The MSSM from Scherk-Schwarz Supersymmetry Breaking

We present a five-dimensional model compactified on an interval where supersymmetry is broken by the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism. The gauge sector propagates in the bulk, two Higgs hypermultiplets are quasilocalized, and quark and lepton multiplets localized, in one of the boundaries. The effective four-dimensional theory is the MSSM with very heavy gauginos, heavy squarks and light sleptons and Higgsinos. The soft tree-level squared masses of the Higgs sector can be negative and they can (partially) cancel the positive one-loop contributions from the gauge sector. Electroweak symmetry breaking can then comfortably be triggered by two-loop radiative corrections from the top-stop sector. The fine tuning required to obtain the electroweak scale is found to be much smaller than in the MSSM, with essentially no fine-tuning for few TeV gaugino masses. All bounds from direct Higgs searches at LEP and from electroweak precision observables can be satisfied. The lightest supersymmetric particle is a (Higgsino-like) neutralino that can accomodate the abundance of Dark Matter consistently with recent WMAP observations.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

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Resumo

Digital learning object for audiovisual production

Funding Information: ACKNOWLEDGMENT A.V. M. Author thanks to the professors and technicians of Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) who assisted with permissions, classrooms, studios, laboratories, and equipment for the research. Thanks also for the support of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT) of the New University of Lisbon (NOVA).This article deals with a case study in which a digital learning object (DLO) was developed to assist in the pedagogical practice in higher education (audiovisual area). The main results obtained were the excellent conceptual evaluation received by the DLO tool; as well as great concepts received in evaluations that refer to relevance, differentiation, credibility, and intention to use (among other metrics). In addition, a blind analysis also showed that there was no qualitative difference between the practical work developed with or without the aid of the tool (due to a potential gain of time that could be perceived and enjoyed for the execution of the activities performed, due to an automation process offered by the tool). The final conclusions pointed to a positive indication of the use of DLOs in teaching practice in higher education, as the digital tool was very well received by students during classes and helped to review and reinforce the learning content taught. Thus, the study reinforces the research developed in the area of education on the effectiveness of the use of technologies in supporting pedagogical activities, besides adding another experiment related to mixed digital learning. However, it stresses that collaborative research can lead to a further analysis of the pedagogical contributions of DLOs.publishersversionpublishe

Quality factor of thin-film Fabry-Perot resonators: dependence on interface roughness

Thin-film Fabry-Perot (F-P) optical resonators are studied for application as wavelength-selecting elements in on-chip spectrometers. The interface roughness between the different resonator layers (Al /PECVD SiO2 / Ag) is identified to be the primary source of light scattering and energy losses. It is demonstrated that conventional IC fabrication yields layers with RMS interface roughness easily exceeding 10 nm. When applied to the visible spectral range, such a roughness causes significant degradation of the F-P filter quality factor. Moreover, the scattered light contributes to transmittance outside the narrow resonance band to which the F-P filter is tuned and overall device performance is decreased

Miniportfólios.

Esta publicação foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de capacitar professores de Ensino Fundamental na elaboração e execução de miniprojetos focados nos princípios da Agroecologia para serem realizados em sala de aula com estudantes. O solo foi escolhido como destaque nesta publicação, pois é local onde existe a grande biodiversidade, espaço por excelência da decomposição de microrganismos e ciclagem de nutrientes, além de ser um componente essencial para o crescimento das plantas. No primeiro volume mostra-se a observação dos processos que ocorrem na natureza, enquanto que no segundo volume, apresenta-se conceitos de manejo e produção de material vegetal, reciclagem de resíduos orgânicos, a biota do solo como agente decompositor e seu manejo, a germinação e o crescimento vegetal com uma abordagem de produção de mudas.bitstream/item/128500/1/2015-CNPAB-MINIPORTFOLIOS-PASTA-ENCARTES1.pd

Benzo[a]pyrene and beta-naphthoflavone mutagenic activation by European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) S9 liver fraction

Is Anguilla anguilla L. (eel) liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction absolutely necessary in order to convert promutagens as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) into a mutagenic compound? Eels were exposed for 8 h to clean (control) and 0.3 microM beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)-contaminated water. The 8-h exposure to 0.3 microM BNF brought about a very high EROD induction (10 pmol/min/mg protein) compared to control animals (1 pmol/min/mg protein). The Ames test (Maron and Ames, 1983) was carried out with Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 strain (TA98 His-) and eel isolated S9 liver fraction was used as a metabolic BaP activator. The BaP and BNF dose range concentrations tested were 0 (blank), 0.015, 0.08, 0.15, 0.38, 0.75, 1.5, 3.8, and 7.5 microM/plate and 0 (blank), 0.412, 1.235, 3.704, 11.1, 33.0, and 100 nM BNF, respectively. A dose-response relationship between BaP concentration and mutagenic activity was observed in the presence of S9 fractions in control and 0.3 microM BNF-exposed eels. Significant positive results, as TA98 His+ revertants, were observed at 0.38, 0.75, 1.5, 3.8, and 7.5 microM BaP/plate induced by BNF S9 fractions. Significant BaP mutagenic activation by liver control S9 was detected only at 1.5, 3.8, and 7.5 microM/plate. The BaP 1.5, 3.8, and 7.5 microM/plate mutagenic activation by BNF S9 and control S9 were not significantly different. Relative to BNF activation, it was only possible to detect His+ reversion at 11.1 nM BNF concentration with 0.3 microM BNF-induced S9. The above results demonstrate that the eel S9 liver fraction has the capacity to biotransform high BaP concentrations and convert it into a mutagenic compound with or without previous liver BNF biotransformation induction. The same does not apply to low BaP concentrations, where liver S9 induction by BNF is necessary to promote mutagenesis.publishe

Genotoxic and biochemical responses in caged eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) after short-term exposure to harbour waters

European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) were caged and exposed in situ for 8 and 48 h to the Aveiro offward fishing harbour water (HW) and to clean seawater under laboratory conditions (Control). Eel liver biotransformation (Phase I) was measured as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, cytochrome P450 (P450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (Phase II). Genotoxic responses were determined as blood, liver and kidney DNA strand breaks as well as erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENAs). HW failed to significant increase liver EROD, GST activities and ENA frequency. Nevertheless, P450 content was significantly increased after 8 and 48 h exposure. Genotoxicity measured as DNA integrity decrease was found in blood after 8 and 48 h exposure to HW, whereas in liver and kidney, it was observed after 48 h exposure to HW. Blood, kidney and liver genotoxicity may be due to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are genotoxic compounds and the main HW organic contaminants.publishe

Selective pressure acting on influenza virus neuraminidase protein and relation with development of resistance to antiviral drugs

Neuraminidase (NA) protein of influenza viruses has the particularity of being under antibody and antiviral drug selective pressure, as it is one of the main surface antigens and the target of neuraminidase inhibitors(NAIs). The aim of this study is to investigate the selective pressure(SP) acting on the NA of seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. It comprises two objectives: (a)to evaluate the contribution of positive SP for the emergence of NAIs resistant viruses; and (b)to determine the impact of NAIs introduction into clinic and its wide use during pandemic on the SP acting on NA. For the 1st objective it will be analysed the SP acting on the sites associated with NAIs resistance or reduction in susceptibility. The 2nd objective implies a differential evolutionary pressure analysis according to time, with 3 sub-datasets of NA sequences being considered: (1)before worldwide introduction of NAIs into clinic(1999); (2)before wide use of oseltamivir during A(H1N1)2009 pandemic(2009); and (3)from 2009 to date. A large dataset of full-length NA coding sequences will be used for each (sub)type/variant, comprising sequences obtained at national level(since 2000/2001) and sequences available at GISAID and NCBI. A(H1N1)seasonal dataset was already created, including a total of 1523 sequences, from which 94 belong to 1st sub-dataset, 1094 to 2nd and 335 to 3rd. All SP analysis will be performed using the expertise acquired with this workshop. This study may contribute for understanding the role of antiviral drug selective pressure in NAIs resistance, patterns of emergency of resistant viruses and NA evoluti