Solving the solar neutrino problem with kamLAND and BOREXINO

We analyze the expected signals of two future neutrino experiments, kamLAND and BOREXINO. We show that with just these experiments, we will hopefully be able to determine which of the existing solutions to the solar neutrino problem is the real solution. We also analyze existing solar neutrino data and determine the best-fit points in the oscillation-parameter space finding that with the inclusion of SNO-charged current, the global-rates analysis gives a favored LMA solution with a goodness of fit (g.o.f) of just 32.63%, whereas the g.o.f of the SMA solution is 9.83%. Nonetheless, maximal and quasi-maximal mixing is not favored. If we include the Superkamiokande spectrum in our \chi^2 analysis, we obtain a LMA solution with a g.o.f. of 84.38%.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Talk given at 37th Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, Les Arcs, France, 9-16 Mar 200

The solar neutrino puzzle: present situation and future scenarios

We present a short review of the existing evidence in favor of neutrino mass and neutrino oscillations which come from different kinds of experiments. We focus our attention in particular on solar neutrinos, presenting a global updated phenomenological analysis of all the available data and we comment on different possible future scenarios.Comment: 22 pp. Expanded version of the contribution to appear in the Proceedings of ``Les Rencontres de Physique de la Vallee d'Aoste'', February 200

After Sno and Before Kamland: Present and Future of Solar and Reactor Neutrino Physics

We present a short review of the existing evidence in favor of neutrino mass and neutrino oscillations which come from different kinds of experiments. We focus our attention in particular on solar neutrinos, presenting a review of some recent analysis of all available neutrino oscillation evidence in Solar experiments including the recent $SNO CC$ and $NC$ data. We present in detail the power of the reactor experiment KamLAND for discriminating existing solutions to the SNP and giving accurate information on neutrino masses and mixing angles.Comment: Expanded version of the contribution to appear in the Proceedings of ''Third Tropical Workshop on Particle Physics and Cosmology: Neutrinos, Branes and Cosmology (Puerto Rico, August 2002)'

Relic Neutralino Density in Scenarios with Intermediate Unification Scale

We analyse the relic neutralino density in supersymmetric models with an intermediate unification scale. In particular, we present concrete cosmological scenarios where the reheating temperature is as small as $\cal{O}$ $1 - 1000$ MeV). When this temperature is associated to the decay of moduli fields producing neutralinos, we show that the relic abundance increases considerably with respect to the standard thermal production. Thus the neutralino becomes a good dark matter candidate with 0.1\lsim \Omega h^2 \lsim 0.3, even for regions of the parameter space where large neutralino-nucleon cross sections, compatible with current dark matter experiments, are present. This is obtained for intermediate scales $M_I\sim 10^{11}-10^{14}$ GeV, and moduli masses $m_\phi\sim 100-1000$ GeV. On the other hand, when the above temperature is associated to the decay of an inflaton field, the relic abundance is too small.Comment: Latex, 11 pages, 2 figure

Assessment of ultrasonographic features of polycystic ovaries is associated with modest levels of inter-observer agreement

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is growing acceptance that polycystic ovaries are an important marker of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) despite significant variability when making the ultrasound diagnosis. To better understand the nature of this variability, we proposed to evaluate the level of inter-observer agreement when identifying and quantifying individual ultrasonographic features of polycystic ovaries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Digital recordings of transvaginal ultrasound scans performed in thirty women with PCOS were assessed by four observers with training in Radiology or Reproductive Endocrinology. Observers evaluated the scans for: 1) number of follicles ≥ 2 mm per ovary, 2) largest follicle diameter, 3) ovarian volume, 4) follicle distribution pattern and 5) presence of a corpus luteum (CL). Lin's concordance correlation coefficients and kappa statistics for multiple raters were used to assess inter-observer agreement.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Agreement between observers ranged from 0.08 to 0.63 for follicle counts, 0.27 to 0.88 for largest follicle diameter, 0.63 to 0.86 for ovarian volume, 0.51 to 0.76 for follicle distribution pattern and 0.76 to 0.90 for presence of a CL. Overall, reproductive endocrinologists demonstrated better agreement when evaluating ultrasonographic features of polycystic ovaries compared to radiologists (0.71 versus 0.53; p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Inter-observer agreement for assessing ultrasonographic features of polycystic ovaries was moderate to poor. These findings support the need for standardized training modules to characterize polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasonography.</p

The solution to a multichannel Bethe potential and its application to pion-nucleus reactions

We solve a radial Schr\"odinger equation for the case of a multichannel square well plus an exponential potential in one of the channels. The solution is obtained by summing exactly the infinite terms of the perturbative series for the evolution operator of the system. Analytical expressions for the scattering matrix and the scattering length are given, a Deser-like formula which connects approximate ground energies and scattering length is obtained for a particular case. Possible physical applications of these results are discussed briefly.Comment: Title changed and other minor changes. 14pages, latex, no figure

Digit ratios by computer-assisted analysis confirm lack of anatomical evidence of prenatal androgen exposure in clinical phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We recently showed that women with four clinical phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) do not demonstrate anatomical evidence of elevated prenatal androgen exposure as judged by a lower ratio of the index (2D) to ring (4D) finger. However, those findings conflicted with a previous study where women with PCOS had lower right hand 2D:4D compared to healthy female controls. Both these studies used Vernier calipers to measure finger lengths - a method recently shown to be less reliable at obtaining finger length measurements than computer-assisted analysis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ninety-six women diagnosed with PCOS according to the 2003 Rotterdam criteria had their finger lengths measured with computer-assisted analysis. Participants were categorized into four recognized phenotypes of PCOS and their 2D:4D compared to healthy female controls (n = 48) and men (n = 50).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Digit ratios assessed by computer-assisted analysis in women with PCOS did not differ from female controls, but were significantly lower in men. When subjects were stratified by PCOS phenotype, 2D:4D did not differ among phenotypes or when compared to female controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Computer-assisted measurements validated that digit ratios of women with PCOS do not show anatomical evidence of increased prenatal androgen exposure.</p

The Omega Effect as a Discriminant for Space-Time Foam

If there is CPT violation, the nature of entanglement for neutral meson pairs produced in meson factories may, on general grounds, be affected. The new form of entanglement is the omega effect. Gravitational decoherence, due to space-time foam, may be one route for deviations from CPT invariance. Two models of space-time foam are considered. One, based on non-critical string theory, is able to produce the new correlations in a natural way. The other, based on the paradigm of thermal-like baths, is shown to be surprisingly resistant to producing the effect even on exercising a total freedom of choice for the state of the bathComment: 10 pages, 1 figure, Invited talk at 5th International Symposium on Quantum Theory and Symmetries, Valladolid, Spain, July 200