Kahler Potential for M-theory on a G_2 Manifold

We compute the moduli Kahler potential for M-theory on a compact manifold of G_2 holonomy in a large radius approximation. Our method relies on an explicit G_2 structure with small torsion, its periods and the calculation of the approximate volume of the manifold. As a verification of our result, some of the components of the Kahler metric are computed directly by integration over harmonic forms. We also discuss the modification of our result in the presence of co-dimension four singularities and derive the gauge-kinetic functions for the massless gauge fields that arise in this case.Comment: 31 pages, Latex. Altered discussion of truncation of field content, some typos corrected and references added. Version to appear in Phys. Rev .

Development and evaluation of two 3D-simulated practice learning environments

This paper discusses the evaluation of two 3D simulated practice learning environments, Tiny Oaks and Play2Do, focused on supporting people working with children, families, and vulnerable people in special educational settings. Pre-test/post-test evaluation methodology was employed consisting of a questionnaire with 16 questions covering knowledge and understanding, professional practice, and transferable skills. Tiny Oaks had 530 participants pre-test and 423 post-test from six European countries, and results show a significant increase in learning across all questions. Play2Do had 318 participants pre-test and 301 participants post-test from the UK and Bulgaria, and again results show a significant increase in learning across all questions. The system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire was also used to measure the usability of the two environments, and usability was found to be excellent. Findings suggest that 3D simulated practice environments can provide a valuable learning experience and can provide practice learning scenarios that may be difficult to encounter in real-life

Anterior cervical osteophytes as a cause of progressive dysphagia

An uncommon cause of progressive dysphagia may be large cervical osteophytes impinging upon the cervical esophagus. Dysphagia may be due to the mechanical mass effect of a large anterior osteophyte, trapping the esophagus opposite a fixed point such as the cricoid cartilage, or a local inflammatory reaction resulting in cricopharyngeal spasm. We report three patients with progressive dysphagia due to large anterior cervical osteophytes. All three patients were treated with anterior cervical approach with removal of the osteophytes without fusion. A review of the literature in addition to the specific case histories, video fluoroscopic and radiographic findings are presented.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41644/1/701_2005_Article_BF01410071.pd

Timing and consequences of Bering Strait opening: new insights from 40Ar/39 1 Ar dating 2 of the Barmur Group (Tjörnes beds), northern Iceland

The Barmur Group (informally Tjörnes beds) sedimentary succession of northern Iceland is key to reconstructing the opening of the Bering Strait oceanic gateway because these rocks record migration of bivalve molluscs from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the Arctic. However, the timing of the migration event is poorly constrained owing to a lack of reliable absolute ages. To address this problem, we present the first Ar-Ar radiometric dates from four basaltic lavas that underlie, are intercalated with, and overlie the Barmur Group, and integrate them with existing paleomagnetic records. We show that the Barmur Group has a latest Miocene to early Pliocene age range (c. 6.0–4.4 Ma; C3r–C3n.2n), older than all previous age models. Thus, the Barmur Group does not record the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period, contra some previous suggestions. Abundant Pacific bivalve molluscs appeared in the Barmur Group during subchrons C3n.4n–C3n.3r at 5.235–4.896 Ma, over 1.3 million years earlier than previously suggested. Appearance of Pacific bivalves in the northern Atlantic occurred shortly after the 5.6–5.4 Ma age previously inferred for first appearance of Arctic bivalves in the Pacific. Thus, our data suggest that first opening of the Bering Strait gateway by the latest Miocene (c. 5.5 Ma) was soon followed by bidirectional trans-Arctic faunal exchange, and argue against a hypothesized two-stage faunal exchange process spanning c. 2 million years. Our results also confirm that first opening of the Bering Strait gateway was not directly associated with the growth of large northern hemisphere icesheets, which occurred several million years later

Usefulness of Published PCR Primers in Detecting Human Rhinovirus Infection

We conducted a preliminary comparison of the relative sensitivity of a cross-section of published human rhinovirus (HRV)–specific PCR primer pairs, varying the oligonucleotides and annealing temperature. None of the pairs could detect all HRVs in 2 panels of genotyped clinical specimens; >1 PCR is required for accurate description of HRV epidemiology

Digital Signal Processing Research Program

Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction and reports on seventeen research projects.U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1628Vertical Arrays for the Heard Island Experiment Award No. SC 48548Charles S. Draper Laboratories, Inc. Contract DL-H-418472Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-89-J-1489Rockwell Corporation Doctoral FellowshipMIT - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint ProgramDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-90-J-1109Lockheed Sanders, Inc./U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-91-C-0125U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR-91-0034AT&T Laboratories Doctoral ProgramU.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1628General Electric Foundation Graduate Fellowship in Electrical EngineeringNational Science Foundation Grant MIP 87-14969National Science Foundation Graduate FellowshipCanada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research CouncilLockheed Sanders, Inc

Digital Signal Processing Research Program

Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction and reports on fourteen research projects.U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1628Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-89-J-1489MIT - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint ProgramLockheed Sanders, Inc./U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-91-C-0125U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR-91-0034U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1628AT&T Laboratories Doctoral Support ProgramNational Science Foundation Fellowshi

Digital Signal Processing Research Program

Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction, reports on sixteen research projects and a list of publications.Bose CorporationMIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Graduate Program in Oceanographic EngineeringAdvanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-93-1-0686Lockheed Sanders, Inc./U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-91-C-0125U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR-91-0034AT&T Laboratories Doctoral Support ProgramAdvanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-89-J-1489U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-93-1-0686National Science Foundation FellowshipMaryland Procurement Office Contract MDA904-93-C-4180U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-162