How To Determine SUSY Mass Scales Now

Currently available experimental data from electroweak precision observables (EWPO), B-physics observables (BPO) and cosmological data can be combined to extract the preferred value of SUSY mass scales. We review recent results on the predictions of the masses of supersymmetric particles and the indirect determination of the lightest Higgs boson mass. Special emphasis is put on models going beyond the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (CMSSM), such as the Non-Universal Higgs Model type I (NUHM1), or gauge and anomaloy mediated SUSY breaking.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, plenary talk given at SUSY08, Seoul, Kore

SLˉ(4,R)\bar{SL}(4,R) Embedding for a 3D World Spinor Equation

A generic-curved spacetime Dirac-like equation in 3D is constructed. It has, owing to the $\bar{SL}(n,R)$ group deunitarizing automorphism, a physically correct unitarity and flat spacetime particle properties. The construction is achieved by embedding $\bar{SL}(3,R)$ vector operator $X_{\mu}$, that plays a role of Dirac's $\gamma_{\mu}$ matrices, into $\bar{SL}(4,R)$. Decomposition of the unitary irreducible spinorial $\bar{SL}(4,R)$ representations gives rise to an explicit form of the infinite $X_{\mu}$ matrices

Aqueous Phase C-H Bond Oxidation Reaction of Arylalkanes Catalyzed by a Water-Soluble Cationic Ru(III) Complex [(pymox-Me\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e)\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eRuCl\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e]\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3eBF\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e-\u3c/sup\u3e

The cationic complex [(pymox-Me2)RuCl2]+BF4− was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the C−H bond oxidation reaction of arylalkanes in water. For example, the treatment of ethylbenzene (1.0 mmol) with t-BuOOH (3.0 mmol) and 1.0 mol % of the Ru catalyst in water (3 mL) cleanly produced PhCOCH3 at room temperature. Both a large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 14) and a relatively large Hammett value (ρ = −1.1) suggest a solvent-caged oxygen rebounding mechanism via a Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate species

Subinhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole prevent biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii through inhibition of Csu pilus expression

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is emerging as a multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen of increasing threat to human health worldwide. Pili are important bacterial virulence factors, playing a role in attachment to host cells and biofilm formation. The Csu pilus, which is assembled via the chaperone-usher secretion system, has been studied in A. baumannii ATCC 19606. Here we show that, in opposition to previous reports, the common laboratory strain ATCC 17978 produces Csu pili. We found that, although ATCC 17978 was resistant to sulfamethoxazole (Smx) and trimethoprim (Tmp), subinhibitory concentrations of these antibiotics abolished the expression of Csu and consequently produced a dramatic reduction in biofilm formation by ATCC 17978. Smx and Tmp acted synergistically to inhibit the enzymatic systems involved in the bacterial synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF), which is required for the synthesis of nucleotides. The effects of these antibiotics were partially relieved by exogenous THF addition, indicating that Smx and Tmp turn off Csu assembly by inducing folate stress. We propose that, for Acinetobacter , nanomolar concentrations of Smx and Tmp represent a “danger signal.” In response to this signal, Csu expression is repressed, allowing biofilm dispersal and escape from potentially inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. The roles of antibiotics as signaling molecules are being increasingly acknowledged, with clear implications for both the treatment of bacterial diseases and the understanding of complex microbial interactions in the environment. </jats:p