Light charged Higgs boson production at the Large Hadron electron Collider

We study the production of a light charged Higgs boson at the future Large Hadron electron Collider (LHeC), through the process $e^- p \to \nu_e H^- q$ considering both decay channels $H^- \to b \bar c$ and $H^- \to \tau \bar \nu_\tau$ in the final state. We analyse these processes in the context of the 2-Higgs Doublet Model Type III (2HDM-III) and assess the LHeC sensitivity to such $H^-$ signals against a variety of both reducible and irreducible backgrounds. We confirm that prospects for $H^-$ detection in the 2HDM-III are excellent assuming standard collider energy and luminosity conditions.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures. Accepted in Physical Review

Annotation of rule-based models with formal semantics to enable creation, analysis, reuse and visualization

Motivation: Biological systems are complex and challenging to model and therefore model reuse is highly desirable. To promote model reuse, models should include both information about the specifics of simulations and the underlying biology in the form of metadata. The availability of computationally tractable metadata is especially important for the effective automated interpretation and processing of models. Metadata are typically represented as machine-readable annotations which enhance programmatic access to information about models. Rule-based languages have emerged as a modelling framework to represent the complexity of biological systems. Annotation approaches have been widely used for reaction-based formalisms such as SBML. However, rule-based languages still lack a rich annotation framework to add semantic information, such as machine-readable descriptions, to the components of a model. Results: We present an annotation framework and guidelines for annotating rule-based models, encoded in the commonly used Kappa and BioNetGen languages. We adapt widely adopted annotation approaches to rule-based models. We initially propose a syntax to store machine-readable annotations and describe a mapping between rule-based modelling entities, such as agents and rules, and their annotations. We then describe an ontology to both annotate these models and capture the information contained therein, and demonstrate annotating these models using examples. Finally, we present a proof of concept tool for extracting annotations from a model that can be queried and analyzed in a uniform way. The uniform representation of the annotations can be used to facilitate the creation, analysis, reuse and visualization of rule-based models. Although examples are given, using specific implementations the proposed techniques can be applied to rule-based models in general

Effects of isokinetic eccentric training on knee extensor and flexor torque and on gait of individuals with long term ACL reconstruction: A controlled clinical trial

Abstract-This study investigated the effects of the isokinetic eccentric training (IET) on the knee extensor and flexor torque and kinematic gait parameters in individuals with ACL reconstruction. Sixteen men with ACL reconstructed (ACLr) whose torque and the gait were evaluated, before and after 12 weeks of IET, was compared to a control group (14 individuals). Student t, MANOVA and ANOVA tests were performed with 5% of significance. The training increased the isometric, concentric at 30 and 120º/s (p < .05) and eccentric at 30º/s (p < .01) extensor torque on the affected limb (AL), and eccentric at 30 and 120º/s (p < .01), on the non-affected limb (NAL). In the flexors, there was an increase on the torque: isometric, concentric at 30º/s and eccentric at 30 and 120º/s (p < .01) in AL and in eccentric at 30 (p < .05) and 120º/s (p < .01) in NAL. With respect to the angular and spatio-temporal variables gait, there was no difference between pre-and post-training in LCAr group. Compared to control group, the cycle time, in two members, was lower in LCAr group, and stride length and cadence were higher in the AL of the LCAr (p < .05). Moreover, the knee flexion-extension angles (minimum and maximum) remained lower in LCAr, pre-and post-training (p < .01). The torque gain associated with eccentric isokinetic training did not affect the kinematic parameters of gait in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Keywords: gait, exercise, muscle strength, movement, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Resumo-"Efeitos do treinamento isocinético excêntrico de extensores de joelho e torque flexor na marcha de indivíduos com reconstrução do LCA: Um ensaio clínico controlado." Este estudo investigou os efeitos do treinamento isocinético excêntrico (TIE) sobre o torque extensor e flexor do joelho e parâmetros cinemáticos da marcha de indivíduos com reconstrução do LCA. Dezesseis homens com LCA reconstruído (LCAr), foram avaliados quanto ao torque e marcha, antes e após 12 semanas de TIE e comparados com um grupo controle (14 indivíduos). Testes t Student, MANOVA e ANOVA foram realizados com 5% de significância. O treinamento aumentou o torque extensor isométrico, concêntrico a 30 e 120º/s (p < 0,05) e excêntrico a 30º/s (p < 0,01) no membro afetado (MA), e excêntrico a 30 e 120º/s (p < 0,01), no membro não afetado (MNA). Nos flexores, houve um aumento no torque: isométrico, concêntrico a 30º/s e excêntrico a 30 e 120º/s (p < 0,01) no MA, e excêntrico a 30 (p < 0,05) e 120º/s (p < 0,01) no MNA. Com relação às variáveis espaço-temporais e angulares da marcha, não houve diferença entre as avaliações pré e pós-treino no grupo LCAr. Comparado ao controle, a duração do ciclo, nos dois membros, foi menor no LCAr, e comprimento da passada e cadência foram maiores no MA do grupo LCAr (p < 0,05). Além disso, os ângulos (mínimo e máximo) de flexão-extensão do joelho permaneceram menores no LCAr, pré e pós-treino (p < 0,01). O ganho de torque associado ao treinamento isocinético excêntrico não modificou os parâmetros cinemáticos da marcha nos indivíduos submetidos à reconstrução do LCA. Palavras-chave: marcha, exercício, força muscular, movimento, reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior H.H. Santos, C.O. Sousa, J.A. Barela, A.M.F. Barela & T.F. Salvini Motriz, Rio Claro, v.20 n.4, p. 431-441, Oct./Dec. 2014 432 Resumen-"Efectos del entrenamiento excéntrico isocinético en extensor de la rodilla y el par flexor y sobre la marcha de las personas con reconstrucción ACL: Un ensayo clínico controlado." Este estudio investigó los efectos del entrenamiento isocinético excéntrico (EIE) en el torque del extensor y del flexor de la rodilla y parámetros cinemáticos de la marcha de personas con la reconstrucción del LCA. Dieciséis hombres con LCA reconstruido (LCAr), fueron evaluados para el par y la marcha antes y después de 12 semanas de EIE y se compararon con un grupo control (14 personas). Prueba t Student, ANOVA y MANOVA se realizaron con 5 % de significación. La formación aumentó extensor torque isométrico, concéntrico 30 y 120°/s (p < 0,05) y la excéntrica 30°/s (p < 0,01) en el miembro afectado (MA), y la excéntrica 30 y 120°/s (p < 0,01) en el miembro no afectado (MNA). Flexor, hubo un aumento en el par motor: isométrica , concéntrica 30°/s excéntrica 30 y 120°/s (p < 0,01) en MA, excéntrico y 30 (p < 0,05 ) y 120°/ s (p < 0,01) en el MNA. Con respecto a las variables angulares y espacio-temporal de andar, no hubo diferencia entre pre y post-entrenamiento en grupo LCAr. En comparación con el grupo control, el tiempo de ciclo, em los dos miembros, fue menor en LCAr, y la longitud del paso y cadencia fueron mayores en el LCAr del MA (p < 0,05). Por otra parte, los ángulos de flexión-extensión de la rodilla (mínimo y máximo) se mantuvieron bajos en LCAr, pre y post-entrenamiento (p < 0,01). El aumento del torque asociado con el entrenamiento isocinético excéntrico no afectó los parámetros cinemáticos de la marcha en las personas sometidas a la reconstrucción del LCA

Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil in Diet to Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818).

This study investigated the effects of different dietary levels of virgin coconut oil on growth, body composition, bacterial resistance, and hematology parameters in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Six isolipidic (12% crude lipid) and isonitrogenous (33% CP) diets were formulated adding virgin coconut oil (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) as lipid source, replacing the soybean oil. A positive control diet also prepared containing 15% lauric acid (main fatty acid in virgin coconut oil). Triplicate groups of 20 fish were fed twice daily throughout 90 days. Monthly, we evaluated the tambaqui growth performance, weight and biomass gain, specific growth ratio, apparent feeding conversion, relative condition factor, fish weight uniformity, and final survival. At end of experiment, the fish were subjected to bacterial challenge and blood analysis (glucose, lactate, plasmatic protein, and redcell blood). Fish fed 0%, 100% of VCO and lauric acid presented lower growth than fish fed 50% of virgin coconut oil (VCO) which presents the highest biomass (929:8 ± 80:6a) and weight gain (15:4±4:3a) (p < 0:05). Furthermore, the fish fed 50% and 75% VCO had an increase on body protein (50 and 58%, respectively) without increase body fat content. The values of triglycerides and cholesterol decreased (242:4 ± 39:1c and 181:5 ± 14:6bc) in fish fed 50% VCO and lauric acid, respectively. After bacterial challenge, a hemolytic anemia occurred in fish submitted to diets containing 100% of soybean oil and 100% of VCO, causing 41.67% and 100% of mortality, respectively. However, fish fed with 25 and 50% of VCO not presented any clinical signs of disease or mortality. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 50% virgin coconut in substitution to soybean oil as a lipid source in diets for C. macropomum is recommended to improve the growth performance, body protein, and resistance against pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila

The Large Hadron-Electron Collider at the HL-LHC

The Large Hadron-Electron Collider (LHeC) is designed to move the field of deep inelastic scattering (DIS) to the energy and intensity frontier of particle physics. Exploiting energy-recovery technology, it collides a novel, intense electron beam with a proton or ion beam from the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). The accelerator and interaction region are designed for concurrent electron-proton and proton-proton operations. This report represents an update to the LHeC's conceptual design report (CDR), published in 2012. It comprises new results on the parton structure of the proton and heavier nuclei, QCD dynamics, and electroweak and top-quark physics. It is shown how the LHeC will open a new chapter of nuclear particle physics by extending the accessible kinematic range of lepton-nucleus scattering by several orders of magnitude. Due to its enhanced luminosity and large energy and the cleanliness of the final hadronic states, the LHeC has a strong Higgs physics programme and its own discovery potential for new physics. Building on the 2012 CDR, this report contains a detailed updated design for the energy-recovery electron linac (ERL), including a new lattice, magnet and superconducting radio-frequency technology, and further components. Challenges of energy recovery are described, and the lower-energy, high-current, three-turn ERL facility, PERLE at Orsay, is presented, which uses the LHeC characteristics serving as a development facility for the design and operation of the LHeC. An updated detector design is presented corresponding to the acceptance, resolution, and calibration goals that arise from the Higgs and parton-density-function physics programmes. This paper also presents novel results for the Future Circular Collider in electron-hadron (FCC-eh) mode, which utilises the same ERL technology to further extend the reach of DIS to even higher centre-of-mass energies.Peer reviewe