Lagrangians with electric and magnetic charges of N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

General Lagrangians are constructed for N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories in four space-time dimensions involving gauge groups with (non-abelian) electric and magnetic charges. The charges induce a scalar potential, which, when the charges are regarded as spurionic quantities, is invariant under electric/magnetic duality. The resulting theories are especially relevant for supergravity, but details of the extension to local supersymmetry will be discussed elsewhere. The results include the coupling to hypermultiplets. Without the latter, it is demonstrated how an off-shell representation can be constructed based on vector and tensor supermultiplets.Comment: 34 pages, LaTe

The Josephson critical current in a long mesoscopic S-N-S junction

We carry out an extensive experimental and theoretical study of the Josephson effect in S-N-S junctions made of a diffusive normal metal (N) embedded between two superconducting electrodes (S). Our experiments are performed on Nb-Cu-Nb junctions with highly-transparent interfaces. We give the predictions of the quasiclassical theory in various regimes on a precise and quantitative level. We describe the crossover between the short and the long junction regimes and provide the temperature dependence of the critical current using dimensionless units $eR_{N}I_{c}/\epsilon_{c}$ and $k_{B}T/\epsilon_{c}$ where $\epsilon_{c}$ is the Thouless energy. Experimental and theoretical results are in excellent quantitative agreement.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, slighly modified version, publishe

The [4+2] cycloaddition of donor-acceptor cyclobutanes and nitrosoarenes.

The Yb(OTf)3 catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition between donor-acceptor cyclobutanes and nitrosoarenes is disclosed. This method facilitates the synthesis of tetrahydro-1,2-oxazines in good to excellent yields as single diastereomers. Except for a few electron-deficient nitrosoarenes, excellent regioselectivity was observed throughout these studies

Influences on Affiliate HRM Systems in Japanese MNCs in Southeast Asia

Using data from 160 Asian affiliates of American and Japanese MNCs, this paper explores the determinants of whether MNCs transfer their parent company HRM systems overseas or adopt local practices. We find that demographic predictor variables which have often been found in previous studies to predict similarity are relatively unimportant while perceived HRM competence of the MNC is an important determinant of HRM transfer

Fracton pairing mechanism for "strange" superconductors: Self-assembling organic polymers and copper-oxide compounds

Self-assembling organic polymers and copper-oxide compounds are two classes of "strange" superconductors, whose challenging behavior does not comply with the traditional picture of Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer (BCS) superconductivity in regular crystals. In this paper, we propose a theoretical model that accounts for the strange superconducting properties of either class of the materials. These properties are considered as interconnected manifestations of the same phenomenon: We argue that superconductivity occurs in the both cases because the charge carriers (i.e., electrons or holes) exchange {\it fracton excitations}, quantum oscillations of fractal lattices that mimic the complex microscopic organization of the strange superconductors. For the copper oxides, the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ as predicted by the fracton mechanism is of the order of $\sim 150$ K. We suggest that the marginal ingredient of the high-temperature superconducting phase is provided by fracton coupled holes that condensate in the conducting copper-oxygen planes owing to the intrinsic field-effect-transistor configuration of the cuprate compounds. For the gate-induced superconducting phase in the electron-doped polymers, we simultaneously find a rather modest transition temperature of $\sim (2-3)$ K owing to the limitations imposed by the electron tunneling processes on a fractal geometry. We speculate that hole-type superconductivity observes larger onset temperatures when compared to its electron-type counterpart. This promises an intriguing possibility of the high-temperature superconducting states in hole-doped complex materials. A specific prediction of the present study is universality of ac conduction for $T\gtrsim T_c$.Comment: 12 pages (including separate abstract page), no figure

Efficient Learning of the Parameters of Non-Linear Models using Differentiable Resampling in Particle Filters

It has been widely documented that the sampling and resampling steps in particle filters cannot be differentiated. The {\itshape reparameterisation trick} was introduced to allow the sampling step to be reformulated into a differentiable function. We extend the {\itshape reparameterisation trick} to include the stochastic input to resampling therefore limiting the discontinuities in the gradient calculation after this step. Knowing the gradients of the prior and likelihood allows us to run particle Markov Chain Monte Carlo (p-MCMC) and use the No-U-Turn Sampler (NUTS) as the proposal when estimating parameters. We compare the Metropolis-adjusted Langevin algorithm (MALA), Hamiltonian Monte Carlo with different number of steps and NUTS. We consider two state-space models and show that NUTS improves the mixing of the Markov chain and can produce more accurate results in less computational time.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figure

A retrospective cross-sectional study: Fresh cycle endometrial thickness is a sensitive predictor of inadequate endometrial thickness in frozen embryo transfer cycles

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess predictors of inadequate endometrial cavity thickness (ECT), defined as < 8 mm, in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study at an academic fertility center including 274 women who underwent their first endometrial preparation with estradiol for autologous FET in our center from 2001-2009. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of inadequate endometrial development in FET cycles. RESULTS: Neither age nor duration of estrogen supplementation were associated with FET endometrial thickness. Lower body mass index, nulliparity, previous operative hysteroscopy and thinner fresh cycle endometrial lining were associated with inadequate endometrial thickness in FET cycles. A maximum thickness of 11.5 mm in a fresh cycle was 80% sensitive and 70% specific for inadequate frozen cycle thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Previous fresh cycle endometrial cavity thickness is associated with subsequent FET cycle endometrial cavity thickness. Women with a fresh cycle thickness of 11.5 mm or less may require additional intervention to achieve adequate endometrial thickness in preparation for a frozen cycle