More about discrete symmetries in compactified string theories

We discuss discrete symmetries in several string compactification schemes. The same constraints on the light spectra as for Gepner models \cite{rosss} are found in various cases for non-$R$ symmetries. The analogous constraints for $R$ symmetries are also established.Therefore it seems natural to conjecture that they always apply.Comment: 10 pages, OUTP-93-15

Was möchte das Gehirn lernen? Biologische Randbedingungen der Langzeitgedächtnisbildung

Im folgenden Beitrag sollen zunächst die Grundmechanismen der Informationsverarbeitung im Gehirn dargestellt werden. Anschließend werden die Besonderheiten von Lernprozessen in unreifen Gehirnen, das interne Belohnungssystem des Gehirns bei Problemlösestrategien sowie das Lernen im sozialen Kontext betrachtet. Abschließend behandelt der Aufsatz das kategoriale Lernen, also die Frage, wie man multiple Erfahrungen konzeptionell ordnet. (DIPF/Orig.

Some Three Generation (0,2) Calabi-Yau Models

It has recently been realized that a large class of Calabi-Yau models in which the VEV of the gauge connection is not set equal to the spin connection of the Calabi-Yau manifold are valid classical solutions of string theory. We provide some examples of three generation models based on such generalized Calabi-Yau compactifications, including models with observable gauge group $SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$.Comment: Another very minor change to data in Example

High-field fMRI reveals brain activation patterns underlying saccade execution in the human superior colliculus

Background The superior colliculus (SC) has been shown to play a crucial role in the initiation and coordination of eye- and head-movements. The knowledge about the function of this structure is mainly based on single-unit recordings in animals with relatively few neuroimaging studies investigating eye-movement related brain activity in humans. Methodology/Principal Findings The present study employed high-field (7 Tesla) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate SC responses during endogenously cued saccades in humans. In response to centrally presented instructional cues, subjects either performed saccades away from (centrifugal) or towards (centripetal) the center of straight gaze or maintained fixation at the center position. Compared to central fixation, the execution of saccades elicited hemodynamic activity within a network of cortical and subcortical areas that included the SC, lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), occipital cortex, striatum, and the pulvinar. Conclusions/Significance Activity in the SC was enhanced contralateral to the direction of the saccade (i.e., greater activity in the right as compared to left SC during leftward saccades and vice versa) during both centrifugal and centripetal saccades, thereby demonstrating that the contralateral predominance for saccade execution that has been shown to exist in animals is also present in the human SC. In addition, centrifugal saccades elicited greater activity in the SC than did centripetal saccades, while also being accompanied by an enhanced deactivation within the prefrontal default-mode network. This pattern of brain activity might reflect the reduced processing effort required to move the eyes toward as compared to away from the center of straight gaze, a position that might serve as a spatial baseline in which the retinotopic and craniotopic reference frames are aligned

Making physics outreach more gender inclusive

“Diversity in the Cultures of Physics” was an Erasmus+ funded Strategic Partnership launching several key actions aimed at improving the gender balance in physics and its subfields. The Strategic Partnership consisted of six universities in four countries: Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat de Barcelona in Spain, the University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and Uppsala Universitet in Sweden. This flyer provides recommendations and a checklist to make outreach activities in physics more gender inclusive. It is aimed at people already active in outreach activities for young people. The flyer indicates relevant examples of outreach projects, highlights diversity-relevant questions and topics for planning outreach activities and provides a checklist for how outreach events in physics can be made more gender inclusive

Modeling active electrolocation in weakly electric fish

In this paper, we provide a mathematical model for the electrolocation in weakly electric fishes. We first investigate the forward complex conductivity problem and derive the approximate boundary conditions on the skin of the fish. Then we provide a dipole approximation for small targets away from the fish. Based on this approximation, we obtain a non-iterative location search algorithm using multi-frequency measurements. We present numerical experiments to illustrate the performance and the stability of the proposed multi-frequency location search algorithm. Finally, in the case of disk- and ellipse-shaped targets, we provide a method to reconstruct separately the conductivity, the permittivity, and the size of the targets from multi-frequency measurements.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figure

Three Generations in the Fermionic Construction

We obtain three generation SU(3)_c X SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y string models in all of the exactly solvable (0,2) constructions sampled by fermionization. None of these examples, including those that are symmetric abelian orbifolds, rely on the Z_2 X Z_2 orbifold underlying the NAHE basis. We present the first known three generation models for which the hypercharge normalization, k_1, takes values smaller than that obtained from an SU(5) embedding, thus lowering the effective gauge coupling unification scale. All of the models contain fractional electrically charged and vectorlike exotic matter that could survive in the light spectrum.Comment: harvmac, 51 page

Case report: Rare skeletal manifestations in a child with primary hyperparathyroidism

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is uncommon among children with an incidence of 1:300,000. This diagnosis is often missed in children in contrast to adults where it is detected at a pre symptomatic stage due to routine blood investigations. Etiology of PHPT can be due to adenoma, hyperplasia or rarely carcinoma. Case presentation: A 12year old Sri Lankan girl presented with progressive difficulty in walking since 1year. On examination she had bilateral genu valgum. Skeletal survey revealed valgus deformity of knee joints, bilateral subluxation of upper femoral epiphysis(SUFE), epiphyseal displacement of bilateral humeri, rugger jersey spine and subperiosteal bone resorptions in lateral aspects of 2nd and 3rd middle phalanges. There were no radiological manifestations of rickets. Metabolic profile revealed hypercalcemia with hypophosphatemia. Intact parathyroid hormone levels were elevated at 790pg/ml. Vitamin D levels were deficient. She had low bone mineral density with Z score of -3.4. Vitamin D supplementation resulted in worsening of hypercalcemia without reduction in PTH levels. Tc 99 Sestamibi uptake scan showed abnormal tracer retention in left inferior pole of thyroid. A large parathyroid gland was removed with histology favoring parathyroid adenoma. Post operatively she developed hypocalcemia. Bilateral osteotomy was done for SUFE and further surgeries for correction of limb deformities planned. Conclusion: PHPT in children is usually diagnosed late when irreversible organ damage has occurred. Children can present with non specific symptoms involving gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, renal and neurological systems. PHPT can cause disarray in bone and epiphysis in children during pubertal growth spurt. Genu valgum and SUFE are rare skeletal manifestations in PHPT and only 10 cases of genu valgum and 9 cases of SUFE have been reported up to now. So far no cases have been reported on epiphyseal displacement of humeri. Awareness regarding the occurrence of these rare skeletal manifestations especially during puberty is important for early diagnosis to prevent irreversible outcomes

Fusion rules in conformal field theory

Several aspects of fusion rings and fusion rule algebras, and of their manifestations in twodimensional (conformal) field theory, are described: diagonalization and the connection with modular invariance; the presentation in terms of quotients of polynomial rings; fusion graphs; various strategies that allow for a partial classification; and the role of the fusion rules in the conformal bootstrap programme.Comment: 68 pages, LaTeX. changed contents of footnote no.