Charginos Hiding In Plain Sight

Recent 7 TeV 5/fb measurements by ATLAS and CMS have measured both overall and differential WW cross sections that differ from NLO SM predictions. While these measurements aren't statistically significant enough to rule out the SM, we demonstrate that the data from both experiments can be better fit with the inclusion of electroweak gauginos with masses of O(100) GeV. We show that these new states are consistent with other experimental searches/measurements and can have ramifications for Higgs phenomenology. Additionally, we show how the first measurements of the WW cross section at 8 TeV by CMS strengthen our conclusions.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures v2:significant updates incorporating summer experimental results, conclusions strengthene

Testing Electroweak Baryogenesis with Future Colliders

Electroweak Baryogenesis (EWBG) is a compelling scenario for explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. Its connection to the electroweak phase transition makes it inherently testable. However, completely excluding this scenario can seem difficult in practice, due to the sheer number of proposed models. We investigate the possibility of postulating a "no-lose" theorem for testing EWBG in future e+e- or hadron colliders. As a first step we focus on a factorized picture of EWBG which separates the sources of a stronger phase transition from those that provide new sources of CP violation. We then construct a "nightmare scenario" that generates a strong first-order phase transition as required by EWBG, but is very difficult to test experimentally. We show that a 100 TeV hadron collider is both necessary and possibly sufficient for testing the parameter space of the nightmare scenario that is consistent with EWBG.Comment: 26 pages + references, 10 figures. Fixed minor typos, updated TLEP and 100 TeV projections. Conclusions unchange

Public safety internship program at the Riverside Community College District

The focus of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate a community college based program that utilizes contextual teaching and learning methods that will prepare completers for careers in public safety

Canopy recruitment dynamics in naturally regenerated longleaf pine (pinus palustris) woodlands

The ecological and cultural values of the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem, in combination with an approximately 97 percent loss in historic range, has led to increasing interest in ecosystem restoration and management in recent decades. While research has elucidated much about regeneration dynamics, there is a paucity of information regarding the recruitment period between the grass stage and canopy status. The overall goal of this project was to determine the factors influencing canopy recruitment rates and patterns in naturally regenerated longleaf pine woodlands. This research utilized two distinct datasets collected at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, a naturally regenerated second-growth landscape in southwest Georgia. First, we utilized data from long-term monitoring plots of tagged natural regeneration to model survival probability. Second, we conducted stem analysis on midstory and overstory trees in order to retrospectively examine rates and patterns of height growth during canopy recruitment. We found that 10-year regeneration mortality was concentrated within the smallest size classes and that survival was strongly driven by individual size (both root collar diameter and height) and relative height within dense regeneration clusters. Individual growth of midstory trees was strongly driven by overstory abundance but minimally related to soil moisture class. In comparing the growth rates of midstory and overstory trees on the same site, we found that midstory trees in open environments displayed comparable or better growth rates than overstory trees. In dense stands, however, midstory trees were generally from the same age cohort as overstory trees and likely stagnated in height and diameter growth after falling behind peers during canopy recruitment. Suppression and release patterns were common in the growth histories of midstory trees within dense stands but less so for overstory trees or midstory trees within open stands. Our results indicate that rapid initial growth and dominant crown position within even-aged cohorts is important for eventual canopy recruitment. Survival probability is low for individuals in lower crown positions, although a given individual may persist in the midstory for decades with minimal height or diameter growth. These individuals may then respond to release and resume growth. To facilitate recruitment of young individuals into the midstory, some level of overstory reduction is necessary in dense stands

On the prevalence of bridged macrocyclic pyrroloindolines formed in regiodivergent alkylations of tryptophan.

A Friedel-Crafts alkylation is described that efficiently transforms tryptophan-containing peptides into macrocycles of varying ring connectivity. Factors are surveyed that influence the distribution of regioisomers, with a focus on indole C3-alkylations leading to bridged endo-pyrroloindolines. We probe the stability and stereochemistry of these pyrroloindolines, study their rearrangement to C2-linked indolic macrocycles, and demonstrate a scalable, stereoselective synthesis of this compound class. Placing the macrocyclization in sequence with further template-initiated annulation leads to extraordinary polycyclic products and further demonstrates the potential for this chemistry to drive novel peptidomimetic lead discovery programs

Hydrogen Peroxide and Beyond - the Potential of High-Voltage Plasma Activated Liquids Against Cancerous Cells

Abstract: The use of plasma-activated liquids such as PBS, medium or simply plasma-activated water (PAW) has been receiving increasing attention for applications in cancer treatments. Amongst the reactive species contained in these solutions, hydrogen peroxide appears to play a pivotal role in causing cytotoxic effects. While H2O2 concentrations can be correlated with reduced cell viability and growth and used as an indicator of the potential efficacy of a plasma-activated water, comparisons to standard H2O2 kill curves demonstrate a potency in PAW which exceeds H2O2 associated toxicity, indicating that other plasma-generated species play an important role. Using a high-voltage dielectric barrier atmospheric cold plasma (DBD-ACP) system, we demonstrate the generation of plasma-activated water with high cytotoxic potential and good storage stability. The potency of the activated solutions can be modulated using system or process characteristics such as voltage level, treatment time and post-treatment storage time and target-related characteristics such as surface to volume ratio. All of these parameters were found to impact cell viability in a hydrogen peroxide concentration; correlated manner. The susceptibility of two cancer cell lines to PAW was similar to that observed for two non-cancer cell lines and the toxicity of plasma-activated water exceeded that of the corresponding hydrogen peroxide concentrations. This study examines the role of H2O2 in PAW-mediated cytotoxic effects on different mammalian cell lines and investigates the effects beyond H2O2 employing a set-up where short-lived reactive species can be discounted and activated liquids with long-term stability are generated. Here we investigate the cytotoxic mediators generated in water specific to high-voltage DBD-ACP

Advances in 3D culture systems for therapeutic discovery and development in brain cancer

This review focuses on recent advances in 3D culture systems that promise more accurate therapeutic models of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor microenvironment (TME), such as the unique anatomical, cellular, and molecular features evident in human GBM. The key components of a GBM TME are outlined, including microbiomes, vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), infiltrating parenchymal and peripheral immune cells and molecules, and chemical gradients. 3D culture systems are evaluated against 2D culture systems and in vivo animal models. The main 3D culture techniques available are compared, with an emphasis on identifying key gaps in knowledge for the development of suitable platforms to accurately model the intricate components of the GBM TME