Spontaneous symmetry breaking, and strings defects in hypercomplex gauge field theories

Inspired by the appearance of split-complex structures in the dimensional reduction of string theory, and in the theories emerging as byproducts, we study the hyper-complex formulation of Abelian gauge field theories, by incorporating a new complex unit to the usual complex one. The hypercomplex version of the traditional Mexican hat potential associated with the $U(1)$ gauge field theory, corresponds to a {\it hybrid} potential with two real components, and with $U(1)\times SO(1,1)$ as symmetry group. Each component corresponds to a deformation of the hat potential, with the appearance of a new degenerate vacuum. Hypercomplex electrodynamics will show novel properties, such as the spontaneous symmetry breaking scenarios with running masses for the vectorial and scalar Higgs fields, and the Aharonov-Bohm type strings defects as exact solutions; these topological defects may be detected only by quantum interference of charged particles through gauge invariant loop integrals. In a particular limit, the {\it hyperbolic} electrodynamics does not admit topological defects associated with continuous symmetriesComment: 40 page

An exploratory study of parameter sensitivity, representation of results and extensions of PSHA: case study - United Arab Emirates

Despite the wide use of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for the evaluation of seismic hazard, some degree of confusion and misunderstanding exists regarding how the hazard calculations should be performed as well as how the hazard results should be interpreted. In this thesis, different aspects of PSHA that are commonly misunderstood, as well as some new developments, are investigated. To this end, a comprehensive case study PSHA for three cities in the United Arab Emirates is carried out. Previous publications present contradictory interpretations of the earthquake threat in this country, creating confusion regarding appropriate seismic design levels. The results of this PSHA confirm low hazard levels in most of the country (UBC97, Zone 0) that increase as one moves northwards (UBC97, Zone 1). Using the case study as a point of reference, the mechanics and implications of performing hazard disaggregation when using multiple ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) within a logic-tree framework are investigated. Logic-tree approaches receive significant attention as different ways of representing hazard results from logic trees are discussed as well as issues associated with the identification of hazard-dominating scenarios and how these may influence the definition of scenario spectra for the selection of ground-motion records for seismic design. The sensitivity of the hazard results to key parameters in PSHA such as: the minimum magnitude deemed to be of engineering significance; the activity parameters of seismic sources; the use of alternative GMPEs and the standard deviations associated with these models; and the allocation of weights to logic-tree branches is investigated. Furthermore, recently proposed alternatives to the specification of a minimum magnitude as the criteria for identifying non-damaging earthquakes are studied. Finally, correlations between the hazard results obtained in terms of spectral accelerations and hazard results in terms of peak ground velocity and spectral intensity are explored

Flash Fiction of the Latin/o Americas - Another Approach

This essay focuses on how a select few flash fictions are built by Latino authors and consumed by readers (Latino and otherwise) who share a common, deep ancestral evolution that has led to the growing of some fundamental cognitive and emotive biological mechanisms. It therefore turns to the insights offered by the research in the brain sciences and cognitive developmental psychology as well as to a specific analysis of several U.S. Latino flash fictions. In each flash fiction we shall see how these authors use language, narrative technique, and imagination to give in a few brushstrokes a representation of the full range of human emotions, moral dilemmas, and cognitive capabilities. Aldama opens the essay with the discussion of Monterroso's El dinosaurio as a primer of sorts to indicate what happens when readers encounter Latino narrative fiction generally and Latino short short fiction (flash fiction) specifically. While he focuses on the flash fiction created by U.S. Latinos, much of what he discusses below can reveal much about what readers do generally when they encounter narrative fiction. This could be seen in the short short format other than Latino flash fictions such as those from China known as "smoke-long stories" or from Japan known as "palm-of-the-hand stories." But it also applies more globally to any and all kinds of narrative fiction—novels, comic books, and films—and from all over the planet. That is, the exploration of Latino authored flash fiction can and does reveal much about how such all variety of narrative fiction blueprints trigger and then guide a complex array of our mind/brain's sense-making faculties

Latino & Latin American Space for Enrichment and Research (LASER) Mentoring Program

IMPACT. 1: Beginning with two mentors and three mentees in Spring 2012, LASER currently supports 80 mentoring pairs, including students from 24 area high schools. -- 2. LASER is expanding the number of Ohio Latino applicants to Ohio State and other area colleges and universities, and raising awareness of Latino talent pools among Ohio State personnel. -- 3. "[My mentor] reviewed numerous essays I wrote for college applications … suggested scholarships, helped in raising my ACT score from a 26 to a 30, aided in my successful admission." --MSP Distinction Scholar.OSU PARTNERS: Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Department of Spanish and PortugueseCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: Centennial High School; Central Crossing High School; Columbus Downtown High School; Columbus International High School; Columbus State Community College; Dublin Jerome High School; Dublin Coffman High School; Dublin Scioto High School; Hamilton Township High School; Hayes High School; Hilliard Davidson High School; Orange High School; Pickerington High School North; South-Western Career Academy; The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University; Thomas Worthington High School; Walnut Ridge High School; Westerville South High School; Westland High School; Whitehall-Yearling High SchoolPRIMARY CONTACT: Frederick Aldama ([email protected])The Ohio State LASER High School Mentoring Program prepares Latino students in Columbus-area high schools for successful admission to Ohio State and elsewhere. Undergraduate student mentors meet weekly with high school mentees for academic coaching and college planning. Workshops and events integrate Latino students and their families into a network of professionals and information resources to help students successfully navigate college admission and financial aid

Les habitudes bouleversées : Le rôle stratégique de la surprise

Dans cet article, nous analysons la figure de la surprise stratégique, événement qui vient troubler le retour paisible et programmé des choses et le cours régulier des habitudes. Nous étudions ce phénomène, qui perturbe la programmation narrative et la prévision, principalement en fonction de ses conséquences passionnelles et cognitives pour le sujet « affecté » par la surprise, et au niveau énonciatif et narratif. Le champ discursif privilégié de l’étude est celui du discours politique et de la stratégie.In this article, we analyze the figure of strategic surprise, that event which perturbs the peaceful and programmed return of facts and the regular flow of habits. We study, in narrative and enunciative terms, this phenomenon which disrupts the narrative programming and the forecast, principally in its passionate and cognitive consequences for the subject who is affected by the surprise. The political and strategic discourse is the favoured discursive field of this study

Historia política del País Vasco en el siglo XX

Envuelto en la confusión, efervescencia social y violencia de la Transición el rápido proceso de creación del Estatuto de Gernika determinaría el futuro del País Vasco. En poco más de dos años, entre las elecciones de junio de 1977 y la aprobación en referéndum del texto estatutario en octubre de 1979, se pasaría del régimen dictatorial a un nuevo marco autonómico para Euskadi. Este proceso, sin duda acelerado, estaría plagado de conflictos entre los nuevos actores políticos, los partidos, en una carrera por lograr imponer sus proyectos a los del resto, unido en algunos casos al logro del consenso propio de la transición. Al mismo tiempo, la renovada prensa diaria fue la encargada de difundir la información de actualidad política, pero también de crear opinión. En la nueva política de masas, se convertirían en instrumentos de los nuevos partidos para convencer y, mediante sus editoriales, exponer sus ideas. Justamente, este es el núcleo de este trabajo en el que, analizando los editoriales de los tres principales periódicos vascos de la época, El Correo-El Pueblo Vasco, Eginy Deia, llevaremos a cabo un estudio de la política de la transición. Por lo tanto, este es un trabajo de carácter histórico-político con especial énfasis en el ámbito periodístico, basándose en los textos que mejor reflejan las ideas de cada diario: las editoriales. De esta manera, mi principal objetivo será el de comparar la opinión de cada periódico con la del grupo o sensibilidad política al que representa, así como con la del resto. De igual forma analizaré la evolución discursiva de cada uno, en el marco del desarrollo del sistema político y del ámbito periodístico. Para ello, tras unos breves apuntes sobre el contexto político e informativo de la época, realizaré un recorrido siguiendo los grandes hitos institucionales de la transición, empezando por las elecciones constituyentes de 1977 y concluyendo con la ratificación mediante referéndum del Estatuto de Gernika en 1979, pasando por la creación del primer Consejo General Vasco, la elaboración de la Constitución de 1978 o las elecciones de marzo de 1979. Por último, expondré las conclusiones obtenidas, intentando lograr una reflexión en lo referente a cada línea editorial, a su repercusión, sus influencias, sus condicionantes, etc., además de una perspectiva general del proceso y de la incidencia de los medios de prensa diaria en la transición

Pseudo-relatives complement of perception predicates

Pseudorelatives (PRs) are single constituents formed by a DP (the head) and an embedded clause headed by the complementizer que (1). The relation between the head and the embedded clause is a relation of predication. PRs do not display a restrictive reading but a situational one. (1) He visto a [PR Juan que corría] I.have seen a Juan that ran 'I saw Juan running' Previous literature on pseudorelatives contains different explanations regarding their internal structure, the way PRs relate to the matrix predicate, the position PRs can occupy within the matrix clause and the function the head of the PR has within the embedded clause. The goal of this thesis is to go in depth through these four aspects in the light of the following three new observations: i) Previous literature only considers the possibility of having subject-gap PRs (1) (the head of the PR is the subject of the embedded predicate). However, I propose the Object-gap PR generalization: object-gap PRs (2) (the head of the PR is either the direct or the indirect object of the emebdded predicate) are available in those languages allowing Object Clitic Doubling (Spanish, Greek). Those languages lacking Object clitic Doubling do not allow object-gap PRs (Italian, French or Portuguese). (2) a. He visto a Maríai que *( lai) traían en coche I.have seen a María that her-ACC brought.3.PL by car 'I saw María who was being brought by car' b. He visto a Pacoi que *( lei) pedían la hora unos chavales I.have seen a Paco that le-DAT asked.3PL the time some guys 'I saw Paco who was being asked the time by some guys' ii) The head of the PR needs to be animate. Animacy becomes a crucial factor for object-gap PRs since if the object-head of the PR is not animate, the situational reading is not obtained (3). (3) He visto el tren que lo ?? reparaban en cocheras/ llegaba a cocheras I.have seen the train that lo-ACC fixed-3.PL in sheds / arrived to sheds 'I have just seen the train being fixed up in the shed / arriving to the shed ' iii) PRs can only appear in complement position of the matrix predicate. Considering the consequences of these new observations, the previous control and raising analyses are discarded. A control analysis cannot account for objet-gap PRs because the controller can never control the direct object of the embedded predicate. The raising analysis is ruled out because it cannot explain the mandatory presence of object clitics within the embedded clause, the double case assignment of the head in subject-gap and indirect object-gap PRs or the motivation for the movement of the head to its superficial position. Thus, a dislocation analysis for PRs where the head of the PR is base-generated in the left periphery of the embedded clause is proposed to account for the availability of subject-gap and object-gap PRs and the presence of the clitics in the case of object-gap PRs and pro in the case of subject-gap PRs. Further research includes an explanation for those languages that do not allow for objectgap PRs (e.g. Italian) but allow clitic left dislocation structures, the concrete properties that allow perception predicates to select for PRs or the secondary predication character of PRs