Higgs mass predictions of public NMSSM spectrum generators

The publicly available spectrum generators for the NMSSM often lead to different predictions for the mass of the standard model-like Higgs boson even if using the same renormalization scheme and two-loop accuracy. Depending on the parameter point, the differences can exceed 5 GeV, and even reach 8 GeV for moderate superparticle masses of up to 2 TeV. It is shown here that these differences can be traced back to the calculation of the running standard model parameters entering all calculations, to the approximations used in the two-loop corrections included in the different codes, and to different choices for the renormalization conditions and scales. In particular, the importance of the calculation of the top Yukawa coupling is pointed out.Comment: 24 pages, no figures; v2: slightly extended discussion, matches version accepted for publication by CP

CTG Program

This component contains the HC_CTG.zo file needed to run the Collective Trust Game (CTG) on a Linux-based operating system

HHV-6 encephalitis in a non-transplanted adult acute myeloid leukemia patient

Patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) are given a real chance of cure, but at the same time are confronted with a considerable risk of mortality and of severe long-term impediments. This narrative, non-systematic literature review aims to describe the supportive and palliative care needs of allo-SCT recipients, including long-term survivors or those relapsing or dying after transplantation. It also evaluates the feasibility and effectivity of integrating palliative care early in transplant procedures. In this appraisal of available literature, the main findings relate to symptoms like fatigue and psychological distress, which appear to be very common in the whole allo-SCT trajectory and might even persist many years post-transplantation. Chronic GvHD has a major negative impact on quality of life. Overall, there is a paucity of research on further issues in the context of allo-SCT, like the distress related to the frequently unpredictable post-transplant trajectory and prognosis, as well as the end-of-life phase. First randomized controlled results support the effectiveness of early integration of specialized palliative care expertise into transplant algorithms. Barriers to this implementation are discussed

Inhibition of chymotryptic-like standard proteasome activity exacerbates doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in primary cardiomyocytes

The anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent anticancer agents for multiple myeloma (MM). A major limitation of this drug is the induction of death in cardiomyocytes leading to heart failure. Here we report on the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) as a critical surveillance pathway for preservation of cell vitality counteracting DOX treatment. Since in addition to DOX also suppression of proteasome activity is a rational therapeutic strategy for MM, we examined how small molecular compounds with clinically relevant proteasome subunit specificity affect DOX cytotoxicity. We found that during DOX-treatment, the activity of the β5 standard proteasome subunit is crucial for limiting off-target cytotoxicity in primary cardiomyocytes. In contrast, we demonstrate that the β5 equivalent LMP7 of the immunoproteasome represents a safe target for subunit-specific inhibitors in DOX-exposed cardiomyocytes. Neither inhibition of LMP7 in primary cardiomyocytes nor genetic ablation of LMP7 in heart tissue influenced the development of DOX cardiotoxicity. Our results indicate that as compared to compounds like carfilzomib, which target both the β5 standard proteasome and the LMP7 immunoproteasome subunit, immunoproteasome-specific inhibitors with known anti-tumor capacity for MM cells might be advantageous for reducing cardiomyocyte death, when a combination therapy with DOX is envisaged