Neutralino Pair Production and 3-Body Decays at e+e−e^+e^- Linear Colliders as Probes of CP Violation in the Neutralino System

In the CP-invariant supersymmetric theories, the steep S-wave (slow P-wave) rise of the cross section for any non-diagonal neutralino pair production in $e^+ e^-$ annihilation, $e^+e^- \to \tilde{\chi}^0_i \tilde{\chi}^0_j$ ($i \neq j$), near threshold is accompanied by the slow P-wave (steep S-wave) decrease of the fermion invariant mass distribution of the 3-body neutralino decay, $\tilde{\chi}^0_i \to \tilde{\chi}^0_j f\bar{f}$ ($f=l$ or $q$), near the end point. These selection rules, unique to the neutralino system due to its Majorana nature, guarantee that the observation of simultaneous sharp S-wave excitations of the production cross section near threshold and the lepton and quark invariant mass distribution near the end point is a qualitative, unambiguous evidence for CP violation in the neutralino system.Comment: 11 pages, 1 eps figure, a reference adde

Strengthening Altitude Knowledge: A Delphi Study to Define Minimum Knowledge of Altitude Illness for Laypersons Traveling to High Altitude.

Berendsen, Remco R., Peter Bärtsch, Buddha Basnyat, Marc Moritz Berger, Peter Hackett, Andrew M. Luks, Jean-Paul Richalet, Ken Zafren, Bengt Kayser, and the STAK Plenary Group. Strengthening altitude knowledge: a Delphi study to define minimum knowledge of altitude illness for laypersons traveling to high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2022. Introduction: A lack of knowledge among laypersons about the hazards of high-altitude exposure contributes to morbidity and mortality from acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) among high-altitude travelers. There are guidelines regarding the recognition, prevention, and treatment of acute-altitude illness for experts, but essential knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes has not been defined. We sought expert consensus on the essential knowledge required for people planning to travel to high altitudes. Methods: The Delphi method was used. The panel consisted of two moderators, a core expert group and a plenary expert group. The moderators made a preliminary list of statements defining the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes, based on the relevant literature. These preliminary statements were then reviewed, supplemented, and modified by a core expert group. A list of 33 statements was then presented to a plenary group of experts in successive rounds. Results: It took three rounds to reach a consensus. Of the 10 core experts invited, 7 completed all the rounds. Of the 76 plenary experts, 41 (54%) participated in Round 1, and of these 41 a total of 32 (78%) experts completed all three rounds. The final list contained 28 statements in 5 categories (altitude physiology, sleeping at altitude, AMS, HACE, and HAPE). This list represents an expert consensus on the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons planning high-altitude travel. Conclusion: Using the Delphi method, the STrengthening Altitude Knowledge initiative yielded a set of 28 statements representing essential learning objectives for laypersons who plan to travel to high altitudes. This list could be used to develop educational interventions

Second-order corrections to neutrino two-flavor oscillation parameters in the wave packet approach

We report about an analytic study involving the {\em intermediate} wave packet formalism for quantifying the physically relevant information which appear in the neutrino two-flavor conversion formula and help us to obtain more precise limits and ranges for neutrino flavor oscillation. By following the sequence of analytic approximations where we assume a strictly peaked momentum distribution and consider the second-order corrections in a power series expansion of the energy, we point out a {\em residual} time-dependent phase which, coupled with the {\em spreading/slippage} effects, can subtly modify the neutrino oscillation parameters and limits. Such second-order effects are usually ignored in the relativistic wave packet treatment, but they present an evident dependence on the propagation regime so that some small modifications to the oscillation pattern, even in the ultra-relativistic limit, can be quantified. These modifications are implemented in the confront with the neutrino oscillation parameter range (mass-squared difference \Delta m^{\2} and the mixing-angle $\theta$) where we assume the same wave packet parameters previously noticed in the literature in a kind of {\em toy model} for some reactor experiments. Generically speaking, our analysis parallels the recent experimental purposes which concern with higher precision parameter measurements. To summarize, we show that the effectiveness of a more accurate determination of \Delta m^{\2} and $\theta$ depends on the wave packet width $a$ and on the averaged propagating energy flux $\bar{E}$ which still correspond to open variables for some classes of experiments. \Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure

The liquid-vapor interface of an ionic fluid

We investigate the liquid-vapor interface of the restricted primitive model (RPM) for an ionic fluid using a density-functional approximation based on correlation functions of the homogeneous fluid as obtained from the mean-spherical approximation (MSA). In the limit of a homogeneous fluid our approach yields the well-known MSA (energy) equation of state. The ionic interfacial density profiles, which for the RPM are identical for both species, have a shape similar to those of simple atomic fluids in that the decay towards the bulk values is more rapid on the vapor side than on the liquid side. This is the opposite asymmetry of the decay to that found in earlier calculations for the RPM based on a square-gradient theory. The width of the interface is, for a wide range of temperatures, approximately four times the second moment correlation length of the liquid phase. We discuss the magnitude and temperature dependence of the surface tension, and argue that for temperatures near the triple point the ratio of the dimensionless surface tension and critical temperature is much smaller for the RPM than for simple atomic fluids.Comment: 6 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Quantum Interference: From Kaons to Neutrinos (with Quantum Beats in between)

Using the vehicle of resolving an apparent paradox, a discussion of quantum interference is presented. The understanding of a number of different physical phenomena can be unified, in this context. These range from the neutral kaon system to massive neutrinos, not to mention quantum beats, Rydberg wave packets, and neutron gravity.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, 3 figure

Bounds on the tau and muon neutrino vector and axial vector charge radius

A Majorana neutrino is characterized by just one flavor diagonal electromagnetic form factor: the anapole moment, that in the static limit corresponds to the axial vector charge radius . Experimental information on this quantity is scarce, especially in the case of the tau neutrino. We present a comprehensive analysis of the available data on the single photon production process $e^+ e^- -> \nu \bar\nu \gamma$ off Z-resonance, and we discuss the constraints that these measurements can set on for the tau neutrino. We also derive limits for the Dirac case, when the presence of a vector charge radius is allowed. Finally, we comment on additional experimental data on $\nu_\mu$ scattering from the NuTeV, E734, CCFR and CHARM-II collaborations, and estimate the limits implied for and for the muon neutrino.Comment: 20 pages, 2 eps figures. CCFR data included in the analysis. Conclusion unchange

Genome-wide association study in 176,678 Europeans reveals genetic loci for tanning response to sun exposure

The skin's tendency to sunburn rather than tan is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Here we report a large genome-wide association study of ease of skin tanning in 176,678 subjects of European ancestry. We identify significant associa

Strengthening altitude knowledge: a delphi study to define minimum knowledge of altitude illness for laypersons traveling to high altitude

Introduction: A lack of knowledge among laypersons about the hazards of high-altitude exposure contributes to morbidity and mortality from acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) among high-altitude travelers. There are guidelines regarding the recognition, prevention, and treatment of acute-altitude illness for experts, but essential knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes has not been defined. We sought expert consensus on the essential knowledge required for people planning to travel to high altitudes. Methods: The Delphi method was used. The panel consisted of two moderators, a core expert group and a plenary expert group. The moderators made a preliminary list of statements defining the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes, based on the relevant literature. These preliminary statements were then reviewed, supplemented, and modified by a core expert group. A list of 33 statements was then presented to a plenary group of experts in successive rounds. Results: It took three rounds to reach a consensus. Of the 10 core experts invited, 7 completed all the rounds. Of the 76 plenary experts, 41 (54%) participated in Round 1, and of these 41 a total of 32 (78%) experts completed all three rounds. The final list contained 28 statements in 5 categories (altitude physiology, sleeping at altitude, AMS, HACE, and HAPE). This list represents an expert consensus on the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons planning high-altitude travel. Conclusion: Using the Delphi method, the STrengthening Altitude Knowledge initiative yielded a set of 28 statements representing essential learning objectives for laypersons who plan to travel to high altitudes. This list could be used to develop educational interventions

Skewed X-inactivation is common in the general female population

X-inactivation is a well-established dosage compensation mechanism ensuring that X-chromosomal genes are expressed at comparable levels in males and females. Skewed X-inactivation is often explained by negative selection of one of the alleles. We demonstrate that imbalanced expression of the paternal and maternal X-chromosomes is common in the general population and that the random nature of the X-inactivation mechanism can be sufficient to explain the imbalance. To this end, we analyzed blood-derived RNA and whole-genome sequencing data from 79 female children and their parents from the Genome of the Netherlands project. We calculated the median ratio of the paternal over total counts at all X-chromosomal heterozygous single-nucleotide variants with coverage ≥10. We identified two individuals where the same X-chromosome was inactivated in all cells. Imbalanced expression of the two X-chromosomes (ratios ≤0.35 or ≥0.65) was observed in nearly 50% of the population. The empirically observed skewing is explained by a theoretical model where X-inactivation takes place in an embryonic stage in which eight cells give rise to the hematopoietic compartment. Genes escaping X-inactivation are expressed from both alleles and therefore demonstrate less skewing than inactivated genes. Using this characteristic, we identified three novel escapee genes (SSR4, REPS2, and SEPT6), but did not find support for many previously reported escapee genes in blood. Our collective data suggest that skewed X-inactivation is common in the general population. This may contribute to manifestation of symptoms in carriers of recessive X-linked disorders. We recommend that X-inactivation results should not be used lightly in the interpretation of X-linked variants

Priming cardiac function with voluntary respiratory maneuvers and effect on early exercise oxygen uptake.

Oxygen uptake (V̇o <sub>2</sub> ) at exercise onset is determined in part by acceleration of pulmonary blood flow ([Formula: see text]). Impairments in the [Formula: see text] response can decrease exercise tolerance. Prior research has shown that voluntary respiratory maneuvers can augment venous return, but the corollary impacts on cardiac function, [Formula: see text] and early-exercise V̇o <sub>2</sub> remain uncertain. We examined 1) the cardiovascular effects of three distinct respiratory maneuvers (abdominal, AB; rib cage, RC; and deep breathing, DB) under resting conditions in healthy subjects (Protocol 1, n = 13), and 2) the impact of pre-exercise DB on pulmonary O <sub>2</sub> transfer during initiation of moderate-intensity exercise (Protocol 2, n = 8). In Protocol 1, echocardiographic analysis showed increased right ventricular (RV) cardiac output and left ventricular (LV) cardiac output (RVCO and LVCO, respectively), following AB (by +23 ± 13 and +18 ± 15%, respectively, P < 0.05), RC (+23 ± 16; +14 ± 15%, P < 0.05), and DB (+27 ± 21; +23 ± 14%, P < 0.05). In Protocol 2, DB performed for 12 breaths produced a pre-exercise increase in V̇o <sub>2</sub> (+801 ± 254 mL·min <sup>-1</sup> over ∼6 s), presumably from increased [Formula: see text], followed by a reduction in pulmonary O <sub>2</sub> transfer during early phase exercise (first 20 s) compared with the control condition (149 ± 51 vs. 233 ± 65 mL, P < 0.05). We conclude that 1) respiratory maneuvers enhance RVCO and LVCO in healthy subjects under resting conditions, 2) AB, RC, and DB have similar effects on RVCO and LVCO, and 3) DB can increase [Formula: see text] before exercise onset. These findings suggest that pre-exercise respiratory maneuvers may represent a promising strategy to prime V̇o <sub>2</sub> kinetics and thereby to potentially improve exercise tolerance in patients with impaired cardiac function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that different breathing maneuvers can augment both right and left-sided cardiac output in healthy subjects. These maneuvers, when performed immediately before exercise, result in a pre-exercise "cardiodynamic" increase in oxygen uptake (V̇o <sub>2</sub> ) associated with a subsequent reduction in the "cardiodynamic" V̇o <sub>2</sub> normally seen during early exercise. We conclude that pre-exercise breathing maneuvers are a plausible tool worthy of additional study to prime V̇o <sub>2</sub> kinetics and improve exercise tolerance in patients with cardiovascular disease