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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a widely-used imaging modality for medical research and clinical diagnosis. Here we demonstrate, through detailed experiments and simulations, an exploration of the benefits of exploiting the quantum entanglement of linear polarisation between the two positron annihilation photons utilised in PET. A new simulation, which includes the predicted influence of quantum entanglement on the interaction of MeV-scale photons with matter, is validated by comparison with experimental data from a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) PET demonstrator apparatus. In addition, a modified setup enabled the first experimental constraint on entanglement loss for photons in the MeV regime. Quantum-entangled PET offers new methodologies to address key challenges in next generation imaging. As an indication of the potential benefits, we present a simple method to quantify and remove in-patient scatter and random backgrounds using only the quantum entanglement information in the PET events., Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures

In this note we report about a method to deal with finite energy sum rules. With a reasonable knowledge of the main resonances of the spectrum, the method guarantees that we can find a nice duality matching between the low energy hadronic data and asymptotic QCD at high energies., Comment: Talk given at 18th International Conference in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD 15, 30th anniversary), 29 june - 3 july 2015, Montpellier - FR

The framed standard model (FSM) is obtained from the standard model by incorporating, as field variables, the frame vectors (vielbeins) in internal symmetry space. It gives the standard Higgs boson and 3 generations of quarks and leptons as immediate consequences. It gives moreover a fermion mass matrix of the form: $m = m_T \alpha \alpha^\dagger$, where $\alpha$ is a vector in generation space independent of the fermion species and rotating with changing scale, which has already been shown to lead, generically, to up-down mixing, neutrino oscillations and mass hierarchy. In this paper, pushing the FSM further, one first derives to 1-loop order the RGE for the rotation of $\alpha$, and then applies it to fit mass and mixing data as a first test of the model. With 7 real adjustable parameters, 18 measured quantities are fitted, most (12) to within experimental error or to better than 0.5 percent, and the rest (6) not far off. (A summary of this fit can be found in Table 2 in the text.) Two notable features, both generic to FSM, not just specific to the fit, are: (i) that a theta-angle of order unity in the instanton term in QCD would translate via rotation into a Kobayashi-Maskawa phase in the CKM matrix of about the observed magnitude ($J \sim 10^{-5}$), (ii) that it would come out correctly that $m_u

Finite energy QCD sum rules with Legendre polynomial integration kernels are used to determine the heavy meson decay constant $f_{B_c}$, and revisit $f_B$ and $f_{B_s}$. Results exhibit excellent stability in a wide range of values of the integration radius in the complex squared energy plane, and of the order of the Legendre polynomial. Results are $f_{B_c} = 528 \pm 19$ MeV, $f_B = 186 \pm 14$ MeV, and $f_{B_s} = 222 \pm 12$ MeV.

Next to leading order corrections to the $SU(3) \times SU(3)$ Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation (GMOR) are obtained using weighted QCD Finite Energy Sum Rules (FESR) involving the pseudoscalar current correlator. Two types of integration kernels in the FESR are used to suppress the contribution of the kaon radial excitations to the hadronic spectral function, one with local and the other with global constraints. The result for the pseudoscalar current correlator at zero momentum is $\psi_5(0) = (2.8 \pm 0.3) \times 10^{-3} GeV^{4}$, leading to the chiral corrections to GMOR: $\delta_K = (55 \pm 5)%$. The resulting uncertainties are mostly due to variations in the upper limit of integration in the FESR, within the stability regions, and to a much lesser extent due to the uncertainties in the strong coupling and the strange quark mass. Higher order quark mass corrections, vacuum condensates, and the hadronic resonance sector play a negligible role in this determination. These results confirm an independent determination from chiral perturbation theory giving also very large corrections, i.e. roughly an order of magnitude larger than the corresponding corrections in chiral $SU(2) \times SU(2)$. Combining these results with our previous determination of the corrections to GMOR in chiral $SU(2) \times SU(2)$, $\delta_\pi$, we are able to determine two low energy constants of chiral perturbation theory, i.e. $L^r_8 = (1.0 \pm 0.3) \times 10^{-3}$, and $H^r_2 = - (4.7 \pm 0.6) \times 10^{-3}$, both at the scale of the $\rho$-meson mass., Comment: Revised version with minor corrections

It is shown that if, from the starting point of a universal rank-one mass matrix long favoured by phenomenologists, one adds the assumption that it rotates (changes its orientation in generation space) with changing scale, one can reproduce, in terms of only 6 real parameters, all the 16 mass ratios and mixing parameters of quarks and leptons. Of these 16 quantities so reproduced, 10 for which data exist for direct comparison (i.e. the CKM elements including the CP-violating phase, the angles $\theta_{12}, \theta_{13}, \theta_{23}$ in $\nu$-oscillation, and the masses $m_c, m_\mu, m_e$) agree well with experiment, mostly to within experimental errors; 4 others ($m_s, m_u, m_d, m_{\nu_2}$), the experimental values for which can only be inferred, agree reasonably well; while 2 others ($m_{\nu_1}, \delta_{CP}$ for leptons), not yet measured experimentally, remain as predictions. In addition, one gets as bonuses, estimates for (i) the right-handed neutrino mass $m_{\nu_R}$ and (ii) the strong CP angle $\theta$ inherent in QCD. One notes in particular that the output value for $\sin^2 2 \theta_{13}$ from the fit agrees very well with recent experiments. By inputting the current experimental value with its error, one obtains further from the fit 2 new testable constraints: (i) that $\theta_{23}$ must depart from its "maximal" value: $\sin^2 2 \theta_{23} \sim 0.935 \pm 0.021$, (ii) that the CP-violating (Dirac) phase in the PMNS would be smaller than in the CKM matrix: of order only $|\sin \delta_{CP}| \leq 0.31$ if not vanishing altogether., Comment: 37 pages, 1 figure

Finite energy QCD sum rules involving both inverse and positive moment integration kernels are employed to determine the bottom quark mass. The result obtained in the $\bar{\text {MS}}$ scheme at a reference scale of $10\, {GeV}$ is $\bar{m}_b(10\,\text{GeV})= 3623(9)\,\text{MeV}$. This value translates into a scale invariant mass $\bar{m}_b(\bar{m}_b) = 4171 (9)\, {MeV}$. This result has the lowest total uncertainty of any method, and is less sensitive to a number of systematic uncertainties that affect other QCD sum rule determinations., Comment: An appendix has been added with explicit expressions for the polynomials used in Table I

The framed standard model (FSM) suggested earlier, which incorporates the Higgs field and 3 fermion generations as part of the framed gauge theory structure, is here developed further to show that it gives both quarks and leptons hierarchical masses and mixing matrices akin to what is experimentally observed. Among its many distinguishing features which lead to the above results are (i) the vacuum is degenerate under a global $su(3)$ symmetry which plays the role of fermion generations, (ii) the fermion mass matrix is "universal", rank-one and rotates (changes its orientation in generation space) with changing scale $\mu$, (iii) the metric in generation space is scale-dependent too, and in general non-flat, (iv) the theta-angle term in the QCD action of topological origin gets transformed into the CP-violating phase of the CKM matrix for quarks, thus offering at the same time a solution to the strong CP problem., Comment: 53 Pages

Recent experiments show that the top-right corner element ($U_{e3}$) of the PMNS, like that ($V_{ub}$) of the CKM, matrix is small but nonzero, and suggest further via unitarity that it is smaller than the bottom-left corner element ($U_{\tau 1}$), again as in the CKM case ($V_{ub} < V_{td}$). An attempt in explaining these facts would seem an excellent test for any model of the mixing phenomenon. Here, it is shown that if to the assumption of a universal rank-one mass matrix, long favoured by phenomenologists, one adds that this matrix rotates with scale, then it follows that (A) by inputting the mass ratios $m_c/m_t, m_s/m_b, m_\mu/m_\tau$, and $m_2/m_3$, (i) the corner elements are small but nonzero, (ii) $V_{ub} < V_{td}$, $U_{e 3} < U_{\tau 1}$, (iii) estimates result for the ratios $V_{ub}/V_{td}$ and $U_{e 3}/U_{\tau 1}$, and (B) by inputting further the experimental values of $V_{us}, V_{tb}$ and $U_{e2},U_{\mu 3}$, (iv) estimates result for the values of the corner elements themselves. All the inequalities and estimates obtained are consistent with present data to within expectation for the approximations made., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, updated with new experimental data and more details

The idea of a rank-one rotating mass matrix (R2M2) is reviewed detailing how it leads to ready explanations both for the fermion mass hierarchy and for the distinctive mixing patterns between up and down fermion states, which can be and have been tested against experiment and shown to be fully consistent with existing data. Further, R2M2 is seen to offer, as by-products: (i) a new solution of the strong CP problem in QCD by linking the theta-angle there to the Kobayashi-Maskawa CP-violating phase in the CKM matrix, and (ii) some novel predictions of possible anomalies in Higgs decay observable in principle at the LHC. A special effort is made to answer some questions raised., Comment: 47 pages, 9 figures

QCD sum rules involving mixed inverse moment integration kernels are used in order to determine the running charm-quark mass in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme. Both the high and the low energy expansion of the vector current correlator are involved in this determination. The optimal integration kernel turns out to be of the form $p(s) = 1 - (s_0/s)^2$, where $s_0$ is the onset of perturbative QCD. This kernel enhances the contribution of the well known narrow resonances, and reduces the impact of the data in the range $s \simeq 20 - 25 GeV^2$. This feature leads to a substantial reduction in the sensitivity of the results to changes in $s_0$, as well as to a much reduced impact of the experimental uncertainties in the higher resonance region. The value obtained for the charm-quark mass in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme at a scale of 3 GeV is $\bar{m}_c (3 GeV) = 987 \pm 9 MeV$, where the error includes all sources of uncertainties added in quadrature.

The running charm-quark mass in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme is determined from weighted finite energy QCD sum rules (FESR) involving the vector current correlator. Only the short distance expansion of this correlator is used, together with integration kernels (weights) involving positive powers of $s$, the squared energy. The optimal kernels are found to be a simple {\it pinched} kernel, and polynomials of the Legendre type. The former kernel reduces potential duality violations near the real axis in the complex s-plane, and the latter allows to extend the analysis to energy regions beyond the end point of the data. These kernels, together with the high energy expansion of the correlator, weigh the experimental and theoretical information differently from e.g. inverse moments FESR. Current, state of the art results for the vector correlator up to four-loop order in perturbative QCD are used in the FESR, together with the latest experimental data. The integration in the complex s-plane is performed using three different methods, fixed order perturbation theory (FOPT), contour improved perturbation theory (CIPT), and a fixed renormalization scale $\mu$ (FMUPT). The final result is $\bar{m}_c (3\, {GeV}) = 1008\,\pm\, 26\, {MeV}$, in a wide region of stability against changes in the integration radius $s_0$ in the complex s-plane., Comment: A short discussion on convergence issues has been added at the end of the paper

The next to leading order chiral corrections to the $SU(2)\times SU(2)$ Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner (GMOR) relation are obtained using the pseudoscalar correlator to five-loop order in perturbative QCD, together with new finite energy sum rules (FESR) incorporating polynomial, Legendre type, integration kernels. The purpose of these kernels is to suppress hadronic contributions in the region where they are least known. This reduces considerably the systematic uncertainties arising from the lack of direct experimental information on the hadronic resonance spectral function. Three different methods are used to compute the FESR contour integral in the complex energy (squared) s-plane, i.e. Fixed Order Perturbation Theory, Contour Improved Perturbation Theory, and a fixed renormalization scale scheme. We obtain for the corrections to the GMOR relation, $\delta_\pi$, the value $\delta_\pi = (6.2, \pm 1.6)%$. This result is substantially more accurate than previous determinations based on QCD sum rules; it is also more reliable as it is basically free of systematic uncertainties. It implies a light quark condensate $<0|\bar{u} u|0> \simeq <0|\bar{d} d|0> \equiv <0|\bar{q} q|0>|_{2\,\mathrm{GeV}} = (- 267 \pm 5 MeV)^3$. As a byproduct, the chiral perturbation theory (unphysical) low energy constant $H^r_2$ is predicted to be $H^r_2 (\nu_\chi = M_\rho) = - (5.1 \pm 1.8)\times 10^{-3}$, or $H^r_2 (\nu_\chi = M_\eta) = - (5.7 \pm 2.0)\times 10^{-3}$., Comment: A comment about the value of the strong coupling has been added at the end of Section 4. No change in results or conslusions

It is shown that in the scheme with a rotating fermion mass matrix (i.e. one with a scale-dependent orientation in generation space) suggested earlier for explaining fermion mixing and mass hierarchy, the theta-angle term in the QCD action of topological origin can be eliminated by chiral transformations, while giving still nonzero masses to all quarks. Instead, the effects of such transformations get transmitted by the rotation to the CKM matrix as the KM phase giving, for $\theta$ of order unity, a Jarlskog invariant typically of order $10^{-5}$ as experimentally observed. Strong and weak CP violations appear then as just two facets of the same phenomenon., Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures

It is suggested that the Higgs boson may have a branching ratio into the $c \bar{c}$ mode suppressed by several orders of magnitude compared with conventional predictions and in addition some small but detectable flavour-violating modes such as $b \bar{s}$ and $\tau \bar{\mu}$. The suggestion is based on a scheme proposed and tested earlier for explaining the mixing pattern and mass hierarchy of fermions in terms of a rotating mass matrix. If confirmed, the effects would cast new light on the geometric origin of fermion generations and of the Higgs field itself., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

We compute the decay constants of the pseudoscalar mesons D and D_{s} using a linear combination of finite energy sum rules which minimize the contribution of the unknown continuum spectral function. We employ the recent three loop calculation of the pseudoscalar two-point function expanded in powers of the running charm quark mass. The theoretical uncertainties arising from the QCD asymptotic expansion are quite relevant in this case due to the relative small scale of the charm mass. We obtain the following results: f_{D}=177 \pm 21 MeV and f_{D_{s}}=205 \pm 22 MeV. These results, within the error bars, are in good agreement with estimates obtained using Borel transform QCD sum rules, but somewhat smaller than results of recent lattice computations.

Using special linear combinations of finite energy sum rules which minimize the contribution of the unknown continuum spectral function, we compute the decay constants of the pseudoscalar mesons B and B_s. In the computation, we employ the recent three loop calculation of the pseudoscalar two-point function expanded in powers of the running bottom quark mass. The sum rules show remarkable stability over a wide range of the upper limit of the finite energy integration. We obtain the following results for the pseudoscalar decay constants: f_B=178 \pm 14 MeV and f_{B_s}=200 \pm 14 MeV. The results are somewhat lower than recent predictions based on Borel transform, lattice computations or HQET. Our sum rule approach of exploiting QCD quark hadron duality differs significantly from the usual ones, and we believe that the errors due to theoretical uncertainties are smaller.

We use an appropriate combination of moments of finite energy sum rules in QCD in order to compute the B_q-meson decays constants f_B and f_{B_s}.We perform the calculation using a two-loop computation of the imaginary part of the pseudoscalar two point function in terms of the running bottom quark mass. The results are stable with the so called QCD duality threshold and they are in agreement with the estimates obtained from Borel transform QCD sum rules and lattice computations., Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures

The Dualized Standard Model has scored a number of successes in explaining the fermion mass hierarchy and mixing pattern. This note contains updates to those results including (a) an improved treatment of neutrino oscillation free from previous assumptions on neutrino masses, and hence admitting now the preferred LMA solution to solar neutrinos, (b) an understanding of the limitation of the 1-loop calculation so far performed, thus explaining the two previous discrepancies with data, and (c) an analytic derivation and confirmation of the numerical results previously obtained., Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 1 figure using eps

The mass of the bottom quark is analyzed in the context of QCD finite energy sum rules. In contrast to the conventional approach, we use a large momentum expansion of the QCD correlator including terms to order \alpha _{s}^{2}(m_{b}^{2}/q^{2})^{6} with the upsilon resonances from e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data as main input. A stable result m_{b}(m_{b})=4.19\pm 0.05 GeV} for the bottom quark mass is obtained. This result agrees with the independent calculations based on the inverse moment analysis., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures

It is shown that existing data on the mixing between up and down fermion states and on the hierarchical mass ratios between fermion generations, as far as can be so analysed at present, are all consistent with the two phenomena being both consequences of a mass matrix rotating in generation space with changing energy scale. As a result, the rotating mass matrix can be traced over some 14 orders of magnitude in energy from the mass scale of the $t$-quark at 175 GeV to below that of the atmospheric neutrino at 0.05 eV., Comment: 27 pages, Latex, 7 figures using eps, introduction expanded with more explanation of kinematics for rotating mass matrix

The successful explanation of fermion mixing and of the fermion mass hierarchy by the Dualized Standard Model (DSM) scheme is based on the premises of a fermion mass matrix rotating in generation space with changing scales at a certain speed, which could in principle lead to sizeable flavour-violation observable in high sensitivity experiments such as BaBar. However, a full perturbative calculation to 1-loop order reported here shows that this kinematical, flavour-violating effect of a rotating mass matrix is off-set in the DSM by parallel effects from rotating wave functions and vertices giving in the end only very small flavour-violations which are unlikely to be detectable by present experiments. The result means that at least for the present the DSM scheme has survived yet another threat to its validity, which is indeed its most stringent and dangerous to-date. It also provides some clarification of certain concepts connected with the rotating mass matrix which had previously been found puzzling., Comment: 25 pages, Latex, 8 figures embedded in text

The change in orientation in generation space (rotation) of the fermion mass matrix with changing scales can lead to flavour-violations through just the kinematics of a non-diagonal mass matrix. Such effects for the reactions: $e^+ e^- \longrightarrow e^\pm \mu^\mp, e^\pm \tau^\mp, \mu^\pm \tau^\mp$, and for the decays of vector bosons into the same channels, are calculated following a method suggested earlier which gives the differential cross section for each reaction and the branching ratio for each decay mode in terms of an overall normalization depending only on the speed at which the mass matrix rotates. A rotation speed estimated earlier, under certain assumptions from the fermion mixing angles and mass ratios, is found to give the above effects at a level readily detectable in modern high sensitivity experiments such as Bepc, Cleo, BaBar and Belle, at least in principle. The observation of these effects would not only confirm the concept of a rotating mass matrix with a significance on par with the running coupling constant, but also offer some valuable insight into the origin of fermion generations. However, a negative result cannot unfortunately rule out the rotating mass matrix since the effects deduced here from this mechanism alone could in principle be cancelled by other rotation effects., Comment: 32 pages, Latex; this paper supersedes and subsumes the material of hep-ph/0012119 and hep-ph/0103205

It is shown that a fermion mass matrix changing in orientation (rotating) with changing scales can give a simple yet near-quantitative explanation for quark mixing, neutrino oscillations and the fermion mass hierarchy., Comment: 14 pages, Latex, 3 figures using eps, minor changes

This paper is subsumed and superseded by hep-ph/0111175., Comment: this paper is subsumed and superseded by hep-ph/0111175

A procedure is suggested for systematically narrowing the choice of possible primaries for (UHECR) air showers with energies beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min cut-off of $4 \times 10^{19} eV$., Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 2 figures using eps

This paper is subsumed and superseded by hep-ph/0111175., Comment: this paper is subsumed and superseded by hep-ph/0111175

By photo-transmutation of leptons we mean photon-lepton reactions of the following type: $\gamma l_\alpha \longrightarrow \gamma l_\beta$ with $l_\alpha \neq l_\beta$, occurring as a consequence of the lepton mass matrix changing its orientation (rotating) under changing scales. In this paper, we first discuss these reactions in general terms, then proceed to the calculation of their cross sections in two specific schemes, one within the framework of the conventional Standard Model, the other being the so-called Dualized Standard Model we ourselves advocate. Although the cross section obtained is generally small the calculation reveals certain special circumstances where these reactions may be accessible to experiment, for example with virtual photons in LEP for $\gamma e \longrightarrow \gamma \tau$, and in BEPC for $\gamma e \longrightarrow \gamma \mu$., Comment: 28 pages, Latex, 9 figures using eps and axodraw

The fermion mass matrix, in addition to having eigenvalues (masses) which run, also changes its orientation (rotates) with changing energy scales. This means that its eigenstates at one scale will no longer be eigenstates at another scale, leading to effects where fermions of different flavours can ``transmute'' into one another. In this paper, the implications of a rotating mass matrix are analysed and possible transmuation effects are investigated both in the Standard Model (SM) and in the so-called Dualized Standard Model (DSM) that we advocate, arriving at the conclusion that some transmutational decays such as $\psi \longrightarrow \mu \tau$, $\Upsilon \longrightarrow \mu \tau$ or $\pi^0 \longrightarrow e \mu$ may be within experimental range, if not immediately, then in the near future., Comment: 22 pages, Latex, figures using eps and axodraw

In is shown explicitly that the Witten's interaction 3-vertex is a solution to the comma overlap equations; hence establishing the equivalence between the conventional and the "comma" formulation of interacting string theory at the level of vertices., Comment: 30 LaTex pages

We show that assuming fermion generations to be given by a gauge symmetry plus a certain Higgs mechanism for its breaking, the known empirical features of quark and lepton mixing can be largely explained, including in particular the fact that the mixing (CKM) matrix element $U_{\mu3}$ responsible for the muon anomaly in atmospheric neutrinos is near maximal and much larger than their quark counterparts $V_{cb}$ and $ V_{ts}$, while the corner elements for both quarks ($V_{ub}, V_{td}$) and leptons ($U_{e3}$) are all very small. The mechanism also gives automatically a hierarchical fermion mass spectrum which is intimately related to the mixing pattern., Comment: 18 pages, Latex, 3 figures using eps

The Dualized Standard Model offers a natural explanation for Higgs fields and 3 generations of fermions plus a perturbative method for calculating SM parameters. By adjusting only 3 parameters, 14 quark and lepton masses and mixing parameters (including $\nu$ oscillations) are calculated with general good success. Further predictions are obtained in post-GZK air showers and FCNC decays., Comment: Talk given at ICHEP98, Vancouver, 5 pages, Latex, 3 figures using eps, uses ICHEP98 style file included

The Dualized Standard Model which gives explanations for both fermion generations and Higgs fields has already been used to calculate fermion mass and mixing parameters with success. In this paper, we extend its application to low energy FCNC effects deriving bounds for various processes in terms of one single mass scale. Using then experimental information from K_L - K_S mass difference and air showers beyond the GZK cut-off, these bounds are converted into rough, order-of-magnitude predictions. In particular, the estimates for the decay K_L \to e^\pm \mu^\mp and for the mass difference between the neutral D-mesons seem accessible to experiment in the near future., Comment: 23 pages, Latex

It is noted that the CKM matrix elements for both quarks and leptons as conceived in the Dualized Standard Model (DSM) can be interpreted as direction cosines obtained by moving the Darboux trihedron (a 3-frame) along a trajectory on a sphere traced out through changing energy scales by a 3-vector factorized from the mass matrix. From the `Darboux' analogues of the well-known Serret--Frenet formulae for space curves, it is seen that the corner elements ($V_{ub}, V_{td}$ for quarks, and $U_{e3}, U_{\tau 1}$ for leptons) are associated with the (geodesic) torsion, while the other off-diagonal elements ($V_{us}, V_{cd}$ and $V_{cb}, V_{ts}$ for quarks, and $U_{e2}, U_{\mu 1}$ and $U_{\mu 3}, U_{\tau 2}$ for leptons) with the (respectively geodesic and normal) curvatures of the trajectory. From this it follows that (i) the corner elements in both matrices are much smaller than the other elements, (ii) the $U_{\mu 3}, U_{\tau 2}$ elements for the lepton CKM matrix are much larger than their counterparts in the quark matrix. Both these conclusions are strongly borne out by experiment, for quarks in hadron decays and for leptons in neutrino oscillations, and by previous explicit calculations within the DSM scheme., Comment: 10 pages, Latex, 3 figures using eps

A method developed from the Dualized Standard Model for calculating the quark CKM matrix and masses is applied to the parallel problem in neutrino oscillations. Taking the parameters determined from quarks and the masses of two neutrinos: $m_3^2 \sim 10^{-2} - 10^{-3} eV^2$ suggested by atmospheric neutrino data, and $m_2^2 \sim 10^{-10} eV^2$ suggested by the long wave-length oscillation (LWO) solution of the solar neutrino problem, one obtains from a parameter-free calculation all the mixing angles in reasonable agreement with existing experiment. However, the scheme is found not to accommodate comfortably the mass values $m_2^2 \sim 10^{-5} eV^2$ suggested by the MSW solution for solar neutrinos., Comment: 16 pages, Latex, 5 figures using eps

A Dualized Standard Model recently proposed affords a natural explanation for the existence of Higgs fields and of exactly 3 generations of fermions, while giving at the same time the observed fermion mass hierarchy together with a tree-level CKM matrix equal to the identity matrix. It further suggests a method for generating from loop corrections the lower generation masses and nondiagonal CKM matrix elements. In this paper, the proposed calculation is carried out to 1-loop. It is found first that with the method suggested one can account readily for the masses of the second generation fermions as a `leakage' from the highest generation. Then, with the Yukawa couplings fixed by fitting the masses of the 2 higher generations, one is left with only 2 free parameters to evaluate the CKM matrix and the masses in the lowest generation. One obtains a very good fit to the CKM matrix and sensible values for the masses of $d$ and $e$, though, for a valid reason, not of $u$. In addition, the fitted values of the Yukawa couplings and vacuum expectation values of the dual colour Higgs fields show remarkable features perhaps indicative of a deeper significance., Comment: 40 pages, Latex, 3 figures using eps

A review is given on the recently proposed idea that air showers with energy $> 10^{20}$ eV beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min cut-off may be due to neutrinos having acquired a strong interaction at these energies, as suggested by the Dualized Standard Model. Such a hypothesis is shown to be consistent with the so far known facts. Further, by linking the astrophysical puzzle of post-GZK air showers through electric-magnetic duality to the problem of fermion generations in particle physics, one obtains on the one hand estimates for the rates of some flavour-changing neutral current decays which are accessible to experiments being planned, and on the other direct tests on the hypothesis performable by new air shower detectors such as Auger. The suggestion does not exclude other explanations for post-GZK showers given in the literature. However, we diagree with a recent paper by Burdman, Halzen and Gandhi which sweepingly claimed to have excluded nearly all explanations by new particle physics including ours., Comment: Review paper, latex, 14 pages, no figures

The suggestion is made that air showers with energies beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min spectral cut-off may have primary vertices some 6 km lower in height than those of proton initiated showers with energies below the GZK cut-off. This estimate is based on the assumption that post-GZK showers are due to neutrinos having acquired strong interactions from generation-changing dual gluon exchange as recently proposed., Comment: Latex, 10 pages, 2 figures using psfig