50 research outputs found
Effective String Theory and Nonlinear Lorentz Invariance
We study the low-energy effective action governing the transverse
fluctuations of a long string, such as a confining flux tube in QCD. We work in
the static gauge where this action contains only the transverse excitations of
the string. The static gauge action is strongly constrained by the requirement
that the Lorentz symmetry, that is spontaneously broken by the long string
vacuum, is nonlinearly realized on the Nambu-Goldstone bosons. One solution to
the constraints (at the classical level) is the Nambu-Goto action, and the
general solution contains higher derivative corrections to this. We show that
in 2+1 dimensions, the first allowed correction to the Nambu-Goto action is
proportional to the squared curvature of the induced metric on the worldsheet.
In higher dimensions, there is a more complicated allowed correction that
appears at lower order than the curvature squared. We argue that this leading
correction is similar to, but not identical to, the one-loop determinant
(\sqrt{-h} R \Box^{-1} R) computed by Polyakov for the bosonic fundamental
string.Comment: 15 page
Effective String Theory Revisited
We revisit the effective field theory of long relativistic strings such as
confining flux tubes in QCD. We derive the Polchinski-Strominger interaction by
a calculation in static gauge. This interaction implies that a non-critical
string which initially oscillates in one direction gets excited in orthogonal
directions as well. In static gauge no additional term in the effective action
is needed to obtain this effect. It results from a one-loop calculation using
the Nambu-Goto action. Non-linearly realized Lorentz symmetry is manifest at
all stages in dimensional regularization. We also explain that independent of
the number of dimensions non-covariant counterterms have to be added to the
action in the commonly used zeta-function regularization.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, v2: typo corrected, references added, published
versio
Rectangular Wilson Loops at Large N
This work is about pure Yang-Mills theory in four Euclidean dimensions with
gauge group SU(N). We study rectangular smeared Wilson loops on the lattice at
large N and relatively close to the large-N transition point in their
eigenvalue density. We show that the string tension can be extracted from these
loops but their dependence on shape differs from the asymptotic prediction of
effective string theory.Comment: 47 pages, 21 figures, 8 table
Gauge invariant perturbation theory and non-critical string models of Yang-Mills theories
We carry out a gauge invariant analysis of certain perturbations of
-branes solutions of low energy string theories. We get generically a
system of second order coupled differential equations, and show that only in
very particular cases it is possible to reduce it to just one differential
equation. Later, we apply it to a multi-parameter, generically singular family
of constant dilaton solutions of non-critical string theories in
dimensions, a generalization of that recently found in arXiv:0709.0471[hep-th].
According to arguments coming from the holographic gauge theory-gravity
correspondence, and at least in some region of the parameters space, we obtain
glue-ball spectra of Yang-Mills theories in diverse dimensions, putting special
emphasis in the scalar metric perturbations not considered previously in the
literature in the non critical setup. We compare our numerical results to those
studied previously and to lattice results, finding qualitative and in some
cases, tuning properly the parameters, quantitative agreement. These results
seem to show some kind of universality of the models, as well as an irrelevance
of the singular character of the solutions. We also develop the analysis for
the T-dual, non trivial dilaton family of solutions, showing perfect agreement
between them.Comment: A new reference added
Effects of a brief mindfulness-based intervention on emotional regulation and levels of mindfulness in senior students
Mindfulness-based interventions have been applied in diverse populations and achieved mental health benefits. This study examined the effects of a brief mindfulness program for emotional regulation and levels of mindfulness on senior students in Brazil. The intervention consisted of six weekly meetings attended by 30 participants. It is a pre-experimental research, with pre- and post-test comparative and correlation measurements. The preliminary results, which relied on parametrical and non-parametrical tests, revealed a reduction in total emotional regulation difficulties (p = 0.0001; r = − 0.55). Also, there was an increase in the levels of mindfulness in the subtests for both dimensions under evaluation: “Awareness” (p = 0.0001; d = 0.77) and “Acceptance” (p = 0.048; d = 0.37). By associating the amount of meditative practices performed by students with the variables, a significant positive correlation was found with the mindfulness dimension “Awareness” (rP = 0.422; p = 0.020), and there was a significant negative correlation with Difficulties in emotion regulation (rS = − 0.478; p = 0.008) and with its respective subscales “Non-acceptance” (rS = − 0.654; p = 0.0001) and “Clarity” (rS = − 0.463; p = 0.010). In conclusion, the application of a brief mindfulness-based intervention is promising in Brazilian university contexts; moreover, it can bring benefits to students, e.g., an increase in emotion regulation as well as in levels of mindfulness. We suggest that further research should use an experimental design and follow-up.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
New numerical results and novel effective string predictions for Wilson loops
We compute the prediction of the Nambu-Goto effective string model for a
rectangular Wilson loop up to three loops. This is done through the use of an
operatorial, first order formulation and of the open string analogues of
boundary states. This result is interesting since there are universality
theorems stating that the predictions up to three loops are common to all
effective string models. To test the effective string prediction, we set up the
Montecarlo evaluation, in the 3d Ising gauge model, of an observable (the ratio
of two Wilson loops with the same perimeter) for which boundary effects are
relatively small. Our simulation attains a level of precision which is
sufficient to test the two-loop correction. The three-loop correction seems to
go in the right direction, but is actually yet beyond the reach of our
simulation, since its effect is comparable with the statistical errors of the
latter.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX2e, 5 figures - Revised version which corrects a few
misprints present in the published version, regarding Eq.s (4.30), (4.35),
(A.4) and (A.6). Plots and results of the paper are not affected since they
were derived from the correct formula
Legalised non-consensual sterilisation - eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 1: USA, Japan, Canada and Mexico.
In the late 19th century, eugenics, a pseudo-scientific doctrine based on an erroneous interpretation of the laws of heredity, swept across the industrialised world. Academics and other influential figures who promoted it convinced political stakeholders to enact laws authorising the sterilisation of people seen as ‘social misfits’. The earliest sterilisation Act was enforced in Indiana, in 1907; most States in the USA followed suit and so did several countries, with dissimilar political regimes. The end of the Second World War saw the suspension of Nazi legislation in Germany, including that regulating coerced sterilisation. The year 1945 should have been the endpoint of these inhuman practices but, in the early post-war period, the existing sterilisation Acts were suspended solely in Germany and Austria. Only much later did certain countries concerned – not Japan so far - officially acknowledge the human rights violations committed, issue apologies, and develop reparation schemes for the victims’ benefit
Função pulmonar de crianças e adolescentes com bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa
Inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma: the story continues
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of persistent asthma in children. Treatment with ICS decreases asthma mortality and morbidity, reduces symptoms, improves lung function, reduces bronchial hyperresponsiveness and reduces the number of exacerbations. The efficacy of ICS in preschool wheezing is controversial. A recent task force from the European Respiratory Society on preschool wheeze defined two different phenotypes: episodic viral wheeze, wheeze that occurs only during respiratory viral infections, and multiple-trigger wheeze, where wheeze also occurs in between viral episodes. Treatment with ICS appears to be more efficacious in the latter phenotype. Small particle ICS may offer a potential benefit in preschool children because of the favourable spray characteristics. However, the efficacy of small particle ICS in preschool children has not yet been evaluated in prospective clinical trials. The use of ICS in school children with asthma is safe with regard to systemic side effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, growth and bone metabolism, when used in low to medium doses. Although safety data in wheezing preschoolers is limited, the data are reassuring. Also for this age group, adverse events tend to be minimal when the ICS is used in appropriate doses
Mindfulness at Work: Positive Affect, Hope, and Optimism Mediate the Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness, Work Engagement, and Well-Being
Mindfulness has been described as a state of awareness characterized by refined attentional skills and a non-evaluative attitude toward internal and external events. Recently it has been suggested that higher levels of mindfulness may be beneficial in the workplace and first programs aiming to increase mindful awareness in occupational settings have been introduced. The current study underpins these developments with empirical evidence regarding the involved psychological processes, by investigating the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, work engagement and well-being in 299 adults in fulltime employment. As hypothesized, the results confirm that self-reported mindfulness predicts work engagement and general well-being. Furthermore, these relationships are mediated by positive job-related affect and psychological capital (hope, optimism, resiliency, and self-efficacy). Investigating mindfulness and psychological capital as multi-faceted concepts by means of structural equation modeling yielded a more precise picture. The ability to step back from automatic, habitual reactions to distress turned out to be the mindfulness facet most central for predicting work engagement and well-being. Furthermore, mindfulness exerts its positive effect on work engagement by increasing positive affect, hope, and optimism, which on their own and in combination enhance work engagement (full mediation). Well-being, on the other hand, is directly influenced by mindfulness, which exerts additional indirect influence via positive affect, hope and optimism (partial mediation). Although exploratory in nature, the results identify non-reactivity and non-judging as important mindfulness skills in the workplace