3,780 research outputs found
Gravitational Scattering in the ADD-model Revisited
Gravitational scattering in the ADD-model is studied and it is argued that no
cut-off is needed for the exchange of virtual Kaluza--Klein modes. By
introduction of a small coordinate in the extra dimensions a unique form of the
Kaluza--Klein-summed propagator is found for an odd number of extra dimensions.
The matrix element corresponding to this propagator can also (as opposed to the
cut-offed version) be Fourier transformed to position space, giving back the
extra-dimensional version of Newton's law. For an even number of extra
dimensions the propagator is found by requiring that Newton's law should be
recovered
Comparison of electric dipole moments and the Large Hadron Collider for probing CP violation in triple boson vertices
CP violation from physics beyond the Standard Model may reside in triple
boson vertices of the electroweak theory. We review the effective theory
description and discuss how CP violating contributions to these vertices might
be discerned by electric dipole moments (EDM) or diboson production at the
Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Despite triple boson CP violating interactions
entering EDMs only at the two-loop level, we find that EDM experiments are
generally more powerful than the diboson processes. To give example to these
general considerations we perform the comparison between EDMs and collider
observables within supersymmetric theories that have heavy sfermions, such that
substantive EDMs at the one-loop level are disallowed. EDMs generally remain
more powerful probes, and next-generation EDM experiments may surpass even the
most optimistic assumptions for LHC sensitivities.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figures, published version with more argument
Decaying neutralino dark matter in anomalous models
In supersymmetric models extended with an anomalous different
R-parity violating couplings can yield an unstable neutralino. We show that in
this context astrophysical and cosmological constraints on neutralino decaying
dark matter forbid bilinear R-parity breaking neutralino decays and lead to a
class of purely trilinear R-parity violating scenarios in which the neutralino
is stable on cosmological scales. We have found that among the resulting models
some of them become suitable to explain the observed anomalies in cosmic-ray
electron/positron fluxes.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures. References added, typos corrected, accepted
version in Phys Rev
Phenomenology of Dirac Neutrinogenesis in Split Supersymmetry
In Split Supersymmetry scenarios the possibility of having a very heavy
gravitino opens the door to alleviate or completely solve the worrisome
"gravitino problem'' in the context of supersymmetric baryogenesis models. Here
we assume that the gravitino may indeed be heavy and that Majorana masses for
neutrinos are forbidden as well as direct Higgs Yukawa couplings between left
and right handed neutrinos. We investigate the viability of the mechansim known
as Dirac leptogenesis (or neutrinogenesis), both in solving the baryogenesis
puzzle and explaining the observed neutrino sector phenomenology. To
successfully address these issues, the scenario requires the introduction of at
least two new heavy fields. If a hierarchy among these new fields is
introduced, and some reasonable stipulations are made on the couplings that
appear in the superpotential, it becomes a generic feature to obtain the
observed large lepton mixing angles. We show that in this case, it is possible
simultaneously to obtain both the correct neutrino phenomenology and enough
baryon number, making thermal Dirac neutrinogenesis viable. However, due to
cosmological constraints, its ability to satisfy these constraints depends
nontrivially on model parameters of the overall theory, particularly the
gravitino mass. Split supersymmetry with m_{3/2} between 10^{5} and 10^{10} GeV
emerges as a "natural habitat" for thermal Dirac neutrinogenesis.Comment: 37 pages, 8 figure
Mobilization of Endocrine‐Disrupting Chemicals and Estrogenic Activity in Simulated Rainfall Runoff from Land‐Applied Biosolids
Municipal biosolids are commonly applied to land as soil amendment or fertilizer as a form of beneficial reuse of what could otherwise be viewed as waste. Balanced against this benefit are potential risks to groundwater and surface water quality from constituents that may be mobilized during storm events. The objective of the present study was to characterize the mobilization of selected endocrinedisrupting compounds, heavy metals, and total estrogenic activity in rainfall runoff from land-applied biosolids. Rainfall simulations were conducted on soil plots amended with biosolids. Surface runoff and leachate was collected and analyzed for the endocrinedisrupting compounds bisphenol A, 17a-ethynylestradiol, triclocarban, triclosan, octylphenol, and nonylphenol; a suite of 16 metals; and estrogenic activity via the estrogen receptor-mediated chemical activated luciferase gene expression (ER-CALUX) bioassay. Triclocarban (2.3–17.3 ng/L), triclosan (\u3c51–309 ng/L), and octylphenol (\u3c4.9–203 ng/L) were commonly detected. Chromium (2.0–22 mg/L), Co (2.5–10 mg/L), Ni (28–235 mg/L), Cu (14–110 mg/L), As (1.2–2.7 mg/L), and Se (0.29–12mg/L) were quantifiable over background levels. Triclosan, Ni, and Cu were detected at levels that might pose some risk to aquatic life, though levels of metals in the biosolids were well below the maximum allowable regulatory limits. The ER-CALUX results were mostly explained by background bisphenol A contamination and octylphenol in runoff, although unknown contributors or matrix effects were also found
The Antimicrobial Triclocarban Stimulates Embryo Production in the Freshwater Mudsnail Potamopyrgus Antipodarum
Recent research has indicated that the antimicrobial chemical triclocarban (TCC) represents a new type of endocrine disruptor, amplifying the transcriptional activity of steroid hormones and their receptors while itself exhibiting little affinity for these receptors. The effects of TCC were studied in the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum. Specimens were exposed to concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 10.5 mg/L dissolved TCC and were removed and dissected, and embryos contained within the brood pouch were counted and classified as shelled or unshelled after two and four weeks of exposure. After four weeks, environmentally relevant TCC concentrations of 1.6 to 10.5 mg/L resulted in statistically significant increases in the number of unshelled embryos, whereas 0.2, 1.6, and 10.5 mg/L exposures significantly increased numbers of shelled embryos. The lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) was 0.2 mg/L, the no observed effect concentration (NOEC) was 0.05 mg/L; the 10% effective concentration (EC10) and the median effective concentration (EC50) for unshelled effects were 0.5 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L, respectively. Given the widespread occurrence of TCC in the environment and the effects shown at environmentally relevant concentrations, these results indicate that TCC may be causing reproductive effects in the environment. Furthermore, the present study indicates that environmental risk from a new class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to risk from existing classes of EDCs
Higgs Boson Exempt No-Scale Supersymmetry and its Collider and Cosmology Implications
One of the most straightforward ways to address the flavor problem of
low-energy supersymmetry is to arrange for the scalar soft terms to vanish
simultaneously at a scale much larger than the electroweak scale. This
occurs naturally in a number of scenarios, such as no-scale models, gaugino
mediation, and several models with strong conformal dynamics. Unfortunately,
the most basic version of this approach that incorporates gaugino mass
unification and zero scalar masses at the grand unification scale is not
compatible with collider and dark matter constraints. However, experimental
constraints can be satisfied if we exempt the Higgs bosons from flowing to zero
mass value at the high scale. We survey the theoretical constructions that
allow this, and investigate the collider and dark matter consequences. A
generic feature is that the sleptons are relatively light. Because of this,
these models frequently give a significant contribution to the anomalous
magnetic moment of the muon, and neutralino-slepton coannihilation can play an
important role in obtaining an acceptable dark matter relic density.
Furthermore, the light sleptons give rise to a large multiplicity of lepton
events at colliders, including a potentially suggestive clean trilepton signal
at the Tevatron, and a substantial four lepton signature at the LHC.Comment: 36 pages, 16 figure
Late Reheating, Hadronic Jets and Baryogenesis
If inflaton couples very weakly to ordinary matter the reheating temperature
of the universe can be lower than the electroweak scale. In this letter we show
that the late reheating occurs in a highly non-uniform way, within narrow areas
along the jets produced by ordinary particles originated from inflaton decays.
Depending on inflaton mass and decay constant, the initial temperature inside
the lumps of the overheated plasma may be large enough to trigger the
unsuppressed sphaleron processes with baryon number non-conservation, allowing
for efficient local electroweak baryogenesis.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, revtex
Brane world models need low string scale
Models with large extra dimensions offer the possibility of the Planck scale being of order the electroweak scale, thus alleviating the gauge hierarchy problem. We show that these models suffer from a breakdown of unitarity at around three quarters of the low effective Planck scale. An obvious candidate to fix the unitarity problem is string theory. We therefore argue that it is necessary for the string scale to appear below the effective Planck scale and that the first signature of such models would be string resonances. We further translate experimental bounds on the string scale into bounds on the effective Planck scale
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: efficacy of short-lasting antibiotic therapy with prulifloxacin (Unidrox®) in association with saw palmetto extract, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin (Lactorepens®)
Bacterial prostatitis (BP) is a common condition accounting responsible for about 5-10% of all prostatitis cases; chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) classified as type II, are less common but is a condition that significantly hampers the quality of life, (QoL) because not only is it a physical condition but also a psychological distress. Commonly patients are treated with antibiotics alone, and in particular fluoroquinolones are suggested by the European Urology guidelines. This approach, although recommended, may not be enough. Thus, a multimodal approach to the prolonged antibiotic therapy may be helpful.210 patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitis were enrolled in the study. All patients were positive to Meares-Stamey test and symptoms duration was > 3 months. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a long lasting therapy with a fluoroquinolone in association with a nutraceutical supplement (prulifloxacin 600 mg for 21 days and an association of Serenoa repens 320 mg, Lactobacillus Sporogens 200 mg, Arbutin 100 mg for 30 days). Patients were randomized in two groups (A and B) receiving respectively antibiotic alone and an association of antibiotic plus supplement.Biological recurrence at 2 months in Group A was observed in 21 patients (27.6%) and in Group B in 6 patients (7.8%). Uropathogens found at the first follow-up were for the majority Gram - (E. coli and Enterobacter spp.). A statistically significant difference was found at the time of the follow-up between Group A and B in the NIH-CPSI questionnaire score, symptoms evidence and serum PSA.Broad band, short-lasting antibiotic therapy in association with a nutritional supplement (serenoa repens, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin) show better control and recurrence rate on patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitits in comparison with antibiotic treatment alone.NCT02130713Date of trial Registration: 30/04/2014
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