Block Renormalization for quantum Ising models in dimension d=2d=2 : applications to the pure and random ferromagnet, and to the spin-glass

For the quantum Ising chain, the self-dual block renormalization procedure of Fernandez-Pacheco [Phys. Rev. D 19, 3173 (1979)] is known to reproduce exactly the location of the zero-temperature critical point and the correlation length exponent $\nu=1$. Recently, Miyazaki and Nishimori [Phys. Rev. E 87, 032154 (2013)] have proposed to study the disordered quantum Ising model in dimensions $d>1$ by applying the Fernandez-Pacheco procedure successively in each direction. To avoid the inequivalence of directions of their approach, we propose here an alternative procedure where the $d$ directions are treated on the same footing. For the pure model, this leads to the correlation length exponents $\nu \simeq 0.625$ in $d=2$ (to be compared with the 3D classical Ising model exponent $\nu \simeq 0.63$) and $\nu \simeq 0.5018$ (to be compared with the 4D classical Ising model mean-field exponent $\nu =1/2$). For the disordered model in dimension $d=2$, either ferromagnetic or spin-glass, the numerical application of the renormalization rules to samples of linear size $L=4096$ yields that the transition is governed by an Infinite Disorder Fixed Point, with the activated exponent $\psi \simeq 0.65$, the typical correlation exponent $\nu_{typ} \simeq 0.44$ and the finite-size correlation exponent $\nu_{FS} \simeq 1.25$. We discuss the similarities and differences with the Strong Disorder Renormalization results.Comment: v2=final version (21 pages, 6 figures

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 37 Number 4, Fall 1995

8 - OF QUARKS, OBJECT IDENTIFICATION, AND PORPHYRIN MOLECULES SCU undergraduates get a taste of scientific research. By Miriam Schulman 14 - WHAT\u27S YOUR BOTTOM LINE? By investing in mutual funds that reflect their values, an increasing number of shareholders hope to put their money where their morals are. But can socially responsible investing really change the world? By Jeff Brazil \u27 85 22 - A BIG ENOUGH UMBRELLA Tens of thousands of women from around the world gather for a unifying-albeit rainy- conference in China. Photographs By Kim Johnson \u27 87 26 - THE ART OF MATHEMATICS For every student who has ever shed tears atop decimal points, anguished over algorithms, Mathematics Department Chair Gerald L. Alexanderson valiantly explains the appeal of his discipline. By Elizabeth Fernandez \u27 79https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/sc_mag/1083/thumbnail.jp

Revision of the family Carabodidae (Acari, Oribatida) VII. Redefinition of the genus Malgasodes; redescription of M. curvisetus Mahunka, 2000; and complementary description of M. hungarorum Mahunka, 2010. Phylogenetic relationships between Malgasodes, Bovicarabodes, Afticarabodes, Congocepheus and Cavaecarabodes are discussed

The genus Malgasodes is redefined; the type species M. curvisetus Mahunka, 2000, is redescribed by meansof studies using optic and Scanning Electron Microsopy (SEM), and a complementary description of M.hungarorum Mahunka, 2000 is included. Comparison of genera Malgasodes Mahunka, 2000, Bovicarabodes Fernandez, Theron, Rollard, 2013a, Cavaecarabodes Fernandez, Theron, Rollard, Rodriguez Castillo,2014, Afticarabodes Fernandez, Theron, Rollard, 2013b, and Congocepheus Balogh, 1958 is made. Problems concerning chaetotaxy, regressive evolution and neotrichy are explained and phylogenetic relationships between Malgasodes, Bovicarabodes, Afticarabodes, Congocepheus and Cavaecarabodes are discussed.Fil: Fernández, Néstor Alfredo. North-West University. Research Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management; Sudáfrica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Theron, Pieter. North-West University. Research Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management; SudáfricaFil: Rollard, Christine. Muséum National d; FranciaFil: Castillo, Elio Rodrigo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentin

A Comparison Study of the Executive Functioning Abilities and Reading Comprehension Skills of Students in Response to Intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) is a data driven framework that classifies students into three tiers and provides interventions at different levels of intensity (Flanagan, Ortiz, Alfonso, & Dynada, 2006; Fuchs, Fuchs, & Stecker, 2010, Gilbert et al., 2012). The screening assessments and interventions used for RTI have become generalized (Garcia, Gonzalez-Castro, Fernandez, & Rodriguez-Perez, 2012). Many schools implementing RTI use one screening instrument and one intervention for all struggling readers (Ezpeleta, Granero, Penelo, de la Osa, & Domenech, 2015; Flanagan et al., 2006; Garcia et al., 2012; Gilbert et al., 2012). Executive functioning (EF) is a neuropsychological ability that regulates behaviors and cognitions to guide behaviors to accomplish a goal (Bledsoe, Semrud-Clikeman, & Pliszka, 2010; Coghill, Seth, & Matthews, 2014; Ezpleta et al., 2015; Goldstein et al., 2014; Zelazo, 2016). Inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory are three core processes of EF that affect reading comprehension (Cartwright, 2016; Dahlin, 2011; Miyake et al., 2000). EF assessments and screeners provide valuable information for designing interventions, as most Tier 2 and Tier 3 RTI reading interventions focus primarily on the linguistic nature of tasks without taking into consideration other relevant domains like EF (Garcia-Fernandez et al., 2012; Goldstein et al., 2014). For this study, the researcher collected data on the reading comprehension, language, and EF abilities for 87 elementary school students ages seven through ten. The data were categorized into RTI Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 depending on their reading comprehension results. Correlations, MANOVAS, and regressions were conducted to analyze the data and study the hypothesis that explored relationships and predictive abilities of EF on reading comprehension. The results demonstrated correlations between the EF abilities and reading comprehension skills. Working memory demonstrated significant predictive capabilities for reading comprehension deficits (RCD). Language abilities demonstrated the strongest predictive ability for RCD. These results have implications for the literature on RTI diagnostic testing/screenings, RTI intervention development, and the implications of EF on RCD. These results support the use of EF rating scales as screening assessments for practitioners to implement when making decisions on RTI

Building Babies - Chapter 16

In contrast to birds, male mammals rarely help to raise the offspring. Of all mammals, only among rodents, carnivores, and primates, males are sometimes intensively engaged in providing infant care (Kleiman and Malcolm 1981). Male caretaking of infants has long been recognized in nonhuman primates (Itani 1959). Given that infant care behavior can have a positive effect on the infant’s development, growth, well-being, or survival, why are male mammals not more frequently involved in “building babies”? We begin the chapter defining a few relevant terms and introducing the theory and hypotheses that have historically addressed the evolution of paternal care. We then review empirical findings on male care among primate taxa, before focusing, in the final section, on our own work on paternal care in South American owl monkeys (Aotus spp.). We conclude the chapter with some suggestions for future studies.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (HU 1746/2-1) Wenner-Gren Foundation, the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation (BCS-0621020), the University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation, the Zoological Society of San Dieg

Forecasting in dynamic factor models using Bayesian model averaging

This paper considers the problem of forecasting in dynamic factor models using Bayesian model averaging. Theoretical justifications for averaging across models, as opposed to selecting a single model, are given. Practical methods for implementing Bayesian model averaging with factor models are described. These methods involve algorithms which simulate from the space defined by all possible models. We discuss how these simulation algorithms can also be used to select the model with the highest marginal likelihood (or highest value of an information criterion) in an efficient manner. We apply these methods to the problem of forecasting GDP and inflation using quarterly U.S. data on 162 time series. For both GDP and inflation, we find that the models which contain factors do out-forecast an AR(p), but only by a relatively small amount and only at short horizons. We attribute these findings to the presence of structural instability and the fact that lags of dependent variable seem to contain most of the information relevant for forecasting. Relative to the small forecasting gains provided by including factors, the gains provided by using Bayesian model averaging over forecasting methods based on a single model are appreciable

Correlates of genetic monogamy in socially monogamous mammals: insights from Azara's owl monkeys

Understanding the evolution of mating systems, a central topic in evolutionary biology for more than 50 years, requires examining the genetic consequences of mating and the relationships between social systems and mating systems. Among pair-living mammals, where genetic monogamy is extremely rare, the extent of extra-group paternity rates has been associated withmale participation in infant care, strength of the pair bond and length of the breeding season. This study evaluated the relationship between two of those factors and the genetic mating system of socially monogamous mammals, testing predictions that male care and strength of pair bond would be negatively correlated with rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP). Autosomal microsatellite analyses provide evidence for genetic monogamy in a pair-living primate with bi-parental care, the Azara’s owl monkey (Aotus azarae). A phylogenetically corrected generalized least square analysis was used to relate male care and strength of the pair bond to their genetic mating system (i.e. proportions of EPP) in 15 socially monogamous mammalian species. The intensity of male care was correlated with EPP rates in mammals, while strength of pair bond failed to reach statistical significance. Our analyses showthat, once social monogamy has evolved, paternal care, and potentially also close bonds, may facilitate the evolution of genetic monogamy.German Science Foundation (HU 1746/2-1); Wenner-Gren Foundation; L.S.B. Leakey Foundation;National Geographic Society; National Science Foundation (BCS-0621020, 1219368, and 1232349); the University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation; the Zoological Society of San Dieg

Sexual dimorphism in the loud calls of Azara’s owl monkeys (Aotus azarae): evidence of sexual selection?

Primates use different types of vocalizations in a variety of contexts. Some of the most studied types have been the long distance or loud calls. These vocalizations have been associated with mate defense, mate attraction, and resource defense, and it is plausible that sexual selection has played an important role in their evolution. Focusing on identified individuals of known sex and age, we evaluated the sexual dimorphism in a type of loud calls (hoots) in a population of wild owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) in Argentina. We found evidence of sexual dimorphism in call structure, with females and males only emitting one type of call, each differing in dominant frequency and Shannon entropy. In addition, both age-related and sex-specific differences in call usage were also apparent in response to the removal of one group member. Future acoustic data will allow us to assess if there are individual characteristics and if the structure of hoot calls presents differences in relation to the social condition of owl monkeys or specific sex responses to variants of hoot calls’ traits. This will provide deeper insights into the evolution of vocal mechanisms regulating pair bonding and mate choice strategies in this and other primate species.Leakey Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, National Geographic Society, NSF, National Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation, Zoological Society of San Dieg