Constraints on the SU(3) Electroweak Model

We consider a recent proposal by Dimopoulos and Kaplan to embed the electroweak SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y into a larger group SU(3)_W X SU(2) X U(1) at a scale above a TeV. This idea is motivated by the prediction for the weak mixing angle sin^2 theta_W = 1/4, which naturally appears in these models so long as the gauge couplings of the high energy SU(2) and U(1) groups are moderately large. The extended gauge dynamics results in new effective operators that contribute to four-fermion interactions and Z pole observables. We calculate the corrections to these electroweak precision observables and carry out a global fit of the new physics to the data. For SU(2) and U(1) gauge couplings larger than 1, we find that the 95% C.L. lower bound on the matching (heavy gauge boson mass) scale is 11 TeV. We comment on the fine-tuning of the high energy gauge couplings needed to allow matching scales above our bounds. The remnants of SU(3)_W breaking include multi-TeV SU(2)_L doublets with electric charge (+-2,+-1). The lightest charged gauge boson is stable, leading to cosmological difficulties.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, 4 figures embedded, uses JHEP.cl

The Intentional Use of Service Recovery Strategies to Influence Consumer Emotion, Cognition and Behaviour

Service recovery strategies have been identified as a critical factor in the success of. service organizations. This study develops a conceptual frame work to investigate how specific service recovery strategies influence the emotional, cognitive and negative behavioural responses of . consumers., as well as how emotion and cognition influence negative behavior. Understanding the impact of specific service recovery strategies will allow service providers' to more deliberately and intentionally engage in strategies that result in positive organizational outcomes. This study was conducted using a 2 x 2 between-subjects quasi-experimental design. The results suggest that service recovery has a significant impact on emotion, cognition and negative behavior. Similarly, satisfaction, negative emotion and positive emotion all influence negative behavior but distributive justice has no effect

An overview of population-based algorithms for multi-objective optimisation

In this work we present an overview of the most prominent population-based algorithms and the methodologies used to extend them to multiple objective problems. Although not exact in the mathematical sense, it has long been recognised that population-based multi-objective optimisation techniques for real-world applications are immensely valuable and versatile. These techniques are usually employed when exact optimisation methods are not easily applicable or simply when, due to sheer complexity, such techniques could potentially be very costly. Another advantage is that since a population of decision vectors is considered in each generation these algorithms are implicitly parallelisable and can generate an approximation of the entire Pareto front at each iteration. A critique of their capabilities is also provided

The PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

The physics emphases of the PHENIX collaboration and the design and current status of the PHENIX detector are discussed. The plan of the collaboration for making the most effective use of the available luminosity in the first years of RHIC operation is also presented.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Further details of the PHENIX physics program available at http://www.rhic.bnl.gov/phenix

Updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing conventional excisional haemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure for haemorrhoids

Background:\ud To compare the surgical outcome of haemorrhoidectomy performed using LigaSure bipolar diathermy with conventional haemorrhoidectomy.\ud \ud Methods:\ud Only randomized and alternate allocated studies were included from the major electronic databases using the search terms "ligasure" and "haemorrhoids" Duration of operation, blood loss during operation, postoperative pain score, wound healing, in-hospital stay, time to return to normal activities and complications were assessed.\ud \ud Results:\ud The 11 trials contained a total of 1,046 patients; the largest study was based on 273 patients and two earlier studies were based on 34 patients. No significant gender mismatch between the groups was reported in any of the studies. The patients’ ages were similar between groups in the studies, as was disease severity. All 11 studies reported a shorter duration of the operation when using LigaSure compared to the conventional technique (p<0.001). The postoperative pain score (p=0.001) and blood loss during operation (p=0.001) were significantly reduced. After LigaSure haemorrhoidectomy wound healing (p=0.004) and the return to normal activities (p=0.001) were significantly faster than after conventional haemorrhoidectomy. However, the overall incidence of complications reported was not significantly different (p=0.056).\ud \ud Conclusions:\ud LigaSure is an effective instrument for haemorrhoidectomy which results in less blood loss, quicker wound healing and earlier return to work.\u

Observation of Orbitally Excited B_s Mesons

We report the first observation of two narrow resonances consistent with states of orbitally excited (L=1) B_s mesons using 1 fb^{-1} of ppbar collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We use two-body decays into K^- and B^+ mesons reconstructed as B^+ \to J/\psi K^+, J/\psi \to \mu^+ \mu^- or B^+ \to \bar{D}^0 \pi^+, \bar{D}^0 \to K^+ \pi^-. We deduce the masses of the two states to be m(B_{s1}) = 5829.4 +- 0.7 MeV/c^2 and m(B_{s2}^*) = 5839.7 +- 0.7 MeV/c^2.Comment: Version accepted and published by Phys. Rev. Let

Global Search for New Physics with 2.0/fb at CDF

Data collected in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron are searched for indications of new electroweak-scale physics. Rather than focusing on particular new physics scenarios, CDF data are analyzed for discrepancies with the standard model prediction. A model-independent approach (Vista) considers gross features of the data, and is sensitive to new large cross-section physics. Further sensitivity to new physics is provided by two additional algorithms: a Bump Hunter searches invariant mass distributions for "bumps" that could indicate resonant production of new particles; and the Sleuth procedure scans for data excesses at large summed transverse momentum. This combined global search for new physics in 2.0/fb of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV reveals no indication of physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Final version which appeared in Physical Review D Rapid Communication