Modular Constraints on Superconformal Field Theories

We constrain the spectrum of $\mathcal{N}=(1, 1)$ and $\mathcal{N}=(2, 2)$ superconformal field theories in two-dimensions by requiring the NS-NS sector partition function to be invariant under the $\Gamma_\theta$ congruence subgroup of the full modular group $SL(2, \mathbb{Z})$. We employ semi-definite programming to find constraints on the allowed spectrum of operators with or without $U(1)$ charges. Especially, the upper bounds on the twist gap for the non-current primaries exhibit interesting peaks, kinks, and plateau. We identify a number of candidate rational (S)CFTs realized at the numerical boundaries and find that they are realized as the solutions to modular differential equations associated to $\Gamma_\theta$. Some of the candidate theories have been discussed by H\"ohn in the context of self-dual extremal vertex operator (super)algebra. We also obtain bounds for the charged operators and study their implications to the weak gravity conjecture in AdS$_3$.Comment: 50 pages, 16 figure

Review of \u3cem\u3eCombating Poverty: Quebec\u27s Pursuit of a Distinctive Welfare State\u3c/em\u3e Axel Van Den Berg, Charles Plante, Hicham Raiq, Christine Proulx, and Sam Faustmann

Axel Van Den Berg, Charles Plante, Hicham Raiq, Christine Proulx, and Sam Faustmann, Combating Poverty: Quebec’s Pursuit of a Distinctive Welfare State. University of Toronto Press (2017), 232 pages, $37.50 (hardcover)

Modular Constraints on Conformal Field Theories with Currents

We study constraints coming from the modular invariance of the partition function of two-dimensional conformal field theories. We constrain the spectrum of CFTs in the presence of holomorphic and anti-holomorphic currents using the semi-definite programming. In particular, we find the bounds on the twist gap for the non-current primaries depend dramatically on the presence of holomorphic currents, showing numerous kinks and peaks. Various rational CFTs are realized at the numerical boundary of the twist gap, saturating the upper limits on the degeneracies. Such theories include Wess-Zumino-Witten models for the Deligne's exceptional series, the Monster CFT and the Baby Monster CFT. We also study modular constraints imposed by $\mathcal{W}$-algebras of various type and observe that the bounds on the gap depend on the choice of $\mathcal{W}$-algebra in the small central charge region.Comment: 49 pages, 23 figure

Nature through sculpture

Human beings were born from nature and in death they return back to nature. This quote express how closely we are connected to nature which is defined a word as all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people. We first came from nature, and in this complicated society, we sometimes feel like returning to the peaceful, magnificent and tranquil side of nature. Through my work, I would like to show his interpretation of how nature is. For example, a person can look at the ocean and feel peaceful, but someone else can look at the same ocean and feel depressed. Therefore, in my pieces I would like to show how I see different parts of nature. Another goal of in all of my work is to evoke the landscape of nature, as in painting, and force viewers to feel how nature breathes. To instill the breath of nature into lifeless object is what I strive to achieve in my work and in my life. The works are divided into two different parts that could be described by words like mountain, ocean. Most of my works, entitled Nature Through Sculpture, are composed of copper sheets and are simplified shapes of early Korean mountains in paintings, through modern Korean mountains in paintings. My works challenge viewers to discover an entirely new perspective of traditional sculptures realistically through contemporary sculptures almost as if they were futuristic. Sculptors and their work reflect and create the culture in their own way in modern art. Therefore, artistic works are a kind of aesthetic reflection of the culture. Art as defined by the Korean dictionary originally means, to join or fit together and culture comes from cultivation and growth. I believe the purpose of art is not to honor and increase its complexity, but to simplify the world and our place in it. From this perspective, functions have changed from time to time and age to age. Though my works, I intend to express lyrical Korean nature. These pieces raise the question of the image of the nature in today\u27s society. I encourage viewers to answer this question when seeing my emotional works

The determinants of employees' affective commitment to the organisation under downsizing: the case of the banking industry in Korea

This thesis sets out to solve a paradox: maintaining a high level of employees' affective commitment to the organisation is assumed to be a critical factor for successful downsizing, but downsizing tends to reduce employees' affective commitment to the organisation. In seeking to resolve this paradox, the thesis aims to provide insights into how employees' affective commitment to the organisation under downsizing can be managed. The thesis first explores the mechanism through which downsizing exerts its influence on employees' affective commitment to the organisation, i.e. it examines whether downsizing affects employees' affective commitment to the organisation directly and/or indirectly through employees' daily work experiences, and seeks to determine which impact is stronger. Then, it examines whether employees' affective commitment to the organisation is really important in terms of organisational citizenship behaviour. Finally, the thesis identifies the determinants of employees' affective commitment to the organisation and investigates how and why these determinants have such effects. The results of the research show that the indirect impact of downsizing on employees' affective commitment to the organisation is much stronger than its direct impact. That is, employees' affective commitment to the organisation is slightly reduced by downsizing, but it can be maintained or enhanced if the change of employees' daily work experiences caused by downsizing is favourable to them. Moreover, employees' affective commitment to the organisation appears to be very important in terms of organisational citizenship behaviour. Finally, employees' daily work experiences affect employees' affective commitment to the organisation through their impacts on the three mediating variables (organisation-based self-esteem, perceived organisational support, and self efficacy). The results also show that organisation-based self-esteem is the key mediating variable

Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of 2D van der Waals materials-The challenges and the extensive future opportunities

The last decade has witnessed significant progress in two-dimensional van der Waals (2D vdW) materials research; however, a number of challenges remain for their practical applications. The most significant challenge for 2D vdW materials is the control of the early stages of nucleation and growth of the material on preferred surfaces to eventually create large grains with digital thickness controllability, which will enable their incorporation into high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. This Perspective discusses the technical challenges to be overcome in the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of 2D group 6 transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) atomic crystals and their heterostructures, as well as future research aspects in vdW epitaxy for 2D TMDs via MOCVD. In addition, we encourage the traditional MOCVD community to apply their expertise in the field of "2D vdW materials," which will continue to grow at an exponential rate

Temporal Discounting and Inter-Temporal Choice in Rhesus Monkeys

Humans and animals are more likely to take an action leading to an immediate reward than actions with delayed rewards of similar magnitudes. Although such devaluation of delayed rewards has been almost universally described by hyperbolic discount functions, the rate of this temporal discounting varies substantially among different animal species. This might be in part due to the differences in how the information about reward is presented to decision makers. In previous animal studies, reward delays or magnitudes were gradually adjusted across trials, so the animals learned the properties of future rewards from the rewards they waited for and consumed previously. In contrast, verbal cues have been used commonly in human studies. In the present study, rhesus monkeys were trained in a novel inter-temporal choice task in which the magnitude and delay of reward were indicated symbolically using visual cues and varied randomly across trials. We found that monkeys could extract the information about reward delays from visual symbols regardless of the number of symbols used to indicate the delay. The rate of temporal discounting observed in the present study was comparable to the previous estimates in other mammals, and the animal's choice behavior was largely consistent with hyperbolic discounting. Our results also suggest that the rate of temporal discounting might be influenced by contextual factors, such as the novelty of the task. The flexibility furnished by this new inter-temporal choice task might be useful for future neurobiological investigations on inter-temporal choice in non-human primates