Charge and CP symmetry breaking in two Higgs doublet models

We show that, for the most generic model with two Higgs doublets possessing a minimum that preserves the $U(1)_{em}$ symmetry, charge breaking (CB) cannot occur. If CB does not occur, the potential could have two different minima, and there is in principle no general argument to show which one is the deepest. The depth of the potential at a stationary point that breaks CB or CP, relative to the $U(1)_{em}$ preserving minimum, is proportional to the squared mass of the charged or pseudoscalar Higgs, respectively

Extra-dimensional cosmology with domain-wall branes

We show how to define a consistent braneworld cosmology in a model in which the brane is constructed as a field-theoretic domain wall of finite thickness. The Friedmann, Robertson-Walker metric is recovered in the region of the brane, but, remarkably, with scale factor that depends on particle energy and on particle species, constituting a breakdown of the weak equivalence principle on sufficiently small scales. This unusual effect comes from the extended nature of particles confined to a domain-wall brane, and the fact that they feel an "average" of the bulk spacetime. We demonstrate how to recover the standard results of brane cosmology in the infinitely-thin brane limit, and comment on how our results have the potential to place bounds on parameters such as the thickness of domain-wall braneworlds.Comment: 23 pages; v2 has additional references and reflects journal versio

Neutral minima in two-Higgs doublet models

We study the neutral minima of two-Higgs doublet models, showing that these potentials can have at least two such minima with different depths. We analyse the phenomenology of these minima for the several types of two-Higgs doublet potentials, where CP is explicitly broken, spontaneously broken or preserved. We discover that it is possible to have a neutral minimum in these potentials where the masses of the known particles have their standard values, with another deeper minimum where those same particles acquire different masses.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

Perturbed angular correlations for Gd in gadolinium: in-beam comparisons of relative magnetizations

Perturbed angular correlations were measured for Gd ions implanted into gadolinium foils following Coulomb excitation with 40 MeV O-16 beams. A technique for measuring the relative magnetizations of ferromagnetic gadolinium hosts under in-beam conditions is described and discussed. The combined electric-quadrupole and magnetic-dipole interaction is evaluated. The effect of nuclei implanted onto damaged or non-substitutional sites is assessed, as is the effect of misalignment between the internal hyperfine field and the external polarizing field. Thermal effects due to beam heating are discussed.Comment: 37 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in NIM

Use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with obesity for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism: updated communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation

Although direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have widespread first-line use for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), uncertainty remains regarding their efficacy and safety in patients with obesity. We reviewed available data for use of DOACs for VTE treatment and prevention in patients with obesity, including phase 3, phase 4, meta-analyses, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies. In addition, we reviewed available data regarding DOACs in bariatric surgery. We provide updated guidance recommendations on using DOACs in patients with obesity for treatment and prevention of VTE, as well as following bariatric surgery.Thrombosis and Hemostasi

Activin receptor-like kinase receptors ALK5 and ALK1 are both required for TGFβ-induced chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Introduction Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are promising for cartilage regeneration because BMSCs can differentiate into cartilage tissue-producing chondrocytes. Transforming Growth Factor beta; (TGFbeta;) is crucial for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs and is known to signal via Activin receptor-Like Kinase (ALK) receptors ALK5 and ALK1. Since the specific role of these two TGFbeta; receptors in chondrogenesis is unknown, we investigated whether ALK5 and ALK1 are expressed in BMSCs and whether both receptors are required for chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Materials & Methods ALK5 and ALK1 gene expression in human BMSCs was determined with RT-qPCR. To induce chondrogenesis, human BMSCs were pellet-cultured in serum-free chondrogenic medium containing TGFβ1. Chondrogenesis was evaluated by aggrecan and collagen type IIα1 RT-qPCR analysis, and histological stainings of proteoglycans and collagen type II. To overexpress constitutively active (ca) receptors, BMSCs were transduced either with caALK5 or caALK1. Expression of ALK5 and ALK1 was downregulated by transducing BMSCs with shRNA against ALK5 or ALK1. Results ALK5 and ALK1 were expressed in in vitro-expanded as well as in pellet-cultured BMSCs from five donors, but mRNA levels of both TGFbeta; receptors did not clearly associate with chondrogenic induction. TGFbeta; increased ALK5 and decreased ALK1 gene expression in chondrogenically differentiating BMSC pellets. Neither caALK5 nor caALK1 overexpression induced cartilage matrix formation as efficient as that induced by TGFbeta;. Moreover, short hairpin-mediated downregulation of either ALK5 or ALK1 resulted in a strong inhibition of TGFbeta;-induced chondrogenesis. Conclusion ALK5 as well as ALK1 are required for TGFbeta;-induced chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and TGFbeta; not only directly induces chondrogenesis, but also modulates ALK5 and ALK1 receptor signaling in BMSCs. These results imply that optimizing cartilage formation by mesenchymal stem cells will depend on activation of both receptors