Holomorphic selection rules, the origin of the mu term, and thermal inflation

When an abelian gauge theory with integer charges is spontaneously broken by the expectation value of a charge Q field, there remains a Z_Q discrete symmetry. In a supersymmetric theory, holomorphy adds additional constraints on the operators that can appear in the effective superpotential. As a result, operators with the same mass dimension but opposite sign charges can have very different coupling strengths. In the present work we characterize the operator hierarchies in the effective theory due to holomorphy, and show that there exist simple relationships between the size of an operator and its mass dimension and charge. Using such holomorphy-induced operator hierarchies, we construct a simple model with a naturally small supersymmetric mu term. This model also provides a concrete realization of late-time thermal inflation, which has the ability to solve the gravitino and moduli problems of weak-scale supersymmetry.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Rural Crime and Policing in American Indian Communities

While people in rural places generally have less crime, American Indians and communities are an anomaly, by sufferingfrom unusually high rates of criminal victimization despite being predominantly rural.One element with thisheightened vulnerability to crime is the historic under-policing of Indian reservations and communities. This paper examines the policing of Indian communities, first by tracing the historical development of Indian tribal police in the United States overthe past two centuries, which shapes the legal-social context for presentday Indian police agencies. Next the paper identifies three major factorslimiting the implementation of effective police forces by Indian communities: (1) legal limitations on the policing authority of tribal governments as historical vestiges; (2) cultural conflicts between traditional Native American values and modern bureaucratic policing practices; and (3) ecological limitations on tribal police from the extremely rural settings in which most Indian communities are located

Hospitality and the Negotiation of Difference : The Role of Food and Drink in the Russian Discovery of Japan

Globalization, Localization, and Japanese Studies in the Asia-Pacific Region : Past, Present, Future, シンガポール Orchard Parade Hotel, 2004年10月28日-31

Computational Intelligence to Improve Air Quality and Traffic Management

Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques are strong and efficient and capable of enhancing current traffic and air quality management systems

Microstructure of Silica in the Presence of Iron Oxide

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65543/1/j.1151-2916.1960.tb14328.x.pd

Tools and Strategies for Malaria Control and Elimination: What Do We Need to Achieve a Grand Convergence in Malaria?

Progress made in malaria control during the past decade has prompted increasing global dialogue on malaria elimination and eradication. The product development pipeline for malaria has never been stronger, with promising new tools to detect, treat, and prevent malaria, including innovative diagnostics, medicines, vaccines, vector control products, and improved mechanisms for surveillance and response. There are at least 25 projects in the global malaria vaccine pipeline, as well as 47 medicines and 13 vector control products. In addition, there are several next-generation diagnostic tools and reference methods currently in development, with many expected to be introduced in the next decade. The development and adoption of these tools, bolstered by strategies that ensure rapid uptake in target populations, intensified mechanisms for information management, surveillance, and response, and continued financial and political commitment are all essential to achieving global eradication

Production of light-coloured, low heat-absorbing Holstein Friesian cattle by precise embryo-mediated genome editing

Context. Genome editing enables the introduction of beneficial sequence variants into the genomes of animals with high genetic merit in a single generation. This can be achieved by introducing variants into primary cells followed by producing a live animal from these cells by somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning. The latter step is associated with low efficiencies and developmental problems due to incorrect reprogramming of the donor cells, causing animal welfare concerns. Direct editing of fertilised one-cell embryos could circumvent this issue and might better integrate with genetic improvement strategies implemented by the industry. Methods. In vitro fertilised zygotes were injected with TALEN editors and repair template to introduce a known coat colour dilution mutation in the PMEL gene. Embryo biopsies of injected embryos were screened by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for intended biallelic edits before transferring verified embryos into recipients for development to term. Calves were genotyped and their coats scanned with visible and hyperspectral cameras to assess thermal energy absorption. Key results. Multiple non-mosaic calves with precision edited genotypes were produced, including calves from high genetic merit parents. Compared to controls, the edited calves showed a strong coat colour dilution which was associated with lower thermal energy absorbance. Conclusions. Although biopsy screening was not absolutely accurate, non-mosaic, precisely edited calves can be readily produced by embryo-mediated editing. The lighter coat colouring caused by the PMEL mutation can lower radiative heat gain which might help to reduce heat stress. Implications. The study validates putative causative sequence variants to rapidly adapt grazing cattle to changing environmental conditions

An evaluation of the measurement properties of the Mentor Self-Efficacy Scale among participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Community Mentoring Programs

The measurement properties of a newly developed instrument, Mentor Self-Efficacy Scale, were examined among 249 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentor, child, and parent triads. The unidimensional scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (α = 0.81) and convergent validity, with mentor self-efficacy (MSE) correlating with mentor reported global (r = 0.28, p<0.001) and engagement (r = 0.44, p<0.001) mentoring relationship quality (MRQ). The scale also yielded acceptable predictive validity, with MSE predicting mentor reported engagement MRQ (β = 0.28, p = 0.001). Results will contribute to future research using the scale to augment BBBS policies

Substantial blue carbon sequestration in the world’s largest seagrass meadow

Seagrass meadows are important sinks for organic carbon and provide co-benefits. However, data on the organic carbon stock in seagrass sediments are scarce for many regions, particularly The Bahamas, which accounts for up to 40.7% of the documented global seagrass area, limiting formulation of blue carbon strategies. Here, we sampled 10 seagrass meadows across an extensive island chain in The Bahamas. We estimate that Bahamas seagrass meadows store 0.42–0.59 Pg organic carbon in the top-meter sediments with an accumulation rate of 2.1–2.9 Tg annually, representing a substantial global blue carbon hotspot. Autochthonous organic carbon in sediments decreased from ~1980 onwards, with concomitant increases in cyanobacterial and mangrove contributions, suggesting disturbance of seagrass ecosystems, likely caused by tourism and maritime traffic activities. This study provides seagrass blue carbon data from a vast, understudied region and contributes to improving climate action for The Bahamas and the Greater Caribbean region