Evidence that the Y(4660) is a f_0(980)psi' bound state

We demonstrate that the experimental information currently available for the Y(4660) is consistent with its being a f_0(980)psi' molecule. Possible experimental tests of our hypothesis are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Exploring the intrinsic Lorentz-violating parameters at DUNE

Neutrinos can push our search for new physics to a whole new level. What makes them so hard to be detected, what allows them to travel humongous distances without being stopped or deflected allows to amplify Planck suppressed effects (or effects of comparable size) to a level that we can measure or bound in DUNE. In this work we analyze the sensitivity of DUNE to CPT and Lorentz- violating interactions in a framework that allows a straightforward extrapolation of the bounds obtained to any phenomenological modification of the dispersion relation of neutrinos

SUSY S4 x SU(5) revisited

Following the recent results from Daya Bay and RENO, which measure the lepton mixing angle theta^l_13 ~ 0.15, we revisit a supersymmetric S4 x SU(5) model, which predicts tri-bimaximal (TB) mixing in the neutrino sector with theta^l_13 being too small in its original version. We show that introducing one additional S4 singlet flavon into the model gives rise to a sizable theta^l_13 via an operator which leads to the breaking of one of the two Z2 symmetries preserved in the neutrino sector at leading order. The results of the original model for fermion masses, quark mixing and the solar mixing angle are maintained to good precision. The atmospheric and solar mixing angle deviations from TB mixing are subject to simple sum rule bounds.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Trimaximal neutrino mixing from vacuum alignment in A4 and S4 models

Recent T2K results indicate a sizeable reactor angle theta_13 which would rule out exact tri-bimaximal lepton mixing. We study the vacuum alignment of the Altarelli-Feruglio A4 family symmetry model including additional flavons in the 1' and 1" representations and show that it leads to trimaximal mixing in which the second column of the lepton mixing matrix consists of the column vector (1,1,1)^T/sqrt{3}, with a potentially large reactor angle. In order to limit the reactor angle and control the higher order corrections, we propose a renormalisable S4 model in which the 1' and 1" flavons of A4 are unified into a doublet of S4 which is spontaneously broken to A4 by a flavon which enters the neutrino sector at higher order. We study the vacuum alignment in the S4 model and show that it predicts accurate trimaximal mixing with approximate tri-bimaximal mixing, leading to a new mixing sum rule testable in future neutrino experiments. Both A4 and S4 models preserve form dominance and hence predict zero leptogenesis, up to renormalisation group corrections.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, version to be published in JHE

STRONG SUPERSYMMETRIC QUANTUM EFFECTS ON THE TOP QUARK WIDTH

We compute the one-loop supersymmetric QCD quantum effects on the width $\Gamma (t\rightarrow W^{+}\, b)$ of the canonical main decay of the top quark within the framework of the MSSM. The corrections can be of either sign depending on whether the stop squark mass is above or below the top quark decay threshold into stop and gluino $\Gamma (t\rightarrow\tilde{t} \,\tilde{g})$. For $m_{\tilde{t}}$ above that threshold, the corrections are negative and can be of the same order (and go in the same direction) as the ordinary QCD corrections, even for stop and gluino masses of ${\cal O}(100)\,GeV$. Since the electroweak supersymmetric quantum effects turn out to be also of the same sign and could be of the same order of magnitude, the total MSSM correction to the top quark width could potentially result in a rather large ${\cal O}(10-25)\%$ reduction of $\Gamma (t\rightarrow W^{+}\, b)$ far beyond the conventional QCD expectations.Comment: 11 page

QCD Corrections to B -> X_{d,s} nu nubar, B_{d,s} -> l^+l^-, K -> pi nu nubar and K_L -> mu^+ mu^- in the MSSM

We compute for the first time QCD corrections to the rare decays B -> X_{d,s} nu nubar, B_{d,s} -> l^+ l^-, K -> pi nu nubar and K_L -> mu^+ mu^-, where l=e or mu, in the context of a supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (SM) with minimal flavour violation and new operators, in addition to those present in the SM. Assuming that the gluino is heavy, we consider an effective theory which consists of charged and neutral Higgs particles, charginos and squarks. We evaluate the QCD corrections to box and Z^0-penguin diagrams with top-quark, charged Higgs boson, chargino and squark exchanges, as well as to neutral Higgs boson penguin diagrams. We provide a compendium of analytic formulae for the Wilson coefficients, which are valid for arbitrary values of tan(beta) (the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs fields) except for the case of the neutral Higgs-boson contributions. These contributions have been obtained at large tan(beta), which may compensate for the inevitable suppression by the masses of the light leptons in decays based on the b -> s (d) l^+ l^- transition. We investigate the dependence of the various branching ratios on the renormalization scale mu, which is the main theoretical uncertainty in the short-distance calculation. We find that the mu dependence of the branching ratios is considerably reduced once the QCD corrections are taken into account. The contributions of new operators are found to be dominant at large tan(beta) in B_{d,s} -> mu^+ mu^- while they are subleading in B -> X_{d,s} nu nubar and completely negligible in kaon decays.Comment: 47 pages, 9 figures; version to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Planet Hunters. VIII. Characterization of 41 Long-Period Exoplanet Candidates from Kepler Archival Data

The census of exoplanets is incomplete for orbital distances larger than 1 AU. Here, we present 41 long-period planet candidates in 38 systems identified by Planet Hunters based on Kepler archival data (Q0-Q17). Among them, 17 exhibit only one transit, 14 have two visible transits and 10 have more than three visible transits. For planet candidates with only one visible transit, we estimate their orbital periods based on transit duration and host star properties. The majority of the planet candidates in this work (75%) have orbital periods that correspond to distances of 1-3 AU from their host stars. We conduct follow-up imaging and spectroscopic observations to validate and characterize planet host stars. In total, we obtain adaptive optics images for 33 stars to search for possible blending sources. Six stars have stellar companions within 4". We obtain high-resolution spectra for 6 stars to determine their physical properties. Stellar properties for other stars are obtained from the NASA Exoplanet Archive and the Kepler Stellar Catalog by Huber et al. (2014). We validate 7 planet candidates that have planet confidence over 0.997 (3-{\sigma} level). These validated planets include 3 single-transit planets (KIC-3558849b, KIC-5951458b, and KIC-8540376c), 3 planets with double transits (KIC-8540376b, KIC-9663113b, and KIC-10525077b), and 1 planet with 4 transits (KIC-5437945b). This work provides assessment regarding the existence of planets at wide separations and the associated false positive rate for transiting observation (17%-33%). More than half of the long-period planets with at least three transits in this paper exhibit transit timing variations up to 41 hours, which suggest additional components that dynamically interact with the transiting planet candidates. The nature of these components can be determined by follow-up radial velocity and transit observations.Comment: Published on ApJ, 815, 127 Notations of validated planets are changed in accordance with naming convention of NASA Exoplanet Archiv

Purified F-ATP synthase forms a Ca2+-dependent high-conductance channel matching the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

The molecular identity of the mitochondrial megachannel (MMC)/permeability transition pore (PTP), a key effector of cell death, remains controversial. By combining highly purified, fully active bovine F-ATP synthase with preformed liposomes we show that Ca2+ dissipates the H+ gradient generated by ATP hydrolysis. After incorporation of the same preparation into planar lipid bilayers Ca2+ elicits currents matching those of the MMC/PTP. Currents were fully reversible, were stabilized by benzodiazepine 423, a ligand of the OSCP subunit of F-ATP synthase that activates the MMC/PTP, and were inhibited by Mg2+ and adenine nucleotides, which also inhibit the PTP. Channel activity was insensitive to inhibitors of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and of the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). Native gel-purified oligomers and dimers, but not monomers, gave rise to channel activity. These findings resolve the long-standing mystery of the MMC/PTP and demonstrate that Ca2+ can transform the energy-conserving F-ATP synthase into an energy-dissipating device

Upper Bounds on Rare K and B Decays from Minimal Flavour Violation

We study the branching ratios of rare K and B decays in models with minimal flavour violation, using the presently available information from the universal unitarity triangle analysis and from the measurements of Br(B -> X_s gamma), Br(B -> X_s l^+l^-) and Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar). We find the following upper bounds: Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar) pi^0 nu nubar)< 4.6 10^{-11}, Br(K_L -> mu mubar)_{SD} X_s nu nubar)< 5.2 10^{-5}, Br(B -> X_d nu nubar) mu mubar)< 7.4 10^{-9}, Br(B_d -> mu mubar)< 2.2 10^{-10} at 95 % probability. We analyze in detail various possible scenarios with positive or negative interference of Standard Model and New Physics contributions, and show how an improvement of experimental data corresponding to the projected 2010 B factory integrated luminosities will allow to disentangle and test these different possibilities. Finally, anticipating that subsequently the leading role in constraining this kind of new physics will be taken over by the rare decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar and B_{s,d} -> mu mubar, that are dominated by the Z^0 -penguin function C, we also present plots for several branching ratios as functions of C . We point out an interesting triple correlation between K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_s l^+l^- present in MFV models.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure

The FERM protein EPB41L5 regulates actomyosin contractility and focal adhesion formation to maintain the kidney filtration barrier

Podocytes form the outer part of the glomerular filter, where they have to withstand enormous transcapillary filtration forces driving glomerular filtration. Detachment of podocytes from the glomerular basement membrane precedes most glomerular diseases. However, little is known about the regulation of podocyte adhesion in vivo. Thus, we systematically screened for podocyte-specific focal adhesome (FA) components, using genetic reporter models in combination with iTRAQ-based mass spectrometry. This approach led to the identification of FERM domain protein EPB41L5 as a highly enriched podocyte-specific FA component in vivo. Genetic deletion of Epb41l5 resulted in severe proteinuria, detachment of podocytes, and development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Remarkably, by binding and recruiting the RhoGEF ARGHEF18 to the leading edge, EPB41L5 directly controls actomyosin contractility and subsequent maturation of focal adhesions, cell spreading, and migration. Furthermore, EPB41L5 controls matrix-dependent outside-in signaling by regulating the focal adhesome composition. Thus, by linking extracellular matrix sensing and signaling, focal adhesion maturation, and actomyosin activation EPB41L5 ensures the mechanical stability required for podocytes at the kidney filtration barrier. Finally, a diminution of EPB41L5-dependent signaling programs appears to be a common theme of podocyte disease, and therefore offers unexpected interventional therapeutic strategies to prevent podocyte loss and kidney disease progression