Higgs Inflation, Quantum Smearing and the Tensor to Scalar Ratio

In cosmic inflation driven by a scalar gauge singlet field with a tree level Higgs potential, the scalar to tensor ratio r is estimated to be larger than 0.036, provided the scalar spectral index n_s >= 0.96. We discuss quantum smearing of these predictions arising from the inflaton couplings to other particles such as GUT scalars, and show that these corrections can significantly decrease r. However, for n_s >= 0.96, we obtain r >= 0.02 which can be tested by the Planck satellite.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures and 3 table

Methyl 2-methyl-4-(oxiran-2-ylmeth­oxy)-2H-1,2-benzothia­zine-3-carboxyl­ate 1,1-dioxide

In the title compound, C14H15NO6S, the thia­zine ring adopts a distorted half-chair conformation. The structure displays several cooperative weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, giving rise to a two-dimensional sheet packing motif. The CH2 group in the meth­oxy linker to the oxirane ring, and the CH group in that ring, exhibit twofold positional disorder. The three-membered oxirane ring is twisted approximately perpendicular with respect to thia­zine ring (dihedral angle = 60/86° for the major/minor disorder components). 1,2-Benzothia­zines of this kind have a wide range of biological activities and are mainly used as medicines in the treatment of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis

Multi-layered Energy Management Framework For Extreme Fast Charging Stations Considering Demand Charges, Battery Degradation, And Forecast Uncertainties

To achieve a cost-effective and expeditious charging experience for extreme fast charging station (XFCS) owners and electric vehicle (EV) users, the optimal operation of XFCS is crucial. It is however challenging to simultaneously manage the profit from energy arbitrage, the cost of demand charges, and the degradation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) under uncertainties. This paper, therefore, proposes a multi-layered multi-time scale energy flow management framework for an XFCS by considering long- and short-term forecast uncertainties, monthly demand charges reduction, and BESS life degradation. In the proposed approach, an upper scheduling layer (USL) ensures the overall operation economy and yields optimal scheduling of the energy resources on a rolling horizon basis, thereby considering the long-term forecast errors. A lower dispatch layer (LDL) takes the short-term forecast errors into account during the real-time operation of the XFCS. Per the latest research, monthly demand charges can be as high as 90% of the total monthly bills for EV fast charging stations; to this end, this paper takes the first attempt at the reduction of demand charges cost by considering the trade-off between the energy cost and monthly demand charges. Contrasting literature, this work allocates an energy reserve in the BESS stored energy to deal with the impact of short-term forecast errors on the optimized real-time operation of the XFCS. Moreover, degradation modeling considers the trade-off between short-term benefits and long-term BESS life degradation. Lastly, case studies and a comparative analysis prove the efficacy of the proposed framework

Positive solutions of nonlocal boundary value problem for higher order fractional differential system

In this paper, we study existence and multiplicity results for a coupled system of nonlinear nonlocal boundary value problems for higher order fractional differential equations of the type (see PDF) where (see PDF) is Caputo fractional derivative. We employ the Guo-Krasnosel’skii fixed point theorem to establish existence and multiplicity results for positive solutions. We derive explicit intervals for the parameters _ and μ for which the system possess the positive solutions or multiple positive solutions. Examples are included to show the applicability of the main results

Sizing Battery Energy Storage and PV System in an Extreme Fast Charging Station Considering Uncertainties and Battery Degradation

This paper presents mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulations to obtain optimal sizing for a battery energy storage system (BESS) and solar generation system in an extreme fast charging station (XFCS) to reduce the annualized total cost. The proposed model characterizes a typical year with eight representative scenarios and obtains the optimal energy management for the station and BESS operation to exploit the energy arbitrage for each scenario. Contrasting extant literature, this paper proposes a constant power constant voltage (CPCV) based improved probabilistic approach to model the XFCS charging demand for weekdays and weekends. This paper also accounts for the monthly and annual demand charges based on realistic utility tariffs. Furthermore, BESS life degradation is considered in the model to ensure no replacement is needed during the considered planning horizon. Different from the literature, this paper offers pragmatic MILP formulations to tally BESS charge/discharge cycles using the cumulative charge/discharge energy concept. McCormick relaxations and the Big-M method are utilized to relax the bi-linear terms in the BESS operational constraints. Finally, a robust optimization-based MILP model is proposed and leveraged to account for uncertainties in electricity price, solar generation, and XFCS demand. Case studies were performed to signify the efficacy of the proposed formulations

Immunotherapy: An Emerging Modality to Checkmate Brain Metastasis

The diagnosis of brain metastasis (BrM) has historically been a dooming diagnosis that is nothing less than a death sentence, with few treatment options for palliation or prolonging life. Among the few treatment options available, brain radiotherapy (RT) and surgical resection have been the backbone of therapy. Within the past couple of years, immunotherapy (IT), alone and in combination with traditional treatments, has emerged as a reckoning force to combat the spread of BrM and shrink tumor burden. This review compiles recent reports describing the potential role of IT in the treatment of BrM in various cancers. It also examines the impact of the tumor microenvironment of BrM on regulating the spread of cancer and the role IT can play in mitigating that spread. Lastly, this review also focuses on the future of IT and new clinical trials pushing the boundaries of IT in BrM

Hybrid Inflation Revisited in Light of WMAP5

We study the effects of including one-loop radiative corrections in a non-supersymmetric hybrid inflationary model. These corrections can arise from Yukawa couplings between the inflaton and right-handed neutrinos, and induce a maximum in the potential which admits hilltop-type solutions in addition to the standard hybrid solutions. We obtain a red-tilted spectral index $n_s$, consistent with WMAP5 data, for sub-Planckian values of the field. This is in contrast to the tree level hybrid analysis, in which a red-tilted spectrum is achieved only for trans-Planckian values of the field. Successful reheating is obtained at the end of the inflationary phase via conversion of the inflaton and waterfall fields into right-handed neutrinos, whose subsequent decay can explain the observed baryon asymmetry via leptogenesis.Comment: 18 pages (double spaced), including 6 figures and 1 table (v1); 13 pages (single spaced), added 3 references to Ref. [14] and modified placement of table and some figures (v2

Liquid Biopsies to Occult Brain Metastasis

Brain metastasis (BrM) is a major problem associated with cancer-related mortality, and currently, no specific biomarkers are available in clinical settings for early detection. Liquid biopsy is widely accepted as a non-invasive method for diagnosing cancer and other diseases. We have reviewed the evidence that shows how the molecular alterations are involved in BrM, majorly from breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC), and melanoma, with an inception in how they can be employed for biomarker development. We discussed genetic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer cells to breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and help to establish metastatic lesions in the uniquely distinct brain microenvironment. Keeping abreast with the recent breakthroughs in the context of various biomolecules detections and identifications, the circulating tumor cells (CTC), cell-free nucleotides, non-coding RNAs, secretory proteins, and metabolites can be pursued in human body fluids such as blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine to obtain potential candidates for biomarker development. The liquid biopsy-based biomarkers can overlay with current imaging techniques to amplify the signal viable for improving the early detection and treatments of occult BrM

Developing a New Bursting Liability Index Based on Energy Evolution for Coal under Different Loading Rates

The risk of a coal burst rises with the excavation depth and other mining-related activities. These devastating coal burst activities are a major concern during deep coal mining. During such activities, the loading rate is a major cause of damage. Different indexes, including the elastic strain modulus index (Wet), bursting energy index (Ke), dynamic failure time index (DT), and compressive strength index (Rc), are used for coal bursting intensity; however, the loading rate and damage factors are not included in these indexes. In this study, a new coal bursting liability index called the elastic modulus damage index (EMDI) was developed using rock damage variables and the elastic strain modulus index, and is based on energy evolution characteristics under different loading rates. The results of this new index were compared with the existing indexes, and their range was proposed to evaluate coal bursting liability. The EDMI shows a positive polynomial second order degree relationship with Wet and Ke, having a determination factor of 0.99, while DT shows a negative polynomial second order degree relationship with a determination factor of 0.94. The EDMI and Rc show a positive power relationship having a determination factor of 0.99. The relationships with other indexes revealed that the EDMI can be effectively used in evaluating the coal bursting liabilities in different stress environments. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: The authors would like to thank the YUTP under grant numbers 015LC0-150 and 015LC0-326 for providing financial assistance