Close to the edge: hierarchy in a double braneworld

We show that the hierarchy between the Planck and the weak scales can follow from the tendency of gravitons and fermions to localize at different edges of a thick double wall embedded in an $AdS_5$ spacetime without reflection symmetry. This double wall is a stable BPS thick-wall solution with two sub-walls located at its edges; fermions are coupled to the scalar field through Yukawa interactions, but the the lack of reflection symmetry forces them to be localized in one of the sub-walls. We show that the graviton zero-mode wavefunction is suppressed in the fermion edge by an exponential function of the distance between the sub-walls, and that the massive modes decouple so that Newtonian gravity is recuperated.Comment: Some typos corrected, references adde

Gauge field localization on brane worlds

We consider the effects of spacetime curvature and brane thickness on the localization of gauge fields on a brane via kinetic terms induced by localized fermions. We find that in a warped geometry with and infinitely thin brane, both the infrared and the ultraviolet behavior of the electromagnetic propagator are affected, providing a more stringent bound on the brane's tension than that coming from the requirement of four-dimensional gravity on the brane. On the other hand, for a thick wall in a flat spacetime, where the fermions are localized by means of a Yukawa coupling, we find that 4-dimensional electromagnetism is recovered in a region bounded from above by the same critical distance appearing in the thin case, but also from below by a new scale related to the brane's thickness and the electromagnetic couplings.Comment: 7 page

Dynamic Modelling and Optimisation of Large-Scale Cryogenic Separation Processes

In this work, the open loop dynamic optimisation of a large-scale natural gas processing plant is performed. A rigorous differential-algebraic equation (DAE) model has been formulated to represent main plant units, such as shell and tube heat exchangers, highpressure separator and demethanizing column. In the shell and tube heat exchangers, the hot stream partially condenses and equations to consider the partial condensation of the fluids have been included. A rigorous index one model for the demethanizing column has been developed. The DAE optimisation problem is solved with a simultaneous approach, in which both state and control variables are discretised and the original DAE optimisation model is transformed into a large-scale nonlinear problem (NLP), which is solved using Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods. Optimal profiles have been obtained for main operating variables to achieve an enhanced product recovery.Fil: Rodriguez, Mariela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Bandoni, Jose Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Investigation of Viral Genetic and Biologic Determinants of HIV-1 Subtype C Predominance in India

In India, HIV-1 subtype C has been the predominant subtype throughout the course of the HIV-1 epidemic, regardless of geographic region in the country. We hypothesize that the dominance of HIV-1 subtype C compared to other subtypes in India is due to enhanced replication fitness and/or enhanced transmission efficiency of this subtype across the mucosal surface over other subtypes present in India. The specific aims of this project are: (1) to compare the replication fitness between Indian HIV-1 subtype A and subtype C; (2) to evaluate the transmission efficiency of Indian HIV-1 subtype A and subtype C across the mucosa of cervical tissue; and (3) to determine the role of the LTR and env gene in replication fitness and transmission efficiency. Replication fitness was assessed using a dual infection growth competition assay. We observed that primary HIV-1 subtype C isolates had higher overall relative fitness and transmission efficiency than primary subtype A isolates in PBMC and in an ex vivo cervical tissue derived organ culture, respectively. Furthermore, a comparison of replicative fitness between a subtype A/subtype C half genome chimeric virus and parental subtype A virus indicates that the higher replication fitness and transmission efficiency of subtype C virus over subtype A virus from India is not due to the env gene alone. We have also characterized the genetic structure and functional characteristics of subtype A and subtype C LTRs from India. Despite their apparent variability, no significant difference was observed in the transcriptional activity between the LTRs of subtype A and subtype C. Therefore, the LTR region alone is not responsible for higher replication fitness of subtype C over subtype A. The findings presented in this study are significant for public health because an understanding of the mechanism of the asymmetric distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in India is an important component in the development of strategies to control HIV-1 infection in this country

Estudo experimental do comportamento ocular em trabalhadores administrativos como um indicador de conforto visual em situação de risco de encadeamento

The daylight impact on the visual environment is fundamental on visual display terminal work (VDT). Visual performance and visual comfort should be considered for equal. The study (n=16) was performed at the experimental lighting laboratory. Office work with VDT was evaluated using STROOP task in two orientations: (with/without solar presence in the visual field). Our hypothesis states the existence of a relationship between ocular behavior and visual comfort of workers. An eye-tracker was employed in order to record the ocular gestural parameters: blinks, direction of gaze, eye aperture (Degree of eye?s openness) and pupil size, which were correlated with the vertical illuminance at the eye. Visual comfort was assessed with Glare Sensation Vote. Results indicate a strong negative linear correlation between eye illuminance and the degree of eye?s openness in the direct sunlight scenario (p=-0.636; s=0.008) and in diffuse light scenario (p=-0.661; s=0.005), that could be the main predictor of visual discomfort. This experiment allowed us to explore eye behavior patterns that could be visual comfort indices under glare risk situations.O impacto a luz do dia no ambiente visual é fundamental para o trabalho no Ecrã de Visualização de Dados (EDV). Desempenho visual e conforto visual devem ser considerados em igual. O estudo (n = 16) foi realizado no laboratório experimental de iluminação. O trabalho de escritório com EDV foi avaliado utilizando a tarefa de Stroop em duas orientações: (com / sem presença solar no campo visual). A nossa hipótese afirma a existência de uma relação entre o comportamento ocular e conforto visual dos trabalhadores. Um “eye-tracker” foi desenvolvido para gravar os parâmetros gestuais oculares: pestanejar, direção do olhar, abertura dos olhos (Grau de abertura do olho) e tamanho da pupila, que foram correlacionados com a iluminância vertical no olho. Conforto visual foi avaliado com a escala de sensação de encadeamento. Os resultados indicam uma correlação linear negativa forte entre a luminosidade dos olhos e do grau de abertura de olho no cenário de luz solar direta (p = -0,636; s = 0,008) e no cenário de luz difusa (p = -0,661; s = 0,005), que poderia ser o principal preditor de desconforto visual. Esta experiência permitiu-nos explorar padrões de comportamento do olho que poderiam ser os índices de conforto visual em situação de risco de encadeamento.Fil: Yamin Garretón, Julieta Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Roberto Germán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Pattini, Andrea Elvira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentin

Black Hole Monodromy and Conformal Field Theory

The analytic structure of solutions to the Klein-Gordon equation in a black hole background, as represented by monodromy data, is intimately related to black hole thermodynamics. It encodes the "hidden conformal symmetry" of a non-extremal black hole, and it explains why features of the inner event horizon appear in scattering data such as greybody factors. This indicates that hidden conformal symmetry is generic within a universality class of black holes.Comment: 20 pages, v2 minor corrections, updated reference