Direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the NMSSM

We address the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the framework of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We conduct a detailed analysis of the parameter space, taking into account all the available constraints from LEPII, and compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section. We find that sizable values for the detection cross section, within the reach of dark matter detectors, are attainable in this framework, and are associated with the exchange of very light Higgses, $m_{h_1^0}\lesssim 70$ GeV, the latter exhibiting a significant singlet composition.Comment: LaTex, 6 pages, 4 figures. Talk given at the 5th International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter (IDM2004), Edinburgh, 6-10 September 200

Validation of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire

Orientação: Ricardo José Martins PintoExperiências adversas na infância (ACE) são experiências que ocorrem na infância, tais como abuso, negligência e tipos de disfunção familiar, que aumentam o risco de problemas de saúde física e psicológica e afetam o desenvolvimento. As ACE são avaliadas normalmente através de uma entrevista semiestruturada. No entanto existem muitos instrumentos que completam o diagnóstico, como o Questionário das Experiências Adversas na Infância. Existem várias vantagens em analisar as propriedades psicométricas do instrumento e esta dissertação visa examinar a estrutura fatorial deste questionário. Método: Foram utilizados dados da versão portuguesa do Questionário ACE. A amostra incluiu 383 adolescentes. A média de idades foi de 17 anos (M = 16.52, SD = 1.74), variando entre 13 e 23 anos (171 (44.6%) do sexo masculino e 212 (55.4%) do sexo feminino). Resultados: Aproximadamente metade da amostra relatou exposição a três/ quatro ACE (n = 192; 50.1%). Considerando a análise fatorial confirmatória, os resultados mostraram que todos os modelos testados apresentaram baixos índices. Contudo, a análise da consistência interna revelou valores altos de alfa. Conclusão: Apesar do questionário ACE ser um dos instrumentos de autorrelato mais utilizados nesta área, a validade de construto requer mais estudos no sentido de se estreitar a relação entre o plano conceptual e o estatístico. Contudo, importa referir que ainda permanece em debate o melhor método para avaliar a validade de construtos que envolvem experiências, comparativamente a outros construtos. Consequentemente, os procedimentos tradicionais quando uma nova medida é desenvolvida, como confiabilidade interna e análise fatorial, podem não ser métodos apropriados para instrumentos que avaliam experiências de vida, e o nosso estudo parece corroborar essa hipótese. Alguns investigadores sugerem o teste-reteste como o melhor método, pelo que seria importante alargar o estudo e fazer esse tipo de análise.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events in childhood, like abuse, neglect and kinds of serious household dysfunction, that can increase risk for physical or psychological health and development. ACEs are mostly evaluated with a careful semi-structured interview. However, there are many instruments that complete the diagnosis, like the ACE Questionnaire. There are several advantages to examining the psychometric properties of the instrument, and this dissertation aims to access and examine the factorial structure of this questionnaire. Method: We used a data from the Portuguese version of the ACE Study Questionnaire. The sample included 383 adolescents. The mean of the age was 17 years old (M = 16.52, SD = 1.74), ranged between 13 and 23 years old (171 (44.6%) males and 212 (55.4%) females). Results: Approximately half of the sample reported having been exposed at three/four ACE (n = 192; 50.1%). Considering fit indices models, results presented that all tested models presented poor fit. However, the analysis of internal consistency showed high alpha values. Conclusion: Although the ACE questionnaire is one of the most commonly used self-report instruments to assess this theme, construct validity requires further studies in order to narrow the relationship between the conceptual and statistical planes. However, they should be aware that the best method for assessing the validity of constructs involving experiments as compared to other constructs is still under debate. Consequently, traditional procedures when a new measure is developed, such as internal reliability and factor analysis, may not be appropriate methods for instruments that evaluate life experiences, and our study seems to corroborate this hypothesis. Some researchers suggest that test-retest may be the best method, so it would be important to extend the study and do this kind of analysis in the future

NMSSM with a singlino LSP: possible challenges for searches for supersymmetry at the LHC

A light singlino in the NMSSM can reduce considerably the missing transverse energy at the end of sparticle decay cascades; instead, light NMSSM-specific Higgs bosons can be produced. Such scenarios can be consistent with present constraints from the LHC with all sparticle masses below ~1 TeV. We discuss search strategies, which do not rely on missing transverse energy, for such scenarios at the next run of the LHC near 14 TeV.Comment: 20 pages, 9 Figures. References and experimental constraints added; slight change of benchmark point, conclusions unchange

Productivity, wages, and the returns to firm-provided training: fair shared capitalism?

In this study, we develop an alternative modelling that examines a) the determinants of firm productivity and wages and b) the internal rate of return (IRR) to firm training for both firms and workers. Using a six-year linked employer-employee dataset, our estimates indicate that an additional hour of training per worker results in an increase of 0.12% in productivity and 0.04% in wages, or an increase of 0.16% and 0.08%, respectively, if one uses firm training as a stock variable. We then find that 82% of the gains in productivity are captured by firms and 18% by workers. Given the training costs, we finally obtain an IRR of 13% for firms and 33% for workers at sample means. Firms are heterogeneous, and we do find that dispersion in the rates of return across firms is high.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FDI, income inequality and poverty : a time series analysis of Portugal, 1973–2016

Using time series data for Portugal between 1973 and 2016, this paper examines to what extent, inward FDI contributes to income inequality and poverty in the long-run. It was found that increased flows of inward FDI are associated with a less unequal income distribution and lower poverty rates. The results further suggest that, in the Portuguese case there is mutual causality between inward FDI and poverty in the long run, i.e., FDI significantly reduces poverty, and lower levels of poverty lead to higher inward FDI flows. In the case of inequality, the evidence shows that FDI does not contribute to higher (or lower) income inequality. Instead, more unequal income distributions significantly and negatively impact on inward FDI in the long run. Finally, human capital emerged as a key determinant to mitigate income inequality and circumvent poverty, contributing, indirectly, to fostering additional FDI inflows. Such results call for integrated public policy interventions that emphasize social and institu- tional dimensions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

LHC constraints on M_1/2 and m_0 in the semi-constrained NMSSM

Constraints from searches for squarks and gluinos at the LHC at sqrt{s}=8 TeV are applied to the parameter space of the NMSSM with universal squark/slepton and gaugino masses at the GUT scale, but allowing for non-universal soft Higgs mass parameters (the sNMSSM). We confine ourselves to regions of the parameter space compatible with a 125 GeV Higgs boson with diphoton signal rates at least as large as the Standard Model ones, and a dark matter candidate compatible with WMAP and XENON100 constraints. Following the simulation of numerous points in the m_0-M_{1/2} plane, we compare the constraints on the sNMSSM from 3-5 jets + missing E_T channels as well as from multijet + missing E_T channels with the corresponding cMSSM constraints. Due to the longer squark decay cascades, lower bounds on M_{1/2} are alleviated by up to 50 GeV. For heavy squarks at large m_0, the dominant constraints originate from multijet + missing E_T channels due to gluino decays via stop pairs.Comment: 18 pages, 2 Tables, 3 Figure

Banks’ capital, regulation and the financial crisis

This paper investigates whether regulatory capital requirements play an important role in determining banks’ equity capital. We estimate equity capital regressions using panel data of a sample of 560 banks for 2004-2010. Our results suggest that regulatory capital requirements are not first order determinants of banks’ capital structure. We document differences on the effect of most factors on banks’ share of equity according to the type of bank and to the region of the bank. Finally, we show that the determinants of this share are sensitive to the recent international financial crisis and to a set of regulatory country factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Graphic calculators in the classroom: Students’ viewpoints

This paper presents the results of a study about the views and attitudes of students of a low achieving 11th grade class who were involved in an innovative experience with graphic calculators for all academic year. Contrasting the results obtained from a questionnaire and from interviews, it concludes that students tended to point some improvements in the mathematics class, but attributed their origin more to their teacher’ style and personality than to the use of this technology

The ‘de-territorialisation of closeness’ - a typology of international successful R&D projects involving cultural and geographic proximity

Although there is a considerable amount of empirical evidence on inter-firm collaborations within technology-based industries, there are only a few works concerned with R&D cooperation by low-tech firms, especially SMEs. Providing further and new evidence based on a recently built database of CRAFT projects, this study analyzes the relationship between technology and proximity in international R&D networks using Homogeneity Analysis by Means of Alternating Least Squares (HOMALS) and statistical cluster techniques. The resulting typology of international cooperative R&D projects highlights that successful international cooperative R&D projects are both culturally/geographically closer and distant. Moreover, and quite interestingly, geographically distant projects are technologically more advanced whereas those located near each other are essentially low tech. Such evidence is likely to reflect the tacit-codified knowledge debate boosted recently by the ICT “revolution” emphasized by the prophets of the “Death of Distance” and the “End of Geography”.Research and Development (R&D); proximity; SMEs