Natural curvature for manifest T-duality

We reformulate the manifestly T-dual description of the massless sector of the closed bosonic string, directly from the geometry associated with the (left and right) affine Lie algebra of the coset space Poincare/Lorentz. This construction initially doubles not only the (spacetime) coordinates for translations but also those for Lorentz transformations (and their dual). As a result, the Lorentz connection couples directly to the string (as does the vielbein), rather than being introduced ad hoc to the covariant derivative as previously. This not only reproduces the old definition of T-dual torsion, but automatically gives a general, covariant definition of T-dual curvature (but still with some undetermined connections).Comment: Minor changes in notations (see e.g. eq.(7), eq.(8)). Some typos corrected: e.g factor "i" in equations (11) and (12). New references adde

T-duality off shell in 3D Type II superspace

We give the manifestly T-dual formulation of the massless sector of the classical 3D Type II superstring in off-shell 3D N=2 superspace, including the action. It has a simple relation to the known superspace of 4D N=1 supergravity in 4D M-theory via 5D F-theory. The pre potential appears as part of the vielbein, without derivatives.Comment: References added, factor of 2 in the algebra (8) fixe

Metamorphosis: Transforming Non-designers into Designers

In this paper we make the case that there is today a growing number of educational settings experiencing challenges when it comes to transforming non-designers into designers, and in particular, interaction designers. We see this development as a consequence of an increased awareness and recognition of what broadly could be labeled as a design perspective. We examine the transformational process, the metamorphosis, by which non-designer students become interaction designers. We identify and describe the barriers that make it difficult for the students to move through this transformational process. We also propose some pedagogical approaches that can reduce the barriers and improve the possibility for the transformation to occur. The approach that we have developed and describe consists of three parts. Based on a fundamental understanding of the nature of design, we have developed (i) a tentative transformational model of how non-designers become interaction designers; (ii) a special kind of conceptual framework used to support students in the transformational process; and (iii) design assignments based on real-world design problems. We end the paper with two conclusions. First we argue that there is a challenge in transforming non-designers into designers, but that it is possible if the educational effort is based on an understanding of design and on the transformational process with its barriers. Finally we argue that the experience of trying to turn non-designers into interaction designers is in itself a valuable research approach. Dealing with non-designer students reveals deep insights about the nature of the design process and makes it possible to better formulate what constitutes a designerly approach. Keywords Design, Design education, Pedagogy, HCI</p

Manifest Electromagnetic Duality in Closed Superstring Field Theory

The free action for massless Ramond-Ramond fields is derived from closed superstring field theory using the techniques of Siegel and Zwiebach. For the uncompactified Type IIB superstring, this gives a manifestly Lorentz-covariant action for a self-dual five-form field strength. Upon compactification to four dimensions, the action depends on a U(1) field strength from 4D N=2 supergravity. However, unlike the standard Maxwell action, this action is manifestly invariant under the electromagnetic duality transformation which rotates $F_{mn}$ into $\epsilon_{mnpq} F^{pq}$.Comment: Added three references and corrected one footnote. 15 pages harvma

Measuring variations in health inequalities: Semiparametric modeling of the concentration index

This thesis introduces a new econometric approach to measure variations in health inequalities with respect to some other continuous or discrete explanatory variable. The proposed model combines the well-established concentration index with the smooth coefficient model to a semiparametric inequality index. Data on income, self-assessed health, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and smoking behavior are analyzed. Community deprivation is assessed using a German Index of Multiple Deprivation. The results suggest that income-related inequalities to the detriment of the economically deprived households exist in Germany. While this holds for health status in almost all age groups, smoking only concentrates among the worse-off households in younger cohorts. Smoking apparantly changed from a pro-rich towards a pro-poor habit over the twentieth century. While individual income and community deprivation are similarly associated to individual health, income-related health inequalities do not vary with community deprivation

Local Actions with Electric and Magnetic Sources

Superstring field theory was recently used to derive a covariant action for a self-dual five-form field strength. This action is shown to be a ten-dimensional version of the McClain-Wu-Yu action. By coupling to D-branes, it can be generalized in the presence of sources. In four dimensions, this gives a local Maxwell action with electric and magnetic sources.Comment: 13 pages. Corrected a factor of 2 in equation (5.1

Academic librarians working with their LGBTQ patrons: An exploratory survey

IntroductionThere is now a small but growing body of evidence to demonstrate that LGBTQ library patrons often have specific and distinct information needs and information-seeking behaviours (Beiringer and Jackson, 2007; Schaller, 2011; Morris and Roberto, 2016). Many academic libraries are recognizing these specific needs and making increasing efforts to meet them, informed by new diversity statements and plans. However, these efforts are far from universal.Given the increased attention and awareness of LGBTQ issues, librarians must be equipped to assist researchers and consumers with LGBTQ-themed inquiries. A number of studies have been conducted with physicians, mental health counsellors, and other health professionals regarding LGBTQ knowledge and training needs. However, there is a lack of research in this area pertaining to librarians.To address this gap, the authors have conducted a survey into the knowledge and comfort level of academic librarians across the US and Canada towards these specific needs and towards the efforts of libraries to better serve their LGBTQ patrons. In this poster, we report the results and subsequent analysis of a web-based survey of survey of respondents\u27 knowledge and comfort level.MethodsWe surveyed a non-random sample of academic librarians, conducted using a web-based survey tool (SurveyMonkey). Respondents answered 20 questions, covering demographic and professional information and knowledge of various terms related to sexuality and gender, and were asked to state their likely reactions to a range of sample reference situations where LGBTQ information-seeking is a significant factor. A total of 538 responses has so far been received, primarily from the United States.ResultsA majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they would benefit from additional training to help serve LGBTQ information needs. Open-ended comments revealed a lack of ability to respond to LGBT-themed inquiries. Common themes included the need to learn about current information resources, participate in instruction on answering sexuality questions (including sexual orientation), and gain practical advice for making their library welcoming to the LGBT community.Other interesting barriers were raised by respondents, such as institutional culture, collection development and maintenance practices, discriminatory subject headings, and lack of support for practices such as preferred names, for example for transgender patrons. Open-ended comments also included strongly supportive to strongly dissenting attitudes regarding acceptance and support of LGBTQ patrons.Full results will be available by May 2017.ConclusionsWhile many academic libraries have made significant efforts to better serve their LGBTQ patrons, there is a need for more librarians to have the skills and comfort level to better meet the needs of this user group. Results indicate a clear need for training, not only for public-facing staff but for those in leadership positions. This should be accompanied by increased explicit outreach to LGBTQ patrons and the display of visible signs of support.ReferencesBeiriger, A., & Jackson, R.M. (2007). An assessment of the information needs of transgender communities in Portland, Oregon. Public Library Quarterly, 26(1/2), 45-60.Morris, M., & Roberto, K.R. (2016). Information-seeking behaviour and information needs of LGBTQ health professionals: a follow-up study. Health Information and Libraries Journal. 33, 204-221.Schaller, S. (2011). Information needs of LGBTQ college students. Libri: International Journal of Libraries & Information Services, 61(2), 100-115

On the life course perspective in income related health inequalities: a semiparametric approach

Compared with the broad supply of literature measuring socioeconomic gradients in the distribution of health, only little is know about the life course perspective regarding income related inequalities. This article combines the reowned concentration index approach with semiparametric estimation techniques to derive a new varying index of inequality that copes without a priori sample stratification. We illustrate the power of this new index using health data drawn from the German microsensus and find support for the age as leveler hypothesis. Our index suggests that significant inequalities to the detriment of the deprived increase over the working life and reacht their maximum around the age for retirement. We find no significant inequalities for adolescents and elder people. --

MSSM Higgs-boson mass predictions and two-loop non-supersymmetric counterterms

The evaluation of Yukawa-enhanced two-loop contributions to the MSSM Higgs-boson mass is considered. We prove the common assumption that regularization by dimensional reduction preserves supersymmetry at the required level. Thus generating counterterms by multiplicative renormalization is correct. Technically, we identify a suitable Slavnov-Taylor identity, use a recently developed method to evaluate it at the two-loop level, and show that it is valid in dimensional reduction.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure