Extended matter coupled to BF theory

Recently, a topological field theory of membrane-matter coupled to BF theory in arbitrary spacetime dimensions was proposed [1]. In this paper, we discuss various aspects of the four-dimensional theory. Firstly, we study classical solutions leading to an interpretation of the theory in terms of strings propagating on a flat spacetime. We also show that the general classical solutions of the theory are in one-to-one correspondence with solutions of Einstein's equations in the presence of distributional matter (cosmic strings). Secondly, we quantize the theory and present, in particular, a prescription to regularize the physical inner product of the canonical theory. We show how the resulting transition amplitudes are dual to evaluations of Feynman diagrams coupled to three-dimensional quantum gravity. Finally, we remove the regulator by proving the topological invariance of the transition amplitudes.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figure

Self-Care Among Social Workers Employed in Rural Settings: A Cross-Sectional Investigation

Despite growing recognition about the importance of self-care for social work professionals, research related to the topic has not kept pace with the changing landscape of the profession. Particularly, self-care practices among rural social work professionals have been overlooked in the research. Rural social work practice is, in many ways, decidedly different from practice in more urban areas. Thus, the primary aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the personal and professional self-care practices of rural social workers. Specifically, the study sough to better understand how often social workers engage in self-care and whether or not there are associations between personal and professional demographic variables and self-care practice. Discussion and next-steps for research and implications for practice are included

Self-Care Among Social Workers Employed in Rural Settings: A Cross-Sectional Investigation

Despite growing recognition about the importance of self-care for social work professionals, research related to the topic has not kept pace with the changing landscape of the profession. Particularly, self-care practices among rural social work professionals have been overlooked in the research. Rural social work practice is, in many ways, decidedly different from practice in more urban areas. Thus, the primary aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the personal and professional self-care practices of rural social workers. Specifically, the study sough to better understand how often social workers engage in self-care and whether or not there are associations between personal and professional demographic variables and self-care practice. Discussion and next-steps for research and implications for practice are included

Self-Care among Social Workers Employed in Rural Settings: A Cross-Sectional Investigation

Despite growing recognition about the importance of self-care for social work professionals, research related to the topic has not kept pace with the changing landscape of the profession. Particularly, self-care practices among rural social work professionals have been overlooked in the research. Rural social work practice is, in many ways, decidedly different from practice in more urban areas. Thus, the primary aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the personal and professional self-care practices of rural social workers. Specifically, the study sough to better understand how often social workers engage in self-care and whether or not there are associations between personal and professional demographic variables and self-care practice. Discussion and next-steps for research and implications for practice are included

Simplicial Quantum Gravity on a Computer

We describe a method of Monte-Carlo simulations of simplicial quantum gravity coupled to matter fields. We concentrate mainly on the problem of implementing effectively the random, dynamical triangulation and building in a detailed-balance condition into the elementary transformations of the triangulation. We propose a method of auto-tuning the parameters needed to balance simulations of the canonical ensemble. This method allows us to prepare a whole set of jobs and therefore is very useful in systematic determining the phase diagram in two dimensional coupling space. It is of particular importance when the jobs are run on a parallel machine.Comment: 24 pages, PostScrip

Observables in 3-dimensional quantum gravity and topological invariants

In this paper we report some results on the expectation values of a set of observables introduced for 3-dimensional Riemannian quantum gravity with positive cosmological constant, that is, observables in the Turaev-Viro model. Instead of giving a formal description of the observables, we just formulate the paper by examples. This means that we just show how an idea works with particular cases and give a way to compute 'expectation values' in general by a topological procedure.Comment: 24 pages, 47 figure

State Sum Models and Simplicial Cohomology

We study a class of subdivision invariant lattice models based on the gauge group $Z_{p}$, with particular emphasis on the four dimensional example. This model is based upon the assignment of field variables to both the $1$- and $2$-dimensional simplices of the simplicial complex. The property of subdivision invariance is achieved when the coupling parameter is quantized and the field configurations are restricted to satisfy a type of mod-$p$ flatness condition. By explicit computation of the partition function for the manifold $RP^{3} \times S^{1}$, we establish that the theory has a quantum Hilbert space which differs from the classical one.Comment: 28 pages, Latex, ITFA-94-13, (Expanded version with two new sections

Nonperturbative dynamics for abstract (p,q) string networks

We describe abstract (p,q) string networks which are the string networks of Sen without the information about their embedding in a background spacetime. The non-perturbative dynamical formulation invented for spin networks, in terms of causal evolution of dual triangulations, is applied to them. The formal transition amplitudes are sums over discrete causal histories that evolve (p,q) string networks. The dynamics depend on two free SL(2,Z) invariant functions which describe the amplitudes for the local evolution moves.Comment: Latex, 12 pages, epsfig, 7 figures, minor change

Crumpled triangulations and critical points in 4D simplicial quantum gravity

This is an expanded and revised version of our geometrical analysis of the strong coupling phase of 4D simplicial quantum gravity. The main differences with respect to the former version is a full discussion of singular triangulations with singular vertices connected by a subsingular edge. In particular we provide analytical arguments which characterize the entropical properties of triangulations with a singular edge connecting two singular vertices. The analytical estimate of the location of the critical coupling at k_2\simeq 1.3093 is presented in more details. Finally we also provide a model for pseudo-criticality at finite N_4(S^4).Comment: 44 page

A Closed Contour of Integration in Regge Calculus

The analytic structure of the Regge action on a cone in $d$ dimensions over a boundary of arbitrary topology is determined in simplicial minisuperspace. The minisuperspace is defined by the assignment of a single internal edge length to all 1-simplices emanating from the cone vertex, and a single boundary edge length to all 1-simplices lying on the boundary. The Regge action is analyzed in the space of complex edge lengths, and it is shown that there are three finite branch points in this complex plane. A closed contour of integration encircling the branch points is shown to yield a convergent real wave function. This closed contour can be deformed to a steepest descent contour for all sizes of the bounding universe. In general, the contour yields an oscillating wave function for universes of size greater than a critical value which depends on the topology of the bounding universe. For values less than the critical value the wave function exhibits exponential behaviour. It is shown that the critical value is positive for spherical topology in arbitrary dimensions. In three dimensions we compute the critical value for a boundary universe of arbitrary genus, while in four and five dimensions we study examples of product manifolds and connected sums.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, To appear in Gen. Rel. Gra