B→τμ(X)B\to\tau\mu (X) decays in SUSY models without R-parity

Being strictly forbidden in the standard model, experimental detection of the lepton flavor violating decays $B(\bar B)\to\tau^+\mu^-$ and $b(\bar b)\to X\tau^+\mu^-$ would constitute an unmistakable indication of new physics. We study these decays in supersymmetric models without R-parity and without lepton number. In order to derive order of magnitude predictions for the branching ratios, we assume a horizontal U(1) symmetry with horizontal charges chosen to explain the magnitude of fermion masses and quark mixing angles. We find that the branching ratios for decays with a $\tau\mu$ pair in the final state are not particularly suppressed with respect to the lepton flavor conserving channels. In general in these models {\rm B}[b\to\mu^+\mu^-(X)]\lsim {\rm B}[b(\bar b)\to\tau^+\mu^-(X)] \lsim {\rm B}[b\to\tau^+\tau^-(X)]. While in some cases the rates for final states $\tau^+\tau^-$ can be up to one order of magnitude larger than the lepton flavor violating channel, due to better efficiencies for muon detection and to the absence of standard model contributions, decays into $\tau\mu$ final states appear to be better suited to reveal this kind of new physics.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX, 3 ps-figures (uses epsfig.sty) Minor typos corrected, one normalization factor added to Eq. (3.11). To be published on Phys. Rev.

Renormalization Group Induced Neutrino Mass in Supersymmetry without R-parity

We study supersymmetric models without R parity and with universal soft supersymmetry breaking terms. We show that as a result of the renormalization group flow of the parameters, a misalignment between the directions in field space of the down-type Higgs vacuum expectation value $v_d$ and of the $\mu$ term is always generated. This misalignment induces a mixing between the neutrinos and the neutralinos, resulting in one massive neutrino. By means of a simple approximate analytical expression, we study the dependence on the different parameters that contribute to the misalignment and to $m_\nu$. In large part of the parameter space this effect dominates over the standard one-loop contributions to $m_\nu$; we estimate 1 MeV \lsim m_\nu \lsim 1 GeV. Laboratory, cosmological and astrophysical constraints imply m_\nu \lsim 100 eV. To be phenomenologically viable, these models must be supplemented with some additional mechanism to ensure approximate alignment and to suppress $m_\nu$.Comment: 21 pages, LaTex. Few points clarified, results unchanged. Final version to appear on Physical Review

Sleep-wake sensitive mechanisms of adenosine release in the basal forebrain of rodents : an in vitro study

Adenosine acting in the basal forebrain is a key mediator of sleep homeostasis. Extracellular adenosine concentrations increase during wakefulness, especially during prolonged wakefulness and lead to increased sleep pressure and subsequent rebound sleep. The release of endogenous adenosine during the sleep-wake cycle has mainly been studied in vivo with microdialysis techniques. The biochemical changes that accompany sleep-wake status may be preserved in vitro. We have therefore used adenosine-sensitive biosensors in slices of the basal forebrain (BFB) to study both depolarization-evoked adenosine release and the steady state adenosine tone in rats, mice and hamsters. Adenosine release was evoked by high K+, AMPA, NMDA and mGlu receptor agonists, but not by other transmitters associated with wakefulness such as orexin, histamine or neurotensin. Evoked and basal adenosine release in the BFB in vitro exhibited three key features: the magnitude of each varied systematically with the diurnal time at which the animal was sacrificed; sleep deprivation prior to sacrifice greatly increased both evoked adenosine release and the basal tone; and the enhancement of evoked adenosine release and basal tone resulting from sleep deprivation was reversed by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, 1400 W. These data indicate that characteristics of adenosine release recorded in the BFB in vitro reflect those that have been linked in vivo to the homeostatic control of sleep. Our results provide methodologically independent support for a key role for induction of iNOS as a trigger for enhanced adenosine release following sleep deprivation and suggest that this induction may constitute a biochemical memory of this state

Tropological space : the imaginary space of figuration

The paper is devoted to the concept of tropological space, introduced by Michel Foucault in 1966 and alluded to in Hayden White’s tropics of discourse (1973, 1978, 2000), but never described in any detail in literary semantics or linguistic stylistics. The author presents her theory of a triple functional subdivision of stylistic figures and, consequently, of tropes (micro-, macro- and mega (meta)-level of description) and relates it to a gradually expanding tropological space of particular figures, their chains and groupings within a text. The author postulates that tropological space, the imaginary space created through figuration, is a sub-space of the Wittgensteinian logical space as well as a sub-space of textual / discursive space. Although the discussion refers mostly to literary texts, tropology – a branch of stylistics / poetics / rhetoric makes generalizations valid for the study of all kinds of texts / discourses. Figuration is assumed here to be an inherent feature of conceptual and linguistic expression. Finally, the author raises a methodological query as to the ontological status of tropological space, opting for the approach which treats it as a peculiar kind of semantic space rather than a mere metaphoric term. The discussion is based mostly on the Anglo-American studies on figuration (K. Burke, H. White, P. de Man, J. Hillis Miller, G. Hartman) that are rooted in the neo-classical rhetoric and writings of G. Vico. This line of thinking draws its philosophical inspiration from the European hermeneutics of P. Ricoeur, the Foucaultian theory of discourses and the Derridean deconstructionist ideas on the operation of language. The author brings additionally into consideration the conception of artistic space propagated by the Russian semiotic tradition and V. N. Toporov (1983/2003) in particular

Regulation of cell-to-cell communication mediated by astrocytic ATP in the CNS

It has become apparent that glial cells, especially astrocytes, not merely supportive but are integrative, being able to receive inputs, assimilate information and send instructive chemical signals to other neighboring cells including neurons. At first, the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate was found to be a major extracellular messenger that mediates these communications because it can be released from astrocytes in a Ca2+-dependent manner, diffused, and can stimulate extra-synaptic glutamate receptors in adjacent neurons, leading to a dynamic modification of synaptic transmission. However, recently extracellular ATP has come into the limelight as an important extracellular messenger for these communications. Astrocytes express various neurotransmitter receptors including P2 receptors, release ATP in response to various stimuli and respond to extracellular ATP to cause various physiological responses. The intercellular communication “Ca2+ wave” in astrocytes was found to be mainly mediated by the release of ATP and the activation of P2 receptors, suggesting that ATP is a dominant “gliotransmitter” between astrocytes. Because neurons also express various P2 receptors and synapses are surrounded by astrocytes, astrocytic ATP could affect neuronal activities and even dynamically regulate synaptic transmission in adjacent neurons as if forming a “tripartite synapse” In this review, we summarize the role of astrocytic ATP, as compared with glutamate, in gliotransmission and synaptic transmission in neighboring cells, mainly focusing on the hippocampus. Dynamic communication between astrocytes and neurons mediated by ATP would be a key event in the processing or integration of information in the CNS

Searching for New Physics in Rare B→τB \to \tau Decays

The rare decays {$B^- \to \tau \bar\nu$}, \mbox{$B \to \tau^+ \tau^-$}, {$b \to X \nu \bar\nu$} and \mbox{$b \to X \tau^+ \tau^-$} all contain third generation leptons in the final state, and hence are sensitive to new physics that couples more strongly to the third family. We present model independent expressions for these decays that can be useful to study several types of new physics effects. We concentrate on supersymmetric models without R-parity and without lepton number. We also assume a horizontal U(1) symmetry with fermion horizontal charges chosen to explain the magnitude of fermion masses and quark mixing angles. This allows us to estimate the order of magnitude of the new effects, and to derive numerical predictions for the various decay rates and for the forward-backward asymmetry and the $\tau$ polarization components measurable in \mbox{$b \to X \tau^+ \tau^-$}. In some cases the branching ratios are enhanced by more than one order of magnitude, rendering foreseeable their detection at upcoming B-factories. We also discuss how a measurement of asymmetries in \mbox{$b \to X \tau^+ \tau^-$} can be crucial in distinguishing between different sources of new physics.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX, 8 ps-figures (uses epsfig.sty) Equations (2.7) (3.10) (3.14) (3.18) (3.19) (3.20) (4.6) corrected, conclusions unmodified. To be published on Phys. Rev.

Seriously personal:The reasons that motivate entrepreneurs to address climate change

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is freely available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record.Scholars increasingly argue that entrepreneurs and their small- and medium-sized enterprises should play a central role in reducing the rate and magnitude of climate change. However, evidence suggests that while some entrepreneurs recognize their crucial role in addressing climate change, most do not. Why some entrepreneurs nevertheless concern themselves with climate change has largely been overlooked. Some initial work in this area tentatively suggests that these entrepreneurs may engage with climate change because of their personal values, which either focus on financial or socio-ecological reasons, or a combination of both. Yet, it is unclear if all for-profit entrepreneurs engage with climate change for the same reasons, or if indeed their motivations vary across business types. Over a period of four years, we examined entrepreneurs’ motivations to engage with climate change through a variety of qualitative research methods. Our findings illustrate how entrepreneurs who address climate change have motivations specific to their business activity/industry and level of maturity. In each instance, we link these motivations to distinct conceptualizations of time and place. We contend that, through a more differentiated understanding of entrepreneurial motivations, policy-makers can draft climate change-related policies tailored to entrepreneurial needs. Policies could both increase the number of entrepreneurs who already engage in climate change mitigation and leverage the impact of those entrepreneurs already mitigating climate change.This study was funded by the European Social Fund (09099NCO5). We acknowledge with thanks the participation of the entrepreneurs and the support of Business Leaders for Low Carbon, Cornwall Council, and Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project. The authors wish to thank Professor John Amis, Professor Kenneth Amaeshi and the anonymous reviewers who provided useful feedback on earlier versions of the article

Effects of R-parity Violating Couplings on CP Asymmetries in Neutral B Decays

A detailed analysis of the effects of supersymmetric models without R-parity on various CP asymmetries in neutral $B$ decays is given. We concentrate on models with Abelian horizontal symmetries that allow us to estimate the order of magnitude of the new effects. We focus on channels where the Standard Model gives clean predictions: $B_{d}\to\psi K_{S}$ and $B_{d}\to\phi K_{S}$. The two asymmetries can have a value different from $\sin2\beta.$ Moreover, they can be different from each other.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, minor typos corrected. Final version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

Nonlinear gap junctions enable long-distance propagation of pulsating calcium waves in astrocyte networks

A new paradigm has recently emerged in brain science whereby communications between glial cells and neuron-glia interactions should be considered together with neurons and their networks to understand higher brain functions. In particular, astrocytes, the main type of glial cells in the cortex, have been shown to communicate with neurons and with each other. They are thought to form a gap-junction-coupled syncytium supporting cell-cell communication via propagating Ca2+ waves. An identified mode of propagation is based on cytoplasm-to-cytoplasm transport of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) through gap junctions that locally trigger Ca2+ pulses via IP3-dependent Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. It is, however, currently unknown whether this intracellular route is able to support the propagation of long-distance regenerative Ca2+ waves or is restricted to short-distance signaling. Furthermore, the influence of the intracellular signaling dynamics on intercellular propagation remains to be understood. In this work, we propose a model of the gap-junctional route for intercellular Ca2+ wave propagation in astrocytes showing that: (1) long-distance regenerative signaling requires nonlinear coupling in the gap junctions, and (2) even with nonlinear gap junctions, long-distance regenerative signaling is favored when the internal Ca2+ dynamics implements frequency modulation-encoding oscillations with pulsating dynamics, while amplitude modulation-encoding dynamics tends to restrict the propagation range. As a result, spatially heterogeneous molecular properties and/or weak couplings are shown to give rise to rich spatiotemporal dynamics that support complex propagation behaviors. These results shed new light on the mechanisms implicated in the propagation of Ca2+ waves across astrocytes and precise the conditions under which glial cells may participate in information processing in the brain.Comment: Article: 30 pages, 7 figures. Supplementary Material: 11 pages, 6 figure