Solitosynthesis induced phase transitions

We consider a phase transition induced by the growth of Q-balls in a false vacuum. Such a transition could occur in the early universe in the case of broken supersymmetry with a metastable false vacuum. Small Q-balls with a negative potential energy can grow in a false vacuum by accretion of global charge until they reach critical size, expand, and cause a phase transition. We consider the growth of Q-balls from small to large, using the Bethe-Salpeter equation to describe small charge solitons and connecting to the growth of larger solitons for which the semiclassical approximation is reliable. We thus test the scenario in a simplified example inspired by supersymmetric extensions of the standard model.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables Added sections on explicit connection between Q-balls and squark and higgs field

The Use of Catastrophe Bonds as a Means of Economic Development in Emerging Economies

Catastrophe bonds offer a way for entities located in natural disaster prone regions to safely and efficiently transfer the risk of insuring property to the financial markets and subsequently, create a financially attractive environment for insurers and investors. The opportunity for investors to utilize modeled loss analytical platforms such as those created by AIR, Risk Management Solutions, and EQECAT, could be used to bridge the growing gap in emerging economies between economic losses created by natural disasters and insured losses. Bridging this insurance gap in emerging economies could have positive global implications for the insurance industry, global trade, foreign direct investment, and the average humanitarian aid spent on natural disaster recovery and resistance. Apart from the additional profits that could be generated from increased underwriting in emerging economies, introducing catastrophe and property insurance to emerging economies could create a road map for other emerging economies who are struggling to balance economic development with disaster financing. Experience from sovereigns which have experimented with this method of risk transfer, such as Haiti and Mexico offer a basis for understanding the advantages and difficulties associated with developing a country specific modeled loss analytical platform for measuring natural hazard risks

"Welcome Back BU Alumni" bookmark

These bookmarks were created to welcome BU's alumni back to campus and to BU Libraries

Yoga and Its Benefits on Mental Illness

This thesis looks into the role yoga can play as an aid to treatment of mental health illnesses such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. This research identifies some problems associated with treating eating disorders including co-morbidity and poor insurance coverage. Using yoga as an aid to treatment may bring better access to people while also being an affordable option to reduce symptoms of mental illness. The author participated in the Ohio State University's program RECESS to offer yoga workshops that provide information and the leading through of yoga asana poses that aid in mental health. Following the RECESS program, a study took place within Ohio State's Dance Department with 22 freshman dance majors. The students were given a survey asking about general eating patterns. They were then taught a simple yoga sequence to do before one meal a day for 10 days, and they then regrouped and filled out a post survey. The results were then analyzed, suggesting that performing a simple yoga sequence prior to eating may decrease negative affects associated with eating disorders.Karen A. Bell Dance FundNo embargoAcademic Major: Danc

U.S. Public Opinion on Vulnerable Populations

Summarizes findings from a June 2006 survey on Americans' views on government support for legal immigrant children and foster children, issues of community violence, and long-term care services, costs, and long-term care insurance

Effects of Genre Tag Complexity on Popular Music Perception and Enjoyment

The popular online streaming platform Spotify added over 1400 genre tags in the last two years. Despite that numerous artists and composition competitions claim to seek projects that “transcend the traditional notion of genre,” the industry has only added more complex and mystifying genre labels. This dichotomy between artists and industry ignores the effects these labels have on consumers. Do more complex genre tags enhance the listening experience for the average consumer by providing additional information about what they are about to hear? The current research seeks to examine the effects of the granularity of genre tags on popular music perception by identifying whether more nuanced subgenre genre tags increase enjoyment and understanding of popular music excerpts. Participants heard four 20-second excerpts of popular music from four broad genre categories—including pop, country, rap/hip-hop, rock—as defined in Gjerdingen & Perrott, 2008 and Mace et al., 2011. Excerpts were presented simultaneously with two or three corresponding broad genre category tags or nuanced subgenre category tags in a randomized order. Participants used Likert-type scales to rate how well the genre tags matched the excerpt with which they were presented, how much they enjoyed the excerpt, and were asked to self-label each excerpt with a genre tag. Results showed that ratings were significantly higher for the broad genre categories than the subgenre categories for both enjoyment and matching, (F(1, 2109.67) = 19.07, p \u3c .001; F(1, 2109.38) = 56.47, p \u3c .001), respectively. Further, participants did not self-label any of the excerpts with genre categories that were not previously attached to the respective stimuli. These results have practical implications for how music producers market popular music since broad genre categories appear to be adequate for conveying expectations for popular music

Planning for town centre revitalisation in a declining context : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

"This research explored how the Ruapehu District views its declining population and economy, how town centre revitalisation has attempted to address decline in Ohakune, and the outcomes of this revitalisation, with the aim of developing guidelines for local authorities in declining contexts to consider when undertaking revitalisation to address decline. As the Ruapehu District Council is including town centre renewal as part of their aspirations for economic development and reversing decline, this research looks at the effects of revitalisation of town centres in a declining context by asking the question: What should local authorities in declining contexts consider when planning for town centres to enable people and communities to provide for their social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being?"--Research Aim & Question, p.

Engineering Internship at Dynetics

STEP Category: InternshipsI worked at Dynetics in Huntsville, AL during Summer 2019 as an Assembly, Integrate, and Test Engineer for the Environmental Control and Life Support System on the Orion Spacecraft. I designed assembly components, worked in a class 10,000 (ISO 7) cleanroom, and performed a literature survey for Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM), focusing on Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI).The Ohio State University Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP)Academic Major: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineerin