233 research outputs found
Non-thermal leptogenesis with almost degenerate superheavy neutrinos
We present a model with minimal assumptions for non-thermal leptogenesis with
almost degenerate superheavy right-handed neutrinos in a supersymmetric set up.
In this scenario a gauge singlet inflaton is directly coupled to the
right-handed (s)neutrinos with a mass heavier than the inflaton mass. This
helps avoiding potential problems which can naturally arise otherwise. The
inflaton decay to the Standard Model leptons and Higgs, via off-shell
right-handed (s)neutrinos, reheats the Universe. The same channel is also
responsible for generating the lepton asymmetry, thus requiring no stage of
preheating in order to excite superheavy (s)neutrinos. The suppressed decay
rate of the inflaton naturally leads to a sufficiently low reheat temperature,
which in addition, prevents any wash out of the yielded asymmetry. We will
particularly elaborate on important differences from leptogenesis with on-shell
(s)neutrinos. It is shown that for nearly degenerate neutrinos a successful
leptogenesis can be accommodated for a variety of inflationary models with a
rather wide ranging inflationary scale.Comment: 10 revtex pages, 2 figure (uses axodraw). The derivation of the
asymmetry parameter for the general case and one figure added. Final version
to appear in Phys. Rev.
Leptogenesis from a sneutrino condensate revisited
We re--examine leptogenesis from a right--handed sneutrino condensate, paying
special attention to the term associated with the see--saw Majorana mass.
This term generates a lepton asymmetry in the condensate whose time average
vanishes. However, a net asymmetry will result if the sneutrino lifetime is not
much longer than the period of oscillations. Supersymmetry breaking by thermal
effects then yields a lepton asymmetry in the standard model sector after the
condensate decays. We explore different possibilities by taking account of both
the low--energy and Hubble terms. It will be shown that the desired baryon
asymmetry of the Universe can be obtained for a wide range of Majorana mass.Comment: 17 revtex pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Slightly modified and references
added. Final version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
From nothing to something: discrete integrable systems
Chinese ancient sage Laozi said that everything comes from `nothing'.
Einstein believes the principle of nature is simple. Quantum physics proves
that the world is discrete. And computer science takes continuous systems as
discrete ones. This report is devoted to deriving a number of discrete models,
including well-known integrable systems such as the KdV, KP, Toda, BKP, CKP,
and special Viallet equations, from `nothing' via simple principles. It is
conjectured that the discrete models generated from nothing may be integrable
because they are identities of simple algebra, model-independent nonlinear
superpositions of a trivial integrable system (Riccati equation), index
homogeneous decompositions of the simplest geometric theorem (the angle
bisector theorem), as well as the M\"obious transformation invariants.Comment: 11 pages, side 10 repor
Scenarios of modulated perturbations
In an alternative mechanism recently proposed, adiabatic cosmological
perturbations are generated at the decay of the inflaton field due to small
fluctuations of its coupling to matter. This happens whenever the coupling is
governed by the vacuum expectation value of another field, which acquires
fluctuations during inflation. We discuss generalization and various possible
implementations of this mechansim, and present some specific particle physics
examples. In many cases the second field can start oscillating before
perturbations are imprinted, or survive long enough so to dominate over the
decay products of the inflaton. The primordial perturbations will then be
modified accordingly in each case.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. Final version to appear in Phys. Rev.
A Theoretical Analysis of How Segmentation of Dynamic Visualizations Optimizes Students' Learning
This article reviews studies investigating segmentation of dynamic visualizations (i.e., showing dynamic visualizations in pieces with pauses in between) and discusses two not mutually exclusive processes that might underlie the effectiveness of segmentation. First, cognitive activities needed for dealing with the transience of dynamic visualizations impose extraneous cognitive load, which may hinder learning. Segmentation may reduce the negative effect of this load by dividing animations into smaller units of information and providing pauses between segments that give students time for the necessary cognitive activities after each of those units of information. Second, event segmentation theory states that people mentally segment dynamic visualizations during perception (i.e., divide the information shown in pieces). Segmentation of dynamic visualisation could cue relevant segments to students, which may aid them in perceiving the structure underlying the process or procedure shown
Tinkering with the C-Function: A Molecular Frame for the Selection of Double Flowers in Cultivated Roses
International audienc
Vectors Based on Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Influenza H5N1 Hemagglutinin Induce Substantial Cross-Clade Protective Immunity
New highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses are continuing to evolve with a potential threat for an influenza pandemic. So far, the H5N1 influenza viruses have not widely circulated in humans and therefore constitute a high risk for the non immune population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-protective potential of the hemagglutinins of five H5N1 strains of divergent clades using a live attenuated modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector vaccine.The replication-deficient MVA virus was used to express influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins. Specifically, recombinant MVA viruses expressing the HA genes of the clade 1 virus A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (VN/1203), the clade 2.1.3 virus A/Indonesia/5/2005 (IN5/05), the clade 2.2 viruses A/turkey/Turkey/1/2005 (TT01/05) and A/chicken/Egypt/3/2006 (CE/06), and the clade 2.3.4 virus A/Anhui/1/2005 (AH1/05) were constructed. These experimental live vaccines were assessed in a lethal mouse model. Mice vaccinated with the VN/1203 hemagglutinin-expressing MVA induced excellent protection against all the above mentioned clades. Also mice vaccinated with the IN5/05 HA expressing MVA induced substantial protection against homologous and heterologous AH1/05 challenge. After vaccination with the CE/06 HA expressing MVA, mice were fully protected against clade 2.2 challenge and partially protected against challenge of other clades. Mice vaccinated with AH1/05 HA expressing MVA vectors were only partially protected against homologous and heterologous challenge. The live vaccines induced substantial amounts of neutralizing antibodies, mainly directed against the homologous challenge virus, and high levels of HA-specific IFN-γ secreting CD4 and CD8 T-cells against epitopes conserved among the H5 clades and subclades.The highest level of cross-protection was induced by the HA derived from the VN/1203 strain, suggesting that pandemic H5 vaccines utilizing MVA vector technology, should be based on the VN/1203 hemagglutinin. Furthermore, the recombinant MVA-HA-VN, as characterized in the present study, would be a promising candidate for such a vaccine
The Fischer 344 Rat Reflects Human Susceptibility to Francisella Pulmonary Challenge and Provides a New Platform for Virulence and Protection Studies
Background: The pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, has been primarily characterized in mice. However, the high degree of sensitivity of mice to bacterial challenge, especially with the human virulent strains of F. tularensis, limits this animal model for screening of defined attenuated vaccine candidates for protection studies. Methods and Findings: We analyzed the susceptibility of the Fischer 344 rat to pulmonary (intratracheal) challenge with three different subspecies (subsp) of F. tularensis that reflect different levels of virulence in humans, and characterized the bacterial replication profile in rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). In contrast to the mouse, Fischer 344 rats exhibit a broader range of sensitivity to pulmonary challenge with the human virulent subsp. tularensis and holarctica. Unlike mice, Fischer rats exhibited a high degree of resistance to pulmonary challenge with LVS (an attenuated derivative o
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