Direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the NMSSM

We address the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the framework of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We conduct a detailed analysis of the parameter space, taking into account all the available constraints from LEPII, and compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section. We find that sizable values for the detection cross section, within the reach of dark matter detectors, are attainable in this framework, and are associated with the exchange of very light Higgses, $m_{h_1^0}\lesssim 70$ GeV, the latter exhibiting a significant singlet composition.Comment: LaTex, 6 pages, 4 figures. Talk given at the 5th International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter (IDM2004), Edinburgh, 6-10 September 200

Fold-Saddle Bifurcation in Non-Smooth Vector Fields on the Plane

This paper presents results concerning bifurcations of 2D piecewise-smooth dynamical systems governed by vector fields. Generic three parameter families of a class of Non-Smooth Vector Fields are studied and its bifurcation diagrams are exhibited. Our main result describes the unfolding of the so called Fold-Saddle singularity

NMSSM with a singlino LSP: possible challenges for searches for supersymmetry at the LHC

A light singlino in the NMSSM can reduce considerably the missing transverse energy at the end of sparticle decay cascades; instead, light NMSSM-specific Higgs bosons can be produced. Such scenarios can be consistent with present constraints from the LHC with all sparticle masses below ~1 TeV. We discuss search strategies, which do not rely on missing transverse energy, for such scenarios at the next run of the LHC near 14 TeV.Comment: 20 pages, 9 Figures. References and experimental constraints added; slight change of benchmark point, conclusions unchange

Teaching Students with Special Needs in School-Based, Agricultural Education: A Historical Inquiry

The purpose of this historical study was to investigate the inclusion of students with special needs in school-based, agricultural education as reported by The Agricultural Education Magazine and the Journal of Agricultural Education over a time period of six decades. The impact of landmark legislation, such as the Vocational Education Act of 1963, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1990, were examined. This legislation motivated and supported agricultural education’s efforts to meet the learning needs of special education students by providing modified lessons and learning environments, inclusive SAEs and FFA activities, and focused teacher preparation. Challenges and concerns regarding the placement of special needs students in school-based, agricultural education are also discussed, as well as opportunities for related research in the future, especially about their participation in the FFA

Universality of trap models in the ergodic time scale

Consider a sequence of possibly random graphs $G_N=(V_N, E_N)$, $N\ge 1$, whose vertices's have i.i.d. weights $\{W^N_x : x\in V_N\}$ with a distribution belonging to the basin of attraction of an $\alpha$-stable law, $0<\alpha<1$. Let $X^N_t$, $t \ge 0$, be a continuous time simple random walk on $G_N$ which waits a \emph{mean} $W^N_x$ exponential time at each vertex $x$. Under considerably general hypotheses, we prove that in the ergodic time scale this trap model converges in an appropriate topology to a $K$-process. We apply this result to a class of graphs which includes the hypercube, the $d$-dimensional torus, $d\ge 2$, random $d$-regular graphs and the largest component of super-critical Erd\"os-R\'enyi random graphs