569 research outputs found
Negative forms and path space forms
We present an account of negative differential forms within a natural
algebraic framework of differential graded algebras, and explain their
relationship with forms on path spaces.Comment: 12 pp.; the Introduction has been rewritten and mention of cohomology
dropped in Proposition 3.2; material slightly reorganize
3-dimensional Cauchy-Riemann structures and 2nd order ordinary differential equations
The equivalence problem for second order ODEs given modulo point
transformations is solved in full analogy with the equivalence problem of
nondegenerate 3-dimensional CR structures. This approach enables an analog of
the Feffereman metrics to be defined. The conformal class of these (split
signature) metrics is well defined by each point equivalence class of second
order ODEs. Its conformal curvature is interpreted in terms of the basic point
invariants of the corresponding class of ODEs
In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of penicillinase-producing and intrinsically resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains.
The in vitro susceptibility of penicillinase-producing and intrinsically resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains to 13 antimicrobial agents was tested. Regardless of the type of resistance, these organisms remained quite susceptible to newer cephalosporin agents, including moxalactam, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime
Experimental Gonococcal Infection in Male Volunteers: Cumulative Experience with Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains FA1090 and MS11mkC
Experimental infection of male volunteers with Neisseria gonorrhoeae is safe and reproduces the clinical features of naturally acquired gonococcal urethritis. Human inoculation studies have helped define the natural history of experimental infection with two well-characterized strains of N. gonorrhoeae, FA1090 and MS11mkC. The human model has proved useful for testing the importance of putative gonococcal virulence factors for urethral infection in men. Studies with isogenic mutants have improved our understanding of the requirements for gonococcal LOS structures, pili, opacity proteins, IgA1 protease, and the ability of infecting organisms to obtain iron from human transferrin and lactoferrin during uncomplicated urethritis. The model also presents opportunities to examine innate host immune responses that may be exploited or improved in development and testing of gonococcal vaccines. Here we review results to date with human experimental gonorrhea
Choosing Meteorological Input for the Global Modeling Initiative Assessment of High Speed Aircraft
The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) science team is developing a three dimensional chemistry and transport model (CTM) to be used in assessment of the atmospheric effects of aviation. Requirements are that this model be documented, be validated against observations, use a realistic atmospheric circulation, and contain numerical transport and photochemical modules representing atmospheric processes. The model must also retain computational efficiency to be tractable to use for multiple scenarios and sensitivity studies. To meet these requirements, a facility model concept was developed in which the different components of the CTM are evaluated separately. The first use of the GMI model will be to evaluate the impact of the exhaust of supersonic aircraft on the stratosphere. The assessment calculations will depend strongly on the wind and temperature fields used by the CTM. Three meteorological data sets for the stratosphere are available to GMI: the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate Model (CCM2), the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS DAS), and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model (GISS). Objective criteria were established by the GMI team to identify the data set which provides the best representation of the stratosphere. Simulations of gases with simple chemical control were chosen to test various aspects of model transport. The three meteorological data sets were evaluated and graded based on their ability to simulate these aspects of stratospheric measurements. This paper describes the criteria used in grading the meteorological fields. The meteorological data set which has the highest score and therefore was selected for GMI is CCM2. This type of objective model evaluation establishes a physical basis for interpretation of differences between models and observations. Further, the method provides a quantitative basis for defining model errors, for discriminating between different models, and for ready re-evaluation of improved models. These in turn will lead to a higher level of confidence in assessment calculations
Application of Discrete Differential Forms to Spherically Symmetric Systems in General Relativity
In this article we describe applications of Discrete Differential Forms in
computational GR. In particular we consider the initial value problem in vacuum
space-times that are spherically symmetric. The motivation to investigate this
method is mainly its manifest coordinate independence. Three numerical schemes
are introduced, the results of which are compared with the corresponding
analytic solutions. The error of two schemes converges quadratically to zero.
For one scheme the errors depend strongly on the initial data.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Class. Quant. Gra
On certain quasi-local spin-angular momentum expressions for small spheres
The Ludvigsen-Vickers and two recently suggested quasi-local spin-angular
momentum expressions, based on holomorphic and anti-holomorphic spinor fields,
are calculated for small spheres of radius about a point . It is shown
that, apart from the sign in the case of anti-holomorphic spinors in
non-vacuum, the leading terms of all these expressions coincide. In non-vacuum
spacetimes this common leading term is of order , and it is the product of
the contraction of the energy-momentum tensor and an average of the approximate
boost-rotation Killing vector that vanishes at and of the 3-volume of the
ball of radius . In vacuum spacetimes the leading term is of order ,
and the factor of proportionality is the contraction of the Bel-Robinson tensor
and an other average of the same approximate boost-rotation Killing vector.Comment: 16 pages, Plain Te
Currents and Superpotentials in classical gauge invariant theories I. Local results with applications to Perfect Fluids and General Relativity
E. Noether's general analysis of conservation laws has to be completed in a
Lagrangian theory with local gauge invariance. Bulk charges are replaced by
fluxes of superpotentials. Gauge invariant bulk charges may subsist when
distinguished one-dimensional subgroups are present. As a first illustration we
propose a new {\it Affine action} that reduces to General Relativity upon gauge
fixing the dilatation (Weyl 1918 like) part of the connection and elimination
of auxiliary fields. It allows a comparison of most gravity superpotentials and
we discuss their selection by the choice of boundary conditions. A second and
independent application is a geometrical reinterpretation of the convection of
vorticity in barotropic nonviscous fluids. We identify the one-dimensional
subgroups responsible for the bulk charges and thus propose an impulsive
forcing for creating or destroying selectively helicity. This is an example of
a new and general Forcing Rule.Comment: 64 pages, LaTeX. Version 2 has two more references and one misprint
corrected. Accepted in Classical and Quantum Gravit
Interactive Effects of Climate Change with Nutrients, Mercury, and Freshwater Acidification on Key Taxa in the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative Region
The North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative LCC (NA LCC) is a public-private partnership that provides information to support conservation decisions that may be affected by global climate change (GCC) and other threats. The NA LCC region extends from southeast Virginia to the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Within this region, the US National Climate Assessment documented increases in air temperature, total precipitation, frequency of heavy precipitation events, and rising sea level, and predicted more drastic changes. Here, we synthesize literature on the effects of GCC interacting with selected contaminant, nutrient, and environmental processes to adversely affect natural resources within this region. Using a case study approach, we focused on 3 stressors with sufficient NA LCC region-specific information for an informed discussion. We describe GCC interactions with a contaminant (Hg) and 2 complex environmental phenomena-freshwater acidification and eutrophication. We also prepared taxa case studies on GCC- and GCC-contaminant/nutrient/process effects on amphibians and freshwater mussels. Several avian species of high conservation concern have blood Hg concentrations that have been associated with reduced nesting success. Freshwater acidification has adversely affected terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Adirondacks and other areas of the region that are slowly recovering due to decreased emissions of N and sulfur oxides. Eutrophication in many estuaries within the region is projected to increase from greater storm runoff and less denitrification in riparian wetlands. Estuarine hypoxia may be exacerbated by increased stratification. Elevated water temperature favors algal species that produce harmful algal blooms (HABs). In several of the region\u27s estuaries, HABs have been associated with bird die-offs. In the NA LCC region, amphibian populations appear to be declining. Some species may be adversely affected by GCC through higher temperatures and more frequent droughts. GCC may affect freshwater mussel populations via altered stream temperatures and increased sediment loading during heavy storms. Freshwater mussels are sensitive to un-ionized ammonia that more toxic at higher temperatures. We recommend studying the interactive effects of GCC on generation and bioavailability of methylmercury and how GCC-driven shifts in bird species distributions will affect avian exposure to methylmercury. Research is needed on how decreases in acid deposition concurrent with GCC will alter the structure and function of sensitive watersheds and surface waters. Studies are needed to determine how GCC will affect HABs and avian disease, and how more severe and extensive hypoxia will affect fish and shellfish populations. Regarding amphibians, we suggest research on 1) thermal tolerance and moisture requirements of species of concern, 2) effects of multiple stressors (temperature, desiccation, contaminants, nutrients), and 3) approaches to mitigate impacts of increased temperature and seasonal drought. We recommend studies to assess which mussel species and populations are vulnerable and which are resilient to rising stream temperatures, hydrological shifts, and ionic pollutants, all of which are influenced by GCC
Universality, limits and predictability of gold-medal performances at the Olympic Games
Inspired by the Games held in ancient Greece, modern Olympics represent the
world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. Performances
of athletes at the Olympic Games mirror, since 1896, human potentialities in
sports, and thus provide an optimal source of information for studying the
evolution of sport achievements and predicting the limits that athletes can
reach. Unfortunately, the models introduced so far for the description of
athlete performances at the Olympics are either sophisticated or unrealistic,
and more importantly, do not provide a unified theory for sport performances.
Here, we address this issue by showing that relative performance improvements
of medal winners at the Olympics are normally distributed, implying that the
evolution of performance values can be described in good approximation as an
exponential approach to an a priori unknown limiting performance value. This
law holds for all specialties in athletics-including running, jumping, and
throwing-and swimming. We present a self-consistent method, based on normality
hypothesis testing, able to predict limiting performance values in all
specialties. We further quantify the most likely years in which athletes will
breach challenging performance walls in running, jumping, throwing, and
swimming events, as well as the probability that new world records will be
established at the next edition of the Olympic Games.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Supporting information files and data
are available at filrad.homelinux.or
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