Birth, survival and death of languages by Monte Carlo simulation

Simulations of physicists for the competition between adult languages since 2003 are reviewed. How many languages are spoken by how many people? How many languages are contained in various language families? How do language similarities decay with geographical distance, and what effects do natural boundaries have? New simulations of bilinguality are given in an appendix.Comment: 24 pages review, draft for Comm.Comput.Phys., plus appendix on bilingualit

Specific heat and energy for the three-dimensional O(2) model

We investigate the three-dimensional O(2) model on lattices of size 8^3 to 160^3 close to the critical point at zero magnetic field. We confirm explicitly the value of the critical coupling J_c found by Ballesteros et al. and estimate there the universal values of g_r and xi/L. At the critical point we study the finite size dependencies of the energy density epsilon and the specific heat C. We find that the nonsingular part of the specific heat C_{ns} is linearly dependent on 1/alpha. From the critical behaviour of the specific heat for T not T_c on the largest lattices we determine the universal amplitude ratio A+/A-. The alpha- dependence of this ratio is close to the phenomenological relation A+/A- = 1-4alpha.Comment: Lattice2001(spin), 3 pages, 4 figure

The chiral transition of N_f=2 QCD with fundamental and adjoint fermions

We study QCD with two staggered Dirac fermions both in the fundamental (QCD) and the adjoint representation (aQCD) near the chiral transition. The aim is to find the universality class of the chiral transition and to verify Goldstone effects below the transition. We investigate aQCD, because in that theory the deconfinement and the chiral transitions occur at different temperatures T_d<T_c. Here, we show that the scaling behaviour of the chiral condensate in the vicinity of \beta_c is in full agreeement with that of the 3d O(2) universality class. In the region T_d<T<T_c we confirm the quark mass dependence of the chiral condensate which is expected due to the existence of Goldstone modes like in 3d O(N) spin models. For fundamental QCD we use the p4-action. Here, we find Goldstone effects below T_c like in aQCD and the 3d O(N) spin models, however no O(2)/O(4) scaling near the chiral transition point. The result for QCD may be a consequence of the coincidence of the deconfinement transition with the chiral transition.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, poster contribution to Lattice 2005 (Nonzero temperature and density), one reference added, figure 2 change

Socioeconophysics: Opinion Dynamics for number of transactions and price, a trader based model

Involving effects of media, opinion leader and other agents on the opinion of individuals of market society, a trader based model is developed and utilized to simulate price via supply and demand. Pronounced effects are considered with several weights and some personal differences between traders are taken into account. Resulting time series and probabilty distribution function involving a power law for price come out similar to the real ones.Comment: will be published in IJMPC 17 (2006

Critical behaviour and Scaling functions for the three-dimensional O(6) spin model with external field

We numerically investigate the three-dimensional O(6) model on 12^3 to 120^3 lattices. From Binder's cumulant at vanishing magnetic field we obtain the critical coupling J_c=1.42865(5) and verify this value with the \chi^2-method. The universal value of Binder's cumulant at this point is g_r(J_c)=-1.94456(10). At the critical coupling we find the critical exponents \nu=0.818(5), \beta=0.425(2) and \gamma=1.604(6) from a finite size scaling analysis. We also determine the finite-size-scaling function on the critical line and the equation of state. Our O(6)-result for the equation of state is compared to the Ising, O(2) and O(4) results.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, To appear in the proceedings of Workshop on Strong and Electroweak Matter (SEWM 2002), Heidelberg, Germany, 2-5 Oct 200

Mentoring to develop research selfefficacy, with particular reference to previously disadvantaged individuals

The development of inexperienced researchers is crucial. In response to the lack of research self-efficacy of many previously disadvantaged individuals, the article examines how mentoring can enhance the research self-efficacy of mentees. The study is grounded in the self-efficacy theory (SET) – an aspect of the social cognitive theory (SCT). Insights were gained from an in-depth study of SCT, SET and mentoring, and from a completed mentoring project. This led to the formulation of three basic principles. Firstly, institutions need to provide supportive environmental conditions that facilitate research selfefficacy. This implies a supportive and efficient collective system. The possible effects of performance ratings and reward systems at the institution also need to be considered. Secondly, mentoring needs to create opportunities for young researchers to experience successful learning as a result of appropriate action. To this end, mentees need to be involved in actual research projects in small groups. At the same time the mentor needs to facilitate skills development by coaching and encouragement. Thirdly, mentors need to encourage mentees to believe in their ability to successfully complete research projects. This implies encouraging positive emotional states, stimulating self-reflection and self-comparison with others in the group, giving positive evaluative feedback and being an intentional role model