Implications for New Physics from Fine-Tuning Arguments: II. Little Higgs Models

We examine the fine-tuning associated to electroweak breaking in Little Higgs scenarios and find it to be always substantial and, generically, much higher than suggested by the rough estimates usually made. This is due to implicit tunings between parameters that can be overlooked at first glance but show up in a more systematic analysis. Focusing on four popular and representative Little Higgs scenarios, we find that the fine-tuning is essentially comparable to that of the Little Hierarchy problem of the Standard Model (which these scenarios attempt to solve) and higher than in supersymmetric models. This does not demonstrate that all Little Higgs models are fine-tuned, but stresses the need of a careful analysis of this issue in model-building before claiming that a particular model is not fine-tuned. In this respect we identify the main sources of potential fine-tuning that should be watched out for, in order to construct a successful Little Higgs model, which seems to be a non-trivial goal.Comment: 39 pages, 26 ps figures, JHEP forma

Nambu monopoles in lattice Electroweak theory

We considered the lattice electroweak theory at realistic values of $\alpha$ and $\theta_W$ and for large values of the Higgs mass. We investigated numerically the properties of topological objects that are identified with quantum Nambu monopoles. We have found that the action density near the Nambu monopole worldlines exceeds the density averaged over the lattice in the physical region of the phase diagram. Moreover, their percolation probability is found to be an order parameter for the transition between the symmetric and the broken phases. Therefore, these monopoles indeed appear as real physical objects. However, we have found that their density on the lattice increases with increasing ultraviolet cutoff. Thus we conclude, that the conventional lattice electroweak theory is not able to predict the density of Nambu monopoles. This means that the description of Nambu monopole physics based on the lattice Weinberg - Salam model with finite ultraviolet cutoff is incomplete. We expect that the correct description may be obtained only within the lattice theory that involves the description of TeV - scale physics.Comment: LATE

The Inert Doublet Model: an Archetype for Dark Matter

The Inert Doublet Model (IDM), a two Higgs extension of the Standard Model with an unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry, is a simple and yet rich model of dark matter. We present a systematic analysis of the dark matter abundance and investigate the potentialities for direct and gamma indirect detection. We show that the model should be within the range of future experiments, like GLAST and ZEPLIN. The lightest stable scalar in the IDM is a perfect example, or archetype of a weakly interacting massive particle.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, references added and typos correcte

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified