The Role of Oestrogen Receptor Beta (ERβ) in the Aetiology and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Challenges facing the treatment of type 2 diabetes necessitate the search for agents which act via alternative pathways to provide better therapeutic outcomes. Recently, an increasing body of evidence implicates the activation of oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in the development and treatment of underlying conditions in type 2 diabetes. This article summarizes available evidence for the involvement of oestrogen receptors in insulin secretion, insulin resistance as well as glucose uptake and highlights the potential of ERβ as a therapeutic target. Background: Recent studies indicate an association between the activation of each of the isoforms of ER and recent findings indicate that ERβ shows promise as a potential target for antidiabetic drugs. In vitro and in vivo studies in receptor knockout mice indicate beneficial actions of selective agonists of ERβ receptor and underscore its therapeutic potential. Conclusion: Studies are needed to further elucidate the exact mechanism underlying the role of ERβ activation as a therapeutic approach in the management of type 2 diabetes

Search for dark matter produced in association with a hadronically decaying vector boson in pp collisions at sqrt (s) = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for dark matter produced in association with a hadronically decaying W or Z boson using 3.2 fb−1 of pp collisions at View the MathML sources=13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with a hadronic jet compatible with a W or Z boson and with large missing transverse momentum are analysed. The data are consistent with the Standard Model predictions and are interpreted in terms of both an effective field theory and a simplified model containing dark matter

Measurement of the top quark mass in the tt→ dilepton channel from √s = 8 TeV ATLAS data

The top quark mass is measured in the tt¯ → dilepton channel (lepton = e,μ) using ATLAS data recorded in the year 2012 at the LHC. The data were taken at a proton proton centre-of-mass energy of √s = 8 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 20.2 fb−1. Exploiting the template method, and using the distribution of invariant masses of lepton–b-jet pairs, the top quark mass is measured to be mtop = 172.99±0.41 (stat) ±0.74 (syst) GeV, with a total uncertainty of 0.84 GeV. Finally, a combination with previous ATLAS mtop measurements from √s = 7 TeV data in the tt¯ → dilepton and tt¯ → lepton + jets channels results in mtop = 172.84±0.34 (stat)±0.61 (syst) GeV, with a total uncertainty of 0.70 GeV

Search for the Standard Model Higgs boson decaying into bb¯ produced in association with top quarks decaying hadronically in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for Higgs boson production in association with a pair of top quarks (tt¯ H) is performed, where the Higgs boson decays to bb¯, and both top quarks decay hadronically. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 of pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The search selects events with at least six energetic jets and uses a boosted decision tree algorithm to discriminate between signal and Standard Model background. The dominant multijet background is estimated using a dedicated data-driven technique. For a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV, an upper limit of 6.4 (5.4) times the Standard Model cross section is observed (expected) at 95% confidence level. The best-fit value for the signal strength is μ = 1.6 ± 2.6 times the Standard Model expectation for mH = 125 GeV. Combining all tt¯ H searches carried out by ATLAS at √s = 8 and 7 TeV, an observed (expected) upper limit of 3.1 (1.4) times the Standard Model expectation is obtained at 95% confidence level, with a signal strength μ = 1.7 ± 0.8

Search for heavy long-lived charged R-hadrons with the ATLAS detector in 3.2 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at root s=13 TeV

A search for heavy long-lived charged R-hadrons is reported using a data sample corresponding to 3.2 fb−1 of proton–proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The search is based on observables related to large ionisation losses and slow propagation velocities, which are signatures of heavy charged particles travelling significantly slower than the speed of light. No significant deviations from the expected background are observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are provided on the production cross section of long-lived R-hadrons in the mass range from 600 GeV to 2000 GeV and gluino, bottom and top squark masses are excluded up to 1580 GeV, 805 GeV and 890 GeV, respectively

Search for the Higgs boson produced in association with a W boson and decaying to four b-quarks via two spin-zero particles in pp collisions at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents a dedicated search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of new spin-zero particles, H → aa, where the particle a decays to b-quarks and has a mass in the range of 20–60 GeV. The search is performed in events where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a W boson, giving rise to a signature of a lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse momentum, and multiple jets from b-quark decays. The analysis is based on the full dataset of pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV recorded in 2015 by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb−1. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model prediction is observed, and a 95% confidence-level upper limit is derived for the product of the production cross section for pp → W H times the branching ratio for the decay H → aa → 4b. The upper limit ranges from 6.2 pb for an a-boson mass ma = 20 GeV to 1.5 pb for ma = 60 GeV

Épocas e extensões do período de convivência das plantas daninhas interferindo na produtividade da cultura do milho (Zea mays)

Q field experiment was carried out at the Gralha Azul Experimental Farm/PUCPR, in the municipality of Fazenda Rio Grande-PR, to evaluate the effect of different times and coexistence extension periods of weeds interfering in corn yield. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized complete block design and the treatments in a 4x5+2 factorial, with four replications. The treatments were as follows: four initial weed control periods (0-0, 0-7, 0-14 and 0-21 DAE) and five restarted weed control periods until the harvest (28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 DAE) and two checks, weedy and weed-free. The experiment was carried out under a no-till system. The period prior to weed interference (PBWI), the start of the critical period of weed interference (CPWI) and the infesting community were evaluated. When the initial weed control period was 0-0 day, the PPWI was at 9 DAE of corn; however, with increasing initial weed control periods (0-7, 0-14 and 0-21 DAE) the period prior to weed interference inncreased in relation to 0-0 day of the initial weed control, evidencing the existence of PPWI-S of 17, 24 and 28 DAE of corn, respectively. Thus CPWI initiates at the end of PPWI-S, the period when weed control is indispensable to prevent a significant reduction in corn yield. Coexistance with the weeds throughout the crop cycle reduced yield in 15%, compared to the weed-free check. Nine species of seven botanical families were assessed in the infesting community. Reduced density and dry mass were verified in the weeds that coexisted with corn, compared to those that grew without it, thus evidencing a suppressive effect of corn over the infesting plants.Foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Gralha Azul/PUCPR, município de Fazenda Rio Grande, PR, um experimento de campo com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes épocas e extensões do período de convivência das plantas daninhas interferindo na produtividade da cultura do milho. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 5 + 2, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram: quatro períodos iniciais de controle (0-0, 0-7, 0-14 e 0-21 DAE) e cinco períodos em que se reiniciou o controle das plantas daninhas, prolongando-se até a colheita: 28, 42, 56, 70 e 84 DAE, e mais duas testemunhas, uma com e outra sem controle das plantas daninhas durante todo o ciclo da cultura. O experimento foi instalado em sistema de plantio direto. Foram avaliados o período anterior à interferência (PAI), a existência do período anterior à interferência subsequente (PAI-S), o início do período crítico de competição (PCC) e a comunidade infestante. Quando o período inicial de controle da comunidade infestante foi de 0-0 dia, o PAI foi de 9 DAE do milho, porém, com períodos iniciais crescentes de controle (0-7, 0-14 e 0-21 DAE), houve aumento no PAI em relação a 0-0 dia de controle inicial, evidenciando assim a existência do PAI-S, que foi de 17, 24 e 28 DAE do milho, respectivamente. Dessa forma, o início do PCC começa a partir do final do PAI e PAI-S, caracterizando-se pelo período durante o qual é imprescindível a realização do controle da comunidade infestante para que não ocorra redução significativa na produtividade de grãos do milho. A convivência com as plantas daninhas durante todo o ciclo da cultura reduziu a sua produtividade em 15%, em relação à testemunha livre de competição. No levantamento da comunidade infestante foram encontradas nove espécies, inseridas em sete famílias botânicas. Verificou-se redução na densidade e massa seca das plantas daninhas que conviveram com o milho, em relação àquelas que cresceram na ausência da cultura, evidenciando assim um efeito supressivo do milho sobre as plantas infestantes