Bounds on the Light Quark Masses: the scalar channel revisited

We evaluate lower bounds on the sum of the up and down quark masses. The bounds follow from the constraints provided by the dispersion relation obeyed by the two--point function of the scalar current density when combined with properties of the scalar spectral function at long--distances and perturbative QCD at short--distances. Our results point to values of $m_u+m_d$ somewhat higher than those reported recently in the literature using lattice QCD simulations.Comment: 7 pages, 3figures. A few sentences have been added to improve clarity. One reference added. To be published in PL

The Image of God in the Theology of Paul

This paper does not purport to resolve the question of the centuries with an air of final authority. Rather it is an attempt to delve once again into the New. Testament, in particular the letters of Paul, to find there what proceed with the search it will be necessary to investigate what different authors have said concerning various key passages, and to weigh, their statements on the scales of other Pauline, New Testament, and Old Testament evidence. Throughout we propose to adhere to the principle that Scripture interprets itself, so that one passage in Paul must be seen in the light of Pauline theology in general, and all that Paul has to say regarding the image of God must be seen in the light of the theology of the New Testament and of the Old Testament in general. After a brief examination of the word image itself and its development prior to the New Testament era, we sha1l then seek to determine the meaning of two important aspects of Paul\u27s “image\u27\u27 theology. First we shall investigate the significance and implications of Christ as the image of God, and secondly we shall attempt to arrive at an understanding of the new man as the image of God

An Examination and Evaluation of the Theology of Karl Barth and Oscar Gullman on the Doctrine of Baptism, with Particular Emphasis on the Question of Infant Baptism

An Examination and Evaluation of the Theology of Karl Barth and Oscar Gullman on the Doctrine of Baptism, with Particular Emphasis on the Question of Infant Baptism It is the purpose of this paper to present the respective views of these two leading theologians on the subject or baptism, in particular infant baptism, as expressed in their two publications on the subject, and to submit them to analysis and criticism. During the course of the paper it will be necessary to refer to the various statements of the New Testament regarding baptism and to compare those passages with certain conclusions reached by Barth or Cullman. Also, in the case of Barth, it will be necessary to deal with other facets of his theology which, it is believed by the writer, have much bearing on his treatment or baptism. The weight of the paper will concern itself with the position of Karl Barth. However, Oscar Cullman’s main objections to Barth\u27s position will be examined and criticized. The ultimate goal of this study will be to attempt to determine to what degree Barth and Cullman have arrived at a correct understanding of the doctrine of baptism

The Effect of a Missing at Random Missing Data Mechanism on a Single Layer Artificial Neural Network with a Sigmoidal Activation Function and the Use of Multiple Imputation as a Correction

Missing data is a common problem encountered in statistical analysis. However, little is known about how bias inducing missing at random missing data mechanisms affect predictive model performance measures such as sensitivity, specificity, error rate, ROC curves, and AUC. I investigate the effect of missing at random missing data mechanisms on a single layer artificial neural network with a sigmoidal activation function, equivalent to a binary logistic regression. Binary logistic regression is frequently used in health research and so it is a logical starting point to understand the effects of missing data on statistical learning models that could be used in health research. I then examine whether multiple imputation is a useful analytic correction for improving the predictive model performance measures relative to performing a complete case analysis.;Two simulation studies are conducted to understand how the complexity of the missing data mechanism, type of covariate missing, and rate of missing values affect the measures of interest and whether multiple imputation is robust to the various scenarios investigated. It was found that sensitivity, specificity, and error rate estimates were biased for all scenarios and the magnitude of bias increased as the missing rate increased. However, the AUC remained unbiased. Multiple imputation was observed to be an effective correction for missing values by decreasing the bias of the performance measures relative to the complete case analysis.;I conclude that missing at random missing data mechanisms do affect performance measures such as sensitivity, specificity, and error rate estimates, but multiple imputation is a useful analytic correction for reducing the bias of these measures. It is advised that caution should be taken when reporting AUC and it should be reported alongside other measures such as sensitivity and specificity

Hall response of interacting bosonic atoms in strong gauge fields: from condensed to FQH states

Interacting bosonic atoms under strong gauge fields undergo a series of phase transitions that take the cloud from a simple Bose-Einstein condensate all the way to a family of fractional-quantum-Hall-type states [M. Popp, B. Paredes, and J. I. Cirac, Phys. Rev. A 70, 053612 (2004)]. In this work we demonstrate that the Hall response of the atoms can be used to locate the phase transitions and characterize the ground state of the many-body state. Moreover, the same response function reveals within some regions of the parameter space, the structure of the spectrum and the allowed transitions to excited states. We verify numerically these ideas using exact diagonalization for a small number of atoms, and provide an experimental protocol to implement the gauge fields and probe the linear response using a periodically driven optical lattice. Finally, we discuss our theoretical results in relation to recent experiments with condensates in artificial magnetic fields [ L. J. LeBlanc, K. Jimenez-Garcia, R. A. Williams, M. C. Beeler, A. R. Perry, W. D. Phillips, and I. B. Spielman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109, 10811 (2012)] and we analyze the role played by vortex states in the Hall response.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

The sense of ending: the closing of a psychiatric hospital in Lisbon - Hospital Miguel Bombarda

RESUMO: Este estudo foi realizado com o objectivo de conhecer os efeitos da desinstitucionalização dos doentes psiquiátricos crónicos durante o processo de encerramento do Hospital Miguel Bombarda (2007-2011). Este processo incluiu a fusão, em 2008, dos dois principais hospitais psiquiátricos de Lisboa- Hospital Miguel Bombarda (HMB) e Hospital Júlio de Matos (HJM), no Centro Psiquiátrico Hospitalar de Lisboa (CHPL). Foi criado um grupo controlo de pacientes ainda hospitalizados no CHPL (n=166) para comparação com o grupo de casos desinstitucionalizados (n=146). Desta amostra inicial (n=312) apenas 142 (76 casos e 66 controlos) foram incluídos, sendo as principais causas de exclusão: diagnóstico (patologia orgânica, demência ou debilidade mental, como diagnóstico primário) e transferência entre hospitais. A desinstitucionalização foi principalmente avaliada em termos de psicopatologia, utilização de serviços, satisfação, crime, condição de “sem abrigo” ou morte. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria dos doentes crónicos pode sair do hospital psiquiátrico para a comunidade sem agravamento da psicopatologia, aumento do crime ou da condição de “sem abrigo”. A satisfação parece estar aumentada na população desinstitucionalizada. A mortalidade, por outro lado, revelou-se uma questão problemática: apesar de não ter sido possível estabelecer uma comparação entre casos e controlos, a Taxa de Mortalidade Standard encontrada neste estudo foi muito superior ao esperado, de acordo com os resultados encontrados na literatura. Um estudo longitudinal da mesma população poderá ser objecto de futura investigação, possivelmente comparada com outra população similar de um programa de desinstitucionalização noutro país.--------- RÉSUMÉ: Cette étude a été menée afin de déterminer les effets de la désinstitutionnalisation des patients chroniques lors de la fermeture de l'hôpital Miguel Bombarda (2007-2011). Ce processus comprenait la fusion en 2008 de deux grands hôpitaux psychiatriques de Lisbonne: À savoir, Hôpital Miguel Bombarda (HMB) et Hôpital Julio de Matos (HJM), maintenant Centre de l'Hôpital Psychiatrique de Lisbonne (CHPL). Il a été créé un groupe contrôle des patients toujours hospitalisés à CHPL (n = 166) pour comparer avec les cas désinstitutionnalisés (n = 146). De cet échantillon initial (n= 312) à peine 142 (76 cas et 66 contrôles) ont été inclus, les principales raisons d'exclusion: diagnostique (maladie organique, démence ou d'arriération mentale comme diagnostic primaire) et les transferts entre hôpitaux. La désinstitutionnalisation a été principalement évaluée en termes de psychopathologie, de l'utilisation des services, la satisfaction, la criminalité, les “sans abri” et de la mort. Les résultats ont montré que la majorité des malades chroniques peuvent quitter l'hôpital psychiatrique et s´intégrer dans la communauté sans aggravation de la psychopathologie, augmentation de la criminalité ou du nombre de “sans-abri”. La satisfaction semble être en hausse dans la population désinstitutionnalisée. Toutefois, la mortalité s'est avéré être une question problématique, même si il n´a pas été possible d'établir une comparaison entre les cas et les contrôles, le Taux de Mortalité Standard estimé dans cette étude fut beaucoup plus élevé que prévu, en tenant compte des résultats établis dans la littérature. Une étude longitudinale de la même population pourra faire l'objet de futures recherches, peut-être comparé à une population similaire d'un programme de désinstitutionnalisation dans un autre pays. ----------- ABSTRACT:This study was conducted to assess the effects of deinstitutionalization of “long-stay” patients during the process of closing Hospital Miguel Bombarda (2007-2011). This process included the fusion, in 2008, of the two main psychiatric hospitals in Lisbon- Hospital Miguel Bombarda (HMB) and Hospital Júlio de Matos (HJM), into Centro Psiquiátrico Hospitalar de Lisboa (CHPL). A control group of still institutionalized patients in CHPL (n=166) was used as a comparison with the deinstitutionalized population (n=146). Of this 312 initial sample only 142 (76 cases and 66 controls) were included, the main causes of exclusion being diagnoses (organic disease, dementia and mental retardation- as first diagnoses) and transference between hospitals. Deinstitutionalization is mainly evaluated in terms of psychopathology, use of services, satisfaction, crime, vagrancy and deaths. The results show that most long-stay patients can successfully leave psychiatric hospitals and be relocated in the community without an increase in psychopathology, crime or vagrancy. Satisfaction seems to be improved in those patients. On the other hand, mortality remains an issue of concern: Although there was no possibility of comparing it between cases and controls, the Standard Mortality Rate (SMR) in our study was found to be much higher than expected judging by other studies results. A longitudinal further study of this same population will be the matter for a future investigation, possibily compared with another similar population from a desinstitutionalization programme in another country

Few-particle systems: An analysis of some strongly correlated states

The analysis of the quantum Hall response of a small system of interacting ultracold bosonic atoms through the variation of its Hall resistivity against the applied gauge magnetic field provides a powerful method to unmask its strongly correlated states in a quite exhaustive way. Within a fixed range of vaues of the magnetic field in the lowest Landau-level regime, where the resistivity displays two succesive plateaux, we identify the implied states as the Pfaffian and the state with filling factor \nu=2/3 in the thermodinamic limit. We fix the conditions to have good observability