9,171 research outputs found
High scale impact in alignment and decoupling in two-Higgs doublet models
The two-Higgs doublet model (2HDM) provides an excellent benchmark to study
physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). In this work we discuss how the
behaviour of the model at high energy scales causes it to have a scalar with
properties very similar to those of the SM -- which means the 2HDM can be seen
to naturally favor a decoupling or alignment limit. For a type II 2HDM, we show
that requiring the model to be theoretically valid up to a scale of 1 TeV, by
studying the renormalization group equations (RGE) of the parameters of the
model, causes a significant reduction in the allowed magnitude of the quartic
couplings. This, combined with -physics bounds, forces the model to be
naturally decoupled. As a consequence, any non-decoupling limits in type II,
like the wrong-sign scenario, are excluded. On the contrary, even with the very
constraining limits for the Higgs couplings from the LHC, the type I model can
deviate substantially from alignment. An RGE analysis similar to that made for
type II shows, however, that requiring a single scalar to be heavier than about
500 GeV would be sufficient for the model to be decoupled. Finally, we show
that not only a 2HDM where the lightest of the CP-even scalars is the 125 GeV
one does not require new physics to be stable up to the Planck scale but this
is also true when the heavy CP-even Higgs is the 125 GeV and the theory has no
decoupling limit for the type I model.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figure
Incorporating the water footprint and virtual water into policy: reflections from the Mancha Occidental Region, Spain
Water resource management is often a controversial issue in semiarid regions. Most water resources experts admit that water conflicts are not caused by the physical water scarcity but they are mainly due to inadequate water management. The virtual water concept (the volume of water used in the production of a commodity, good or service) together with the water footprint (indicator of water consumption that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer), links a large range of sectors and issues, thus providing a potentially appropriate framework to support more optimal water management practices by informing production and trade decisions. This paper provides an analysis of these two concepts within the context of the Mancha Occidental region, Spain, exploring the hydrological and economic aspects of agricultural production. In doing so, this work not only distinguishes between green and blue water but also between surface and groundwater. We conclude by discussing the practical implications of the results, as well as their potential limitations from the policy standpoint
Structural properties of fluids interacting via piece-wise constant potentials with a hard core
The structural properties of fluids whose molecules interact via potentials
with a hard core plus two piece-wise constant sections of different widths and
heights are presented. These follow from the more general development
previously introduced for potentials with a hard core plus piece-wise
constant sections [Condens. Matter Phys. {\bf 15}, 23602 (2012)] in which use
was made of a semi-analytic rational-function approximation method. The results
of illustrative cases comprising eight different combinations of wells and
shoulders are compared both with simulation data and with those that follow
from the numerical solution of the Percus-Yevick and hypernetted-chain integral
equations. It is found that the rational-function approximation generally
predicts a more accurate radial distribution function than the Percus-Yevick
theory and is comparable or even superior to the hypernetted-chain theory. This
superiority over both integral equation theories is lost, however, at high
densities, especially as the widths of the wells and/or the barriers increase.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures; v2: Old Fig. 1 removed, new text on the
correlation length, 7 new references added, plus other minor change
An integrated omic approach towards the metabolic engineering of myrcene pathway of pseudomonas sp. M1
Best Poster AwardPseudomonas sp. M1 is able to utilize a large variety of toxic and/or recalcitrant
compounds as sole carbon and energy sources, including phenols, benzene and
monoterpenes like myrcene [1-3]. Therefore, M1 strain holds great potential as a source
of novel biomolecules and cell factories for various biotechnological applications
namely in biocatalysis, biosensors, bioremediation and biomedicine. However, the full
exploitation of its enzymatic repertoire requires detailed and integrated information
about the biomolecular catalog of M1 strain, including genes, proteins and metabolites.
In this context, the genome of Pseudomonas sp. M1 was sequenced by NGS
technologies, using Illumina GA IIx and Roche 454 FLX. The resulting raw data was
assembled and annotated using different pipelines. The current genome draft of
Pseudomonas sp. M1 has an estimated GC content of 67%, a size of about 7.1 Mbps
and includes 6276 CDS. Importantly, in silico genome analysis predicted a number of
metabolic pathways involved in utilization/biotransformation of several unusual carbons
sources (e.g. biphenyls, halophenols and different monoterpenes).
Proteomic and transcriptomic approaches have been setup envisaging the elucidation of
the myrcene stimulon. In 2009, a set of myrcene-dependent proteins has been described
using subproteome analysis of the cytoplasmic fraction [3]. In this work, a RNA-seq
transcriptome analysis led to the identification of a 28kb genomic island of key
importance in the catabolism of myrcene. This island includes genes involved in: i)
myrcene oxidation and bioconversion of myrcene derivatives via a beta-oxidation like
pathway; ii) regulation of myrcene pathway; iii) myrcene sensing. In addition several
other gene clusters spread in the genome of Pseudomonas sp. M1 have been found to be
myrcene-dependently expressed and are under investigation.
Integration of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic data will deliver a very
solid and detailed description of the myrcene catabolism (and other monoterpenes), and
on the associated molecular mechanisms of adaptation, providing the adequate support
for the application of M1 as a biocatalyst in whole-cell biotransformations of plantderived
volatiles.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
Towards the metabolic engineering of myrcene pathway of pseudomonas sp. M1 using an integrated omic approach
Pseudomonas sp. M1, isolated from the Rhine River, is able to utilize a large variety of toxic and/or recalcitrant compounds as sole carbon and energy sources, including phenols, benzene and monoterpenes like myrcene [1-3]. Therefore, M1 strain holds great potential as a source of novel biomolecules and cell factories for various biotechnological applications namely in biocatalysis, biosensors, bioremediation and biomedicine. However, the full exploitation of its enzymatic repertoire requires detailed and integrated information about the biomolecular catalog of M1 strain, including genes, proteins and metabolites.
In this context, the genome of Pseudomonas sp. M1 was sequenced by NGS technologies, using Illumina Genome Analyser IIx and Roche 454 FLX. The resulting raw data was assembled into 41 contigs and annotated using different pipelines. The current genome draft of Pseudomonas sp. M1 has an estimated GC content of 67%, a size of about 6.9 Mbps and includes 6214 CDS. Importantly, in silico genome analysis predicted a number of metabolic pathways involved in utilization/biotransformation of several unusual carbons sources (e.g. biphenyls, halophenols and different monoterpenes).
Proteomic and transcriptomic approaches have been setup envisaging the elucidation of the myrcene stimulon. In 2009, a set of myrcene-dependent proteins has been described using subproteome analysis of the cytoplasmic fraction [3]. More recently, a RNA-seq transcriptome analysis led to the identification of a 28kb genomic island of key importance in the catabolism of myrcene. This island includes genes involved in: i) myrcene oxidation and bioconversion of myrcene derivatives via a beta-oxidation like pathway; ii) regulation of myrcene pathway; iii) myrcene sensing. In addition several other gene clusters spread in the genome of Pseudomonas sp. M1 have been found to be myrcene-dependently expressed and are currently being characterized.
Integration of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic data (which is currently being setup) will deliver a very solid and detailed description of the myrcene catabolism (and other monoterpenes), and on the associated molecular mechanisms of adaptation, providing the adequate support for the application of M1 as a biocatalyst in whole-cell biotransformations of plant-derived volatiles.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
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