Curvature and Quantum Mechanics on Covariant Causal Sets

This article begins by reviewing the causal set approach in discrete quantum gravity. In our version of this approach a special role is played by covariant causal sets which we call $c$-causets. The importance of $c$-causets is that they support the concepts of a natural distance function, geodesics and curvature in a discrete setting. We then discuss curvature in more detail. By considering $c$-causets with a maximum and minimum number of paths, we are able to find $c$-causets with large and small average curvature. We then briefly discuss our previous work on the inflationary period when the curvature was essentially zero. Quantum mechanics on $c$-causets is considered next. We first introduce a free wave equation for $c$-causets. We then show how the state of a particle with a specified mass (or energy) can be derived from the wave equation. It is demonstrated for small examples that quantum mechanics predicts that particles tend to move toward vertices with larger curvature.Comment: 19 page

The impact of firm-type dominance on regional manufacturing growth

Availability of financial capital and location decisions are variables that influence regional manufacturing output. This study maintains that a region’s manufacturing growth depends upon the region’s firm-type dominance. That is, the type of firms that dominate the region’s manufacturing output can be classified as non-local (national or foreign - NF) vs. local and large vs. small. Accordingly, for policy analysis, regions can be classified by firm-type dominance. This distinction is important since, invariably, location decision options and availability of financial capital are more favourable for the larger NF firms than for local firms. In an attempt to assess the impact of firm-type dominance, this study draws upon the dominant industry model[Salvary 1987]which has established that, in any given region, there is a dominant industry (the driving force of the region) to which a region’s manufacturing growth is linked. The information on the impact of firm-type dominance on a region's manufacturing output may enable policy-makers to design workable (or revise existing) manufacturing diversification policies

The New Multi-Ministry Response to Conduct Problems: A SWOT analysis

The Inter-agency Plan for Conduct Disorder/Severe Antisocial Behaviour 2007-2012 (Ministry of Social Development, 2007) is assessed according to the SWOT dimensions of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The document is one of the most important statements for the social services in New Zealand because of the primacy that it gives to current knowledge about conduct problems and for its endorsement of research-based practices. The plan's limitations include its risk-focused approach, its unsystematic response to 0-2 year-olds in difficult care-giving circumstances, and its lack of reference to adolescent girls with emotional issues who can contribute to the next generation of antisocial young people. As well, the plan might have considered the role of social systems in regard to conduct problems like the school, the neighbourhood, and community values. The implementation of the document could be imperilled by numerous influences, such as contrasting professional perspectives and non-empirical emphases in education

A construction of semisimple tensor categories

Starting from an abelian category A such that every object has only finitely many subobjects we construct a semisimple tensor category T. We show that T interpolates the categories Rep(Aut(p),K) where p runs through certain projective (pro-)objects of A. The main example is A=finite dimensional F_q-vector spaces. Then T can be considered as the category of representations of GL(n,F_q) where n is not a natural number. This work extends a construction of Deligne for symmetric groups.Comment: v1: 6 pages; v2: 6 pages, slightly shortened, minor change

The future of educational psychology

Educational psychology is airing its anguish in public, and if the assertions of Brown (2010), Coleman and Pine (2010), and Hornby (2010) are to be believed then this professional discipline is indeed in a parlous state. As a psychologist who worked for the old Department of Education's Psychological Service, and subsequently for the Special Education Service and Specialist Education Services, I also think that educational psychology is in trouble. However, the history of occupations is littered with the wrecks of vocations that have become redundant to requirements. At the outset of his paper, Brown 2010 raises the possibility that educational psychologists are a species that may speedily become extinct because of hostile environments, and this parallel with the natural world is another reminder that change happens as circumstances alter

Education in Bermuda with special emphasis on the supply of teachers.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit