Gauge-Higgs Unification and Radiative Electroweak Symmetry Breaking in Warped Extra Dimensions

We compute the Coleman Weinberg effective potential for the Higgs field in RS Gauge-Higgs unification scenarios based on a bulk SO(5) x U(1)_X gauge symmetry, with gauge and fermion fields propagating in the bulk and a custodial symmetry protecting the generation of large corrections to the T parameter and the coupling of the Z to the bottom quark. We demonstrate that electroweak symmetry breaking may be realized, with proper generation of the top and bottom quark masses for the same region of bulk mass parameters that lead to good agreement with precision electroweak data in the presence of a light Higgs. We compute the Higgs mass and demonstrate that for the range of parameters for which the Higgs boson has Standard Model-like properties, the Higgs mass is naturally in a range that varies between values close to the LEP experimental limit and about 160 GeV. This mass range may be probed at the Tevatron and at the LHC. We analyze the KK spectrum and briefly discuss the phenomenology of the light resonances arising in our model.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures. Corrected typo in boundary condition for gauge bosons and top mass equation. To appear in PR

First record of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) infected by the parasite Ascogregarina culicis (Ross) (Apicomplexa: Lecudinidae) in Argentina

n a survey for parasites and pathogens of Aedes aegypti conducted in La Plata, Argentina, an aseptate gregarine was found parasitizing larvae, pupae and adults of this mosquito species. This gregarine species was identified as Ascogregarina culicis based on the morphology and size of gamonts, gametocysts and oocysts. It is the first record of gregarine infections in culicids from ArgentinaFil: Dellapé, Mariana E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Marti, Gerardo Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Tranchida, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

SUSY Hidden in the Continuum

We study models where the superpartners of the ordinary particles have continuous spectra rather than being discrete states, which can occur when the supersymmetric standard model is coupled to an approximately conformal sector. We show that when superpartners that are well into the continuum are produced at a collider they tend to have long decay chains that step their way down through the continuum, emitting many fairly soft standard model particles along the way, with a roughly spherical energy distribution in the center of mass frame.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. Update of Fig.5 and added aknowledgement

Actividad fungicida/fungistática in vitro del fosfito de manganeso contra hongos patógenos habitantes del suelo con soja

Las pudriciones de raíz y tallo (PRYT) en el cultivo de soja causadas por patógenos habitantes del suelo son enfermedades comúnmente encontradas en campos de soja y son una de las causas más importantes de pérdidas económicas. La sensibilidad micelial de Fusarium virguliforme, Fusarium tucumaniae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum y Macrophomina phaseolina fue evaluada en medio de cultivo agar papa glucosa (25 mL) suplementado con diferentes concentraciones (µg mL-1) de fosfito de manganeso (PhiMn) diluido en agua (0; 25; 37.5; 50; 100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 800 y 1000). La sensibilidad del crecimiento micelial fue analizada usando análisis de regresión lineal logarítmico. La concentración de PhiMn necesaria para inhibir el 50% del crecimiento micelial (CI50) fue calculada. Los valores de CI50 fueron desde 105 µg mL-1 (Fusarium spp.) hasta 409 µg mL-1 (M. phaseolina). La formación de esclerocios fue completamente inhibida a 500 µg mL-1. Los resultados del presente estudio representan el primer reporte de la acción fungicida/fungistática in vitro del Phi contra los hongos agentes causales de PRYT en el cultivo de soja.Soybean root and stem rots caused by soil-borne pathogens are diseases commonly found in soybean fields, and one of the most important causes of crop losses. In the present study, the mycelial sensitivity of Fusarium virguliforme, F. tucumaniae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Macrophomina phaseolina was evaluated on potato dextrose agar media (25 mL) supplemented with different concentrations of manganese phosphite (MnPhi) diluted in water (0, 25, 37.5, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 800 and 1000 µg/mL). Mycelial growth sensitivity was analyzed using logarithmic linear regression analysis. The MnPhi concentration needed to inhibit 50% of the mycelial growth (IC50) ranged from 105 µg/mL (Fusarium spp.) to 409 µg/mL (M. phaseolina). Sclerotia were completely inhibited at 500 µg/mL. The results of our study represent the first report on the direct in vitro fungicidal/fungistatic action of MnPhi against fungi that are causal agents of soil-borne diseases.Fil: Carmona, Marcelo Anibal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Fitopatología; ArgentinaFil: Simonetti, Ester. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Biología Aplicada y Alimentos. Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Ravotti, M. E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Fitopatología; ArgentinaFil: Scandiani, María Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Luque, A. G.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Formento, N. A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Entre Ríos. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Sautua, Francisco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Fitopatología; Argentin

High Susceptibility Of Activated Lymphocytes To Oxidative Stress-induced Cell Death.

The present study provides evidence that activated spleen lymphocytes from Walker 256 tumor bearing rats are more susceptible than controls to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH)-induced necrotic cell death in vitro. The iron chelator and antioxidant deferoxamine, the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA, the L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist nifedipine or the mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitor cyclosporin A, but not the calcineurin inhibitor FK-506, render control and activated lymphocytes equally resistant to the toxic effects of t-BOOH. Incubation of activated lymphocytes in the presence of t-BOOH resulted in a cyclosporin A-sensitive decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. These results indicate that the higher cytosolic Ca2+ level in activated lymphocytes increases their susceptibility to oxidative stress-induced cell death in a mechanism involving the participation of mitochondrial permeability transition.80137-4

Microstrip Device for Broadband (15–65 GHz) Measurement of Dielectric Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals

The essential dielectric properties, the basic alignment techniques, and the common measurement methods of the nematic liquid crystal (LC) at RF are briefly reviewed. A new device for the broadband measurement of the dielectric constants and loss tangents of nematic LCs at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies is presented. This device whose specification and fabrication are outlined is essentially a two dielectric layer microstrip structure with coplanar-waveguide terminals, which is easy to fabricate. Compared to previous structures, the proposed device is extremely broadband with 15-65-GHz bandwidth, benefits from a solid exposed ground plane for easy temperature test, and operates under bias voltage. The technique for the extraction of the dielectric parameters of the nematic LC analyzed by this device is explained and the sources imposing the frequency limits on the device performance are identified. Two different nematic LCs, MDA-00-3506 and GT3-23001, are characterized and the results are shown to compare well with those available in the literature. In the comparisons, the maximum difference found for the dielectric constants for MDA-00-3506 is 5% and for GT3-23001 is 5.3%

A Review of Ultrasound-Mediated Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy.

Over the past decade, immunotherapy has emerged as a major modality in cancer medicine. However, despite its unprecedented success, immunotherapy currently benefits only a subgroup of patients, may induce responses of limited duration and is associated with potentially treatment-limiting side effects. In addition, responses to immunotherapeutics are sometimes diminished by the emergence of a complex array of resistance mechanisms. The efficacy of immunotherapy depends on dynamic interactions between tumour cells and the immune landscape in the tumour microenvironment. Ultrasound, especially in conjunction with cavitation-promoting agents such as microbubbles, can assist in the uptake and/or local release of immunotherapeutic agents at specific target sites, thereby increasing treatment efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity. There is also increasing evidence that ultrasound and/or cavitation may themselves directly stimulate a beneficial immune response. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in the use of ultrasound and cavitation agents to promote checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy