A
bstract
We study symmetry-breaking line defects in the Wilson-Fisher theory with
O
(2
N
+ 1) global symmetry near four dimensions and symmetry-preserving surface defects in a cubic model with
O
(2
...N
) global symmetry near six dimensions. We introduce a scaling limit inspired by the large charge expansion in Conformal Field Theory. Using this, we compute the beta function for the defect coupling which allows to identify the corresponding Defect Conformal Field Theories. We also compute the correlation function of two parallel defects as well as correlation functions of certain defect operators with large charge under the surviving symmetry.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) states the need to effectively conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas of particular importance for biodiversity by 2020. Here, a new ...indicator-based methodological framework to assess biodiversity protection afforded by marine protected areas' (MPA) was developed as a quick surrogate for MPAs' potential conservation effectiveness: the Marine Protected Area Protection Assessment Framework (MaPAF). The MaPAF consists of a limited number of headline indicators that are integrated in two indexes: Legal protection and Management effort, which eventually integrate in the overall MPA Protection super-index. The MaPAF was then tested in the Mediterranean MPA network as a case study. Spatial analyses were performed at three meaningful scales: the whole Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean ecoregions and countries. The results of this study suggest that: 1) The MaPAF can serve as a useful tool for consistent, adaptive, quick and cost-effective MPA effectiveness assessments of MPAs and MPA networks in virtually any marine region, as the headline indicators used are commonly compiled and easy to retrieve; 2) The MaPAF proved usable and potentially relevant in the Mediterranean Sea where most indicators in the framework can be publicly accessed through the MAPAMED database and are planned to be regularly updated; 3) Protection afforded by MPAs is low across the whole Mediterranean, with only few MPAs having relatively high legal and managerial protection; and 4) Most Mediterranean countries need to devote substantially more work to improve MPA effectiveness mainly through increased management effort.
•A new framework distinguishing MPA legal & managerial protection is presented.•Protection afforded by Mediterranean marine protected areas is assessed.•Protection afforded by Mediterranean MPAs is low.•Low management effort can compromise effective conservation in the Mediterranean.•MaPAF is potentially useful for quick, cost-effective MPA effectiveness assessments.
Protected areas (PAs) seek to conserve valuable genes, species and ecosystems by applying a legal regime that restricts some socioeconomic activities and also offers opportunities for new ones. As a ...result, PAs have been claimed by some authors to boost socioeconomic conditions in rural areas mainly through tourism activities. However, others have claimed that PAs contribute to rural depopulation through the worsening of living conditions of local residents because of restrictions resulting from protection regulations. Here, we applied a multiple-paired Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) research design on a census on protected rural municipalities (cases; N = 52) versus unprotected rural municipalities (controls; N = 55) in Spain to ascertain whether PAs had positive or negative effects on rural populations using three indicators on depopulation with official municipal data from 1996 until 2019: Compound annual growth rate (CAGR); Proportion of reproductive individuals (REP); and Proportion of reproductive females (WREP). We controlled for some confounders such as biophysical characteristics and regional regulations by carefully selecting our sample of municipalities spatially. Our results show that depopulation figures were worse in cases than in controls, with some exceptions whose characteristics should be further explored. Municipalities in Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) performed best against rural depopulation and generally better than their controls, whereas municipalities in Biosphere Reserves and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) showed mostly worse figures. Our findings suggest that, while necessary and important for biodiversity, multiple-use PAs generally entailed negative consequences for Spanish rural populations that need to be offset by State's intervention.
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•Effects of protected areas (PAs) on rural depopulation in Spain were assessed.•A MPBACI design with covariate control was applied in a census of municipalities.•With some exceptions, rural municipalities in PAs had worse depopulation figures.•SCI was the best-performing multiple-use PA category against rural depopulation.•State intervention is suggested to offset negative impacts of PA regulations.
Electrospray ionization (ESI) generates intact gas-phase ions from analytes in solution for mass spectrometric investigations. ESI can proceed via different mechanisms. Low molecular weight analytes ...follow the ion evaporation model (IEM), whereas the charged residue model (CRM) applies to large globular species. A chain ejection model (CEM) has been proposed for disordered polymers.
A
bstract
We compute thermal 2-point correlation functions in the black brane
AdS
5
background dual to 4d CFT’s at finite temperature for operators of large scaling dimension. We find a formula that ...matches the expected structure of the OPE. It exhibits an exponentiation property, whose origin we explain. We also compute the first correction to the two-point function due to graviton emission, which encodes the proper time from the event horizon to the black hole singularity.
Protected areas (PAs) are the main global policy instrument to avert the current biodiversity crisis by conserving important species and habitats on site. Yet important pressures around PAs and in ...PAs, notably land use-land cover (LULC) changes, jeopardise the conservation role of these tools. In Spain, as well as in most developed countries, land development is the main pressure on its rich biodiversity. Here, we used a semi-experimental Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) research design with covariates to ascertain whether three categories of multiple-use PAs including Nature Parks, Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have been effective to prevent land development in Atlantic Spain between 1987 and 2017 using CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data. We split our census sample of PAs according to two geographic zones: coastal zone and inland zone, and four administrative sub-zones (regions with distinctive governance systems): Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. We created and tested the validity of three types of controls specific to each PA category: standard 5-km buffer controls, bio-physically adjusted standard controls, and bio-physically adjusted random controls across zones. Multiple-use PAs reduced, though not completely avoided, land development in all zones and sub-zones compared with controls. An effectiveness gradient among PA categories was apparent: NPs ≥ SCIs > SPAs. Coastal areas, both protected and unprotected, experienced greater land development rates than inland areas, with coastal SPAs showing poor effectiveness results. The Basque Country was the best-performing region regarding PA effectiveness, with the remaining regions showing similar PA performance results regardless of the prevailing political party in power for most of the study period. Random controls had the greatest bio-physical similarity to their cases and produced larger control areas than standard buffer controls. The limited effectiveness of multiple-use PAs, especially of SPAs, at preventing land development in highly pressured coastal areas suggests the need for enhanced legal protection of these areas if long-term biodiversity conservation is to be ensured. Governance and political factors are likely to have influenced the effectiveness of PAs in Spain and should thus be further considered in environmental studies.
•Effect of multiple-use PAs on land development in N Spain in 1987–2017 was studied.•A multiple BACI research design with three types of controls was used.•PAs were generally effective to reduce land development.•Coastal SPAs experienced similar land development to their controls.•Random adjusted controls are preferable to standard buffer controls.
Neural-network quantum states have recently been introduced as an Ansatz for describing the wave function of quantum many-body systems. We show that there are strong connections between ...neural-network quantum states in the form of restricted Boltzmann machines and some classes of tensor-network states in arbitrary dimensions. In particular, we demonstrate that short-range restricted Boltzmann machines are entangled plaquette states, while fully connected restricted Boltzmann machines are string-bond states with a nonlocal geometry and low bond dimension. These results shed light on the underlying architecture of restricted Boltzmann machines and their efficiency at representing many-body quantum states. String-bond states also provide a generic way of enhancing the power of neural-network quantum states and a natural generalization to systems with larger local Hilbert space. We compare the advantages and drawbacks of these different classes of states and present a method to combine them together. This allows us to benefit from both the entanglement structure of tensor networks and the efficiency of neural-network quantum states into a single Ansatz capable of targeting the wave function of strongly correlated systems. While it remains a challenge to describe states with chiral topological order using traditional tensor networks, we show that, because of their nonlocal geometry, neural-network quantum states and their string-bond-state extension can describe a lattice fractional quantum Hall state exactly. In addition, we provide numerical evidence that neural-network quantum states can approximate a chiral spin liquid with better accuracy than entangled plaquette states and local string-bond states. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of neural networks to describe complex quantum wave functions and pave the way towards the use of string-bond states as a tool in more traditional machine-learning applications.
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing is a powerful technology to study the genetics of rising model organisms, such as the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis. However, current methods involving embryonic ...microinjection of CRISPR reagents are challenging. Delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein into female ovaries is an alternative that has only been explored in a small handful of insects, such as mosquitoes, whiteflies and beetles. Here, we developed a simple protocol for germline gene editing by injecting Cas9 ribonucleoprotein in adult N. vitripennis females using either ReMOT control (Receptor‐Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo) or BAPC (Branched Amphiphilic Peptide Capsules) as ovary delivery methods. For ReMOT Control we used the Drosophila melanogaster‐derived peptide ‘P2C’ fused to EGFP to visualize the ovary delivery, and fused to Cas9 protein for gene editing of the cinnabar gene using saponin as an endosomal escape reagent. For BAPC we optimized the concentrations of protein, sgRNA and the transfection reagent. We demonstrate delivery of protein cargo such as EGFP and Cas9 into developing oocytes via P2C peptide and BAPC. Additionally, somatic and germline gene editing were demonstrated. This approach will greatly facilitate CRISPR‐applied genetic manipulation in this and other rising model organisms.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis in Nasonia vitripennis was achieved through injections of pupae and adult females using either ReMOT Control or BAPC as ovary delivery methods.
ReMOT Control delivered EGFP into the ooctytes of N. vitripennis by using the Drosophila melanogaster Yolk protein1‐derived peptide ‘P2C’.
ReMOT Control and BAPC delivered CRISPR reagents into wasp oocytes and successfully generated germline mutations at rates of ~0.25% G0.
The main seaport of Brazil is in Rio de Janeiro, where many international cruises also arrive. ...over the course of the next few days, a significant expansion in the region would be possible. The ...healthcare systems in this region are already fragile 7. ...fragmentation and segmentation are ongoing challenges for most of these vulnerable systems. ...there is concern about the availability of intensive care units, that are necessary for at least 20–25% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19—also, the availability of specific diagnostic tests, particularly the real-time RT-PCR is a crucial challenge for early detection of COVID-19 importation and prevention of onward transmission.
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