From aid to sustainable trade: driving competitive horticulture sector development : A quick scan of the horticulture sector

This report provides an overview of how the Kenyan horticulture sector performs in three analytical domains: the robustness of the supply chains, the reliability of institutional governance and the resilience of the innovation system. Analysis is by literature review, stakeholder interviews and a validation workshop guided by a SWOT framework to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The findings inform the existing opportunities and challenges that potentially impede growth in the sector. The report is a first step towards documenting and sharing insights that support the move towards a more Robust, Reliable and Resilient (3R) horticulture sector. The findings and recommendations presented will guide policy engagement and action in the transition of Dutch government bilateral engagement in Kenya from development aid–support to a trade approach in the agricultural sector, with a focus on partnering opportunities to drive competitive market-oriented horticulture sector development that attracts investments

Identifying top partners at LHC

We systematically study the possible signals at LHC of new vector-like quarks mainly coupled to the third generation. We consider heavy quarks T, B, X, Y of charges 2/3, -1/3, 5/3 and -4/3, respectively, in SU(2)_L isosinglets T_{L,R}, B_{L,R}, or isodoublets (T B)_{L,R}, (X T)_{L,R} or (B Y)_{L,R}. Analyses based on a fast detector simulation are presented for twelve different final states containing one, two, three or four charged leptons in several invariant mass regions, also considering various b quark multiplicities. It is shown that with the combination of the different channels the new quarks can be identified and their charged and neutral decays established. The comparison among final states also shows that the single lepton one offers the best discovery potential at LHC. For heavy quark masses of 500 GeV, the 5 sigma discovery luminosities range from 0.16 fb^-1 for a (X T)_{L,R} doublet to 1.9 fb^-1 for a B_{L,R} singlet.Comment: LaTeX 89 pages, 111 PS figures. Added one model to the analysis in all final states, plus one subsection and some references. Final version to appear in JHE

Model-independent extraction of ∣Vtq∣|V_{tq}| matrix elements from top-quark measurements at hadron colliders

Current methods to extract the quark-mixing matrix element $|V_{tb}|$ from single-top production measurements assume that $|V_{tb}|\gg |V_{td}|, |V_{ts}|$: top quarks decay into $b$ quarks with 100% branching fraction, s-channel single-top production is always accompanied by a $b$ quark and initial-state contributions from $d$ and $s$ quarks in the $t$-channel production of single top quarks are neglected. Triggered by a recent measurement of the ratio $R=\frac{|V_{tb}|^{2}}{|V_{td}|^{2}+|V_{ts}|^{2}+|V_{tb}|^{2}}=0.90 \pm 0.04$ performed by the D0 collaboration, we consider a $|V_{tb}|$ extraction method that takes into account non zero d- and s-quark contributions both in production and decay. We propose a strategy that allows to extract consistently and in a model-independent way the quark mixing matrix elements $|V_{td}|$, $|V_{ts}|$, and $|V_{tb}|$ from the measurement of $R$ and from single-top measured event yields. As an illustration, we apply our method to the Tevatron data using a CDF analysis of the measured single-top event yield with two jets in the final state one of which is identified as a $b$-quark jet. We constrain the $|V_{tq}|$ matrix elements within a four-generation scenario by combining the results with those obtained from direct measurements in flavor physics and determine the preferred range for the top-quark decay width within different scenarios.Comment: 36 pages, 17 figure

Quark-Squark Alignment Revisited

We re-examine the possibility that the solution to the supersymmetric flavor problem is related to small mixing angles in gaugino couplings induced by approximate horizontal Abelian symmetries. We prove that, for a large class of models, there is a single viable structure for the down quark mass matrix with four holomorphic zeros. Consequently, we are able to obtain both lower and upper bounds on the supersymmetric mixing angles and predict the contributions to various flavor changing neutral current processes. We find that the most likely signals for alignment are $\Delta m_D$ close to the present bound, significant CP violation in $D^0-\bar{D^0}$ mixing, and shifts of order a few percent in various CP asymmetries in $B^0$ and $B_s$ decays. In contrast, the modifications to radiative B decays, to $\epsilon^\prime/\epsilon$ and to $K\to\pi\nu\bar\nu$ decays are small. We further investigate a new class of alignment models, where supersymmetric contributions to flavor changing processes are suppressed by both alignment and RGE-induced degeneracy.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

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

Complementarity of the CERN Large Hadron Collider and the e+e−e^+e^- International Linear Collider

The next-generation high-energy facilities, the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the prospective $e^+e^-$ International Linear Collider (ILC), are expected to unravel new structures of matter and forces from the electroweak scale to the TeV scale. In this report we review the complementary role of LHC and ILC in drawing a comprehensive and high-precision picture of the mechanism breaking the electroweak symmetries and generating mass, and the unification of forces in the frame of supersymmetry.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures, to be published in "Supersymmetry on the Eve of the LHC", a special volume of European Physical Journal C, Particles and Fields (EPJC) in memory of Julius Wes

Flavor Changing Neutral Currents involving Heavy Quarks with Four Generations

We study various FCNC involving heavy quarks in the Standard Model (SM) with a sequential fourth generation. After imposing $B\to X_s\gamma$, $B\to X_sl^+l^-$ and $Z\to b\bar{b}$ constraints, we find ${\cal B}(Z\to s\bar{b}+\bar{s}b)$ can be enhanced by an order of magnitude to $10^{-7}$, while $t\to cZ, cH$ decays can reach $10^{-6}$, which are orders of magnitude higher than in SM. However,these rates are still not observable for the near future.With the era of LHC approaching, we focus on FCNC decays involving fourth generation $b^\prime$ and $t^\prime$ quarks. We calculate the rates for loop induced FCNC decays $b^\prime\to bZ, bH, bg, b\gamma$, as well as t^\prime\to tZ,\tH, tg, t\gamma. If $|V_{cb'}|$ is of order $|V_{cb}| \simeq 0.04$, tree level $b^\prime\to cW$ decay would dominate, posing a challenge since $b$-tagging is less effective. For $|V_{cb'}| \ll |V_{cb}|$, $b'\to tW$ would tend to dominate, while $b'\to t^\prime W^*$ could also open for heavier $b'$, leading to thepossibility of quadruple-$W$ signals via $b'\bar b'\to b\bar b W^+W^-W^+W^-$. The FCNC $b'\to bZ, bH$ decays could still dominate if $m_{b'}$ is just above 200 GeV. For the case of $t'$, ingeneral $t^\prime\to bW$ would be dominant, hence it behaves like a heavy top. For both $b'$ and $t'$, except for the intriguing light $b'$ case, FCNC decays are in the $10^{-4} -10^{-2}$ range, and are quite detectable at the LHC.For a possible future ILC, we find the associated production of FCNC $e^+e^-\to b\bar s$, $t\bar c$ are below sensitivity, while $e^+e^-\to b^\prime\bar b$ and$t^\prime\bar t$ can be better probed.Tevatron Run-II can still probe the lighter $b'$ or $t'$ scenario. LHC would either discover the fourth generation and measure the FCNC rates, or rule out the fourth generation conclusively.Comment: 31 pages, 15 eps figures, version to appear in JHE

Revisiting the Higgs Mass and Dark Matter in the CMSSM

Taking into account the available accelerator and astrophysical constraints, the mass of the lightest neutral Higgs boson h in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with universal soft supersymmetry-breaking masses (CMSSM) has been estimated to lie between 114 and ~ 130 GeV. Recent data from ATLAS and CMS hint that m_h ~ 125 GeV, though m_h ~ 119 GeV may still be a possibility. Here we study the consequences for the parameters of the CMSSM and direct dark matter detection if the Higgs hint is confirmed, focusing on the strips in the (m_1/2, m_0) planes for different tan beta and A_0 where the relic density of the lightest neutralino chi falls within the range of the cosmological cold dark matter density allowed by WMAP and other experiments. We find that if m_h ~ 125 GeV focus-point strips would be disfavoured, as would the low-tan beta stau-chi and stop -chi coannihilation strips, whereas the stau-chi coannihilation strip at large tan beta and A_0 > 0 would be favoured, together with its extension to a funnel where rapid annihilation via direct-channel H/A poles dominates. On the other hand, if m_h ~ 119 GeV more options would be open. We give parametrizations of WMAP strips with large tan beta and fixed A_0/m_0 > 0 that include portions compatible with m_h = 125 GeV, and present predictions for spin-independent elastic dark matter scattering along these strips. These are generally low for models compatible with m_h = 125 GeV, whereas the XENON100 experiment already excludes some portions of strips where m_h is smaller.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figure

Avances en el estudio de las bases genéticas y organolépticas del cacao fino o de aroma en el Perú

Las variedades de cacao fino o de aroma en el Perú son utilizados para elaborar los mejores chocolates del mundo por sus exquisitas y poco comunes características organolépticas, Estas características permiten que el cacao peruano gane reconocimiento internacional y de ahí su gran valor económico. A pesar de esto, poco se sabe sobre los componentes genéticos y/o ambientales que contribuyen a la exclusividad de este valioso recurso económico. En el proyecto de investigación aplicada: “Estudio molecular de la diversidad genética de los cacaos aromáticos en el Perú con fines del fortalecimiento de su competitividad y aumento de la producción nacional de cacao de calidad”, financiado por Innóvate Perú del Ministerio de la Producción, se tiene como objetivos determinar la variabilidad genética y caracterización organoléptica de más de 100 tipos de cacao fino o de aroma que se cultivan a lo largo de las cinco principales regiones del Perú (Amazonas, Cusco, San Martin, Piura y Huánuco). Adicionalmente, la Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva en Tingo María y el Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana en Tarapoto, hospedarán bancos de germoplasma y de propagación de esquejes para la difusión y estudios de estos valiosos recursos. Hasta inicios del 2017, ya se han recolectado más de 80 genotipos provenientes de las cinco regiones. Protocolos para análisis sensoriales que cumplan los más rigurosos estándares internacionales se han venido estableciendo. Por otro lado, técnicas de marcadores moleculares usando marcadores de DNA tipo SSR y SNPs, seguido por secuenciamiento de ADN, se vienen estableciendo. Estudios de asociación de fenotipo-genotipo formarán parte del conocimiento generado en este proyecto. Adicionalmente, estos conocimientos permitirán generar información genómica valiosa para salvaguardar nuestra biodiversidad nativa, otorgándole a los productores y sus asociaciones de herramientas para proteger sus recursos genéticos y a los potenciales mejoradores de cacao más luces en cuanto a la asociación genotipo-calidad. Se espera que a fin del proyecto, se cuente con los resultados de genotipificación de más de 100 genotipos de cacao fino o de aroma y mediante el resecuenciamiento se revelen SNPs particulares para cada grupo genético en cada región muestreada