A Light Supersymmetric Axion in an Anomalous Abelian Extension of the Standard Model

We present a supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (USSM-A) with an anomalous U(1) and Stueckelberg axions for anomaly cancellation, generalizing similar non-supersymmetric constructions. The model, built by a bottom-up approach, is expected to capture the low-energy supersymmetric description of axionic symmetries in theories with gauged anomalous abelian interactions, previously explored in the non-supersymmetric case for scenarios with intersecting branes. The choice of a USSM-like superpotential, with one extra singlet superfield and an extra abelian symmetry, allows a physical axion-like particle in the spectrum. We describe some general features of this construction and in particular the modification of the dark-matter sector which involves both the axion and several neutralinos with an axino component. The axion is expected to be very light in the absence of phases in the superpotential but could acquire a mass which can also be in the few GeV range or larger. In particular, the gauging of the anomalous symmetry allows independent mass/coupling interaction to the gauge fields of this particle, a feature which is absent in traditional (invisible) axion models. We comment on the general implications of our study for the signature of moduli from string theory due to the presence of these anomalous symmetries.Comment: 46 pages, 28 figures. Revised version, accepted for a publication on Phys.Rev.

Stuckelberg Axions and the Effective Action of Anomalous Abelian Models 1. A unitarity analysis of the Higgs-axion mixing

We analyze the quantum consistency of anomalous abelian models and of their effective field theories, rendered anomaly-free by a Wess-Zumino term, in the case of multiple abelian symmetries. These models involve the combined Higgs-Stuckelberg mechanism and predict a pseudoscalar axion-like field that mixes with the goldstones of the ordinary Higgs sector. We focus our study on the issue of unitarity of these models both before and after spontaneous symmetry breaking and detail the set of Ward identities and the organization of the loop expansion in the effective theory. The analysis is performed on simple models where we show, in general, the emergence of new effective vertices determined by certain anomalous interactions.Comment: 67 pages, 26 figures, replaced with revised final version, to appear on JHE

Assessment of the Feasibility of an Extended Range Helicopter Operational Standard for Offshore Flights

The accident rate of rotorcraft has improved signi1cantly over the years but at a slow pace, and in any case the number of accidents per 2ight hours is one or two orders of magnitude higher than that of commercial aircraft, a consideration that could be reasonably related to the inherent higher risk associate with rotorcraft operations. This represent a strong evidence of the necessity to introduce airworthiness operation standards also in the rotorcraft community, as an effective mean to improve safety records, borrowing from the experience done in the commercial air transport community with the introduction of ETOPS. In this paper, a 1rst proposal of development of a safety standard for helicopter offshore operation is discussed together with the possible support to this development that could be given by the EU H2020 project NITROS

An Anomalous Extra Z Prime from Intersecting Branes with Drell-Yan and Direct Photons at the LHC

We quantify the impact of gauge anomalies at the Large Hadron Collider by studying the invariant mass distributions in Drell-Yan and in double prompt photon, using an extension of the Standard Model characterized by an additional anomalous U(1) derived from intersecting branes. The approach is rather general and applies to any anomalous abelian gauge current. Anomalies are cancelled using either the Wess-Zumino mechanism with suitable Peccei-Quinn-like interactions and a Stueckelberg axion, or by the Green-Schwarz mechanism. We compare predictions for the corresponding extra Z-prime to anomaly-free realizations such as those involving U(1)_{B-L}. We identify the leading anomalous corrections to both channels, which contribute at higher orders, and compare them against the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD background. Anomalous effects in these inclusive observables are found to be very small, far below the percent level and below the size of the typical QCD corrections quantified by NNLO K-factors.Comment: 46 pages, 36 figures, comments and citations adde

Pancreatoduodenectomy without vascular resection in patients with primary resectable adenocarcinoma and unilateral venous contact:A matched case study

Purpose. To investigate the oncological outcome and survival of patients following a conservative approach on the portal- mesenteric axis, in an intraoperative ultrasound-selected group of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), performed on patients with primary resectable with vascular contact (prVC) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods. A consecutive series of patients who underwent PD for PDAC at our tertiary care center, between 2008 and 2017, were reviewed. A total of 156 PDs and 88 total pancreatectomies were performed during the study period, including 35 vascular resections. We identified a group of 40 (25.6%) patients with prVC-PDAC in whom after checking the feasibility with intraoperative ultrasound, we were able to perform PD by separation of the tumor from the portomesenteric axis avoiding vascular resection, without residual macroscopic disease (no vascular resection, nvrPD), and compared this group, using case-matched methodology, with the standard PD (sPD) group of primary resectable without vascular contact- (prwVC-) PDAC. Results. The median follow-up was 28.5 ± 23.2 months in the sPD group and 23.8 ± 20.8 months in the nvrPD group (p = 0 35). Isolated local recurrence rate was 2/40 (5%) in both groups. Additionally, there were no statistical differences in the systemic progression of the disease (42.5% sPD vs. 45% nvrPD, p = 0 82) or local plus synchronous systemic disease rates (2.5% sPD vs. 7.5% nvrPD, p = 0 30). The median survival was 22 months for the sPD group and 23 months for the nvrPD group, p = 0 86. The overall survival was similar in the two groups (1 y: 76.3% sPD vs. 70.0% nvrPD; 3 y: 35.6% vs. 31.6%; and 5 y: 28.5% vs. 25.3%; p = 0 80). Conclusions. PD without vascular resection can be considered safe and oncologically acceptable in selected patients with preoperative diagnosis of prVC-PDAC. The poor prognosis of PDAC is related to the aggressive biology and systemic spread of the tumor, rather than the local control of the disease

Stuckelberg Axions and the Effective Action of Anomalous Abelian Models 2. A SU(3)_C x SU(2)_W x U(1)_Y x U(1)_B model and its signature at the LHC

We elaborate on an extension of the Standard Model with a gauge structure enlarged by a single anomalous U(1), where the presence of a Wess-Zumino term is motivated by the Green-Schwarz mechanism of string theory. The additional gauge interaction is anomalous and requires an axion for anomaly cancelation. The pseudoscalar implements the St\"{u}ckelberg mechanism and undergoes mixing with the standard Higgs sector to render the additional U(1) massive. We consider a 2-Higgs doublet model. We show that the anomalous effective vertices involving neutral currents are potentially observable. We clarify their role in the case of simple processes such as $Z^*\to \gamma \gamma$, which are at variance with respect to the Standard Model. A brief discussion of the implications of these studies for the LHC is included.Comment: 50 pages, 16 figures, replaced with revised final versio

Multidimensional spatiotemporal clustering -- An application to environmental sustainability scores in Europe

The assessment of corporate sustainability performance is extremely relevant in facilitating the transition to a green and low-carbon intensity economy. However, companies located in different areas may be subject to different sustainability and environmental risks and policies. Henceforth, the main objective of this paper is to investigate the spatial and temporal pattern of the sustainability evaluations of European firms. We leverage on a large dataset containing information about companies' sustainability performances, measured by MSCI ESG ratings, and geographical coordinates of firms in Western Europe between 2013 and 2023. By means of a modified version of the Chavent et al. (2018) hierarchical algorithm, we conduct a spatial clustering analysis, combining sustainability and spatial information, and a spatiotemporal clustering analysis, which combines the time dynamics of multiple sustainability features and spatial dissimilarities, to detect groups of firms with homogeneous sustainability performance. We are able to build cross-national and cross-industry clusters with remarkable differences in terms of sustainability scores. Among other results, in the spatio-temporal analysis, we observe a high degree of geographical overlap among clusters, indicating that the temporal dynamics in sustainability assessment are relevant within a multidimensional approach. Our findings help to capture the diversity of ESG ratings across Western Europe and may assist practitioners and policymakers in evaluating companies facing different sustainability-linked risks in different areas

Axions and Anomaly-Mediated Interactions: The Green-Schwarz and Wess-Zumino Vertices at Higher Orders and g-2 of the muon

We present a study of the mechanism of anomaly cancellation using only transverse invariant amplitudes on anomaly diagrams at higher perturbative orders. The method is the realization of the Green-Schwarz (GS) mechanism at field theory level, which restores the Ward identities by a subtraction of the anomaly pole. Some of the properties of the GS vertex are analyzed both in the context of unitarity and of the organization of the related perturbative expansion. We investigate the role played by the GS and the Wess-Zumino vertices in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and in the hyperfine splitting of muonium, which are processes that can be accompanied by the exchange of a virtual anomalous extra Z-prime and an axion-like particle.Comment: 51 Pages, 31 Figures, Revised final version to appear on JHE

Quantitation of regional ejection fractions using gated tomographic imaging with Tc-99m-sestamibi

BACKGROUND: A new oro-dispersible film (ODF) formulation of sildenafil has been developed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) to overcome the drawbacks that some patients experience when taking the conventional film-coated tablet (FCT). AIM: To assess the effectiveness and safety of sildenafil ODF formulation in patients with ED who were using the conventional FCT. METHODS: From May 2017 through July 2017, 139 patients with ED were enrolled. Data from penile color-duplex ultrasound, medical history, hormonal evaluation, and patient self-administered questionnaires were collected. All patients were administered sildenafil 100-mg FCT for 4 weeks. Thereafter, they underwent a 2-week washout period and subsequently took sildenafil 75-mg ODF for 4 weeks. OUTCOMES: The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Global Impressions of Improvement (PGI-I), and Clinician Global Impressions of Improvement (CGI-I) questionnaires were administered and severity of ED was classified as severe (IIEF-15 score ≤ 10), moderate (IIEF-15 score 11-16), or mild (IIEF-15 score = 17-25). RESULTS: All patients completed the final protocol. Differences in mean IIEF scores for erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, and intercourse satisfaction were significantly in favor of sildenafil 100-mg FCT, whereas the mean score for overall satisfaction was in favor of sildenafil 75-mg ODF. A significant difference in changes in HADS score was found from washout to final follow-up (mean difference = -0.19; P < .01). For the ODF formulation, the median CGI-I score was 3.5 (interquartile range [IQR] = 2.5-4.5) and the median PGI-I score was 3.0 (IQR = 2.0-4.0). The median action time was 20.0 minutes (IQR = 15.0-30.0) and the median mouth time was 60.0 seconds (IQR = 30.0-120.0). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The ODF formulation of a widely known drug, with the same safety and effectiveness of the FCT, was better appreciated by patients in overall satisfaction. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is the first clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a new formulation of sildenafil in patients with ED. The limitations of the study are related to the methodology used: it was not a case-control study and the patients were not drug-naïve for ED treatment. Therefore, only the "additional" side effects of the ODF formulation compared with FCT are reported. CONCLUSION: The new ODF formulation is as efficient and safe as the FCT formulation and offers a new choice of treatment to specialists for more precisely tailored therapy. Cocci A, Capece M, Cito G, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Oro-Dispersible Sildenafil in a New Film Formulation for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: Comparison Between Sildenafil 100-mg Film-Coated Tablet and 75-mg Oro-Dispersible Film. J Sex Med 2017;X:XXX-XXX