Precision Measurements and Fermion Geography in the Randall-Sundrum Model Revisited

We re-examine the implications of allowing fermion fields to propagate in the five-dimensional bulk of the Randall-Sundrum (RS) localized gravity model. We find that mixing between the Standard Model top quark and its Kaluza Klein excitations generates large contributions to the rho parameter and consequently restricts the fundamental RS scale to lie above 100 TeV. To circumvent this bound we propose a `mixed' scenario which localizes the third generation fermions on the TeV brane and allows the lighter generations to propagate in the full five-dimensional bulk. We show that this construction naturally reproduces the observed m_c / m_t and m_s / m_b hierarchies. We explore the signatures of this scenario in precision measurements and future high energy collider experiments. We find that the region of parameter space that addresses the hierarchies of fermion Yukawa couplings permits a Higgs boson with a mass of 500 GeV and remains otherwise invisible at the LHC. However, the entire parameter region consistent with electroweak precision data is testable at future linear colliders. We briefly discuss possible constraints on this scenario arising from flavor changing neutral currents.Comment: 44 pages, 20 ps files; VII, typos fixed and refs adde

Study of f_0(980) and f_0(1500) from B_s \to f_0(980)K, f_0(1500)K Decays

In this paper, we calculate the branching ratios and CP-violating asymmetries for \bar B^0_s \to f_0(980)K, f_0(1500)K within Perturbative QCD approach based on k_T factorization. If the mixing angle $\theta$ falls into the range of 25^\circ<\theta<40^\circ, the branching ratio of \bar B^0_s\to f_0(980)K is 2.0\times 10^{-6}<{\cal B}(\bar B^0_s\to f_0(980)K)<2.6\times 10^{-6}, while $\theta$ lies in the range of 140^\circ<\theta<165^\circ, {\cal B}(\bar B^0_s\to f_0(980)K) is about 6.5\times 10^{-7}. As to the decay {\cal B}(\bar B^0_s\to f_0(1500)K), when the mixing scheme \mid f_0(1500)>=0.84\mid s\bar s>-0.54\mid n\bar n> for f_0(1500) is used, it is difficult to determine which scenario is more preferable than the other one from the branching ratios for these two scenarios, because they are both close to 1.0\times10^{-6}. But there exists large difference in the form factor F^{\bar B_s^0\to f_0(1500)} for two scenarios.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Phys.

From dictatorship to a reluctant democracy: Stroke therapists talking about self-management

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Purpose: Self-management is being increasingly promoted within chronic conditions including stroke. Concerns have been raised regarding professional ownership of some programmes, yet little is known of the professional’s experience. This paper aims to present the views of trained therapists about the utility of a specific self-management approach in stroke rehabilitation. Method: Eleven stroke therapists trained in the self-management approach participated in semi-structured interviews. These were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Two overriding themes emerged. The first was the sense that in normal practice therapists act as ‘‘benign dictators’’, committed to help their patients, but most comfortable when they, the professional, are in control. Following the adoption of the self-management approach therapists challenged themselves to empower stroke survivors to take control of their own recovery. However, therapists had to confront many internal and external challenges in this transition of power resulting in the promotion of a somewhat ‘‘reluctant democracy’’. Conclusions: This study illustrates that stroke therapists desire a more participatory approach to rehabilitation. However, obstacles challenged the successful delivery of this goal. If self-management is an appropriate model to develop in post stroke pathways, then serious consideration must be given to how and if these obstacles can be overcome

The Higgs Sector and CoGeNT/DAMA-Like Dark Matter in Supersymmetric Models

Recent data from CoGeNT and DAMA are roughly consistent with a very light dark matter particle with m\sim 4-10\gev and spin-independent cross section of order \sigma_{SI} \sim (1-3)\times 10^{-4}\pb. An important question is whether these observations are compatible with supersymmetric models obeying $\Omega h^2\sim 0.11$ without violating existing collider constraints and precision measurements. In this talk, I review the fact the the Minimal Supersymmetric Model allows insufficient flexibility to achieve such compatibility, basically because of the highly constrained nature of the MSSM Higgs sector in relation to LEP limits on Higgs bosons. I then outline the manner in which the more flexible Higgs sectors of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model and an Extended Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model allow large $\sigma_{SI}$ and $\Omega h^2\sim 0.11$ at low LSP mass without violating LEP, Tevatron, BaBar and other experimental limits. The relationship of the required Higgs sectors to the NMSSM "ideal-Higgs" scenarios is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. To appear in Proceedings of PASCOS 2010. The paper is a compilation of talks given at: PASCOS 2010, ORSAY Workshop on "Higgs Hunting", and SLAC Workshop on "Topologies for Early LHC Searches

Light neutralino in the MSSM: An update with the latest LHC results

We discuss the scenario of light neutralino dark matter in the minimal supersymmetric standard model, which is motivated by the results of some of the direct detection experiments --- DAMA, CoGENT, and CRESST. We update our previous analysis with the latest results of the LHC. We show that new LHC constraints disfavour the parameter region that can reproduce the results of DAMA and CoGENT.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the conference proceedings of TAUP 2011, Munich Germany, 5-9 September 201

[Accepted Manuscript] Worldwide comparison of ovarian cancer survival: Histological group and stage at diagnosis (CONCORD-2)

Ovarian cancer comprises several histological groups with widely differing levels of survival. We aimed to explore international variation in survival for each group to help interpret international differences in survival from all ovarian cancers combined. We also examined differences in stage-specific survival. The CONCORD programme is the largest population-based study of global trends in cancer survival, including data from 60 countries for 695,932 women (aged 15-99years) diagnosed with ovarian cancer during 1995-2009. We defined six histological groups: type I epithelial, type II epithelial, germ cell, sex cord-stromal, other specific non-epithelial and non-specific morphology, and estimated age-standardised 5-year net survival for each country by histological group. We also analysed data from 67 cancer registries for 233,659 women diagnosed from 2001 to 2009, for whom information on stage at diagnosis was available. We estimated age-standardised 5-year net survival by stage at diagnosis (localised or advanced). Survival from type I epithelial ovarian tumours for women diagnosed during 2005-09 ranged from 40 to 70%. Survival from type II epithelial tumours was much lower (20-45%). Survival from germ cell tumours was higher than that of type II epithelial tumours, but also varied widely between countries. Survival for sex-cord stromal tumours was higher than for the five other groups. Survival from localised tumours was much higher than for advanced disease (80% vs. 30%). There is wide variation in survival between histological groups, and stage at diagnosis remains an important factor in ovarian cancer survival. International comparisons of ovarian cancer survival should incorporate histology

Radial-Electric-Field Piezoelectric Diaphragm Pumps

In a recently invented class of piezoelectric diaphragm pumps, the electrode patterns on the piezoelectric diaphragms are configured so that the electric fields in the diaphragms have symmetrical radial (along-the-surface) components in addition to through-the-thickness components. Previously, it was accepted in the piezoelectric-transducer art that in order to produce the out-of-plane bending displacement of a diaphragm needed for pumping, one must make the electric field asymmetrical through the thickness, typically by means of electrodes placed on only one side of the piezoelectric material. In the present invention, electrodes are placed on both sides and patterned so as to produce substantial radial as well as through-the-thickness components. Moreover, unlike in the prior art, the electric field can be symmetrical through the thickness. Tests have shown in a given diaphragm that an electrode configuration according to this invention produces more displacement than does a conventional one-sided electrode pattern. The invention admits of numerous variations characterized by various degrees of complexity. Figure 1 is a simplified depiction of a basic version. As in other piezoelectric diaphragm pumps of similar basic design, the prime mover is a piezoelectric diaphragm. Application of a suitable voltage to the electrodes on the diaphragm causes it to undergo out-of-plane bending. The bending displacement pushes a fluid out of, or pulls the fluid into, a chamber bounded partly by the diaphragm. Also as in other diaphragm pumps in general, check valves ensure that the fluid flows only in through one port and only out through another port

Unparticle physics in top pair signals at the LHC and ILC

We study the effects of unparticle physics in the pair productions of top quarks at the LHC and ILC. By considering vector, tensor and scalar unparticle operators, as appropriate, we compute the total cross sections for pair production processes depending on scale dimension d_{\U}. We find that the existence of unparticles would lead to measurable enhancements on the SM predictions at the LHC. In the case of ILC this may become two orders of magnitude larger than that of SM, for smaller values of d_\U, a very striking signal for unparticles.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, analysis for ILC has been adde

characteristics of reoffending accommodation sites in europe with clusters of legionnaires disease 2003 2007

Between 2003 and 2007, 21% (n=100/477) of accommodation sites linked to clusters of two or more cases of Legionnaires' disease that were investigated by the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel-Associated Legionnaires' Disease (EWGLINET) went on to be associated with at least one further case, despite reporting that satisfactory control measures had been implemented at the time the cluster was first detected. This paper examines these sites (termed reoffenders) in order to determine whether they share any characteristics that may have contributed to the reoffence. All investigations conducted at cluster sites between 2003 and 2007 were included in the analysis, giving a total of 615 investigations conducted at 477 sites. Every country that investigated more than three cluster sites had to deal with at least one reoffence, and one site reoffended five times. The cases involved in the cluster that stayed elsewhere during their incubation periods could be used to help assess the probability of exposure, and therefore the risk, posed by particular cluster sites. A more extensive investigation and control regime may be needed in some instances to better control the risk of Legionnaires' disease at an accommodation site.