1,082 research outputs found
Mapping the matrix: using compendium as a tool for recording the analytic group
This paper describes the application of Compendium, a knowledge cartography software tool, for the recording of group process. As a hypertext tool, it enables analysts to visualise connections between people, ideas and information, establishing an evidence base within and across contexts (such as group sessions). After customising its visual language, templates and keyword system, it has been piloted as a research tool for the measurement of group process. This would appear to hold the promise of providing a “digital substrate” for recording, discussing and analysing long term group dynamics in new ways. While the project is in its early stages, early indications are that it is a useful tool which can highlight group process and record change over time. In the longer term, it seems plausible that group processes such as multiple mirroring and identification, and such complex structures as the matrix, could be made visible and researchable through this methodology
The Ruled Vertex and Nontoric del Pezzo Surfaces
We construct the topological partition function of local nontoric del Pezzo
surfaces using the ruled vertex formalism.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure
Measurement of Trace I-129 Concentrations in CsI Powder and Organic Liquid Scintillator with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry
Levels of trace radiopurity in active detector materials is a subject of
major concern in low-background experiments. Procedures were devised to measure
trace concentrations of I-129 in the inorganic salt CsI as well as in organic
liquid scintillator with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) which leads to
improvement in sensitivities by several orders of magnitude over other methods.
No evidence of their existence in these materials were observed. Limits of < 6
X 10^{-13} g/g and < 2.6 X 10^{-17} g/g on the contaminations of I-129 in CsI
and liquid scintillator, respectively, were derived.These are the first results
in a research program whose goals are to develop techniques to measure trace
radioactivity in detector materials by AMS.Comment: Proceedings of 10th International Conference on Accelerator Mass
Spectrometr
Exotic Heavy Fermion State in the Filled Skutterudite PrFeP Uncovered by the de Haas-van Alphen Effect
We report the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) experiment on the filled skutterudite
PrFeP exhibiting apparent Kondo-like behaviors in the transport and
thermal properties. We have found enormously enhanced cyclotron effective mass
in the high field phase (HFP), which
indicates that PrFeP is the first Pr-compound in which really heavy
mass has been unambiguously confirmed. Also in the low field non-magnetic
ordered phase (LOP), we observed the dHvA branch with that is quite heavy taking into account its small Fermi surface volume
(0.15% of the Brillouin zone size). The insensitivity of mass in LOP against
the magnetic field suggests that the quadrupolar interaction plays a main role
both in the mass renormalization and the LOP formation.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. B (01 October 2002) in pres
Remodeling the B-model
We propose a complete, new formalism to compute unambiguously B-model open
and closed amplitudes in local Calabi-Yau geometries, including the mirrors of
toric manifolds. The formalism is based on the recursive solution of matrix
models recently proposed by Eynard and Orantin. The resulting amplitudes are
non-perturbative in both the closed and the open moduli. The formalism can then
be used to study stringy phase transitions in the open/closed moduli space. At
large radius, this formalism may be seen as a mirror formalism to the
topological vertex, but it is also valid in other phases in the moduli space.
We develop the formalism in general and provide an extensive number of checks,
including a test at the orbifold point of A_p fibrations, where the amplitudes
compute the 't Hooft expansion of Wilson loops in lens spaces. We also use our
formalism to predict the disk amplitude for the orbifold C^3/Z_3.Comment: 83 pages, 9 figure
Deforming, revolving and resolving - New paths in the string theory landscape
In this paper we investigate the properties of series of vacua in the string
theory landscape. In particular, we study minima to the flux potential in type
IIB compactifications on the mirror quintic. Using geometric transitions, we
embed its one dimensional complex structure moduli space in that of another
Calabi-Yau with h^{1,1}=86 and h^{2,1}=2. We then show how to construct
infinite series of continuously connected minima to the mirror quintic
potential by moving into this larger moduli space, applying its monodromies,
and moving back. We provide an example of such series, and discuss their
implications for the string theory landscape.Comment: 41 pages, 5 figures; minor corrections, published versio
Folate deficiency induces neurodegeneration and brain dysfunction in mice lacking uracil DNA glycosylase
Folate deficiency and resultant increased homocysteine levels have been linked experimentally and epidemiologically with neurodegenerative conditions like stroke and dementia. Moreover, folate deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, most notably depression. We hypothesized that the pathogenic mechanisms include uracil misincorporation and, therefore, analyzed the effects of folate deficiency in mice lacking uracil DNA glycosylase (Ung-/-) versus wild-type controls. Folate depletion increased nuclear mutation rates in Ung-/- embryonic fibroblasts, and conferred death of cultured Ung-/- hippocampal neurons. Feeding animals a folate-deficient diet (FD) for 3 months induced degeneration of CA3 pyramidal neurons in Ung-/- but not Ung+/+ mice along with decreased hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein and decreased brain levels of antioxidant glutathione. Furthermore, FD induced cognitive deficits and mood alterations such as anxious and despair-like behaviors that were aggravated in Ung-/- mice. Independent of Ung genotype, FD increased plasma homocysteine levels, altered brain monoamine metabolism, and inhibited adult hippocampal neurogenesis. These results indicate that impaired uracil repair is involved in neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric dysfunction induced by experimental folate deficiency
Global Search for New Physics with 2.0/fb at CDF
Data collected in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron are searched for
indications of new electroweak-scale physics. Rather than focusing on
particular new physics scenarios, CDF data are analyzed for discrepancies with
the standard model prediction. A model-independent approach (Vista) considers
gross features of the data, and is sensitive to new large cross-section
physics. Further sensitivity to new physics is provided by two additional
algorithms: a Bump Hunter searches invariant mass distributions for "bumps"
that could indicate resonant production of new particles; and the Sleuth
procedure scans for data excesses at large summed transverse momentum. This
combined global search for new physics in 2.0/fb of ppbar collisions at
sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV reveals no indication of physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Final version which appeared in Physical Review D
Rapid Communication
FGF receptor genes and breast cancer susceptibility: results from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium
Background:Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Genome-wide association studies have identified FGFR2 as a breast cancer susceptibility gene. Common variation in other fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors might also modify risk. We tested this hypothesis by studying genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed SNPs in FGFR1, FGFR3, FGFR4 and FGFRL1 in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.
Methods:Data were combined from 49 studies, including 53 835 cases and 50 156 controls, of which 89 050 (46 450 cases and 42 600 controls) were of European ancestry, 12 893 (6269 cases and 6624 controls) of Asian and 2048 (1116 cases and 932 controls) of African ancestry. Associations with risk of breast cancer, overall and by disease sub-type, were assessed using unconditional logistic regression.
Results:Little evidence of association with breast cancer risk was observed for SNPs in the FGF receptor genes. The strongest evidence in European women was for rs743682 in FGFR3; the estimated per-allele odds ratio was 1.05 (95 confidence interval=1.02-1.09, P=0.0020), which is substantially lower than that observed for SNPs in FGFR2.
Conclusion:Our results suggest that common variants in the other FGF receptors are not associated with risk of breast cancer to the degree observed for FGFR2. © 2014 Cancer Research UK
- …