Successful Yukawa structures in Warped Extra Dimensions

For a RS model, with SM fields in the bulk and the Higgs boson on the TeV-brane, we suggest two specific structures for the Yukawa couplings, one based on a permutation symmetry and the other on the Universal Strength of Yukawa couplings hypothesis (USY). In USY, all Yukawa couplings have equal strength and the difference in the Yukawa structure lies in some complex phase. In both scenarios, all Yukawa couplings are of the same order of magnitude. Thus, the main features of the fermion hierarchies are explained through the RS geometrical mechanism, and not because some Yukawa coupling is extremely small. We find that the RS model is particularly appropriate to incorporate the suggested Yukawa configurations. Indeed, the RS geometrical mechanism of fermion locations along the extra dimension, combined with the two Yukawa scenarios, reproduces all the present experimental data on fermion masses and mixing angles. It is quite remarkable that in the USY case, only two complex phases of definite value +-Pi/2 are sufficient to generate the known neutrino mass differences, while at same time, permitting large leptonic mixing in agreement with experiment.Comment: 11 page

Direct, Indirect and Collider Detection of Neutralino Dark Matter In SUSY Models with Non-universal Higgs Masses

In supersymmetric models with gravity-mediated SUSY breaking, universality of soft SUSY breaking sfermion masses m_0 is motivated by the need to suppress unwanted flavor changing processes. The same motivation, however, does not apply to soft breaking Higgs masses, which may in general have independent masses from matter scalars at the GUT scale. We explore phenomenological implications of both the one-parameter and two-parameter non-universal Higgs mass models (NUHM1 and NUHM2), and examine the parameter ranges compatible with Omega_CDM h^2, BF(b --> s,gamma) and (g-2)_mu constraints. In contrast to the mSUGRA model, in both NUHM1 and NUHM2 models, the dark matter A-annihilation funnel can be reached at low values of tan(beta), while the higgsino dark matter annihilation regions can be reached for low values of m_0. We show that there may be observable rates for indirect and direct detection of neutralino cold dark matter in phenomenologically aceptable ranges of parameter space. We also examine implications of the NUHM models for the Fermilab Tevatron, the CERN LHC and a Sqrt(s)=0.5-1 TeV e+e- linear collider. Novel possibilities include: very light s-top_R, s-charm_R squark and slepton_L masses as well as light charginos and neutralinos and H, A and H^+/- Higgs bosons.Comment: LaTeX, 48pages, 26 Figures. The version with high resolution Figures is available at http://hep.pa.msu.edu/belyaev/public/projects/nuhm/nuhm.p

Embellishing Text Search Queries to Protect User Privacy

Users of text search engines are increasingly wary that their activities may disclose confidential information about their business or personal profiles. It would be desirable for a search engine to perform document retrieval for users while protecting their intent. In this paper, we identify the privacy risks arising from semantically related search terms within a query, and from recurring highspecificity query terms in a search session. To counter the risks, we propose a solution for a similarity text retrieval system to offer anonymity and plausible deniability for the query terms, and hence the user intent, without degrading the system’s precision-recall performance. The solution comprises a mechanism that embellishes each user query with decoy terms that exhibit similar specificity spread as the genuine terms, but point to plausible alternative topics. We also provide an accompanying retrieval scheme that enables the search engine to compute the encrypted document relevance scores from only the genuine search terms, yet remain oblivious to their distinction from the decoys. Empirical evaluation results are presented to substantiate the effectiveness of our solution. 1

Authenticating the Query Results of Text Search Engines

The number of successful attacks on the Internet shows that it is very difficult to guarantee the security of online search engines. A breached server that is not detected in time may return incorrect results to the users. To prevent that, we introduce a methodology for generating an integrity proof for each search result. Our solution is targeted at search engines that perform similarity-based document retrieval, and utilize an inverted list implementation (as most search engines do). We formulate the properties that define a correct result, map the task of processing a text search query to adaptations of existing threshold-based algorithms, and devise an authentication scheme for checking the validity of a result. Finally, we confirm the efficiency and practicality of our solution through an empirical evaluation with real documents and benchmark queries. 1

Managing Spoilers in a Hybrid War: The Democratic Republic of Congo (1996-2010)

Scholarship on the management of spoilers in a hybrid type of conflict is almost non-existent. Through an examination of the recent Congolese wars and peace efforts (1996–2010), we develop an understanding of how spoilers are managed in a conflict characterised by both interstate and intrastate dynamics. Certainly, more strategies of dealing with spoiler behaviours in this type of conflict are likely to emerge as similar cases are investigated, but our discussion recommends these non-related, but strongly interacting principles: the practice of inclusivity, usually preferred in the management of spoilers, is more complex, and in fact ineffective, particularly when concerned groups’ internal politics and supportive alliances are unconventional. Because holding elections is often deemed indispensable in peacemaking efforts, it is vital that total spoilers be prevented from winning or disrupting them. The toughest challenge is the protection of civilians, especially when the state lacks a monopoly on the use of violence and governance remains partitioned across the country

Effect of Laser Optoperforation of the Zona Pellucida on Mouse Embryo Development in vitro

Laser operations on cells and embryos are an important field of current photobiology and biophotonics. The high power density of tightly focused laser irradiation provides an efficient impact on matter of cells or embryos. Precise focusing of the laser spot allows strictly controlled perforation of the membrane. The present work was devoted to studying the influence of optoperforation of mammalian embryonic zona pellucida with a tightly focused laser beam with 1.48-µm wavelength on further development of the embryo. Such a laser operation was proposed for application in in vitro fertilization (IVF) practice and intracytoplasmic sperm injection into the oocyte (ICSI). For cultured in vitro oocytes and embryos, the process of natural exiting from the zona pellucida ("hatching") is often impaired, which decreases probability of implantation and pregnancy The goals of the present work were to determine the influence of different manipulations on development of embryos in vitro until blastocyst formation and on the ISSN 0006-2979, Biochemistry (Moscow), 2015, Vol. 80, No. 6, pp. 769-775. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2015. Original Russian Text © E. O. Zakharchenko, A. D. Zalessky, A. A. Osychenko, A. S. Krivokharchenko, A. K. Shakhbazyan, A. V. Ryabova, V. A. Nadtochenko, 2015, published in Biokhimiya, 2015 769 * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Abstract-The effect of laser optical perforation of the zona pellucida on the viability and development of mouse embryos has been studied. Operations of zona pellucida thinning and single or double perforation were carried out on 2-cell embryo, morula, and blastocyst stages with a laser pulse (wavelength 1.48 µm, pulse duration 2 ms). Embryo development up to the blastocyst stage and hatching efficiency were statistically analyzed. It was found that 2-cell or morula stage embryo zona pellucida thinning or single perforation did not affect development to the blastocyst stage and number of hatched embryos, but it accelerated embryo hatching compared to control groups one day earlier in vitro. Double optoperforation on 2-cell embryo or morula stage did not significantly affect development to the blastocyst stage, but it strongly decreased the number of hatched embryos. Also, zona pellucida perforation at the blastocyst stage had a negative effect: hatching did not occur after this manipulation. Blastocyst cell number calculation after single zona pellucida perforation at 2-cell and morula stages showed that cell number of hatching or hatched blastocysts did not differ from the same control groups. This fact points out that the laser single optoperforation method is a useful and safe experimental tool that allows further manipulations within the zona pellucida. Effect of Laser Optoperforation of the Zon