On supercurrent superfields and Fayet–Iliopoulos terms in N=1N=1 gauge theories

We revisit the supermultiplet structure of Noether currents for N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories. Using superfield identities and the field equations we show how to derive a superfield equation for the divergences of the Noether currents in terms of the supercurrent and anomaly superfields containing 16_B+16_F components. We refer to this as the natural supercurrent structure as it is invariant under all local symmetries of the theory. It corresponds to the S-multiplet of Komargodski and Seiberg. We clarify the on/off-shell nature of the currents appearing in this multiplet and we study in detail the effect of specific improvement transformations leading to 1) a Ferrara-Zumino multiplet and to 2) a multiplet containing the new improved energy-momentum tensor of Callan, Coleman and Jackiw. Our methods also apply to supersymmetric gauge theories with a Fayet-Iliopoulos term. We construct the natural supercurrent multiplet for such a theory and show how to improve this to a formally gauge-invariant Ferrara-Zumino multiplet by introducing a non-dynamical chiral superfield S to ensure superfield gauge invariance. Finally we study the coupling of this theory to supergravity and show that S remains non-dynamical if the theory is R-symmetric and that S becomes propagating if the theory is not R-symmetric, leading to non-minimal 16_B+16_F supergravity

[Verification of normative values for the Swiss version of the Freiburg speech intelligibility test.]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the Swiss version of the Freiburg speech intelligibility test five test words from the original German recording which are rarely used in Switzerland have been exchanged. Furthermore, differences in the transfer functions between headphone and loudspeaker presentation are not taken into account during calibration. New settings for the levels of the individual test words in the recommended recording and small changes in calibration procedures led us to make a verification of the currently used normative values.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Speech intelligibility was measured in 20 subjects with normal hearing using monosyllabic words and numbers via headphones and loudspeakers.RESULTS: On average, 50% speech intelligibility was reached at levels which were 7.5 dB lower under free-field conditions than for headphone presentation. The average difference between numbers and monosyllabic words was found to be 9.6 dB, which is considerably lower than the 14 dB of the current normative curves.CONCLUSIONS: There is a good agreement between our measurements and the normative values for tests using monosyllabic words and headphones, but not for numbers or free-field measurements.

BREAKING CODES: MAKING THEORIES ON MENSTRUATION ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THIRD-WAVE FEMINISM

Men and women respond to situations according to their community’s social codes. With menstruation, people adhere to “menstrual codes”. Within academic communities, people adhere to “academic codes”. This report paper investigates performances of academic codes and menstrual codes. Implications of gender identity and race are missing and/or minimal in past feminist work regarding menstruation. This paper includes considerations for gender identity and race. Within the examination of academic codes, this paper discusses the inhibitive process of idea creation within the academic sphere, and the limitations to the predominant ways of knowledge sharing within, and outside of, the academic community. The digital project (www.hu.mtu.edu/~creynolds) is one example of how academic and menstrual codes can be broken. The report and project provide a broadly accessible deconstruction of menstrual advertising and academic theories while fostering conversations on menstruation through the sharing of knowledge with others, regardless of gender, race, or academic standing.