One-loop Neutron Electric Dipole Moment from Supersymmetry without R-parity

We present a detailed analysis together with exact numerical calculations on one-loop contributions to neutron electric dipole moment from supersymmetry without R-parity, focusing on the gluino, chargino, and neutralino contributions. Apart from the neglected family mixing among quarks, complete formulae are given for the various contributions, through the quark dipole operators, to which the present study is restricted. We discuss the structure and main features of the R-parity violating contributions and the interplay between the R-parity conserving and violating parameters. In particular, the parameter combination $\mu_i^*\lambda^{\prime}_{i11}$, under the optimal parametrization adopted, is shown to be solely responsible for the R-parity violating contributions in the supersymmetric loop diagrams. While $\mu_i^*\lambda^{\prime}_{i11}$ could bear a complex phase, the latter is not necessary to have a R-parity violating contribution.Comment: 43 pages Revtex with 15 eps- and 4 ps- figure files incoporated; proofread version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Anti-quorum sensing activity of some medicinal plants

Background: Quorum sensing is the key regulator of virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa such as biofilm formation, motility, productions of proteases, hemolysin, pyocyanin, and toxins. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of the extracts from some medicinal plants on quorum sensing and related virulence factors of P. aeruginosa.Material and Methods: Quorum sensing inhibitory (OSI) effect of the alcohol extracts of 20 medicinal plants was evaluated by Chromobacterium violaceum reporter using agar cup diffusion method. The efficient QSI extracts were tested for their activity against biofilm synthesis, motility, and synthesis of pyocyanin from P. aeruginosa PA14Results: The extracts of Citrus sinensis, Laurus nobilis, Elettaria cardamomum, Allium cepa, and Coriandrum sativum exhibited potent quorum quenching effect. On the other hand, Psidium guajava and Mentha longifolia extracts showed lower QSI activity. These extracts exhibited significant elimination of pyocyanin formation and biofilm development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. In addition, they significantly inhibited twitching and swimming motilities of P. aeruginosa PA14.Conclusion: This study illustrated, for the first time, the importance of C. sinensis, L. nobilis, E. cardamomum, A. cepa, and C. sativum as quorum sensing inhibitors and virulence suppressors of P. aeruginosa. Thus, these plants could provide a natural source for the elimination of Pseudomonas pathogenesis.Keywords: Quorum sensing inhibitory activity, P. aeruginosa, Chromobacterium violaceum, virulence factor

Sagitol C, a new cytotoxic pyridoacridine alkaloid from the sponge Oceanapia sp.

AbstractA new pyridoacridine alkaloid named sagitol C (2) together with two known compounds; kuanoniamine C (1) and sagitol (3) were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of the Indonesian sponge Oceanapia sp. Their chemical structures were established on the basis of physical and spectroscopic methods 1D and 2D NMR, in addition to mass spectrometry and comparison with literature data. Sagitol C was found to exhibit cytotoxic activity when tested against different cancer cell lines

Assessment of Dapagliflozin Effectiveness as Add-on Therapy for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Qatari Population

The effectiveness of dapagliflozin in the management of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2-DM) is an essential issue for establishing a basis for prescribing dapagliflozin. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of dapagliflozin in combination with other hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. This retrospective observational study included all patients who visited the endocrine clinics at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and were treated with dapagliflozin. Demographics and laboratory data were obtained retrospectively from computerized patient medical profiles (eMR-viewer). The main outcome measures were the differences in HbA1c and FBG from baseline at different months. Eighty-one Qatari patients were found to have received dapagliflozin during the study period; 72% of them (n = 58) were males, with a mean age of 57.0 ± 9.0 years and a mean baseline HbA1c of 9.0 ± 1.4%. Administration of dapagliflozin as an add-on therapy was found to decrease HbA1c significantly by 0.8 percentage point after 6 months (P = 0.006) and by 1.5 percentage point after 12 months (P = 0.062). FBG was significantly reduced at 6 months and 9 months (P = 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Dapagliflozin effectively reduced the HbA1c level and FBG when used in combination with other OHAs or insulin within 6 to 12 months. © 2019, The Author(s).Ethical approval. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Medical Research Center of Hamad Medical Corporation. The authors would like to thank the Hamad Medical Corporation for proving the research funding. This work was supported by the Medical Research Center of Hamad Medical Corporation [grant number 15292/15].Scopu

Field evaluation of biostimulants on growth, flowering, yield, and quality of snap beans in subtropical environment

The cultivation of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in subtropical regions faces environmental challenges leading to potential declines in yield. This study explores the efficacy of biostimulants as a solution, specifically investigating spraying treatments with 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), chitosan (Ch), triacontanol (TRIA), and potassium silicate (KSi) on the snap bean cv. Paulista. Over two growing seasons with late sowing and elevated summer temperatures, the research assesses growth, flowering, yield, and quality. Notably, 5 ppm TRIA demonstrates the most significant impact on plant growth and leaf nutrient content. Treatments with 40 ppm 6-BA, 5 ppm TRIA, or 200 ppm KSi exhibit notable effects on inflorescence flower count and flowers per plant. These treatments prove most effective for crucial green pod yield measures, including the number and weight of marketable pods. Moreover, 40 ppm 6-BA or 5 ppm TRIA significantly enhances pod characteristics, such as length, diameter, and weight, consistently improving over both seasons. Particularly, 5 ppm TRIA outperforms in enhancing the chemical quality of pods throughout the study. Overall, the findings suggest that the application of 5 ppm TRIA offers the most favorable enhancements for the growth, flowering, productivity, and quality of snap bean plants in subtropical field conditions

MSSM Higgs sector CP violation at photon colliders: Revisited

We present a comprehensive analysis on the MSSM Higgs sector CP violation at photon colliders including the chargino contributions as well as the contributions of other charged particles. The chargino loop contributions can be important for the would-be CP odd Higgs production at photon colliders. Polarization asymmetries are indispensable in determining the CP properties of neutral Higgs bosons.Comment: 24 pages, 40 figure

Role of sequential semen samples in infertile men candidates for assisted reproduction: A prospective study

Objective: To study the beneficial effect of repeated sequential ejaculation in infertile men who are candidates for assisted reproduction.Materials and methods: The study included a total of 237 infertile males attending our infertility and IVF center from January 2016 till December 2017. All patients were asked to provide two semen samples (1–3 h apart) after an abstinence period of 3–7 days. The two consecutive semen samples were analyzed according to the 2010 WHO criteria for semen analysis and their parameters were compared.Results: The mean age for our study group was 35.7 years (20–56 year). Of the 237 subjects, 157 showed oligoasthenozoospermia on their initial semen sample while the remaining 80 were azoospermic. A statistically significant difference was detected between the 2 sequential semen samples regarding all semen parameters except grade A motility. Despite the significant decrease in seminal volume by sequential sampling, there was a statistically significant increase in sperm concentration in the second ejaculate compared to the first (6.2 ± 0.61 versus 3.4 ± 0.52 million/mL, respectively, p = 0.016). The mean normal sperm morphology also demonstrated a significant increase (2.1 ± 1.8–5.1 ± 2.6%, p < 0.002). Mean progressive sperm motility increased from 1.13 ± 0.31 to 1.7 ± 0.31% (p = 0.010) on repeated sampling. Also, we were able to retrieve viable sperm in 15% of the azoospermic patients whom were known to be azoospermic on previous occasions.Conclusions: Obtaining consecutive semen samples leads to improvements in the quality of many semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) which may be of special importance for management of infertile couples especially those attempting assisted reproductive techniques

Effects of Large CP violating phases on g_{\m}-2 in MSSM

Effects of CP violation on the supersymmetric electro-weak correction to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are investigated with the most general allowed set of CP violating phases in MSSM. The analysis includes contributions from the chargino and the neutralino exchanges to the muon anomaly. The supersymmetric contributions depend only on specific combinations of CP phases. The independent set of such phases is classified. We analyse the effects of the phases under the EDM constraints and show that large CP violating phases can drastically affect the magnitude of the supersymmetric electro-weak contribution to $a_{\mu}$ and may even affect its overall sign.Comment: 26 pages Latex file including 4 figure

Open-array analysis of genetic variants in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity

Background: Diabetes mellitus is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Susceptibility to diabetes is influenced by both genetic and environmental determinants.Aims/hypothesis: The aim of the present study was to test for 16 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in established Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity susceptibility loci by GWAS in a sample of Egyptian patients to find out if there is shared genetic background underlying both disease entities.Methods: Genotyping was performed using OpenArray protocol on the QuantStudioTM 12K Flex Real- Time PCR System. In the present case control study a custom array was designed to facilitate costeffective analysis of selected SNPs related to glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, insulin signalling, and immune function.Results: Seven gene variants showed significant association with the risk of T2D patients including FCGRA2, STAT4, CELSR2, PPARG, EXT2 rs3740878, GCKR, PTGS1. Factors that significantly affect T2D were obesity (p < 0.001) and GCKR (p = 0.001) and PTGS1 (p = 0.001) gene variants. Gene variants that showed significant or borderline effect on obesity were MTHFD1, EXT2 rs3740878, GCKR and PTGS1 (p = 0.03, 0.017, 0.059, 0.006) respectively.Conclusions/interpretation: Overlapping genetic aspects should be considered and the presence of risk alleles of different genes together could contribute to the risk of T2D or obesity or both. The MTHFD1 and EXT2rs3740878 gene variants significantly affect obesity and not shared with T2D. Gene variants that showed combined effect on both disease entities were GCKR and PTGS1. These findings provide a basis for future studies on a larger scale. More stress on the risk gene variants that have a combined impact on both diabetes and obesity is recommended to improve risk prediction and preventive strategies

The MSSM invisible Higgs in the light of dark matter and g-2

Giving up the assumption of the gaugino mass unification at the GUT scale, the latest LEP and Tevatron data still allow the lightest supersymmetric Higgs to have a large branching fraction into invisible neutralinos. Such a Higgs may be difficult to discover at the LHC and is practically unreachable at the Tevatron. We argue that, for some of these models to be compatible with the relic density, light sleptons with masses not far above the current limits are needed. There are however models that allow for larger sleptons masses without being in conflict with the relic density constraint. This is possible because these neutralinos can annihilate efficiently through a Z-pole. We also find that many of these models can nicely account, at the 2\sigma level, for the discrepancy in the latest g-2 measurement. However, requiring consistency with the g-2 at the 1\sigma level, excludes models that lead to the largest Higgs branching fraction into LSP's. In all cases one expects that even though the Higgs might escape detection, one would have a rich SUSY phenomenology even at the Tevatron, through the production of charginos and neutralinos.Comment: 16 pages and 5 figures. New references added, text and figures unchange