Top-bottom mass hierarchy, s−μs-\mu puzzle and gauge coupling unification with split multiplets

A supersymmetric 5D SU(5) grand unification is considered. The SU(5) is broken down to $G_{SM}=SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$ by the $Z_2\times Z_2'$ assignment of the bulk field(s). The matter fields are located at the fixed point(s). In the bulk, a Higgs multiplet $\bar 5_H$(containing the bottom doublet $H_1$) and the SU(5) gauge multiplet are located. At one fixed point, $H_2$(the top doublet) and the standard model matter multiplets are presented. Because of the difference of the locations of $H_1$ and $H_2$, one can obtain a hierarchy between top and bottom Yukawa couplings. We also present a possibility to understand the $s-\mu$ mass puzzle in this framework of the split multiplet.Comment: LaTeX file of 17 pages including 3 eps figures. A note is added and typo errors corrected. To appear in Euro. Phys. J.

The Paradox of Public Diplomacy on the Web: An Empirical Analysis on Interactivity and Narratives of Nation-States\u27 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Sites

Against the backdrop of Habermas’ theory of communicative action, we empirically analyzed the level of interactivity and narratives offered in nation-states’ ministry of foreign affairs Web sites. A multiple regression analysis was performed in an attempt to identify factors affecting the level of interactivity in such Web sites. Findings revealed that the level of economic development is the sole significant factor in regards to the level of interactivity. Further, self-interested, goal-directed, and strategic purposes behind the allegedly transparent, engaging, and interactive public diplomacy were evidenced through a critical analysis of the objectives, key issues, and target publics addressed and highlighted in the public diplomacy narratives on the Web. The results suggested a possible digital divide in the interactive adoption of Web public diplomacy as well as strategic motives and interests embedded in the public diplomacy communication on the Web. This study helps increase our understanding of the paradox of public diplomacy in the digital age

Organic flexible memristor with reduced operating voltage and high stability by interfacial control of conductive filament growth

This work was supported in part through the BK21 Program funded by Ministry of Education of Korea.Herein, the underlying mechanisms for the growth of conductive filaments (CFs) at a metal–polymer electrolyte interface through ion migration in organic electrochemical metallization (ECM) memristor are presented. It is observed that the free volume of voids (nanopores) in the polymer electrolyte serves as the pathways of metal‐cations whereas the interfacial topography between an active electrode and a polymer electrolyte determines the nucleation sites of the CFs. The growth kinetics of the CFs and the resultant resistive memory are found to vary with the molecular weight of the polymer electrolyte and the metal protrusions at the interface. Our direct observations show that the free volume of voids of the polymer electrolyte, varied with the molecular weight, dictates the ion transport for the growth and the disruption of the CFs. Our organic ECM‐based memristor with a hetero‐electrolyte exhibits high mechanical flexibility, low switching voltages reduced by about three times compared to those of conventional devices, and stable memory retention for longer than 104 s under repeated cycles of bending.PostprintPeer reviewe

Leukoaraiosis is associated with pneumonia after acute ischemic stroke

Diagnostic criteria for stroke associated pneumonia based on the CDC criteria. (DOCX 25 kb

Type I interferon is critical for the homeostasis and functional maturation of type 3 γδ T cells

Iridium­(III) cyclometalates (<b>1c</b> and <b>2c</b>) in which the two carborane units on the 4- or 5-positions of 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) ligands were tethered by an alkylene linker were prepared to investigate the effect of free rotation of <i>o</i>-carborane on phosphorescence efficiency. In comparison with the unlinked complex, tethering the <i>o</i>-carboranes to the 5-positions of ppy ligands (<b>2c</b>) enhanced phosphorescence efficiency by over 30-fold in polar medium (Φ_PL = 0.37 vs 0.011 in THF), while restricting the rotation of <i>o</i>-carborane at the 4-positions (<b>1c</b>) negatively affected the phosphorescence efficiency. The different effects of restricted rotation of <i>o</i>-carborane on phosphorescence efficiency were likely a result of the different variations of the carboranyl C–C bond distances in the excited state

Transparent conducting film fabricated by metal mesh method with Ag and cu@ag mixture nanoparticle pastes

Transparent conducting electrode film is highly desirable for application in touch screen panels (TSPs), flexible and wearable displays, sensors, and actuators. A sputtered film of indium tin oxide (ITO) shows high transmittance (90%) at low sheet resistance (50 ??/cm2). However, ITO films lack mechanical flexibility, especially under bending stress, and have limitation in application to large-area TSPs (over 15 inches) due to the trade-off in high transmittance and low sheet resistance properties. One promising solution is to use metal mesh-type transparent conducting film, especially for touch panel application. In this work, we investigated such inter-related issues as UV imprinting process to make a trench layer pattern, the synthesis of core-shell-type Ag and Cu@Ag composite nanoparticles and their paste formulation, the filling of Ag and Cu@Ag mixture nanoparticle paste to the trench layer, and touch panel fabrication processes

Correlation between thermal annealing temperature and Joule-heating based insulator-metal transition in VO2 nanobeams

Rapid thermal annealing of VO2 nanobeams in an ambient argon environment has been carried out at various temperatures after device fabrication. Our analysis revealed that increasing the annealing temperature from 200??C to 400??C results in the reduction of both ohmic and nanobeam resistances with an appreciable decrease in joule-heating based transition voltage and transition temperature, while samples annealed at 500??C exhibited a conducting rutile-phase like characteristics at room temperature. In addition, these variation trends were explored using a physical model and the results were found to be in agreement with the observed results, thus verifying the model.open2

Structural basis for recognition of L-lysine, L-ornithine, and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid by lysine cyclodeaminase

L-pipecolic acid is a non-protein amino acid commonly found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is a well-known precursor to numerous microbial secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals, including anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, and several antibiotics. Lysine cyclodeaminase (LCD) catalyzes ??-deamination of L-lysine into L-pipecolic acid using ??-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. Expression of a human homolog of LCD, ??-crystallin, is elevated in prostate cancer patients. To understand the structural features and catalytic mechanisms of LCD, we determined the crystal structures of Streptomyces pristinaespiralis LCD (SpLCD) in (i) a binary complex with NAD+, (ii) a ternary complex with NAD+ and L-pipecolic acid, (iii) a ternary complex with NAD+ and L-proline, and (iv) a ternary complex with NAD+ and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid. The overall structure of SpLCD was similar to that of ornithine cyclodeaminase from Pseudomonas putida. In addition, SpLCD recognized L-lysine, L-ornithine, and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid despite differences in the active site, including differences in hydrogen bonding by Asp236, which corresponds with Asp228 from Pseudomonas putida ornithine cyclodeaminase. The substrate binding pocket of SpLCD allowed substrates smaller than lysine to bind, thus enabling binding to ornithine and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid. Our structural and biochemical data facilitate a detailed understanding of substrate and product recognition, thus providing evidence for a reaction mechanism for SpLCD. The proposed mechanism is unusual in that NAD+ is initially converted into NADH and then reverted back into NAD+ at a late stage of the reaction