40 research outputs found
Derivative corrections to the Born-Infeld action through beta-function calculations in N=2 boundary superspace
We calculate the beta-functions for an open string sigma-model in the
presence of a U(1) background. Passing to N=2 boundary superspace, in which the
background is fully characterized by a scalar potential, significantly
facilitates the calculation. Performing the calculation through three loops
yields the equations of motion up to five derivatives on the fieldstrengths,
which upon integration gives the bosonic sector of the effective action for a
single D-brane in trivial bulk background fields through four derivatives and
to all orders in alpha'. Finally, the present calculation shows that demanding
ultra-violet finiteness of the non-linear sigma-model can be reformulated as
the requirement that the background is a deformed stable holomorphic U(1)
bundle.Comment: 25 pages, numerous figure
Confusing the extragalactic neutrino flux limit with a neutrino propagation limit
We study the possible suppression of the extragalactic neutrino flux due to a
nonstandard interaction during its propagation. In particular, we study
neutrino interaction with an ultra-light scalar field dark matter. It is shown
that the extragalactic neutrino flux may be suppressed by such an interaction,
leading to a new mechanism to reduce the ultra-high energy neutrino flux. We
study both the cases of non-self-conjugate as well as self-conjugate dark
matter. In the first case, the suppression is independent of the neutrino and
dark matter masses. We conclude that care must be taken when explaining limits
on the neutrino flux through source acceleration mechanisms only, since there
could be other mechanisms for the reduction of the neutrino flux.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Important changes implemented. Abstract
modified. Conclusions remain. To be published in JCA
Natura Alert: Monitoring biodiversity threats using citizen science
Since the late 1970s, the BirdLife Partnership has been working collectively to identify, document and protect places on the Earth with the greatest significance for the conservation of the world’s birds. As a result, over 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) have been identified. However, we lack comprehensive monitoring of the condition of these sites, with an increasing number of IBAs under threat from damaging development – the majority of which appears to be poorly planned and does not take environmental values into account. Sites face a wide range of problems, which require an equally wide range of solutions.
To address this problem, Natura Alert has been developed within the Horizon 2020-funded LandSense Citizen Observatory project. Natura Alert is a mobile app and web portal that allows users to pinpoint the location of threats to biodiversity and habitat changes, to prevent the further damage or loss to our biodiversity. We are particularly interested in threats that are occurring inside IBAs, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Natura 2000 sites in the European Union, although submitting records in other areas is also possible. Information on the condition of these sites, the threats to them, the conservation measures in place and the changes in these aspects over time are essential to set priorities, hold governments to account and inform policies and decision-makers. Volunteers can share their observations with the wider community and help to map the state of our most valuable sites around the world. They can download our mobile app to quickly record their observations in the field or use the web app to discover more functionalities, such as visualizing reports from other users, creating dashboards per country and downloading their own reports.
Natura Alert is being tested in Spain and Indonesia, thanks to the volunteer network of two BirdLife partners: SEO/BirdLife and Burung. While the Spanish volunteers are focusing on threats to birds and habitats within IBAs and Natura 2000 sites, the Indonesian communities are validating alerts from satellite-image analysis for forest change on Flores island. Citizen observations trigger real-time alerts to national and regional IBA/KBA coordinators at BirdLife International, who will ensure that the data are of high quality and produce regional and global monitoring assessments that could help monitor the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Also, researchers and practitioners around the globe can benefit from this type of data, as well as institutions and stakeholders from the private sector willing to make better decisions based on high quality data via the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
Natura Alert: Monitoring biodiversity threats using citizen science
Since the late 1970s, the BirdLife Partnership has been working collectively to identify, document and protect places on the Earth with the greatest significance for the conservation of the world’s birds. As a result, over 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) have been identified. However, we lack comprehensive monitoring of the condition of these sites, with an increasing number of IBAs under threat from damaging development – the majority of which appears to be poorly planned and does not take environmental values into account. Sites face a wide range of problems, which require an equally wide range of solutions.
To address this problem, Natura Alert has been developed within the Horizon 2020-funded LandSense Citizen Observatory project. Natura Alert is a mobile app and web portal that allows users to pinpoint the location of threats to biodiversity and habitat changes, to prevent the further damage or loss to our biodiversity. We are particularly interested in threats that are occurring inside IBAs, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Natura 2000 sites in the European Union, although submitting records in other areas is also possible. Information on the condition of these sites, the threats to them, the conservation measures in place and the changes in these aspects over time are essential to set priorities, hold governments to account and inform policies and decision-makers. Volunteers can share their observations with the wider community and help to map the state of our most valuable sites around the world. They can download our mobile app to quickly record their observations in the field or use the web app to discover more functionalities, such as visualizing reports from other users, creating dashboards per country and downloading their own reports.
Natura Alert is being tested in Spain and Indonesia, thanks to the volunteer network of two BirdLife partners: SEO/BirdLife and Burung. While the Spanish volunteers are focusing on threats to birds and habitats within IBAs and Natura 2000 sites, the Indonesian communities are validating alerts from satellite-image analysis for forest change on Flores island. Citizen observations trigger real-time alerts to national and regional IBA/KBA coordinators at BirdLife International, who will ensure that the data are of high quality and produce regional and global monitoring assessments that could help monitor the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Also, researchers and practitioners around the globe can benefit from this type of data, as well as institutions and stakeholders from the private sector willing to make better decisions based on high quality data via the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
Spectra of PP-Wave Limits of M-/Superstring Theory on AdS_p x S^q Spaces
In this paper we show how one can obtain very simply the spectra of the
PP-wave limits of M-theory over AdS_7(4) x S^4(7) spaces and IIB superstring
theory over AdS_5 x S^5 from the oscillator construction of the Kaluza-Klein
spectra of these theories over the corresponding spaces. The PP-wave symmetry
superalgebras are obtained by taking the number P of ``colors'' of oscillators
to be large (infinite). In this large P limit, the symmetry superalgebra
osp(8*|4) of AdS_7 x S^4 and the symmetry superalgebra osp(8|4,R) of AdS_4 x
S^7 lead to isomorphic PP-wave algebras, which is the semi-direct sum of
su(4|2) with H^(18,16), while the symmetry superalgebra su(2,2|4) of AdS_5 x
S^5 leads to the semi-direct sum of [psu(2|2) + psu(2|2) + u(1)] with H^(16,16)
as its PP-wave algebra [H^(m,n) denoting a super-Heisenberg algebra with m
bosonic and n fermionic generators]. The zero mode spectra of M-theory or IIB
superstring theory in the PP-wave limit corresponds simply to the unitary
positive energy representations of these algebras whose lowest weight vector is
the Fock vacuum of all the oscillators. General positive energy supermultiplets
including those corresponding to higher modes can similarly be constructed by
the oscillator method.Comment: Typos corrected; references added; minor modifications to improve
presentation; 37 pages, LaTeX fil
Capturing and communicating impact of citizen science for policy: A storytelling approach
In response to the need for approaches to understand how citizen science is currently influencing environmental policy and associated decision making, we devised the Citizen Science Impact StoryTelling Approach (CSISTA). We iteratively designed instruments to be used as tools primarily for citizen science practitioners seeking to understand or communicate policy impacts. We then trialled the CSISTA and associated instruments on four exemplary citizen science initiatives, using different forms of inquiry and collaboration with respective initiative leaders. In this paper, we present CSISTA, with details of the steps for implementing inquiry and storytelling instruments. Additionally, we reflect on insights gained and challenges encountered implementing the approach. Overall, we found the versatility and structure of CSISTA as a process with multiple guiding instruments useful. We envision the approach being helpful, particularly with regards to: 1) gaining an understanding of a citizen science initiative's policy and decision-making impacts; 2) creating short policy impact stories to communicate such impacts to broader audiences; or 3) fulfilling both goals to understand and communicate policy impacts with a unified approach. We encourage others to explore, adapt, and improve the approach. Additionally, we hope that explorations of CSISTA will foster broader discussions on how to understand and strengthen interactions between citizen science practitioners, policy makers, and decision makers at large, whether at local, national, or international scales
Role of chaos for the validity of statistical mechanics laws: diffusion and conduction
Several years after the pioneering work by Fermi Pasta and Ulam, fundamental
questions about the link between dynamical and statistical properties remain
still open in modern statistical mechanics. Particularly controversial is the
role of deterministic chaos for the validity and consistency of statistical
approaches. This contribution reexamines such a debated issue taking
inspiration from the problem of diffusion and heat conduction in deterministic
systems. Is microscopic chaos a necessary ingredient to observe such
macroscopic phenomena?Comment: Latex, 27 pages, 10 eps-figures. Proceedings of the Conference "FPU
50 years since" Rome 7-8 May 200
Titan's diverse landscapes as evidenced by Cassini RADAR's third and fourth looks at Titan
Reinforcement learning for clinical decision support in critical care: Comprehensive review
10.2196/18477Journal of Medical Internet Research227e1847