constrained optimal kinematic control problem where the cost function to be minimised is a quadratic function of translational and angular velocity inputs. An application of the Maximum Principle of optimal control leads to a set of Hamiltonian vector field that define the necessary conditions for optimality and consequently the optimal velocity history of the trajectory. It is illustrated that the systems are always integrable when n = 2 and in some cases when n = 3. However, if they are not integrable in the most general form of the cost function they can be rendered integrable by considering special cases. This implies that it is possible to reduce the kinematic system to a class of curves defined analytically. If the optimal motions can be expressed analytically in closed form then the path planning problem is reduced to one of parameter optimisation where the parameters are optimised to match prescribed boundary conditions.This reduction procedure is illustrated for a simple wheeled robot with a sliding constraint and a conventional slender underwater vehicle whose velocity in the lateral directions are constrained due to viscous damping

Signature of small rings in the Raman spectra of normal and compressed amorphous silica: A combined classical and ab initio study

We calculate the parallel (VV) and perpendicular (VH) polarized Raman spectra of amorphous silica. Model SiO2 glasses, uncompressed and compressed, were generated by a combination of classical and ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations and their dynamical matrices were computed within the framework of the density functional theory. The Raman scattering intensities were determined using the bond-polarizability model and a good agreement with experimental spectra was found. We confirm that the modes associated to the fourfold and threefold rings produce most of the Raman intensity of the D1 and D2 peaks, respectively, in the VV Raman spectra. Modifications of the Raman spectra upon compression are found to be in agreement with experimental data. We show that the modes associated to the fourfold rings still exist upon compression but do not produce a strong Raman intensity, whereas the ones associated to the threefold rings do. This result strongly suggests that the area under the D1 and D2 peaks is not directly proportional to the concentration of small rings in amorphous SiO2.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures. Phys. Rev. B, in pres

Linear Stability of Triangular Equilibrium Points in the Generalized Photogravitational Restricted Three Body Problem with Poynting-Robertson Drag

In this paper we have examined the linear stability of triangular equilibrium points in the generalised photogravitational restricted three body problem with Poynting-Robertson drag. We have found the position of triangular equilibrium points of our problem. The problem is generalised in the sense that smaller primary is supposed to be an oblate spheroid. The bigger primary is considered as radiating. The equations of motion are affected by radiation pressure force, oblateness and P-R drag. All classical results involving photogravitational and oblateness in restricted three body problem may be verified from this result. With the help of characteristic equation, we discussed the stability. Finally we conclude that triangular equilibrium points are unstable.Comment: accepted for publication in Journal of Dynamical Systems & Geometric Theories Vol. 4, Number 1 (2006

Neonatal Multisensory Processing in Preterm and Term Infants Predicts Sensory Reactivity and Internalizing Tendencies in Early Childhood.

Multisensory processes include the capacity to combine information from the different senses, often improving stimulus representations and behavior. The extent to which multisensory processes are an innate capacity or instead require experience with environmental stimuli remains debated. We addressed this knowledge gap by studying multisensory processes in prematurely born and full-term infants. We recorded 128-channel event-related potentials (ERPs) from a cohort of 55 full-term and 61 preterm neonates (at an equivalent gestational age) in response to auditory, somatosensory, and combined auditory-somatosensory multisensory stimuli. Data were analyzed within an electrical neuroimaging framework, involving unsupervised topographic clustering of the ERP data. Multisensory processing in full-term infants was characterized by a simple linear summation of responses to auditory and somatosensory stimuli alone, which furthermore shared common ERP topographic features. We refer to the ERP topography observed in full-term infants as "typical infantile processing" (TIP). In stark contrast, preterm infants exhibited non-linear responses and topographies less-often characterized by TIP; there were distinct patterns of ERP topographies to multisensory and summed unisensory conditions. We further observed that the better TIP characterized an infant's ERPs, independently of prematurity, the more typical was the score on the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP) at 12 months of age and the less likely was the child to the show internalizing tendencies at 24 months of age. Collectively, these results highlight striking differences in the brain's responses to multisensory stimuli in children born prematurely; differences that relate to later sensory and internalizing functions

The complications of ‘hiring a hubby’: gender relations and the commoditisation of home maintenance in New Zealand

This paper examines the commoditization of traditionally male domestic tasks through interviews with handymen who own franchises in the company ‘Hire a Hubby’ in New Zealand and homeowners who have paid for home repair tasks to be done. Discussions of the commoditization of traditionally female tasks in the home have revealed the emotional conflicts of paying others to care as well as the exploitative and degrading conditions that often arise when work takes place behind closed doors. By examining the working conditions and relationships involved when traditionally male tasks are paid for, this paper raises important questions about the valuing of reproductive labour and the production of gendered identities. The paper argues that while working conditions and rates of pay for ‘hubbies’ are better than those for people undertaking commoditized forms of traditionally female domestic labour, the negotiation of this work is still complex and implicated in gendered relations and identities. Working on the home was described by interviewees as an expression of care for family and a performance of the ‘right’ way to be a ‘Kiwi bloke’ and a father. Paying others to do this labour can imply a failure in a duty of care and in the performance of masculinity

Cytokine activity of the non-catalytic EMAP-2-like domain of mammalian tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase

Cytokine activity of the isolated recombinant C-terminal domain of mammalian lyrosyl-tRNA synthetasg (TyrRS), which is homologous to a tumor-derived cytokine, endothelial and monocyte activating polypeptide (EMAP-2) has been studied. It was shown that C-domain induced a ~ 2-fold increase of monocyte chemotaxis. This effect is comparable with the values of chemotaxis induction by EMAP-2 cytokine and proEMAP-2. The truncated catalytic form of bovine TyrRS (2 x 39 kDa) lias no effect on monocyte chemotaxis. C-domain of TyrRS also induced a ~ 3-fold increase in tissue factor activity in cultured human endothelial cells. A hypothesis is forwarded that the isolated C-domain of mammalian TyrRS may be released at proteoiytic cleavage of TyrRS by some protease, activated ui stress conditions, and functions as a mediator via signal transduction through interaction with a putative EMAP-2 receptor.Досліджено цитокінову активність ізольованого рекомбінантного С-кінцевого домена тирозил-тРНК синтетази (тирРС) ссавців, гомологічного ЕМАР-2 цитокіну. Показано, що С-домен індукує збільшення хемотаксису моноцитів у 2 рази. Цей ефект близький до такого, спричиненого ЕМАР-2 та ргоЕМАР-2. Протеолітично модифікована каталітична фор­ма тирРС (2 у- 39 кДа) не впливала на хемотаксис моноцитів. С-домен тирРС також індукує зростання активності тка­нинного фактора ендотеліальних клітин людини в 3 рази. Пропонується гіпотеза стосовно того, що ізольований С-до­мен може вивільнятися при протеолітичному розщепленні тирРС певною протеазою, яка активується в стресових умовах, і функціонувати як медіатор шляхом передачі сигналу при взаємодії з рецептором ЕМАР-2 цитокінуИзучена цитокиновая активность изолированного рекомбинантного С-концевого домена тирозил-тРНК синтетазы (тирРС) млекопитающих, гомологичного ЕМАР-2 цитокину. Показано, что С-домен индуцирует увеличение хемотаксиса моноцитов в 2 раза. Этот эффект близок к таковому, вызываемому ЕМАР-2 и ргоЕМАР-2. Пратеолитически моди­фицированная каталитическая форма тирРС (2 х 39 кДа) не влияет на хемотаксис моноцитов. С-домен тир PC также индуцирует рост активности тканевого фактора эндотелиальных клеток человека в 3 раза. Предложена гипотеза относительно того, что изолированный С-домен может высвобож­даться при протеолитическом расщеплении тирРС определен­ной протеазой, активируемой в стрессовых условиях, и функ­ционировать как медиатор путем передачи сигнала при взаи­модействии с рецептором цитокина ЕМАР-2

Early childhood constraint therapy for sensory/motor impairment in cerebral palsy: a randomised clinical trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood. It is a disorder resulting from sensory and motor impairments due to perinatal brain injury, with lifetime consequences that range from poor adaptive and social function to communication and emotional disturbances. Infants with CP have a fundamental disadvantage in recovering motor function: they do not receive accurate sensory feedback from their movements, leading to developmental disregard. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is one of the few effective neurorehabilitative strategies shown to improve upper extremity motor function in adults and older children with CP, potentially overcoming developmental disregard. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a randomised controlled trial of children 12-24 months corrected age studying the effectiveness of CIMT combined with motor and sensory-motor interventions. The study population will comprise 72 children with CP and 144 typically developing children for a total of N=216 children. All children with CP, regardless of group allocation will continue with their standard of care occupational and physical therapy throughout the study. The research material collected will be in the form of data from high-density array event-related potential scan, standardised assessment scores and motion analysis scores. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02567630