Neutrino phenomenology and stable dark matter with A4

We present a model based on the A4 non-abelian discrete symmetry leading to a predictive five-parameter neutrino mass matrix and providing a stable dark matter candidate. We found an interesting correlation among the atmospheric and the reactor angles which predicts theta_23 ~ pi/4 for very small reactor angle and deviation from maximal atmospheric mixing for large theta_13. Only normal neutrino mass spectrum is possible and the effective mass entering the neutrinoless double beta decay rate is constrained to be |m_ee| > 4 10^{-4} eV.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, minor changes to match the version to appear in PL

Fritzsch neutrino mass matrix from S3 symmetry

We present an extension of the Standard Model (SM) based on the discrete flavor symmetry S3 which gives a neutrino mass matrix with two-zero texture of Fritzsch-type and nearly diagonal charged lepton mass matrix. The model is compatible with the normal hierarchy only and predicts the sine squared of the reactor angle to be 0.01 at the best fit values of solar and atmospheric parameters and maximal leptonic CP violation.Comment: 14 pages and 3 figures. Final version to appear in J. Phys

Two-zero Majorana textures in the light of the Planck results

The recent results of the Planck experiment put a stringent constraint on the sum of the light neutrino masses, m1+m2+m3 < 0.23 eV (95 % CL). On the other hand, two-zero Majorana mass matrix textures predict strong correlations among the atmospheric angle and the sum of the masses. We use the Planck result to show that, for the normal hierarchy case, the texture with vanishing (2,2) and (3,3) elements is ruled out at a high confidence level; in addition, we emphasize that a future measurement of the octant of the atmospheric mixing angle (or the one sigma determination of it based on recent fit to neutrino data) will put severe constraint on the possible structure of the Majorana mass matrix. The implication of the above mentioned correlations for neutrinoless double beta-decay are also discussed, for both normal and inverted orderings.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

New Synthetic Endocannabinoid as Anti-Inflammaging Cosmetic Active: an In Vitro Study on a Reconstructed Skin Model

Endocannabinoids have been recently appointed as interesting cosmetic actives in regulating inflammaging, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, known for being involved in many senescence\u2019s manifestations, included skin aging. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammaging activity of a new synthetic endocannabinoid, Isopalmide\uae, on a reconstructed skin model, on which inflammaging has been reproduced through UVA radiation and light mechanical stress. We tested Isopalmide\uae both as a single active and conveyed in a cosmetic product, in comparison with Anandamide, a well-known natural endocannabinoid with anti-inflammatory action. The anti-inflammaging activity of topically applied products has been assessed, after 6 hours of treatment post-irradiation, through the transcriptional modification of genes involved in the NF-\u3baB pathway and the epigenetic pathway targeting miRs as potential biomarkers of inflammaging: miR-21, miR-126 and miR-146a. The results confirmed the anti-inflammatory action of Anandamide which inhibits NF-\u3baB, while Isopalmide\uae showed its anti-inflammaging activity through the establishment of an inflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance by maintaining NF-\u3baB inactive in the cytoplasm and active in the nucleus. The anti-inflammaging activity was shown also by the cosmetic product containing Isopalmide

Transitions into institutional adulthood

Key findings • With adequate care and support, migrant young people can make highly successful transitions at 18. • Many unaccompanied migrant young people face specific difficulties when transitioning to adulthood (compared to non-migrant young people in local authority care). • The quality of local authority social care support for young people turning 18, and at later transitions, varies widely within and between local authorities. • Some young people choose to disengage from statutory services at 18 because they fear detention and forced removal. • For young people who have exhausted their appeal rights, transition to adulthood can mean having to survive by relying on social networks and the informal economy. • Transition to adulthood for young people who disengage from services is often characterised by homelessness, destitution and poor mental and physical health

Market Access

The negotiation of improved market access in agriculture is crucial to the success of the Doha Round. The depth of tariff cuts will be the main indication of the level of ambition of the agricultural talks and hence the Round as a whole. Agricultural tariffs remain five times higher than tariffs in industrial goods, and account for the bulk of the distortions in agricultural trade. Recent analysis indicates that 92 percent of the global gains from trade liberalization in agriculture result from removing market access barriers. The July Framework reaffirmed the objective of substantial improvements in market access. This is to be accomplished by a single approach, a tiered (or banded) formula for tariff cuts, with the higher tariff rates being subject to the highest cuts. Negotiations have centered on how many bands to select, where to place the thresholds, and how progressive to make the band-specific reductions. The issue of whether to impose a tariff cap was left undecided in the Framework Agreement. Tariff caps have the advantage of reducing tariffs that are so high that they are little different from an import ban. If the cap is set at a low enough level, real trade improvements may follow. The Framework Agreement specifies that each Member may identify in the schedule a number of products as "Sensitive Products." However, analysis has shown that even exempting as little as two percent of tariff lines from formula based cuts would substantially reduce the expected gains from market access improvements. This points up the need for significant increases in TRQs for Sensitive Products to achieve significant improvements in market access. All tariff lines subject to TRQs, whether or not they are classified as Sensitive Products, should be subject to quota volume expansion. Improving the administration of TRQs and reducing in-quota tariffs are both important objectives for the Doha Round. There is considerable scope to improve the efficiency and transparency of quota regimes. The continued availability of the Special Safeguard for Agriculture by WTO members "remains under negotiation." But abuse of such a safeguard in order to protect domestic producers thwarts the objective of improved market access. Some limitations will need to be introduced if the safeguard is to be continued under the new agreement. The Framework Agreement emphasizes that Special and Differential Treatment is to be an integral part of the market access outcome. This can be ensured by several provisions. Developing countries can specify a number of products as Special Products, based on criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development needs. The difficulty is in devising concrete criteria for selecting these products. The Framework Agreement also endorses the creation of a Special Safeguard Mechanism for developing countries. Tariff cuts in the Doha Round can erode the value of preferences and can have important consequences for some countries. Preference-granting countries could offset the declining value of those preferences either through financial transfers or additional market access for all products from the current preferred exporters. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) should not be required to undertake any reduction commitments, though they might wish to do so for their own economic advantage. Developed countries should provide duty- and quota-free access to LDCs to encourage full integration into the trade system.International Relations/Trade,

Walking a Tightrope: Unaccompanied migrant young people, transitions and futures

With the collaboration of Praxis Community Projects and Shpresa Programme, a series of photography workshops were conducted with young people from different backgrounds who have gone through similar experiences of migration. Many of these people came to the UK on their own as children, without their family. Their images narrate the difficult and continuous journey they make, and the life changing transitions that this journey entailed. It is a journey without a clear point of departure or arrival - or a clear sense of direction – but which brings multiple transformations and transitions along the way. People have to negotiate completely different cultural, social and political environments and, most importantly, the constraints of an exclusionary asylum system that has profound effects on their everyday lives. These young people often live with the terrifying uncertainty of not knowing what will happen to them or whether they will be returned to the country from which they have fled