Sfermion masses in the supersymmetric economical 3-3-1 model

Sfermion masses and eigenstates in the supersymmetric economical 3-3-1 model are studied. By lepton number conservation, the exotic squarks and superpartners of ordinary quarks are decoupled. Due to the fact that in the 3-3-1 models, one generation of quarks behaves differently from other two, by R-parity conservation, the mass mixing matrix of the squarks in this model are smaller than that in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). Assuming substantial mixing in pairs of highest flavours, we are able to get mass spectrum and eigenstates of all the sfermions. In the effective approximation, the slepton mass splittings in the first two generations, are consistent with those in the MSSM, namely: m^2_{\tilde{l}_L} - m^2_{\tilde{\nu}_{l L}} = m_W^2 \cos 2\ga $(l=e, \mu)$. In addition, within the above effective limit, there exists degeneracy among sneutrinos in each multiplet: $m^2_{\tilde{\nu}_{l L}} = m^2_{\tilde{\nu}_{l R}}$. In contradiction to the MSSM, the squark mass splittings are different for each generation and not to be m_W^2 \cos 2\ga.Comment: 34 pages, 2 figures, Revised version in which D-term and F-term contributions are slightly change

Characteristics of fecal microbiota transplantation use in inflammatory bowel disease cohort

Background: There is a growing interest in the role of gut bacteria in a number of diseases and an emerging hypothesis that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is triggered by microbial dysbiosis in genetically susceptible individuals. Currently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is utilized for the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis. Data on the efficacy of FMT for IBD are mixed, but patients are interested in its use for the treatment of IBD. We sought to describe the use of FMT (self or medical professional administered) in individuals with IBD using IBD Partners, an Internet-based cohort. Methods: Patients enrolled in the IBD Partners cohort were offered the opportunity to complete an optional survey on the use of FMT between January 2017 to September 2018 (n = 5430). A cross-sectional analysis was performed within patients who completed the survey and did not have a pouch or ostomy. Patients' demographic characteristics, disease activity and phenotype, mode of FMT delivery, and patient-reported efficacy were compared. Results: Among 3274 eligible patients, 51 (1.6%) responded that they had an FMT in the past. Of patients undergoing FMT, 22 patients had the FMT for C. difficile while 29 reported that the FMT was for another indication. Most patients receiving FMT for an indication other than C. difficile had ulcerative colitis/indeterminate colitis (25, 86.2%). Colonoscopy (68.2%) and nasogastric tube (18.2%) were the most common routes of administration for patients receiving FMT for C. difficile colitis. Self-administration (72.4%) and enemas (17.2%) were the most common routes of administration in patients receiving FMT for an alternate indication. Patients reporting FMT for an indication other than C. difficile were less likely to have a physician directing their FMT treatment (20.6%) as compared to patients receiving FMT for C. difficile (86.3%). Patient-reported efficacy was lower for FMT given for a non-C. difficile indication. Conclusions: Patients undergoing FMT for an indication other than C. difficile infection were more likely to have ulcerative colitis, self-administer FMT, and were less likely to be receiving FMT under the guidance of a medical professional. FMT was not as effective for symptoms when given for a non-C. difficile indication. Patients should be counseled on potential harms and lack of proven benefit associated with FMT for IBD indications to try to discourage self-administered FMT without proper medical oversite

Transcriptional Profiling of the Caloric Restriction in Key Metabolic Tissues of Pigs Differing in Feed Efficiency

Residual feed intake is a measure of feed efficiency, where low RFI denotes high feed efficiency. Caloric restriction (CR) is associated with feed efficiency in livestock species and to human health benefits such as longevity and cancer prevention. We have developed pig lines that differ in RFI and we are interested in identifying the genes and pathways that underlie feed efficiency. Prepubertal Yorkshire gilts with low RFI (n=10) or high RFI (n=10) were fed ad libitum or at 80% of maintenance for 8 days. We measured serum metabolites and generated transcriptional profiles of liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue on these animals. Overall, 6,114 genes in fat and 305 genes in liver were differentially expressed (DE) in response to CR, and 311 genes in fat and 147 genes in liver were DE due to RFI differences. Pathway analyses of CR-induced DE genes indicated a dramatic switch to a conservation mode of energy usage by down-regulating lipogenesis and steroidogenesis in both liver and fat. Interestingly, CR altered expression of genes in immune and cell cycle/apoptotic pathways in fat, which may explain part of the CR-driven lifespan enhancement. In-silico analysis of transcription factors revealed ESR1 as a putative regulator of the adaptive response to CR, as several targets of ESR1 in our DE fat genes were annotated as cell cycle/apoptosis genes. The lipid metabolic pathway was overrepresented by down-regulated genes due to both CR and low RFI. We propose a common energy conservation mechanism, which may be controlled by PPARA, PPARG, and/or CREB in both CR and feed efficient pigs

Black and White Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Show Similar Biologic Use Patterns with Medicaid Insurance

Background: Prior studies have identified racial disparities in the treatment and outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These disparities could be secondary to differences in biology, care delivery, or access to appropriate therapy. The primary aim of this study was to compare medication use among Medicaid-insured black and white patients with IBD, given uniform access to gastroenterologists and therapies. Methods: We analyzed Medicaid Analytic eXtract data from 4 states (California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas) between 2006 and 2011. We compared the use of IBD-specific therapies, including analyses of postoperative therapy among patients with Crohn disease (CD). We performed bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: We identified 14,735 patients with IBD (4672 black [32%], 8277 with CD [58%]). In multivariable analysis, there was no significant difference in the odds of anti-tumor necrosis factor use by race for CD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.28] or ulcerative colitis (aOR = 1.12; 95% CI, 0.96-1.32). Black patients with CD were more likely than white patients to receive combination therapy (aOR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15-1.96), and black patients were more likely than white patients to receive immunomodulator monotherapy after surgery for CD (31% vs 18%; P = 0.004). Conclusions: In patients with Medicaid insurance, where access to IBD-specific therapy should be similar for all individuals, there was no significant disparity by race in the utilization of IBD-specific therapies. Disparities in IBD treatment discussed in prior literature seem to be driven by socioeconomic or other issues affecting access to care

Use of Transcriptional Profiling and Assessment of Blood Parameters to Understand Biological Mechanisms Controlling Feed Intake and Efficiency in Pigs

In this study, using transcriptional profiling of key tissues, we aimed to identify genetic mechanisms differing between control pigs and pigs that have been under selection for low residual feed intake (RFI) for three generations. A further aim was to determine the pathways responding to feed restriction within these lines and any line x treatment interactions resulting in gene expression differences. Preliminary results indicate that 2,809 genes in fat (p\u3c0.04, q\u3c0.2) and 61 genes in liver (p\u3c0.001, q\u3c0.2) showed differential expression in response to feed restriction. Also, 1,247 genes (p\u3c0.02, q\u3c0.2) showed differential expression between low RFI and control pigs and 38 genes (p\u3c0.001, q\u3c0.2) showed a line x feed interaction in liver. In addition, we measured the concentration of some of the important feed intake regulators in the blood such as leptin, triglyceride, and glucose. We found that the average blood leptin level to be significantly higher in the control ad libitum (CA) pigs than the control restricted (CR) group. Interestingly, the selected line of pigs on both restricted (SR) and ad libitum (SA) feed had similar blood leptin levels as found in the CR group pigs. Serum glucose levels were higher in CR than CA, however, we observed an opposite trend in the selected group. Combined with the transcriptional profiling results, blood hormone parameters may help us understand potential pathways that control FI and FE in pigs

Higher order conductivity corrections to the Casimir force

The finite conductivity corrections to the Casimir force in two configurations are calculated in the third and fourth orders in relative penetration depth of electromagnetic zero oscillations into the metal. The obtained analytical perturbation results are compared with recent computations. Applications to the modern experiments are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

Lensing at cosmological scales: a test of higher dimensional gravity

Recent developments in gravitational lensing astronomy have paved the way to genuine mappings of the gravitational potential at cosmological scales. We stress that comparing these data with traditional large scale structure surveys will provide us with a test of gravity at such scales. These constraints could be of great importance in the framework of higher dimensional cosmological models.Comment: 4 pages, latex, 3 figure

Cosmological Effects of Radion Oscillations

We show that the redshift of pressureless matter density due to the expansion of the universe generically induces small oscillations in the stabilized radius of extra dimensions (the radion field). The frequency of these oscillations is proportional to the mass of the radion and can have interesting cosmological consequences. For very low radion masses $m_b$ ($m_b\sim10-100 H_0\simeq10^{-32} eV$) these low frequency oscillations lead to oscillations in the expansion rate of the universe. The occurrence of acceleration periods could naturally lead to a resolution of the coincidence problem, without need of dark energy. Even though this scenario for low radion mass is consistent with several observational tests it has difficulty to meet fifth force constraints. If viewed as an effective Brans-Dicke theory it predicts $\omega=-1+\frac{1}{D}$ ($D$ is the number of extra dimensions), while experiments on scales larger than $1mm$ imply $\omega>2500$. By deriving the generalized Newtonian potential corresponding to a massive toroidally compact radion we demonstrate that Newtonian gravity is modified only on scales smaller than $m_b^{-1}$. Thus, these constraints do not apply for $m_b>10^{-3} eV$ (high frequency oscillations) corresponding to scales less than the current experiments ($0.3mm$). Even though these high frequency oscillations can not resolve the coincidence problem they provide a natural mechanism for dark matter generation. This type of dark matter has many similarities with the axion.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. D. Clarifying comments added in the text and some additional references include

Time series modeling of cell cycle exit identifies Brd4 dependent regulation of cerebellar neurogenesis

Cerebellar neuronal progenitors undergo a series of divisions before irreversibly exiting the cell cycle and differentiating into neurons. Dysfunction of this process underlies many neurological diseases including ataxia and the most common pediatric brain tumor, medulloblastoma. To better define the pathways controlling the most abundant neuronal cells in the mammalian cerebellum, cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPs), we performed RNA-sequencing of GCPs exiting the cell cycle. Time-series modeling of GCP cell cycle exit identified downregulation of activity of the epigenetic reader protein Brd4. Brd4 binding to the Gli1 locus is controlled by Casein Kinase 1δ (CK1 δ)-dependent phosphorylation during GCP proliferation, and decreases during GCP cell cycle exit. Importantly, conditional deletion of Brd4 in vivo in the developing cerebellum induces cerebellar morphological deficits and ataxia. These studies define an essential role for Brd4 in cerebellar granule cell neurogenesis and are critical for designing clinical trials utilizing Brd4 inhibitors in neurological indications