1,145 research outputs found
A Dark Matter Candidate from an Extra (Non-Universal) Dimension
We show that a recently constructed five-dimensional (5D) model with
gauge-Higgs unification and explicit Lorentz symmetry breaking in the bulk,
provides a natural dark matter candidate. This is the lightest Kaluza-Klein
particle odd under a certain discrete Z_2 symmetry, which has been introduced
to improve the naturalness of the model, and resembles KK-parity but is less
constraining.
The dark matter candidate is the first KK mode of a 5D gauge field and
electroweak bounds force its mass above the TeV scale. Its pair annihilation
rate is too small to guarantee the correct relic abundance; however
coannihilations with colored particles greatly enhance the effective
annihilation rate, leading to realistic relic densities.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figures; v2: fig.1 corrected, one reference and some
comments added, conclusions unchanged. Version to appear in JHE
Gravity Dual of Gauge Theory on S^2 x S^1 x R
We (numerically) construct new static, asymptotically AdS solutions where the
conformal infinity is the product of time and S^2 x S^1. There always exist a
family of solutions in which the S^1 is not contractible and, for small S^1,
there are two additional families of solutions in which the S^1 smoothly
pinches off. This shows that (when fermions are antiperiodic around the S^1)
there is a quantum phase transition in the gauge theory as one decreases the
radius of the S^1 relative to the S^2. We also compare the masses of our
solutions and argue that the one with lowest mass should minimize the energy
among all solutions with conformal boundary S^2 x S^1 x R. This provides a new
positive energy conjecture for asymptotically locally AdS metrics. A simple
analytic continuation produces AdS black holes with topology S^2 x S^1.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, v2: minor changes, added reference
Identification of differentially expressed genes induced by Bamboo mosaic virus infection in Nicotiana benthamiana by cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism
Background: The genes of plants can be up- or down-regulated during viral infection to influence the replication of viruses. Identification of these differentially expressed genes could shed light on the defense systems employed by plants and the mechanisms involved in the adaption of viruses to plant cells. Differential gene expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants in response to infection with Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) was revealed using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Results: Following inoculation with BaMV, N. benthamiana displayed differential gene expression in response to the infection. Isolation, cloning, and sequencing analysis using cDNA-AFLP furnished 90 cDNA fragments with eight pairs of selective primers. Fifteen randomly selected genes were used for a combined virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) knockdown experiment, using BaMV infection to investigate the roles played by these genes during viral infection, specifically addressing the means by which these genes influence the accumulation of BaMV protein. Nine of the 15 genes showed either a positive or a negative influence on the accumulation of BaMV protein. Six knockdown plants showed an increase in the accumulation of BaMV, suggesting that they played a role in the resistance to viral infection, while three plants showed a reduction in coat protein, indicating a positive influence on the accumulation of BaMV in plants. An interesting observation was that eight of the nine plants showing an increase in BaMV coat protein were associated with cell rescue, defense, death, aging, signal transduction, and energy production. Conclusions: This study reports an efficient and straightforward method for the identification of host genes involved in viral infection. We succeeded in establishing a cDNA-AFLP system to help track changes in gene expression patterns in N. benthamiana plants when infected with BaMV. The combination of both DNA-AFLP and VIGS methodologies made it possible to screen a large number of genes and identify those associated with infections of plant viruses. In this report, 9 of the 15 analyzed genes exhibited either a positive or a negative influence on the accumulation of BaMV in N. benthamiana plants
Integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Class E Airspace: The Effect on Air Traffic Controller Workload
As technology rapidly advances and our imagination is no longer fantasy but instead reality, the aviation community needs to concentrate on the harsh truth of airspace safety. In the situation of integrating unmanned aerial systems (UASs) into the National airspace, UASs outside of terminal areas would generally be permitted to fly their preferred routes, and self-separate, with minimal intervention from air traffic control. From an air traffic control perspective, the integration could raise a number of human performance problems including workload extremes and passive-monitoring demands. One fundamental requirement for operation in the National Air Space is to preserve the safety of the general public. This paper describes an experimental evaluation of the effect different levels of UAS intent information has on air traffic controller workload. The simulation specifically manipulates intent sharing, that is, whether unmanned aerial vehicles provided advance notice of their intended maneuvers. The Effects on air traffic controller workload when control capability is altered were also explored
Genome sequence and analysis of the tuber crop potato
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s most important non-grain food crop and is central to global food security. It is clonally propagated, highly heterozygous, autotetraploid, and suffers acute inbreeding depression. Here we use a homozygous doubled-monoploid potato clone to sequence and assemble 86% of the 844-megabase genome. We predict 39,031 protein-coding genes and present evidence for at least two genome duplication events indicative of a palaeopolyploid origin. As the first genome sequence of an asterid, the potato genome reveals 2,642 genes specific to this large angiosperm clade. We also sequenced a heterozygous diploid clone and show that gene presence/absence variants and other potentially deleterious mutations occur frequently and are a likely cause of inbreeding depression. Gene family expansion, tissue-specific expression and recruitment of genes to new pathways contributed to the evolution of tuber development. The potato genome sequence provides a platform for genetic improvement of this vital cro
Calculations on the Size Effects of Raman Intensities of Silicon Quantum Dots
Raman intensities of Si quantum dots (QDs) with up to 11,489 atoms (about 7.6
nm in diameter) for different scattering configurations are calculated. First,
phonon modes in these QDs, including all vibration frequencies and vibration
amplitudes, are calculated directly from the lattice dynamic matrix by using a
microscopic valence force field model combined with the group theory. Then the
Raman intensities of these quantum dots are calculated by using a
bond-polarizability approximation. The size effects of the Raman intensity in
these QDs are discussed in detail based on these calculations. The calculations
are compared with the available experimental observation. We are expecting that
our calculations can further stimulate more experimental measurements.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure
Wedgebox analysis of four-lepton events from neutralino pair production at the LHC
`Wedgebox' plots constructed by plotting the di-electron invariant mass
versus the di-muon invariant mass from pp -> e^+e^- mu^+ mu^- + missing energy
signature LHC events. Data sets of such events are obtained across the MSSM
input parameter space in event-generator simulations, including cuts designed
to remove SM backgrounds. Their study reveals several general features:
(1)Regions in the MSSM input parameter space where a sufficient number of
events are expected so as to be able to construct a clear wedgebox plot are
delineated. (2)The presence of box shapes on a wedgebox plot either indicates
the presence of heavy Higgs bosons decays or restricts the location to a quite
small region of low \mu and M_2 values \lsim 200 GeV, a region denoted as the
`lower island'. In this region, wedgebox plots can be quite complicated and
change in pattern rather quickly as one moves around in the (\mu, M_2) plane.
(3)Direct neutralino pair production from an intermediate Z^{0*} may only
produce a wedge-shape since only \widetilde{\chi}_2^0\widetilde{\chi}_3^0
decays can contribute significantly. (4)A double-wedge or
wedge-protruding-from-a-box pattern on a wedgebox plot, which results from
combining a variety of MSSM production processes, yields three distinct
observed endpoints, almost always attributable to \widetilde{\chi}_{2,3,4}^0
\to \widetilde{\chi}_1^0 \ell^+\ell^- decays, which can be utilized to
determine a great deal of information about the neutralino and slepton mass
spectra and related MSSM input parameters. Wedge and double-wedge patterns are
seen in wedgebox plots in another region of higher \mu and M_2 values, denoted
as the`upper island.' Here the pattern is simpler and more stable as one moves
across the (\mu, M_2) input parameter space.Comment: 28 pages (LaTeX), 8 figures (encapsulated postscript
SARS Transmission among Hospital Workers in Hong Kong
Despite infection control measures, breakthrough transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred for many hospital workers in Hong Kong. We conducted a case-control study of 72 hospital workers with SARS and 144 matched controls. Inconsistent use of goggles, gowns, gloves, and caps was associated with a higher risk for SARS infection (unadjusted odds ratio 2.42 to 20.54, p < 0.05). The likelihood of SARS infection was strongly associated with the amount of personal protection equipment perceived to be inadequate, having <2 hours of infection control training, and not understanding infection control procedures. No significant differences existed between the case and control groups in the proportion of workers who performed high-risk procedures, reported minor protection equipment problems, or had social contact with SARS-infected persons. Perceived inadequacy of personal protection equipment supply, infection control training <2 hours, and inconsistent use of personal protection equipment when in contact with SARS patients were significant independent risk factors for SARS infection
Theory of coherent acoustic phonons in InGaN/GaN multi-quantum wells
A microscopic theory for the generation and propagation of coherent LA
phonons in pseudomorphically strained wurzite (0001) InGaN/GaN multi-quantum
well (MQW) p-i-n diodes is presented. The generation of coherent LA phonons is
driven by photoexcitation of electron-hole pairs by an ultrafast Gaussian pump
laser and is treated theoretically using the density matrix formalism. We use
realistic wurzite bandstructures taking valence-band mixing and strain-induced
piezo- electric fields into account. In addition, the many-body Coulomb
ineraction is treated in the screened time-dependent Hartree-Fock
approximation. We find that under typical experimental conditions, our
microscopic theory can be simplified and mapped onto a loaded string problem
which can be easily solved.Comment: 20 pages, 17 figure
Competition in Access to Content
Part 5: Cooperation and CollaborationInternational audienceWe study competition between users over access to content in a telecom market that includes several access providers and several content providers. We focus situations where exclusive agreements exist between content and access providers, which allows access providers to offer content services for free for their subscribers. We call access providers having such agreements ”super” providers or ”enhanced” service providers. We show that the competition between the users results in a paradoxical phenomenon in which subscribers of enhanced providers prefer to defer part of their demand to other content providers whose content is costly. We show how this phenomena can be exploited by the content providers so as to maximize their benefits
- …