Searching for Heavier Higgs Boson via Di-Higgs Production at LHC Run-2

The LHC discovery of a light Higgs particle $h^0$ (125GeV) opens up new prospect for searching heavier Higgs boson(s) at the LHC Run-2, which will unambiguously point to new physics beyond the standard model (SM). We study the detection of a heavier neutral Higgs boson $H^0$ via di-Higgs production channel at the LHC (14TeV), $H^0 \to h^0h^0 \to WW^*\gamma\gamma$. This directly probes the $Hhh$ cubic Higgs interaction, which exists in most extensions of the SM Higgs sector. For the decay products of final states $WW^*$, we include both pure leptonic mode $WW^* \to \ell\bar{\nu}\bar{\ell}\nu$ and semi-leptonic mode $WW^* \to q\bar{q}'\ell\nu$. We analyze signals and backgrounds by performing fast detector simulation for the full processes $pp \to H \to hh \to WW^*\gamma\gamma \to \ell\bar{\nu}\bar{\ell}\nu\gamma\gamma$ and $pp \to H \to hh \to WW^*\gamma\gamma \to \ell\nu q\bar{q}'\gamma\gamma$, over the mass range $M_H=250-600$GeV. For generic two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDM), we present the discovery reach of the heavier Higgs boson at the LHC Run-2, and compare it with the current Higgs global fit of the 2HDM parameter space.Comment: Phys.Lett.B Final Version. 16pp (9 Figs + 4 Tables). Only minor refinements, references adde

LHC Higgs Signatures from Topflavor Seesaw Mechanism

We study LHC Higgs signatures from topflavor seesaw realization of electroweak symmetry breaking with a minimal gauge extension SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1). This elegant renormalizable construction singles out top quark sector (instead of all other light fermions) to join the new SU(2) gauge force. It predicts extra vector-like spectator quarks (T, B), new gauge bosons (W', Z'), and a pair of neutral Higgs bosons (h, H). We demonstrate that for the lighter Higgs boson h of mass 125GeV, this model predicts modified Higgs signal rates in h --> \gamma\gamma, WW*, ZZ* channels via gluon fusions, in h --> tau tau mode via vector boson fusions, and in h --> bb mode via gauge boson associate productions. We perform a global fit for our theory by including both direct search data (LHC and Tevatron) and indirect precision constraints. We further analyze the LHC discovery potential for detecting the heavier Higgs state H.Comment: PLB published version. Only minor refinements, typos corrected, references adde

Transthyretin Stimulates Tumor Growth through Regulation of Tumor, Immune, and Endothelial Cells

Early detection of lung cancer offers an important opportunity to decrease mortality while it is still treatable and curable. Thirteen secretory proteins that are Stat3 downstream gene products were identified as a panel of biomarkers for lung cancer detection in human sera. This panel of biomarkers potentially differentiates different types of lung cancer for classification. Among them, the transthyretin (TTR) concentration was highly increased in human serum of lung cancer patients. TTR concentration was also induced in the serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, alveolar type II epithelial cells, and alveolar myeloid cells of the CCSP-rtTA/(tetO)7-Stat3C lung tumor mouse model. Recombinant TTR stimulated lung tumor cell proliferation and growth, which were mediated by activation of mitogenic and oncogenic molecules. TTR possesses cytokine functions to stimulate myeloid cell differentiation, which are known to play roles in tumor environment. Further analyses showed that TTR treatment enhanced the reactive oxygen species production in myeloid cells and enabled them to become functional myeloid-derived suppressive cells. TTR demonstrated a great influence on a wide spectrum of endothelial cell functions to control tumor and immune cell migration and infiltration. TTR-treated endothelial cells suppressed T cell proliferation. Taken together, these 13 Stat3 downstream inducible secretory protein biomarkers potentially can be used for lung cancer diagnosis, classification, and as clinical targets for lung cancer personalized treatment if their expression levels are increased in a given lung cancer patient in the blood

Discovering New Gauge Bosons of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking at LHC-8

We study the physics potential of the 8TeV LHC (LHC-8) to discover, during its 2012 run, a large class of extended gauge models or extra dimensional models whose low energy behavior is well represented by an SU(2)^2 x U(1) gauge structure. We analyze this class of models and find that with a combined integrated luminosity of 40-60/fb at the LHC-8, the first new Kaluza-Klein mode of the W gauge boson can be discovered up to a mass of about 370-400 GeV, when produced in association with a Z boson.Comment: PRD final version (only minor refinements showing the consistency with new LHC data), 11 pages, 5 Figs, 2 Table

Predictors for presence and abundance of small mammals in households of villages endemic for commensal rodent plague in Yunnan Province, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ninety-one rodent plague epidemics have occurred in Lianghe county, Yunnan Province, China, between 1990 and 2006. This study aimed to identify predictors for the presence and abundance of small mammals in households of villages endemic for rodent plague in Lianghe county.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Rattus flavipectus </it>and <it>Suncus murinus </it>were the two species captured in 110 households. Keeping cats decreased the number of captures of <it>R. flavipectus </it>by one to two thirds and the chance of reported small mammal sightings in houses by 60 to 80%. Food availability was associated with fewer captures. Keeping food in sacks decreased the small mammal captures, especially of <it>S. murinus </it>4- to 8-fold. Vegetables grown around house and maize grown in the village reduced the captures of <it>S. murinus </it>and <it>R. flavipectus </it>by 73 and 45%, respectively. An outside toilet and garbage piles near the house each reduced <it>R. flavipectus </it>captures by 39 and 37%, respectively, while raising dogs and the presence of communal latrines in the village increased <it>R. flavipectus </it>captures by 76 and 110% but were without detectable effect on small mammal sightings. Location adjacent to other houses increased captures 2-fold but reduced the chance of sightings to about half. In addition, raising ducks increased the chance of sighting small mammals 2.7-fold. Even after adjusting for these variables, households of the Dai had higher captures than those of the Han and other ethnic groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both species captures were reduced by availability of species-specific foods in the environment, whereas other predictors for capture of the two species differed. Other than the beneficial effect of cats, there were also discrepancies between the effects on small mammal captures and those on sightings. These differences should be considered during the implementation and interpretation of small mammal surveys.</p

Vector Bosons Signals of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

We study the physics potential of the 8 TeV LHC to discover signals of extended gauge models or extra dimensional models whose low energy behavior is well represented by an SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) electroweak gauge structure. We find that with a combined integrated luminosity of 40 fb^(-1), the first new Kaluza-Klein mode of the W gauge boson can be discovered up to a mass of about 400 GeV, when produced in association with a Z boson.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, abbreviated version of arXiv:1206.6022. Talk given by R. S. Chivukula at KMI-GCOE Workshop on Strong Coupling Gauge Theories in the LHC Perspective", 4-7 Dec. 2012, Nagoya Universit

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor increases the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in cerebral ischemia in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation is a promising therapy for cerebral ischemia; however, little is known if its therapeutic efficacy may be improved by co-administration of potential modulatory factors in vivo. To explore this possibility, the present study examined the effect of BMMCs and G-CSF on cell proliferation, early neuronal development and neurological function recovery in experimental cerebral ischemia relative to controls that received neither treatment.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Ischemia/infarct area was significantly reduced in BMMCs+G-CSF group relative to animal groups treated with BMMCs only, G-CSF only or saline. Transplanted BMMCs were found to colocalize with the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the immature neuronal marker doublecortin (DCX). The BMMCs+G-CSF group showed increased numerical density of cells expressing PCNA and DCX, improved performance in adhesive sticker removal test and reduced neurological function severity scores relative to other groups in a time-dependent manner.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BMMCs and G-CSF co-administration exhibits synergistic beneficial effect over time. This effect could be at least partially related to increased proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stem cells and enhanced host brain regeneration and functional recovery. The results suggest that G-CSF can increase the therapeutic efficacy of BMMCs transplantation in an experimental mouse model of cerebral ischemia.</p