New Higgs signals induced by mirror fermion mixing effects

We study the conditions under which flavor violation arises in scalar-fermion interactions, as a result of the mixing phenomena between the standard model and exotic fermions. Phenomenological consequences are discussed within the specific context of a left-right model where these additional fermions have mirror properties under the new SU(2)_R gauge group. Bounds on the parameters of the model are obtained from LFV processes; these results are then used to study the LFV Higgs decays (H --> tau l_j, l_j = e, mu), which reach branching ratios that could be detected at future colliders.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, ReVTex4, graphicx, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Do static sources respond to massive scalar particles from the Hawking radiation as uniformly accelerated ones do in the inertial vacuum?

We revisit the recently found equivalence for the response of a static scalar source interacting with a {\em massless} Klein-Gordon field when the source is (i) static in Schwarzschild spacetime, in the Unruh vacuum associated with the Hawking radiation and (ii) uniformly accelerated in Minkowski spacetime, in the inertial vacuum, provided that the source's proper acceleration is the same in both cases. It is shown that this equivalence is broken when the massless Klein-Gordon field is replaced by a {\em massive} one.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Partition functions and double-trace deformations in AdS/CFT

We study the effect of a relevant double-trace deformation on the partition function (and conformal anomaly) of a CFT at large N and its dual picture in AdS. Three complementary previous results are brought into full agreement with each other: bulk and boundary computations, as well as their formal identity. We show the exact equality between the dimensionally regularized partition functions or, equivalently, fluctuational determinants involved. A series of results then follows: (i) equality between the renormalized partition functions for all d; (ii) for all even d, correction to the conformal anomaly; (iii) for even d, the mapping entails a mixing of UV and IR effects on the same side (bulk) of the duality, with no precedent in the leading order computations; and finally, (iv) a subtle relation between overall coefficients, volume renormalization and IR-UV connection. All in all, we get a clean test of the AdS/CFT correspondence beyond the classical SUGRA approximation in the bulk and at subleading O(1) order in the large-N expansion on the boundary.Comment: 18 pages, uses JHEP3.cls. Published JHEP versio

Microscopic NN→NN∗(1440)NN\to NN^{\ast}(1440) transition potential: Determination of πNN∗(1440)\pi NN^{\ast}(1440) and σNN∗(1440)\sigma NN^{\ast}(1440) coupling constants

A $NN\to NN^{\ast}(1440)$ transition potential, based on an effective quark-quark interaction and a constituent quark cluster model for baryons, is derived in the Born-Oppenheimer approach. The potential shows significant differences with respect to those obtained by a direct scaling of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. From its asymptotic behavior we extract the values of $\pi NN^{\ast}(1440)$ and $\sigma NN^{\ast}(1440)$ coupling constants in a particular coupling schemeComment: 15 eps figures, Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Solar Neutrino Masses and Mixing from Bilinear R-Parity Broken Supersymmetry: Analytical versus Numerical Results

We give an analytical calculation of solar neutrino masses and mixing at one-loop order within bilinear R-parity breaking supersymmetry, and compare our results to the exact numerical calculation. Our method is based on a systematic perturbative expansion of R-parity violating vertices to leading order. We find in general quite good agreement between approximate and full numerical calculation, but the approximate expressions are much simpler to implement. Our formalism works especially well for the case of the large mixing angle MSW solution (LMA-MSW), now strongly favoured by the recent KamLAND reactor neutrino data.Comment: 34 pages, 14 ps figs, some clarifying comments adde

Interaction of Hawking radiation with static sources in deSitter and Schwarzschild-deSitter spacetimes

We study and look for similarities between the response rates $R^{\rm dS}(a_0, \Lambda)$ and $R^{\rm SdS}(a_0, \Lambda, M)$ of a static scalar source with constant proper acceleration $a_0$ interacting with a massless, conformally coupled Klein-Gordon field in (i) deSitter spacetime, in the Euclidean vacuum, which describes a thermal flux of radiation emanating from the deSitter cosmological horizon, and in (ii) Schwarzschild-deSitter spacetime, in the Gibbons-Hawking vacuum, which describes thermal fluxes of radiation emanating from both the hole and the cosmological horizons, respectively, where $\Lambda$ is the cosmological constant and $M$ is the black hole mass. After performing the field quantization in each of the above spacetimes, we obtain the response rates at the tree level in terms of an infinite sum of zero-energy field modes possessing all possible angular momentum quantum numbers. In the case of deSitter spacetime, this formula is worked out and a closed, analytical form is obtained. In the case of Schwarzschild-deSitter spacetime such a closed formula could not be obtained, and a numerical analysis is performed. We conclude, in particular, that $R^{\rm dS}(a_0, \Lambda)$ and $R^{\rm SdS}(a_0, \Lambda, M)$ do not coincide in general, but tend to each other when $\Lambda \to 0$ or $a_0 \to \infty$. Our results are also contrasted and shown to agree (in the proper limits) with related ones in the literature.Comment: ReVTeX4 file, 9 pages, 5 figure

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System around N and NW Iberia

In the late 80's, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) began some ambitious programs of monitoring around the Iberian Peninsula. The coastal observing system core structure was the Radiales program, a series of transects nearby most coastal IEO laboratories where a minimum set of hydrographical, chemical and biological parameters is sampled monthly. The sections are designed to be completed in one-day journeys so the system is supported by quite small vessels, mainly covering the continental shelf with the noteworthy exception of the Santander Section, where the proximity of the shelf-break allows sampling deep waters monthly. During the last 20 years the program has supported many specific scientific research projects and has created a detailed description of seasonal to interannual variability in the coastal ecosystem that serves as a baseline to explore long-term changes or trends...Versión de auto

Evaluating transdisciplinary science to open research-implementation spaces in European social-ecological systems

Researchers in multiple, related fields that address complex social and environmental challenges, have shown ongoing enthusiasm for applying transdisciplinary social-ecological systems (SES) research to promote sustainability. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of SES approach, assessed its achievements, and identified challenges to its implementation toward knowledge production for environmental conservation. We report the results of a qualitative, participatory evaluation of several SES projects across Europe using an evaluation methodology tailored to transdisciplinary projects. We conducted 66 stakeholder interviews at four designated Long-Term Socio-ecological Research (LTSER) platforms – Danube Delta and Braila Island (Romania); Cairngorms (Scotland); and Doñana (Spain). Using qualitative analysis, we synthesized data from interviews and then returned to the sites to present findings to stakeholders in focus group discussions in order to incorporate their feedback into conclusions. We conclude that although particular scientists at each platform have taken on entrepreneurial roles to operationalize transdisciplinary science, a business-as-usual attitude tends to dominate institutions, limiting meaningful progress toward transdisciplinary objectives, including: integration of social science research, giving non-researcher stakeholders a more meaningful role in advancing relevant research, and improving knowledge exchange among different stakeholder groups, among other issues. While we found that all the components of transdisciplinary SES research exist at the sites, there is no overarching strategy to link long-term planning and funding, knowledge integration, and priority-setting with stakeholders to ensure the relevance of research for policy and practice. We conclude with reflections about implementing our evaluation methodology, and a call for periodic, participatory evaluation into the future

Logarithmic correction to BH entropy as Noether charge

We consider the role of the type-A trace anomaly in static black hole solutions to semiclassical Einstein equation in four dimensions. Via Wald's Noether charge formalism, we compute the contribution to the entropy coming from the anomaly induced effective action and unveil a logarithmic correction to the Bekenstein-Hawking area law. The corrected entropy is given by a seemingly universal formula involving the coefficient of the type-A trace anomaly, the Euler characteristic of the horizon and the value at the horizon of the solution to the uniformization problem for Q-curvature. Two instances are examined in detail: Schwarzschild and a four-dimensional massless topological black hole. We also find agreement with the logarithmic correction due to one-loop contribution of conformal fields in the Schwarzschild background.Comment: 14 pages, JHEP styl

Negotiating local versus global needs in the International Long Term Ecological Research Network's socio-ecological research agenda

Over the past decade, Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) has been established to better integrate social science research and societal concerns into the goals and objectives of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network, an established global network of long-term ecological monitoring sites. The Horizon 2020 eLTER project, currently underway, includes as one of its key objectives to evaluate the performance of LTSER platforms. This article reflects part of this evaluation: Six LTSER platforms were assessed through site visits of the lead author, coupled with reflections and insights of the platform managers, who are also coauthors. We provide background for the mission and goals of LTSER, and then assess the six international LTSER platforms – Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER, USA; Braila Islands LTSER, Romania; Cairngorms LTSER, UK; Doñana LTSER, Spain; Omora Ethnobotanical Park Cape Horn LTER, Chile; and Sierra Nevada LTSER, Spain. 
 While based on a strong theoretical foundation in socio-ecological research, there has been a steep learning curve for scientists to apply the concept in practice at LTSER platforms. Key aspects of LTSER platforms have proven challenging, including management, interdisciplinary integration, and stakeholder collaboration. We characterize the tensions between top-down desires for network harmonization, bottom-up demands such as local policy relevance, and platform-level constraints such as time and budget. We discuss challenges, such as local context dominating the character of LTSER platforms, and the fact that scientists are disincentivized from engaging in transdisciplinary work. However, we also show positive impacts that have been achieved, including contributions to policy, land-use planning, and natural resource management. Overall, we conclude that while the international network offers important advantages to its members, a better balance between local and global goals could be achieved, and members may need to temper their expectations of what the network can and cannot offer at the local level