Collider Phenomenology with Split-UED

We investigate the collider implications of Split Universal Extra Dimensions. The non-vanishing fermion mass in the bulk, which is consistent with the KK-parity, largely modifies the phenomenology of Minimal Universal Exta Dimensions. We scrutinize the behavior of couplings and study the discovery reach of the Tevatron and the LHC for level-2 Kaluza-Klein modes in the dilepton channel, which would indicates the presence of the extra dimensions. Observation of large event rates for dilepton resonances can result from a nontrivial fermion mass profile along the extra dimensions, which, in turn, may corroborate extra dimensional explanation for the observation of the positron excess in cosmic rays.Comment: 23 pages, 15 figure

Multi-Photon Signals from Composite Models at LHC

We analyze the collider signals of composite scalars that emerge in certain little Higgs models and models of vectorlike confinement. Similar to the decay of the pion into photon pairs, these scalars mainly decay through anomaly-induced interactions into electroweak gauge bosons, leading to a distinct signal with three or more photons in the final state. We study the standard model backgrounds for these signals, and find that the LHC can discover these models over a large range of parameter space with 30 fb$^{-1}$ at 14 TeV. An early discovery at the current 7 TeV run is possible in some regions of parameter space. We also discuss possibilities to measure the spin of the particles in the $\gamma \gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ decay channels.Comment: 18 pages, LaTe

General analysis of signals with two leptons and missing energy at the Large Hadron Collider

A signal of two leptons and missing energy is challenging to analyze at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) since it offers only few kinematical handles. This signature generally arises from pair production of heavy charged particles which each decay into a lepton and a weakly interacting stable particle. Here this class of processes is analyzed with minimal model assumptions by considering all possible combinations of spin 0, 1/2 or 1, and of weak iso-singlets, -doublets or -triplets for the new particles. Adding to existing work on mass and spin measurements, two new variables for spin determination and an asymmetry for the determination of the couplings of the new particles are introduced. It is shown that these observables allow one to independently determine the spin and the couplings of the new particles, except for a few cases that turn out to be indistinguishable at the LHC. These findings are corroborated by results of an alternative analysis strategy based on an automated likelihood test.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, LaTe

Candida albicans repetitive elements display epigenetic diversity and plasticity

Transcriptionally silent heterochromatin is associated with repetitive DNA. It is poorly understood whether and how heterochromatin differs between different organisms and whether its structure can be remodelled in response to environmental signals. Here, we address this question by analysing the chromatin state associated with DNA repeats in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Our analyses indicate that, contrary to model systems, each type of repetitive element is assembled into a distinct chromatin state. Classical Sir2-dependent hypoacetylated and hypomethylated chromatin is associated with the rDNA locus while telomeric regions are assembled into a weak heterochromatin that is only mildly hypoacetylated and hypomethylated. Major Repeat Sequences, a class of tandem repeats, are assembled into an intermediate chromatin state bearing features of both euchromatin and heterochromatin. Marker gene silencing assays and genome-wide RNA sequencing reveals that C. albicans heterochromatin represses expression of repeat-associated coding and non-coding RNAs. We find that telomeric heterochromatin is dynamic and remodelled upon an environmental change. Weak heterochromatin is associated with telomeres at 30?°C, while robust heterochromatin is assembled over these regions at 39?°C, a temperature mimicking moderate fever in the host. Thus in C. albicans, differential chromatin states controls gene expression and epigenetic plasticity is linked to adaptation

Supersymmetric Monojets at the Large Hadron Collider

Supersymmetric monojets may be produced at the Large Hadron Collider by the process qg -> squark neutralino_1 -> q neutralino_1 neutralino_1, leading to a jet recoiling against missing transverse momentum. We discuss the feasibility and utility of the supersymmetric monojet signal. In particular, we examine the possible precision with which one can ascertain the neutralino_1-squark-quark coupling via the rate for monojet events. Such a coupling contains information on the composition of the neutralino_1 and helps bound dark matter direct detection cross-sections and the dark matter relic density of the neutralino_1. It also provides a check of the supersymmetric relation between gauge couplings and gaugino-quark-squark couplings.Comment: 46 pages, 10 figures. The appendix has been rewritten to correct an error that appears in all previous versions of the appendix. This error has no effect on the results in the main body of the pape

Não compactação do Ventrículo Esquerdo. Revisão da Literatura a Propósito de um Caso Clínico

A não compactação isolada do ventrículo esquerdo (NCIVE) constitui uma etiologia rara de miocardiopatia dilatada, caracterizando-se do ponto de vista morfológico por apresentar dilatação do ventrículo esquerdo, com exuberante padrão trabecular. Embora não esteja claramente demonstrado, é geralmente aceite que a NCIVE resulta da paragem do processo de compactação miocárdica durante a embriogénese. Têm sido descritas formas familiares, estando identificadas alterações de genes que codificam proteínas de ligação entre a matriz extra-celular e o citoesqueleto. O quadro clínico é frequentemente dominado por sintomas e manifestações de insuficiência cardíaca, sendo as complicações cardio-embólicas e disrítmicas, causa frequente de morbilidade e mortalidade. O diagnóstico tem por base critérios clínicos e ecocardiográficos, e a estratégia terapêutica assenta nas recomendações estabelecidas para o tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca, destacando-se a importância da hipocoagulação e prevenção de disrtimias malignas. Os autores descrevem o caso clínico de um homem de 29 anos, internado por um quadro de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva em classe IV da NYHA, com dilatação do ventrículo esquerdo, acompanhada de exuberante trabeculação das paredes, disfunção sistólica grave e volumoso trombo apical. A evolução clínica foi favorável após terapêutica farmacológica convencional e perfusão de levosimendan, tendo tido alta melhorado, em classe I-II da NYHA. Cerca de 18 meses após alta hospitalar, faleceu subitamente no domicílio. A propósito do caso, foi feita uma revisão da literatura actual sobre a NCIVE, no que se refere à etiopatogenia, critérios de diagnóstico e orientação terapêutica

Questionnaire Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly - Screening version (HHIE-S): sensitivity and specificity study

PURPOSE: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly - Screening version (HHIE-S) in the hearing screening of elderly people who seek for different health care services (audiological clinic and other clinics). METHODS: The hearing of 78 elderly - 23 attended at the Discipline of Geriatrics and Gerontology of the institution who did not, necessarily, have complaints regarding their hearing, and 55 attended at the Audiology Clinic of the same institution with complaints related to the auditory and/or vestibular systems - was assessed. The HHIE-S questionnaire was applied, and its total score was divided into three categories, according to the handicap perception. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between handicap and degree of hearing loss in both patients from the Audiology Clinic (p=0.009*) and from the Geriatrics Clinic (p=0.002). In the first group, the HHIE-S questionnaire showed low sensitivity (23.5%) and high specificity (73.7%). In the group of patients from the Geriatrics Clinic, the values of sensitivity (94.7%) and specificity (75%) were both high. CONCLUSIONS: There was positive association between the degree of hearing loss and the handicap referred by both groups of subjects. The HHIE-S questionnaire is a hearing screening instrument with high sensitivity and specificity in identifying hearing loss in elderly people that seek health care services that are not specific for attention related to hearing disorders.OBJETIVO: Investigar a sensibilidade e especificidade do questionário Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly - Screening version (HHIE-S) na triagem auditiva de idosos que procuram diferentes serviços de atenção à saúde (clínica audiológica e outras clínicas). MÉTODOS: Foi avaliada a audição de 78 idosos - 23 atendidos na disciplina de Geriatria e Gerontologia da instituição de origem, que não tinham, necessariamente, queixas relacionadas à audição, e 55 atendidos no Ambulatório de Audiologia da mesma instituição, com queixas relacionadas aos sistemas auditivo e/ou vestibular. Foi aplicado o HHIE-S, cujo escore total foi dividido em três categorias, de acordo com a percepção do handicap. RESULTADOS: Houve relação estatisticamente significante entre handicap e grau de perda auditiva no grupo de pacientes do Ambulatório de Audiologia (p=0,009), e no grupo de pacientes do Ambulatório de Geriatria (p=0,002). No primeiro grupo, o questionário HHIE-S revelou baixa sensibilidade (23,5%) e alta especificidade (73,7%). No grupo de pacientes do setor de Geriatria, foram altos os valores de sensibilidade (94,7%) e de especificidade (75%). CONCLUSÕES: Há associação positiva entre o grau de perda auditiva e o handicap referido em ambos os grupos. O questionário HHIE-S é um instrumento de triagem auditiva com alta especificidade e sensibilidade na identificação de perdas auditivas em idosos que procuram serviços de saúde que não são específicos para atendimentos relacionados às alterações auditivas.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de FonoaudiologiaSciEL

Bigger, Better, Faster, More at the LHC

Multijet plus missing energy searches provide universal coverage for theories that have new colored particles that decay into a dark matter candidate and jets. These signals appear at the LHC further out on the missing energy tail than two-to-two scattering indicates. The simplicity of the searches at the LHC contrasts sharply with the Tevatron where more elaborate searches are necessary to separate signal from background. The searches presented in this article effectively distinguish signal from background for any theory where the LSP is a daughter or granddaughter of the pair-produced colored parent particle without ever having to consider missing energies less than 400 GeV.Comment: 26 pages, 8 Figures. Minor textual changes, typos fixed and references adde

The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems

We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Binary NSs and BHs are thought to be the primary astrophysical sources of gravitational waves (GWs) within the frequency band of ground-based detectors, while compact binaries of WDs are important sources of GWs at lower frequencies to be covered by space interferometers (LISA). Major uncertainties in the current understanding of properties of NSs and BHs most relevant to the GW studies are discussed, including the treatment of the natal kicks which compact stellar remnants acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common envelope phase of binary evolution. We discuss the coalescence rates of binary NSs and BHs and prospects for their detections, the formation and evolution of binary WDs and their observational manifestations. Special attention is given to AM CVn-stars -- compact binaries in which the Roche lobe is filled by another WD or a low-mass partially degenerate helium-star, as these stars are thought to be the best LISA verification binary GW sources.Comment: 105 pages, 18 figure