Quark-lepton mass unification at TeV scales

A scenario combining a model of early (TeV) unification of quarks and leptons with the physics of large extra dimensions provides a natural mechanism linking quark and lepton masses at TeV scale. This has been dubbed as early quark-lepton mass unification by one of us (PQH) in one of the two models of early quark-lepton unification, which are consistent with data, namely SU(4)_PS \otimes SU(2)_L \otimes SU(2)_R \otimes SU(2)_H. In particular, it focused on the issue of naturally light Dirac neutrino. The present paper will focus on similar issues in the other model, namely SU(4)_PS \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes SU(3)_H.Comment: Accepted for publication in PRD: The new version is in agreement with the accepted manuscrip

Flavour physics of the RS model with KK masses reachable at LHC

The version of the higher-dimensional Randall-Sundrum (RS) model with matter in the bulk, which addresses the gauge hierarchy problem, has additional attractive features. In particular, it provides an intrinsic geometrical mechanism that can explain the origin of the large mass hierarchies among the Standard Model fermions. Within this context, a good solution for the gauge hierarchy problem corresponds to low masses for the Kaluza-Klein (KK) excitations of the gauge bosons. Some scenarios have been proposed in order to render these low masses (down to a few TeV) consistent with precision electroweak measurements. Here, we give specific and complete realizations of this RS version with small KK masses, down to 1 TeV, which are consistent with the entire structure of the fermions in flavour space: (1) all the last experimental data on quark/lepton masses and mixing angles (including massive neutrinos of Dirac type) are reproduced, (2) flavour changing neutral current constraints are satisfied and (3) the effective suppression scales of non-renormalizable interactions (in the physical basis) are within the bounds set by low energy flavour phenomenology. Our result, on the possibility of having KK gauge boson modes as light as a few TeV, constitutes one of the first theoretical motivations for experimental searches of direct signatures at the LHC collider, of this interesting version of the RS model which accommodates fermion masses.Comment: 27 pages, Latex file. References and comments adde

Probing RS scenarios of flavour at LHC via leptonic channels

We study a purely leptonic signature of the Randall-Sundrum scenario with Standard Model fields in the bulk at LHC: the contribution from the exchange of Kaluza-Klein (KK) excitations of gauge bosons to the clear Drell-Yan reaction. We show that this contribution is detectable (even with the low luminosities of the LHC initial regime) for KK masses around the TeV scale and for sufficiently large lepton couplings to KK gauge bosons. Such large couplings can be compatible with ElectroWeak precision data on the Zff coupling in the framework of the custodial O(3) symmetry recently proposed, for specific configurations of lepton localizations (along the extra dimension). These configurations can simultaneously reproduce the correct lepton masses, while generating acceptably small Flavour Changing Neutral Current (FCNC) effects. This LHC phenomenological analysis is realistic in the sense that it is based on fermion localizations which reproduce all the quark/lepton masses plus mixing angles and respect FCNC constraints in both the hadron and lepton sectors.Comment: 15 pages, 6 Figures, Latex fil

Towards a typology of spatial relations and properties for urban applications

Relations that occur between features located in space–like the fact that a street is surrounded by very high buildings, that an airport is close to a city- as well as spatial properties of features–like the height and width of a door- play an important role for many urban applications. Digital models of cities can assist in the evaluation of these relations and properties either through visualisation or through computation, mainly based on geometrical information. Hence, considering the objective of explaining to potential users of these city models what useful information they can derive from these data and how, a possible way to address this objective lies in the usage of a pivot model composed of relevant spatial properties and relations, connected to information meaningful to the user and connected to the possible computation of them on available data. This paper firstly sets the ground for a typology of such relevant relations and properties that are shared by different applications and that can be derived/approximated from existing data. It then proposes a model to describe these properties and relations and connect them to their possible computation based on data (2D or 3D). An important aspect of this model is to distinguish between a conceptual layer where relations occur between “real world” features and an implementation layer where they are calculated based on database features and geometries

Electroweak String Configurations with Baryon Number

In the context of electroweak strings, the baryon number anomaly equation may be reinterpreted as a conservation law for baryon number minus helicity. Since the helicity is a sum of the link and twist numbers, linked or twisted loops of electroweak string carry baryon number. We evaluate the change in the baryon number obtained by delinking loops of electroweak $Z-$string and show that twisted electroweak string segments may be regarded as extended sphalerons. We also suggest an alternative scenario for electroweak baryogenesis.Comment: 11 pages, figure available on request. Added discussion of string-sphaleron connection for non-vanishing Weinberg angle and shortened discussion on formation of linked configuration

Interplay of Mre11 Nuclease with Dna2 plus Sgs1 in Rad51-Dependent Recombinational Repair

The Mre11/Rad50/Xrs2 complex initiates IR repair by binding to the end of a double-strand break, resulting in 5′ to 3′ exonuclease degradation creating a single-stranded 3′ overhang competent for strand invasion into the unbroken chromosome. The nuclease(s) involved are not well understood. Mre11 encodes a nuclease, but it has 3′ to 5′, rather than 5′ to 3′ activity. Furthermore, mutations that inactivate only the nuclease activity of Mre11 but not its other repair functions, mre11-D56N and mre11-H125N, are resistant to IR. This suggests that another nuclease can catalyze 5′ to 3′ degradation. One candidate nuclease that has not been tested to date because it is encoded by an essential gene is the Dna2 helicase/nuclease. We recently reported the ability to suppress the lethality of a dna2Δ with a pif1Δ. The dna2Δ pif1Δ mutant is IR-resistant. We have determined that dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-D56N and dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-H125N strains are equally as sensitive to IR as mre11Δ strains, suggesting that in the absence of Dna2, Mre11 nuclease carries out repair. The dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-D56N triple mutant is complemented by plasmids expressing Mre11, Dna2 or dna2K1080E, a mutant with defective helicase and functional nuclease, demonstrating that the nuclease of Dna2 compensates for the absence of Mre11 nuclease in IR repair, presumably in 5′ to 3′ degradation at DSB ends. We further show that sgs1Δ mre11-H125N, but not sgs1Δ, is very sensitive to IR, implicating the Sgs1 helicase in the Dna2-mediated pathway

Biologically active Phytophthora mating hormone prepared by catalytic asymmetric total synthesis

A Phytophthora mating hormone with an array of 1,5-stereogenic centers has been synthesized by using our recently developed methodology of catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents. We applied this methodology in a diastereo- and enantioselective iterative route and obtained two of the 16 possible stereoisomers of Phytophthora hormone α1. These synthetic stereoisomers induced the formation of sexual spores (oospores) in A2 mating type strains of three heterothallic Phytophthora species, P. infestans, P. capsici, and P. nicotianae but not in A1 mating type strains. The response was concentration-dependent, and the oospores were viable. These results demonstrate that the biological activity of the synthetic hormone resembles that of the natural hormone α1. Mating hormones are essential components in the sexual life cycle of a variety of organisms. For plant pathogens like Phytophthora, sexual reproduction is important as a source of genetic variation. Moreover, the thick-walled oospores are the most durable propagules that can survive harsh environmental conditions. Sexual reproduction can thus greatly affect disease epidemics. The availability of synthetic compounds mimicking the activity of Phytophthora mating hormone will be instrumental for further unravelling sexual reproduction in this important group of plant pathogens.