Existence of Double Vortex Solutions

We show analytically and numerically the existence of double vortex solutions in two-Higgs systems. These solutions are generalizations of the \no vortices and exist for all values of the parameters in the Lagrangians considered. We derive analytically the asymptotic behavior of the solutions and confirm it numerically by solving the field equations. Finally, we show that these solutions can be embedded in realistic theories like the two-doublet extension of the standard model.Comment: 10 pages plus 2 figures, use latex. To appear in Phys. Lett. B. Preprint No. CfA-370

Moduli Inflation from Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking

Moduli fields, which parameterize perturbative flat directions of the potential in supersymmetric theories, are natural candidates to act as inflatons. An inflationary potential on moduli space can result if the scale of dynamical SUSY breaking in some sector of the theory is determined by a moduli dependent coupling. The magnitude of density fluctuations generated during inflation then depends on the scale of SUSY breaking in this sector. This can naturally be hierarchically smaller than the Planck scale in a dynamical model, giving small fluctuations without any fine tuning of parameters. It is also natural for SUSY to be restored at the minimum of the moduli potential, and to leave the universe with zero cosmological constant after inflation. Acceptable reheating can also be achieved in this scenario.Comment: 14 pages, latex, improved discussion of reheating for composite inflaton

Dynamical mass matrices from effective superstring theories

We analyze the general structure of the fermion mass matrices in effective superstrings. They are generically given at low energy by non-trivial functions of the gauge singlet moduli fields. Interesting structures appear in particular if they are homogeneous functions of zero degree in the moduli. In this case we find Yukawa matrices very similar to the ones obtained by imposing a $U(1)$ family symmetry to reproduce the observed hierarchy of masses and mixing angles. The role of the $U(1)$ symmetry is played here by the modular symmetry. Explicit orbifold examples are given where realistic quark mass matrices can be obtained. Finally, a complete scenario is proposed which generates the observed hierarchies in a dynamical way.Comment: 27 pages, latex, no figure

Determining neutron star masses with weak microlensing

The masses of stars including stellar remnants are almost exclusively known from binary systems. In this work, we study gravitational microlensing of faint background galaxies by isolated neutron stars (pulsars). We show that the resulting surface brightness distortions can be used to determine the masses of neutron star. Due to different evolutionary histories, isolated neutron stars may have different masses from those in binary systems, and thus provide unique insight into their equation of states under extreme physical conditions. We search for existing pulsar catalogs and find one promising pair of a nearby pulsar and a background galaxy. This method will become more practical for the next generation optical and radio surveys and telescopes.Comment: 3 figures and 4 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Strings versus supersymmetric GUTs: can they be reconciled?

We describe a class of supersymmetric unified models with the following properties: i) the full breaking of the gauge group is achieved by Higgs fields in the fundamental representation; ii) the correct unification of the strong and electroweak coupling constants is obtained without the need of any intermediate scale; iii) the problems of the doublet-triplet splitting and of the proton decay at dimension-5 level may receive a natural solution. The models, other than being interesting unified field theories per se, may constitute examples of string-derivable GUTs.Comment: 5 pages, report IFUP-TH 20/9

Extended Inflation from Strings

We study the possibility of extended inflation in the effective theory of gravity from strings compactified to four dimensions and find that it strongly depends on the mechanism of supersymmetry breaking. We consider a general class of string--inspired models which are good candidates for successful extended inflation. In particular, the $\omega$--problem of ordinary extended inflation is automatically solved by the production of only very small bubbles until the end of inflation. We find that the inflaton field could belong either to the untwisted or to the twisted massless sectors of the string spectrum, depending on the supersymmetry breaking superpotential.Comment: 18p

Topological Inflation in Dual Superstring Models

We study the possibility of obtaining inflationary solutions from S-dual superstring potentials. We find, in particular, that such solutions occur at the core of domain walls separating degenerate minima whose positions differ by modular transformations.Comment: 12 pages, uuencoded gzipped tar format, Latex, 2 figure

Fecal Enterobacteriales enrichment is associated with increased in vivo intestinal permeability in humans

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been linked with increased intestinal permeability, but the clinical significance of this phenomenon remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential link between glucose control, intestinal permeability, diet and intestinal microbiota in patients with T2D. Thirty‐two males with well‐controlled T2D and 30 age‐matched male controls without diabetes were enrolled in a case–control study. Metabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, endotoxemia, and intestinal microbiota in individuals subdivided into high (HP) and normal (LP) colonic permeability groups, were the main outcomes. In T2D, the HP group had significantly higher fasting glucose (P = 0.034) and plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels (P = 0.049) compared with the LP group. Increased colonic permeability was also linked with altered abundances of selected microbial taxa. The microbiota of both T2D and control HP groups was enriched with Enterobacteriales. In conclusion, high intestinal permeability was associated with poorer fasting glucose control in T2D patients and changes in some microbial taxa in both T2D patients and nondiabetic controls. Therefore, enrichment in the gram‐negative order Enterobacteriales may characterize impaired colonic permeability prior to/independently from a disruption in glucose tolerance

Quantization from an exponential distribution of infinitesimal action

A statistical model of quantization based on an exponential distribution of infinitesimal action is proposed. Trajectory which does not extremize the action along an infinitesimal short segment of path is allowed to occur with a very small probability following an exponential law. Planck constant is argued to give the average deviation from the infinitesimal stationary action.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in Physica

Unification of couplings and soft supersymmetry breaking terms in 4D superstring models

We consider the predictions for the hierarchy of mass scales, the fine structure constant, the radii of compactification and the soft SUSY breaking terms which follow if SUSY breaking is triggered by a gaugino condensate.Comment: 16 pages (LaTeX) Oxford preprint OUTP-93-32