The age grading and the Chen-Ruan cup product

We prove that the obstruction bundle used to define the cup-product in Chen-Ruan cohomology is determined by the so-called `age grading' or `degree-shifting numbers'. Indeed, the obstruction bundle can be directly computed using the age grading. We obtain a Kunneth Theorem for Chen-Ruan cohomology as a direct consequence of an elementary property of the age grading, and explain how several other results - including associativity of the cup-product - can be proved in a similar way.Comment: 11 pages. Example added and minor errors correcte

String Topology for Lie Groups

In 1999 Chas and Sullivan showed that the homology of the free loop space of an oriented manifold admits the structure of a Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra. In this paper we give a direct description of this Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra in the case that the manifold is a compact Lie group G. Our answer is phrased in terms of the homology of G, the homology of the space of based loops on G, and the homology suspension. The result is applied to compute the Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra associated to the special orthogonal groups SO(n) with coefficients in the rational numbers and in the integers modulo two.Comment: 22 page

Belief in a Just World, School Stress and Academic Success

Belief in a just world, a construct first introduced by Lerner (1978), has been the topic of psychological research for the past forty years (Lerner, 1965; Rubin & Peplau, 1973; Tomaka & Blascovich, 1994; Dalbert, 1999; Hafer, 2000; Furnham, 2003). Much of the research conducted on the belief in a just world focused on its cognitive use as a protective mechanism. For example, Belief in a Just World (BJW) has been positively correlated with helping behavior (Beirhoff, 2002), commitment to long range goals (Hafer, 2000), positive well-being (Dalbert, 2000), and negatively associated with stress (Takoma & Blascovich, 1994). In the present study, over 400 adolescents from grades 7th through 12th were administered measures of BJW and school stress. Further, student records were also reviewed for disciplinary actions, absenteeism, tardiness and end of the year grades in four core subject areas. Pearson product-moment correlations revealed significant positive relationships between BJW and academic performance and significant negative associations between BJW and stress. BJW was also negatively associated with disciplinary actions. Further analysis utilizing an ANOVA and Post Hoc comparisons revealed differences in BJW by grade level. Finally, a stepwise multiple regression revealed that BJW was a significant predictor of overall academic achievement along with discipline referrals, perceived stress, and absenteeism

Vector Fields and Flows on Differentiable Stacks

This paper introduces the notions of vector field and flow on a general differentiable stack. Our main theorem states that the flow of a vector field on a compact proper differentiable stack exists and is unique up to a uniquely determined 2-cell. This extends the usual result on the existence and uniqueness of flows on a manifold as well as the author's existing results for orbifolds. It sets the scene for a discussion of Morse Theory on a general proper stack and also paves the way for the categorification of other key aspects of differential geometry such as the tangent bundle and the Lie algebra of vector fields.Comment: 41 page

From integrated to expedient: an adaptive framework for river basin management in developing countries

Water resource management / River basin management / Water allocation / Case studies / Africa South of Sahara / Great Ruaha River Basin

Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk

Breastmilk protects infants against infections; however, specific responses of breastmilk immune factors to different infections of either the mother or the infant are not well understood. Here, we examined the baseline range of breastmilk leukocytes and immunomodulatory biomolecules in healthy mother/infant dyads and how they are influenced by infections of the dyad. Consistent with a greater immunological need in the early postpartum period, colostrum contained considerable numbers of leukocytes (13–70% out of total cells) and high levels of immunoglobulins and lactoferrin. Within the first 1–2 weeks postpartum, leukocyte numbers decreased significantly to a low baseline level in mature breastmilk (0–2%) (P\u3c0.001). This baseline level was maintained throughout lactation unless the mother and/or her infant became infected, when leukocyte numbers significantly increased up to 94% leukocytes out of total cells (P\u3c0.001). Upon recovery from the infection, baseline values were restored. The strong leukocyte response to infection was accompanied by a more variable humoral immune response. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a greater baseline level of leukocytes in mature breastmilk. Collectively, our results suggest a strong association between the health status of the mother/infant dyad and breastmilk leukocyte levels. This could be used as a diagnostic tool for assessment of the health status of the lactating breast as well as the breastfeeding mother and infant

Directional wave observations, Thimble Shoal light, October 19, 1993 to April 14, 1994

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water conservation, has identified as one of its major goals the systematic study of hydrodynamic processes that affect recreational, shoreline and benthic resources in the coastal zone of the Commonwealth. As one component of the Virginia Coastal Information Program, a wave climatology project was initiated in 1988 with support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency\u27s Coastal Zone Management Program administered by the Virginia Council on the Environment. Directional wave observations were begun on a seasonal schedule (fall, winter, spring) at a single station location near the Thimble Shoal Light in lower Chesapeake Bay. In 1993, a one-year cooperative agreement between the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia permitted a second wave station to be operated at the entrance to the Thimble Shoal Channel, a major navigational route in the lower bay (Figure 1). Simultaneous wave observations obtained at these two stations, Thimble Shoal Light (TSL) and Thimble Shoal Entrance (TSE), were presented in an earlier report (Boon and Hepworth, 1993). The present report contains a description of the observations and analyses performed at the TSL wave station, the sole station in operation during the 1993-1994 season