Simplified R-Symmetry Breaking and Low-Scale Gauge Mediation

We argue that some of the difficulties in constructing realistic models of low-scale gauge mediation are artifacts of the narrow set of models that have been studied. In particular, much attention has been payed to the scenario in which the Goldstino superfield in an O'Raifeartaigh model is responsible for both supersymmetry breaking and R-symmetry breaking. In such models, the competing problems of generating sufficiently massive gauginos while preserving an acceptably light gravitino can be quite challenging. We show that by sharing the burdens of breaking supersymmetry and R-symmetry with a second field, these problems are easily solved even within the O'Raifeartaigh framework. We present explicit models realizing minimal gauge mediation with a gravitino mass in the eV range that are both calculable and falsifiable.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures, references added, minor change

Nambu-Goldstone Dark Matter and Cosmic Ray Electron and Positron Excess

We propose a model of dark matter identified with a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson in the dynamical supersymmetry breaking sector in a gauge mediation scenario. The dark matter particles annihilate via a below-threshold narrow resonance into a pair of R-axions each of which subsequently decays into a pair of light leptons. The Breit-Wigner enhancement explains the excess electron and positron fluxes reported in the recent cosmic ray experiments PAMELA, ATIC and PPB-BETS without postulating an overdensity in halo, and the limit on anti-proton flux from PAMELA is naturally evaded.Comment: 3 figure

Dark Matter and Pseudo-flat Directions in Weakly Coupled SUSY Breaking Sectors

We consider candidates for dark matter in models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, in which the supersymmetry breaking sector is weakly coupled and calculable. Such models typically contain classically flat directions, that receive one-loop masses of a few TeV. These pseudo-flat directions provide a new mechanism to account for the cold dark matter relic abundance. We discuss also the possibility of heavy gravitino dark matter in such models.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures. v2: comments, refs adde

Muckraking Journalism: The Roadmap to National Development in Nigeria

Systemic corruption in the socio-economic and political terrain of Nigerian nation has become a major bane of national development of this country. The situation, without mincing words, is so worrisome that it can no longer be tackled by mere routine journalistic reportage because of its inherent danger in our strive to achieving milestones for nation building. It is on this premise, that this paper explores the dynamics of muckraking journalism as a recipe and roadmap to the path of national development of Nigerian nation. This paper argues that conventional journalists and anti-graft agencies in the country have not made appreciable progress in the fight against the monster called corruption in both private and public sectors of our economy and indeed, in Nigerian polity. Thus, the role of muckrakers becomes sacrosanct if we must journey to the path of national development without hiccups. Consequently, the paper advocates for effective synergy between muckrakers and anti-graft agencies such as EFCC and ICPC in the fight against the maladies of corruption and its masterminds. Similarly, the paper advocates for institutionalization of muckraking units in all key media establishments, Federal, State Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals with the ultimate aim of exploring, exposing and explaining corruption issues and their masterminds for the interest of citizenry. Keywords:          Muckraking Journalism, Muckrakers, Roadmap and National Development

Gluino Decay as a Probe of High Scale Supersymmetry Breaking

A supersymmetric standard model with heavier scalar supersymmetric particles has many attractive features. If the scalar mass scale is O(10 - 10^4) TeV, the standard model like Higgs boson with mass around 125 GeV, which is strongly favored by the LHC experiment, can be realized. However, in this scenario the scalar particles are too heavy to be produced at the LHC. In addition, if the scalar mass is much less than O(10^4) TeV, the lifetime of the gluino is too short to be measured. Therefore, it is hard to probe the scalar particles at a collider. However, a detailed study of the gluino decay reveals that two body decay of the gluino carries important information on the scalar scale. In this paper, we propose a test of this scenario by measuring the decay pattern of the gluino at the LHC.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures; version published in JHE

Infant Sleeping Environment in South-Eastern Nigeria (Sleeping Place and Sleeping Position): A Preliminary Survey

Objective. To determine infant sleeping position/place and the factors associated with them in South-eastern Nigeria. Methods. this is a cross-sectional study on infant sleeping environment. Subjects were the mother/ infant pairs that attended the well baby clinics at the Institute of Child Health of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (ICH-UNTH), Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital (MCSH), Enugu and the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki. Results. Lying on the side was the most common (51.1%) and the least stable sleeping position. Only 36.6% of infants who slept in that position were likely to be found in the same position the following morning; lying supine was the most stable (74.1%). The difference in stability of sleeping positions was statistically significant (P < .01). Twenty six point seven percent of the mothers routinely lay their infants in prone position. On logistic regression, maternal parity was the only factor that was predictive of nonprone sleeping position (P = .01). Bed sharing, though common (66.9%), was more among the experienced (P = .03) and less educated mothers (P < .01). Conclusion. There is a high level of prone sleeping position and bed sharing among infants in this study site. The potential consequences of these are unclear. There is therefore a need to conduct local studies to clarify its implication

Assessment of Arthropod Ectoparasites associated with Poultry at Zoological Garden, Owerri, South-East, Nigeria

The characterization of arthropod ectoparasites infesting poultry at the Nekede Zoological Garden (NZG) in Owerri was conducted from May to July, 2017.&nbsp; Arthropod sampling was done weekly by picking them from the bodies of their hosts after parting the feathers and/or by blowing of same. Lice and fleas were collected by applying concentrated ethyl alcohol-soaked cotton wool to anaesthetize the parasites. Mites were collected by scrapping the skin around their feet gently in order not to injure the bird. All the parasites collected were sorted and labeled based on sex, age and breed before they were transferred to the Laboratory of the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Specimens were observed under a stereo-microscope, using x10 magnification power. Identification to generic and specific levels was done with the aid of pictures and taxonomic keys. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages. A total of 165 ectoparasites were collected belonging to five genera and five species. Irrespective of sex, age, breed, species or/and management level, &nbsp;lice infestation was highest (84.24%), followed by fleas (10.30%) and the least was mites (5.45%). Prevalence of the ectoparasites infestation was higher in females (89.10%) than males (74.44%), adults (93.98%) than young (62.50%), and local (86.96%) than exotic (80.15%) breed. No ostrich was infested with lice and no female exotic poultry was infested with flea. &nbsp

Aplikasi Crowdsource Pada Sistem Pencarian Tutor Berbasis Web Dan Android

Nowadays, students are having difficulties looking for tutoringservices. The obstacles are, for example, difficulty to find thetutor, fee that does not fit to the budget, and inflexible schedule.Furthermore, tutors are having difficulties looking for studentswho need his or her service.Due to these reasons, this thesis is intended to create a systemwith web and Android apps that can facilitate tutors and studentsin meeting and holding learning activities. This application can beused by a student looking for an appropriate tutor and also by atutor listing matching students. This application can display themeeting location with the help of Google Map. Based on thequestionnaire result, it can be concluded that most of the usersare satisfied with the application

Nebulized PPARγ agonists: a novel approach to augment neonatal lung maturation and injury repair in rats.

BackgroundBy stimulating lipofibroblast maturation, parenterally administered peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists promote lung homeostasis and injury repair in the neonatal lung. In this study, we determined whether PPARγ agonists could be delivered effectively via nebulization to neonates, and whether this approach would also protect against hyperoxia-induced lung injury.MethodsOne-day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were administered PPARγ agonists rosiglitazone (RGZ, 3 mg/kg), pioglitazone (PGZ, 3 mg/kg), or the diluent, via nebulization every 24 h; animals were exposed to 21% or 95% O2 for up to 72 h. Twenty-four and 72 h following initial nebulization, the pups were sacrificed for lung tissue and blood collection to determine markers of lung maturation, injury repair, and RGZ and PGZ plasma levels.ResultsNebulized RGZ and PGZ enhanced lung maturation in both males and females, as evidenced by the increased expression of markers of alveolar epithelial and mesenchymal maturation. This approach also protected against hyperoxia-induced lung injury, since hyperoxia-induced changes in bronchoalveolar lavage cell and protein contents and lung injury markers were all blocked by nebulized PGZ.ConclusionNebulized PPARγ agonist administration promotes lung maturation and prevents neonatal hyperoxia-induced lung injury in both males and females

Comparative cytoarchitecture of the midbrain colliculi of defined age groups in the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

Background: The rostral and caudal colliculi of mammalian midbrain are pivotal to vision and audition, respectively. Cytoarchitecture of these midbrain&nbsp; colliculi in neonate, juvenile and adult African giant pouched rats is dearth. Objective: This study compared the histology of the nuclei, neurons and&nbsp; laminations of the colliculi in these age groups. Methods: Thirty-six captive African giant pouched rats consisting of twelve neonates, juveniles and adults were used. Thickness of the histologic layers of&nbsp; the rostral colliculi and lengths of the central nucleus of the caudal colliculi were compared among the groups. Results: the rostral colliculus&nbsp; composed of an outermost stratum zonale, middle stratum griseum superficiale and innermost stratum griseum&nbsp; profundus; migratory immature neurons of radial glial cells were observed in the stratum zonale of neonates, which disappeared in juveniles and adults;&nbsp; the stratum griseum superficiale of neonates was characterized of already formed neurites, similar to those of the juveniles and adults. However, this&nbsp; layer in adults had more oligodendrocytes than in juveniles. There was significant increase in thickness of the stratum griseum superficiale and stratum&nbsp; griseum profundus, with increasing age (P &lt; 0.05). The caudal colliculus contained a central nucleus, dorsal and lateral cortices, with significant increase&nbsp; in the length of the central nucleus with increasing age (P &lt; 0.05); there was transformation of fibre shaft in the lateral cortex of neonates into a mixture&nbsp; of chain like and marshy matrix in the juveniles which completely disappeared in adults, indicative of mature lateral cortex in the later. Conclusion: The adult African giant pouched rat may have the best auditory and visual senses, followed by juvenile. The neonate has the least acuity of&nbsp; these senses