Evaluation Trends

published or submitted for publicatio

Neutrino masses and mixings in a Minimal S_3-invariant Extension of the Standard Model

The mass matrices of the charged leptons and neutrinos, that had been derived in the framework of a Minimal S_3-invariant Extension of the Standard Model, are here reparametrized in terms of their eigenvalues. The neutrino mixing matrix, V_PMNS, is then computed and exact, explicit analytical expressions for the neutrino mixing angles as functions of the masses of the neutrinos and charged leptons are obtained. The reactor, theta_13, and the atmosferic, theta_23, mixing angles are found to be functions only of the masses of the charged leptons. The numerical values of theta_13{th} and theta_23{th} computed from our theoretical expressions are found to be in excellent agreement with the latest experimental determinations. The solar mixing angle, theta_12{th}, is found to be a function of both, the charged lepton and neutrino masses, as well as of a Majorana phase phi_nu. A comparison of our theoretical expression for the solar angle theta_12{th} with the latest experimental value theta_12{exp} ~ 34 deg allowed us to fix the scale and origin of the neutrino mass spectrum and obtain the mass values |m_nu1|=0.0507 eV, |m_nu2|=0.0499 eV and |m_nu3|=0.0193 eV, in very good agreement with the observations of neutrino oscillations, the bounds extracted from neutrinoless double beta decay and the precision cosmological measurements of the CMB.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the XXIX Symposium on Nuclear Physics, Cocoyoc, Mex., January 2006. Some typographical errors on formulae correcte

Integrating out the Dirac sea in the Walecka model

We derive a purely fermionic no-sea effective theory, featuring positive-energy states only for the Walecka model. In contrast to the so-called mean-field theory approach with the no-sea approximation, where the Dirac sea is simply omitted from the outset, we turn to the relativistic Hartree approximation and explicitly construct a no-sea effective theory from the underlying quantum field theory. Several results obtained within these two approaches are confronted with each other. This sheds new light on the reliability of the mean-field theory with the no-sea approximation as well as the role of the Dirac sea. Restricting to 1+1 dimensions, we obtain new analytical insights into nonuniform nuclear matter.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, several points clarified, Fig.7 replaced, references adde

The homology of path spaces and Floer homology with conormal boundary conditions

We define the Floer complex for Hamiltonian orbits on the cotangent bundle of a compact manifold satisfying non-local conormal boundary conditions. We prove that the homology of this chain complex is isomorphic to the singular homology of the natural path space associated to the boundary conditions.Comment: 25 pages, final versio

Bayesian estimates of free energies from nonequilibrium work data in the presence of instrument noise

The Jarzynski equality and the fluctuation theorem relate equilibrium free energy differences to non-equilibrium measurements of the work. These relations extend to single-molecule experiments that have probed the finite-time thermodynamics of proteins and nucleic acids. The effects of experimental error and instrument noise have not previously been considered. Here, we present a Bayesian formalism for estimating free-energy changes from non-equilibrium work measurements that compensates for instrument noise and combines data from multiple driving protocols. We reanalyze a recent set of experiments in which a single RNA hairpin is unfolded and refolded using optical tweezers at three different rates. Interestingly, the fastest and farthest-from-equilibrium measurements contain the least instrumental noise, and therefore provide a more accurate estimate of the free energies than a few slow, more noisy, near-equilibrium measurements. The methods we propose here will extend the scope of single-molecule experiments; they can be used in the analysis of data from measurements with AFM, optical, and magnetic tweezers.Comment: 8 page

Genomic biomarkers in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer among men in the United States. In the last decade there has been a rapid expansion in the field of biomarker assays for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment prediction in prostate cancer. The evidence base for these assays is rapidly evolving. With several commercial assays available at each stage of the disease, deciding which genomic assays are appropriate for which patients can be nuanced for physicians. In an effort to help guide these decisions in clinical practice, we aim to give an update on the current status of the biomarker field of prostate cancer