Dark matter and neutrino masses in the R-parity violating NMSSM

The R-Parity symmetry Violating (RPV) version of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) is attractive simultaneously with regard to the so-called mu-problem and the accommodation of three-flavor neutrino data at tree level. In this context, we show here that if the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle (LSP) is the gravitino, it possesses a lifetime larger than the age of the universe since its RPV induced decay channels are suppressed by the weak gravitational strength. This conclusion holds if one considers gravitino masses ~ 10^2 GeV like in supergravity scenarios, and is robust if the lightest pseudoscalar Higgs field is as light as ~ 10 GeV [as may occur in the NMSSM]. For these models predicting in particular an RPV neutrino-photino mixing, the gravitino lifetime exceeds the age of the universe by two orders of magnitude. However, we find that the gravitino cannot constitute a viable dark matter candidate since its too large RPV decay widths would then conflict with the flux data of last indirect detection experiments. The cases of a sneutrino LSP or a neutralino LSP as well as the more promising gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario are also discussed. Both the one-flavor simplification hypothesis and the realistic scenario of three neutrino flavors are analyzed. We have modified the NMHDECAY program to extend the neutralino mass matrix to the present framework.Comment: Latex file, 23 pages, 7 figures. References added and discussion on the indirect detection modifie

SUSY radiative corrections on mu-tau neutrino refraction including possible R-parity breaking interactions

In this paper we investigate the one-loop radiative corrections to the neutrino indices of refraction from supersymmetric models. We consider the Next-to Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (NMSSM) which happens to be a better supersymmetric candidate than the MSSM for both theoretical and experimental reasons. We scan the relevant SUSY parameters and identify regions in the parameter space which yield interesting values for V_{mu tau}. If R-parity is broken there are significant differences between MSSM and NMSSM contributions contrary to the R-parity conserved case. Finally, for a non-zero CP-violating phase, we show analytically that the presence of V_{mu tau} will explicitly imply CP-violation effects on the supernova electron (anti-) neutrino fluxes.Comment: 23 pages, 15 figures; v2: typos and 5 figures correcte

Surviving sepsis: a guide to the guidelines

The revised Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines for the management of severe sepsis and septic shock have recently been published. These guidelines represent the end product of an intense process and provide a template approach to the early resuscitation and support of patients with sepsis, based on a synthesis of evidence that has been shown to improve the outcome of the septic patient. The SSC guidelines arose from a recognition that care of the septic patient was suboptimal for at least three reasons. First, the entity of sepsis was frequently not diagnosed in a timely fashion, allowing the process to evolve into a life-threatening syndrome of major physiologic organ system dysfunction. Secondly, even when sepsis was recognized, the urgency of treatment was underappreciated – and so haemodynamic resuscitation was tentative, and the administration of effective antibiotic therapy was often delayed. Finally, treatment was often suboptimal, and failed to take advantage of emerging insights into optimal approaches to patient management. The revised guidelines are far from perfect, but they represent the best available synthesis of contemporary knowledge in this area and as such should be promoted

ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS HEMAGGLUTININ : II. Original Antigenic Sin: A Bone Marrow-Derived Lymphocyte Memory Phenomenon Modulated by Thymus-Derived Lymphocytes

Mice immunized sequentially with two related influenza virus hemagglutinins (HA) produced a secondary antibody response with two different specificities. Some antibodies were specific for determinants common to both HA's. Paradoxically, some antibodies were directed to determinants existing only in the HA first encountered. Primed spleen cells treated with anti-θ serum and complement were transferred from animals immunized with the first HA to either normal, irradiated, or thymus-deprived recipients. These memory cells were boosted in the recipients with either the homologous or the heterologous cross-reacting HA. B-memory lymphocytes were shown to be directly triggered by both HA's and to be able to secrete, independently of T lymphocytes, antibodies to both kinds of determinants. However, T cells were shown to modulate this secondary response by either enhancing or suppressing antibody secretion by B-memory cells, depending on experimental conditions. These results are discussed in terms of antigen recognition by B cells and of kinetics of development of immunological memory

Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Transient Direct Expansion Heat Pump

Geothermal heat pump technology is currently one of the most interesting technologies used to heat buildings. There are two designs used in the industry: geothermal heat pump using a secondary ground loop and Direct Expansion (DX) ground source heat pump. The latter is less used, possibly because less research has been carried out for the design of this kind of heat pump. In this paper, a transient model using the Comsol Multiphysic of a DX ground heat pump is presented in heating mode with R22, and a comparison with experimental results is presented with a 24-hour test. It is shown that the model was adequately validated by our experiment with only a maximum difference of 15%. Following this validation, a parametric analysis was realised on the geometry of the borehole. This study concluded that to have the best heat extraction of the ground, the pipes shank spacing need to be important without increasing the borehole diameter.Article History: Received January 16th 2017; Received in revised form May 28th 2017; Accepted June 6th 2017; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Rousseau, C., Fannou, J.L.C., Lamarche, L. and Kajl, S. (2017) Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Transient Direct Expansion Heat Pump. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 6(2), 145-155.https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.6.2.145-15

The Future Monitoring Role of GATT in an International Arena of Non-Tariff Barriers: A Proposal from a Law and Economics Perspective

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was implemented to provide uniform guidelines in the regulation of international trade. While the GATT is an agreement based on legal rules of construction and enforceability, the underlying impetus to its creation is economic in nature. This article examines the hindered effectiveness of the legal aspects of the GATT, and it provides insight into the economic theory that promotes this inefficiency

The Future Monitoring Role of GATT in an International Arena of Non-Tariff Barriers: A Proposal from a Law and Economics Perspective

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was implemented to provide uniform guidelines in the regulation of international trade. While the GATT is an agreement based on legal rules of construction and enforceability, the underlying impetus to its creation is economic in nature. This article examines the hindered effectiveness of the legal aspects of the GATT, and it provides insight into the economic theory that promotes this inefficiency

The Future Monitoring Role of GATT in an International Arena of Non-Tariff Barriers: A Proposal from a Law and Economics Perspective

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was implemented to provide uniform guidelines in the regulation of international trade. While the GATT is an agreement based on legal rules of construction and enforceability, the underlying impetus to its creation is economic in nature. This article examines the hindered effectiveness of the legal aspects of the GATT, and it provides insight into the economic theory that promotes this inefficiency

Etude et réalisation d'un système à base de connaissances d'aide à la décision en cas d'intervention sur des accidents majeurs

National audienceL'accident majeur se caractérise par une forte dynamique, l'urgence et une part d'inconnue élevée. La complexité de ce type d'accident rend particulièrement délicate la gestion de l'intervention des services de secours. En particulier, le responsable de l'intervention éprouve des difficultés à dégager une vue d'ensemble de l'accident et de son contexte, et donc à prendre une décision. Le projet présenté a pour but d'étudier et réaliser un système à base de connaissances d'aide à la décision en intervention, non spécifique à un type d'accident particulier. On a pour cela modélisé l'expertise des sapeurs-pompiers sur la Méthode de Raisonnement Tactique (MRT). Le modèle formel d'expertise obtenu permet de définir une ontologie de l'intervention. Il sera utilisé pour mettre en oeuvre une base de connaissances sur l'intervention. L'architecture proposée pour le système informatique est articulée autour d'un Système de Gestion de Base de Connaissances (SGBC) qui permet à différents outils d'exploiter et de gérer les connaissances de la base. Dans un premier temps, un outil d'Enseignement Assisté par Ordinateur de la MRT permettra de valider le modèle en le testant sur un grand nombre de personnes. Le retour d'expérience permettra alors de spécifier ce que sera l'outil final d'aide à la décision sur le terrain

ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS HEMAGGLUTININ : I. Thymus Dependence of Antibody Formation and Thymus Independence of Immunological Memory

Using immunodiffusion methods it has been shown that purified hemagglutinin (HA) extracted from two related strains of influenza A viruses (A/PR8/34 and A/FM1/47) have two distinct antigenic determinants, or groups of determinants. One determinant is cross-reactive while the other is strain-specific. Antisera raised in normal mice against HA were shown to contain two populations of antibody molecules, each directed against one of the determinants. Immunization of thymus-deprived (TXBM) mice showed a strong thymus dependence of antibody formation to HA. However, the thymus dependence of antibody formation against the cross-reactive determinant could be overcome by repeated inoculations of HA in TXBM mice, indicating a different handling of two portions of the same molecule by the immunological system. Strong, secondary-type responses to the strain-specific determinant were observed in primed thymus-deprived mice after reconstitution with virgin thymus cells, showing that specific immunological memory was elicited by this determinant despite the absence of detectable antibody secretion. These findings are interpreted as examples of immunological recognition and memory mediated by B lymphocytes and discussed in terms of mechanisms of T and B lymphocyte co-operation. It is suggested that the helper effect of T lymphocytes is exerted at a late stage in the differentiation of specific populations of B cells into antibody-secreting cells