Critical Loci Research Articles

More non-Abelian mirrors and some two-dimensional dualities

In this paper, we extend the non-Abelian mirror proposal of two of the authors from two-dimensional gauge theories with connected gauge groups to the case of [Formula: see text] gauge groups with discrete theta angles. We check our proposed extension by counting and comparing vacua in mirrors to the known dual two-dimensional [Formula: see text] gauge theories. The mirrors in question are Landau–Ginzburg orbifolds, and for mirrors to [Formula: see text] gauge theories, the critical loci of the mirror superpotential often intersect fixed-point loci, so that to count vacua, one must take into account the twisted sector contributions. This is a technical novelty relative to the mirrors of gauge theories with connected gauge groups, for which critical loci do not intersect fixed-point loci and so no orbifold twisted sector contributions are pertinent. The vacuum computations turn out to be a rather intricate test of the proposed mirrors, in particular as untwisted sector states in the mirror to one theory are often exchanged with twisted sector states in the mirror to the dual. In cases with nontrivial IR limits, we also check that the central charges computed from the Landau–Ginzburg mirrors match those expected for the IR SCFTs.

The Efficiency of SNP-Based Microarrays in the Detection of Copy-Neutral Events at 15q11.2 and 11p15.5 Loci.

Prader-Willi, Angelman, Beckwith-Wiedemann, and Russell-Silver are imprinting syndromes. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficiency of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analysis with methylation-specific Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) in the detection of uniparental disomy in these syndromes. The patient samples with regions of loss of heterozygosity (LOH), covering 15q11.2 and 11p15.5 critical loci, were analyzed with MS-MLPA to demonstrate the efficiency of SNP microarray in the detection of uniparental disomy (UPD). In a total of seven patients, LOH covering 15q11.2 and 11p15.5 critical loci was detected. Two (28.6%) of these seven patients showed aberrant methylation (suggesting UPD) in MS-MLPA. SNP microarray is a useful tool in the detection of LOH; however, it should be used with caution, since false-positive or false-negative LOH results can be obtained. Although methylation analysis is recommended as the first tier test in the diagnosis of most of the imprinting disorders, combining methylation analysis with SNP microarray can enhance our evaluation process.

Critical Loci for Two Views Reconstruction as Quadratic Transformations Between Images

In this paper, the effect of the existence of a critical set for the projective reconstruction of a scene in $${{\mathbb {P}}}^{3}$$ from two views is analyzed directly on the image planes. Corresponding points, which are images of critical points, are linked by a birational map between the two planes which is a quadratic transformation. This transformation is explicitly described and used to investigate the instability phenomena for reconstruction with a new approach.

Comparison of SAFT-VR-Mie and CP-PC-SAFT in predicting phase behavior of associating systems IV. Methanol–aliphatic hydrocarbons

This study compares the predictions of CP-PC-SAFT and SAFT-VR-Mie for the binary systems of methanol with aliphatic hydrocarbons in a wide range of conditions. For each of the models, a universal value of the binary adjustable parameter k12 was fitted to just one experimental datum; namely, the UCEP of n-butane(1) – methanol(2). The resulting model-specific values were implemented for predicting the entire available LLE data in other homologues until n-decane, the critical loci from methane and till n-hexatriacontane, along with the relevant VLE. With these methodologies, 3 association kernels of SAFT-VR-Mie attached by 8 sets of pure compound parameters yielded particularly poor estimations of the LL critical loci in the n-alkane–methanol series of systems. The same can be concluded in the cases of some additional SAFT-VR versions, SAFT-HR, and soft-SAFT. Unlike these, the relevant results of PC-SAFT approaches in general are reasonably good, while those of CP-PC-SAFT are surprisingly accurate. In addition, the rigorous obeying of the pure compound Tc and Pc makes CP-PC-SAFT advantageous in predicting the VL critical loci and phase equilibria in the asymmetric systems of methanol. However, its performance in estimating VLE of the more symmetric systems becomes comparable to SAFT-VR-Mie. In addition, CP-PC-SAFT is superior in estimating the excess enthalpies.

Morse-Bott functions on orthogonal groups

We make a detailed study of various (quadratic and linear) Morse-Bott trace functions on the orthogonal groups O(n). We describe the critical loci of the quadratic trace function Tr(AXBXT) and determine their indices via perfect fillings of tables. We review the basic notions of Morse-Bott cohomology in a simple case where the set of critical points has two connected components. We then use these results to give a new Morse-theoretic computation of the mod 2 Betti numbers of SO(n).

Limited yield advantage of early-season rice hybrids over inbreds in middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Early-season rice plays a significant role in double rice-cropping system in China to improve the grain yield per unit of area. But recently, the stagnation of grain yield increase has been witnessed for early-season rice varieties in middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, particular in the national rice regional adaption trials of southern China. Further, in the early cropping season, hybrid rice did not always perform better than inbred rice in grain production. It is relevant to question whether yield ceilings have been reached in early-season indica rice before a new breakthrough on the germplasm exploitation. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the yield performance of five inbreds and their 12 derived hybrid rice varieties in 2017 and 2018 in Hangzhou, China. Limited yield advantage of early-season hybrids over inbreds was observed, commonly less than 5.00% and averaged as 0.62% in 2017 and 3.20% in 2018. The hybrids always produced more panicles per plant but less grains per panicle with similar growing periods compared with the inbreds. Then, the genetic distance of the hybrid parents was surveyed using 48 selected molecular markers, showing low polymorphisms. Further, they were genotyped for four critical quantitative trait loci for both yield traits and heading date and three ones only for yield traits. So did 60 major early-season indica rice varieties at the four pleiotropic loci. Evidence was shown for the high uniform of their haplotype combinations across the tested materials, which could lead to early heading and low yield potential. Our work revealed the low genetic diversity, or called genetic bottleneck, for early-season hybrids to further improve grain yield potential. Moreover, along with the popularization of low-input requirements, the inbred rice varieties of cheap seed price might be a more suitable alternative for this cropping season in middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Damage modeling and critical damage evaluation of AA2014 cast alloy embedded with fly ash composite under upsetting

Abstract: Upsetting is one of the primary metal forming techniques and needs to be applied to reduce the cross section of the billets for further processing. Ductile fracture in metal upsetting process is an issue and depends on the material used and processing conditions. The current work focus is on the critical damage evaluation of AA2014 cast alloy embedded with fly ash composite. AA2014 alloy was heated to a pouring temperature of 750 ℃ and fly ash of 3% and 6% were added separately with AA2014 matrix material to prepare three sets of cast alloys namely pure AA2014, AA2014 + 3% fly ash, and AA2014 + 6% fly ash. After manufacturing three sets of rods from stir casting process, three sets of billets were machined to a height and diameter of 24 mm. Three sets of billets were compressed between rigid dies to different levels of strain until the initiation of fracture. Ductile fracture criterions were modeled to evaluate the critical damage value and fracture loci were constructed for different compositions.

On motivic vanishing cycles of critical loci

Let U U be a smooth scheme over an algebraically closed field K \mathbb K of characteristic zero and let f : U → A 1 f:U\rightarrow \mathbb A^1 be a regular function, and write X = Crit ( f ) X=\textrm {Crit}(f) , as a closed K \mathbb K -subscheme of U U . The motivic vanishing cycle M F U , f mot,\phi MF_{U,f}^\textrm {mot,\phi } is an element of the μ ^ \hat \mu -equivariant motivic Grothendieck ring M X μ ^ \mathcal M^{\hat \mu }_X , defined by Denef and Loeser, and Looijenga, and used in Kontsevich and Soibelman’s theory of motivic Donaldson–Thomas invariants. We prove three main results: (a) M F U , f mot,\phi MF_{U,f}^\textrm {mot,\phi } depends only on the third-order thickenings U ( 3 ) , f ( 3 ) U^{(3)},f^{(3)} of U , f U,f . (b) If V V is another smooth K \mathbb K -scheme, g : V → A 1 g:V\rightarrow \mathbb A^1 is regular, Y = Crit ( g ) Y=\textrm {Crit}(g) , and Φ : U → V \Phi :U\rightarrow V is an embedding with f = g ∘ Φ f=g\circ \Phi and Φ | X : X → Y \Phi \vert _X:X\rightarrow Y an isomorphism, then Φ | X ∗ ( M F V , g mot, \phi ) = M F U , f mot, \phi ⊙ Υ ( P Φ ) \Phi \vert _X^*\bigl (MF^\textrm {mot, \phi }_{V,g}\bigr )=MF^\textrm {mot, \phi }_{U,f}\odot \Upsilon (P_\Phi ) in a certain quotient ring M ¯ X μ ^ \,\,\overline {\!\!\mathcal M\!}\,^{\hat \mu }_X of M X μ ^ \mathcal M^{\hat \mu }_X , where P Φ → X P_\Phi \rightarrow X is a principal Z 2 \mathbb Z_2 -bundle associated to Φ \Phi and Υ : { \Upsilon :\{ principal Z 2 \mathbb Z_2 -bundles on X } → M ¯ X μ ^ X\}\rightarrow \,\,\overline {\!\!\mathcal M\!}\,^{\hat \mu }_X a natural morphism. (c) If ( X , s ) (X,s) is an oriented algebraic d-critical locus in the sense of Joyce, there is a natural motive M F X , s ∈ M ¯ X μ ^ MF_{X,s}\in \,\,\overline {\!\!\mathcal M\!}\,^{\hat \mu }_X , such that if ( X , s ) (X,s) is locally modelled on Crit ( f : U → A 1 ) \textrm {Crit}(f:U\rightarrow \mathbb A^1) , then M F X , s MF_{X,s} is locally modelled on M F U , f mot,\phi MF_{U,f}^\textrm {mot,\phi } . Using results of Pantev, Toën, Vaquié, and Vezzosi, these imply the existence of natural motives on moduli schemes of coherent sheaves on a Calabi–Yau 3-fold equipped with “orientation data”, as required in Kontsevich and Soibelman’s motivic Donaldson–Thomas theory, and on intersections L ∩ M L\cap M of oriented Lagrangians L , M L,M in an algebraic symplectic manifold ( S , ω ) (S,\omega ) .

British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Autumn Conference Friday 23 November 2018 Regent's University Conference Centre, London, UK www.bsgct.org

British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Autumn Conference Friday 23 November 2018 Regent's University Conference Centre, London, UK www.bsgct.org

Comparison of SAFT-VR-Mie and CP-PC-SAFT in predicting phase behavior of associating systems III. Aliphatic hydrocarbons - 1-propanol, 1-butanol and 1-pentanol

This study compares the predictions of CP-PC-SAFT and SAFT-VR-Mie for binary systems of aliphatic hydrocarbons and the C3-C5 1-alkanols. Systems of carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide are considered as well. In all the cases zero values of the binary adjustable parameters have been implemented. Thanks to the superior flexibility achieved by fitting 6 pure compound parameters, SAFT-VR-Mie excellently represent various thermodynamic properties of the considered 1-alkanols. Since CP-PC-SAFT fits these data with only 2 adjustable parameters, its pertinent performance is less accurate, but remains reasonable good. At the same time, unlike SAFT-VR-Mie, CP-PC-SAFT rigorously obeys of the pure compound Tc and Pc, which allows accurate predictions of critical loci and VLE in the symmetric systems. Moreover, in exception of LLE in the systems of ethane and ethene, CP-PC-SAFT truthfully predicts critical data and the high pressure VLE in the asymmetric systems. SAFT-VR-Mie estimates these data in a less accurate manner, excepting the VLE of the C4-isomers and n-pentane systems. It the latter cases the results of both models are comparable. At the same time, SAFT-VR-Mie often yields more accurate results for the low-pressure VLE. Besides that, the predictions of CP-PC-SAFT for LLE in 1-alkanol – [C1MIM][NTF2] and – [C2MIM][NTF2] ionic liquid systems are presented. Despite the simplified approach to ILs, this model truthfully predicts the UCST data in 1-alkanol – [C1MIM][NTF2] and – [C2MIM][NTF2] systems, overestimating however the concentrations of ILs in both equilibria phases.

Using the inbred mouse strain SPRET/EiJ to provide novel insights in inflammation and infection research.

Inbred mouse strains derived from the species Mus spretus have been very informative in the study of certain gene polymorphisms in inflammation and infection. Based on our interest in sepsis, we used SPRET/EiJ mice and mapped several critical loci that are linked to sensitivity to cytokine-induced inflammation and endotoxemia. These studies were based on prominent phenotypes that have never been observed in strains derived from Mus musculus and we mapped them at a resolution that enables us to draw conclusions on the mechanisms. Now that the genome of SPRET/EiJ has been sequenced, and other tools have become available, it is time to revisit this strain and emphasize its advantages and disadvantages as a research tool and a discovery platform.

Chromatin Accessibility Dynamics during Chemical Induction of Pluripotency

Despite its exciting potential, chemical induction of pluripotency (CIP) efficiency remains low and the mechanisms are poorly understood. We report the development of an efficient two-step serum- and replating-free CIP protocol and the associated chromatin accessibility dynamics (CAD) by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC)-seq. CIP reorganizes the somatic genome to an intermediate state that is resolved under 2iL condition by re-closingpreviously opened loci prior to pluripotency acquisition with gradual opening of loci enriched with motifs for the OCT/SOX/KLF families. Bromodeoxyuridine, a critical ingredient of CIP, is responsible for both closing and opening critical loci, at least in part by preventing the opening of loci enriched with motifs for the AP1 family and facilitating the opening of loci enriched with SOX/KLF/GATA motifs. These changes differ markedly from CAD observed during Yamanaka-factor-driven reprogramming. Our study provides insights into small-molecule-based reprogramming mechanisms and reorganization of nuclear architecture associated with cell-fate decisions.

Cultural Rights and Cultural Policy: identifying the cultural policy implications of culture as a human right

This article explores the parameters of ‘culture’ as a Human Right – Cultural Rights – and culture in the Human Rights system of international law and its now globally-pervasive set of axioms. The article attends to definitional issues on the use of culture to determine critical loci of human identity formation and fundamental ethics, and the use of culture to conceptualise the scope and scale of human freedom. Its aim is to define Cultural Rights in direct relation to the interests of cultural policy making and more importantly in relation to the scholarly field of cultural policy research. This will involve defining the legal-institutional sphere of Human Rights and range of applications but only insofar as to focus on issues central to current cultural policy research and its contingent questions of interpretation (such as the meaning of a ‘cultural right’ in particular social contexts). The secondary aim of this article is to define how cultural policy research (historically invested in particular historical evolution of national arts traditions and heritage management) could be central to the study of ‘rights-based’ global development.

Isothermal vapour-liquid equilibrium data for binary systems of (CHF 3 or C 2 F 6 ) with (1-hexene or 3-methylpentane)

Abstract The isothermal vapour-liquid equilibria of R-23 + 1-hexene, R-23 + 3-methylpentane, R-116 + 1-hexene and R-116 + 3-methylpentane were measured at temperatures of between (293.1 and 313.3) K with a static-analytic apparatus. Vapour-liquid-liquid equilibria was exhibited by the R-116 + 1-hexene system. The equilibrium data was modelled with the PR EOS, modified with the MC alpha function, and the WS mixing rule with either the NRTL or the UNIQUAC activity coefficient model. Both the temperature dependent and the temperature independent forms of the models were regressed to the experimental data. The method of Ungerer et al. was used to extrapolate the subcritical co-existence data to the mixture critical loci, while the method of Heidemann and Khalil was used to estimate the critical locus curves for the systems. Each of the four systems were also categorised according to the classification system of van Konynenburg and Scott.

Mapping of a major QTL for salt tolerance of mature field-grown maize plants based on SNP markers

BackgroundSalt stress significantly restricts plant growth and production. Maize is an important food and economic crop but is also a salt sensitive crop. Identification of the genetic architecture controlling salt tolerance facilitates breeders to select salt tolerant lines. However, the critical quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the salt tolerance of field-grown maize plants are still unknown.ResultsTo map the main genetic factors contributing to salt tolerance in mature maize, a double haploid population (240 individuals) and 1317 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were employed to produce a genetic linkage map covering 1462.05 cM. Plant height of mature maize cultivated in the saline field (SPH) and plant height-based salt tolerance index (ratio of plant height between saline and control fields, PHI) were used to evaluate salt tolerance of mature maize plants. A major QTL for SPH was detected on Chromosome 1 with the LOD score of 22.4, which explained 31.2% of the phenotypic variation. In addition, the major QTL conditioning PHI was also mapped at the same position on Chromosome 1, and two candidate genes involving in ion homeostasis were identified within the confidence interval of this QTL.ConclusionsThe detection of the major QTL in adult maize plant establishes the basis for the map-based cloning of genes associated with salt tolerance and provides a potential target for marker assisted selection in developing maize varieties with salt tolerance.

Particle breakage and the critical state of sands

A series of triaxial tests were conducted to investigate the characteristics of the critical state loci (CSLs) of original and pre-crushed sands. The results of the original sand showed that the CSL was divided into two segments by a particle breakage reference stress (0·7 MPa) not only in the e–logp′ plane but also in the q–p′ plane. The results from the pre-crushed sands revealed that particle breakage resulted in a downward translation and an anticlockwise rotation of the CSL in the e–logp′ plane. However, in the q–p′ plane, all the critical state points were on the initial CSL, but with different evolutions against particle breakage for drained and undrained tests.

Detailed calculation of complex fluid phase equilibrium sections for ternary systems

Phase equilibrium diagrams of fluid phases in ternary systems can have a high complexity. In this work, a strategy and calculation methods for the computation of complete sections of ternary fluid phase equilibrium surfaces is proposed. To illustrate the methodology, we present computed results for the fluid phase equilibrium of an isothermal section for the ternary highly non-ideal system CO2+H2O+2-propanol(IPA), as described by a given model and given set of values of the model parameters. The calculation method is based on the prior identification of (univariant) key points (KPs) of the ternary isotherm. From such KPs, it is possible to build the different equilibrium lines that constitute the ternary isothermal diagram, with the help of a numerical continuation method. The results show a high level of complexity including a number of three-phase loci, critical loci, and ternary critical endpoints, together with a ternary four-phase equilibrium point.

Predicting phase behavior in aqueous systems without fitting binary parameters II: Gases and non‐aromatic hydrocarbons

This investigation continues a series of studies evaluating the capability of the recently proposed CP‐PC‐SAFT and sPC‐SAFT of Liang et al. to estimate the thermodynamic properties of aqueous systems in the entirely predictive manner. Similarly to the previously considered systems, CP‐PC‐SAFT remains a realistic estimator of the available data on critical loci, high pressure‐high temperature phase equilibria and volumetric properties also in the cases of non‐polar gases and non‐aromatic hydrocarbons from argon and nitrogen till n‐eicosane and squalene while keeping zero values of binary parameters. Nevertheless, such application of the model poses certain unavoidable compromises on its accuracy. Inter alia, CP‐PC‐SAFT is a particularly inaccurate estimator of the water‐rich liquid phases away from the critical points. sPC‐SAFT predicts these data in a more reliable manner. Moreover, its predictive capability goes beyond the liquid phases and it exhibits a remarkable accuracy in forecasting various phase equilibria below the critical point of water. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017

The influence of particle geometry and the intermediate stress ratio on the shear behavior of granular materials

The behavior of granular materials is very complex in nature and depends on particle shape, stress path, fabric, density, particle size distribution, amongst others. This paper presents a study of the effect of particle geometry (aspect ratio) on the mechanical behaviour of granular materials using the discrete element method (DEM). This study discusses 3D DEM simulations of conventional triaxial and true triaxial tests. The numerical experiments employ samples with different particle aspect ratios and a unique particle size distribution (PSD). Test results show that both particle aspect ratio (AR) and intermediate stress ratio $$(b=({\upsigma }_{2}'-{\upsigma }_{3}')/({\upsigma }_{1}'-{\upsigma }_{3}'))$$ affect the macro- and micro-scale responses. At the macro-scale, the shear strength decreases with an increase in both aspect ratio and intermediate stress ratio b values. At the micro-scale level, the fabric evolution is also affected by both AR and b. The results from DEM analyses qualitatively agree with available experimental data. The critical state behaviour and failure states are also discussed. It is observed that the position of the critical state loci in the compression $$(e-p')$$ space is only slightly affected by aspect ratio (AR) while the critical stress ratio is dependent on both AR and b. It is also demonstrated that the influence of the aspect ratio and the intermediate stress can be captured by micro-scale fabric evolutions that can be well understood within the framework of existing critical state theories. It is also found that for a given stress path, a unique critical state fabric norm is dependent on the particle shape but is independent of critical state void ratio.

Predicting phase behavior in aqueous systems without fitting binary parameters I: CP‐PC‐SAFT EOS, aromatic compounds

This study examines an accuracy of CP‐PC‐SAFT attached by the 4C cross‐association scheme and zero values of binary parameters in predicting the high temperature‐high pressure phase behavior in aqueous systems of aromatic compounds containing one and two benzoic rings, CO2 and cis‐decalin. In spite of the noteworthy complexity of these systems and the entirely predictive nature of the current approach, it correctly predicts the topology of phase behavior and typically yields the quantitatively accurate estimations of critical loci and the hydrocarbon–rich liquid phases in wide range of conditions. The available single phase volumetric data are also predicted accurately. Unfortunately, it is not a case of the water–rich phases exhibiting very small hydrocarbon concentrations. Nevertheless, the model is still capable of capturing the solubility minima characteristic for these phases around the room temperature. Predictions of the recent version of Simplified PC‐SAFT proposed by Liang et al. (2014) are also discussed. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4124–4135, 2017