Wrong sign and symmetric limits and non-decoupling in 2HDMs

We analyse the possibility that, in two Higgs doublet models, one or more of the Higgs couplings to fermions or to gauge bosons change sign, relative to the respective Higgs Standard Model couplings. Possible sign changes in the coupling of a neutral scalar to charged ones are also discussed. These \textit{wrong signs} can have important physical consequences, manifesting themselves in Higgs production via gluon fusion or Higgs decay into two gluons or into two photons. We consider all possible wrong sign scenarios, and also the \textit{symmetric limit}, in all possible Yukawa implementations of the two Higgs doublet model, in two different possibilities: the observed Higgs boson is the lightest CP-even scalar, or the heaviest one. We also analyse thoroughly the impact of the currently available LHC data on such scenarios. With all 8 TeV data analysed, all wrong sign scenarios are allowed in all Yukawa types, even at the 1$\sigma$ level. However, we will show that B-physics constraints are crucial in excluding the possibility of wrong sign scenarios in the case where $\tan \beta$ is below 1. We will also discuss the future prospects for probing the wrong sign scenarios at the next LHC run. Finally we will present a scenario where the alignment limit could be excluded due to non-decoupling in the case where the heavy CP-even Higgs is the one discovered at the LHC.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figure

The CP-conserving 2HDM after the 8 TeV run

We confront the most common CP-conserving 2HDM with the LHC data analysed so far while taking into account all previously available experimental data. A special allowed corner of the parameter space is analysed - the so-called wrong-sign scenario where the Higgs coupling to down-type quarks changes sign relative to the Standard Model while the coupling to the massive vector bosons does not.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 22nd International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects (DIS 2014), 28 April - 2 May 2014 Warsaw (Poland

The Wrong Sign limit in the 2HDM

A sign change in the Higgs couplings to fermions and massive gauge bosons is still allowed in the framework of two-Higgs doublet models (2HDM). In this work we discuss the possible sign changes in the Higgs couplings to fermions and gauge bosons, while reviewing the status of the 8-parameter CP-conserving 2HDM after the Large Hadron Collider 8 TeV run.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference on Large Hadron Collider Physics, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A, June 2-7, 2014. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1407.439

Collaborative methodologies in island fishing communities of cape verde

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Marine litter has been considered one of the most serious global challenges, requiring urgent action by governmental bodies, especially in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where resources and research are limited. In addition to this, waste management and environmental education and ocean literacy programs in schools are scarce, with islands suffering more seriously from these problems. Despite the amount of literature regarding causes and impacts of marine litter, there is still not enough research conducted concerning the public perceptions on both the problem and the potential solutions. This is even more noticeable in African developing countries, where resources and research are scarce. Perception plays a key role for ecosystem management and conservation policies. This study intends to explore the perceptions of local island fishing communities in Cape Verde regarding marine litter, in order to contribute for an improvement of marine ecosystem management and development of conservation policies. To achieve that, two participatory sessions were conducted in two communities in the island of Santiago—Porto Mosquito and Porto Gouveia—where brainstorming and active listening were used to create shared and authentic spaces for dialogue between the members of the community. Results show that the population of both communities were very aware of the marine litter problem. They were able to identify the lack of a proper waste management system in the island and the inappropriate behaviours of the population as the main causes of this problem. Equipment damages and the presence of plastic inside the fish were the most relevant impacts identified by the participants. These findings reinforce previous research on the importance of public engagement and environmental education to contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems and to build a strong collaborative ocean governance.publishersversionpublishe

Biosensors Based on Stanniocalcin-1 Protein Antibodies Thin Films for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

This research was funded by the project PTDC/FIS-NAN/0909/2014 from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT). The authors also thank the research center Grants No. UIDB/FIS/04559/2020 and No. UIDP/FIS/04559/2020 (LIBPhys), from FCT/MCTES, Portugal. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent tumors in men, accounting for about 7.3% of cancer deaths. Although there are several strategies for diagnosing prostate cancer, these are only accurate when the tumor is already at a very advanced stage, so early diagnosis is essential. Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is a secreted glycoprotein, which has been suggested as a tumor marker as its increased expression is associated with the development and/or progression of different types of malignant tumors. In this work, an electronic tongue (ET) prototype, based on a set of four sensors prepared from thin films that included STC1 antibodies for detecting prostate cancer, was developed. In the preparation of the thin films, polyelectrolytes of polyallylamine hydrochloride, polystyrene sulfonate of sodium and polyethyleneimine, and the biomolecules chitosan, protein A, and STC1 antibody were used. These films were deposited on quartz lamellae and on solid supports using layer-on-layer and self-assembly techniques. The deposition of the films was analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the detection of STC1 in aqueous solutions of PBS was analyzed by impedance spectroscopy. The impedance data were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis. The ETs formed by the four sensors and the three best sensors could detect the antigen at concentrations in the range from 5 × 10−11 to 5 × 10−4 M. They showed a linear dependence with the logarithm of the antigen concentration and a sensitivity of 5371 ± 820 and 4863 ± 634 per decade of concentration, respectively. Finally, the results allow us to conclude that this prototype can advance to the calibration phase with patient samples.publishersversionpublishe

Study of the effect of friction between the ossicles of the middle ear

The human ear is a complex biomechanical system and is divided by three parts: outer, middle and inner ear. The middle ear is formed by three ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes), ligaments, muscles and tendons, that amplify the sound, sending the sound waves to the inner ear. In this work, a finite element modelling of the middle ear and ligaments was made. The connection between ossicles was achieved using contact formulation. The modelling of ligaments was based in a hyperelastic model. Studies based in the displacement field of the eardrum and footplate were made, as well as the rotation of the footplate. The stress field in the ligaments to the exterior of the ossicular chain was still analyzed. These studies were done for different friction rates, between the ossicles, and for different acoustic pressure values applied in the eardrum. We can conclude that the connection between the ossicles may be assigned by contact formulation including friction. For simulation proposes, we can assume a quasi-rigid connection between ossicles.Peer Reviewe

Production of polymer filament-shaped piezoelectric sensors for e-textiles applications

This work aims at the development of piezoelectric materials for flexible sensors produced with various geometries, at low cost and high production rates, adequate for the industrial scale. In particular the filament form, appropriate for integration into textiles, is described, but other geometries, such as tape, are also being studied. The filaments are produced by co-extrusion of multiple layers with piezoelectric and electrically conductive polymer composites.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PTDC/CTM/108801/200

Piezoelectric filaments produced by coextrusion

Considering the significant interest of both the academic and industrial communities in the fields of i/e-textiles (interactive/electronic textiles), the number of developed applications is far below the expected. This fact is mainly related to the difficulties on the development of production methodologies adequate to industrial scale processes. In this areas the integration of piezoelectric materials, that possess sensing/actuating capabilities, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and can be processed using conventional processing techniques, is very promising and has encouraged a large number of research works. However, until now, most of the developed production methodologies are difficult to adapt to the industrial scale. This work reports recent developments achieved, in the framework of a research project, on the production of piezoelectric filament by coextrusion of PVDF and electrical conductive layers. The developed production methodology involves a conventional coextrusion line, for which a coextrusion die was designed to produce a multilayer filament. This filament comprises an inner layer of an electrically conductive Polypropylene grade and a middle layer of PVDF and is coated with an electrical conductive ink. The piezoelectric response of the produced filaments will be also presentedFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)- FCT PTDC/CTM/108801/200

Evaluation of a model photo-caged dehydropeptide as a stimuli-responsive supramolecular hydrogel

Short peptides capped on the N-terminus with aromatic groups are often able to form supramolecular hydrogels, via self-assembly, in aqueous media. The rheological properties of these readily tunable hydrogels resemble those of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and therefore have potential for various biological applications, such as tissue engineering, biosensors, 3D bioprinting, drug delivery systems and wound dressings. We herein report a new photo-responsive supramolecular hydrogel based on a “caged” dehydropeptide (CNB-Phe-ΔPhe-OH 2), containing a photo-cleavable carboxy-2-nitrobenzyl (CNB) group. We have characterized this hydrogel using a range of techniques. Irradiation with UV light cleaves the pendant aromatic capping group, to liberate the corresponding uncaged model dehydropeptide (H-Phe-ΔPhe-OH 3), a process which was investigated by 1H NMR and HPLC studies. Crucially, this cleavage of the capping group is accompanied by dissolution of the hydrogel (studied visually and by fluorescence spectroscopy), as the delicate balance of intramolecular interactions within the hydrogel structure is disrupted. Hydrogels which can be disassembled non-invasively with temporal and spatial control have great potential for specialized on-demand drug release systems, wound dressing materials and various topical treatments. Both 2 and 3 were found to be non-cytotoxic to the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. The UV-responsive hydrogel system reported here is complementary to previously reported related UV-responsive systems, which are generally composed of peptides formed from canonical amino acids, which are susceptible to enzymatic proteolysis in vivo. This system is based on a dehydrodipeptide structure which is known to confer proteolytic resistance. We have investigated the ability of the photo-activated system to accelerate the release of the antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, as well as some other small model drug compounds. We have also conducted some initial studies towards skin-related applications. Moreover, this model system could potentially be adapted for on-demand “self-delivery”, through the uncaging of known biologically active dehydrodipeptides.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding of CQUM (UID/QUI/00686/2019) and of IPC (UID/CTM/50025/2019). L.H. acknowledges funding from the FCT Investigator Programme through grant IF/00606/2014. FCT, FEDER, PORTUGAL2020 and COMPETE2020 are also acknowledged for funding under research project PTDC/QUI-QOR/29015/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029015)