Higgs portal dark matter and neutrino mass and mixing with a doubly charged scalar

We consider an extension of the Standard Model involving two new scalar particles around the TeV scale: a singlet neutral scalar $\phi$, to be eventually identified as the Dark Matter candidate, plus a doubly charged $SU(2)_L$ singlet scalar, $S^{++}$, that can be the source for the non-vanishing neutrino masses and mixings. Assuming an unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry in the scalar sector, under which only the additional neutral scalar $\phi$ is odd, we write the most general (renormalizable) scalar potential. The model may be regarded as a possible extension of the conventional Higgs portal Dark Matter scenario which also accounts for neutrino mass and mixing. This framework cannot completely explain the observed positron excess. However a softening of the discrepancy observed in conventional Higgs portal framework can be obtained, especially when the scale of new physics responsible for generating neutrino masses and lepton number violating processes is around 2 TeV.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Relativistic, QED, and finite nuclear mass corrections for low-lying states of Li and Be+^+

Accurate results for nonrelativistic energy, relativistic, QED, and finite nuclear mass corrections are obtained for $2^1S_{1/2}$, $3^1S_{1/2}$ and $2^1P_{1/2}$ states of the Li atom and Be$^+$ ion. Our computational approach uses the Hylleraas basis set with the analytic integration and recursion relations. From comparison of experimental results for the isotope shifts to theoretical predictions including nuclear polarizabilities, we obtain nuclear charge radii for Li and Be isotopes.Comment: 19 pages, 8 tables, Phys. Rev. A in prin

Two tails in NGC 3656, and the major merger origin of shell and minor axis dust lane ellipticals

I report on the discovery of two faint (~ 26.8 Rmag/arcsec^2) tidal tails around the shell elliptical NGC 3656 (Arp 155). This galaxy had previously been interpreted as a case of accretion, or minor merger. The two tidal tails are inconsistent with a minor merger, and point instead to a disk-disk major merger origin. NGC 3656 extends Toomre's merger sequence toward normal elliptical galaxies, and hints at a major merger origin for shells and minor-axis dust lanes. A dwarf galaxy lies at the tip of one of the tidal tails. A prominent shell, which shows sharp azymuthal color discontinuities, belongs to a rotating dynamical component of young stars which includes the inner dust lane.Comment: 9 pages, 2 plates, 1 figure, uses aaspp.sty, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Files also available by anonymous ftp at ftp.iac.es, directory ./pub/balcell

Error analysis on inversion techniques interim scientific report no. 1, 23 may 1963 - 30 nov. 1964

Error analysis on inversion technique for inferring vertical thermal structure from satellite infrared observation

Realization of Minimal Supergravity

Minimal supergravity mediation of supersymmetry breaking has attracted much attention due to its simplicity, which leads to its predictive power. We consider how Nature possibly realizes minimal supergravity through inflationary selection of the theory. Minimality is impressively consistent with the present observational bounds and it might be tested with the aid of low-energy soft parameters obtained in future experiments.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Why Low-Mass Black-Hole Binaries Are Transient

We consider transient behavior in low-mass X-ray binaries. In short-period neutron-star systems (orbital period less than ~ 1d) irradiation of the accretion disk by the central source suppresses this except at very low mass transfer rates. Formation constraints however imply that a significant fraction of these neutron star systems have nuclear-evolved main-sequence secondaries and thus mass transfer rates low enough to be transient. But most short-period low-mass black-hole systems will form with unevolved main-sequence companions and have much higher mass transfer rates. The fact that essentially all of them are nevertheless transient shows that irradiation is weaker, as a direct consequence of the fundamental black-hole property - the lack of a hard stellar surface.Comment: 13 pages (including 3 figures); accepted for publication in Ap

On closed rotating worlds

A new solution for the stationary closed world with rigid rotation is obtained for the spinning fluid source. It is found that the spin and vorticity are locally balanced. This model qualitatively shows that the local rotation of the cosmological matter can be indeed related to the global cosmic vorticity, provided the total angular momentum of the closed world is vanishing.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex, to appear in Phys. Rev. D6

Using a fuzzy inference system to control a pumped storage hydro plant

The paper discusses the development of a fuzzy inference system (FIS) based governor control for a pumped storage hydroelectric plant. The First Hydro Company's plant at Dinorwig in North Wales is the largest of its kind in Europe and is mainly used for frequency control of the UK electrical grid. In previous investigations, a detailed model of the plant was developed using MATLAB(R)/SIMULINK(R) and this is now being used to compare FIS governor operation with the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller currently used. The paper describes the development of an FIS governor, and shows that its response to a step increase in load is superior to the PID under certain conditions of load. The paper proceeds to discuss the implications of these results in view of the possible practical application of an FIS governor at the Dinorwig plant

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for schizophrenia or all non-affective psychoses

BACKGROUND: Smoking tobacco is regarded as an epiphenomenon in patients with schizophrenia when it may be causal. We aimed to examine whether smoking status is related to the onset of schizophrenia or the broader diagnosis of non-affective psychosis, including schizophrenia. METHODS: We used data from The Health Improvement Network primary care database to identify people aged 15-24 between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2009. We followed them until the earliest of: first diagnosis of schizophrenia (or psychosis), patient left the practice, practice left THIN, patient died or 31 December 2014. RESULTS: In men, incidence rates for schizophrenia per 100 000 person years at risk were higher in smoking initiators (non-smoker who became a smoker during the study) than in non-smokers (adjusted IRR 1.94; 95% CI 1.29-2.91) and higher still in smokers (adjusted IRR 3.32; 95% CI 2.67-4.14). Among women, the incidence rate of schizophrenia was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (adjusted IRR 1.50; 95% CI 1.06-2.12), but no higher in smoking initiators than non-smokers. For non-affective psychosis, the pattern was similar for men but more evident in women where psychosis incidence rates were higher in smoking initiators (adjusted IRR 1.90; 95% CI 1.40-2.56) and in smokers (adjusted IRR 2.13; 95% CI 1.76-2.57) than in non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: We found an important and strong association between smoking and incidence of schizophrenia. Smoking may increase risk through as yet unknown pathways or smoking may share genetic risk with schizophrenia and non-affective psychoses

Demographic Understanding of Volunteerism

A large sample of volunteers from a midwestern city chapter of the American Red Cross were studied to identify demographic correlates of the reasons given for volunteering. The findings suggest that the reasons people give for doing volunteer work are conditioned by their age, sex, and marital status. Implications for volunteer programs and future research are discussed