Regularization Dependence of Running Couplings in Softly Broken Supersymmetry

We discuss the dependence of running couplings on the choice of regularization method in a general softly-broken N=1 supersymmetric theory. Regularization by dimensional reduction respects supersymmetry, but standard dimensional regularization does not. We find expressions for the differences between running couplings in the modified minimal subtraction schemes of these two regularization methods, to one loop order. We also find the two-loop renormalization group equations for gaugino masses in both schemes, and discuss the application of these results to the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 11 pages. v2: Signs of equations (1.2) and (4.2) are fixe

Constraining industrial ammonia emissions using hyperspectral infrared imaging

Atmospheric emissions of reactive nitrogen in the form of nitrogen dioxide (NO) and ammonia (NH) worsen air quality and upon deposition, dramatically affect the environment. Recent infrared satellite measurements have revealed that NH emitted by industries are an important and underestimated emission source. Yet, to assess these emissions, current satellite sounders are severely limited by their spatial resolution. In this paper, we analyse measurement data recorded in a series of imaging surveys that were conducted over industries in the Greater Berlin area (Germany). On board the aircraft were the Telops Hyper-Cam LW, targeting NH measurements in the longwave infrared at a resolution of 4 m and the SWING+ spectrometer targeting NO measurements in the UV–Vis at a resolution of 180 m. Two flights were carried out over German’s largest production facility of synthetic NH , urea and other fertilizers. In both cases, a large NH plume was observed originating from the factory. Using a Gaussian plume model to take into account plume rise and dispersion, coupled with well-established radiative transfer and inverse methods, we retrieve vertical column densities. From these, we calculate NH emission fluxes using the integrated mass enhancement and cross-sectional flux methods, yielding consistent emissions of the order of 2200 t yr−1 for both flights, assuming constant fluxes across the year. These estimates are about five times larger than those reported in the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) for this plant. In the second campaign, a co-emitted NO plume was measured, likely related to the production of nitric acid at the plant. A third flight was carried out over an area comprising the cities of Staßfurt and Bernburg. Several small NH plumes were seen, one over a production facility of mineral wool insulation, one over a sugar factory and two over the soda ash plants in Staßfurt and Bernburg. A fifth and much larger plume was seen to originate from the sedimentation basins associated with the soda ash plant in Staßfurt, indicating rapid volatilization of ammonium rich effluents. We use the different measurement campaigns to simulate measurements of Nitrosat, a potential future satellite sounder dedicated to the sounding of reactive nitrogen at a resolution of 500 m. We demonstrate that such measurements would allow accurately constraining emissions in a single overpass, overcoming a number of important drawbacks of current satellite sounders

A facile quantitative assay for viral particle genesis reveals cooperativity in virion assembly and saturation of an antiviral protein

Conventional assays of viral particle assembly and release are time consuming and laborious. We have developed an enzymatic virus-like particle (VLP) genesis assay that rapid and quantitative and is also versatile and applicable to diverse viruses including HIV-1 and Ebola virus. Using this assay, which has a dynamic range of several orders of magnitude, we show that the efficiency of VLP assembly and release, i.e., the fraction of the expressed protein that is assembled into extracellular particles, is dependent on the absolute level of expression of either HIV-1 Gag or Ebola virus VP40. We also demonstrate that the activity of the antiviral factor tetherin is dependent on the level of HIV-1 Gag expression and the numbers of VLPs generated, and appears to become saturated as these parameters are increased

Dimensional Reduction in Non-Supersymmetric Theories

It is shown that regularisation by dimensional reduction is a viable alternative to dimensional regularisation in non-supersymmetric theories.Comment: 13 pages, phyzzx, LTH 32

Dimensional renormalization of Yukawa theories wia Wilsonian methods

In the 't Hooft-Veltman dimensional regularization scheme it is necessary to introduce finite counterterms to satisfy chiral Ward identities. It is a non-trivial task to evaluate these counterterms even at two loops. We suggest the use of Wilsonian exact renormalization group techniques to reduce the computation of these counterterms to simple master integrals. We illustrate this method by a detailed study of a generic Yukawa model with massless fermions at two loops.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, revised version: minor errors corrected, a reference adde

BRICS' role in global health and the promotion of universal health coverage: the debate continues.

The acronym BRIC was coined by Jim O’Neill, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, to denote four emerging national economies: Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China. Although BRICS and other multinational groupings may be useful to policy-makers involved in the development of some foreign policies, it remains unclear if such groupings have a role in the study and development of global health policy. We examine the debate around this issue and focus on BRICS’ potential role in the promotion of universal health coverage – an “umbrella” goal for health in the post-2015 development framework. We do not argue that BRICS has no value as a grouping. The constituent nations do have some things in common: they are all large, populous, diverse countries with many different ethnic, social and – in some cases – religious divisions. They share these characteristics with some other countries, such as Indonesia, Nigeria, Indonesia and Pakistan, that have made less progress toward universal health coverage but may be able to learn from BRICS’ experiences. There is no doubt that, in the promotion of universal health coverage, there is a need for collaboration and shared learning. However, a grouping of countries that may make sense in the coordination of global macroeconomic policy cannot be assumed to be relevant in the development of any global health policy

Measurement report: Evolution and distribution of NH3_3 over Mexico City from ground-based and satellite infrared spectroscopic measurements

Ammonia (NH$_3$) is the most abundant alkaline compound in the atmosphere, with consequences for the environment, human health, and radiative forcing. In urban environments, it is known to play a key role in the formation of secondary aerosols through its reactions with nitric and sulfuric acids. However, there are only a few studies about NH$_3$ in Mexico City. In this work, atmospheric NH$_3$ was measured over Mexico City between 2012 and 2020 by means of ground based solar absorption spectroscopy using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers at two sites (urban and remote). Total columns of NH$_3$ were retrieved from the FTIR spectra and compared with data obtained from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite instrument. The diurnal variability of NH$_3$ differs between the two FTIR stations and is strongly influenced by the urban sources. Most of the NH$_3$ measured at the urban station is from local sources, while the NH$_3$ observed at the remote site is most likely transported from the city and surrounding areas. The evolution of the boundary layer and the temperature play a significant role in the recorded seasonal and diurnal patterns of NH$_3$. Although the vertical columns of NH$_3$ are much larger at the urban station, the observed annual cycles are similar for both stations, with the largest values in the warm months, such as April and May. The IASI measurements underestimate the FTIR NH$_3$ total columns by an average of 32.2 ± 27.5 % but exhibit similar temporal variability. The NH$_3$ spatial distribution from IASI shows the largest columns in the northeast part of the city. In general, NH$_3$ total columns over Mexico City measured at the FTIR stations exhibited an average annual increase of 92 ± 3.9 × 10$^{13}$ molecules cm$^{−2}$ yr$^{−1}$ (urban, from 2012 to 2019) and 8.4 ± 1.4 × 10$^{13}$ molecules cm$^{−2}$ yr$^{−1}$ (re- mote, from 2012 to 2020), while IASI data within 20 km of the urban station exhibited an average annual increase of 38 ± 7.6 × 10$^{13}$ molecules cm$^{−2}$ yr$^{−1}$ from 2008 to 2018

Surfing Corona waves – instead of breaking them: Rethinking the role of natural immunity in COVID-19 policy [version 3; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

In the first two years of the pandemic, COVID-19 response policies have aimed to break Corona waves through non-pharmaceutical interventions and mass vaccination. However, for long-term strategies to be effective and efficient, and to avoid massive disruption and social harms, it is crucial to introduce the role of natural immunity in our thinking about COVID-19 (or future “Disease-X”) control and prevention. We argue that any Corona or similar virus control policy must appropriately balance five key elements simultaneously: balancing the various fundamental interests of the nation, as well as the various interventions within the health sector; tailoring the prevention measures and treatments to individual needs; limiting social interaction restrictions; and balancing the role of vaccinations against the role of naturally induced immunity. Given the high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and its differential impact on population segments, we examine this last element in more detail and argue that an important aspect of ‘living with the virus’ will be to better understand the role of naturally induced immunity in our overall COVID-19 policy response. In our eyes, a policy approach that factors natural immunity should be considered for persons without major comorbidities and those having ‘encountered’ the antigen in the past