Radius Stabilization in a Supersymmetric Warped Compactification

A supersymmetric (SUSY) model of radius stabilization is constructed for the S^1/Z_2 warped compactifications with a hypermultiplet in five dimensions. Requiring the continuity of scalar field across the boundaries, we obtain radius stabilization preserving SUSY, realizing the SUSY extension of the Goldberger-Wise mechanism. Even if we allow discontinuities of the Z_2 odd field across the boundary, we always obtain SUSY preservation but obtain the radius stabilization only when the discontinuity is fixed by other mechanism.Comment: 6 pages, revtex, Errors of the products of distributions are corrected and the results are reanalyzed, references added, final version to appear in PR

Municipal Capacity and Environmental Service Delivery in Digotsion Town, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

The basic environmental service delivery in the town such as potable water supply, solid waste management, green area management and development and others is crucial for the mere existence of towns or cities. However, the delivery of them is a daunting task seeking utmost municipal capacity for a given town globally to local levels. This study is hence assessed municipal capacity in delivering of basic environmental services of Digo Tsion Town and especially to the existing conditions of basic environmental service delivery; assessing the municipal capacity of the town in terms of institutional policy framework, technical, financial and material and identifying challenges encountered with inadequate environmental services delivery. In carrying out of the study, both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed and descriptive research design was applied. To go through with the unit of analysis and observation, probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used for household respondents and for officials, respectively. Questionnaires were filled by 162 household respondents, 4 different institutions were consulted and observations were also made on the spot to realize some aspects of environmental services delivery. The analysis of the collected data was made using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Bar graph and tables were used to present the result of the analysis. The findings of the result revealed that owing to the unprecedented denizens and town sprawl drinking water supply seeks improved management system. The sanitation service is also curtailed due to lack of proper sanitation facilities including public toilets, materials and inadequate coordination capacities. When the management of solid waste is considered, it is almost out of the auspices of the municipality as there is neither technical support to realize integrated solid waste management nor should it be given to the third party and generally public participation is lacking. In regard to green area development and management, even if there is no popularity in greenery activities, the practice is made haphazardly by the communities. The municipal capacity in the delivery of aforementioned environmental services are leashed due to lack of coordinated and concerted efforts which are aggravated by lack of proper policy frameworks; lack of skilled human resources; inadequate budget; materials and facilities and above all lack attention and commitment of the municipal authorities to environmental service delivery tasks. To bring about sustainable town development, based on the study findings it is imperative to undertake remedial activities amidst the shortcomings in all issues including water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, green area development and management. To do so, in a nutshell capacity building in terms of policy issues and institutional framework; financial and human resource management; provision of materials and exercising good governance so as to benefit from public participation is recommended. Keywords: Urban Sprawl, Municipal environmental Services, Green areas, Municipal Capacity, Ethiopi

Bulk Mass Effects in Gauge-Higgs Unification at Finite Temperature

We study the bulk mass effects on the electroweak phase transition at finite temperature in a five dimensional SU(3) gauge-Higgs unification model on an orbifold. We investigate whether the Higgs mass satisfying the experimental lower bound can be compatible with the strong first order phase transition necessary for a successful electroweak baryogenesis. Our numerical results show that the above statement can be realized by matter with bulk mass yielding a viable Higgs mass. We also find an interesting case where the heavier Higgs gives the stronger first order phase transition.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur

D-term Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking Generating Split N=2 Gaugino Masses of Mixed Majorana-Dirac Type

Under a few mild assumptions, N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions is shown to be spontaneously broken in a self-consistent Hartree-Fock approximation of BCS/NJL type to one-loop off-shell, in the gauge theory specified by the gauge kinetic function and the superpotential of adjoint chiral superfields, in particular, that possesses N=2 extended supersymmetry spontaneously broken to N=1 at tree level. The N=2 gauginos receive mixed Majorana-Dirac masses and are split. We derive an explicit form of the gap equation, showing the existence of a nontrivial solution.Comment: 4 pages, the paper extended (a numerical plot of the solution to the gap equation, an estimate of the decay rate of the metastable vacuum, and discussion on nonvanishing term induced by the D term dynamical supersymmetry breaking diven), references adde

Current practice of ototoxicity management across the United Kingdom (UK)

OBJECTIVE: Effective management of patients diagnosed with ototoxicity is needed to reduce hearing and balance damage which affects communication and life quality. Despite widespread recommendations to monitor and manage ototoxicity in an early and effective manner, there is limited evidence to support the actual implementation of these recommendations for affected patient groups in healthcare services across the UK with limited publications available. In this study, an online questionnaire analysed the current practice of ototoxicity management and patient pathways across the UK once the diagnosis of ototoxicity was confirmed, targeting Audiologists, ENTs/AVPs and GPs. DESIGN: Qualitative Survey Study. STUDY SAMPLE: A randomised sample of hearing services in the UK, including audiology departments; GP practices and local health settings were targeted with a total of 134 completed surveys. RESULTS: About 72% reported the absence of ototoxicity management protocols within their centre. Results depicted great inconsistency and variation across the UK in ototoxicity management services provided, treatment modification, monitoring and referral pathways. CONCLUSION: Developing and advocating national guidelines are intended not only to inform clinical decision making but to provide minimum standards of care in ototoxicity management and offer greater awareness and education to improve patients' quality of life

Opposite effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 on nitric oxide production in murine macrophages

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO) by interferon-γ (IFN-γ)- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 and J774.2). Macrophages pre-treated with IL-4 and then stimulated with IFN-γ or LPS showed significant inhibition in their ability to produce NO as measured by nitrite production. Simultaneous treatment of IL-4 pre-incubated cells with IFN-γ and LPS together augmented nitrite accumulation. On the other hand, similar exposures of the macrophages to IL-10 followed by IFN-γ or LPS treatments resulted in significantly increased NO production. Thus IL-10 failed to suppress IFN-γ or LPS-induced NO production and showed opposite effects in these experiments to IL-4. We conclude that the two lymphokines have differing roles in the control of production of NO and might act to control the secretion of nitric oxide in vivo

Managing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrients for Switchgrass Produced for Bioenergy Feedstock in Phosphorus-Deficient Soil

There is limited information available explaining the agronomic and economic relationships between yield and nitrogen and phosphorus applications to growing switchgrass produced in phosphorus-deficient soils. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on feedstock yield and measures of expected total cost, gross revenue, net return, and breakeven price of feedstock produced in phosphorus-deficient soils in the southern Great Plains. Data were collected from a three-year, two-location agronomic field study conducted in south-central Oklahoma. Two discrete nitrogen treatments (0 and 134 kg ha-1) and four discrete phosphorus treatments (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) were randomly assigned to small plots arranged in a randomized complete block designed (RCBD) study. Random effects mixed ANOVA models were used to estimate the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and nitrogen by phosphorus interactions on feedstock yield and the economic variables specified. Results showed that, on average over site-years, switchgrass yield increases from 10.5 to 12.3 Mg ha-1 with the highest (101-kg ha-1) treatment; however, we found no statistical difference in net profitability between phosphorus treatments. Yield and net return did respond significantly to 135 kg-1 of N ha-1. Our results suggest that phosphorus-deficient soils do not seem to have the same impact on switchgrass yield and profitability as they do for the yields and profitability of other crops traditionally grown in this region.bioenergy feedstock, economics, phosphorus-deficient soils, nitrogen, switchgrass, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

Aspects of Phase Transition in Gauge-Higgs Unification at Finite Temperature

We study the phase transition in gauge-Higgs unification at finite temperature. In particular, we obtain the strong first order electroweak phase transition for a simple matter content yielding the correct order of Higgs mass at zero temperature. Two stage phase transition is found for a particular matter content, which is the strong first order at each stage. We further study supersymmetric gauge models with the Scherk-Schwarz supersymmetry breaking. We again observe the first order electroweak phase transition and multi stage phase transition.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, references corrected, minor correctio

A graphical simulator for the cryptanalysis of block ciphers

We have designed and implemented a graphical simulator for the use of students in the Master of Applied Science (information security) program at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. During this process, a lot of practical experience was gained which aids future designers who address similar problems, especially if the design aims include the realistic simulation, in a reasonable time, of a process, cryptanalysis - which often takes many days or weeks of computation by powerful computers

Pemanfaatan Citra Quickbird Dan Sig Untuk Pemetaan Tingkat Kenyamanan Permukiman Di Kecamatan Semarang Barat Dan Kecamatan Semarang Utara

Perkembangan kota yang semakin pesat menyebabkan kebutuhan akan lahan terbangun juga semakin meningkat dan dapat menggeser keberadaan ruang terbuka hijau sehingga akan mengurangi Kenyamanan permukiman. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1)Mengidentifikasi variabel model spasial konseptual penentu tingkat Kenyamanan permukiman dari Citra Quickbird, (2)Memanfaatkan SIG untuk pemetaan tingkat Kenyamanan permukiman berdasarkan geometri bangunan dan THI, (3)Menganalisis peta tingkat Kenyamanan permukiman untuk membuat prioritas rekomendasi pengembangan ruang terbuka hijau di sebagian Kota Semarang. Penelitian dilakukan di Kecamatan Semarang Barat dan Kecamatan Semarang Utara. Bahan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berupa Citra Quickbird pan-sharpened tahun 2011, peta batas administratif Kota Semarang, dan Peraturan Daerah Kota Semarang No.14 tahun 2011. Perhitungan tingkat Kenyamanan permukiman dari penggabungan beberapa faktor, sebagai dasar dalam penentuan prioritas pengembangan ruang terbuka hijau. Berdasarkan peta prioritas pengembangan ruang terbuka hijau hanya diperoleh 3 tingkat prioritas yaitu: prioritas I sebanyak 953 blok seluas 965,90 ha, prioritas II sebanyak 710 blok seluas 714,09 ha dan prioritas III (tidak diprioritaskan) sebanyak 22 blok seluas 64,31 ha