Hierarchy problem and fine-tuning in a decoupling approach to multiscale effective potentials

In many realizations of beyond the Standard Model theories, new massive particles are introduced, leading to a multi-scale system with widely separated energy scales. In this setting the effective potential, which takes into account quantum corrections for the scalar sector, has to be supplemented with a prescription to handle the hierarchy in mass scales. In this paper, we focus on the so-called decoupling method, which freezes the effects of heavy particles on the RG running of the light degrees of freedom at low energies. For a two-scalar theory, we disentangle the effects of the high-energy degrees of freedom on the shape of the potential and on the fine-tuning of the model parameters. We find that, while the decoupling method leads to an acceptable and convergent effective potential, the method does not solve the fine-tuning problem that is inherent to the hierarchy problem of multi-scale theories. We also consider two alternative implementations of the decoupling, which give different results for the shape of the potential, but still lead to similar conclusions on the amount of fine-tuning in the model.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

On the equivalence of different approaches for generating multisoliton solutions of the KPII equation

The unexpectedly rich structure of the multisoliton solutions of the KPII equation has been explored by using different approaches, running from dressing method to twisting transformations and to the tau-function formulation. All these approaches proved to be useful in order to display different properties of these solutions and their related Jost solutions. The aim of this paper is to establish the explicit formulae relating all these approaches. In addition some hidden invariance properties of these multisoliton solutions are discussed

Homogenization of magnitudes of the ISC Bulletin

We implemented an automatic procedure to download the hypocentral data of the online Bulletin of the International Seismological Centre (ISC) in order to produce in near real-time a homogeneous catalogue of the Global and EuroMediterranean instrumental seismicity to be used for forecasting experiments and other statistical analyses. For the interval covered by the reviewed ISC Bulletin, we adopt the ISC locations and convert the surface wave magnitude (Ms) and short-period body-wave magnitude (mb) as computed by the ISC to moment magnitude (Mw), using empirical relations. We merge the so obtained proxies with real Mw provided by global and EuroMediterranean moment tensor catalogues. For the most recent time interval (about 2 yr) for which the reviewed ISC Bulletin is not available, we do the same but using the preferred (prime) location provided by the ISC Bulletin and converting to Mw the Ms and mb provided by some authoritative agencies. For computing magnitude conversion equations, we use curvilinear relations defined in a previous work and the chi-square regression method that accounts for the uncertainties of both x and y variables

TRANSPERITONEAL LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENALECTOMY IN CHILDREN: INITIAL EXPERIENCE

PURPOSE: The use of mini-invasive approach for adrenalectomy is poorly defined in pediatric patients, although laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered a standard procedure in adults. The aim of our study is to describe the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive adrenalectomy in children based on surgical skills and results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of four pediatric laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed in our centre between 2009 and 2012. All patients underwent transperitoneal lateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy two of which were right adrenalectomies and two were left. RESULTS: Four laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. Indications for surgery were neuroblastoma in two patients, secernent adrenocortical tumor in one patient and adrenocortical nodular hyperplasia in the last one. Patients had a mean age of 87 months (range 17-156) at diagnosis and the average lesion size was 3.23 cm (range 0.7-6.4). All laparoscopic adrenalectomies were successful, no conversions to open surgery were required and no post- operative complications or deaths occurred. The average operating time was 105 minutes (range 80-130), blood loss during surgery was minimal and the mean post-operative hospital stay was 3.75 days (range 3-5). None of the patients showed signs of recurring disease at 15-months follow- up. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe, feasible and reproducible technique offering numerous advantages including shortening of operating times and post-operative hospital stays, as well as reduction of blood loss and complications. It also provides good visibility and easy access to other organs

Hypospadias: clinical approach, surgical technique and long-term outcome

Background: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital abnormalities in male newborn. There is no universal approach to hypospadias surgical repair, with more than 300 corrective procedures described in current literature. The reoperation rate within 6–12 months of the initial surgery is most frequently used as an outcome measure. These short-term outcomes may not reflect those encountered in adolescence and adult life. This study aims to identify the long-term cosmetic, functional and psychosexual outcomes. Methods: Medical records of boys who had undergone surgical repair of hypospadias by a single surgical team led by the same surgeon at a single centre between August 2001 and December 2017 were reviewed. Families were contacted by telephone and invited to participate. Surgical outcome was assessed by combination of clinical examination, a life-related interview and 3 validated questionnaires (the Penile Perception Score-PPS, the Hypospadias Objective Score Evaluation-HOSE, the International Index of Erectile Function-5-IIEF5). Outcomes were compared according to age, severity of hypospadias, and respondent (child, parent and surgeon). Results: 187 children and their families agreed to participate in the study. 46 patients (24.6%) presented at least one complication after the repair, with a median elapsed time of 11.5 months (6.5–22.5). Longitudinal differences in surgical corrective procedures (p < 0.01), clinical approach (p < 0.01), hospitalisation after surgery (p < 0.01) were found. Cosmetic data from the PPS were similar among children and parents, with no significant differences in child’s age or the type of hypospadias: 83% of children and 87% of parents were satisfied with the cosmetic result. A significant difference in functional outcome related to the type of hypospadias was reflected responses to HOSE amongst all groups of respondents: children (p < 0.001), parents (p=0.02) and surgeon (p < 0.01). The child’s HOSE total score was consistently lower than the surgeon (p < 0.01). The HOSE satisfaction rate on functional outcome was 89% for child and 92% for parent respondents. Conclusion: Surgeons and clinicians should be cognizant of the long-term outcomes following hypospadias surgical repair and this should be reflected in a demand for a standardised approach to repair and follow-up

KP line solitons and Tamari lattices

The KP-II equation possesses a class of line soliton solutions which can be qualitatively described via a tropical approximation as a chain of rooted binary trees, except at "critical" events where a transition to a different rooted binary tree takes place. We prove that these correspond to maximal chains in Tamari lattices (which are poset structures on associahedra). We further derive results that allow to compute details of the evolution, including the critical events. Moreover, we present some insights into the structure of the more general line soliton solutions. All this yields a characterization of possible evolutions of line soliton patterns on a shallow fluid surface (provided that the KP-II approximation applies).Comment: 49 pages, 36 figures, second version: section 4 expande

Prospective randomized comparison of ultrasound-guided and neurostimulation techniques for continuous interscalene brachial plexus block in patients undergoing coracoacromial ligament repair

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Noise-induced perturbations of dispersion-managed solitons

We study noise-induced perturbations of dispersion-managed solitons by developing soliton perturbation theory for the dispersion-managed nonlinear Schroedinger (DMNLS) equation, which governs the long-term behavior of optical fiber transmission systems and certain kinds of femtosecond lasers. We show that the eigenmodes and generalized eigenmodes of the linearized DMNLS equation around traveling-wave solutions can be generated from the invariances of the DMNLS equations, we quantify the perturbation-induced parameter changes of the solution in terms of the eigenmodes and the adjoint eigenmodes, and we obtain evolution equations for the solution parameters. We then apply these results to guide importance-sampled Monte-Carlo simulations and reconstruct the probability density functions of the solution parameters under the effect of noise.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure