Fixing the Pole in the Pyramid

We revisit the problem of the hidden sector Landau pole in the Pyramid Scheme. There is a fixed line in the plane of hidden sector gauge coupling and a Yukawa coupling between the trianon fields. We postulate that the couplings flow to this line, at a point where the hidden sector gauge coupling is close to the strong coupling edge of its perturbative regime. Below the masses of the heavier trianons, the model quickly flows to a confining N_F=N_C=3 supersymmetric gauge theory, as required by phenomenological considerations. We study possible discrete R-symmetries, which guarantee, among other things, that the basin of attraction of the fixed line has full co-dimension in the space of R-allowed couplings. The Yukawa couplings required to get the fixed line violate the pyrma-baryon symmetries we invoked in previous work to find a dark matter candidate. Omitting one of them, we have a dark matter candidate, and an acceptable RG flow down from the unification scale, if the confinement scale of the hidden sector group is lowered from 5 to 2 TeV.Comment: 14 pages, 3 table

Using TPA to count linear extensions

A linear extension of a poset $P$ is a permutation of the elements of the set that respects the partial order. Let $L(P)$ denote the number of linear extensions. It is a #P complete problem to determine $L(P)$ exactly for an arbitrary poset, and so randomized approximation algorithms that draw randomly from the set of linear extensions are used. In this work, the set of linear extensions is embedded in a larger state space with a continuous parameter ?. The introduction of a continuous parameter allows for the use of a more efficient method for approximating $L(P)$ called TPA. Our primary result is that it is possible to sample from this continuous embedding in time that as fast or faster than the best known methods for sampling uniformly from linear extensions. For a poset containing $n$ elements, this means we can approximate $L(P)$ to within a factor of $1 + \epsilon$ with probability at least $1 - \delta$ using an expected number of random bits and comparisons in the poset which is at most $O(n^3(ln n)(ln L(P))\epsilon^{-2}\ln \delta^{-1}).$Comment: 12 pages, 4 algorithm

Ash control methods to limit biomass inorganic content and its effect on fast pyrolysis bio-oil stability

This research investigates specific ash control methods to limit inorganic content within biomass prior to fast pyrolysis and effect of specific ash components on fast pyrolysis processing, mass balance yields and bio-oil quality and stability. Inorganic content in miscanthus was naturally reduced over the winter period from June (7.36 wt. %) to February (2.80 wt. %) due to a combination of senescence and natural leaching from rain water. September harvest produced similar mass balance yields, bio-oil quality and stability compared to February harvest (conventional harvest), but nitrogen content in above ground crop was to high (208 kg ha.-1) to maintain sustainable crop production. Deionised water, 1.00% HCl and 0.10% Triton X-100 washes were used to reduce inorganic content of miscanthus. Miscanthus washed with 0.10% Triton X-100 resulted in the highest total liquid yield (76.21 wt. %) and lowest char and reaction water yields (9.77 wt. % and 8.25 wt. % respectively). Concentrations of Triton X-100 were varied to study further effects on mass balance yields and bio-oil stability. All concentrations of Triton X-100 increased total liquid yield and decreased char and reaction water yields compared to untreated miscanthus. In terms of bio-oil stability 1.00% Triton X-100 produced the most stable bio-oil with lowest viscosity index (2.43) and lowest water content index (1.01). Beech wood was impregnated with potassium and phosphorus resulting in lower liquid yields and increased char and gas yields due to their catalytic effect on fast pyrolysis product distribution. Increased potassium and phosphorus concentrations produced less stable bio-oils with viscosity and water content indexes increasing. Fast pyrolysis processing of phosphorus impregnated beech wood was problematic as the reactor bed material agglomerated into large clumps due to char formation within the reactor, affecting fluidisation and heat transfer

Regulation of RNA Polymerase II Transcription in <i>Schizosaccharomyces pombe</i> by SpELL and Associated Factor SpEAF

RNA polymerase II (pol II) synthesised RNAs encode for proteins (mRNA), aid in splicing and telomere maintenance (snRNPs), and down-regulate gene expression (microRNAs). Therefore, pol II can be a critical target for modulating differential gene expression. Understanding mechanisms that underlie the various stages of transcription will elucidate origins of gene misexpression, which can give rise to a host of human diseases. Eleven-nineteen lysine-rich in leukaemia, (ELL), affects pol II transcription. The ELL gene was initially identified as a gene translocation fusion partner of the mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) gene in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (I). ELL interacts with pol II in vitro, increasing the rate at which it elongates nascent transcripts (2). Two ELL-associated factors, EAFI and EAF2, bind ELL family members and act as strong positive regulators of their transcription activities (3). Although ELL and EAF orthologs have been identified in metazoan organisms, previous attempts to identify similar elongation factors in lower eukaryotes had been unsuccessful. This thesis describes the identification of two genes in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, ell I and eafl, that share some sequence similarity to highly conserved regions in ELL and EAEI/EAF2 (4). Biochemical characterisation of these gene products, SpELL and SpEAF, shows that they have similar activities to their metazoan counterparts in vitro. Using a whole genome approach, I identified genes that are likely direct targets for regulation by SpELL/SpEAF in cells. Notably, ELL and EAF functions have not been studied previously at a genomic level. One SpELL/SpEAF target, sme2, was used as a model gene to investigate how the SpELL/SpEAF complex is recruited to chromatin. Together with results of in vitro binding assays, these results suggest the SpELL/SpEAF complex is recruited to pol II via the SpELL subunit

Blending Audience Response Systems into an Information Systems Professional Course

Many higher education institutions are moving towards blended learning environments that seek to move towards a student-centred ethos, where students are stakeholders in the learning process. This often involves multi-modal learner-support technologies capable of operating in a range of time and place settings. This article considers the impact of an Audience Response System (ARS) upon the ongoing development of an Information Systems Professional course at the Masters level in the College of Business at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. The course allows students to consider ethical issues faced by an Information Systems Professional. Given the sensitivity of some of the topics explored within this area, an ARS offers an ideal vehicle for allowing students to respond to potentially contentious questions without revealing their identity to the rest of the group. The paper reports the findings of a pilot scheme designed to explore the efficacy of the technology. Use of a blended learning framework to frame the discussion allowed the authors to consider the readiness of institution, lecturers, and students to use ARS. From a usage viewpoint, multiple choice questions lead to further discussion of student responses related to important issues in the unit. From an impact viewpoint the use of ARS in the class appeared to be successful, but some limitations were reported

L1 libration point manned space habitat

Second generation stations or Manned Space Habitats (MSHs) are discussed for an Earth-Moon libration point and in lunar orbit. The conceptual design of such a station is outlined. Systems and subsystems described reflect anticipation of moderate technology growth. The evolution of the L1 environments is discussed, several selected subsystems are outlined, and how the L1 MSH will complete some of its activities is described

The Effects of Cup Stacking and Video Game Play on the Performance of a Manual Dexterity Task

ABSTRACT Dexterity and hand-eye coordination are important in daily life, and various methods of improving these skills have been developed. Most of the methods have been technological, brain training games that aren’t physically strenuous and make the participant feel as though they are just playing a game. Cup stacking and video gaming have been used throughout the United States in schools for improving motor skills and hand-eye coordination because they offer various simulations of scenarios requiring motor, visual and cognitive coordination. Purpose: To determine the effects of different types of gaming on dexterity in college aged participants. Methods: The participants were 40 students enrolled at Southwestern University. A SPEED STACKS® set of 12 cups and timing mat were set up on a table, along with a nut and bolt, and the novel, The Hunger Games. Another station was set up with Mario Kart 8 on the Nintendo® Wii. One trial at each station was completed by each participant, leading to 40 control trials, 40 cup stacking trials, and 40 video game trials. Upon completing randomized challenge on three separate days, participants assembled a nut a bolt and were timed using SPEED STACKS® timing mat. Data were recorded and analyzed in a repeated measures ANOVA. Results: A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant effect of cup stacking (5.69 sec ± .215) and video game play (5.79 sec ± .196) on dexterity F(2,78) = 46.205, p \u3c .002. Bonferroni post hoc tests revealed that cup stacking elicited a reduction in dexterity times when compared to the control group (5.69 ± .215 s vs 5.86 ± .199 s, respectively, p \u3c 0.05). It was also revealed that video game play elicited a reduction in dexterity times when compared to the control group, (5.79 ± .196 s vs 5.86 ± .199 s, respectively, p \u3c 0.05). It was found that cup stacking elicited quicker dexterity times than video game play (5.69 ± .215 s vs 5.79 ± .196 s, respectively, p \u3c 0.05). Conclusion: Results suggest that cup stacking provides a greater effect on dexterity than video game play. This study suggests that completing a physical hands on activity is more beneficial to maintaining dexterity than playing a video game, although both types of activities provide a significant effect on dexterity compared to the control group

Effect of a Hydrolyzed Yeast Product on Cow Behavior, Animal Performance, and Hair Coat Score in Cows Grazing Pastures Containing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1243/thumbnail.jp

Changes in forage measures through the course of a grazing season

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1237/thumbnail.jp