A strong electroweak phase transition in the 2HDM after LHC8

The nature of the electroweak phase transition in two-Higgs-doublet models is revisited in light of the recent LHC results. A scan over an extensive region of their parameter space is performed, showing that a strongly first-order phase transition favours a light neutral scalar with SM-like properties, together with a heavy pseudo-scalar (m_A^0 > 400 GeV) and a mass hierarchy in the scalar sector, m_H^+ gamma gamma decay channel and find that an enhancement in the branching ratio is allowed, and in some cases even preferred, when a strongly first-order phase transition is required

Interim prediction method for externally blown flap noise

An interim procedure for predicting externally blown flap (EBF) noise spectra anywhere below a powered lift aircraft is presented. Both engine-under-the-wing and engine-over-the-wing EBF systems are included. The method uses data correlations for the overall sound pressure level based on nozzle exit area and exhaust velocity along with OASPL directivity curves and normalized one-third-octave spectra. Aircraft motion effects are included by taking into account the relative motion of the source with respect to the observer and the relative velocity effects on source strength

Design of a rodent dynamometer

In the past, computer controlled dynamometers have been used to perform isometric and isovelocity testing to study the effects of velocity, acceleration, and position on muscle injury. However, the effect of constant force on muscle injury in animals has not yet been studied.;A computer-controlled dynamometer was designed which could perform isometric, isovelocity, and isotonic testing on both male and female rats. A mechanical device was designed to position the rats for testing as well as provide a platform for the motor and other system components. All of the system components were connected electrically through a National Instruments UMI-7764 breakout box, which allowed for convenient integration of all the components. Individual programs were written in LabVIEW to perform concentric and eccentric isometric, isovelocity, and isotonic testing. The programs allowed for many variations to the standard programming such as isometric holds, repetitive cycles, and rest times

Acoustic tests of a 15.2 centimeter-diameter potential flow convergent nozzle

An experimental investigation of the jet noise radiated to the far field from a 15.2-cm-diam potential flow convergent nozzle has been conducted. Tests were made with unheated airflow over a range of subsonic nozzle exhaust velocities from 62 to 310m/sec. Mean and turbulent velocity measurements in the flow field of the nozzle exhaust indicated no apparent flow anomalies. Acoustic measurements yielded data uncontaminated by internal and/or background noise to velocities as low as 152m/sec. Finally, no significantly different acoustic characteristics between the potential flow nozzle and simple convergent nozzles were found

Flap noise measurements for STOL configurations using external upper surface blowing

Screening tests of upper surface blowing on externally blown flaps configurations were conducted. Noise and turning effectiveness data were obtained with small-scale, engine-over-the-wing models. One large model was tested to determine scale effects. Nozzle types included circular, slot, D-shaped, and multilobed. Tests were made with and without flow attachment devices. For STOL applications the particular multilobed mixer and the D-shaped nozzles tested were found to offer little or no noise advantage over the round convergent nozzle. High aspect ratio slot nozzles provided the quietest configurations. In general, upper surface blowing was quieter than lower surface blowing for equivalent EBF models

Acoustic characteristics of externally blown flap systems with mixer nozzles

Noise tests were conducted on a large scale, cold flow model of an engine-under-the-wing externally blown flap lift augmentation system employing a mixer nozzle. The mixer nozzle was used to reduce the flap impingement velocity and, consequently, try to attenuate the additional noise caused by the interaction between the jet exhaust and the wing flap. Results from the mixer nozzle tests are summarized and compared with the results for a conical nozzle. The comparison showed that with the mixer nozzle, less noise was generated when the trailing flap was in a typical landing setting (e.g., 60 deg). However, for a takeoff flap setting (20 deg), there was little or no difference in the acoustic characteristics when either the mixer or conical nozzle was used

Echoes of the electroweak phase transition: discovering a second Higgs doublet through A0 → ZH0

The existence of a second Higgs doublet in nature could lead to a cosmological first-order electroweak phase transition and explain the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. We obtain the spectrum and properties of the new scalars H0, A0, and H� that signal such a phase transition and show that the observation of the decay A0 → ZH0 at LHC would be a “smoking gun” signature of these scenarios. We analyze the LHC search prospects for this decay in the llbb¯ and llWþW− final states, arguing that current data may be sensitive to this signature in the former channel as well as there being great potential for a discovery in either channel at the very early stages of the 14 TeV run

The Big Paper Network Supporting Doctoral Students to Degree Completion

Doctoral completion rates are a concern across disciplines.  This paper describes the way in which Curriculum Leadership faculty redesigned their doctoral program from coursework through completion to include a strong support system, intellectually and emotionally.  This culminated in the creation of the “Big Paper Network,” designed to support candidates from proposal writing through defense

A long and complex enhancer activates transcription of the gene coding for the highly abundant immediate early mRNA in murine cytomegalovirus

Using the simian virus 40 "enhancer trap" approach, we have identified a transcription enhancer located just upstream of the major immediate early gene of murine cytomegalovirus. This enhancer has several striking properties. (.) Together with the enhancer ofhuman cytomegalovirus, it is the strongest transcription enhancer found to date. (ö) It is an extremely long enhancer, spanning >700 base pairs. (ÜI) It consists of a rather complex pattern of sequence repeats, the longest of which is 181 base pairs. Also, several types of short sequence motifs are scattered throughout the enhancer in monomeric, heterodimeric, or homodimeric (palindromic) form. These motifs have been identified to be components of other enhancers and promoters, and they are presumably binding sites for specific nuclear factors. Our analysis suggests that enhancers are composed of a modular arrangement of short conserved sequence motifs and that enhancer strength is correlated with the redundancy of these motifs