Dynamical gluon mass generation from <A^2> in linear covariant gauges

We construct the multiplicatively renormalizable effective potential for the mass dimension two local composite operator A^2 in linear covariant gauges. We show that the formation of is energetically favoured and that the gluons acquire a dynamical mass due to this gluon condensate. We also discuss the gauge parameter independence of the resultant vacuum energy.Comment: 21 pages. 14 .eps figures. v2: minor modifications. v3: version accepted for publication in JHE

Fermi Surfaces of Diborides: MgB2 and ZrB2

We provide a comparison of accurate full potential band calculations of the Fermi surfaces areas and masses of MgB2 and ZrB2 with the de Haas-van Alphen date of Yelland et al. and Tanaka et al., respectively. The discrepancies in areas in MgB2 can be removed by a shift of sigma-bands downward with respect to pi-bands by 0.24 eV. Comparison of effective masses lead to orbit averaged electron-phonon coupling constants lambda(sigma)=1.3 (both orbits), lambda(pi)=0.5. The required band shifts, which we interpret as an exchange attraction for sigma states beyond local density band theory, reduces the number of holes from 0.15 to 0.11 holes per cell. This makes the occurrence of superconductivity in MgB2 a somewhat closer call than previously recognized, and increases the likelihood that additional holes can lead to an increased Tc.Comment: 7 pages including 4 figure

A Lattice Study of the Gluon Propagator in Momentum Space

We consider pure glue QCD at beta=5.7, beta=6.0 and beta=6.3. We evaluate the gluon propagator both in time at zero 3-momentum and in momentum space. From the former quantity we obtain evidence for a dynamically generated effective mass, which at beta=6.0 and beta=6.3 increases with the time separation of the sources, in agreement with earlier results. The momentum space propagator G(k) provides further evidence for mass generation. In particular, at beta=6.0, for k less than 1 GeV, the propagator G(k) can be fit to a continuum formula proposed by Gribov and others, which contains a mass scale b, presumably related to the hadronization mass scale. For higher momenta Gribov's model no longer provides a good fit, as G(k) tends rather to follow an inverse power law. The results at beta=6.3 are consistent with those at beta=6.0, but only the high momentum region is accessible on this lattice. We find b in the range of three to four hundred MeV and the exponent of the inverse power law about 2.7. On the other hand, at beta=5.7 (where we can only study momenta up to 1 GeV) G(k) is best fit to a simple massive boson propagator with mass m. We argue that such a discrepancy may be related to a lack of scaling for low momenta at beta=5.7. {}From our results, the study of correlation functions in momentum space looks promising, especially because the data points in Fourier space turn out to be much less correlated than in real space.Comment: 19 pages + 12 uuencoded PostScript picture

Landau gauge within the Gribov horizon

We consider a model which effectively restricts the functional integral of Yang--Mills theories to the fundamental modular region. Using algebraic arguments, we prove that this theory has the same divergences as ordinary Yang Mills theory in the Landau gauge and that it is unitary. The restriction of the functional integral is interpreted as a kind of spontaneous breakdown of the $BRS$ symmetry.Comment: 17 pages, NYU-TH-93/10/0

Maternal experiences of ethnic discrimination and subsequent birth outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand

Background Interpersonal discrimination experience has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. Limited research has evaluated this relationship within multicultural contexts outside the United States where the nature and salience of discrimination experiences may differ. Such research is important in order to help identify protective and risk factors that may mediate the relationship between discrimination experience and adverse birth outcomes. Methods Evaluated the relationship between perceived discrimination, as measured in pregnancy, with birth weight and gestation length among Māori, Pacific, and Asian women from Aotearoa New Zealand (N = 1653). Results Thirty percent of the sample reported some type of unfair treatment that they attributed to their ethnicity. For Māori women specifically, unfair treatment at work (β = − 243 g) and in acquiring housing (β = − 146 g) were associated with lower birth weight when compared to Māori women not experiencing these types of discrimination, while an ethnically motivated physical attack (β = − 1.06 week), and unfair treatment in the workplace (β = − 0.95 week), in the criminal justice system (β = − 0.55 week), or in banking (β = − 0.73 week) were associated with significantly shorter gestation. Conclusions Despite a high prevalence of discrimination experience among women from all ethnic groups, discrimination experience was a strong predictor of lower birth weight and shorter gestation length among indigenous Māori women only. Additional research is needed to better understand the risk and protective factors that may moderate the relationship between discrimination experience and adverse birth outcomes among women from different ethnic groups

The microenvironment in breast cancer progression: biology and implications for treatment

Breast cancer comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies derived from the ductal epithelium. The microenvironment of these cancers is now recognized as a critical participant in tumor progression and therapeutic responses. Recent data demonstrate significant gene expression and epigenetic alterations in cells composing the microenvironment during disease progression, which can be explored as biomarkers and targets for therapy. Indeed, gene expression signatures derived from tumor stroma have been linked to clinical outcomes. There is increasing interest in translating our current understanding of the tumor microenvironment to the development of novel therapies

Predicting Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

The ability to predict student performance in a course or program creates opportunities to improve educational outcomes. With effective performance prediction approaches, instructors can allocate resources and instruction more accurately. Research in this area seeks to identify features that can be used to make predictions, to identify algorithms that can improve predictions, and to quantify aspects of student performance. Moreover, research in predicting student performance seeks to determine interrelated features and to identify the underlying reasons why certain features work better than others. This working group report presents a systematic literature review of work in the area of predicting student performance. Our analysis shows a clearly increasing amount of research in this area, as well as an increasing variety of techniques used. At the same time, the review uncovered a number of issues with research quality that drives a need for the community to provide more detailed reporting of methods and results and to increase efforts to validate and replicate work.Peer reviewe

Menggagas Indikator Kinerja Agro−Ekologi sebagai Inovasi Kebijakan Alokasi Dana Insentif Daerah di Indonesia

Transfer anggaran berbasis ekologi (Ecological Fiskal Transfer, EFT) merupakan konsep desentralisasi fiskal untuk menyelaraskan keberlanjutan pembangunan ekonomi dengan kelestarian lingkungan hidup. Sebagai konsep baru, EFT masih membutuhkan rumusan indikator kinerja dan formulasi alokasi anggaran yang lebih ideal dalam rangka meraih salah satu tujuan pembangunan berkelanjutan (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs), yaitu mengurangi ketimpangan pembangunan. Diperlukan evaluasi berkesinambungan serta terobosan kebijakan inovatif dengan melibatkan berbagai pemangku kepentingan dalam Perumusannya. Perumusan indikator kinerja ekologi selama ini masih menggunakan paradigma bahwa fungsi ekologi merupakan domain sektor lingkungan hidup dan kehutanan. Padahal fungsi ekologi terdapat pula pada sektor tata ruang dan sektor pertanian. Makalah ini bermaksud untuk: 1) menganalisis kebijakan transfer fiskal di Inonesia; 2) memperbarui konsep indikator kinerja ekologi; serta 3) merancang arah baru (reorientasi) kebijakan Dana Insentif Daerah. Dengan menggunakan metode kajian literatur dan analisis data sekunder, makalah ini mengelaborasi sistem desentralisasi fiskal di Indonesia.&nbsp; Selanjutnya menawarkan konsep baru — yaitu Indikator Kinerja Agro-Ekologi — untuk diadopsi dalam formula perhitungan alokasi Dana Insentif Daerah di masa depan. Implikasi kebijakan dibahas pada akhir makalah