Physics with Cosmic Neutrinos, PeV to ZeV

We begin with a brief overview of highest-energy cosmic ray data, and the experiments which will perform neutrino astronomy. We then discuss two particle physics aspects of neutrinos. They are possible long-lifetime decay of the neutrino, and a measurement of the neutrino-nucleon cross-section at a CMS energy orders of magnitude beyond what can be achieved with terrestrial accelerators. Measurement of an anomalously large neutrino cross-section would indicate new physics (e.g. low string-scale, extra dimensions, precocious unification), while a smaller than expected cross-section would reveal an aspect of QCD evolution. We then discuss aspects of neutrino-primary models for the extreme-energy (EE) cosmic ray data. Primary neutrinos in extant data are motivated by the directional clustering at EE reported by the AGASA experiment. We discuss the impact of the strongly-interacting neutrino hypothesis on lower-energy physics via dispersion relations, the statistical significance of AGASA directional clustering, and the possible relevance of the Z-burst mechanism for existing EE cosmic ray data.Comment: 19 pages including 6 figures, Proc. YITP "Neutrinos" Oct. 200

Neutrino Clustering in the Galaxy with a Global Monopole

In spherically symmetric, static spacetime, we show that only j=1/2 fermions can satisfy both Einstein's field equation and Dirac's equation. It is also shown that neutrinos are able to have effective masses and cluster in the galactic halo when they are coupled to a global monopole situated at the galactic core. Astronomical implications of the results are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, Revtex

W/Z Bremsstrahlung as the Dominant Annihilation Channel for Dark Matter, Revisited

We revisit the calculation of electroweak bremsstrahlung contributions to dark matter annihilation. Dark matter annihilation to leptons is necessarily accompanied by electroweak radiative corrections, in which a $W$ or $Z$ boson is also radiated. Significantly, while many dark matter models feature a helicity suppressed annihilation rate to fermions, bremsstrahlung process can remove this helicity suppression such that the branching ratios Br($\ell \nu W$), Br($\ell^+\ell^-Z$), and Br($\bar\nu \nu Z$) dominate over Br($\ell^+\ell^-$) and Br($\bar\nu \nu$). We find this is most significant in the limit where the dark matter mass is nearly degenerate with the mass of the boson which mediates the annihilation process. Electroweak bremsstrahlung has important phenomenological consequences both for the magnitude of the total dark matter annihilation cross section and for the character of the astrophysical signals for indirect detection. Given that the $W$ and $Z$ gauge bosons decay dominantly via hadronic channels, it is impossible to produce final state leptons without accompanying protons, antiprotons, and gamma rays.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; replaced to match published versio

The Curious Adventure of the Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays

These lectures discuss the mysteries involving the production and extragalactic propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and suggested possible solutions.Comment: Lectures given at the D. Chalonge Euroschool, Erice, Italy, November 2000, 25 pages, 7 ps figs., expanded revision with color fig.

Neutrons and antiprotons in ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

The neutron fraction in the very high energy cosmic rays near the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff energy is analyzed by taking into account the time dilation effect of the neutron decays and also the pion photoproduction behaviors above the GZK cutoff. We predict a non-trivial neutron fraction above the GZK cutoff and a negligibly small neutron fraction below. However, there should be a large antiproton fraction in the high energy cosmic rays below the GZK cutoff in several existing models for the observed cosmic-ray events above and near the GZK cutoff. Such a large antiproton fraction can manifest itself by the muon charge ratio $\mu^+/\mu^-$ in the collisions of the primary nucleon cosmic rays with the atmosphere, if there is no neutron contribution. We suggest to use the muon charge ratio as one of the information to detect the composition of the primary cosmic rays near or below the GZK cutoff.Comment: 5 LaTex page

Neutrino Decay as an Explanation of Atmospheric Neutrino Observations

We show that the observed zenith angle dependence of the atmospheric neutrinos can be accounted for by neutrino decay. Furthermore, it is possible to account for all neutrino anomalies with just three flavors.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Minimal Schemes for Large Neutrino Mixings with Inverted Hierarchy

Existing oscillation data point to nonzero neutrino masses with large mixings. We analyze the generic features of the neutrino Majorana mass matrix with inverted hierarchy and construct realistic {\it minimal schemes} for the neutrino mass matrix that can explain the large (but not maximal) \nu_e - \nu_mu mixing of MSW-LAM as well as the nearly maximal \nu_mu - \nu_tau mixing and the small (or negligible) \nu_e --> \nu_tau transition. These minimal schemes are quite unique and turn out to be extremely predictive. Implications for neutrinoless double beta decay, tritium beta decay and cosmology are analyzed.Comment: Refs adde

Outcomes following arthroscopic transosseous equivalent suture bridge double row rotator cuff repair: a prospective study and short-term results

Background: The transosseous-equivalent cross bridge double row (TESBDR) rotator cuff (RC) repair technique has been developed to optimize healing biology at a repaired RC tendon insertion. It has been shown in the laboratory to improve pressurized contact area and mean foot print pressure when compared with a double row anchor technique. Pressure has been shown to influence healing between tendon and bone, and the tendon compression vector provided by the transosseous-equivalent suture bridges may enhance healing. The purpose was to prospectively evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic TESBDR RC repair. Methods: Single center prospective case series study. Sixty-nine patients were selected to undergo arthroscopic TESBDR RC repair and were included in the current study. Primary outcome measures included the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the Constant-Murley (CM) Score and Range of motion (ROM). Secondary outcome measures included a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, another VAS for patient satisfaction from the operative procedure, EuroQoL 5-Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) for quality of life assessment. Results: At 24 months post-operative, average OSS score was 44, average UCLA score was 31, average CM score was 88, average forward flexion was 145°, average internal rotation was 35°, average external rotation was 79°, average abduction was 150°, average EQ-5D score was 0.73, average VAS for pain was 2.3, and average VAS for patient satisfaction was 9.2. Conclusion: Arthroscopic TESBDR RC repair is a procedure with good post-operative functional outcome and low re-tear rate based on a short term follow-up

COPD care delivery pathways in five European Union countries : mapping and health care professionals' perceptions

Background: COPD is among the leading causes of chronic morbidity and mortality in the European Union with an estimated annual economic burden of €25.1 billion. Various care pathways for COPD exist across Europe leading to different responses to similar problems. Determining these differences and the similarities may improve health and the functioning of health services. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare COPD patients’ care pathway in five European Union countries including England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Greece, and Germany and to explore health care professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions about the current pathways. Methods: HCPs were interviewed in two stages using a qualitative, semistructured email interview and a face-to-face semistructured interview. Results: Lack of communication among different health care providers managing COPD and comorbidities was a common feature of the studied care pathways. General practitioners/family doctors are responsible for liaising between different teams/services, except in Greece where this is done through pulmonologists. Ireland and the UK are the only countries with services for patients at home to shorten unnecessary hospital stay. HCPs emphasized lack of communication, limited resources, and poor patient engagement as issues in the current pathways. Furthermore, no specified role exists for pharmacists and informal carers. Conclusion: Service and professional integration between care settings using a unified system targeting COPD and comorbidities is a priority. Better communication between health care providers, establishing a clear role for informal carers, and enhancing patients’ engagement could optimize current care pathways resulting in a better integrated system

Mirror model for sterile neutrinos

Sterile neutrinos are studied as subdominant contribution to solar neutrino physics. The mirror-matter neutrinos are considered as sterile neutrinos. We use the symmetric mirror model with gravitational communication between mirror and visible sectors. This communication term provides mixing between visible and mirror neutrinos with the basic scale mu=v^2/M_Pl=5*10^-6 eV, where v=174 GeV is the vacuum expectation value of the standard electroweak group and M_Pl is the Planckian mass. It is demonstrated that each mass eigenstate of active neutrinos splits into two states separated by small Delta m^2. Unsuppressed oscillations between active and sterile neutrinos nu_a --> nu_s occur only in transitions between each of these close pairs (``windows''). These oscillations are characterized by very small Delta m^2 and can suppress the flux and distort spectrum of pp-neutrinos in detectable way. The other observable effect is anomalous seasonal variation of neutrino flux, which appears in LMA solution. The considered subdominant neutrino oscillations nu_a nu_s can reveal itself as big effects in observations of supernova neutrinos and high energy (HE) neutrinos. In the case of HE neutrinos they can provide a very large diffuse flux of active neutrinos unconstrained by the e-m cascade upper limit.Comment: 30 pags, 5 figs. V2: Refs added, minor editing. Accepted in NP