A linear moose model with pairs of degenerate gauge boson triplets

The possibility of the existence of a strongly interacting electroweak symmetry breaking sector, as opposed to the weakly interacting light Higgs of the Standard Model, is not yet ruled out by experiments. In this paper we make an extensive study of a deconstructed model (or ``moose'' model) providing a possible effective description of such a strong symmetry breaking sector, and show its compatibility with experimental data for a wide portion of the model parameters space. The model is a direct generalization of the previously proposed D-BESS model.Comment: Latex file, 17 pages, 2 figures, published versio

Limits and Criticalities of Predictions and Forecasting in Complex Social and Economic Scenarios: A Cybernetics Key

Predictions play a key role in assuring the status of “rationality” in decisions. Nevertheless, in the field of social sciences and economics, predictions fail to correctly depict the oncoming scenarios. Why is it so difficult to achieve quantitative prediction of social and economic systems? Can science provide reliable predictions of social and economic paths that can be used to implement effective interventions? As in the notorious “El Farol bar problem” depicted by Brian Arthur (Am Econ Rev 84:406–411, 1994), the validity of predictive models is more a social issue than a matter of good mathematics. Predictability in social systems is due to limited knowledge of society and human behavior. We do not yet have worldwide, quantitative knowledge of human social behavior; for instance, the perception of certain issues or the predisposition to adopt certain behaviors. Though tremendous progress has been made in recent years in data gathering thanks to the development of new technologies and the consequent increase in computational power, social and economic models still rely on assumptions of rationality that undermine their predictive effectiveness. Through some theoretical and epistemological reflections, we propose a way in which the cybernetic paradigm of complexity management can be used for better decision-making in complex scenarios with a comprising, dynamic, and evolving approach. We will show how a cybernetic approach can help to overcome the fear of uncertainty and serve as an effective tool for improving decisions and actions

University Incubator as Catalyst of Resources for Academic Spin-Offs. The Case of ARCA Consortium

Today we can observe an increasing proliferation of new academic spin-off initiatives aimed to transfer knowledge from the university to the market. Due to their strategic role in enhancing the development of technological innovation, academic spin-offs can attain high levels of social performance and consonance with their environment. At the same time, they must overcome many difficulties if they are to achieve a high level of financial performance and growth. They are often considered to be mere vehicles for the transmission of knowledge, implying that their entrepreneurial potential is not fully exploited. According to the Resource Based View (RBV) the competitive disadvantage of an academic spin-off is due to a lack of resources. This paper will join this stream of research in order to analyze the financial performance of academic spin-offs. We examine the case of Arca Consortium’s incubator, established by the University of Palermo, and of the academic spin-offs it has supported and continues to assist. The empirical analysis, based on two linear regression models, is performed based on 19 case studies of spin-offs created between 2007 and 2009 by academicians of the University of Palerm

The Drivers of Customer Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry. Applying the Kano Model to Sicilian Hotels

Starting from the assessment that hotels need to embrace a managerial approach oriented towards customer satisfaction, we adopt the Kano model to identify the relevant drivers of satisfaction of hotels guest in the main cities of Sicily, Italy. This study analyzes the customer satisfaction requirements for Sicilian hotels in order to suggest and weigh a set of key attributes that hotel managers need to consider in order to create an attractive offer. We base our analysis on the qualitative data collected through 600 questionnaires submitted to hotel guests of twenty Sicilian three-star hotels located in city downtowns, in different provinces and locations

Evidence of microbial activity from a shallow water whale fall (Voghera, northern Italy)

The fossil bones, associated carbonate cements and enclosing concretion of a Miocene mysticete from inner shelf deposits (Monte Vallassa Formation, northern Italy) were analyzed for evidence of microbial activity. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and stable C and O isotope geochemistry were used for high spatial resolution microfacies and biosedimentological analyses. Whale cancellous bones were filled by different carbonate cements including microcrystalline dolomite, rhombohedral dolomite and sparry calcite. Biofabric and biominerals such as microbial peloids, clotted textures and pyrite framboids were associated with the dolomite cements. Dolomite inside cancellous bones and in the enclosing concretion showed similar isotopic values (avg δ 13C: -7.12‰; avg δ 18O: +3.81‰), depleted with respect to the (late) sparry calcite cement (avg δ 13C: -0.55‰; avg δ 18O: -0.98‰). Microcrystalline barite (BaSO 4) was observed on the external surface of the bones. In addition, two different types of microborings were recognized, distinguished by their size and morphology and were ascribed respectively to prokaryote and fungal trace makers. Our results testify for the development of a diverse microbial ecosystem during the decay of a shallow water whale carcass, which could be detected in the fossil record. However, none of the observed biosignatures (e.g., microbial peloids, clotted textures) can be used alone as a positive fossil evidence of the general development of a sulfophilic stage of whale fall ecological succession. The occurrence of the hard parts of chemosynthetic invertebrates associated with fossil whale bones is still the more convincing proof of the development of a sulfide-base chemoautotrophic ecosystem. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

Analysis of Narrow s-channel Resonances at Lepton Colliders

The procedures for studying a single narrow s-channel resonance or nearly degenerate resonances at a lepton collider, especially a muon collider, are discussed. In particular, we examine four methods for determining the parameters of a narrow s-channel resonance: scanning the resonance, measuring the convoluted cross section, measuring the Breit-Wigner area, and sitting on the resonance while varying the beam energy resolution. This latter procedure is new and appears to be potentially very powerful. Our focus is on computing the errors in resonance parameters resulting from uncertainty in the beam energy spread. Means for minimizing these errors are discussed. The discussion is applied to the examples of a light SM-Higgs, of the lightest pseudogoldstone boson of strong electroweak breaking, and of the two spin-1 resonances of the Degenerate BESS model (assuming that the beam energy spread is less than their mass splitting). We also examine the most effective procedures for nearly degenerate resonances, and apply these to the case of Degenerate BESS resonances with mass splitting of order the beam energy spread.Comment: 63 pages, 16 figure

KK Gravitons and Unitarity Violation in the Randall-Sundrum Model

We show that perturbative unitarity for $W_LW_L$ scattering places significant constraints on the Randall-Sundrum theory with two 3-branes, with matter confined to the TeV brane. The exchange of massive 4D Kaluza-Klein gravitons leads to amplitudes growing linearly with the CM energy squared. Summing over KK gravitons up to a scale \lbar and testing unitarity at \sqrt s=\lbar, one finds that unitarity is violated for \lbar below the 'naive dimensional analysis' scale, $\Lambda_{NDA}$. We evaluate \lbar as a function of the curvature ratio $m_0/M_{Planck}$ for the pure gravity theory. We then demonstrate that unitarity need not be violated at \lbar in the presence of a heavy Higgs boson. In fact, much larger Higgs masses are consistent with unitarity than if no KK gravitons are present. Observation of the mass and width (or cross section) of one or more KK gravitons at the LHC will directly determine $m_0/M_{Planck}$ and the scale $\hat \Lambda$ specifying the couplings of matter to the KK gravitons. With this information in hand and a measurement of the Higgs boson mass, one can determine the precise scale \lbar below which unitarity will remain valid.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, major revisions mad