Radiative contribution to neutrino masses and mixing in μν\mu\nuSSM

In an extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (popularly known as the $\mu\nu$SSM), three right handed neutrino superfields are introduced to solve the $\mu$-problem and to accommodate the non-vanishing neutrino masses and mixing. Neutrino masses at the tree level are generated through $R-$parity violation and seesaw mechanism. We have analyzed the full effect of one-loop contributions to the neutrino mass matrix. We show that the current three flavour global neutrino data can be accommodated in the $\mu\nu$SSM, for both the tree level and one-loop corrected analyses. We find that it is relatively easier to accommodate the normal hierarchical mass pattern compared to the inverted hierarchical or quasi-degenerate case, when one-loop corrections are included.Comment: 51 pages, 14 figures (58 .eps files), expanded introduction, other minor changes, references adde

Higgs Boson Masses in the Complex NMSSM at One-Loop Level

The Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Extension of the Standard Model (NMSSM) with a Higgs sector containing five neutral and two charged Higgs bosons allows for a rich phenomenology. In addition, the plethora of parameters provides many sources of CP violation. In contrast to the Minimal Supersymmetric Extension, CP violation in the Higgs sector is already possible at tree-level. For a reliable understanding and interpretation of the experimental results of the Higgs boson search, and for a proper distinction of Higgs sectors provided by the Standard Model or possible extensions, the Higgs boson masses have to be known as precisely as possible including higher-order corrections. In this paper we calculate the one-loop corrections to the neutral Higgs boson masses in the complex NMSSM in a Feynman diagrammatic approach adopting a mixed renormalization scheme based on on-shell and $\bar{DR}$ conditions. We study various scenarios where we allow for tree-level CP-violating phases in the Higgs sector and where we also study radiatively induced CP violation due to a non-vanishing phase of the trilinear coupling $A_t$ in the stop sector. The effects on the Higgs boson phenomenology are found to be significant. We furthermore estimate the theoretical error due to unknown higher-order corrections by both varying the renormalization scheme of the top and bottom quark masses and by adopting different renormalization scales. The residual theoretical error can be estimated to about 10%

Peccei-Quinn NMSSM in the light of 125 GeV Higgs

We study the phenomenology of the Peccei-Quinn invariant extension of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM) in view of the recent discovery of a 125 GeV Higgs boson. The minimal model having no quadratic and cubic terms of the NMSSM singlet field predicts a light singlino-like lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The model is strongly constrained by the Higgs invisible decay and the dark matter characteristic of the LSP, while some constraints can be relaxed by assuming that the saxion, the CP-even companion of the axion in the Peccei-Quinn sector, causes a late-time entropy production diluting the thermal LSP density. The collider signal of the model contains multi-jet and $h/W/Z$ plus missing energy, which can be discovered in the early stage of the 14 TeV LHC running.Comment: 40 pages, 10 figures, 6 tables. v3: references added, several statements added and corrected, comments on the small tadpole soft term added in sec. 2.

Water Extract from the Leaves of Withania somnifera Protect RA Differentiated C6 and IMR-32 Cells against Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity

Glutamate neurotoxicity has been implicated in stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. Search for herbal remedies that may possibly act as therapeutic agents is an active area of research to combat these diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective role of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), also known as Indian ginseng, against glutamate induced toxicity in the retinoic acid differentiated rat glioma (C6) and human neuroblastoma (IMR-32) cells. The neuroprotective activity of the Ashwagandha leaves derived water extract (ASH-WEX) was evaluated. Cell viability and the expression of glial and neuronal cell differentiation markers was examined in glutamate challenged differentiated cells with and without the presence of ASH-WEX. We demonstrate that RA-differentiated C6 and IMR-32 cells, when exposed to glutamate, undergo loss of neural network and cell death that was accompanied by increase in the stress protein HSP70. ASH-WEX pre-treatment inhibited glutamate-induced cell death and was able to revert glutamate-induced changes in HSP70 to a large extent. Furthermore, the analysis on the neuronal plasticity marker NCAM (Neural cell adhesion molecule) and its polysialylated form, PSA-NCAM revealed that ASH-WEX has therapeutic potential for prevention of neurodegeneration associated with glutamate-induced excitotoxicty

Synthesis, characterization and introduction of a new ion-coordinating ruthenium sensitizer dye in quasi-solid state TiO2 solar cells

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A new ion-coordinating heteroleptic ruthenium(II) dye was synthesized by attaching two crown ether moieties in the 4,4' positions of one of the bipyridine ligands. This new dye (named as RC730) was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis, NMR and electrospray ionization Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS). In order to investigate the properties of these ion-coordinating species, dye-sensitized solar cells were assembled with a gel polymer electrolyte based on two different cations: lithium and sodium. The devices were characterized by J-V curves under 100 mW cm(-2), incident photon to current conversion efficiency spectra (IPCE) and photovoltage decay transients under open-circuit conditions. The solar cells based on the new heteroleptic dye provided higher photocurrent and photovoltage when lithium was used in the electrolyte instead of sodium cations, reaching overall conversion efficiencies up to 2%. This behavior might be related to the ability of the ion-coordinating RC730 dye to trap Li ions, minimizing the conduction band edge shift. When the polymer electrolyte based on lithium is used, the IPCE spectra show a maximum efficiency of 31% at the maximum absorption peak of the RC730 dye (ca. 530 nm). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.2221185191Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)National Science Foundation (USA)RenamiFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [06/58998-3, 08/51001-9

Efficacy, Safety, and Sample Quality of Ultrasound-Guided Synovial Needle Biopsy in Clinical Practice and Research: A Prospective Observational Study

© 2019, American College of Rheumatology.Objective: To study the efficacy, tolerability, safety, and sampling variation of ultrasound (US)-guided synovial biopsies performed in clinical practice and research. Methods: We included all patients who had a US-guided synovial needle biopsy from November 2013 to January 2018. Patients were evaluated for procedure safety and tolerability. Usefulness of synovial biopsy was considered based on contribution for achieving the proposed aims. We analyzed samples for presence and quality of synovial tissue, synovitis score/grade, and pathotype. Variation across patients, samples, section levels, and sampling order was assessed. Results: A total of 64 US-guided synovial biopsies were performed (n = 52 in clinical practice, n = 12 in research). Patient tolerability (70% no/mild discomfort) was remarkably high. There was no significant aggravation of symptoms or US synovitis in the biopsied joint. Procedures were overall safe, with few minor, 2 moderate, and no major adverse events. Usefulness of US-guided synovial biopsies was high, both in clinical practice (37% direct diagnostic impact, 100% positive/95% negative predictive values for infection) and in research (92% success). Synovial tissue was retrieved in 88% of biopsies, with a median of 75% gradable samples. There was significant variation in sample quality and synovitis features across patients and samples, but not between different section levels. Samples collected later in the procedure had a lower frequency of synovial tissue and were poorly concordant in pathotype with those collected earlier. Conclusion: US-guided synovial needle biopsy is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated means to collect good quality synovial tissue for clinical and research purposes. Samples collected for different aims should be retrieved in parallel, rather than sequentially.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Grant Numbers: LISBOA‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐007391, SFRH/SINTD/95030/2013info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio