297 research outputs found
A heterotic sigma model with novel target geometry
We construct a (1,2) heterotic sigma model whose target space geometry
consists of a transitive Lie algebroid with complex structure on a Kaehler
manifold. We show that, under certain geometrical and topological conditions,
there are two distinguished topological half--twists of the heterotic sigma
model leading to A and B type half--topological models. Each of these models is
characterized by the usual topological BRST operator, stemming from the
heterotic (0,2) supersymmetry, and a second BRST operator anticommuting with
the former, originating from the (1,0) supersymmetry. These BRST operators
combined in a certain way provide each half--topological model with two
inequivalent BRST structures and, correspondingly, two distinct perturbative
chiral algebras and chiral rings. The latter are studied in detail and
characterized geometrically in terms of Lie algebroid cohomology in the
quasiclassical limit.Comment: 83 pages, no figures, 2 references adde
Jacobi structures revisited
Jacobi algebroids, that is graded Lie brackets on the Grassmann algebra
associated with a vector bundle which satisfy a property similar to that of the
Jacobi brackets, are introduced. They turn out to be equivalent to generalized
Lie algebroids in the sense of Iglesias and Marrero and can be viewed also as
odd Jacobi brackets on the supermanifolds associated with the vector bundles.
Jacobi bialgebroids are defined in the same manner. A lifting procedure of
elements of this Grassmann algebra to multivector fields on the total space of
the vector bundle which preserves the corresponding brackets is developed. This
gives the possibility of associating canonically a Lie algebroid with any local
Lie algebra in the sense of Kirillov.Comment: 20 page
Autonomous stochastic resonance in fully frustrated Josephson-junction ladders
We investigate autonomous stochastic resonance in fully frustrated
Josephson-junction ladders, which are driven by uniform constant currents. At
zero temperature large currents induce oscillations between the two ground
states, while for small currents the lattice potential forces the system to
remain in one of the two states. At finite temperatures, on the other hand,
oscillations between the two states develop even below the critical current;
the signal-to-noise ratio is found to display array-enhanced stochastic
resonance. It is suggested that such behavior may be observed experimentally
through the measurement of the staggered voltage.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Absence of association between pyronaridine in vitro responses and polymorphisms in genes involved in quinoline resistance in Plasmodium falciparum
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of the present work was to assess the <it>in vitro </it>cross-resistance of pyronaridine with other quinoline drugs, artesunate and several other commonly used anti-malarials and to evaluate whether decreased susceptibility to pyronaridine could be associated with genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in reduced quinoline susceptibility, such as <it>pfcrt</it>, <it>pfmdr1</it>, <it>pfmrp </it>and <it>pfnhe</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The <it>in vitro </it>chemosusceptibility profiles of 23 strains of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>were analysed by the standard 42-hour <sup>3</sup>H-hypoxanthine uptake inhibition method for pyronaridine, artesunate, chloroquine, monodesethylamodiaquine, quinine, mefloquine, lumefantrine, atovaquone, pyrimethamine and doxycycline. Genotypes were assessed for <it>pfcrt</it>, <it>pfmdr1</it>, <it>pfnhe-1 </it>and <it>pfmrp </it>genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IC<sub>50 </sub>values for pyronaridine ranged from 15 to 49 nM (geometric mean = 23.1 nM). A significant positive correlation was found between responses to pyronaridine and responses to artesunate (<it>r<sup>2 </sup></it>= 0.20; <it>P </it>= 0.0317) but too low to suggest cross-resistance. No significant correlation was found between pyronaridine IC<sub>50 </sub>and responses to other anti-malarials. Significant associations were not found between pyronaridine IC<sub>50 </sub>and polymorphisms in <it>pfcrt</it>, <it>pfmdr1</it>, <it>pfmrp </it>or <it>pfnhe-1</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was an absence of cross-resistance between pyronaridine and quinolines, and the IC<sub>50 </sub>values for pyronaridine were found to be unrelated to mutations in the transport protein genes <it>pfcrt</it>, <it>pfmdr1</it>, <it>pfmrp </it>or <it>pfnhe-1</it>, known to be involved in quinoline resistance. These results confirm the interest and the efficacy of the use of a combination of pyronaridine and artesunate in areas in which parasites are resistant to quinolines.</p
Hamiltonian dynamics and constrained variational calculus: continuous and discrete settings
The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between Hamiltonian
dynamics and constrained variational calculus. We describe both using the
notion of Lagrangian submanifolds of convenient symplectic manifolds and using
the so-called Tulczyjew's triples. The results are also extended to the case of
discrete dynamics and nonholonomic mechanics. Interesting applications to
geometrical integration of Hamiltonian systems are obtained.Comment: 33 page
The Tulczyjew triple for classical fields
The geometrical structure known as the Tulczyjew triple has proved to be very
useful in describing mechanical systems, even those with singular Lagrangians
or subject to constraints. Starting from basic concepts of variational
calculus, we construct the Tulczyjew triple for first-order Field Theory. The
important feature of our approach is that we do not postulate {\it ad hoc} the
ingredients of the theory, but obtain them as unavoidable consequences of the
variational calculus. This picture of Field Theory is covariant and complete,
containing not only the Lagrangian formalism and Euler-Lagrange equations but
also the phase space, the phase dynamics and the Hamiltonian formalism. Since
the configuration space turns out to be an affine bundle, we have to use affine
geometry, in particular the notion of the affine duality. In our formulation,
the two maps and which constitute the Tulczyjew triple are
morphisms of double structures of affine-vector bundles. We discuss also the
Legendre transformation, i.e. the transition between the Lagrangian and the
Hamiltonian formulation of the first-order field theor
Geophysical Survey in Sub-Saharan Africa: magnetic and Electromagnetic Investigation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Songo Mnara, Tanzania
Magnetometry and Slingram electromagnetic surveys were
conducted at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Songo Mnara, Tanzania, as part of a multi-national programme of investigation to examine the uses of space within and outside of this stonetown. The town was a major Islamic trading port during the 14th and 15th centuries.The surveys detected significant evidence for the containment of activities within the town walls, and previously unknown anthropogenic activity was revealed between the existing coral rag buildings, as well as within the open areas inside the town. Over 40 areas of magnetic disturbance were identified that corresponded directly with areas of high magnetic susceptibility in the Slingram electromagnetic in-phase responses.On excavation many of these anomalies were found to correlate with wattle and daub structures, indicating a hitherto unidentified population, and the location of the anomalies also suggests a potentially deliberate delineation of space within the open areas of the stonetown. The combined results of the three geophysical data sets indicate that there are clear delineations in the use of space within Songo Mnara. This
coupled with the presence of industrial activities and evidence of more ephemeral occupation, neither of which
had previously been recorded at the site, indicates that the pre-existing town plan is in need of significant
reappraisal. The current plan, based upon the remains of extant and collapsed coral buildings, can now be updated to
incorporate the more ephemeral aspects of Swahili sites
including activity areas, and notably, the homes of the ‘hidden majority’of the population.The results establish the benefit of a combined approach at these sites, and demonstrate that further invasive and non-invasive exploration is required in order to fully exploit the significance of the role of geophysical techniques in understanding Swahili towns
Antischistosomal Activity of Trioxaquines: In Vivo Efficacy and Mechanism of Action on Schistosoma mansoni
Schistosomiasis is among the most neglected tropical diseases, since its mode of spreading tends to limit the contamination to people who are in contact with contaminated waters in endemic countries. Here we report the in vitro and in vivo anti-schistosomal activities of trioxaquines. These hybrid molecules are highly active on the larval forms of the worms and exhibit different modes of action, not only the alkylation of heme. The synergy observed with praziquantel on infected mice is in favor of the development of these trioxaquines as potential anti-schistosomal agents
The Lie algebroid Poisson sigma model
The Poisson--Weil sigma model, worked out by us recently, stems from gauging
a Hamiltonian Lie group symmetry of the target space of the Poisson sigma
model. Upon gauge fixing of the BV master action, it yields interesting
topological field theories such as the 2--dimensional Donaldson-Witten
topological gauge theory and the gauged A topological sigma model. In this
paper, generalizing the above construction, we construct the Lie algebroid
Poisson sigma model. This is yielded by gauging a Hamiltonian Lie groupoid
symmetry of the Poisson sigma model target space. We use the BV quantization
approach in the AKSZ geometrical version to ensure consistent quantization and
target space covariance. The model has an extremely rich geometry and an
intricate BV cohomology, which are studied in detail.Comment: 52 pages, Late
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