Can the 126 GeV boson be a pseudoscalar?

We test the possibility that the newly-discovered 126 GeV boson is a pseudoscalar by examining the correlations among the loop-induced pseudoscalar decay branching fractions to $\gamma\gamma$, $ZZ^*$, $Z\gamma$, and $WW^*$ final states in a model-independent way. These four decays are controlled by only two effective operators, so that the rates in $Z\gamma$ and $WW^*$ are predicted now that the rates in $\gamma\gamma$ and $ZZ^*,Z\gamma^* \to 4 \ell$ have been measured. We find that the pseudoscalar possibility is disfavored but not conclusively excluded. Experimental exclusion of the $Z\gamma$ decay to well below $\sigma/\sigma_{\rm SM} \sim 170$ or conclusive observation of the $WW^*$ decay near the Standard Model rate would eliminate the pseudoscalar possibility. The $Z\gamma$ exclusion should be possible using existing data. The only loophole in our argument is the possibility that the $4\ell$ signal comes from pseudoscalar decays to a pair of new neutral gauge bosons with mass near the $Z$ pole.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, v2: references added, Fig. 1 improved,v3: minor error in numbers on last paragraph of pg5 fixe

Common ground: the opportunity of male contraceptives as MPTs

Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) and male contraceptive methods are currently in development to address unique and critical needs facing the global reproductive health community. Currently, MPT products in development are exclusively female-focused due to the readily available nature and regulatory precedent offered by female contraceptive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs); however, the opportunity to explore codevelopment with male contraceptive methods, which are at a comparatively early stage of development, should not be overlooked. These fields face parallel challenges including research and development, commercialization, regulatory approval, and market uptake, and these parallels can inform strategic alignment between the fields. One challenge that precludes codevelopment, however, is the path to market and associated funding models for these innovative, yet underappreciated fields. Without candid review, reconsideration, prioritization, and innovation led by the donor and investment communities, product developers will have no compelling reason to consider accepting the added regulatory and fiscal burden associated with combining development streams

Characterizing the Thermal Demands and Mobility Performance During International Wheelchair Rugby Competition

ObjectiveTo determine the thermoregulatory responses and mobility performance of wheelchair rugby (WCR) players during international competition.MethodsEleven male National Team WCR players volunteered for the study. Testing occurred during a four game series against international competition (temp 24.7 ± 0.7°C, relative humidity 50.1 ± 3.6%), with movement time (MT) and gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) recorded continuously.ResultsThe mean maximal Tgi was 38.6 ± 0.6°C (37.9–39.7) and did not significantly differ among Low-Class, Mid-Class, and High-Class athletes (p > 0.05). Moreover, there was a strong and significant relationship between minutes (min) played per quarter of the game and change in Tgi (r = 0.36, p = 0.01). Athletes moved a total of 27:43 ± 9:40 min:seconds (s), spent a total of 15:02 ± 8.23 min:s in Zone 1 (53.5%), 8:19 ± 3:20 min:s in Zone 2 (31.7%), and 5:59 ± 1:51 min:s in Zone 3 (21.3%). There were no differences among classification in total movement time (p = 0.169) or for speed in Zone 1, Zone 2, or Zone 3 (p > 0.05). The relationship between peak forward speed and total movement time was strong (p = 0.021, r = 0.68).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the time spent in absolute movement zones is not classification dependent, the change in core temperature is related to movement time per quarter. Furthermore, peak speeds obtained on-court were linked to overall movement time which suggests athletes should warm-up before going on court

Resident immune cells of the avascular lens: Mediators of the injury and fibrotic response of the lens.

Tissues typically harbor subpopulations of resident immune cells that function as rapid responders to injury and whose activation leads to induction of an adaptive immune response, playing important roles in repair and protection. Since the lens is an avascular tissue, it was presumed that it was absent of resident immune cells. Our studies now show that resident immune cells are a shared feature of the human, mouse, and chicken lens epithelium. These resident immune cells function as immediate responders to injury and rapidly populate the wound edge following mock cataract surgery to function as leader cells. Many of these resident immune cells also express MHCII providing them with antigen presenting ability to engage an adaptive immune response. We provide evidence that during development immune cells migrate on the ciliary zonules and localize among the equatorial epithelial cells of the lens adjacent to where the ciliary zonules associate with the lens capsule. These findings suggest that the vasculature-rich ciliary body is a source of lens resident immune cells. We identified a major role for these cells as rapid responders to wounding, quickly populating each wound were they can function as leaders of lens tissue repair. Our findings also show that lens resident immune cells are progenitors of myofibroblasts, which characteristically appear in response to lens cataract surgery injury, and therefore, are likely agents of lens pathologies to impair vision like fibrosis

The Littlest Higgs boson at a photon collider

We calculate the corrections to the partial widths of the light Higgs boson in the Littlest Higgs model due to effects of the TeV-scale physics. We focus on the loop-induced Higgs coupling to photon pairs, which is especially sensitive to the effects of new particles running in the loop. This coupling can be probed with high precision at a photon collider in the process gamma gamma -> H -> b bbar for a light Higgs boson with mass 115 GeV <= MH <~ 140 GeV. Using future LHC measurements of the parameters of the Littlest Higgs model, one can calculate a prediction for this process, which will serve as a test of the model and as a probe for a strongly-coupled UV completion at the 10 TeV scale. We outline the prospects for measuring these parameters with sufficient precision to match the expected experimental uncertainty on gamma gamma -> H -> b bbar.Comment: 34 pages, 7 figures; v2: refs added, errors fixed in Eqs. 18, 20, A2-A4, A12, A15, numerics updated, Sec.VI added with expanded discussion of uncertainties, conclusions unchanged; v3: refs added, minor changes to text, version to appear in PR

Early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats by its cardiac metabolic signature assessed with hyperpolarized MRI.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent that can cause serious cardiotoxic side effects culminating in congestive heart failure (HF). There are currently no clinical imaging techniques or biomarkers available to detect DOX-cardiotoxicity before functional decline. Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be a key factor driving functional decline, though real-time metabolic fluxes have never been assessed in DOX-cardiotoxicity. Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can assess real-time metabolic fluxes in vivo. Here we show that cardiac functional decline in a clinically relevant rat-model of DOX-HF is preceded by a change in oxidative mitochondrial carbohydrate metabolism, measured by hyperpolarized MRI. The decreased metabolic fluxes were predominantly due to mitochondrial loss and additional mitochondrial dysfunction, and not, as widely assumed hitherto, to oxidative stress. Since hyperpolarized MRI has been successfully translated into clinical trials this opens up the potential to test cancer patients receiving DOX for early signs of cardiotoxicity

Radiative Corrections to the ZbbˉZ b \bar{b} Vertex and Constraints on Extended Higgs Sectors

We explore the radiative corrections to the process $Z \to b \bar b$ in models with extended Higgs sectors. The observables $R_b = \Gamma(Z \to b \bar b)/\Gamma(Z \to \rm{hadrons})$ and the $Z b \bar b$ coupling asymmetry, $A_b = (g_L^2 - g_R^2)/(g_L^2 + g_R^2)$, are sensitive to these corrections. We present general formulae for the one-loop corrections to $R_b$ and $A_b$ in an arbitrary extended Higgs sector, and derive explicit results for a number of specific models. We find that in models containing only doublets, singlets, or larger multiplets constrained by a custodial $SU(2)_{c}$ symmetry so that $M_W = M_Z \cos\theta_W$ at tree level, the one-loop corrections due to virtual charged Higgs bosons always worsen agreement with experiment. The $R_{b}$ measurement can be used to set lower bounds on the charged Higgs masses. Constraints on models due to the one-loop contributions of neutral Higgs bosons are also examined.Comment: 54 pages, 11 figure