Particle creation in a toroidal universe
We calculate the particle production rate in an expanding universe with a three-torus topology. We discuss also the complete evolution of the size of such a universe. The energy density of particles created through the nonzero modes is computed for selected masses. The unique contribution of the zero mode and its properties are also analyzed.

title: Standard model vacua for two-dimensional compactifications
abstract: We examine the structure of lower-dimensional standard model vacua for two-dimensional compactifications (on a 2D torus and on a 2D sphere). In the case of the torus we find a new standard model vacuum for a large range of neutrino masses consistent with experiment. Quantum effects play a crucial role in the existence of this vacuum. For the compactification on a sphere the classical terms dominate the effective potential for large radii and a stable vacuum is achieved only by introducing a large magnetic flux. We argue that there are no two-dimensional standard model vacua for compactifications on a surface of genus greater than one.

title: Standard model with compactified spatial dimensions
abstract: We analyze the structure of the standard model coupled to gravity with spatial dimensions compactified on a three-torus. We find that there are no stable one-dimensional vacua at zero temperature, although there does exist an unstable vacuum for a particular set of Dirac neutrino masses.

title: Prospects and constraints for vector-like MFV matter at LHC
abstract: We examine the prospects for LHC discovery of SU(2)L singlet vector-like quarks that obey Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) and are consistent with lower energy phenomenology. We study models where the vector-like quarks have the same quantum numbers as uR or dR, allowing mixing, which generally leads to significant low energy constraints. We find that at leading order in the MFV expansion there are two naturally phenomenologically viable MFV models of this type when the Weyl spinor components of the vector-like quarks are flavour triplets. We examine direct production bounds, flavour and electroweak precision data constraints for these models and determine the cross section for allowed values of the model parameters at LHC. For the models we identify as naturally phenomenologically viable, large amounts of parameter space afford a significant early discovery reach at LHC while being consistent with lower energy phenomenology.

title: Color octet scalars and high p_T four-jet events at the LHC
abstract: We study the effect of color octet scalars on the high transverse momenta four-jet cross section at the LHC. We consider both weak singlet and doublet scalars, concentrating on the case of small couplings to quarks. We find that a relatively early discovery at the LHC is possible for a range of scalar masses.

title: A Survey of Open Clusters in the u'g'r'i'z' Filter System. 3. Results for the Cluster NGC 188
abstract: The authors continue the series of papers describing the results of a photometric survey of open star clusters, primarily in the southern hemisphere, taken in the u'g'r'i'z' filter system. The entire observed sample covered more than 100 clusters, but here they present data only on NGC 188, which is one of the oldest open clusters known in the Milky Way. They fit the Padova theoretical isochrones to the data. Assuming a solar metallicity for NGC 188, they find a distance of 1700 {+-} 100 pc, an age of 7.5 {+-} 0.7 Gyr, and a reddening E(B-V) of 0.025 {+-} 0.005. This yields a distance modulus of 11.23 {+-} 0.14.

title: Rotation-aligned coupling in Fe 61
abstract: New levels have been established above the 861-keV, $9/{2}^{+}$ isomeric state in $^{61}\mathrm{Fe}$. The observations can be reproduced satisfactorily by shell model calculations, but only after a significant lowering of the $\ensuremath{\nu}{g}_{9/2}$ single-particle energy with respect to the value determined empirically from levels outside a $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ core. The results are also described well within the scope of the particle-triaxial-rotor model assuming a deformation ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}~0.24$. The present findings, together with the recently measured magnetic and quadrupole moments of this state, point toward a structure possibly associated with a prolate shape.

title: Decay of Er156 compound nucleus
abstract: Charged particles and high energy \ensuremath{\gamma} rays from the decay of the $^{156}\mathrm{Er}$ compound nucleus populated at ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{x}}$=47 MeV excitation energy by the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$${+}^{144}$Sm and $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$${+}^{92}$Zr reactions have been measured to study possible nonstatistical or entrance channel effects. The experimental spectra and published evaporation residue and neutron data are compared with statistical model calculations. The comparison shows that the statistical model with standard parametrization of level density and yrast lines describes reasonably well the bulk of experimental observables but not the shape of neutron spectra if account is taken of the enhancement factor for E2 transitions. The discrepancies between experimental data and model calculations are discussed.

title: Development of shell closures at N=32, 34. II. Lowest yrast excitations in even-even Ti isotopes from deep-inelastic heavy-ion collisions
abstract: Gamma rays from neutron-rich nuclei in the vicinity of $Z=20$, $N=28$ have been studied at Gammasphere using deep-inelastic reactions induced by a $330\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{MeV}$ $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ beam on a thick $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ target. The yrast $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray cascade of $^{56}\mathrm{Ti}$ was identified for the first time and the location in energy of the ${2}^{+}$, ${4}^{+}$, and ${6}^{+}$ states was determined. The low-spin $^{56}\mathrm{Ti}$ yrast structure does not support the presence of a subshell closure at $N=34$ as suggested on the basis of other data on nuclei in the region as well as shell model calculations with a recently proposed interaction.

title: Cross-shell excitation in two-proton knockout: Structure of Ca 52
abstract: Gade, A. Janssens, R. V. F. Bazin, D. Broda, R. Brown, B. A. Campbell, C. M. Carpenter, M. P. Cook, J. M. Deacon, A. N. Dinca, D. -C. Fornal, B. Freeman, S. J. Glasmacher, T. Hansen, P. G. Kay, B. P. Mantica, P. F. Mueller, W. F. Terry,

title: Yrast structure of Zr-97 and beta decay of the 27/2- high-spin isomer in Y-97
abstract: The yrast structure of the neutron-rich nucleus 97 Zr has been studied using fission of targetlike products in the reaction of a 48 Ca beam on a thick 238 U target. The level scheme, known from previous studies up to an excitation energy and spin-parity of approximately 4619 keV and 23/2 - , has been extended by about 3 MeV and a few units of angular momentum. Two states fed in the β decay of the 27/2- high-spin isomer in 97 Y were identified at 5570 and 5606 keV. The located level structure can be discussed in terms of shell-model configurations.