Quark-lepton symmetry and complementarity

We argue that the difference between the observed approximate quark-lepton complementarity and the theoretical prediction based on realistic quark-lepton symmetry within the seesaw mechanism may be adjusted by means of a triplet contribution in the seesaw formula.Comment: 7 pages, RevTex

A semi-Lagrangian scheme for the game pp-Laplacian via pp-averaging

We present and analyze an approximation scheme for the two-dimensional game $p$-Laplacian in the framework of viscosity solutions. The approximation is based on a semi-Lagrangian scheme which exploits the idea of $p$-averages. We study the properties of the scheme and prove that it converges, in particular cases, to the viscosity solution of the game $p$-Laplacian. We also present a numerical implementation of the scheme for different values of $p$; the numerical tests show that the scheme is accurate.Comment: 34 pages, 3 figures. To appear on Applied Numerical Mathematic

Leptogenesis and Low-energy Observables

We relate leptogenesis in a class of theories to low-energy experimental observables: quark and lepton masses and mixings. With reasonable assumptions motivated by grand unification, one can show that the CP-asymmetry parameter takes a universal form. Furthermore the dilution mass is related to the light neutrino masses. Overall, these models offer a natural explanation for a lepton asymmetry in the early universe.Comment: 10 pages, revised discussion on light neutrino masse

Flux tubes in the SU(3) vacuum

We analyze the distribution of the chromoelectric field generated by a static quark-antiquark pair in the SU(3) vacuum. We find that the transverse profile of the flux tube resembles the dual version of the Abrikosov vortex field distribution and give an estimate of the London penetration length in the confined vacuum.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, poster contribution to the XXIX International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, LATTICE 201

Verifying Policy Enforcers

Policy enforcers are sophisticated runtime components that can prevent failures by enforcing the correct behavior of the software. While a single enforcer can be easily designed focusing only on the behavior of the application that must be monitored, the effect of multiple enforcers that enforce different policies might be hard to predict. So far, mechanisms to resolve interferences between enforcers have been based on priority mechanisms and heuristics. Although these methods provide a mechanism to take decisions when multiple enforcers try to affect the execution at a same time, they do not guarantee the lack of interference on the global behavior of the system. In this paper we present a verification strategy that can be exploited to discover interferences between sets of enforcers and thus safely identify a-priori the enforcers that can co-exist at run-time. In our evaluation, we experimented our verification method with several policy enforcers for Android and discovered some incompatibilities.Comment: Oliviero Riganelli, Daniela Micucci, Leonardo Mariani, and Yli\`es Falcone. Verifying Policy Enforcers. Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Runtime Verification (RV), 2017. (to appear

An adaptive POD approximation method for the control of advection-diffusion equations

We present an algorithm for the approximation of a finite horizon optimal control problem for advection-diffusion equations. The method is based on the coupling between an adaptive POD representation of the solution and a Dynamic Programming approximation scheme for the corresponding evolutive Hamilton-Jacobi equation. We discuss several features regarding the adaptivity of the method, the role of error estimate indicators to choose a time subdivision of the problem and the computation of the basis functions. Some test problems are presented to illustrate the method.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figure

Distribution and Demographics of Marine Mammals in SOCAL Through Photo-Identification, Genetics, and Satellite Telemetry: A Summary of Surveys Conducted 1 July 2011-15 June 2012

Prepared for: Chief of Naval Operations, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, Washington, D.C.Results from the second year of a three-year project investigating the distribution, demographics, and behavior of cetaceans in the US Navy’s Southern California operational area are summarized. Eighteen small vessel surveys for cetaceans, which included species verification tests in conjunction with M3R (Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Undersea Ranges) acoustic monitoring at the Southern California Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR), as well as photo-identification, satellite tagging, and biopsy sampling of species of interest, were conducted in July 2011 and January and March 2012. 112 groups of 14 cetacean species were encountered. Twenty-one satellite tags, some depth reporting, were deployed on four species, with an emphasis on Cuvier’s beaked and fin whales. Among other findings, preliminary results of photo-identification studies combined with results from satellite tag data suggest that both Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales may have population sub-units with higher than expected residency to the Southern California Bight. Beaked whales particularly show this higher than expected residency to SOAR.N00244-10-1-005

MTOR cross-talk in cancer and potential for combination therapy

The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays an essential role in sensing and integrating a variety of exogenous cues to regulate cellular growth and metabolism, in both physiological and pathological conditions. mTOR functions through two functionally and structurally distinct multi-component complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which interact with each other and with several elements of other signaling pathways. In the past few years, many new insights into mTOR function and regulation have been gained and extensive genetic and pharmacological studies in mice have enhanced our understanding of how mTOR dysfunction contributes to several diseases, including cancer. Single-agent mTOR targeting, mostly using rapalogs, has so far met limited clinical success; however, due to the extensive cross-talk between mTOR and other pathways, combined approaches are the most promising avenues to improve clinical efficacy of available therapeutics and overcome drug resistance. This review provides a brief and up-to-date narrative on the regulation of mTOR function, the relative contributions of mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes to cancer development and progression, and prospects for mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy

Distribution and Demographics of Marine Mammals in SOCAL Through Photo-Identification, Genetics, and Satellite Telemetry: A Summary of Surveys Conducted 1 July 2011-15 June 2012

Prepared for: Chief of Naval Operations, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, Washington, D.C.Results from the second year of a three-year project investigating the distribution, demographics, and behavior of cetaceans in the US Navy’s Southern California operational area are summarized. Eighteen small vessel surveys for cetaceans, which included species verification tests in conjunction with M3R (Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Undersea Ranges) acoustic monitoring at the Southern California Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR), as well as photo-identification, satellite tagging, and biopsy sampling of species of interest, were conducted in July 2011 and January and March 2012. 112 groups of 14 cetacean species were encountered. Twenty-one satellite tags, some depth reporting, were deployed on four species, with an emphasis on Cuvier’s beaked and fin whales. Among other findings, preliminary results of photo-identification studies combined with results from satellite tag data suggest that both Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales may have population sub-units with higher than expected residency to the Southern California Bight. Beaked whales particularly show this higher than expected residency to SOAR.N00244-10-1-005

Advanced thermoplastic resins, phase 2

High temperature structural resins are required for use on advanced aerospace vehicles as adhesives and composite matrices. NASA-Langley developed polyimide resins were evaluated as high temperature structural adhesives for metal to metal bonding and as composite matrices. Adhesive tapes were prepared on glass scrim fabric from solutions of polyamide acids of the semicrystalline polyimide LARC-CPI, developed at the NASA-Langley Research Center. Using 6Al-4V titanium adherends, high lap shear bond strengths were obtained at ambient temperature (45.2 MPa, 6550 psi) and acceptable strengths were obtained at elevated temperature (14.0 MPa, 2030 psi) using the Pasa-Jell 107 conversion coating on the titanium and a bonding pressure of 1.38 MPa (200 psi). Average zero degree composite tensile and compressive strengths of 1290 MPa (187 ksi) and 883 MPa (128 ksi) respectively were obtained at ambient temperature with unsized AS-4 carbon fiber reinforcement