Holomorphic selection rules, the origin of the mu term, and thermal inflation

When an abelian gauge theory with integer charges is spontaneously broken by the expectation value of a charge Q field, there remains a Z_Q discrete symmetry. In a supersymmetric theory, holomorphy adds additional constraints on the operators that can appear in the effective superpotential. As a result, operators with the same mass dimension but opposite sign charges can have very different coupling strengths. In the present work we characterize the operator hierarchies in the effective theory due to holomorphy, and show that there exist simple relationships between the size of an operator and its mass dimension and charge. Using such holomorphy-induced operator hierarchies, we construct a simple model with a naturally small supersymmetric mu term. This model also provides a concrete realization of late-time thermal inflation, which has the ability to solve the gravitino and moduli problems of weak-scale supersymmetry.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Gambling Disorder is a prevalent non-substance use disorder, which contrasts with the low number of people requesting treatment. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) could help to enhance the dissemination of evidence-based treatments and considerably reduce the costs. The current study seeks to assess the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for people suffering from gambling problems in Spain. The proposed study will be a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. A total of 134 participants (problem and pathological gamblers) will be randomly allocated to a waiting list control group (N = 67) or an intervention group (N = 67). The intervention program includes 8 modules, and it is based on motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and extensions and innovations of CBT. It includes several complementary tools that are present throughout the entire intervention. Therapeutic support will be provided once a week through a phone call with a maximum length of 10 min. The primary outcome measure will be gambling severity and gambling-related cognitions, and secondary outcome measures will be readiness to change, and gambling self-efficacy. Other variables that will be considered are depression and anxiety symptoms, positive and negative affect, difficulties in emotion regulation strategies, impulsivity, and quality of life. Individuals will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. During the treatment, participants will also respond to a daily Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in order to evaluate urges to gamble, self-efficacy to cope with gambling urges, gambling urge frequency, and whether gambling behaviour occurs. The EMI includes immediate automatic feedback depending on the participant''s responses. Treatment acceptance and satisfaction will also be assessed. The data will be analysed both per protocol and by Intention-to treat. As far as we know, this is the first randomized controlled trial of an online psychological intervention for gambling disorder in Spain. It will expand our knowledge about treatments delivered via the Internet and contribute to improving treatment dissemination, reaching people suffering from this problem who otherwise would not receive help

Uso eficiente de água em viticultura e horticultura – a contribuição do projecto Nefertiti

Uma viticultura mais sustentável é também uma viticultura mais competitiva. O uso sustentável da água e pesticidas é uma temática atual para a fileira necessitando de maior discussão e inovação. Ao mesmo tempo, as alterações climáticas e a variação cada vez mais errática do clima, com a ocorrência de eventos meteorológicos extremos mais frequentes, impõem crescentes restrições à produção, qualidade e rentabilidade da viticultura. A divulgação de boas práticas para promover a poupança e a conservação de recursos hídricos são instrumentos fundamentais para aumentar a sustentabilidade da viticultura/horticultura mediterrânicas. A interação entre os diferentes atores (produtores, técnicos, academia) é crucial para se aumentar a perceção do problema da escassez da água e consequente necessidade de otimizar a eficiência no seu uso ao nível da exploração agrícola e da região. O NEFERTITI (http://nefertiti-h2020.eu/) (2018-2021) é um projeto financiado pelo programa H2020, que assenta no facto comprovado de que a partilha de informação e de experiências entre agricultores é uma forma eficiente de promover avanços no conhecimento da comunidade. O NEFERTITI criou 10 redes temáticas de demonstração (“Networks”), compostas por explorações de demonstração (“demo-farms”), ligadas a diferentes áreas da agricultura, nomeadamente a viticultura. No âmbito deste projeto, em Portugal, temos vindo a promover a demonstração e a discussão de estratégias inovadoras e de boas práticas em termos do uso de água e pesticidas em viticultura, através da ação de dois clusters regionais (“hubs”), o PT.Water.hub e o PureVine.pt, que colaboram com várias empresas vitivinícolas prestadores de serviços ligados à instalação e gestão da rega, associações do sector (e parceiros de I&D. Este trabalho tem por objectivo apresentar um resumo das atividades do projeto NEFERTITI, assim como alguns dos seus resultados e formas de promover inovação através de demonstrações eficientes focando o tópico da eficiência no uso de água em viticultura no sul de Portugal (Alentejo) bem como a sustentabilidade do sectorinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ultrasonic evidence of an uncorrelated cluster formation temperature in manganites with first-order magnetic transition at T_C

Ultrasonic attenuation and phase velocity measurements have been carried out in the ferromagnetic perovskites La_{2/3}Ca_{1/3}MnO_3 and La_{2/3}Sr_{1/3}MnO_3. Data show that the transition at the Curie temperature, T_C, changes from first- to second-order as Sr replaces Ca in the perovskite. The compound with first-order transition shows also another transition at a temperature T* > T_C. We interpret the temperature window T_C < T < T* as a region of coexistence of a phase separated regime of metallic and insulating regions, in the line of recent theoretical proposals.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Disorder induced phase segregation in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 manganites

Neutron powder diffraction experiments on La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 over a broad temperature range above and below the metal-insulator transition have been analyzed beyond the Rietveld average approach by use of Reverse Monte Carlo modelling. This approach allows the calculation of atomic pair distribution functions and spin correlation functions constrained to describe the observed Bragg and diffuse nuclear and magnetic scattering. The results evidence phase separation within a paramagnetic matrix into ferro and antiferromagnetic domains correlated to anistropic lattice distortions in the vicinity of the metal-insulator transition.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. Figure 1 replace

Bilinear R-parity Violation and Small Neutrino Masses: a Self-consistent Framework

We study extensions of supersymmetric models without R-parity which include an anomalous U(1)_H horizontal symmetry. Bilinear R-parity violating terms induce a neutrino mass at tree level of approximately $(\theta^2)^\delta$ eV where $\theta\approx 0.22$ is the U(1)_H breaking parameter and $\delta$ is an integer number that depends on the horizontal charges of the leptons. For $\delta=1$ a unique self-consistent model arises in which i) all the superpotential trilinear R-parity violating couplings are forbidden by holomorphy; ii) the tree level neutrino mass falls in the range suggested by the atmospheric neutrino problem; iii) radiative contributions to neutrino masses are strongly suppressed resulting in a squared solar mass difference of few 10^{-8} eV^2 which only allows for the LOW (or quasi-vacuum) solution to the solar neutrino problem; iv) the neutrino mixing angles are not suppressed by powers of $\theta$ and can naturally be large.Comment: Latex, 15 pages including 1 figure, some typos correcte

Effective R-parity violation from supersymmetry breaking

We present a scenario in which Yukawa-like R-parity violating (RPV) couplings are naturally suppressed. In our framework, RPV is assumed to originate from the SUSY breaking mechanism and then transmitted into the SUSY Lagrangian only through soft SUSY breaking operators in the scalar potential. The RPV Yukawa-like operators of the superpotential, conventionally parametrized by the couplings \lambda, \lambda' and \lambda'', are then generated through loops containing the SUSY scalars, the gauginos and the soft RPV interactions and are, therefore, manifest as effective operators with a typical strength of order 10^{-3}.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Revtex4. Main changes with respect to Version 1 are: improved discussions on RGE effects, discussion added on neutrino masses, a toy model added for the proposed scenario. Conclusions remain unchanged. As will appear in Phys. Rev.

Demonstração e inovação em viticultura focada no uso eficiente da água no Alentejo: “cross-visit” do projeto NEFERTITI

Projeto NEFERTITIinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avoidable Adverse Events Related to Ignoring the Do-Not-Do Recommendations: A Retrospective Cohort Study Conducted in the Spanish Primary Care Setting

Objective This study aimed to measure the frequency and severity of avoidable adverse events (AAEs) related to ignoring do-not-do recommendations (DNDs) in primary care. Methods A retrospective cohort study analyzing the frequency and severity of AAEs related to ignoring DNDs (7 from family medicine and 3 from pediatrics) was conducted in Spain. Data were randomly extracted from computerized electronic medical records by a total of 20 general practitioners and 5 pediatricians acting as reviewers; data between February 2018 and September 2019 were analyzed. Results A total of 2557 records of adult and pediatric patients were reviewed. There were 1859 (72.7%) of 2557 (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.0%-74.4%) DNDs actions in 1307 patients (1507 were performed by general practitioners and 352 by pediatricians). Do-not-do recommendations were ignored more often in female patients (P < 0.0001). Sixty-nine AAEs were linked to ignoring DNDs (69/1307 [5.3%]; 95% CI, 4.1%-6.5%). Of those, 54 (5.1%) of 1062 were in adult patients (95% CI, 3.8%-6.4%) and 15 (6.1%) of 245 in pediatric patients (95% CI, 3.1%-9.1%). In adult patients, the majority of AAEs (51/901 [5.7%]; 95% CI, 4.2%-7.2%) occurred in patients 65 years or older. Most AAEs were characterized by temporary minor harm both in adult patients (28/54 [51.9%]; 95% CI, 38.5%-65.2%) and pediatric patients (15/15 [100%]). Conclusions These findings provide a new perspective about the consequences of low-value practices for the patients and the health care systems. Ignoring DNDs could place patients at risk, and their safety might be unnecessarily compromised