864 research outputs found
Supersymmetric WZW Model on Full and Half Plane
We study classical integrability of the supersymmetric U(N) model
with the Wess-Zumino-Witten term on full and half plane. We demonstrate the
existence of nonlocal conserved currents of the model and derive general
recursion relations for the infinite number of the corresponding charges in a
superfield framework. The explicit form of the first few supersymmetric charges
are constructed. We show that the considered model is integrable on full plane
as a concequence of the conservation of the supersymmetric charges. Also, we
study the model on half plane with free boundary, and examine the conservation
of the supersymmetric charges on half plane and find that they are conserved as
a result of the equations of motion and the free boundary condition. As a
result, the model on half plane with free boundary is integrable. Finally, we
conclude the paper and some features and comments are presented.Comment: 12 pages. submitted to IJMP
Supersymmetric non-linear sigma-models with boundaries revisited
We study two-dimensional supersymmetric non-linear sigma-models with
boundaries. We derive the most general family of boundary conditions in the
non-supersymmetric case. Next we show that no further conditions arise when
passing to the N=1 model. We present a manifest N=1 off-shell formulation. The
analysis is greatly simplified compared to previous studies and there is no
need to introduce non-local superspaces nor to go (partially) on-shell. Whether
or not torsion is present does not modify the discussion. Subsequently, we
determine under which conditions a second supersymmetry exists. As for the case
without boundaries, two covariantly constant complex structures are needed.
However, because of the presence of the boundary, one gets expressed in terms
of the other one and the remainder of the geometric data. Finally we recast
some of our results in N=2 superspace and discuss applications.Comment: LaTeX, 23 page
Supersymmetric Boundaries and Junctions in Four Dimensions
We make a comprehensive study of (rigid) N=1 supersymmetric sigma-models with
general K\"ahler potentials K and superpotentials w on four-dimensional
space-times with boundaries. We determine the minimal (non-supersymmetric)
boundary terms one must add to the standard bulk action to make it off-shell
invariant under half the supersymmetries without imposing any boundary
conditions. Susy boundary conditions do arise from the variational principle
when studying the dynamics. Upon including an additional boundary action that
depends on an arbitrary real boundary potential B one can generate very general
susy boundary conditions. We show that for any set of susy boundary conditions
that define a Lagrangian submanifold of the K\"ahler manifold, an appropriate
boundary potential B can be found. Thus the non-linear sigma-model on a
manifold with boundary is characterised by the tripel (K,B,w). We also discuss
the susy coupling to new boundary superfields and generalize our results to
supersymmetric junctions between completely different susy sigma-models, living
on adjacent domains and interacting through a "permeable" wall. We obtain the
supersymmetric matching conditions that allow us to couple models with
different K\"ahler potentials and superpotentials on each side of the wall.Comment: 38 pages, 1 figur
Models predicting the growth response to growth hormone treatment in short children independent of GH status, birth size and gestational age
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mathematical models can be used to predict individual growth responses to growth hormone (GH) therapy. The aim of this study was to construct and validate high-precision models to predict the growth response to GH treatment of short children, independent of their GH status, birth size and gestational age. As the GH doses are included, these models can be used to individualize treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Growth data from 415 short prepubertal children were used to construct models for predicting the growth response during the first years of GH therapy. The performance of the models was validated with data from a separate cohort of 112 children using the same inclusion criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using only auxological data, the model had a standard error of the residuals (SD<sub>res</sub>), of 0.23 SDS. The model was improved when endocrine data (GH<sub>max </sub>profile, IGF-I and leptin) collected before starting GH treatment were included. Inclusion of these data resulted in a decrease of the SD<sub>res </sub>to 0.15 SDS (corresponding to 1.1 cm in a 3-year-old child and 1.6 cm in a 7-year old). Validation of these models with a separate cohort, showed similar SD<sub>res </sub>for both types of models. Preterm children were not included in the Model group, but predictions for this group were within the expected range.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These prediction models can with high accuracy be used to identify short children who will benefit from GH treatment. They are clinically useful as they are constructed using data from short children with a broad range of GH secretory status, birth size and gestational age.</p
Evaluation of the Retinopathy of Prematurity Activity Scale (ROP-ActS) in a randomised controlled trial aiming for prevention of severe ROP : A substudy of the Mega Donna Mega trial
Objective The current grading of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) does not sufficiently discriminate disease severity for evaluation of trial interventions. The published ROP Activity Scales (original: ROP-ActS and modified: mROP-ActS), describing increasing severity of ROP, versus the categorical variables severe ROP, stage, zone and plus disease were evaluated as discriminators of the effect of an ROP preventive treatment.
Methods and analysis The Mega Donna Mega trial investigated ROP in infants born <28-week gestational age (GA), randomised to arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation or no supplementation. Of 207 infants, 86% with finalised ROP screening were included in this substudy. ROP-ActS versus standard variables were evaluated using Fisherâs non-parametric permutation test, multivariable logistic and linear regression and marginal fractional response models.
Results The AA:DHA group (n=84) and the control group (n=93) were well balanced. The maximum ROP-ActS measurement was numerically but not significantly lower in the AA:DHA group (mean: 4.0 (95% CI 2.9 to 5.0)) versus the control group (mean: 5.3 (95% CI 4.1 to 6.4)), p=0.11. In infants with any ROP, the corresponding scale measurements were 6.8 (95% CI 5.4 to 8.2) and 8.7 (95% CI 7.5 to 10.0), p=0.039. Longitudinal profiles of the scale were visually distinguished for the categories of sex and GA for the intervention versus control.
Conclusions The preventive effect of AA:DHA supplementation versus no supplementation was better discriminated by the trialâs primary outcome, severe ROP, than by ROP-ActS. The sensitivity and the linear qualities of ROP-ActS require further validations on large data sets and perhaps modifications.
Trial registration number NCT03201588
Temperature dependent characterization of optical fibres for distributed temperature sensing in hot geothermal wells
This study was performed in order to select a proper fibre for the
application of a distributed temperature sensing system within a hot geothermal
well in Iceland. Commercially available high temperature graded index fibres
have been tested under in-situ temperature conditions. Experiments have been
performed with four different polyimide coated fibres, a fibre with an aluminum
coating and a fibre with a gold coating. To select a fibre, the relationship
between attenuation, temperature, and time has been analyzed together with SEM
micrographs. On the basis of these experiments, polyimide fibres have been
chosen for utilisation. Further tests in ambient and inert atmosphere have been
conducted with two polyimide coated fibres to set an operating temperature
limit for these fibres. SEM micrographs, together with coating colour changes
have been used to characterize the high temperature performance of the fibres.
A novel cable design has been developed, a deployment strategy has been worked
out and a suitable well for deployment has been selected.Comment: PACS: 42.81.Pa, 93.85.Fg, 47.80.Fg, 91.35.Dc, 07.20.Dt, 07.60.V
Diversification improves the performance of cereals in European cropping systems
In the face of climate change, cropping systems need to achieve a high performance, providing food and feed and adapting to variable environmental conditions. Diversification of cropping systems can support ecosystem services and associated biodiversity, but there is little evidence on which temporal field arrangement affects the performance of crop yields (productivity and stability), partly due to a lack of long-term data and appropriate indicators. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of cropping system diversification on yield stability, environmental adaptability, and the probability of diversified systems to outperform less diverse cereal-based systems in Europe. Spring and winter cereal yields were analyzed from long-term field experiments from Sweden, Scotland, and France. We investigated diversification through (i) introduction of perennial leys, (ii) increasing the proportion of ley in the rotation, (iii) varying the order in which crops are positioned in the rotation, (iv) introduction of grain legumes, and (v) introduction of cover crops. The results showed that cereal crops within cropping systems incorporating perennial leys outperformed systems without leys in 60â94% of the comparisons with higher probabilities at low fertilizer intensities. The yield stability of oat did not differ, but mean yields were 33% higher, when grown directly after the ley compared to oat grown two years later in the crop sequence under similar management. Durum wheat grown in a cropping system with grain legumes had higher yields in lower-yielding environmental conditions compared to rotations without legumes. Diversification with cover crops did not significantly affect yield stability. We conclude that diverse cropping systems can increase cereal productivity and environmental adaptability and are more likely to outperform less diverse systems especially when introducing perennial forage legumes into arable systems. Effects of diversification on cereal yield stability were inconsistent indicating that higher productivity is achievable without reducing yield variability. These novel findings can support the design of more diverse and high-performing cropping systems
D-Brane Wess-Zumino Terms and U-Duality
We construct gauge-invariant and U-duality covariant expressions for
Wess-Zumino terms corresponding to general Dp-branes (for any p<D) in arbitrary
2<D<11 dimensions. A distinguishing feature of these Wess-Zumino terms is that
they contain twice as many scalars as the 10-D compactified dimensions, in line
with doubled geometry. We find that for D<10 the charges of the
higher-dimensional branes can all be expressed as products of the 0-brane
charges, which include the D0-brane and the NS-NS 0-brane charges. We give the
general expressions for these charges and show how they determine the
non-trivial conjugacy class to which some of the higher-dimensional D-branes
belong.Comment: 42 pages. Typos corrected, an error in table 6 corrected, comments in
the conclusions adde
A gene to organism approach--assessing the impact of environmental pollution in eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) females and larvae
A broad biomarker approach was applied to study the effects of marine pollution along the Swedish west coast using the teleost eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) as the sentinel species. Measurements were performed on different biological levels, from the molecular to the organismal, including measurements of messenger RNA (mRNA), proteins, cellular and tissue changes, and reproductive success. Results revealed that eelpout captured in Stenungsund had significantly higher hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, high levels of both cytochrome P4501A and diablo homolog mRNA, and high prevalence of dead larvae and nuclear damage in erythrocytes. Eelpout collected in Göteborg harbor displayed extensive macrovesicular steatosis, whereby the majority of hepatocytes were affected throughout the liver, which could indicate an effect on lipid metabolism. Results also indicate that eelpouts collected at polluted sites might have an affected immune system, with lower mRNA expression of genes involved in the innate immune system and a higher number of lymphocytes. Biomarker assessment also was performed on livers dissected from unborn eelpout larvae collected from the ovary of the females. No significant differences were noted, which might indicate that the larvae to some extent are protected from effects of environmental pollutants. In conclusion, usage of the selected set of biological markers, covering responses from gene to organism, has demonstrated site-specific biomarker patterns that provided a broad and comprehensive picture of the impact of environmental stressors
The local symmetries of M-theory and their formulation in generalised geometry
In the doubled field theory approach to string theory, the T-duality group is
promoted to a manifest symmetry at the expense of replacing ordinary Riemannian
geometry with generalised geometry on a doubled space. The local symmetries are
then given by a generalised Lie derivative and its associated algebra. This
paper constructs an analogous structure for M-theory. A crucial by-product of
this is the derivation of the physical section condition for M-theory
formulated in an extended space.Comment: 20 pages, v2: Author Name corrected, v3: typos correcte
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