Renormalization group evolution of the CKM matrix

We present here the most important ideas, equations and solutions for the running of all the quark Yukawa couplings and all the elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix, in the approximation of one loop, and up to order $\lambda ^{4}$, where $\lambda \sim 0.22$ is the sine of the Cabibbo angle. Our purpose is to determine what the evolution of these parameters may indicate for the physics of the standard model (SM), the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and for the Double Higgs Model (DHM).Comment: Talk given in the X Mexican School of Particles and Fields, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 2002. 6 pages, LaTeX, needs aipproc.cls styl

Development of a curriculum for use with a bovine dystocia simulator to educate and engage learners about animal agriculture and rural veterinary medicine

Agriculture is the number one industry in the state of South Dakota. In an effort to enhance recruitment to a new professional program in veterinary medicine in South Dakota, a bovine parturition and dystocia module was developed to serve as an educational module and recruitment tool to engage with stakeholders. The bovine dystocia module seeks to accomplish three main objectives. 1) Serve as an instructional resource for learners to increase knowledge about cattle production. 2) Assist learners in identifying normal and abnormal calving situations, synthesizing information presented to them by the dystocia model and then implementing an intervention strategy that will successfully correct the calf malpresentation. 3) Introduce learners to veterinary medicine via interaction with veterinary faculty and serve as an engagement and recruitment tool to veterinary medicine. The bovine parturition and dystocia module was developed using Bloom’s taxonomy and Caffarella’s Interactive Model of Program Planning. The intent of this creative component was to create an educational module (lesson plan, two PowerPoint lectures, narrated video recordings of PowerPoint presentations, student worksheet, scoring rubric and a pre-post assessment) to use alongside a bovine dystocia simulator model to educate students and producers about bovine (cattle) parturition (birth) and bovine dystocia (abnormal birth)

Creating an environment of success: community college faculty efforts to engage in quality faculty-student interactions to contribute to a first-generation student\u27s perception of belonging

This dissertation examines the role of the faculty-student interaction in the perceived sense of belonging first generation students experience while attending 2-year community college. While Strayhorn’s (2012) definition of sense of belonging is referenced this researcher has developed a diagram that focuses on the sense of belonging that focuses specifically on the 2-year community college student due to the fact that the theoretical frameworks regarding sense of belonging focus, primarily, on the perception of belonging among college students attending residential 4-year colleges and universities. The sense of belonging for first-generation, community college students suggests that a student’s perceived sense of belonging (what is referred to as internal) is influenced by the faculty-student interaction; particularly by the external (what is referred to as behavioral) actions of faculty. The first-generation student’s perception of belonging, those students whose parents do not have a college degree, will be discussed; in particular, the research examines the experiences of first-generation African American and Latino, community college, students. The perceptions of belonging were uncovered through the use of one on one interviews and an examination of the 2014 responses by first-generation students to the University of Texas (2015) Community College Survey on Student Engagement (CCSSE). This is not a true mixed methods study as the data from CCSSE was used for reporting purposes only. The focus on the lived experience provided this study with rich and insightful material that adds to the limited body of research related to the community college as a post-secondary institution

Renormalization Group Equations for the CKM matrix

We derive the one loop renormalization group equations for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix for the Standard Model, its two Higgs extension and the minimal supersymmetric extension in a novel way. The derived equations depend only on a subset of the model parameters of the renormalization group equations for the quark Yukawa couplings so the CKM matrix evolution cannot fully test the renormalization group evolution of the quark Yukawa couplings. From the derived equations we obtain the invariant of the renormalization group evolution for three models which is the angle $\alpha$ of the unitarity triangle. For the special case of the Standard Model and its extensions with $v_{1}\approx v_{2}$ we demonstrate that also the shape of the unitarity triangle and the Buras-Wolfenstein parameters $\bar{\rho}=(1-{1/2}\lambda^{2})\rho$ and $\bar{\eta}=(1-{1/2}\lambda^{2})\eta$ are conserved. The invariance of the angles of the unitarity triangle means that it is not possible to find a model in which the CKM matrix might have a simple, special form at asymptotic energies.Comment: 9 page

Energy dependence of the quark masses and mixings

The one loop Renormalization Group Equations for the Yukawa couplings of quarks are solved. From the solution we find the explicit energy dependence on $t=\ln E/\mu$ of the evolution of the {\em down} quark masses $q=d,s,b$ from the grand unification scale down to the top quark mass $m_{t}$. These results together with the earlier published evolution of the {\em up} quark masses completes the pattern of the evolution of the quark masses. We also find the energy dependence of the absolute values of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix $|V_{ij}|$. The interesting property of the evolution of the CKM matrix and the ratios of the quark masses: $m_{u,c}/m_{t}$ and $m_{d,s}/m_{b}$ is that they all depend on $t$ through only one function of energy $h(t)$.Comment: Talk presented at the IX Mexican School on Particles and Fields, August 9-19, Metepec, Pue., Mexico. To be published in the AIP Conference Proceedings. 5 pages and 1 eps figure included in the tex

Early star formation traced by the highest redshift quasars

The iron abundance relative to alpha-elements in the circumnuclear region of quasars is regarded as a clock of the star formation history and, more specifically, of the enrichment by SNIa. We investigate the iron abundance in a sample of 22 quasars in the redshift range 3.0<z<6.4 by measuring their rest frame UV FeII bump, which is shifted into the near-IR, and by comparing it with the MgII 2798 flux. The observations were performed with a device that can obtain near-IR spectra in the range 0.8-2.4 um in one shot, thereby enabling an optimal removal of the continuum underlying the FeII bump. We detect iron in all quasars including the highest redshift (z=6.4) quasar currently known. The uniform observational technique and the wide redshift range allows a reliable study of the trend of the FeII/MgII ratio with redshift. We find the FeII/MgII ratio is nearly constant at all redshifts, although there is marginal evidence for a higher FeII/MgII ratio in the quasars at z~6. If the FeII/MgII ratio reflects the Fe/alpha abundance, this result suggests that the z~6 quasars have already undergone a major episode of iron enrichment. We discuss the possible implications of this finding for the star formation history at z>6. We also detect a population of weak iron emitters at z~4.5, which are possibly hosted in systems that evolved more slowly. Alternatively, the trend of the FeII/MgII ratio at high redshift may reflect significantly different physical conditions of the circumnuclear gas in such high redshift quasars.Comment: Replaced to match the accepted version (ApJL in press), 5 page

Computer Use Differences as a Function of High or Low Minority Enrollment: A National Comparison

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of technology usage in public schools having high minority student enrollment and in public schools having low minority student enrollment. Specifically, our interest was in determining the extent to which technology usage differed by region of the country for minority enrollment. Three statistical differences were reported for percent minority and region in computer use to read, write, and spell, to learn math, and for science concepts. Computer use to read, write, and spell had the highest frequency among schools having 50% or more minority student enrollment, but less than 75% minority students in the Northeast, whereas the West and the Midwest followed in computer use frequency. The lowest frequency of computer use was found among schools having 50% or more, but less than 75% minority students in the South. Computer use to learn math had the highest frequency among schools in the West whereas the Midwest and the Northeast followed in computer use frequency. The lowest frequency of computer use was found among schools having 50% or more, but less than 75% minority students in the South. Computer use for science concepts had the highest frequency among schools in the West and Midwest, regardless of percent minority population. The lowest frequency of computer use was found among schools having 75% or more minority students in the Northeast and in schools having 50% or more, but less than 75% minority students in the South. Implications of these findings are discussed