Leptogenesis and low energy observables in left-right symmetric models

In the context of left-right symmetric models we study the connection of leptogenesis and low energy parameters such as neutrinoless double beta decay and leptonic CP violation. Upon imposition of a unitarity constraint, the neutrino parameters are significantly restricted and the Majorana phases are determined within a narrow range, depending on the kind of solar solution. One of the Majorana phases gets determined to a good accuracy and thereby the second phase can be probed from the results of neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. We examine the contributions of the solar and atmospheric mass squared differences to the asymmetry and find that in general the solar scale dominates. In order to let the atmospheric scale dominate, some finetuning between one of the Majorana phases and the Dirac CP phase is required. In this case, one of the Majorana phases is determined by the amount of CP violation in oscillation experiments.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures. Matches version to appear in PR

Leptogenesis and neutrino parameters

We calculate the baryonic asymmetry of the universe in the baryogenesis-via-leptogenesis framework, assuming first a quark-lepton symmetry and then a charged-neutral lepton symmetry. We match the results with the experimentally favoured range. In the first case all the oscillation solutions to the solar neutrino problem, except the large mixing matter solution, can lead to the allowed range, but with fine tuning of the parameters. In the second case the general result is quite similar. Some related theoretical hints are discussed.Comment: RevTex, 21 pages with 8 figure

Leptogenesis and Low-energy Observables

We relate leptogenesis in a class of theories to low-energy experimental observables: quark and lepton masses and mixings. With reasonable assumptions motivated by grand unification, one can show that the CP-asymmetry parameter takes a universal form. Furthermore the dilution mass is related to the light neutrino masses. Overall, these models offer a natural explanation for a lepton asymmetry in the early universe.Comment: 10 pages, revised discussion on light neutrino masse

Anisotropy at the end of the cosmic ray spectrum?

The starburst galaxies M82 and NGC253 have been proposed as the primary sources of cosmic rays with energies above $10^{18.7}$ eV. For energies \agt 10^{20.3} eV the model predicts strong anisotropies. We calculate the probabilities that the latter can be due to chance occurrence. For the highest energy cosmic ray events in this energy region, we find that the observed directionality has less than 1% probability of occurring due to random fluctuations. Moreover, during the first 5 years of operation at Auger, the observation of even half the predicted anisotropy has a probability of less than $10^{-5}$ to occur by chance fluctuation. Thus, this model can be subject to test at very small cost to the Auger priors budget and, whatever the outcome of that test, valuable information on the Galactic magnetic field will be obtained.Comment: Final version to be published in Physical Review

Leptogenesis and Neutrino Oscillations Within A Predictive G(224)/SO(10)-Framework

A framework based on an effective symmetry that is either G(224)= SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R xSU(4)^c or SO(10) has been proposed (a few years ago) that successfully describes the masses and mixings of all fermions including neutrinos, with seven predictions, in good accord with the data. Baryogenesis via leptogenesis is considered within this framework by allowing for natural phases (~ 1/20-1/2) in the entries of the Dirac and Majorana mass-matrices. It is shown that the framework leads quite naturally, for both thermal as well as non-thermal leptogenesis, to the desired magnitude for the baryon asymmetry. This result is obtained in full accord with the observed features of the atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillations, as well as with those of the quark and charged lepton masses and mixings, and the gravitino-constraint. Hereby one obtains a unified description of fermion masses, neutrino oscillations and baryogenesis (via leptogenesis) within a single predictive framework.Comment: Efficiency factor updated, some clarifications and new references added. 19 page

Associations of obesity and circulating insulin and glucose with breast cancer risk: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the established association between general obesity and breast cancer risk, central obesity and circulating fasting insulin and glucose have been linked to the development of this common malignancy. Findings from previous studies, however, have been inconsistent, and the nature of the associations is unclear. METHODS: We conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to evaluate the association of breast cancer risk, using genetic instruments, with fasting insulin, fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, body mass index (BMI) and BMI-adjusted waist-hip-ratio (WHRadj BMI). We first confirmed the association of these instruments with type 2 diabetes risk in a large diabetes genome-wide association study consortium. We then investigated their associations with breast cancer risk using individual-level data obtained from 98 842 cases and 83 464 controls of European descent in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. RESULTS: All sets of instruments were associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. Associations with breast cancer risk were found for genetically predicted fasting insulin [odds ratio (OR) = 1.71 per standard deviation (SD) increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-2.31, p  =  5.09  ×  10-4], 2-h glucose (OR = 1.80 per SD increase, 95% CI = 1.3 0-2.49, p  =  4.02  ×  10-4), BMI (OR = 0.70 per 5-unit increase, 95% CI = 0.65-0.76, p  =  5.05  ×  10-19) and WHRadj BMI (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.79-0.91, p  =  9.22  ×  10-6). Stratified analyses showed that genetically predicted fasting insulin was more closely related to risk of estrogen-receptor [ER]-positive cancer, whereas the associations with instruments of 2-h glucose, BMI and WHRadj BMI were consistent regardless of age, menopausal status, estrogen receptor status and family history of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the previously reported inverse association of genetically predicted BMI with breast cancer risk, and showed a positive association of genetically predicted fasting insulin and 2-h glucose and an inverse association of WHRadj BMI with breast cancer risk. Our study suggests that genetically determined obesity and glucose/insulin-related traits have an important role in the aetiology of breast cancer

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na-K-Mg-Ca-CI-NO3 Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Mg{sup 2+}, Ca{sup 2+}, Cl{sup -}, and NO{sub 3}{sup -} ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which makes it possible to detect solid phase precipitation. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid-liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems

Extension of ThermoML: The IUPAC standard for thermodynamic data communications (IUPAC Recommendations 2011)

ThermoML is an XML-based approach for storage and exchange of experimental, predicted, and critically evaluated thermophysical and thermochemical property data. Extensions to the ThermoML schema for the representation of speciation, complex equilibria, and properties of biomaterials are described. The texts of 14 data files illustrating the new extensions are provided as Supplementary Information together with the complete text of the updated ThermoML schema