925 research outputs found
Plant Metabolomics Applications in the Brassicaceae: Added Value for Science and Industry
Crops from the family Brassicaceae represent a diverse and very interesting group of plants. In addition, their close relationship with the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, makes combined research on these species both scientifically valuable and of considerable commercial importance. In the post-genomics era, much effort is being placed on expanding our capacity to use advanced technologies such as proteomics and metabolomics, to broaden our knowledge of the molecular organization of plants and how genetic differences are translated into phenotypic ones. Metabolomics in particular is gaining much attention mainly due both to the comprehensiveness of the technology and also the potentially close relationship between biochemical composition (including human health-related phytochemicals) and phenotype. In this short review, a brief introduction to the main metabolomics technologies is given taking examples from research on the Brassicaceae for illustratio
Darboux Transformations for a Lax Integrable System in -Dimensions
A -dimensional Lax integrable system is proposed by a set of specific
spectral problems. It contains Takasaki equations, the self-dual Yang-Mills
equations and its integrable hierarchy as examples. An explicit formulation of
Darboux transformations is established for this Lax integrable system. The
Vandermonde and generalized Cauchy determinant formulas lead to a description
for deriving explicit solutions and thus some rational and analytic solutions
are obtained.Comment: Latex, 14 pages, to be published in Lett. Math. Phy
Board diversity and financial performance : a graphical time-series approach
Directors need to guide and govern companies on behalf of and for the benefit of shareholders and
stakeholders. However questions remain as to whether boards with higher levels of diversity amongst
directors are better equipped to fulfil their fiduciary duty than boards with lower levels of diversity. This
research examines whether increased levels of diversity within boards are associated with improved
financial performance to shareholders. From the literature, several theoretical frameworks that could explain
why increased diversity might or might not lead to improved board performance were noted. Share returns
and directors’ demographic data were collected for a sample of the largest 40 companies listed on the JSE
from 2000 to 2013. This data was analysed using Muller and Ward’s (2013) investment style engine by
forming portfolios of companies based on board-diversity constructs. Time-series graphs of cumulative
portfolio market returns were analysed to determine if the diversity dimensions tested were associated with
improved share performance. The results show that racial diversity within boards is not associated with
financial performance. However, increased gender diversity and younger average board age are shown to
have strong associations with improved share price performance. These findings are mainly attributed to
agency-, resource dependency, human capital and signalling theories. Increased diversity is seen to bolster
independence and lessen agency problems. Rising diversity levels also enlarge boards’ external networks,
allowing diverse stakeholders’ needs to be accommodated and limiting dependence on strategic resources.
Finally, as human capital is increased, the collection of different skills and experiences are associated with
better performance. The results, based on a more robust methodology and improved data set, provide
additional support to previous studies.http://www.sajems.orgam2016Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS
Board diversity and financial performance : a graphical time-series approach
Directors need to guide and govern companies on behalf of and for the benefit of shareholders and
stakeholders. However questions remain as to whether boards with higher levels of diversity amongst
directors are better equipped to fulfil their fiduciary duty than boards with lower levels of diversity. This
research examines whether increased levels of diversity within boards are associated with improved
financial performance to shareholders. From the literature, several theoretical frameworks that could explain
why increased diversity might or might not lead to improved board performance were noted. Share returns
and directors’ demographic data were collected for a sample of the largest 40 companies listed on the JSE
from 2000 to 2013. This data was analysed using Muller and Ward’s (2013) investment style engine by
forming portfolios of companies based on board-diversity constructs. Time-series graphs of cumulative
portfolio market returns were analysed to determine if the diversity dimensions tested were associated with
improved share performance. The results show that racial diversity within boards is not associated with
financial performance. However, increased gender diversity and younger average board age are shown to
have strong associations with improved share price performance. These findings are mainly attributed to
agency-, resource dependency, human capital and signalling theories. Increased diversity is seen to bolster
independence and lessen agency problems. Rising diversity levels also enlarge boards’ external networks,
allowing diverse stakeholders’ needs to be accommodated and limiting dependence on strategic resources.
Finally, as human capital is increased, the collection of different skills and experiences are associated with
better performance. The results, based on a more robust methodology and improved data set, provide
additional support to previous studies.http://www.sajems.orgam2016Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS
The Topological B-model on a Mini-Supertwistor Space and Supersymmetric Bogomolny Monopole Equations
In the recent paper hep-th/0502076, it was argued that the open topological
B-model whose target space is a complex (2|4)-dimensional mini-supertwistor
space with D3- and D1-branes added corresponds to a super Yang-Mills theory in
three dimensions. Without the D1-branes, this topological B-model is equivalent
to a dimensionally reduced holomorphic Chern-Simons theory. Identifying the
latter with a holomorphic BF-type theory, we describe a twistor correspondence
between this theory and a supersymmetric Bogomolny model on R^3. The connecting
link in this correspondence is a partially holomorphic Chern-Simons theory on a
Cauchy-Riemann supermanifold which is a real one-dimensional fibration over the
mini-supertwistor space. Along the way of proving this twistor correspondence,
we review the necessary basic geometric notions and construct action
functionals for the involved theories. Furthermore, we discuss the geometric
aspect of a recently proposed deformation of the mini-supertwistor space, which
gives rise to mass terms in the supersymmetric Bogomolny equations. Eventually,
we present solution generating techniques based on the developed twistorial
description together with some examples and comment briefly on a twistor
correspondence for super Yang-Mills theory in three dimensions.Comment: 55 pages; v2: typos fixed, published versio
Fear of the unknown: a pre-departure qualitative study of Turkish international students
This paper presents findings from eleven in-depth interviews with Turkish undergraduate students, who were, by the time of data collection, about to spend a semester at a European university under the Erasmus exchange scheme. The students all agreed to be interviewed about their feelings about studying in a foreign culture, and were found to be anxious prior to departure about the quality of accommodation in the new destination, their language ability and the opportunity to form friendships. Fears were expressed about possible misconceptions over Turkey as a Muslim and a developing country. Suggestions are made for HEI interventions to allay student travellers’ concerns
Non-Abelian Vortices, Super-Yang-Mills Theory and Spin(7)-Instantons
We consider a complex vector bundle E endowed with a connection A over the
eight-dimensional manifold R^2 x G/H, where G/H = SU(3)/U(1)xU(1) is a
homogeneous space provided with a never integrable almost complex structure and
a family of SU(3)-structures. We establish an equivalence between G-invariant
solutions A of the Spin(7)-instanton equations on R^2 x G/H and general
solutions of non-Abelian coupled vortex equations on R^2. These vortices are
BPS solitons in a d=4 gauge theory obtained from N=1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills
theory in ten dimensions compactified on the coset space G/H with an
SU(3)-structure. The novelty of the obtained vortex equations lies in the fact
that Higgs fields, defining morphisms of vector bundles over R^2, are not
holomorphic in the generic case. Finally, we introduce BPS vortex equations in
N=4 super Yang-Mills theory and show that they have the same feature.Comment: 14 pages; v2: typos fixed, published versio
Non-Abelian Vortices on Riemann Surfaces: an Integrable Case
We consider U(n+1) Yang-Mills instantons on the space \Sigma\times S^2, where
\Sigma is a compact Riemann surface of genus g. Using an SU(2)-equivariant
dimensional reduction, we show that the U(n+1) instanton equations on
\Sigma\times S^2 are equivalent to non-Abelian vortex equations on \Sigma.
Solutions to these equations are given by pairs (A,\phi), where A is a gauge
potential of the group U(n) and \phi is a Higgs field in the fundamental
representation of the group U(n). We briefly compare this model with other
non-Abelian Higgs models considered recently. Afterwards we show that for g>1,
when \Sigma\times S^2 becomes a gravitational instanton, the non-Abelian vortex
equations are the compatibility conditions of two linear equations (Lax pair)
and therefore the standard methods of integrable systems can be applied for
constructing their solutions.Comment: 8 pages; v2: typos fixe
Patients’ perceptions on non‐specific effects of acupuncture: Qualitative comparison between responders and non‐responders
Background: Non-specific effect of acupuncture constitutes part of the overall effect generated via clinical encounter beyond needle insertion and stimulation. It is unclear how responders and non-responders of acupuncture experience non-specific effects differently. We aimed to compare their experiences in a nested qualitative study embedded in an acupuncture randomized trial on functional dyspepsia. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to capture experience of responders (n=15) and non-responders (n=15) to acupuncture via individual in-depth interviews. Design and analysis followed a framework analysis approach, with reference to an existing model on acupuncture non-specific effects. Themes emerging outside of this model were purposefully explored. Results: Responders had a more trusting relationship with acupuncturist in response to their expression of empathy. In turn they were more actively engaged in lifestyle modifications and dietary advice offered by acupuncturists. Non-responders were not satisfied with the level of reassurance regarding acupuncture safety. They were also expecting more peer support from fellow participants, regarded that as an empowerment process for initiating and sustaining lifestyle changes. Conclusions: Our results highlighted key differences in acupuncture non-specific effect components experienced by responders and non-responders. Positive non-specific effects contributing to overall benefits could be enhanced by emphasizing on empathy expression from acupuncturists, trust-building, offering appropriate explanations on safety, and organizing patient support groups. Further research on the relative importance of each component is warranted
Behavioural changes in drivers experiencing highly-automated vehicle control in varying traffic conditions
Previous research has indicated that high levels of vehicle automation can result in reduced driver situation awareness, but has also highlighted potential benefits of such future vehicle designs through enhanced safety and reduced driver workload. Well-designed automation allows drivers’ visual attention to be focused away from the roadway and toward secondary, in-vehicle tasks. Such tasks may be pleasant distractions from the monotony of system monitoring. This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of voluntary secondary task uptake on the system supervisory responsibilities of drivers experiencing highly-automated vehicle control. Independent factors of Automation Level (manual control, highly-automated) and Traffic Density (light, heavy) were manipulated in a repeated-measures experimental design. 49 drivers participated using a high-fidelity driving simulator that allowed drivers to see, hear and, crucially, feel the impact of their automated vehicle handling. Drivers experiencing automation tended to refrain from behaviours that required them to temporarily retake manual control, such as overtaking, resulting in an increased journey time. Automation improved safety margins in car following, however this was restricted to conditions of light surrounding traffic. Participants did indeed become more heavily involved with the in-vehicle entertainment tasks than they were in manual driving, affording less visual attention to the road ahead. This might suggest that drivers are happy to forgo their supervisory responsibilities in preference of a more entertaining highly-automated drive. However, they did demonstrate additional attention to the roadway in heavy traffic, implying that these responsibilities are taken more seriously as the supervisory demand of vehicle automation increases. These results may dampen some concerns over driver underload with vehicle automation, assuming vehicle manufacturers embrace the need for positive system feedback and drivers also fully appreciate their supervisory obligations in such future vehicle designs
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