Think Different: Applying the Old Macintosh Mantra to the Computability of the SUSY Auxiliary Field Problem

Starting with valise supermultiplets obtained from 0-branes plus field redefinitions, valise adinkra networks, and the "Garden Algebra," we discuss an architecture for algorithms that (starting from on-shell theories and, through a well-defined computation procedure), search for off-shell completions. We show in one dimension how to directly attack the notorious "off-shell auxiliary field" problem of supersymmetry with algorithms in the adinkra network-world formulation.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figur

Horizontal stress anisotropy and effective stress as regulator of coal seam gas zonation in the Sydney Basin, Australia

Coal seam gas zonation in the Sydney Basin, NSW, Australia is related to basin hydrodynamics and hydrochemical facies evolution along the flow path from the subcrop to the basin center. Biogenic methane corresponds with meteoric water under hydrostatic pressure and persists down to the top of the geopressured zone (~800 to 1000m). Thermogenic gases, including wet hydrocarbons, can reach up to relatively shallow horizons of less than 500-600m depth. In the transition zone between the top of the geopressured and base of the hydrostatic zone, a mixed water and gas regime prevails, comprising brackish waters, and gases of mixed biogenic, thermogenic and inorganic origins, including CO. Mechanisms for and the role of stress in the development of this layered hydrogeological and gas environment are investigated in this paper.The inverse relationship between effective horizontal stress and permeability in coals through regulation of cleat volumes is well documented, and there is evidence of regionally compartmentalized stress regimes with depth within the Sydney and other eastern Australian coal basins. This regional stress regime can be overprinted by the effect of localized geological features. It is hypothesized that the in situ stress regime plays an important role in the regulation of groundwater flow regimes and extents, resulting in the development of the reported gas content and compositional zonation.Analysis of regional gas and stress data obtained from public and private databases, as well as literature, supports this hypothesis. Changes in gas concentration and composition with depth correspond with discernable variations in horizontal stress anisotropy. Gas contents generally increase with depth down to a 'peak gas' horizon, below which concentrations decrease. This 'peak gas' zone is coincident with a horizontal stress anisotropy change from moderately high to low levels, associated with reverse to strike-slip faulting conditions, respectively. The stress release zone also marks the top of the thermogenic gas zone, identified by the first appearance of ethane in the vertical profile. This zone also hosts gases of mixed origins: biogenic, thermogenic and inorganic (CO) and represents a mixed (transitional) groundwater flow environment. The base of the mixed gas zone is the top of the 'geopressured-only' flow associated with thermogenic gases and is signaled by the return to high stress reverse faulting conditions below 850-900m depth in the Sydney Basin

Development and application of rice starch based edible coating to improve the postharvest storage potential and quality of plum fruit (<i>Prunus salicina</i>)

The study investigated the possibility of enhancing the shelf life of plum fruit coated with rice starch-ι-carrageenan (RS-ι-car) composite coating blended with sucrose fatty acid esters (FAEs). Film solution (starch 3%, carrageenan 1.5% and FAEs 2%) was prepared by mixing the ingredients and properties of stand-alone films (physical, mechanical, barrier and surface morphology) were studied before applying the coating on fruit surface. Fruit were stored at 20 °C for 3 weeks and analyzed for weight loss, ethylene production, respiration rate, color change, firmness, and titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solid content (SSC). Surface morphology of stand-alone film and fruit surface (after applying on the plum fruit) was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Phytochemical analysis was performed during the storage period and total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), flavonoid content (FC) and free radical scavenging activity were determined. The rice starch composite coating was shown to be effective in reducing both weight loss (WL) and respiration rate and inhibiting the endogenous ethylene production when compared to the uncoated control fruit stored at room temperature (p &lt; 0.05). TPC, TAC, FC and free radical scavenging activity was unaffected in the coated fruit throughout the storage period (p &lt; 0.05). The findings reported in this study indicate that the RS-ι-car-FAEs coating prolongs the shelf life and maintains the overall quality of plum fruit during storage and could potentially be commercialized as a new edible coating for the plum fruit industry

Cohort profile: the avon longitudinal study of parents and children: ALSPAC mothers cohort

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Children and Parents (ALSPAC) was established to understand how genetic and environmental characteristics influence health and development in parents and children. All pregnant women resident in a defined area in the South West of England, with an expected date of delivery between 1st April 1991 and 31st December 1992, were eligible and 13 761 women (contributing 13 867 pregnancies) were recruited. These women have been followed over the last 19–22 years and have completed up to 20 questionnaires, have had detailed data abstracted from their medical records and have information on any cancer diagnoses and deaths through record linkage. A follow-up assessment was completed 17–18 years postnatal at which anthropometry, blood pressure, fat, lean and bone mass and carotid intima media thickness were assessed, and a fasting blood sample taken. The second follow-up clinic, which additionally measures cognitive function, physical capability, physical activity (with accelerometer) and wrist bone architecture, is underway and two further assessments with similar measurements will take place over the next 5 years. There is a detailed biobank that includes DNA, with genome-wide data available on &gt;10 000, stored serum and plasma taken repeatedly since pregnancy and other samples; a wide range of data on completed biospecimen assays are available. Details of how to access these data are provided in this cohort profile

Prevalence, Predictors & Prevention of Motion Sickness in Zero-G Parabolic Flights

INTRODUCTION Zero-G parabolic flight reproduces the weightlessness of space for short periods of time. However motion sickness may affect some fliers. The aim was to assess the extent of this problem and to find possible predictors and modifying factors. METHODS Airbus Zero-G flights consist of 31 parabolas performed in blocks. Each parabola consisted of 20s 0g sandwiched by 20s hypergravity of 1.5-1.8g. The survey covered n=246 person-flights (193 Males 53 Females), aged (M+/-SD) 36.0+/-11.3 years. An anonymous questionnaire included motion sickness rating (1=OK to 6=Vomiting), Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ), anti-motion sickness medication, prior Zero-G experience, anxiety level, and other characteristics. RESULTS Participants had lower MSSQ percentile scores 27.4+/-28.0 than the population norm of 50. Motion sickness was experienced by 33% and 12% vomited. Less motion sickness was predicted by older age, greater prior Zero-G flight experience, medication with scopolamine, lower MSSQ scores, but not gender nor anxiety. Sickness ratings in fliers pre-treated with scopolamine (1.81+/-1.58) were lower than for non-medicated fliers (2.93+/-2.16), and incidence of vomiting in fliers using scopolamine treatment was reduced by half to a third. Possible confounding factors including age, sex, flight experience, MSSQ, could not account for this. CONCLUSION Motion sickness affected one third of Zero-G fliers, despite being intrinsically less motion sickness susceptible compared to the general population. Susceptible individuals probably try to avoid such a provocative environment. Risk factors for motion sickness included younger age and higher MSSQ scores. Protective factors included prior Zero-G flight experience (habituation) and anti-motion sickness medication

Fifty years of spellchecking

A short history of spellchecking from the late 1950s to the present day, describing its development through dictionary lookup, affix stripping, correction, confusion sets, and edit distance to the use of gigantic databases

Lambda-prophage induction modeled as a cooperative failure mode of lytic repression

We analyze a system-level model for lytic repression of lambda-phage in E. coli using reliability theory, showing that the repressor circuit comprises 4 redundant components whose failure mode is prophage induction. Our model reflects the specific biochemical mechanisms involved in regulation, including long-range cooperative binding, and its detailed predictions for prophage induction in E. coli under ultra-violet radiation are in good agreement with experimental data.Comment: added referenc

Living apart, losing sympathy? How neighbourhood context affects attitudes to redistribution and to welfare recipients

Rising levels of income inequality have been directly linked to rising levels of spatial segregation. In this paper, we explore whether rising segregation may in turn erode support for the redistributive policies of the welfare state, further increasing levels of inequality – a form of positive feedback. The role of the neighbourhood has been neglected in attitudes research but, building on both political geography and ‘neighbourhood effects’ literatures, we theorise that neighbourhood context may shape attitudes through the transmission of attitudes directly and through the accumulation of relevant knowledge. We test this through multilevel modelling of data from England on individual attitudes to redistribution in general and to welfare benefit recipients in particular. We show that the individual factors shaping these attitudes are quite different and that the influence of neighbourhood context also varies as a result. The findings support the idea that neighbourhood context shapes attitudes, with the knowledge accumulation mechanism likely to be the more important. Rising spatial segregation would appear to erode support for redistribution but to increase support for welfare recipients – at least in a context where the dominant media discourse presents such a stigmatising image of those on welfare benefits

Surface water flood forecasting for urban communities

Key findings and recommendations: • This research has addressed the challenge of surface water flood forecasting by producing the UK’s first operational surface water flood risk forecast with a 24-hour lead time. This was successfully used in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. • The methodology of the Glasgow Pilot has been developed to use nationally available datasets and a transferrable approach which will help urban areas in Scotland improve their resilience to and preparedness for future flooding. • It also delivered a novel method for forecasting the impacts of flooding in real-time and increased knowledge on communicating uncertainties in flood risk. • A real-time forecasting system for surface water flooding from intense rainfall needs to use models that represent surface runoff production, surface water inundation and movement, and how water travels via surface and sub-surface pathways, including urban sewerage and drainage networks. Ensemble rainfall prediction models are key to quantifying uncertainty in forecasting the rainfall that causes surface water flooding. • Detailed surface water flood inundation models exist and are widely used in design and research activities, but none were found to be ready for real-time use. The Grid-to-Grid (G2G) distributed hydrological model was chosen for used in the Glasgow Pilot as it can provide ensemble forecasts of surface water flooding, and takes account of the intensity and pattern of rainfall, land cover and slope, and antecedent conditions. • The research developed a novel methodology for impact assessment that links surface runoff to the severity of flooding impacts on people, property and transport. Use is made of a library of information based on SEPA’s Regional Pluvial (rainfall-related) Flood Hazard maps. • For the Glasgow Pilot, G2G was operated over a 10km by 10km area encompassing Glasgow’s East End and the main areas of activity for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The research team developed an operational application, called FEWS Glasgow, to support running the model in real-time and reporting on the likely impacts of surface water flooding. A new Daily Glasgow Daily Surface Water Flood Forecast was designed and produced based on operational requirements and emergency responder feedback