A4 Flavor Models in Split Seesaw Mechanism

A seesaw mechanism in an extra-dimension, known as the split seesaw mechanism, provides a natural way to realize a splitting mass spectrum of right-handed neutrinos. It leads to one keV sterile neutrino as a dark matter candidate and two heavy right-handed neutrinos being responsible for leptogenesis to explain the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. We study models based on $A_4$ flavor symmetry in the context of the split seesaw mechanism. It is pointed out that most of known $A_4$ flavor models with three right-handed neutrinos being $A_4$ triplet suffer from a degeneracy problem for the bulk mass terms, which disturbs the split mechanism for right-handed neutrino mass spectrum. Then we construct a new $A_4$ flavor model to work in the split seesaw mechanism. In the model, the experimentally observed neutrino masses and mixing angles can be realized from both type I+II seesaw contributions. The model predicts the $\mu-\tau$ symmetry in the neutrino mass matrix at the leading order, resulting in the vanishing $\theta_{13}$ and maximal $\theta_{23}$. The flavor symmetry $A_4$ is broken via the flavon vacuum alignment which can be obtained from the orbifold compactification. The model can be consistent with all data of neutrino oscillation experiments, cosmological discussions of dark matter abundance, leptogenesis, and recent astrophysical data.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, version to appear in JHE

Analysis of anti-C1q autoantibodies by western blot

Anti-C1q autoantibodies may be found in many conditions, most commonly in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS), and are diagnostic markers as well as disease activity markers in lupus nephritis. Sera from patients with SLE and HUVS show partly distinct autoantibody reactivities to separated protein chains B and C of the first component of complement, C1q. These different binding specificities can be detected by Western blot analysis of the autoantibodies under reducing conditions. Results may help clinicians to differentiate between SLE and HUVS

Dislocation after total hip replacement – there is no such thing as a safe zone for socket placement with the posterior approach

Malorientation of the socket contributes to instability after hip arthroplasty but the optimal orientation of the cup in relation to the pelvis has not been unequivocally described. Large radiological studies are few and problems occur with film standardisation, measurement methodology used and alternative definitions of describing acetabular orientation. A cohort of 1,578 patients from a single institution is studied where all patient data was collected prospectively. Risk factors for patients undergoing surgery are analysed. Radiological data was compared between a series of non-dislocating hips and dislocating cases matched 2:1 by operation type, age and diagnosis.??

Femoral cement within cement technique in carefully selected aseptic revision arthroplasties

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results in a group of patients who underwent aseptic revision hip arthroplasty using the cement within cement (CWC) technique. Between 1999 and 2005, 37 aseptic revision hip operations were performed. There were 30 women and five men, with an average age of 68 years. The reasons for revision were femoral stem fracture, cup failure, acetabular protrusion after hemi-arthroplasty and recurrent dislocation. At an average follow-up of 46 months, none of the patients required further femoral revision. The average post-operative Merle D’Aubigne score was 16.6 points (p<0.05). No evidence of radiological stem failure was observed and no femoral component was considered to be at risk for loosening. In this series of patients, the CWC technique provided consistent with high functional outcomes. This valid and effective alternative should be considered in carefully selected aseptic cases