On the geometry of almost S\mathcal{S}-manifolds

An $f$-structure on a manifold $M$ is an endomorphism field $\phi$ satisfying $\phi^3+\phi=0$. We call an $f$-structure {\em regular} if the distribution $T=\ker\phi$ is involutive and regular, in the sense of Palais. We show that when a regular $f$-structure on a compact manifold $M$ is an almost $\S$-structure, as defined by Duggal, Ianus, and Pastore, it determines a torus fibration of $M$ over a symplectic manifold. When \rank T = 1, this result reduces to the Boothby-Wang theorem. Unlike similar results due to Blair-Ludden-Yano and Soare, we do not assume that the $f$-structure is normal. We also show that given an almost $\mathcal{S}$-structure, we obtain an associated Jacobi structure, as well as a notion of symplectization.Comment: 12 pages, title change, minor typo corrections, to appear in ISRN Geometr

An equivariant index formula for almost-CR manifolds

We consider a consider the case of a compact manifold M, together with the following data: the action of a compact Lie group H and a smooth H-invariant distribution E, such that the H-orbits are transverse to E. These data determine a natural equivariant differential form with generalized coefficients J(E,X) whose properties we describe. When E is equipped with a complex structure, we define a class of symbol mappings in terms of the resulting almost-CR structure that are H-transversally elliptic whenever the action of H is transverse to E. We determine a formula for the H-equivariant index of such symbols that involves only J(E,X) and standard equivariant characteristic classes. This formula generalizes the formula given in arXiv:0712.2431 for the case of a contact manifold.Comment: 17 pages. Version 2 contains a few typo fixes, and updated reference

Behind-the-scenes of IEEE 802.11a based multi-radio mesh networks: a measurement driven evaluation of inter-channel interference

To successfully develop IEEE 802.11a based wireless mesh network solutions that can achieve the reliability and capacities required to offer high quality triple play services the use of multiple radios in each mesh node is essential. Unfortunately, the co-location of multiple antennas in a single device leads to a number of interference problems. In this paper the impact of non-overlapping channel interference in IEEE 802.11a based multi-radio nodes is investigated. A detailed explanation of the performance decreases and their relation to radio settings is presented. The primary contribution of this paper is the discovery of a channel interference effect which is present over the entire 802.11a frequency space. This interference appears if two radios are located less than 50 cm from each other and both are attempting to operate as usual. The results were obtained by conducting experiments in a well planned testbed to produce reliable and reproducible results. The presented results incorporate multiple parameters including transmission power, modulation coding scheme, channel separation and physical layer effects such as adjacent channel interference, carrier sensing, retransmissions and packet distortion.European Community's Seventh Framework ProgramPublicad

The Evolution and Future of E-Books: A Major Shift In Technology

Since their creation in 1971 by Michael Hart, e-books have steadily progressed into a major part of our technological landscape through the diffusion of innovations. The technology of e-books and e-readers has only further progressed into the current media landscape of how we read books. The e-book and e-reader technology will only continue at a more rapid pace of heavily impacting the future of book reading exponentially with further adaption of this technology

Effects of negative energy balance on liver gene and protein expression during the early postpartum period and its impacts on dairy cow fertility

End of project reportNegative energy balance (NEB) is a severe metabolic affecting high yielding dairy cows early post partum with both concurrent and latent negative effects on cow fertility as well as on milk production and cow health. The seasonal nature of Irish dairy production necessitates high cow fertility and a compact spring calving pattern in order to maximise grass utilisation. Poor dairy cow reproductive performance currently costs the Irish cattle industry in excess of €400 million annually. High milk yields have been associated with lower reproductive efficiency, and it has been suggested that this effect is probably mediated through its effects on the energy balance of the cow during lactation. The modern high genetic merit dairy cow prioritises nutrient supply towards milk production in early lactation and this demand takes precedence over the provision of optimal conditions for reproduction. In this study we used the bovine Affymetrix 23,000 gene microarray, which contains the most comprehensive set of bovine genes to be assembled and provides a means of investigating the modifying influences of energy balance on liver gene expression. Cows in severe negative energy balance (SNEB) in early lactation showed altered hepatic gene expression in metabolic processes as well as a down regulation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, where insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), growth hormone receptor variant 1A (GHR1A) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-acid labile subunit (IGFBP-ALS) were down regulated compared to the cows in the moderate negative energy balance MNEB group, consistent with a five-fold reduction in systemic concentrations of IGF1 in the SNEB group.Cows in SNEB showed elevated expression of key genes involved in the inflammatory response such as interleukin-8 (IL-8). There was a down regulation of genes involved in cellular growth in SNEB cows and moreover a negative regulator of cellular proliferation (HGFIN) was up regulated in SNEB cows, which is likely to compromise adaptation and recovery from NEB. The puma method of analysis revealed that 417 genes were differentially regulated by EB (P<0.05), of these genes 190 were up-regulated while 227 were down-regulated, with 405 genes having known biological functions. From Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), lipid catabolism was found to be the process most affected by differences in EB status

On transversally elliptic operators and the quantization of manifolds with ff-structure

An $f$-structure on a manifold $M$ is an endomorphism field \phi\in\Gamma(M,\End(TM)) such that $\phi^3+\phi=0$. Any $f$-structure $\phi$ determines an almost CR structure E_{1,0}\subset T_\C M given by the $+i$-eigenbundle of $\phi$. Using a compatible metric $g$ and connection $\nabla$ on $M$, we construct an odd first-order differential operator $D$, acting on sections of $\S=\Lambda E_{0,1}^*$, whose principal symbol is of the type considered in arXiv:0810.0338. In the special case of a CR-integrable almost $\S$-structure, we show that when $\nabla$ is the generalized Tanaka-Webster connection of Lotta and Pastore, the operator $D$ is given by D = \sqrt{2}(\dbbar+\dbbar^*), where \dbbar is the tangential Cauchy-Riemann operator. We then describe two "quantizations" of manifolds with $f$-structure that reduce to familiar methods in symplectic geometry in the case that $\phi$ is a compatible almost complex structure, and to the contact quantization defined in \cite{F4} when $\phi$ comes from a contact metric structure. The first is an index-theoretic approach involving the operator $D$; for certain group actions $D$ will be transversally elliptic, and using the results in arXiv:0810.0338, we can give a Riemann-Roch type formula for its index. The second approach uses an analogue of the polarized sections of a prequantum line bundle, with a CR structure playing the role of a complex polarization.Comment: 31 page

Using Concept Mapping to Identify Action Steps for Physical Activity Promotion in Cancer Treatment

The benefits of exercise during and after cancer treatment represent research areas that have received increased attention throughout the past two decades. Numerous benefits have been observed for cancer survivors who are physically active (Speck, Courneya, Masse, Duval & Schmitz, 2010). Yet oncologists have been slow to incorporate exercise counseling into practice (Daley et al., 2007). The objective of this study was to gather input from both researchers and oncologists as to what needs to happen for exercise to become part of standard care once treatment ends. The concept mapping process developed by Trochim and Kane (2007) was utilized to realize this goal. A total of 37 unique ideas were produced by participants and were grouped into six-clusters: Education, Inclusion of Exercise Professionals, Changes within the Current Oncology Environment, Research, Needed Components of Exercise Programs, and Patient Focused. Each of these clusters represents an area of concentration where changes are suggested for further promotion of PA for cancer survivors. Participants also rated each idea on its importance and feasibility. The Education cluster included many of the ideas that were rated highly on both of these variables and as such may serve as an ideal starting point for increasing cancer survivors\u27 exercise levels. Additionally, results revealed differences between researchers and oncologists with regard to how they ranked the ideas in terms of importance and feasibility

The effects of a walking intervention on self-efficacy for coping with cancer and quality of life among cancer patients during treatment

Cancer affects millions of Americans each year and as such there are numerous individuals fighting this disease at any time. Though strides are being made every day to better treat and hopefully one day cure this disease, the needs of these patients is a current area receiving a high amount of attention (Meadows et al, 1998). There are numerous positive outcomes associated with physical activity including attenuating cancer side-effects. As such, exercise during cancer treatment has recently received attention within the literature.;The current study aimed to test a novel walking intervention utilizing pedometers to increase physical activity. In addition, the relationships between physical activity and self-efficacy for coping with cancer and quality of life were studied. Ten (N = 10) individuals were enrolled within the investigated. On average, individuals took 34,962.67 (SD = 10,635.49) steps per week throughout the six-week study. Due to the low number of individuals who completed the intervention, relationships between physical activity and the dependent variables are hard to quantify. However, when individuals were looked at in a single-subject fashion, a positive relationship between physical activity and psycho-social variables seemed to exist. Interviews were also conducted (n = 4) and themes of motivation and control arose from these interviews. Though the numerous limitations of the study prevented the use of adequate statistical techniques to quantify relationships among variables, the findings of this study point to the idea that increased physical activity is advantageous to cancer patients. Suggestions based on the numerous challenges of the current study are also included