180 research outputs found
Minimizing Higgs Potentials via Numerical Polynomial Homotopy Continuation
The study of models with extended Higgs sectors requires to minimize the
corresponding Higgs potentials, which is in general very difficult. Here, we
apply a recently developed method, called numerical polynomial homotopy
continuation (NPHC), which guarantees to find all the stationary points of the
Higgs potentials with polynomial-like nonlinearity. The detection of all
stationary points reveals the structure of the potential with maxima,
metastable minima, saddle points besides the global minimum. We apply the NPHC
method to the most general Higgs potential having two complex Higgs-boson
doublets and up to five real Higgs-boson singlets. Moreover the method is
applicable to even more involved potentials. Hence the NPHC method allows to go
far beyond the limits of the Gr\"obner basis approach.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Russian Old Believers: Genetic Consequences of Their Persecution and Exile, as Shown by Mitochondrial DNA Evidence
In 1653, the Patriarch Nikon modified liturgical practices to bring the Russian Orthodox Church in line with those of the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Church, from which it had split 200 years earlier. The Old Believers (staroveri) rejected these changes and continued to worship using the earlier practices. These actions resulted in their persecution by the Russian Orthodox Church, which forced them into exile across Siberia. Given their history, we investigate whether populations of Old Believers have diverged genetically from other Slavic populations as a result of their isolation. We also examine whether the three Old Believer populations analyzed in this study are part of a single gene pool (founder population) or are instead derived from heterogeneous sources. As part of this analysis, we survey the mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of 189 Russian Old Believer individuals from three populations in Siberia and 201 ethnic Russians from different parts of Siberia for phylogenetically informative mutations in the coding and noncoding regions. Our results indicate that the Old Believers have not significantly diverged genetically from other Slavic populations over the 200-300 years of their isolation in Siberia. However, they do show some unique patterns of mtDNA variation relative to other Slavic groups, such as a high frequency of subhaplogroup U4, a surprisingly low frequency of haplogroup H, and low frequencies of the rare East Eurasian subhaplogroup D5
Economic Inequality and MasculinityâFemininity: The Prevailing Perceived Traits in Higher Unequal Contexts Are Masculine
Previous studies have shown that economic inequality influences psychological
processes. In this article, we argue that economic inequality also makes masculine
attributes more prototypical. In Study 1 (N = 106), using an experimental design,
we showed that individuals belonging to a society characterized by a higher level of
economic inequality are perceived as more masculine than feminine. Study 2 (N = 75)
shows, also experimentally, that the upper social class is perceived mostly in terms of
masculine traits, and that this effect is greater when economic inequality is relatively
high. Conversely, the lower social class is more clearly perceived in terms of feminine
traits. These results inform our understanding of the impact of economic inequality on
social perception.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of
Economy and Competitiveness [Ref. PSI2014-59659-R and Ref.
PSI2017-83966-R (MINECO/AEI/FEDER/UE)] and by a Grant
(FPU15/06126) from the FPU Program of the Spanish Ministry
of Education, Culture, and Sport
The Discovery of LOX-1, its Ligands and Clinical Significance
LOX-1 is an endothelial receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), a key molecule in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.The basal expression of LOX-1 is low but highly induced under the influence of proinflammatory and prooxidative stimuli in vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets and cardiomyocytes. Multiple lines of in vitro and in vivo studies have provided compelling evidence that LOX-1 promotes endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis induced by oxLDL. The roles of LOX-1 in the development of atherosclerosis, however, are not simple as it had been considered. Evidence has been accumulating that LOX-1 recognizes not only oxLDL but other atherogenic lipoproteins, platelets, leukocytes and CRP. As results, LOX-1 not only mediates endothelial dysfunction but contributes to atherosclerotic plaque formation, thrombogenesis, leukocyte infiltration and myocardial infarction, which determine mortality and morbidity from atherosclerosis. Moreover, our recent epidemiological study has highlighted the involvement of LOX-1 in human cardiovascular diseases. Further understandings of LOX-1 and its ligands as well as its versatile functions will direct us to ways to find novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular disease
Production and hydration of calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cements derived from aluminium anodising sludge
Calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement (CSAB) offers lower CO2 emissions in its production, compared with Portland cement. However, for the production of CSAB a high amount of alumina is required, and the scarcity and high cost of high-purity bauxite make these cements costly at present. In this study, the use of uncalcined aluminium anodising sludge (AAS) as the main source of alumina to produce CSAB clinkers, replacing bauxite, was assessed. The CSAB clinkers produced were mainly composed of yeâelimite and belite, along with minor traces of alite, and/or brownmillerite, depending on the alumina source. Clinkers derived from AAS as a source of aluminium showed a lower content of yeâelimite (35.5%), as well as the formation of alite (8.2%) when compared to a reference clinker produced with reagent-grade materials. Comparable hydration products were identified in the hydrated cements independent of the alumina source used. The use of AAS to produce CSAB cement was proven to be technically feasible, and the cement thus produced has desirable technical characteristics, presenting high mechanical strength (>40 MPa in paste samples)
Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles
can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications
in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or
magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal
stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction
of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particlesâ
surface is essential. During this process, the original
coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded
ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the
silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more
than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In
this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces
ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically
accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove
the generic character, different functional groups were
introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol
chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their
colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as
well as human plasma and serum was investigated to
allow implementation in biomedical and sensing
applications.status: publishe
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