Large gauge invariant non-standard neutrino interactions

Theories beyond the Standard Model must necessarily respect its gauge symmetry. This implies strict constraints on the possible models of non-standard neutrino interactions, which we analyze. The focus is set on the effective low-energy dimension six and eight operators involving four leptons, decomposing them according to all possible tree-level mediators, as a guide for model building. The new couplings are required to have sizeable strength, while processes involving four charged leptons are required to be suppressed. For non-standard interactions in matter, only diagonal tau-neutrino interactions can escape these requirements and can be allowed to result from dimension six operators. Large non-standard neutrino interactions from dimension eight operators alone are phenomenologically allowed in all flavour channels and shown to require at least two new mediator particles. The new couplings must obey general cancellation conditions both at the dimension six and eight levels, which result from expressing the operators obtained from the mediator analysis in terms of a complete basis of operators. We illustrate with one example how to apply this information to model building.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables. Final version in PR

L_X-T Relation and Related Properties of Galaxy Clusters

An observational approach is presented to constrain the global structure and evolution of the intracluster medium based on the ROSAT and ASCA distant cluster sample. From statistical analysis of the gas density profile and the connection to the LX-T relation under the beta-model, the scaled gas profile is nearly universal for the outer region and the LX(>0.2r500) is tightly related to the temperature through T^3 rather than T^2. On the other hand, a large density scatter exists in the core region and there is clearly a deviation from the self-similar scaling for clusters with a small core size. A direct link between the core size and the radiative cooling timescale suggest that t_cool is a parameter to control the gas structure and the appearance of small cores in regular clusters may be much connected with the thermal evolution. We derive the luminosity-ambient temperature (T') relation, assuming the universal temperature profile to find the dispersion around the relation significantly decreases: L_1keV is almost constant for a wide range of t_cool. We further examined the LX-Tbeta and LX-T'beta relations and showed a trend that merging clusters segregate from the regular clusters on the planes. A good correlation between t_cool and the X-ray morphology on the L_1keV-t_cool/t_age plane leads us to define three phases according to the different level of cooling, and draw a phenomenological picture: after a cluster collapses and t_cool falls below t_age, the core cools radiatively with quasi-hydrostatic balancing in the gravitational potential, and the central density gradually becomes higher to evolve from an outer-core-dominant cluster to inner-core-dominant cluster.Comment: 39 pages, 37 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Version with high-quality color figures at http://cosmic.riken.jp/ota/publications/index.htm

The published research paper: is it an important indicator of successful operational research at programme level?

Is a published research paper an important indicator of successful operational research at programme level in low-income countries? In academia, publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals is highly encouraged and strongly pursued for academic recognition and career progression. In contrast, for those who engage in operational research at programme level, there is often no necessity or reward for publishing the results of research studies; it may even be criticized as being an unnecessary detraction from programme-related work. We present arguments to support publishing operational research from low-income countries; we highlight some of the main reasons for failure of publication at programme level and suggest ways forward

GC–MS profile, anti-seizure and anti-pyretic activities of palm kernel nut oil and its isolate, N-Octanoic acid from specially breed palm kernel Elaeis guineensis

PURPOSE: Palm kernel nut oil (PKNO) from palm fruit of a rare breed of Elaeis guineensis (virescens), and one of the species belonging to the Elaeis genre of arecaceae family was subjected to Gas chromatography - Mass spectroscopic studies as well as anti-seizure and anti-pyretic studies. It is used in South-Eastern part of Nigeria as antipyretic and anti-seizure agents especially in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical contents of PKNO using GC-MS and to investigate the antiseizure and antipyretic properties of PKNO using animal model.METHOD: 1500 g Palm Kernels (PK) of the rare breed collected from Abia State were cracked open and the nuts (1000 g) poured into steel vessel and heated until oil was produced after charring the nuts. The oil (PKNO) was analyzed using GC-MS to determine its chemical composition. Yeast induced hyperthermia method was used for anti-pyretic studies while strychnine sulphate induced method was used for anti-seizure studies. PKNO and Octanoic acid (0.5 mg/kg ,1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (IP).Paracetamol (0.15mg/kg) was used as reference standard for anti-pyretic assay while epilim and tegretol (0.14mg/kg, resp.) were used as reference standards for anti-seizure assay.RESULTS: The major component identified in the extract include: Dodecanoic  acid,2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester(19.36 %),n-Hexadecanoic acid(15.49  %),Dodecanoic acid( 12.51 %),Myristic acid ( 6.47 %), Dodecanedioic acid (3.93 %),n-Acetylpyrrolidone (3.67 %) , Thiazole (0.98 %) and Octanoic acid, OA ( 3.19 %).The anti-seizure results showed that doses of PKNO and OA used had Significant (p<0.02) anti-seizure activities by delaying the on-set of seizure from time of induction to time of first seizure observed. In yeast induced hyperthermia model, PKNO exhibited good level of anti-pyretic activities by direct reduction of pyrexia with the highest dose, 2.0 mg/kg. The PKNO and OA are proven to be safe till 3000 μl/kg as indicated by LD50 results.CONCLUSION: PKNO and its components mainly fatty acids, thiazole, and n- acetylpyrrolidone are potent and promising agents with anti-pyretic and antiseizure activities.Keywords: Anti-Seizure, anti-pyretic, Octanoic acid, elaeis virescens, GC-MS, Palm kernel nut oil (PKNO

Lithium in garnet as a tracer of subduction zone metamorphic reactions: The record in ultrahigh-pressure metapelites at Lago di Cignana, Italy

Lithium is of great interest as a tracer of metamorphic reactions and related fluid-mineral interactions because of its potential to isotopically fractionate during inter- and intracrystalline diffusional processes. Study of its transfer through subduction zones, based on study of arc volcanic and metamorphic rocks, can yield insight regarding ocean-to-mantle chemical cycling. We investigated major- and trace-element concentrations and delta Li-7 in garnet in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) Lago di Cignana metasedimentary rocks, relating these observations to reconstructed prograde devolatilization history. In all garnet crystals we studied, heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), Y, and Li showed strong zoning, with elevated concentrations in cores (15-50 ppm Li) and marked high-concentration anomalies (up to 117 ppm Li, 5500 ppm Y; little or no major-element shift) as growth annuli, in which some crystals showed subtle elevation in delta Li-7 greater than analytical error of similar to 3 parts per thousand (2 sigma). Rutile inclusions appeared abruptly at annuli and outward toward rims, accompanied by inclusions of a highly zoned, Ca- and rare earth element-rich phase and decreased Nb concentrations in garnet. These relationships are interpreted to reflect prograde garnet-forming reaction(s), in part involving titanite breakdown to stabilize rutile, which resulted in delivery of more abundant Y and HREEs at surfaces of growing garnet crystals to produce annuli. Co-enrichments in Li and Y + REEs are attributed to mutual incorporation via charge-coupled substitutions; thus, increased Li uptake was a passive consequence of elevated concentrations of Y + REEs. The small-scale fluctuations in delta Li-7 (overall range of similar to 9 parts per thousand) observed in some crystals may correlate with abrupt shifts in major-and trace-element concentrations, suggesting that changes in reactant phases exerted some control on the evolution of delta Li-7. For one garnet crystal, late-stage growth following partial resorption produced deviation in major- and trace-element compositions, including Li concentration, accompanied by a 10 parts per thousand-15 parts per thousand negative shift in delta Li-7, perhaps reflecting a change in the mechanism of incorporation or source of Li. These results highlight the value of measuring the major- and trace-element and isotope compositions of garnets in high-pressure and UHP metamorphic rocks in which matrix mineral assemblages are extensively overprinted by recrystallization during exhumation histories. Lithium concentrations and isotope compositions of the garnets can add valuable information regarding prograde (and retrograde) reaction history, kinetics of porphyroblast growth, intracrystalline diffusion, and fluid-rock interactions. This work, integrated with previous study of devolatilization in the Schistes Lustres/Cignana metasedimentary suite, indicates retention of a large fraction of the initially subducted sedimentary Li budget to depths approaching those beneath volcanic fronts, despite the redistribution of this Li among mineral phases during complex mineral reaction histories

The first measurement of temperature standard deviation along the line-of-sight in galaxy clusters

Clusters of galaxies are mainly formed by merging of smaller structures, according to the standard cosmological scenario. If the mass of a substructure is >10% of that of a galaxy cluster, the temperature distribution of the intracluster medium (ICM) in a merging cluster becomes inhomogeneous. Various methods have been used to derive the two-dimensional projected temperature distribution of the ICM. However, methods for studying temperature distribution along the line-of-sight through the cluster were absent. In this paper, we present the first measurement of the temperature standard deviation along the line-of-sight, using as a reference case the multifrequency SZ measurements of the Bullet Cluster. We find that the value of the temperature standard deviation is high and equals to (10.6+/-3.8) keV in the Bullet Cluster. This result shows that the temperature distribution in the Bullet Cluster is strongly inhomogeneous along the line-of-sight and provides a new method for studying galaxy clusters in depth.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, published in MNRAS Letter

The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect at Five Arc-seconds: RXJ1347.5-1145 Imaged by ALMA

We present the first image of the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) obtained by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Combining 7-m and 12-m arrays in Band 3, we create an SZE map toward a galaxy cluster RXJ1347.5-1145 with 5 arc-second resolution (corresponding to the physical size of 20 kpc/h), the highest angular and physical spatial resolutions achieved to date for imaging the SZE, while retaining extended signals out to 40 arc-seconds. The 1-sigma statistical sensitivity of the image is 0.017 mJy/beam or 0.12 mK_CMB at the 5 arc-second full width at half maximum. The SZE image shows a good agreement with an electron pressure map reconstructed independently from the X-ray data and offers a new probe of the small-scale structure of the intracluster medium. Our results demonstrate that ALMA is a powerful instrument for imaging the SZE in compact galaxy clusters with unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. As the first report on the detection of the SZE by ALMA, we present detailed analysis procedures including corrections for the missing flux, to provide guiding methods for analyzing and interpreting future SZE images by ALMA.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures. Accepted for publication in PAS