W∞W_\infty and Anomalies of Self-Dual Einstein Theories

This manuscripts corrects some minor error in the paper, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 6 1893 (1991)Comment: (revised due to TeXnical errors), 11 page

Applications of W-algebras to BF theories, QCD and 4D Gravity

We are able to show that BF theories naturally emerge from the coadjoint orbits of $W_2$ and $w_\infty$ algebras which includes a Kac-Moody sector. Since QCD strings can be identified with a BF theory, we are able to show a relationship between the orbits and monopole-string solutions of QCD. Furthermore, we observe that when 4D gravitation is cast into a BF form through the use of Ashtekar variables, we are able to get order $\hbar$ contributions to gravity which can be associated with the $W_2$ anomaly. We comment on the relationship to gravitational monopoles.Comment: 14 page

Global distribution of total ozone derived from Nimbus 3 satellite during April July, 1969 and its implication to upper tropospheric circulation

Utilizing a stepwise multiple regression scheme, monthly mean global maps of total ozone are produced from the spectral intensity measurements made by the infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) onboard the Nimbus 3 satellite for the period April 18 to July 22, 1969. These maps show that over the equatorial regions total ozone increases steadily from April to July. Further, latitudinal variation of total ozone derived from these maps shows that the ozone increases at all latitudes over the Southern Hemisphere uniformly from April to July while over the Northern Hemisphere the monthly decrease at all latitudes is nonuniform. In general, these maps bear a close resemblance to the upper tropospheric circulation. It is observed that the total ozone is best correlated with the 200 mb geopotential heights. This relationship enables the utilization of total ozone as a quasi-stream function to determine geostrophic winds at 200 mb level. Further, even at low latitudes where the total ozone does not bear simple relationship to the geopotential heights the course of the easterly jet stream with the help of the ozone measurements can be identified

Anxiety and ASD: Current Progress and Ongoing Challenges

Symptoms of anxiety add significant burden to many autistic individuals and their loved ones. There is an urgent need for better understanding of the unique underlying mechanisms of anxiety in ASD, and for the development of more specific assessment methods and treatment recommendations. This special issue brings together 24 articles grouped into three themes; mechanisms, measurement, and intervention. The result is a review of current anxiety research in ASD that is both broad and deep. Key themes include recognition of the importance individual differences in aetiology and presentation of anxiety in ASD, the need for a more nuanced understanding of the interactions between anxiety and characteristics of ASD and the need to develop appropriately adapted treatments. This special issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD) aims to showcase the most recent research on anxiety in ASD. Around 50% of autistic individuals will experience anxiety that significantly impacts on their daily lives and the lives of their loved ones. When present, anxiety reduces quality of life and interferes with education, employment, and achievement of potential. The urgent need to address this pressing clinical issue was highlighted by the Autistica Priority Setting Partnership (2015), undertaken in collaboration with the autism community in the UK, which identified mental health concerns as the top priority for autism research with specific emphasis on the development of interventions to reduce anxiety identified as amongst the top five research priorities. The idea for this Special Issue arose as a consequence of discussions which took place at the Anxiety and ASD Special Interest Group at the International Meeting for Autism Research in 2015, with the call for papers issued in summer of 2015. We have been privileged to receive very many high quality submissions, all of which have been subjected to standard peer review processes. The outcome of this endeavour is this special issue, comprising 24 excellent papers from the leading international researchers in the field. Our aspiration was to present to JADD readership the most up-to-date scientific and methodological developments in the field. The papers included in this special issue fall into three broad themes: (1) mechanisms and correlates underpinning the development and maintenance of anxiety in ASD, (2) issues with measurement, assessment, and stability of anxiety in ASD, and (3) interventions for anxiety for autistic people

Scales of Resilience: Community Stability, Population Dynamics, and Molecular Ecology of Brook Trout in a Riverscape after a Large Flood

Climate change in the northeastern United States currently and in future decadal predictions is characterized by warmer average temperatures and more frequent and intense storm events. Many aquatic organisms that thrive below a certain temperature threshold, such as brook trout, are being pushed towards their upper thermal limits, ultimately lowering their probability of survival and resilience to disturbance. In late-August and early-September 2011, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee created an extended flood in the Delaware Water Gap region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as much of the northeast. This dissertation examines the effects of this flood on a network of naturally fragmented tributaries in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. All study sites showed significant changes in mesohabitat and in-stream large woody debris. Because of the area geology, downstream reaches of tributaries were more disturbed, exhibited significant changes in substrate composition, and had a greater loss of species richness. Abundance of all species varied significantly between years, in some locations increasing 500% between 2011 before the flood and 2012 after the flood. Displaced adults and massive increases in young-of-year recruitment should indicate a substantial change in genetic diversity and differentiation over time and space. In fact, pairwise Fst (a comparative measure of genetic differentiation) showed significant differences in nearly all study populations before and after the flood. Of even greater concern was an increase in fixed monomorphic loci in multiple populations. A rich and well-conserved landscape provides the resources necessary to build resilient stream communities and populations after a large disturbance. However, fine scale examination of population genetics show a much graver trend in species health due to fewer reproducing adults and higher offspring survival the following year. Such genetic homogenization increases the likelihood of inbreeding and susceptibility to disease and other long-term environmental stressors. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink,edu/et

Scales of Resilience: Community Stability, Population Dynamics, and Molecular Ecology of Brook Trout in a Riverscape after a Large Flood

Climate change in the northeastern United States currently and in future decadal predictions is characterized by warmer average temperatures and more frequent and intense storm events. Many aquatic organisms that thrive below a certain temperature threshold, such as brook trout, are being pushed towards their upper thermal limits, ultimately lowering their probability of survival and resilience to disturbance. In late-August and early-September 2011, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee created an extended flood in the Delaware Water Gap region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as much of the northeast. This dissertation examines the effects of this flood on a network of naturally fragmented tributaries in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. All study sites showed significant changes in mesohabitat and in-stream large woody debris. Because of the area geology, downstream reaches of tributaries were more disturbed, exhibited significant changes in substrate composition, and had a greater loss of species richness. Abundance of all species varied significantly between years, in some locations increasing 500% between 2011 before the flood and 2012 after the flood. Displaced adults and massive increases in young-of-year recruitment should indicate a substantial change in genetic diversity and differentiation over time and space. In fact, pairwise Fst (a comparative measure of genetic differentiation) showed significant differences in nearly all study populations before and after the flood. Of even greater concern was an increase in fixed monomorphic loci in multiple populations. A rich and well-conserved landscape provides the resources necessary to build resilient stream communities and populations after a large disturbance. However, fine scale examination of population genetics show a much graver trend in species health due to fewer reproducing adults and higher offspring survival the following year. Such genetic homogenization increases the likelihood of inbreeding and susceptibility to disease and other long-term environmental stressors. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink,edu/et

Analysis of debris from Spacelab Space Life Sciences-1

Airborne microbiological and particulate contamination generated aboard Spacelab modules is a potential safety hazard. In order to shed light on the characteristics of these contaminants, microbial and chemical/particulate analyses were performed on debris vacuumed from cabin and avionics air filters in the Space Life Sciences-1 (SLS-1) module of the Space Transportation System 40 (STS-40) mission 1 month after landing. The debris was sorted into categories (e.g., metal, nonmetal, hair/fur, synthetic fibers, food particles, insect fragments, etc.). Elemental analysis of particles was done by energy dispersive analysis of x rays (metals) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (nonmetals). Scanning electron micrographs were done of most particles. Microbiological samples were grown on R2A culture medium and identified. Clothing fibers dominated the debris by volume. Other particles, all attributed to the crew, resulted from abrasions and impacts during missions operations (e.g., paint chips, plastic, electronic scraps and clothing fibers). All bacterial species identified are commonly found in the atmosphere or on the human body. Bacillus sp. was the most frequently seen bacterium. One of the bacterial species, Enterobacter agglomerans, could cause illness in crew members with depressed immune systems

Short Distance Expansion from the Dual Representation of Infinite Dimensional Lie Algebras

We compute the short distance expansion of fields or operators that live in the coadjoint representation of an infinite dimensional Lie algebra by using only properties of the adjoint representation and its dual. We explicitly compute the short distance expansion for the duals of the Virasoro algebra, affine Lie Algebras and the geometrically realized N-extended supersymmetric GR Virasoro algebra.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX twice, no figure, replacement has corrected Lie algebr