159 research outputs found
Distinguishing among Technicolor/Warped Scenarios in Dileptons
Models of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking usually include new spin-1
resonances, whose couplings and masses have to satisfy electroweak precision
tests. We propose to use dilepton searches to probe the underlying structure
responsible for satisfying these. Using the invariant mass spectrum and charge
asymmetry, we can determine the number, parity, and isospin of these
resonances. We pick three models of strong/warped symmetry breaking, and show
that each model produces specific features that reflect this underlying
structure of electroweak symmetry breaking and cancellations.Comment: Added missing referenc
New constraint on the existence of the mu+-> e+ gamma decay
The analysis of a combined data set, totaling 3.6 \times 10^14 stopped muons
on target, in the search for the lepton flavour violating decay mu^+ -> e^+
gamma is presented. The data collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul
Scherrer Institut show no excess of events compared to background expectations
and yield a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of 5.7 \times
10^-13 (90% confidence level). This represents a four times more stringent
limit than the previous world best limit set by MEG.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, a version accepted in Phys. Rev. Let
Mass-Matching in Higgsless
Modern extra-dimensional Higgsless scenarios rely on a mass-matching between
fermionic and bosonic KK resonances to evade constraints from precision
electroweak measurements. After analyzing all of the Tevatron and LEP bounds on
these so-called Cured Higgsless scenarios, we study their LHC signatures and
explore how to identify the mass-matching mechanism, the key to their
viability. We find singly and pair produced fermionic resonances show up as
clean signals with 2 or 4 leptons and 2 hard jets, while neutral and charged
bosonic resonances are visible in the dilepton and leptonic WZ channels,
respectively. A measurement of the resonance masses from these channels shows
the matching necessary to achieve . Moreover, a large single
production of KK-fermion resonances is a clear indication of compositeness of
SM quarks. Discovery reach is below 10 fb of luminosity for resonances
in the 700 GeV range.Comment: 28 pages, 18 figure
The MEG detector for decay search
The MEG (Mu to Electron Gamma) experiment has been running at the Paul
Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland since 2008 to search for the decay \meg\
by using one of the most intense continuous beams in the world. This
paper presents the MEG components: the positron spectrometer, including a thin
target, a superconducting magnet, a set of drift chambers for measuring the
muon decay vertex and the positron momentum, a timing counter for measuring the
positron time, and a liquid xenon detector for measuring the photon energy,
position and time. The trigger system, the read-out electronics and the data
acquisition system are also presented in detail. The paper is completed with a
description of the equipment and techniques developed for the calibration in
time and energy and the simulation of the whole apparatus.Comment: 59 pages, 90 figure
Analysis of multidrug resistance in the predominant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Canada:the SAVE study, 2011-15
Objectives: This study assessed MDR invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, in relation to serotype evolution in Canada between 2011 and 2015 as part of the annual SAVE study. Methods: As part of a collaboration between the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance and Public Health Agency of Canada-National Microbiology Laboratory, 6207 invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae were evaluated. All isolates were serotyped and had antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed, in accordance with CLSI guidelines (M07-A10, 2015). Complete susceptibility profiles were available for 6001 isolates. MDR was defined as resistance to three or more classes of antimicrobial agents (with penicillin MIC ≥2 mg/L defined as resistant). Results: The overall rate of MDR S. pneumoniae was 6.2% (372/6001) in SAVE, decreasing significantly from 8.5% in 2011 to 5.6% in 2015 (P = 0.0041). MDR was observed in 32 serotypes, with serotypes 15A and 19A predominating (26.6% and 41.7% of the MDR isolates, respectively). The overall proportion of serotypes 19A, 7F and 33A decreased significantly (P 5%) for 24F and 33F. Conclusions: In 2015, 56.3% of invasive MDR S. pneumoniae were serotypes included in the PCV-13 vaccine. PCV-13 includes the most commonly identified serotype, 19A; however, other increasingly important MDR serotypes, such as 15A, 24F and 33F, are notably not in the currently used vaccines
Hormonal Signal Amplification Mediates Environmental Conditions during Development and Controls an Irreversible Commitment to Adulthood
Many animals can choose between different developmental fates to maximize fitness. Despite the complexity of environmental cues and life history, different developmental fates are executed in a robust fashion. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a powerful model to examine this phenomenon because it can adopt one of two developmental fates (adulthood or diapause) depending on environmental conditions. The steroid hormone dafachronic acid (DA) directs development to adulthood by regulating the transcriptional activity of the nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12. The known role of DA suggests that it may be the molecular mediator of environmental condition effects on the developmental fate decision, although the mechanism is yet unknown. We used a combination of physiological and molecular biology techniques to demonstrate that commitment to reproductive adult development occurs when DA levels, produced in the neuroendocrine XXX cells, exceed a threshold. Furthermore, imaging and cell ablation experiments demonstrate that the XXX cells act as a source of DA, which, upon commitment to adult development, is amplified and propagated in the epidermis in a DAF-12 dependent manner. This positive feedback loop increases DA levels and drives adult programs in the gonad and epidermis, thus conferring the irreversibility of the decision. We show that the positive feedback loop canalizes development by ensuring that sufficient amounts of DA are dispersed throughout the body and serves as a robust fate-locking mechanism to enforce an organism-wide binary decision, despite noisy and complex environmental cues. These mechanisms are not only relevant to C. elegans but may be extended to other hormonal-based decision-making mechanisms in insects and mammals
The oncogene AAMDC links PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling with metabolic reprograming in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
Adipogenesis associated Mth938 domain containing (AAMDC) represents an uncharacterized oncogene amplified in aggressive estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. We uncover that AAMDC regulates the expression of several metabolic enzymes involved in the one-carbon folate and methionine cycles, and lipid metabolism. We show that AAMDC controls PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, regulating the translation of ATF4 and MYC and modulating the transcriptional activity of AAMDC-dependent promoters. High AAMDC expression is associated with sensitization to dactolisib and everolimus, and these PI3K-mTOR inhibitors exhibit synergistic interactions with anti-estrogens in IntClust2 models. Ectopic AAMDC expression is sufficient to activate AKT signaling, resulting in estrogen-independent tumor growth. Thus, AAMDC-overexpressing tumors may be sensitive to PI3K-mTORC1 blockers in combination with anti-estrogens. Lastly, we provide evidence that AAMDC can interact with the RabGTPase-activating protein RabGAP1L, and that AAMDC, RabGAP1L, and Rab7a colocalize in endolysosomes. The discovery of the RabGAP1L-AAMDC assembly platform provides insights for the design of selective blockers to target malignancies having the AAMDC amplification
A limit for the mu -> e gamma decay from the MEG experiment
A search for the decay mu -> e gamma, performed at PSI and based on data from
the initial three months of operation of the MEG experiment, yields an upper
limit on the branching ratio of BR(mu -> e gamma) < 2.8 x 10**-11 (90% C.L.).
This corresponds to the measurement of positrons and photons from ~ 10**14
stopped mu-decays by means of a superconducting positron spectrometer and a 900
litre liquid xenon photon detector.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. v2: improved estimate of photon reconstruction
efficienc
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