Euler systems for GSp(4)

We construct an Euler system for Galois representations associated to cohomological cuspidal automorphic representations of the group GSp(4), using the pushforwards of Eisenstein classes for GL(2) x GL(2).Comment: 41 pages. Revised version -- main theorem now applies in all cohomological weight

Higher Hida theory and p-adic L-functions for GSp(4)

We use the "higher Hida theory" recently introduced by the second author to p-adically interpolate periods of non-holomorphic automorphic forms for GSp(4), contributing to coherent cohomology of Siegel threefolds in positive degrees. We apply this new method to construct p-adic L-functions associated to the degree 4 (spin) L-function of automorphic representations of GSp(4), and the degree 8 L-function of GSp(4) x GL(2).Comment: Updated with minor corrections. To appear in "Duke Math Journal" (see https://projecteuclid.org/accepted/euclid.dmj

EXPLORING DIETARY INTAKES OF MICRONUTRIENTS INVOLVED IN BONE REMODELING IN RELATION TO BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS: AN EXAMINATION OF PRE-MENARCHEAL FEMALE GYMNASTS AND NON-GYMNASTS.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between dietary intake of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin D, fiber, and bone mineral density in a sample of pre-menarcheal female gymnasts and non-gymnasts in the Syracuse-area. The goal was to observe whether higher intakes of these vitamins were associated with higher bone mineral density as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to potentially examine the impact of activity level on these relationships. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to examine a subset of data from a larger on-going longitudinal study on bone growth and physical activity in young females. The original study was designed to compare activity, and bone density data between gymnast and non-gymnasts. The data used in this analysis were collected from January 2009 to September 2012 from 52 pre-menarcheal female gymnasts and non-gymnasts between the ages of 9-11. Participants were asked to complete Harvard’s Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire biannually to quantify nutrient intake. Annual bone density measurements were taken of the lumbar spine and total body using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Participants also were asked to self-report physical activity semi-annually during an interview session in which they described the type of activity and hours per week of participation. Tanner breast and pubic stages were self-assessed by subjects at each interview session. Standing height, sitting height, and weight measures were collected at the interview sessions as well. Participants: The participants were 52 pre-menarcheal female gymnasts and non-gymnasts between the ages of 9-11. The selection criteria for this analysis was limited to participants who self-reported as Tanner Stage I (Tanner breast I and Tanner pubic I) at the time of the annual DXA scan. This criterion minimizes the potentially confounding effects of estrogen on bone density and mineral concentration. Non-Caucasian subjects were not included in this analysis as the original cohort of subjects were predominantly Caucasian and the sample size for the current study was too small to account for racial variation. A factor analysis was performed to decrease the dimensionality of the full data set. A principle component analysis was used to observe groupings of dietary variables and to better understand over all dietary patterns. Pearson correlations, and simple linear regressions were used to identify associations between specific micronutrients and minerals and bone mineral density. Multiple regression analyses and ANOVA (general linear model, GLM) were used to further examine the relationships relationship between bone mineral density and the intake of vitamin A, vitamin D, biologically active vitamin K, and the ratio of vitamin A:D intake while adjusting for physical activity, weight, and age of participants. Statistical significance for all tests was set at the α=0.05 level. Results: Inverse relationships were found between bone mineral density and dietary intake of vitamin A (p=0.018), beta-carotene (p=0.008), fiber (p=0.029), and carotene (p=0.007). Bone mineral density increased with a combination of increased vitamin K1 intake and increased body mass (p=0.0006) and vitamin A and increased body mass (p=0.0001). A complex relationship appears to exist between bone mineral density and the combination of vitamin A and vitamin D intakes. The lowest bone mineral densities were observed in the highest quartile of vitamin A intake; this quartile was well above the tolerable upper limit for the age range of the focal population age range. The lowest bone densities were also associated with the highest levels of vitamin D, which was an unexpected result. However, this quartile of vitamin D intake was also above daily recommend intake levels for the focal population. Although not statistically significant, bone mineral density was lowest when vitamin A was either very high (4th quartile of vitamin A intake, mean ± stdev = 17,317.34 ±4358.86 IU) or very low (1st quartile of vitamin A intake, mean ± stdev = 5243.01 ±1230.68 IU) with respect to vitamin D intake. Intermediate levels of the ratio of the vitamin A intake with reference to vitamin D intake produced the highest bone densities. Conclusions: Higher intakes of fiber, vitamin A, carotene, and beta-carotene appear to be associated with lower measures of bone mineral density in this study population. Increased difference in the intake of vitamin A with respect to vitamin D appears to be associated with lower measures of bone mineral density, even with intake levels of vitamin D above the EAR and RDA suggested for this age group. This relationship may result from excess preformed vitamin A ingestion leading to increased retinoic acid in the body. Excess retinoic acid has the potential to impair vitamin D’s ability to carry out its own genomic functions. These relationships warrant further exploration in order to improve the understanding of the genomic impact of vitamin A’s impact on bone metabolism in the preadolescent life stages, as well as to aid in the prevention of negative effects on bone mineral density during this time period

Genetic and environmental control of lignin biosynthesis and C emission from crop stover

Lignin is the second most abundant terrestrial biopolymer in the world and provides structural strength to plants. The maize brown midrib (bm) mutants accumulate less and altered lignin relative to non-mutants. Maize bm4-encoded folylpolyglutamate synthase functions to generate the preferred substrate of folate-dependent enzymes, such as bm2-encoded methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Consistent with bm4’s predicted function upstream of bm2, both mutants display a 7-10% reduction in lignin content and a 16-40% increase in S/G lignin ratio relative to wild-type. This interplay between lignin biosynthesis and various metabolic processes is also seen between lignin and stover carbon emission. As climate change intensifies, the continued accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere poses potentially irreversible threats to the environment and economy. Exploiting the natural carbon cycle of plants to sequester excess atmospheric C in the soil is a promising strategy for climate remediation. To assess the potential of this approach, stover from over 6,000 maize and sorghum genotypes was incubated in soil and assayed for C emission. While compositional traits, such as lignin, explain up to 48% of variation in C emission, environment still plays a major role. Dynamics of C emission vary across environments and seem to be, at least partially, controlled by the age and lignin content of the stover assayed. Despite environmental influence on C emission, adequate genetic control exists for this trait to allow for moderate heritability estimates and genomic prediction accuracy. Additionally, GWAS for C emission identifies numerous promising candidate genes that could serve as breeding targets for generating varieties with enhanced carbon sequestration potential

Noah and the Golden Turtle: A Selection of Stories from the East and West for the ESL Student

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Probability Density of the Fractional Langevin Equation with Reflecting Walls

We investigate anomalous diffusion processes governed by the fractional Langevin equation and confined to a finite or semi-infinite interval by reflecting potential barriers. As the random and damping forces in the fractional Langevin equation fulfill the appropriate fluctuation-dissipation relation, the probability density on a finite interval converges for long times towards the expected uniform distribution prescribed by thermal equilibrium. In contrast, on a semi-infinite interval with a reflecting wall at the origin, the probability density shows pronounced deviations from the Gaussian behavior observed for normal diffusion. If the correlations of the random force are persistent (positive), particles accumulate at the reflecting wall while antipersistent (negative) correlations lead to a depletion of particles near the wall. We compare and contrast these results with the strong accumulation and depletion effects recently observed for nonthermal fractional Brownian motion with reflecting walls, and we discuss broader implications

An Euler system for GU(2, 1)

We construct an Euler system associated to regular algebraic, essentially conjugate self-dual cuspidal automorphic representations of GL(3) over imaginary quadratic fields, using the cohomology of Shimura varieties for GU(2, 1).Comment: 33 pages. Accepted to appear in "Mathematische Annalen

Developing strategic partnerships through a sustainability enrichment week

This paper describes the development of a mini-module focused on sustainability and timber engineering as a component of a strategic partnership designed to broaden Transnational Education, increase staff/student mobility, and further develop industry and community links within two universities. Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) draws students from around the world and is internationally recognised for timber construction and wood science. The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is a new higher education provider in England pioneering an innovative approach to engineering education integrating business, engineering, the liberal arts, and professional skills. ENU and NMITE leveraged these strengths to develop a strategic partnership that brings together staff, students, industry, and the community for opportunities that create impact beyond traditional learning approaches. This can be seen through the development of a Sustainability Enrichment Week hosted by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) and attended by ENU Master’s in Environmental Sustainability students. Students investigated interfaces between buildings, humans, and nature through experiential learning based around the construction of the CATT building, which has been developed as a Living Lab. Each day featured activities aligned to identified learning outcomes and was themed around one of five sustainability competencies: systems thinking, values thinking, strategic thinking, future thinking, and collaboration. The Sustainability Enrichment Week also served as a trial for a short course soon to be offered as part of a Timber Technology, Engineering, and Design programme. This project could be a model for other universities seeking to create similar strategic partnerships and learning experiences