Natural Relations in the Standard Model

We establish the potential existence of natural relations between the Cabibbo angle and the quark mass ratios, in a Standard Model with one Higgs doublet and two quark generations. The argument is based on the calculation of the divergent one-loop radiative corrections to the quark mass matrices.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Finite Mixing Angles in the Standard Model

We establish the existence of one-loop finite relations between the Cabibbo angle and the quark mass ratios, in the Standard Model with one Higgs doublet and two quark generations. Assuming a simple quark-lepton universality, we use the recent SNO results to predict the two-flavour mass spectrum of the neutrinos.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

The Due diligence system in the EU’s Timber Regulation: non-tariff trade barrier or leverage effect?

This paper presents a novel spatial equilibrium model to analyse the leverage impact of the EU’s Timber Regulation on sustainable timber production. This leverage effect is an argument in favour of FLEGT but it has never been investigated thoroughly, or simultaneously for demand and supply. The leverage effect is measured in terms of the market share of sustainable timber in the total timber consumption and production of a region. Our research finds that FLEGT does not provide an incentive for sustainable timber production and consumption at global level. FLEGT creates a non-tariff trade barrier at the conventional timber markets of important producing regions (Europe and North America). This protectionist situation favours conventional timber which decreases the importance of sustainable timber. In addition, the protectionist situation decreases global welfare

Changing old habits: the case of feeding patterns in anaerobic digesters

A non-linear programming model was developed to maximize the economic profit from an anaerobic co-digester. The model consists of a combination of technical and economic equations, linked through the biogas production variable. Five scenarios were simulated. These differed with regard to substrate inlet mass flow rate, organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time. The impact on biogas production was investigated and an economic analysis was undertaken based on the concepts of profitability and Net Present Value. The model results indicate that varying the substrate inlet mass flow rate and organic loading rate could have a positive impact on the profitability of co-digesters in Flanders. This can be achieved either by increasing the interval time between feedstock input, or by feeding individual streams of feedstock separately into the system, while at the same time reducing the hydraulic retention. time

Assessing guilt towards the former spouse

Divorce is often accompanied by feelings of guilt toward the former spouse. So far, no scale has been available to measure such feelings. For this purpose, the authors developed the Guilt in Separation Scale (GiSS). Content validity was assured by using experts and lay experts to generate and select items. Exploratory analyses were run on samples of 214 divorced individuals and confirmatory analyses on 458 individuals who were in the process of divorcing. Evidence was provided for the reliability and construct validity of the GiSS. The internal consistency was high (alpha = .91), as were the 6-month and 12-month test-retest reliabilities (r = .72 and r = .76, respectively). The GiSS was related to shame, regret, compassion, locus of cause of the separation, unfaithfulness, and psychological functioning

Support-seeking, support-provision and support-perception in distressed married couples : a multi-method analysis

An emerging consensus argues for the importance of spousal support in our understanding of how relationships succeed or fail. This report covers two studies that examined support seeking, support provision and support perception in distressed married couples. In Study 1 a total of seventy distressed and seventy non-distressed couples participated in a survey study; in Study 2 twenty distressed and twenty non-distressed couples participated in an observational study. Global self-reports were used in both studies to assess spouses' support behaviour and perceived support. These measures were supplemented in Study 2 with measures of observed support behaviour and interaction-based perceived support as assessed during specific support interactions. Our self-report and observational measures consistently indicated that distressed marital couples display lower levels of positive support-seeking and emotional or instrumental support provision than non-distressed couples. We also found evidence for higher levels of negative support-seeking and provision behaviour in distressed couples, as compared to non-distressed couples. Distressed spouses also reported lower levels of global and interaction-based perceived support than non-distressed spouses