Phases of supersymmetric O(N) theories

We perform a global renormalization group study of O(N) symmetric Wess-Zumino theories and their phases in three euclidean dimensions. At infinite N the theory is solved exactly. The phases and phase transitions are worked out for finite and infinite short-distance cutoffs. A distinctive new feature arises at strong coupling, where the effective superfield potential becomes multi-valued, signalled by divergences in the fermion-boson interaction. Our findings resolve the long-standing puzzle about the occurrence of degenerate O(N) symmetric phases. At finite N, we find a strongly-coupled fixed point in the local potential approximation and explain its impact on the phase transition. We also examine the possibility for a supersymmetric Bardeen-Moshe-Bander phenomenon, and relate our findings with the spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry in other models.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figure

A AVALIAÇÃO INSTITUCIONAL COMO INSTRUMENTO DE GESTÃO E INOVAÇÃO

Nesse estudo objetivou-se analisar uma instituição de ensino superior brasileira, englobando sua dimensão organizacional, especialmente a avaliação acadêmica, como processo de superação de sua racionalidade funcional, tendo como eixo, a utilização de um processo de auto-avaliação estruturado em bases orientadas pela teoria da comunicação e, em ferramentas tecnológicas de informação e comunicação. Como um dos propósitos da avaliação é constituir-se em ferramenta para melhoria, foi possível nesse estudo não só diagnosticar a realidade institucional, mas, propor ações de superação para um dos fatores evidenciado no estudo, a saber, a metodologia do ensino do professor. Nesse sentido conclui-se o trabalho com a proposição de um programa de formação continuada de professores, lançado mão do programa M.A.T.I.C.E. como forma de superação da problemática constatada. Este projeto leva em consideração aspectos pedagógicos do trabalho do professor, tendo em vista a aprendizagem do aluno. Vale a pena ressaltar que essa proposta caracteriza uma nova forma de gestão participativa a ser desenvolvida entre a pró-reitoria acadêmica e os professores a fim de garantir melhoria continua em sua pratica pedagógica

Investors' expertise, personality traits and susceptibility to behavioral biases in the decision making process

The aim of this paper is to investigate the degree of susceptibility to behavioral biases (the certainty effect, the sunk cost fallacy, and mental accounting) among people of various levels of expertise in market investments and to determine whether this susceptibility is correlated with certain personality traits (impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy). The study included 200 participants: 100 retail investors who regularly invest in the Warsaw Stock Exchange and 100 students of the Warsaw School of Economics who are casually involved in investing. In this study, employing a survey methodology, we conducted a laboratory experiment that allowed us to isolate behavioral biases and personality traits and measure their influence on investors' decision-making processes. The participants filled out questionnaires containing two parts: 1) three situational exercises, which assessed susceptibility to behavioral biases, and 2) the Impulsivity, Venturesomeness, Empathy Questionnaire (IVE) Questionnaire which measures three personality traits (impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy). Statistical analyses demonstrated that susceptibility to behavioral biases depends on the level of expertise in market investing such that expertise increases susceptibility to behavioral biases. Some personality traits influenced the participants' likelihood of displaying these biases

Critical behavior of supersymmetric O(N) models in the large-N limit

We derive a supersymmetric renormalization group (RG) equation for the scale-dependent superpotential of the supersymmetric O(N) model in three dimensions. For a supersymmetric optimized regulator function we solve the RG equation for the superpotential exactly in the large-N limit. The fixed-point solutions are classified by an exactly marginal coupling. In the weakly coupled regime there exists a unique fixed point solution, for intermediate couplings we find two separate fixed point solutions and in the strong coupling regime no globally defined fixed-point potentials exist. We determine the exact critical exponents both for the superpotential and the associated scalar potential. Finally we relate the high-temperature limit of the four-dimensional theory to the Wilson-Fisher fixed point of the purely scalar theory.Comment: 13 pages,4 figure

On the relevance of polyynyl-substituted PAHs to astrophysics

We report on the absorption spectra of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene carrying either an ethynyl (-C2H) or a butadiynyl (-C4H) group. Measurements were carried out in the mid infrared at room temperature on grains embedded in CsI pellets and in the near ultraviolet at cryogenic temperature on molecules isolated in Ne matrices. The infrared measurements show that interstellar populations of polyynyl-substituted PAHs would give rise to collective features in the same way non-substituted PAHs give rise to the aromatic infrared bands. The main features characteristic of the substituted molecules correspond to the acetylenic CH stretching mode near 3.05 mum and to the almost isoenergetic acetylenic CCH in- and out-of-plane bending modes near 15.9 mum. Sub-populations defined by the length of the polyynyl side group cause collective features which correspond to the various acetylenic CC stretching modes. The ultraviolet spectra reveal that the addition of an ethynyl group to a non-substituted PAH molecule results in all its electronic transitions being redshifted. Due to fast internal energy conversion, the bands at shorter wavelengths are significantly broadened. Those at longer wavelengths are only barely affected in this respect. As a consequence, their relative peak absorption increases. The substitution with the longer butadiynyl chain causes the same effects with a larger magnitude, resulting in the spectra to show a prominent if not dominating pi-pi* transition at long wavelength. After discussing the relevance of polyynyl-substituted PAHs to astrophysics, we conclude that this class of highly conjugated, unsaturated molecules are valid candidates for the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ 2 April 201

Improving Quality of Life in Menopausal Women Through a Best Practice Protocol: the Use of Hormone Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Module and Exercise

Menopause is a normal process of aging, but many of the symptoms negatively impact women’s day-to-day quality of life (QOL), as well as activities of daily living, physical and mental health (ACOG, 2014). Generally, systemic estrogen hormone therapy is indicated for menopause-related vasomotor symptoms, but there is no research further addressing QOL issues or lifestyle management in addition to hormone therapy. The purpose of this evidence-base practice (EBP) project was to implement a menopause protocol to address QOL issues in menopausal women with the use of hormone replacement therapy, education through an online mindfulness module, and the use of exercise. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from eligible patients at scheduled appointments. Ten women aged 46-58 years old from an outpatient private women’s health clinic in Wisconsin participated in this project. Once recruited, participants completed a demographic form, a menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) survey and were given educational handouts (Appendix A). The intervention included the application of UCLA Mindful creation of an individual exercise program for the patient, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT was prescribed by the providers, based on patient eligibility and preference. Participants were monitored for a total of ten weeks, which included a check-in at five weeks. Post intervention, participants were readministered the MENQOL to determine effectiveness of the intervention. Pre and post intervention scores were evaluated using a paired sample t test. Overall, results of the MENQOL scores showed a significant large difference between pre intervention scores (M= 4.5, SD = 1) and post intervention scores (M= 3.8, SD = 0.8), t (9) = 2.9, p = 0.17. Findings from this project can inform future development of guidelines for provider use in the management of menopausal women and their symptoms

The Influence of Religion on Socially Responsible Investing

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is an alternative way to invest one’s assets. SRI, apart from financial returns, also considers the environmental, social or ethical aspects of an investment decision. Socially responsible investors are interested not only in maximizing their financial return in the long run, but also in taking into consideration other non-financial issues, that is, so-called ESG factors (Environment, Social and Governance). Most of the existing papers on SRI focus on financial performance. There is a need for more research on the conceptual and theoretical bases of such investing; in particular, the aspirations of SRI investors or motives that lead people to be socially responsible investors. The main goal of the current study was to explore the influence of religion on attitudes towards SRI. This study will first present existing theories about attitudes towards SRI, and discuss the influence of religion on investors’ behavior. Next the objectives, methodology and the results of a study conducted among investors in Poland will be presented. The final section will provide a discussion, including research implications and conclusions

Analysis Of The Role Of Dnaa Recognition Site Position In Directing Assembly Of The Pre-Replicative Complex In Escherichia Coli

Prior to initiating new rounds of DNA replication, all cells assemble pre-replicative complexes (pre-RC) consisting of initiator proteins and regions of DNA termed origins of replication. In the bacterial model system, E. coli, multiple copies of the initiator protein, DnaA,assemble into a complex with the unique chromosomal replication origin, oriC, to produce a pre-RC that unwinds the DNA helix, preparing the origin for the new replication forks. Nine base pair (bp) low affinity DnaA recognition sites are distinctly arrayed in each half of oriC and both arrays are bounded by high affinity recognition sites. Although it is known that DnaA does not interact at low affinity site arrays without assistance from DnaA occupying a proximally positioned high affinity site, it remains unclear why this particular arrangement of high and low affinity sites exists. Furthermore, despite the fact that DnaA is a highly conserved protein among all bacteria, the numbers and arrangements of high and low affinity sites in oriC varies considerably among different bacterial types. In order to understand the reason for this diversity, more information about E. coli oriC geography and its relationship to pre-RC assembly and origin function is required. In the studies reported here, two specific questions about E. coli oriC geography were addressed: 1) are all three high affinity sites required for oriC function, and 2) is the nucleotide spacing between recognition sites an inflexible feature. To answer these questions, mutagenized versions of E. coli oriC on chromosomes were evaluated for function in vivo, and DNA fragments containing different spacing and arrangements of high and low affinity recognition sites were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), high resolution DNA footprints, and DNA unwinding assays.When inserted into E. coli as replacements for the wild-type chromosomal origin, mutant versions of oriC lacking any two high affinity recognition sites (R1, R2, or R4) were inactive, but origins carrying only one inactivated high affinity DnaA recognition site retained function no matter which site was altered. This finding contradicts previous reports that the R1siteis essential for oriC function, although loss of either R1 or R4 binding caused reduced origin activity and loss of initiation synchrony.Although it appears that the requirement for high affinity DnaA binding is not stringent for origin activity, a novel phenotype for high affinity site-deficient mutants was identified. Supercoiled oriC DNA is not normally unwound at low levels of DnaA, but spontaneous DNA unwinding of every high affinity binding mutant was detected under these conditions. A model is proposed whereby oriC DNA is normally constrained by DnaA during the cell cycle to prevent spontaneous initiations and constraint requires the cooperative interactions among the distantly spaced DnaA bound to high affinity sites as an origin recognition complex. These interactions, presumably through the proper positioning of domain I-domain I contacts,would generate multiple DNA loops, analogous to the wrapping of DNA around nucleosomes in eukaryotes.Further contraction and stabilization of these loops by additional DnaA occupying arrayed low affinity sites would then produce the torsional stress required to separate DNA strands within the A-T rich DNA Unwinding Element (DUE)at the left side of oriC.Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA)with DNA fragments containing differently spaced DnaA recognition sites revealed that very small changes in base pair spacing between low-low or high-low affinity recognition sites resulted in dramatic changes in cooperative DnaA binding required for site occupation.Optimal binding at any two sites was detected at 2 bp spacing, but was diminished as single bases were added.Surprisingly, reducing the 2 bp spacing also diminished DnaA binding suggesting that some structural interference exists between adjacent DnaA molecules when they are brought too close together. These observations are consistent with specific positioning of DnaA recognition sites in E. coli oriC for correct origin function and even slight alterations in these positions have an impact. While it remains difficult to predict where DnaA recognition sites will be placed in the replication origin of any particular bacteria type, the knowledge gained from the studies presented here establishes a rule set that include the requirement for the arrangement of high affinity DnaA recognition sites to, at an early stage in the cell cycle, topologically constrain the oriC in an origin recognition complex and the requirement for additional recognition sites that convert the constrained complex into one that imparts sufficient torsional stress to unwind oriC

Functional Renormalisation Group Equitions for Supersymmetric Field Theories

Die Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit der Anwendung der funktionalen Renormierungsgruppe (FRG) auf supersymmetrische Feldtheorien. Es werden Skalarfeldtheorien in verschiedenen Dimensionen untersucht und eine Formulierung der Flussgleichung demonstriert, die manifest supersymmetrisch ist. Dies führt auf Ebene der Komponenten zu einer engen Verflechtung von bosonischen und fermionischen Regulatoren und erzwingt eine Regulatorstruktur, welche von der abweicht, die in Theorien mit Yukawa-Wechselwirkungen ohne Supersymmetrie benutzt wird. Mit dieser Methode werden die supersymmetrische Quantenmechanik, das N=1 Wess-Zumino Modell in zwei und drei Dimensionen sowie das N=2 Wess-Zumino Modell in zwei Dimensionen untersucht. Anhand der supersymmetrischen Quantenmechanik wird demonstriert, dass die supersymmetrische Formulierung der Flussgleichung in der Lage ist, bekannte Ergebnisse korrekt zu reproduzieren. Desweiteren werden die Grenzen der betrachteten Näherungen aufgezeigt und diskutiert. Im Rahmen des N=1 Wess-Zumino Modells in zwei und drei Dimensionen, welches spontane Supersymmetriebrechung zeigt, wird das Phasendiagramm für die Supersymmetriebrechung berechnet sowie die Fixpunktstruktur des Renormierungsgruppenflusses untersucht. Hierbei ergibt sich eine neue Skalenrelation zwischen den kritischen Exponenten. Das dreidimensionale Modell wird ausserdem bei endlichen Temperaturen untersucht. Für das N=2 Wess-Zumino Modell in zwei Dimensionen, in dem Supersymmetrie nicht gebrochen werden kann, erlaubt die FRG eine sehr einfache Formulierung des Nichtrenormierungstheorems für das Superpotential. Da das Modell endlich ist, lässt sich die Renormierung der Masse des Skalarfeldes direkt mit Resultaten aus Monte-Carlo Simulationen auf dem Gitter vergleichen. Dies erlaubt eine Abschätzung der Genauigkeit der verwendeten Näherung