148 research outputs found
Grand Unification of Quark and Lepton FCNCs
In the context of Supersymmetric Grand Unified theories with soft breaking
terms arising at the Planck scale, it is generally possible to link flavor
changing neutral current and CP violating processes occurring in the leptonic
and hadronic sectors. We study the correlation between flavor changing squark
and slepton mass insertions in models \`a la SU(5). We show that the
constraints coming from lepton flavor violation exhibit a strong impact on
CP-violating B decays.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Sneutrino Vacuum Expectation Values and Neutrino Anomalies Through Trilinear R-parity Violation
Neutrino mass spectrum is reanalyzed in supersymmetric models with explicit
trilinear violation. Models in this category are argued to provide
simultaneous solution to the solar and atmospheric neutrino anomalies. It is
shown specifically that large mixing and hierarchical masses needed for the
vacuum solution of neutrino anomalies arise naturally in these models without
requiring any additional symmetries or hierarchies among the trilinear
couplings.Comment: References added and typos correcte
Neutrino Anomalies in Gauge Mediated Model with Trilinear R violation
The structure of neutrino masses and mixing resulting from trilinear
violating interactions is studied in the presence of the gauge mediated
supersymmetry breaking. Neutrino masses arise in this model at tree level
through the RG-induced vacuum expectation values of the sneutrinos and also
through direct contribution at 1-loop. The relative importance of these
contributions is determined by the values of the strong and weak coupling
constants. In case of purely couplings, the tree contribution
dominates over the 1-loop diagram. In this case, one simultaneously obtains
atmospheric neutrino oscillations and quasi-vacuum oscillations of the solar
neutrinos if all the \l' couplings are assumed to be of similar magnitudes.
If R parity violation arises from the trilinear \l couplings, then the loop
induced contribution dominates over the tree level. One cannot simultaneously
explain the solar and atmospheric deficit in this case if all the \l
couplings are of similar magnitude. This however becomes possible with
hierarchical \l and we give a specific example of this.Comment: 26 pages Latex, 2 figures, certain sections rewritten, improved
discussion about derivations added. To appear in Physical Review
Four Generations: SUSY and SUSY Breaking
We revisit four generations within the context of supersymmetry. We compute
the perturbativity limits for the fourth generation Yukawa couplings and show
that if the masses of the fourth generation lie within reasonable limits of
their present experimental lower bounds, it is possible to have perturbativity
only up to scales around 1000 TeV. Such low scales are ideally suited to
incorporate gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, where the mediation scale
can be as low as 10-20 TeV. The minimal messenger model, however, is highly
constrained. While lack of electroweak symmetry breaking rules out a large part
of the parameter space, a small region exists, where the fourth generation stau
is tachyonic. General gauge mediation with its broader set of boundary
conditions is better suited to accommodate the fourth generation.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figure
The Discovery Potential of a Super B Factory
The Proceedings of the 2003 SLAC Workshops on flavor physics with a high
luminosity asymmetric e+e- collider. The sensitivity of flavor physics to
physics beyond the Standard Model is addressed in detail, in the context of the
improvement of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.Comment: 476 pages. Printed copies may be obtained by request to
[email protected] . arXiv admin note: v2 appears to be identical to v
Results from PAMELA, ATIC and FERMI : Pulsars or Dark Matter ?
It is well known that the dark matter dominates the dynamics of galaxies and
clusters of galaxies. Its constituents remain a mystery despite an assiduous
search for them over the past three decades. Recent results from the
satellite-based PAMELA experiment detect an excess in the positron fraction at
energies between 10-100 GeV in the secondary cosmic ray spectrum. Other
experiments namely ATIC, HESS and FERMI show an excess in the total electron
(\ps + \el) spectrum for energies greater 100 GeV. These excesses in the
positron fraction as well as the electron spectrum could arise in local
astrophysical processes like pulsars, or can be attributed to the annihilation
of the dark matter particles. The second possibility gives clues to the
possible candidates for the dark matter in galaxies and other astrophysical
systems. In this article, we give a report of these exciting developments.Comment: 27 Pages, extensively revised and significantly extended, to appear
in Pramana as topical revie
Module-based multiscale simulation of angiogenesis in skeletal muscle
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mathematical modeling of angiogenesis has been gaining momentum as a means to shed new light on the biological complexity underlying blood vessel growth. A variety of computational models have been developed, each focusing on different aspects of the angiogenesis process and occurring at different biological scales, ranging from the molecular to the tissue levels. Integration of models at different scales is a challenging and currently unsolved problem.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present an object-oriented module-based computational integration strategy to build a multiscale model of angiogenesis that links currently available models. As an example case, we use this approach to integrate modules representing microvascular blood flow, oxygen transport, vascular endothelial growth factor transport and endothelial cell behavior (sensing, migration and proliferation). Modeling methodologies in these modules include algebraic equations, partial differential equations and agent-based models with complex logical rules. We apply this integrated model to simulate exercise-induced angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. The simulation results compare capillary growth patterns between different exercise conditions for a single bout of exercise. Results demonstrate how the computational infrastructure can effectively integrate multiple modules by coordinating their connectivity and data exchange. Model parameterization offers simulation flexibility and a platform for performing sensitivity analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This systems biology strategy can be applied to larger scale integration of computational models of angiogenesis in skeletal muscle, or other complex processes in other tissues under physiological and pathological conditions.</p
The efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle modification programme based on yoga in the management of bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a substantial body of evidence on the efficacy of yoga in the management of bronchial asthma. Many studies have reported, as the effects of yoga on bronchial asthma, significant improvements in pulmonary functions, quality of life and reduction in airway hyper-reactivity, frequency of attacks and medication use. In addition, a few studies have attempted to understand the effects of yoga on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or exercise tolerance capacity. However, none of these studies has investigated any immunological mechanisms by which yoga improves these variables in bronchial asthma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted on 57 adult subjects with mild or moderate bronchial asthma who were allocated randomly to either the yoga (intervention) group (n = 29) or the wait-listed control group (n = 28). The control group received only conventional care and the yoga group received an intervention based on yoga, in addition to the conventional care. The intervention consisted of 2-wk supervised training in lifestyle modification and stress management based on yoga followed by closely monitored continuation of the practices at home for 6-wk. The outcome measures were assessed in both the groups at 0 wk (baseline), 2, 4 and 8 wk by using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) repeated measures followed by post-hoc analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the yoga group, there was a steady and progressive improvement in pulmonary function, the change being statistically significant in case of the first second of forced expiratory volume (FEV<sub>1</sub>) at 8 wk, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) at 2, 4 and 8 wk as compared to the corresponding baseline values. There was a significant reduction in EIB in the yoga group. However, there was no corresponding reduction in the urinary prostaglandin D<sub>2 </sub>metabolite (11β prostaglandin F2α) levels in response to the exercise challenge. There was also no significant change in serum eosinophilic cationic protein levels during the 8-wk study period in either group. There was a significant improvement in Asthma Quality of Life (AQOL) scores in both groups over the 8-wk study period. But the improvement was achieved earlier and was more complete in the yoga group. The number-needed-to-treat worked out to be 1.82 for the total AQOL score. An improvement in total AQOL score was greater than the minimal important difference and the same outcome was achieved for the sub-domains of the AQOL. The frequency of rescue medication use showed a significant decrease over the study period in both the groups. However, the decrease was achieved relatively earlier and was more marked in the yoga group than in the control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present RCT has demonstrated that adding the mind-body approach of yoga to the predominantly physical approach of conventional care results in measurable improvement in subjective as well as objective outcomes in bronchial asthma. The trial supports the efficacy of yoga in the management of bronchial asthma. However, the preliminary efforts made towards working out the mechanism of action of the intervention have not thrown much light on how yoga works in bronchial asthma.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN00815962</p
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