Universal Extra Dimensions and the Graviton Portal to Dark Matter

The Universal Extra Dimension (UED) paradigm is particularly attractive as it not only includes a natural candidate for the Dark Matter particle but also addresses several issues related to particle physics. Non-observations at the Large Hadron Collider, though, has brought the paradigm into severe tension. However, a particular 5-dimensional UED model emerges from a six-dimensional space-time with nested warping. The $AdS_6$ bulk protects both the Higgs mass as well as the UED scale without invoking unnatural parameter values. The graviton excitations in the sixth direction open up new (co-)annihilation channels for the Dark Matter particle, thereby allowing for phenomenological consistency, otherwise denied to the minimal UED scenario. The model leads to unique signatures in both satellite-based experiments as well as the LHC.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, To be published in JCA

A Machine Learning Solution to Predict Elective Orthopedic Surgery Case Duration.

We used surgery durations, patient demographic and personnel data taken from the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) over a period of 10 years (2010-2019) for a total of 25,352 patients that underwent 15 highest volume elective orthopedic surgeries, to predict future surgery durations for the subset of elective surgeries under consideration. As part of this study, we compared two different ensemble machine learning methods random forest regression (RF) and XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) regression. The two models were approximately 5% superior to the existing model used by the hospital scheduling system

Living Orthogonally: Quasi-universal Extra Dimensions

The minimal Universal Extra Dimension scenario is highly constrained owing to opposing constraints from the observed relic density on the one hand, and the non-observation of new states at the LHC on the other. Simple extensions in five-dimensions can only postpone the inevitable. Here, we propose a six-dimensional alternative with the key feature being that the SM quarks and leptons are localized on orthogonal directions whereas gauge bosons traverse the entire bulk. Several different realizations of electroweak symmetry breaking are possible, while maintaining agreement with low energy observables. This model is not only consistent with all the current constraints opposing the minimal Universal Extra Dimension scenario but also allows for a multi-TeV dark matter particle without the need for any fine-tuning. In addition, it promises a plethora of new signatures at the LHC and other future experiments.Comment: 43 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in JHE

Molybdenum dichalcogenide cathodes for aluminium-ion batteries

Many successful battery electrodes are based on 2D-layered materials. We have studied aluminium-ion batteries using molybdenum dichalcogenides: \ce{MoS2}, \ce{MoSe2} and MoSSe as active cathode materials. The batteries showed clear discharge voltage plateaus in the ranges 1.6 - 1.4 V for \ce{MoS2} and \ce{MoSe2}, and 0.6 - 0.5 V for MoSSe. \ce{MoS2} and \ce{MoSe2} have similar crystal structures, interestingly we found that \ce{MoSe2} performed better than \ce{MoS2}. MoSSe exhibited a higher specific capacity over \ce{MoS2} and \ce{MoSe2}, but the energy density was lower than \ce{MoSe2} at a current rate of 40 mA g$^{-1}$. \ce{MoSe2} cells recorded a discharge capacity of $\sim$ 110 mAh g$^{-1}$ with an average potential in the range of 2.0 - 1.8 V and 1.5 - 0.8 V during discharge. The cells were stable at 100 mA g$^{-1}$ for over 200 cycles with 90\% coulombic efficiency.Comment: Energy Technology, 202

Length-weight relationship and growth parameters of moonfish Mene maculata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) from Karnataka Coast, India

The present study aimed to elucidate the length-weight relationship and growth parameters of the moonfish Mene maculata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) along the Karnataka Coast. The species showed positive allometric growth with pooled ‘b’ value of 3.390 which is significantly greater than 3 (p<0.05) level. The “b” values of males (3.316) and females (3.440) showed significant difference from that of the indeterminates (2.90). The annual growth parameters estimated for moonfish off Karnataka Coast were: L∞ = 29.1 cm and K = 1.014 yr-1

Biodiversity and Natural capital valuation of the coastal ecosystems of Karnataka

Studies on the bio-inventory and ecosystem valuation document the ecosystems services in economic terms which makes it easily interpreted by policy makers and executives. Economic valuation of coastal ecosystems is essential for environmental planning and management, which ultimately leads to sensible use of coastal resources and services. Karnataka is one of the major maritime states on the south west coast of India. In this research, an attempt was made to understand the biodiversity and the economic value of coastal ecosystems of Karnataka to highlight its Provisional Services, Regulatory Services, Supporting Service and Cultural/spiritual services for biodiversity conservation and management

Alcohol in dementia: Implications of Alzheimer’s like pathology in alcohol abuse

Alcohol use is widespread, with 85.6 percent of people ages 18 and older reported drinking alcohol in their lifetime in 2019. Mild to heavy alcohol use is associated with multi-organ dysfunction at the cellular and genetic levels, as well as epigenetic modifications, leading to liver and brain damage and dementia. The role of astrocytes as contributors to Alzheimer’s like pathology associated with cognitive decline in opiate abusers and people with HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) has been recently reported from our group. We hypothesize that alcohol could also induce astrocytic amyloidosis. In this study we demonstrated that exposure of human primary astrocytes (HPA) to ethanol resulted in a dose dependent (6.25-200 mM) increase in AD markers-amyloid precursor protein (APP), Aβ 1-42, β-site cleaving enzyme (BACE1), as well as the inflammatory marker IL1βand lncRNA BACE1AS. Next, we demonstrated a time-dependent (0-96h, 12.5 mM) upregulation of AD markers, oxidative stress (4-HNE), alcohol metabolizing enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), as well as proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL1β, IL6) in HPAs exposed to alcohol. Gene silencing approaches confirmed the regulatory role of lncRNA BACE1-AS in amyloidosis and its interaction with alcohol metabolic pathways leading to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Further, in vivo study validated our in vitro findings, demonstrating up-regulation of APP, Aβ1-42, 4-HNE and IL1β in the cortices of ethanol-fed mice (4- weeks, ad libidum) compared to saline controls. This is the first report implicating the role of lncRNA BACE-AS in alcohol-mediated induction of astrocytic amyloidosis, leading to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, which, in turn, could contribute to cognitive impairments. These findings set the stage for future development of therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting cognitive deficits in alcohol users and abusers.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2021/1047/thumbnail.jp