Gravity-mediated Scalar Dark Matter in Warped Extra-Dimensions

We revisit the case of scalar dark matter interacting just gravitationally with the Standard Model (SM) particles in an extra-dimensional Randall-Sundrum scenario. We assume that both, the dark matter and the Standard Model, are localized in the TeV brane and only interact via gravitational mediators, namely the graviton Kaluza-Klein modes and the radion. We analyze in detail the dark matter annihilation channel into two on-shell KK-gravitons, and contrary to previous studies which overlooked this process, we find that it is possible to obtain the correct relic abundance for dark matter masses in the range [1, 10] TeV even after taking into account the strong bounds from LHC Run II. We also consider the impact of the radion contribution (virtual exchange leading to SM final states as well as on-shell production), which does not significantly change our results. Quite interestingly, a sizeable part of the currently allowed parameter space could be tested by LHC Run III and by the High-Luminosity LHC.Comment: 43 pages, 9 figure

Predicting the traffic flux in the city of Valencia with Deep Learning

Traffic congestion is a major urban issue due to its adverse effects on health and the environment, so much so that reducing it has become a priority for urban decision-makers. In this work, we investigate whether a high amount of data on traffic flow throughout a city and the knowledge of the road city network allows an Artificial Intelligence to predict the traffic flux far enough in advance in order to enable emission reduction measures such as those linked to the Low Emission Zone policies. To build a predictive model, we use the city of Valencia traffic sensor system, one of the densest in the world, with nearly 3500 sensors distributed throughout the city. In this work we train and characterize an LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) Neural Network to predict temporal patterns of traffic in the city using historical data from the years 2016 and 2017. We show that the LSTM is capable of predicting future evolution of the traffic flux in real-time, by extracting patterns out of the measured data.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figure

Gravity-mediated Dark Matter in Clockwork/Linear Dilaton Extra-Dimensions

We study for the first time the possibility that Dark Matter (represented by particles with spin $0,1/2$ or $1$) interacts gravitationally with Standard Model particles in an extra-dimensional Clockwork/Linear Dilaton model. We assume that both, the Dark Matter and the Standard Model, are localized in the IR-brane and only interact via gravitational mediators, namely the Kaluza-Klein (KK) graviton and the radion/KK-dilaton modes. We analyse in detail the Dark Matter annihilation channel into Standard Model particles and into two on-shell Kaluza-Klein towers (either two KK-gravitons, or two radion/KK-dilatons, or one of each), finding that it is possible to obtain the observed relic abundance via thermal freeze-out for Dark Matter masses in the range $m_{\rm DM} \in [1, 15]$ TeV for a 5-dimensional gravitational scale $M_5$ ranging from 5 to a few hundreds of TeV, even after taking into account the bounds from LHC Run II and irrespectively of the DM particle spin.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures. Published version. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1907.0434

Aging-Associated miR-217 Aggravates Atherosclerosis and Promotes Cardiovascular Dysfunction.

microRNAs are master regulators of gene expression with essential roles in virtually all biological processes. miR-217 has been associated with aging and cellular senescence, but its role in vascular disease is not understood. Approach and Results: We have used an inducible endothelium-specific knock-in mouse model to address the role of miR-217 in vascular function and atherosclerosis. miR-217 reduced NO production and promoted endothelial dysfunction, increased blood pressure, and exacerbated atherosclerosis in proatherogenic apoE-/- mice. Moreover, increased endothelial miR-217 expression led to the development of coronary artery disease and altered left ventricular heart function, inducing diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Conversely, inhibition of endogenous vascular miR-217 in apoE-/- mice improved vascular contractility and diminished atherosclerosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that miR-217 regulates an endothelial signaling hub and downregulates a network of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) activators, including VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and apelin receptor pathways, resulting in diminished eNOS expression. Further analysis revealed that human plasma miR-217 is a biomarker of vascular aging and cardiovascular risk. Our results highlight the therapeutic potential of miR-217 inhibitors in aging-related cardiovascular disease.V.G. de Yébenes was supported by Ramón y Cajal grant RYC-2009-04503 and AECC foundation grant INVES18013GARC and by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. S.M. Mur and A.R. Ramiro are supported by Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) funding. A.R. Ramiro was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2019-107551RB-I00), the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (SAF2013-42767-R and SAF2016-75511-R), and the European Research Council StG BCLYM. M. Salaices was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2016-80305P) and with J. Miguel Redondo by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, CB16/11/00286 and CB16/11/00264) and Comunidad de Madrid (B2017/BMD-3676). V.G. de Yébenes was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2019-107551RB-I00). Further support was provided by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund “A Way to Build Europe.” The CNIC is supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, and the Pro CNIC Foundation and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505).S

On the Interpretation of Nonresonant Phenomena at Colliders

With null results in resonance searches at the LHC, the physics potential focus is now shifting towards the interpretation of nonresonant phenomena. An example of such shift is the increased popularity of the EFT programme. We can embark on such programme owing to the good integrated luminosity and an excellent understanding of the detectors, which will allow these searches to become more intense as the LHC continues. In this paper, we provide a framework to perform this interpretation in terms of a diverse set of scenarios, including (1) generic heavy new physics described at low energies in terms of a derivative expansion, such as in the EFT approach; (2) very light particles with derivative couplings, such as axions or other light pseudo-Goldstone bosons; and (3) the effect of a quasicontinuum of resonances, which can come from a number of strongly coupled theories, extradimensional models, clockwork set-ups, and their deconstructed cousins. These scenarios are not equivalent despite all nonresonance, although the matching among some of them is possible, and we provide it in this paper

Aging-Associated miR-217 Aggravates Atherosclerosis and Promotes Cardiovascular Dysfunction

microRNAs are master regulators of gene expression with essential roles in virtually all biological processes. miR-217 has been associated with aging and cellular senescence, but its role in vascular disease is not understood. Approach and Results: We have used an inducible endothelium-specific knock-in mouse model to address the role of miR-217 in vascular function and atherosclerosis. miR-217 reduced NO production and promoted endothelial dysfunction, increased blood pressure, and exacerbated atherosclerosis in proatherogenic apoE-/- mice. Moreover, increased endothelial miR-217 expression led to the development of coronary artery disease and altered left ventricular heart function, inducing diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Conversely, inhibition of endogenous vascular miR-217 in apoE-/- mice improved vascular contractility and diminished atherosclerosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that miR-217 regulates an endothelial signaling hub and downregulates a network of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) activators, including VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and apelin receptor pathways, resulting in diminished eNOS expression. Further analysis revealed that human plasma miR-217 is a biomarker of vascular aging and cardiovascular risk. Our results highlight the therapeutic potential of miR-217 inhibitors in aging-related cardiovascular disease.V.G. de Yébenes was supported by Ramón y Cajal grant RYC-2009-04503 and AECC foundation grant INVES18013GARC and by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. S.M. Mur and A.R. Ramiro are supported by Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) funding. A.R. Ramiro was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2019-107551RB-I00), the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (SAF2013-42767-R and SAF2016-75511-R), and the European Research Council StG BCLYM. M. Salaices was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2016-80305P) and with J. Miguel Redondo by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, CB16/11/00286 and CB16/11/00264) and Comunidad de Madrid (B2017/BMD-3676). V.G. de Yébenes was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2019-107551RB-I00). Further support was provided by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund “A Way to Build Europe.” The CNIC is supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, and the Pro CNIC Foundation and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505).S