Four-dimensional lattice results on the MSSM electroweak phase transition

We present the results of our large scale 4-dimensional (4d) lattice simulations for the MSSM electroweak phase transition (EWPT). We carried out infinite volume and continuum limit extrapolations and found a transition whose strength agrees well with perturbation theory. We determined the properties of the bubble wall that are important for a successful baryogenesis.Comment: 5 pages, 3figures. Talk presented at Johns Hopkins Workshop on Nonperturbative Quantum Field Theory Methods and their Applications (19-21 August 2000.

Electroweak Phase Transition in the MSSM: 4-Dimensional Lattice Simulations

Recent lattice results have shown that there is no Standard Model (SM) electroweak phase transition (EWPT) for Higgs boson masses above \approx 72 GeV, which is below the present experimental limit. According to perturbation theory and 3-dimensional (3d) lattice simulations there could be an EWPT in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) that is strong enough for baryogenesis up to m_h \approx 105 GeV. In this letter we present the results of our large scale 4-dimensional (4d) lattice simulations for the MSSM EWPT. We carried out infinite volume and continuum limits and found a transition whose strength agrees well with perturbation theory, allowing MSSM electroweak baryogenesis at least up to m_h = 103 \pm 4 GeV. We determined the properties of the bubble wall that are important for a successful baryogenesis.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures included; lightest Higgs mass bound relaxed (abstract, fig. 3 changed), version to appear in Phys. Rev. Letter

Stapled Peptides as HIF‐1α/p300 Inhibitors: Helicity Enhancement in the Bound State Increases Inhibitory Potency

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) control virtually all cellular processes and have thus emerged as potential targets for development of molecular therapeutics. Peptide‐based inhibitors of PPIs are attractive given that they offer recognition potency and selectivity features that are ideal for function, yet, they do not predominantly populate the bioactive conformation, frequently suffer from poor cellular uptake and are easily degraded, for example, by proteases. The constraint of peptides in a bioactive conformation has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate against these liabilities. In this work, using peptides derived from hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1α) together with dibromomaleimide stapling, we identify constrained peptide inhibitors of the HIF‐1α/p300 interaction that are more potent than their unconstrained sequences. Contrary to expectation, the increased potency does not correlate with an increased population of an α‐helical conformation in the unbound state as demonstrated by experimental circular dichroism analysis. Rather, the ability of the peptide to adopt a bioactive α‐helical conformation in the p300 bound state is better supported in the constrained variant as demonstrated by molecular dynamics simulations and circular dichroism difference spectra

Towards identification of protein-protein interaction stabilizers via inhibitory peptide-fragment hybrids using templated fragment ligation

Using the hDMX/14-3-3 interaction, acylhydrazone-based ligand-directed fragment ligation was used to identify protein–protein interaction (PPI) inhibitory peptide-fragment hybrids. Separation of the peptide-fragment hybrids into the components yielded fragments that stabilized the hDMX/14-3-3 interaction

Contour deformation trick in hybrid NLIE

The hybrid NLIE of AdS_5 x S^5 is applied to a wider class of states. We find that the Konishi state of the orbifold AdS_5 x (S^5/Z_S) satisfies A_1 NLIE with the source terms which are derived from contour deformation trick. For general states, we construct a deformed contour with which the contour deformation trick yields the correct source terms.Comment: 39 pages, 6 figures, v2: discussion on analyticity constraints replaced by consistent deformed contou

Konishi operator at intermediate coupling

TBA equations for two-particle states from the sl(2) sector proposed by Arutyunov, Suzuki and the author are solved numerically for the Konishi operator descendent up to 't Hooft's coupling lambda ~ 2046. The data obtained is used to analyze the properties of Y-functions and address the issue of the existence of the critical values of the coupling. In addition we find a new integral representation for the BES dressing phase which substantially reduces the computational time.Comment: lots of figures, v2: improved numerics, c1=2, c2=0, c4 does not vanis

Hybrid-NLIE for the AdS/CFT spectral problem

Hybrid-NLIE equations, an alternative finite NLIE description for the spectral problem of the super sigma model of AdS/CFT and its gamma-deformations are derived by replacing the semi-infinite SU(2) and SU(4) parts of the AdS/CFT TBA equations by a few appropriately chosen complex NLIE variables, which are coupled among themselves and to the Y-functions associated to the remaining central nodes of the TBA diagram. The integral equations are written explicitly for the ground state of the gamma-deformed system. We linearize these NLIE equations, analytically calculate the first correction to the asymptotic solution and find agreement with analogous results coming from the original TBA formalism. Our equations differ substantially from the recently published finite FiNLIE formulation of the spectral problem.Comment: 63 pages, 1 figur

Five-loop anomalous dimension at critical wrapping order in N=4 SYM

We compute the anomalous dimension of a length-five operator at five-loop order in the SU(2) sector of N=4 SYM theory in the planar limit. This is critical wrapping order at five loops. The result is obtained perturbatively by means of N=1 superspace techniques. Our result from perturbation theory confirms explicitly the formula conjectured in arXiv:0901.4864 for the five-loop anomalous dimension of twist-three operators. We also explicitly obtain the same result by employing the recently proposed Y-system.Comment: LaTeX, feynmp, 34 pages, 21 figures, 8 table

Exploring the mirror TBA

We apply the contour deformation trick to the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz equations for the AdS_5 \times S^5 mirror model, and obtain the integral equations determining the energy of two-particle excited states dual to N=4 SYM operators from the sl(2) sector. We show that each state/operator is described by its own set of TBA equations. Moreover, we provide evidence that for each state there are infinitely-many critical values of 't Hooft coupling constant \lambda, and the excited states integral equations have to be modified each time one crosses one of those. In particular, estimation based on the large L asymptotic solution gives \lambda \approx 774 for the first critical value corresponding to the Konishi operator. Our results indicate that the related calculations and conclusions of Gromov, Kazakov and Vieira should be interpreted with caution. The phenomenon we discuss might potentially explain the mismatch between their recent computation of the scaling dimension of the Konishi operator and the one done by Roiban and Tseytlin by using the string theory sigma model.Comment: 69 pages, v2: new "hybrid" equations for YQ-functions, figures and tables are added. Analyticity of Y-system is discussed, v3: published versio

Absence of miRNA-146a Differentially Alters Microglia Function and Proteome

Background: MiR-146a is an important regulator of innate inflammatory responses and is also implicated in cell death and survival. Methods: By sorting CNS resident cells, microglia were the main cellular source of miR-146a. Therefore, we investigated microglia function and phenotype in miR-146a knock-out (KO) mice, analyzed the proteome of KO and wild-type (WT) microglia by LC-MS/MS, and examined miR-146a expression in different brain lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Results: When stimulated with LPS or myelin in vitro, microglia from KO mice expressed higher levels of IL-1β, TNF, IL-6, IL-10, CCL3, and CCL2 compared to WT. Stimulation increased migration and phagocytosis of WT but not KO microglia. CD11c+ microglia were induced by cuprizone (CPZ) in the WT mice but less in the KO. The proteome of ex vivo microglia was not different in miR-146a KO compared to WT mice, but CPZ treatment induced differential and reduced protein responses in the KO: GOT1, COX5b, CRYL1, and cystatin-C were specifically changed in KO microglia. We explored discriminative features of microglia proteomes: sparse Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis showed the best discrimination when control and CPZ-treated conditions were compared. Cluster of ten proteins separated WT and miR-146a KO microglia after CPZ: among them were sensomes allowing to perceive the environment, Atp1a3 that belongs to the signature of CD11c+ microglia, and proteins related to inflammatory responses (S100A9, Ppm1g). Finally, we examined the expression of miR-146a and its validated target genes in different brain lesions of MS patients. MiR-146 was upregulated in all lesion types, and the highest expression was in active lesions. Nineteen of 88 validated target genes were significantly changed in active lesions, while none were changed in NAWM. Conclusion: Our data indicated that microglia is the major source of miR-146a in the CNS. The absence of miR-146a differentially affected microglia function and proteome, and miR-146a may play an important role in gene regulation of active MS lesions