Constraining parameter space in type-II two-Higgs doublet model in light of a 126 GeV Higgs boson

We explore the implications of a 126 GeV Higgs boson indicated by the recent LHC results for two-Higgs doublet model (2HDM). Identifying the 126 GeV Higgs boson as either the lighter or heavier of CP even neutral Higgs bosons in 2HDM, we examine how the masses of Higgs fields and mixing parameters can be constrained by the theoretical conditions and experimental constraints. The theoretical conditions taken into account are the vacuum stability, perturbativity and unitarity required to be satisfied up to a cut-off scale. We also show how bounds on the masses of Higgs bosons and mixing parameters depend on the cut-off scale. In addition, we investigate whether the allowed regions of parameter space can accommodate particularly the enhanced di-photon signals, ZZ* and WW* decay modes of the Higgs boson, and examine the prediction of the signal strength of Z{\gamma} decay mode for the allowed regions of the parameter space.Comment: To be published in JHEP, 20 pages, 11 figures, Figures and results are updated for the recent LHC result

Paracoccidioides brasilinsis-Induced Migration of Dendritic Cells and Subsequent T-Cell Activation in the Lung-Draining Lymph Nodes

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a mycotic disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), that starts with inhalation of the fungus; thus, lung cells such as DC are part of the first line of defense against this microorganism. Migration of DC to the lymph nodes is the first step in initiating T cell responses. The mechanisms involved in resistance to Pb infection are poorly understood, but it is likely that DC play a pivotal role in the induction of effector T cells that control Pb infection. In this study, we showed that after Pb Infection, an important modification of lung DC receptor expression occurred. We observed an increased expression of CCR7 and CD103 on lung DC after infection, as well as MHC-II. After Pb infection, bone marrow-derived DC as well lung DC, migrate to lymph nodes. Migration of lung DC could represent an important mechanism of pathogenesis during PCM infection. In resume our data showed that Pb induced DC migration. Furthermore, we demonstrated that bone marrow-derived DC stimulated by Pb migrate to the lymph nodes and activate a T helper (Th) response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported data showing that Pb induces migration of DC and activate a T helper (Th) response

Graphene plasmonics

Two rich and vibrant fields of investigation, graphene physics and plasmonics, strongly overlap. Not only does graphene possess intrinsic plasmons that are tunable and adjustable, but a combination of graphene with noble-metal nanostructures promises a variety of exciting applications for conventional plasmonics. The versatility of graphene means that graphene-based plasmonics may enable the manufacture of novel optical devices working in different frequency ranges, from terahertz to the visible, with extremely high speed, low driving voltage, low power consumption and compact sizes. Here we review the field emerging at the intersection of graphene physics and plasmonics.Comment: Review article; 12 pages, 6 figures, 99 references (final version available only at publisher's web site

Viability of MSSM scenarios at very large tan(beta)

We investigate the MSSM with very large tan(beta) > 50, where the fermion masses are strongly affected by loop-induced couplings to the "wrong" Higgs, imposing perturbative Yukawa couplings and constraints from flavour physics. Performing a low-energy scan of the MSSM with flavour-blind soft terms, we find that the branching ratio of B->tau nu and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are the strongest constraints at very large tan(beta) and identify the viable regions in parameter space. Furthermore we determine the scale at which the perturbativity of the Yukawa sector breaks down, depending on the low-energy MSSM parameters. Next, we analyse the very large tan(beta) regime of General Gauge Mediation (GGM) with a low mediation scale. We investigate the requirements on the parameter space and discuss the implied flavour phenomenology. We point out that the possibility of a vanishing Bmu term at a mediation scale M = 100 TeV is challenged by the experimental data on B->tau nu and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures. v2: discussion in sections 1 and 4 expanded, conclusions unchanged. Matches version published in JHE

Assessment and topographic characterization of locoregional recurrences in head and neck tumours

Purpose: To evaluate the differences between three methods of classification of recurrences in patients with head and neck tumours treated with Radiation Therapy (RT). Materials and methods: 367 patients with head and neck tumours were included in the study. Tumour recurrences were delineated in the CT images taken during patient follow-up and deformable registration was used to transfer this volume into the planning CT. The methods used to classify recurrences were: methodCTV quantified the intersection volume between the recurrence and the Clinical Target Volume (CTV); methodTV quantified the intersection between the Treated Volume and the recurrence (for method CTV and TV, recurrences were classified in-field if more than 95% of their volume were inside the volume of interest, marginal if the intersection was between 20-95% and outfield otherwise); and methodCOM was based on the position of the Centre Of Mass of the recurrence. A dose assessment in the recurrence volume was also made. Results: The 2-year Kaplan-Meier locoregional recurrence incidence was 10%. Tumour recurrences occurred in 22 patients in a mean time of 16.5 ± 9.4 months resulting in 28 recurrence volumes. The percentage of in-field recurrences for methods CTV, TV and COM was 7%, 43% and 50%, respectively. Agreement between the three methods in characterizing individually in-field and marginal recurrences was found only in six cases. Methods CTV and COM agreed in 14. The percentage of outfield recurrences was 29% using all methods. For local recurrences (in-field or marginal to gross disease) the average difference between the prescribed dose and D 98% in the recurrence volume was -5.2 ± 3.5% (range: -10.1%-0.9%). Conclusions: The classification of in-field and marginal recurrences is very dependent on the method used to characterize recurrences. Using methods TV and COM the largest percentage of tumour recurrences occurred in-field in tissues irradiated with high doses. Keywords: Head and neck tumours, Radiation therapy, Characterization of tumour recurrences, Geometric methods, Dosimetric assessmen

Higgs-mediated FCNCs: Natural Flavour Conservation vs. Minimal Flavour Violation

We compare the effectiveness of two hypotheses, Natural Flavour Conservation (NFC) and Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV), in suppressing the strength of flavour-changing neutral-currents (FCNCs) in models with more than one Higgs doublet. We show that the MFV hypothesis, in its general formulation, is more stable in suppressing FCNCs than the hypothesis of NFC alone when quantum corrections are taken into account. The phenomenological implications of the two scenarios are discussed analysing meson-antimeson mixing observables and the rare decays B -> mu+ mu-. We demonstrate that, introducing flavour-blind CP phases, two-Higgs doublet models respecting the MFV hypothesis can accommodate a large CP-violating phase in Bs mixing, as hinted by CDF and D0 data and, without extra free parameters, soften significantly in a correlated manner the observed anomaly in the relation between epsilon_K and S_psi_K.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures. v3: minor modifications (typos corrected and few refs. added), conclusions unchanged; journal versio

Real-time in situ dynamic sub-surface imaging of multi-component electrodeposited films using event mode neutron reflectivity

Exquisite control of the electrodeposition of metal films and coatings is critical to a number of high technology and manufacturing industries, delivering functionality as diverse as anti- corrosion and anti-wear coatings, electronic device interconnects and energy storage. The frequent involvement of more than one metal motivates the capability to control, maintain and monitor spatial disposition of the component metals, whether as multilayers, alloys or composites. Here we investigate the deposition, evolution and dissolution of single and two- component metal layers involving Ag, Cu, and Sn on Au substrates immersed in the deep eutectic solvent (DES) Ethaline. During galvanostatically controlled stripping of the metals from two-component systems the potential signature in simultaneous thickness electrochemical potential (STEP) measurements provides identification of the dissolving metal; coulometric assay of deposition efficiency is an additional outcome. When combined with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) frequency responses, the mass change:charge ratio provides oxidation state data; this is significant for Cu in the high chloride environment provided by Ethaline. The spatial distribution (solvent penetration and external roughness) of multiple components in bilayer systems is provided by specular neutron reflectivity (NR). Significantly, the use of recently established event mode capability shortens the observational timescale of the NR measurements by an order of magnitude, permitting dynamic in situ observations on practically useful timescales. Ag,Cu bilayers of both spatial configurations give identical STEP signatures indicating that, despite the extremely low layer porosity, thermodynamic constraints (rather than spatial accessibility) dictate reactivity; thus, surprisingly, Cu dissolves first in both instances. Sn penetrates the Au electrode on the timescale of deposition; this can be prevented by interposing a layer of either Ag or Cu

Three Repeat Isoforms of Tau Inhibit Assembly of Four Repeat Tau Filaments

Tauopathies are defined by assembly of the microtubule associated protein tau into filamentous tangles and classified by the predominant tau isoform within these aggregates. The major isoforms are determined by alternative mRNA splicing of exon 10 generating tau with three (3R) or four (4R) ∼32 amino acid imperfect repeats in the microtubule binding domain. In normal adult brains there is an approximately equimolar ratio of 3R and 4R tau which is altered by several disease-causing mutations in the tau gene. We hypothesized that when 4R and 3R tau isoforms are not at equimolar ratios aggregation is favored. Here we provide evidence for the first time that the combination of 3R and 4R tau isoforms results in less in vitro heparin induced polymerization than with 4R preparations alone. This effect was independent of reducing conditions and the presence of alternatively spliced exons 2 and 3 N-terminal inserts. The addition of even small amounts of 3R to 4R tau assembly reactions significantly decreased 4R assembly. Together these findings suggest that co-expression of 3R and 4R tau isoforms reduce tau filament assembly and that 3R tau isoforms inhibit 4R tau assembly. Expression of equimolar amounts of 3R and 4R tau in adult humans may be necessary to maintain proper neuronal microtubule dynamics and to prevent abnormal tau filament assembly. Importantly, these findings indicate that disruption of the normal equimolar 3R to 4R ratio may be sufficient to drive tau aggregation and that restoration of the tau isoform balance may have important therapeutic implications in tauopathies

Genome-Wide Association Study in Bipolar Patients Stratified by Co-Morbidity

Bipolar disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder with high heritability. Co-morbid conditions are common and might define latent subgroups of patients that are more homogeneous with respect to genetic risk factors.In the Caucasian GAIN bipolar disorder sample of 1000 cases and 1034 controls, we tested the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with patient subgroups defined by co-morbidity.). All three associations were found under the recessive genetic model. Bipolar disorder with low probability of co-morbid conditions did not show significant associations.Conceptualizing bipolar disorder as a heterogeneous disorder with regard to co-morbid conditions might facilitate the identification of genetic risk alleles. Rare variants might contribute to the susceptibility to bipolar disorder

Recent Advances in Graph Partitioning

We survey recent trends in practical algorithms for balanced graph partitioning together with applications and future research directions