Gauge Independence of the S-Matrix in the Causal Approach

The gauge dependence of the time-ordered products for Yang-Mills theories is analysed in perturbation theory by means of the causal method of Epstein and Glaser together with perturbative gauge invariance. This approach allows a simple inductive proof of the gauge independence of the physical S-matrix.Comment: 19 pages, latex, 1 figur

Religião e Psicologia

The author proposes in this article to make an analysis of the relationship between religion, but also its academic study through theology, and psychology. He remarks that in the context of German-speaking countries, especially in Germany, theologians have dealt more with psychology than psychologists with either religion or theology. In their assimilation of psychology, theologians favored a marginal school, namely depth psychology, and so far have paid little or no attention to important psychological schoolssuch as the humanist, the behaviorist and the systemic. He further submits that in the background there is a dispute over the prerogative to knowledge of the human soul, an area in which, theology and the Church have gradually been losing their relevance. On the other hand, he observes that a growing “psychologization” is taking place which fuses elements of the Christian tradition with Asian concepts of consciousness, Buddhist techniques of meditation, and shamanic and esoteric practices under a generic concept of spirituality. Finally, he argues that if a reciprocal critical dialogue is to be possible, both theology as psychology need to point to each other’s respective limits: theology points to Psychology’s anthropological and cosmovisive assumptions, while Psychology points out the fundamental issue of religious feeling, thinking and acting, often times ignored by Theology.O autor propõe-se a fazer uma análise da relação entre religião, respectivamente o seu estudo acadêmico através da teologia, e a psicologia. Constata que no contexto dos países de fala alemã, especialmente na Alemanha, teólogos se ocuparam muito mais com a psicologia, do que psicólogos com a religião ou a teologia. Nessa sua assimilação da psicologia, teólogos privilegiaram uma escola psicológica marginal, a psicologia do profundo, e ainda têm dado pouca ou nenhuma atenção a escolas psicológicas importantes como a humanista, a behaviorista e a sistêmica. Constata ainda que no fundo ocorre uma disputa pela prerrogativa do conhecimento da alma humana, na qual a teologia e a igreja gradativamente vêm perdendo sua relevância. Em seu lugar ocorre uma crescente psicologização, que funde elementos da tradição cristã com conceitos asiáticos de consciência, técnicas budistas de meditação, assim como práticas xamãs e esotéricas, sob um conceito genérico de espiritualidade. Defende que, para ser possível um diálogo crítico recíproco, tanto a teologia quanto a psicologia precisam apontar uma para os limites da outra: a teologia para a questão das premissas antropológicas e cosmovisivas que servem de fundamento à psicologia; a psicologia para os aspectos fundamentais do sentir, pensar e agir religioso, muitas vezes ignorado pela teologia

Die Bedeutung der Psychologie für spirituelle Lebensorientierungen

Die Bedeutung der Psychologie für spirituelle Lebensorientierungen wird erörtert. Zunächst wird betont, dass sich die Formen religiösen Erlebens und Verhaltens verändert haben. Während kirchliche Lebens- und Weltdeutungen zunehmend an Bedeutung verlieren, drückt sich die ungebrochene Sehnsucht nach Transzendenz in diversen Spielarten der Spiritualität zwischen Fundamentalismus und Beliebigkeit in einem unüberschaubaren Markt esoterisch begründeter Psychotherapieverfahren und in der kontrovers diskutierten Sektenthematik aus. Im Überangebot der in sich geschlossenen Sinn-Milieus mischen sich harmlose Modetrends mit wahnhaften Ideologien, Unverbindliches mit Manipulativem. Der Psychologie fällt dabei eine regulative Funktion zu, weil sie Merkmale gelungener Lebensgestaltungen beschreiben kann. Leben wird dann als erfüllend empfunden, wenn die Umsetzung der persönlichen, weltanschaulich abgeleiteten Werte gelingt. Diese Ziele und Ideale können durch eine psychologische Realitätsprüfung auf ihre Alltagstauglichkeit hin untersucht werden. Der Gefährdung einer Ideologisierung und weltanschaulichen Überhöhung psychologischer Einsichten kann durch eine deutliche Abgrenzung zu den menschenbildabhängigen Voraussetzungen und einer sozialwissenschaftlich fundierten Theoriebildung begegnet werden

Weder Wunscherfüllung noch Widerfahrnis: ein evangelischer Blick auf Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden

Der Aufsatz weist auf die Sackgassen des Machbarkeits- und Optimierungsdenkens und seine krank machenden Folgen hin. Dennoch ist die christliche Gemeinschaft herausgefordert, die Heilungspotenziale von hoffnungsvollem Vertrauen zu nutzen und einzuüben. Welche spirituellen Kompetenzen dafür benötigt werden, wird im letzten Abschnitt beschrieben

An intercultural study about strategies, personality with Brazilian and German SMEs

For decades cross-cultural research has emphasized the strong impact of culture on organizational structures and leadership styles. Most models of entrepreneurial success neglect the cultural business environment, however. This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial behavior and personal characteristics on venture success, depending on cultural background. The main hypothesis is based on a fit model, which states that culturally adequate behavior and characteristics of a small business owner relate to the success of their venture. We define small business owners as culturally adequate when their personal characteristics and behaviors fit the values and norms of the cultural environment in which their venture operates. In a culture high in uncertainty avoidance, for example, success should be predicted by a low tolerance for ambiguity, low levels of risk-taking, and a strong emphasis on time management by the entrepreneur, while in a low uncertainty-avoiding culture the opposite should be true. Similar hypotheses should hold for the cultural dimensions of collectivism/individualism (operationalized by self efficacy and internal locus of control) and human orientation (operationalized by mastery orientation). The fit-model is tested with German and Brazilian small business owners. This allows us to test for predictors of venture success and to compare success factors across cultures. The results indicate little support for the fit model. Culturally adequate behavior and personal characteristics do not seem to be necessarily related to venture succes

Droplet sizes emitted from demonstration electric toothbrushes

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to microbial transmission risk via aerosols in dental practice. Demonstration electric toothbrushes are used intra-orally for education. The aim of this investigation was to measure the size of droplets emitted by the brush head of two demonstration oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes. Measurement of droplet production and size was recorded in vitro using three methods: (1) Malvern Spraytec (LASER particle size measurement device with detectable particle size of 0.1–2500 µm) and brushes mounted on a 3D-printed, two-shell form-fit fixture with a supply of tap water; (2) a DustTrak aerosol measurement device and toothpaste slurry, with brushing simulated in the oral cavity of a phantom head; (3) high-speed visualization in a simulated-use situation in the oral cavity of a phantom head, with individual evaluation of tap water, water with detergent, 70% ethanol, glycerin and toothpaste slurry. Both brushes showed the size of emitted droplets was consistently between 200 and 1200 µm, categorized as splatter (dental aerosols are <50 µm diameter). No significant incremental aerosol-sized matter was detected during toothbrush operation. The high-speed video visualization confirmed only splatter-sized droplets during operation. These findings indicate that oscillating-rotating toothbrushes do not produce aerosol-sized particles during simulated use