Higgs-Dilaton cosmology: Are there extra relativistic species?

Recent analyses of cosmological data suggest the presence of an extra relativistic component beyond the Standard Model content. The Higgs-Dilaton cosmological model predicts the existence of a massless particle -the dilaton- associated with the spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance and undetectable by any accelerator experiment. Its ultrarelativistic character makes it a suitable candidate for contributing to the effective number of light degrees of freedom in the Universe. In this Letter we analyze the dilaton production at the (p)reheating stage right after inflation and conclude that no extra relativistic degrees of freedom beyond those already present in the Standard Model are expected within the simplest Higgs-Dilaton scenario. The elusive dilaton remains thus essentially undetectable by any particle physics experiment or cosmological observation.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, corrected typos; added reference

Validation of the Abbreviated Socio‑Political Control Scale for Youth (SPCS‑Y) Among Urban Girls of Color

This study tested and validated the factor structure of the abbreviated Sociopolitical Control Scale for Youth (SPCS-Y) among a sample of urban girls of color. Participants include (N = 830) urban girls of color from a northeastern United States community. Confirmatory Factor analyses (CFA) were conducted using AMOS Structural Equation Modeling Software. Cluster groups were created using Latent Class Cluster Analysis (LCA) and tested using Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with conceptually related variables. CFA results supported the two-factor structure of the abbreviated SPCS-Y among the sample. Following the creation of cluster groups, MANCOVA analyses revealed significant heterogeneity among cluster groups of participants on neighborhood sense of community, social support, ethnic identity, and lower levels of drug use. Findings support the factor structure of the SPCS-Y and its use to measure empowerment among girls of color. Results contribute significantly to the field of social work and encourages the importance of promoting strengths-based approaches among girls of color. Implications for social work practice with girls of color are conveyed in light of the need for reliable measurement tools for practitioners

Cosmological bounds on tachyonic neutrinos

Recent time-of-flight measurements on muon neutrinos in the OPERA neutrino oscillation experiment have found anomalously short times compared to the light travel-times, corresponding to a superluminal velocity, $v-1=2.37\pm0.32\times 10^{-5}$ in units where $c=1$. We show that cosmological bounds rule out an explanation involving a Lorentz invariant tachyonic neutrino. At the OPERA energy scale, nucleosynthesis constraints imply $v-1<0.86\times 10^{-12}$ and the Cosmic Microwave Background observations imply $v-1<7.1\times 10^{-23}$. The CMB limit on the velocity of a tachyon with an energy of 10 MeV is stronger than the SN1987A limit. Superluminal neutrinos that could be observed at particle accelerator energy scales would have to be associated with Lorentz symmetry violation.Comment: LaTeX, 4 page

Social exclusion among urban ethnic minority youth in the Northeast United States: A reflective view on community supportive structures

Social exclusion occurs as a combination of challenges (e.g., unemployment, high poverty, family conflict) that limits life opportunities. Social exclusion has been researched within European contexts, among middle-class families, and from quantitative perspectives. However, research on the topic among urban ethnic minority youth and using qualitative methodologies has remained elusive in the U.S. Although collaborative efforts between governmental institutions and community-based coalitions have helped develop intervention efforts to decrease social exclusion among youth in low-income urban areas, it continues to develop within families, communities, and societies. Therefore, this research explored experiences of social exclusion among low-income minority youth in an urban community in the Northeast U.S. Data were collected from nine focus groups (N = 58). The goal was to explore how urban ethnic minority youth understood social exclusion and the community resources they used to navigate its challenges. Findings included economic and societal exclusion in the form of economic deprivation and lack of appropriate safety nets. Although youth expressed a lack of community connection in the form of community exclusion, they applied a reflective view on how inequality shaped their lives, while discussing pathways towards social inclusion. This reflection was emphasized by the importance of developing bridging and bonding relationships (mentoring)

Functional Anatomy: Dynamic States in Basal Ganglia Circuits

The most appealing models of how the basal ganglia function propose distributed patterns of cortical activity selectively interacting with striatal networks to yield the execution of context-dependent movements. If movement is encoded by patterns of activity then these may be disrupted by influences at once more subtle and more devastating than the increase or decrease of neuronal firing that dominate the usual models of the circuit. In the absence of dopamine the compositional capabilities of cell assemblies in the network could be disrupted by the generation of dominant synchronous activity that engages most of the system. Experimental evidence about Parkinson's disease suggests that dopamine loss produces abnormal patterns of activity in different nuclei. For example, increased oscillatory activity arises in the GPe, GPi, and STN and is reflected as increased cortical beta frequency coherence disrupting the ability to produce motor sequences. When the idea of deep brain stimulation was proposed – it was supported by the information that lesions of the subthalamus reversed the effects of damage to the dopamine input to the system. However, it seems increasingly unlikely that the stimulation acts by silencing the nucleus as was at first proposed. Perhaps the increased cortical beta activity caused by the lack of dopamine could have disabled the patterning of network activity. Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus disrupts the on-going cortical rhythms. Subsequently asynchronous firing is reinstated and striatal cell assemblies and the whole basal ganglia circuit engage in a more normal pattern of activity. We will review the different variables involved in the generation of sequential activity patterns, integrate our data on deep brain stimulation and network population dynamics, and thus provide a novel interpretation of functional aspects of basal ganglia circuitry

Operational modal characterisation for long-term monitoring in offshore structures

In the effort to increase sustainability and help drive the energy sector to support oil and gas decarbonisation, the importance of identifying and characterising the current state of assets is becoming ever more crucial for operators, especially with regards to life extension and repurposing. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) offers a promising and forward-thinking methodology for tracking asset integrity. In particular, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) presents a proven, output only method for structure characterisation and modal tracking. However, Environmental and Operational Variations (EOV) can influence the modal properties of the structure making modal parameter estimation and tracking less reliable in the short- and long-term. This study employs an Automated Operational Modal Analysis (AOMA) methodology based on the combination of stochastic subspace identification and natural frequency histogram bin analysis for robust parameter extraction. The methodology is implemented in a complex of three bridge linked offshore platforms. Structural complexity, operational loading and significant modal couplings require sophisticated analysis. The preliminary results show discontinuity of the operational modes over a 6-month long monitoring period. The findings demonstrate the need of further analysis to understand the time-variant parameters which determine structural response across the asset lifetime

The American Dream eludes many urban youth of color. And they think it's their own fault.

Segregation is not a thing of the past for young people of color in the US; many attend under-resourced and segregated school districts. Despite these disadvantages, America's leaders tell young people of color that they can achieve the "American Dream" via hard work and determination. In new research, David T. Lardier Jr., Kathryn G. Herr, Veronica R. Barrios, Pauline Garcia-Reid ..