1,139 research outputs found
Subtleties in the beta function calculation of N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories
We investigate some peculiarities in the calculation of the two-loop
beta-function of supersymmetric models which are intimately related to
the so-called "Anomaly Puzzle". There is an apparent paradox when the
computation is performed in the framework of the covariant derivative
background field method. In this formalism, it is obtained a finite two-loop
effective action, although a non-null coefficient for the beta-function is
achieved by means of the renormalized two-point function in the background
field. We show that if the standard background field method is used, this
two-point function has a divergent part which allows for the calculation of the
beta-function via the renormalization constants, as usual. Therefore, we
conjecture that this paradox has its origin in the covariant supergraph
formalism itself, possibly being an artifact of the rescaling anomaly.Comment: Few misprintings corrected and comments added. To meet the version to
be published at European Physical Journal
Narcolepsy and emotional experience: a review of the literature
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. This disease affects significantly the overall patient functioning, interfering with social, work, and affective life. Some symptoms of narcolepsy depend on emotional stimuli; for instance, cataplectic attacks can be triggered by emotional inputs such as laughing, joking, a pleasant surprise, and also anger. Neurophysiological and neurochemical findings suggest the involvement of
emotional brain circuits in the physiopathology of cataplexy, which seems to depending on the dysfunctional interplay between the hypothalamus and the amygdala associated with an alteration of hypocretin levels. Furthermore, behavioral studies suggest an impairment of emotions processing in narcolepsy-cataplexy (NC), like a probable coping strategy to avoid or reduce the frequency of cataplexy attacks. Consistently, NC patients seem to use coping strategies even during their sleep, avoiding unpleasant mental sleep activity through lucid dreaming. Interestingly, NC patients, even during sleep, have a different emotional experience than healthy subjects, with more vivid, bizarre, and frightening dreams. Notwithstanding this evidence, the relationship between emotion and narcolepsy is poorly investigated. This review aims to provide a synthesis of behavioral, neurophysiological, and neurochemical evidence to discuss the complex relationship between NC and emotional experience and to direct future research
On the duality in CPT-even Lorentz-breaking theories
In this paper, we generalize the duality between self-dual and
Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories for the case of a CPT-even Lorentz-breaking
extension of these theories. The duality is demonstrated with use of the gauge
embedding procedure, both in free and coupled cases, and with the master action
approach. The physical spectra of both Lorentz-breaking theories are studied.
The massive poles are shown to coincide and to respect the requirements for
unitarity and causality at tree level. The extra massless poles which are
present in the dualized model are shown to be nondynamical.Comment: 17 pages, version accepted to EPJ
La boîte à outils géotechnique de demain: conception des structures géotechniques selon EN 1997: 202x
This paper shows how three new concepts – ‘Design Cases’ (introduced in prEN 1990), the ‘Geotechnical Design Model’ (prEN 1997-1), and the ‘Ground Model’ (prEN 1997-2) – are combined (in prEN 1997-3) to provide a comprehensive and flexible set of tools for the design of specific geotechnical structures. The paper presents flow charts divided between: a) reliability management, b) ground modelling, c) verification of the design, and d) structure execution, which provide guidelines for navigating prEN 1990 and prEN 1997.Postprint (published version
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