Supersymmetric type-III seesaw: lepton flavour violating decays and dark matter

We study a supersymmetric version of the seesaw mechanism type-III. The model consists of the MSSM particle content plus three copies of 24 superfields. The fermionic part of the SU(2) triplet contained in the 24 is responsible for the type-III seesaw, which is used to explain the observed neutrino masses and mixings. Complete copies of 24 are introduced to maintain gauge coupling unification. These additional states change the beta functions of the gauge couplings above the seesaw scale. Using mSUGRA boundary conditions we calculate the resulting supersymmetric mass spectra at the electro-weak scale using full 2-loop renormalization group equations. We show that the resulting spectrum can be quite different compared to the usual mSUGRA spectrum. We discuss how this might be used to obtain information on the seesaw scale from mass measurements. Constraints on the model space due to limits on lepton flavour violating decays are discussed. The main constraints come from the bounds on the decay mu to e and gamma but there are also regions where the decay tau to mu and gamma gives stronger constraints. We also calculate the regions allowed by the dark matter constraint. For the sake of completeness, we compare our results with those for the supersymmetric seesaw type-II and, to some extent, with type-I.Comment: 32 pages, 16 eps figures. One ref. added; small changes in tex

Exploring the social representations of vulnerable populations being helped

Resorting to Social Representation Theory, the aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of help recipients about Help, namely in terms of the shared representations about Helping Institutions, the self-perceptions of aid recipients and the potential Social Status Distance with regard to their helpers. Twenty-five members of vulnerable groups that benefited from help programs offered by Non-Profit Institutions/Organizations, aged between 18 and 70-years-old, responded to semi-structured interviews. Following the theoretical-methodological orientation of the structural approach of Social Representation Theory (Abric, 1984), the 800 free evocations and 149 words produced during the interviews, underwent a prototypical analysis with open-EVOC software (2000). In addition to contributing to Social Representation Theory by considering the theme of helping relations, the results of the present study showed – in contrast to the literature on orientations toward help (Nadler, 1997; 1998; 2002; 2015) – the importance, at different levels, of both autonomy and dependency orientations (and not just the latter). This study showed the importance, for the recipients of help, of being protagonists, active and autonomous in the process of improving their psychological and material situation; together with the importance of enjoying material goods, even if it means depending on an institution. Results are discussed as a potential contribution to designing help programs that might provide greater benefits and well-being to help recipients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nonlinear seismic analysis of existing RC school buildings: the “P3” school typology

The seismic assessment of existing school buildings is an important issue in earthquake prone regions; such is the case of the Algarve, which is the southern region of Portugal mainland. Having this problem in mind, the PERSISTAH project (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva, in Portuguese) aimed to develop a computational approach enabling the damage evaluation of a large number of individual school buildings. One of the school typologies assessed was the so-called “P3” schools. This typology is composed of several different modules that are combined in different manners depending on the number of students. Each module was built in accordance with architectural standardised designs. For this reason, there are many replicas of these modules all over the Algarve region. The structural system of each module is composed of a frame of reinforced concrete (RC) elements. Nonlinear static seismic analysis procedures were adopted to evaluate the structural seismic behaviour, namely by using the new concept of performance curve. Based on the obtained results, it was possible to conclude that the seismic safety of this type of school building is mainly ruled by the shear capacity of the columns. This study also shows the difficulties of carrying out accurate seismic assessments of existing buildings using the methods of analysis that are established in the Eurocode 8.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sensemaking of Digital Transformation in Organizations - A Case Study

The increasing diffusion of digital technologies throughout industries and dimensions of life is transforming organizations. However, many organizations fail to develop a digital transformation strategy. This paper presents a theoretical sensemaking model of Digital Transformation (DT) and the preliminary outcomes of an ongoing study. The study is supported by socio-cognitive theories, including organizational sensemaking theory and its integration with technological frameworks to understand the development of DT in organizations. The findings of a pilot case study from the hotel industry provide evidence that this study could lead to a framework that could help understand DT from a socio-cognitive perspective. Additionally, the pilot case could be the basis for a broader framework, which could be used for other studies in this field, both for academics and practitioner

Unveiling the Temperature Influence on the Sorptive Behaviour of ZIF-8 Composite Materials Impregnated with [Cn MIM][B(CN)4 ] Ionic Liquids

LA/P/0008/2020 PTDC/CTM-CTM/ 30326/2017Composite sorbent materials (IL@MOF) with a metal-organic framework (MOF) ZIF-8 and [B(CN)4 ]−-based ionic liquids (ILs) were produced for the first time. Characterization results indicate the successful IL impregnation and conservation of the ZIF-8 crystalline structure and morphology. The data collected from the nitrogen (N2 ) physisorption at 77 K suggest that these IL@ZIF-8 materials are nonporous as their textural properties, such as BET specific surface area and total pore volume, are negligible. However, CO2, CH4, and N2 adsorption/desorption measurements in the IL@ZIF-8 composites at 303 and 273 K contradict the N2 data at 77 K, given that the obtained isotherms are Type I, typical of (micro)porous materials. Their gas adsorption capacity and ultramicroporous volume are in the same order of magnitude as the pristine microporous ZIF-8. The case study [C6 MIM][B(CN)4 ] IL revealed a high affinity to both CO2 and CH4 . This compromised the selectivity performance of its respective composite when compared with pristine ZIF-8. This work highlights the importance of accurate experimental gas adsorption/desorption equilibrium measurements to characterize the adsorption uptake and the porous nature of adsorbent materials.publishersversionpublishe

Efeito da suplemantacao alimentar sobre o comportamento reprodutivo de tourinhos Canchim. I. caracteristicas puberais.

Avaliacao do efeito da suplentacao alimentar durante o periodo seco sobre a puberdade de tourinhos Canchim