Supersymmetric B-L inflation near the conformal coupling

We investigate a novel scenario of cosmological inflation in a gauged $B-L$ extended minimal supersymmetric Standard Model with R-symmetry. We use a noncanonical K\"{a}hler potential and a superpotential, both preserving the R-symmetry to construct a model of slow-roll inflation. The model is controlled by two real parameters: the nonminimal coupling $\xi$ that originates from the K\"{a}hler potential, and the breaking scale $v$ of the $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry. We compute the spectrum of the cosmological microwave background radiation and show that the prediction of the model fits well the recent Planck satellite observation for a wide range of the parameter space. We also find that the typical reheating temperature of the model is low enough to avoid the gravitino problem but nevertheless allows sufficient production of the baryon asymmetry if we take into account the effect of resonance enhancement. The model is free from cosmic strings that impose stringent constraints on generic $U(1)_{B-L}$ based scenarios, as in our scenario the $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry is broken from the onset.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX 4.1. References added (v2). Comments added and typos corrected (v3

Recent progress in silica aerogel Cherenkov radiator

In this paper, we present recent progress in the development of hydrophobic silica aerogel as a Cherenkov radiator. In addition to the conventional method, the recently developed pin-drying method for producing high-refractive-index aerogels with high transparency was studied in detail. Optical qualities and large tile handling for crack-free aerogels were investigated. Sufficient photons were detected from high-performance aerogels in a beam test.Comment: Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Technology and Instrumentation in Particle Physics (TIPP 2011), to be published in Physics Procedia, 8 pages, 7 figure

Renormalization effects on the MSSM from a calculable model of a strongly coupled hidden sector

We investigate possible renormalization effects on the low-energy mass spectrum of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), using a calculable model of strongly coupled hidden sector. We model the hidden sector by N=2 supersymmetric quantum chromodynamics with gauge group SU(2) x U(1) and N_f=2 matter hypermultiplets, perturbed by a Fayet-Iliopoulos term which breaks the supersymmetry down to N=0 on a metastable vacuum. In the hidden sector the Kahler potential is renormalized. Upon identifying a hidden sector modulus with the renormalization scale, and extrapolating to the strongly coupled regime using the Seiberg-Witten solution, the contribution from the hidden sector to the MSSM renormalization group flows is computed. For concreteness, we consider a model in which the renormalization effects are communicated to the MSSM sector via gauge mediation. In contrast to the perturbative toy examples of hidden sector renormalization studied in the literature, we find that our strongly coupled model exhibits rather intricate effects on the MSSM soft scalar mass spectrum, depending on how the hidden sector fields are coupled to the messenger fields. This model provides a concrete example in which the low-energy spectrum of MSSM particles that are expected to be accessible in collider experiments is obtained using strongly coupled hidden sector dynamics.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, REVTeX4. Essentially the published versio

Higgs inflation in minimal supersymmetric SU(5) GUT

The Standard Model Higgs boson with large nonminimal coupling to the gravitational curvature can drive cosmological inflation. We study this type of inflationary scenario in the context of supersymmetric grand unification and point out that it is naturally implemented in the {\em minimal} supersymmetric SU(5) model, and hence virtually in any GUT models. It is shown that with an appropriate K\"{a}hler potential the inflaton trajectory settles down to the Standard Model vacuum at the end of the slow roll. The predicted cosmological parameters are also consistent with the 7-year WMAP data.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, essentially the published versio

Argulus japonicus (Branchiura: Argulidae) parasitic on a lakeweed chub, Ischikauia steenackeri (Cyprinidae), in northern Kyushu, Japan

The lakeweed chub, Ischikauia steenackeri (Sauvage, 1883), was originally distributed in the Yodo River system including Lake Biwa, central Japan, and has recently established its populations as a domestic alien species in various inland waters in western and central Japan, including Kyushu. An adult female of Argulus japonicus Thiele, 1900 was collected from the body surface of a lakeweed chub in an irrigation canal connected to the Hase River, a tributary of the Nishi River within the Onga River system in Fukuoka Prefecture, northern Kyushu. This repersents a new prefectural and host records for A. japonicus. This parasite is considered not to have been introduced to the sampling site by I. steenackeri but to naturally occur in the river system

First Japanese record of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Okayama Prefecture, western Honshu

Seven specimens of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) were collected by angling from a stream connected to the Hyakken River emptying into Kojima Bay, Okayama city, Okayama Prefecture, western Honshu, Japan, on 19 July 2016. This collection represents a new Japanese record for the species as an alien fish. The specimens are identified based on their morphology and genetic analysis of CO1 of mitochondrial DNA. One of the sequences of CO1 from six specimens is accorded with a previously reported haplotype H2, and that from the remaining one specimen has a newly obtained haplotype (H5) close to H2. Although the species has not yet been confirmed for its establishment in the stream, some individuals were found on the sampling date to jump out of the water, and this behavior resembles one associated with the spawning of the species observed in China. It is necessary to monitor the species in the stream and adjacent waters.This study was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI grands (no. 15J05777 to M. N. and no. 15K07527 to K. N.

Clinical retrospective study of dental implant removal : do patients who require implant removal desire implant prosthesis again?

This study investigated the causes of dental implant removal due to complications, and examined whether patients who had dental implant removal desired re-implant prosthesis treatments. A retrospective case?control study was conducted on patients who had their dental implants removed. We investigated whether the removed dental implant was replaced with other implant prostheses. Age, sex, diabetes, smoking, implant site distribution, reason for implant removal, and blade and root-form implants were categorized as predictive variables. The outcome variable was desire for re-implantation or use of other prosthetic methods after implant removal. A logistic regression model was created to identify patient factors that could predict the re-implantation of dental prostheses after implant removal. A total of 215 dental implants were removed from 143 patients. The most common reason for implant removal was peri-implantitis that was identified in 165 implants. After implant removal, re-implantation was performed in 98 implants (45.6%). Bivariate analyses showed that age, diabetes, implant type, and reason for implant removal were associated with the desire for re-implanted prostheses. The multiple regression model revealed that age, implant type, and reason for implant removal were associated with an increased desire for re-implant prostheses after implant removal. Re-implantation of prostheses after the removal of dental implants was desired by patients who were younger, had implants placed in the root form, and had implants removed due to prosthetic-related complications