Neutrino Masses and Absence of Flavor Changing Interactions in the 2HDM from Gauge Principles

We propose several Two Higgs Doublet Models with the addition of an Abelian gauge group which free the usual framework from flavor changing neutral interactions and explain neutrino masses through the seesaw mechanism. We discuss the kinetic and mass-mixing gripping phenomenology which encompass several constraints coming from atomic parity violation, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, rare meson decays, Higgs physics, LEP precision data, neutrino-electron scattering, low energy accelerators and LHC probes.Comment: 54 pages, 10 figure

A Two Higgs Doublet Model for Dark Matter and Neutrino Masses

Motivated by the interesting features of Two Higgs Doublet Models (2HDM) we present a 2HDM extension where the stability of dark matter, neutrino masses and the absence of flavor changing interactions are explained by promoting baryon and lepton number to gauge symmetries. Neutrino masses are addressed within the usual type I seesaw mechanism. A vector-like fermion acts as dark matter and it interacts with Standard Model particles via the kinetic and mass mixings between the neutral gauge bosons. We compute the relevant observables such as the dark matter relic density and spin-independent scattering cross section to outline the region of parameter space that obeys current and projected limits from collider and direct detection experiments via thermal and non-thermal dark matter production.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Agreement on the evaluation of glaucomatous optic nerve head findings by ophthalmology residents and a glaucoma specialist

Objectives: To assess agreement among ophthalmology residents and a glaucoma expert in the evaluation of cross-sectional glaucomatous optic nerve head characteristics using stereoscopic photographs. Methods: Twenty stereo photographs were analyzed by ophthalmology residents just after completion of their first (First-Year Group) or third (Third-Year Group) year of residency and by a glaucoma expert. The agreement was assessed using the kappa statistic (.) and limits of agreement. Results: Agreement among resident groups and the expert ranged from poor to moderate. Agreement between Third Years and the expert seems to be better than that between First Years and the expert, especially in the evaluation of "nasal cupping", "barring circumlinear vessel," "notching", and "retinal nerve fiber layer defect" criteria. However, no improvement was seen in the agreement with the expert regarding glaucomatous optic neuropathy, which was 64% (kappa=0.19) for First Years and 63% (kappa= 0.20) for Third Years. Conclusion: Agreement between residents and the expert was poor to moderate and similar when comparing both groups. This may suggest that the residents learn how to identify glaucoma signals during the first year of training, and the results of this study may facilitate the creation of targeted teaching tools in residency training.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Dept Ophthalmol & Visual Sci, Rua Botucatu 821, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Dept Ophthalmol & Visual Sci, Rua Botucatu 821, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Atividade microbiana na rizosfera de goiabeiras micorrizadas e cultivadas em solo infestado com Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah & Hirschmann.

A utilização de FMA (fungos micorrízicos arbusculares) favorece o crescimento vegetal e diminui os danos causados por fitopatógenos (MAlA et aI. 2006), intluenciando a microbiota do solo

Avaliação de famílias de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), grupo carioca, para tolerância à deficiência hídrica.

Objetivou-se avaliar a adaptação à deficiência hídrica de famílias de feijão, grupo comercial carioca, oriundas de cruzamentos múltiplos envolvendo genitores tolerantes à deficiência hídrica.CONAF

Daucus carota L. – An old model for cell reprogramming gains new importance through a novel expansion pattern of alternative oxidase (AOX) genes

The paper highlights Daucus carota L. as an ideal model to complement plant stress research on Arabidopsis thaliana L. Recently, alternative oxidase (AOX) is discussed as functional marker candidate for cell reprogramming upon stress. Carrot is the most studied species for cell reprogramming and our current research reveals that it is the only one that has expanded both AOX sub-family genes. We point to recently published, but not discussed results on conserved differences in the vicinity of the most active functional site of AOX1 and AOX2, which indicate the importance of studying AOX sequence polymorphism, structure and functionality. Thus, stress-inducible experimental systems of D. carota are especially appropriate to bring research on stress tolerance a significant step forward

NOA36 Protein Contains a Highly Conserved Nucleolar Localization Signal Capable of Directing Functional Proteins to the Nucleolus, in Mammalian Cells

NOA36/ZNF330 is an evolutionarily well-preserved protein present in the nucleolus and mitochondria of mammalian cells. We have previously reported that the pro-apoptotic activity of this protein is mediated by a characteristic cysteine-rich domain. We now demonstrate that the nucleolar localization of NOA36 is due to a highly-conserved nucleolar localization signal (NoLS) present in residues 1–33. This NoLS is a sequence containing three clusters of two or three basic amino acids. We fused the amino terminal of NOA36 to eGFP in order to characterize this putative NoLS. We show that a cluster of three lysine residues at positions 3 to 5 within this sequence is critical for the nucleolar localization. We also demonstrate that the sequence as found in human is capable of directing eGFP to the nucleolus in several mammal, fish and insect cells. Moreover, this NoLS is capable of specifically directing the cytosolic yeast enzyme polyphosphatase to the target of the nucleolus of HeLa cells, wherein its enzymatic activity was detected. This NoLS could therefore serve as a very useful tool as a nucleolar marker and for directing particular proteins to the nucleolus in distant animal species

Estimativa da concentração de nitrato no perfil do solo pela condutividade elétrica da solução.

Objetivou-se nesse trabalho estimar a concentração de nitrato e potássio na solução do solo, em duas profundidades de solo ocupadas pelo sistema radicular da bananeira BRS-Princesa, por meio do monitoramento da condutividade elétrica da solução do solo. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e seis tratamentos, sendo que os tratamentos consistiram em: T1 ? Adubação manual com irrigação por microaspersão e em solo descoberto; T2 ? Adubação manual com microaspersão e em solo coberto com palha; T3 ? Fertirrigação por gotejamento em solo coberto com palha; T4 ? Fertirrigação por gotejamento em solo descoberto; T5 ? Fertirrigação por microaspersão em solo coberto com palha e T6 ? Fertirrigação por microaspersão em solo descoberto. O modelo de estimativa do potássio e nitrato apresentou relação linear, porém apenas o nitrato apresentou validação aceitável do modelo na profundidade de 0,30 m

Crescimento da bananeira Cv. Princesa, em seu primeiro ciclo de produção, sob aplicação de biofertilizantes e extratos vegetais.

Práticas agrícolas sustentáveis, que visam à manutenção da qualidade do solo e da produção, através do uso racional e econômico de insumos como água, fertilizantes e defensivos, estão sendo pesquisadas atualmente, muitas vezes sendo implementadas, em nível comercial, no campo sem às recomendações técnicas pertinentes oriundas da pesquisa, dentre essas práticas cita-se a aplicação de extratos vegetais que podem atuar como promotores de crescimento radicular e repelentes naturais de pragas, como nematoides, e de biofertilizantes via fertirrigação, como no caso das substâncias húmicas

Privatization and State Capacity in Postcommunist Society

Economists have used cross-national regression analysis to argue that postcommunist economic failure is the result of inadequate adherence liberal economic policies. Sociologists have relied on case study data to show that postcommunist economic failure is the outcome of too close adherence to liberal policy recommendations, which has led to an erosion of state effectiveness, and thus produced poor economic performance. The present paper advances a version of this statist theory based on a quantitative analysis of mass privatization programs in the postcommunist world. We argue that rapid large-scale privatization creates severe supply and demand shocks for enterprises, thereby inducing firm failure. The resulting erosion of tax revenues leads to a fiscal crisis for the state, and severely weakens its capacity and bureaucratic character. This, in turn, reacts back on the enterprise sector, as the state can no longer support the institutions necessary for the effective functioning of a modern economy, thus resulting in deindustrialization. Using cross-national regression techniques we find that the implementation of mass privatization programs negatively impacts measures of economic growth, state capacity and the security of property rights.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40192/3/wp806.pd