Dark Matter in B-L Extended MSSM Models

We analyze the dark matter problem in the context of supersymmetric U(1)_{B-L} model. In this model, the lightest neutalino can be the B-L gaugino widetilde {Z}_{B-L} or the extra Higgsinos widetilde{chi}_{1,2} dominated. We compute the thermal relic abundance of these particles and show that, unlike the LSP in MSSM, they can account for the observed relic abundance with no conflict with other phenomenological constraints. The prospects for their direct detection, if they are part of our galactic halo, are also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. Published versio

R-evolution: Improving perturbative QCD

Perturbative QCD results in the MSbar scheme can be dramatically improved by switching to a scheme that accounts for the dominant power law dependence on the factorization scale in the operator product expansion. We introduce the ``MSR scheme'' which achieves this in a Lorentz and gauge invariant way. The MSR scheme has a very simple relation to MSbar, and can be easily used to reanalyze MSbar results. Results in MSR depend on a cutoff parameter R, in addition to the mu of MSbar. R variations can be used to independently estimate i) the size of power corrections, and ii) higher order perturbative corrections (much like mu in MSbar). We give two examples at three-loop order, the ratio of mass splittings in the B*-B and D*-D systems, and the Ellis-Jaffe sum rule as a function of momentum transfer Q in deep inelastic scattering. Comparing to data, the perturbative MSR results work well even for Q ~ 1 GeV, and the size of power corrections is reduced compared to those in MSbar.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, axis label for Fig.2 fixe

Geological and geophysical maps of the Illinois Basin-Ozark Dome region

Map 1. Land surface topography -- Map 2. Bedrock topography -- Map 3. Surficial geology with shaded relief -- Map 4. Bedrock geology with bedrock topography -- Map 5. Structure contours of the top of the Pennsylvanian Springfield Coal and Bevier Coal (Missouri) -- Map 6. Structure contours of the top of the Mississippian-Devonian New Albany Shale and correlatives -- Map 7. Structure contours of the top of the Ordovician Trenton Limestone (or equivalent) -- Map 8. Structure contours of the top of the Precambrian -- Map 9. Isostatic gravity anomaly -- Map 10. Magnetic anomaly -- Map 11. Fault and fold traces -- Map 12. Earthquake epicenters 1804-2014.Ope

The Symmetries of Nature

The study of the symmetries of nature has fascinated scientists for eons. The application of the formal mathematical description of symmetries during the last century has produced many breakthroughs in our understanding of the substructure of matter. In this talk, a number of these advances are discussed, and the important role that George Sudarshan played in their development is emphasize

Effects of physics beyond the standard model on the neutrino charge radius: an effective Lagrangian approach

In this work, we look for possible new physics effects on the electromagnetic charge and anapole form factors, $f_Q(q^2)$ and $f_A(q^2)$, for a massless Dirac neutrino, when these quantities are calculated in the context of an effective electroweak Yang-Mills theory, which induces the most general $SU_L(2)$--invariant Lorentz tensor structure of nonrenormalizable type for the $WW\gamma$ vertex. It is found that in this context, besides the standard model contribution, the additional contribution to $f_{Q}(q^2)$ and $f_{A}(q^2)$ ($f_{Q}^{O_W}(q^2)$ and $f_{A}^{O_W}(q^2)$, respectively) are gauge independent and finite functions of $q^2$ after adopting a renormalization scheme. These form factors, $f_{Q}^{O_W}(q^2)$ and $f_{A}^{O_W}(q^2)$, get contribution at the one loop level only from the proper neutrino electromagnetic vertex. Besides, the relation $f_{Q}^{eff}(q^2)=q^2f_{A}^{eff}(q^2)$ ($f_{Q}^{eff}(q^2)=f_{Q}^{SM}(q^2)+f_{Q}^{O_W}(q^2)$, $f_{A}^{eff}(q^2)=f_{A}^{SM}(q^2)+f_{A}^{O_W}(q^2)$) is still fulfilled and hence the relation $a_{\nu}^{eff} = ^{eff} /6$ ($a_{\nu}^{eff} = a_{\nu}^{SM}+ a_{\nu}^{O_W}$, $^{eff} = ^{SM}+< r^2_{\nu} > ^{O_W}$)is gotten, just as in the SM. Using the experimental constraint on the anomalous $WW\gamma$ vertex, a value for the additional contribution to the charge radius of |^{O_W}| \lsim 10^{-34} cm^2 is obtained, which is one order of magnitude lower than the SM value.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

The patient-provider relationship and antenatal care uptake at two referral hospitals in Malawi: A qualitative study

Background In post-stroke patients, impairment of quality of life (QOL) has been associated with functional impairment, age, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Good social support, higher education, and better socioeconomic status are associated with better QOL among stroke survivors. In Africa, studies from Nigeria and Tanzania have reported on post-stroke QOL.Background Approximately 90% of Malawian women attend antenatal care at least once during their pregnancies; however, most mothers first present during months five and six and do not adhere to the World Health Organization’s recommended four visits. The objective of this study was to explore the role the patient-provider relationship has on antenatal care uptake.Methods A qualitative study, consisting of interviews with 20 urban pregnant mothers and eight health workers, was conducted from September to December 2014. Two large tertiary care hospitals in the Central and Southern regions of Malawi were selected as study sites.Results Several factors influenced antenatal care attendance. Significant barriers reported included the patient-provider relationship, clinic wait times, family and friend support, distance from home to the clinic, transportation, cost, and number of visits. The patient-provider relationship appears to have a large impact on antenatal clinic participation. Mothers indicated that health workers often mistreat or demean them during visits. Additionally, health workers revealed that, due to staff shortages, patients often do notreceive the care they deserve.Conclusions The results of this study suggest that, in addition to other factors, healthcare provider attitudes influence antenatal clinic attendance. Improving the patient-provider relationship may increase antenatal clinic attendance and decrease pregnancy complications during pregnancy. Professional development opportunities and quality improvement programmes are would help improve patient care and health outcomes while the continued staff shortages in the country are addressed

Confirmation of Parity Violation in the Gamma Decay of 180Hfm^{180}Hf^{m}

This paper reports measurements using the technique of On Line Nuclear Orientation (OLNO) which reexamine the gamma decay of isomeric $^{\rm 180}$Hf$^{\rm m}$ and specifically the 501 keV 8$^{\rm -}$ -- 6$^{\rm +}$ transition. The irregular admixture of E2 to M2/E3 multipolarity in this transition, deduced from the forward-backward asymmetry of its angular distribution, has for decades stood as the prime evidence for parity mixing in nuclear states. The experiment, based on ion implantation of the newly developed mass-separated $^{\rm 180}$Hf$^{\rm m}$ beam at ISOLDE, CERN into an iron foil maintained at millikelvin temperatures, produces higher degrees of polarization than were achieved in previous studies of this system. The value found for the E2/M2 mixing ratio, $\epsilon$ = -0.0324(16)(17), is in close agreement with the previous published average value $\epsilon$ = - 0.030(2), in full confirmation of the presence of the irregular E2 admixture in the 501 keV transition. The temperature dependence of the forward-backward asymmetry has been measured over a more extended range of nuclear polarization than previously possible, giving further evidence for parity mixing of the 8$^{\rm -}$ and 8$^{\rm +}$ levels and the deduced E2/M2 mixing ratio.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

T-violation in Kμ3K_{\mu3} decay in a general two-Higgs doublet model

We calculate the transverse muon polarization in the $K^+_{\mu3}$ process arising from the Yukawa couplings of charged Higgs boson in a general two-Higgs doublet model where spontaneous violation of CP is presentComment: 6 pages, latex, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Quantum Field Theory of Meson Mixing

We have developed a quantum field theoretic framework for scalar and pseudoscalar meson mixing and oscillations in time. The unitary inequivalence of the Fock space of base (unmixed) eigenstates and the physical mixed eigenstates is proven and shown to lead to a rich condensate structure. This is exploited to develop formulas for two flavor boson oscillations in systems of arbitrary boson occupation number. The mixing and oscillation can be understood in terms of vacuum condensate which interacts with the bare particles to induce non-trivial effects. We apply these formulas to analyze the mixing of $\eta$ with $\eta'$ and comment on the $K_L K_S$ system. In addition, we consider the mixing of boson coherent states, which may have future applications in the construction of meson lasers.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures; Eqs.(10-12) corrected, leading to new physical insights; added paragraph under Eq.(24) explaining physical interpretation of mixing in terms of vacuum condensation; references added and minor typo correcte