17 research outputs found
Lightest-neutralino decays in R_p-violating models with dominant lambda^{prime} and lambda couplings
Decays of the lightest neutralino are studied in R_p-violating models with
operators lambda^{prime} L Q D^c and lambda L L E^c involving third-generation
matter fields and with dominant lambda^{prime} and lambda couplings.
Generalizations to decays of the lightest neutralino induced by subdominant
lambda^{prime} and lambda couplings are straightforward. Decays with the
top-quark among the particles produced are considered, in addition to those
with an almost massless final state. Phenomenological analyses for examples of
both classes of decays are presented. No specific assumption on the composition
of the lightest neutralino is made, and the formulae listed here can be easily
generalized to study decays of heavier neutralinos. It has been recently
pointed out that, for a sizable coupling lambda^{prime}_{333}, tau-sleptons may
be copiously produced at the LHC as single supersymmetric particles, in
association with top- and bottom-quark pairs. This analysis of neutralino
decays is, therefore, a first step towards the reconstruction of the complete
final state produced in this case.Comment: 40 pages, 11 figures, version to appear in JHE
One-loop Neutron Electric Dipole Moment from Supersymmetry without R-parity
We present a detailed analysis together with exact numerical calculations on
one-loop contributions to neutron electric dipole moment from supersymmetry
without R-parity, focusing on the gluino, chargino, and neutralino
contributions. Apart from the neglected family mixing among quarks, complete
formulae are given for the various contributions, through the quark dipole
operators, to which the present study is restricted. We discuss the structure
and main features of the R-parity violating contributions and the interplay
between the R-parity conserving and violating parameters. In particular, the
parameter combination , under the optimal
parametrization adopted, is shown to be solely responsible for the R-parity
violating contributions in the supersymmetric loop diagrams. While
could bear a complex phase, the latter is not
necessary to have a R-parity violating contribution.Comment: 43 pages Revtex with 15 eps- and 4 ps- figure files incoporated;
proofread version to be published in Phys. Rev.
Parton distributions in the virtual photon target up to NNLO in QCD
Parton distributions in the virtual photon target are investigated in
perturbative QCD up to the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). In the case
, where () is the mass squared of the
probe (target) photon, parton distributions can be predicted completely up to
the NNLO, but they are factorisation-scheme-dependent. We analyse parton
distributions in two different factorisation schemes, namely and
schemes, and discuss their scheme dependence. We show that
the factorisation-scheme dependence is characterised by the large-
behaviours of quark distributions. Gluon distribution is predicted to be very
small in absolute value except in the small- region.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures, version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.
Fermion Electric Dipole Moments in Supersymmetric Models with R-parity Violation
We analyze the electron and neutron electric dipole moments induced by
R-parity violating interactions in supersymmetric models. It is pointed out
that dominant contributions can come from one-loop diagrams involving both the
bilinear and trilinear R-parity odd couplings, leading to somewhat severe
constraints on the products of those couplings.Comment: Revtex, 19pp, four figures in axodraw.st
CP asymmetries in the supersymmetric trilepton signal at the LHC
In the CP-violating Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, we study the
production of a neutralino-chargino pair at the LHC. For their decays into
three leptons, we analyze CP asymmetries which are sensitive to the CP phases
of the neutralino and chargino sector. We present analytical formulas for the
entire production and decay process, and identify the CP-violating
contributions in the spin correlation terms. This allows us to define the
optimal CP asymmetries. We present a detailed numerical analysis of the cross
sections, branching ratios, and the CP observables. For light neutralinos,
charginos, and squarks, the asymmetries can reach several 10%. We estimate the
discovery potential for the LHC to observe CP violation in the trilepton
channel.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures, version to appear in EPJC, discussion(s) added,
typo in (D.79), (D.118) corrected, new Fig. 7; The European Physical Journal
C, Volume 72, Issue 3, 201
Probing exotic phenomena at the interface of nuclear and particle physics with the electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms: A unique window to hadronic and semi-leptonic CP violation
The current status of electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms which
involves the synergy between atomic experiments and three different theoretical
areas -- particle, nuclear and atomic is reviewed. Various models of particle
physics that predict CP violation, which is necessary for the existence of such
electric dipole moments, are presented. These include the standard model of
particle physics and various extensions of it. Effective hadron level combined
charge conjugation (C) and parity (P) symmetry violating interactions are
derived taking into consideration different ways in which a nucleon interacts
with other nucleons as well as with electrons. Nuclear structure calculations
of the CP-odd nuclear Schiff moment are discussed using the shell model and
other theoretical approaches. Results of the calculations of atomic electric
dipole moments due to the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moment with the
electrons and the P and time-reversal (T) symmetry violating
tensor-pseudotensor electron-nucleus are elucidated using different
relativistic many-body theories. The principles of the measurement of the
electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms are outlined. Upper limits for the
nuclear Schiff moment and tensor-pseudotensor coupling constant are obtained
combining the results of atomic experiments and relativistic many-body
theories. The coefficients for the different sources of CP violation have been
estimated at the elementary particle level for all the diamagnetic atoms of
current experimental interest and their implications for physics beyond the
standard model is discussed. Possible improvements of the current results of
the measurements as well as quantum chromodynamics, nuclear and atomic
calculations are suggested.Comment: 46 pages, 19 tables and 16 figures. A review article accepted for
EPJ
Search and study of Quark Gluon Plasma at the CERN-LHC
The major aim of nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC is to study the
physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark gluon plasma (QGP), formed
in extreme conditions of temperature and energy density. We give a brief
overview of the experimental program and discuss the signatures and observables
for a detailed study of QGP matter.Comment: 15 pages, Invited article for the volume on LHC physics to celebrate
the Platinum Jubilee of the Indian National Science Academy, Edited by
Amitava Datta, Biswarup Mukhopadhyaya and Amitava Raychaudhuri (Jan 2009
Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide with flexible dose adjustment versus sitagliptin in type 2 diabetes (PIONEER 7): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3a trial
Background: Oral semaglutide is the first oral formulation of a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of flexible dose adjustments of oral semaglutide with sitagliptin 100 mg. Methods: In this 52-week, multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3a trial, we recruited patients with type 2 diabetes from 81 sites in ten countries. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older (19 years or older in South Korea), had type 2 diabetes (diagnosed ≥90 days before screening), HbA1c of 7·5–9·5% (58–80 mmol/mol), and were inadequately controlled on stable daily doses of one or two oral glucose-lowering drugs (for 90 days or more before screening). Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by use of an interactive web-response system, stratified by background glucose-lowering medication at screening, to oral semaglutide with flexible dose adjustments to 3, 7, or 14 mg once daily or sitagliptin 100 mg once daily. To approximate treatment individualisation in clinical practice, oral semaglutide dose could be adjusted on the basis of prespecified HbA1c and tolerability criteria. Two efficacy-related estimands were prespecified: treatment policy (regardless of treatment discontinuation or use of rescue medication) and trial product (on treatment and without use of rescue medication) for participants randomly assigned to treatment. The primary endpoint was achievement of HbA1c of less than 7% (53 mmol/mol) at week 52 and the confirmatory secondary efficacy endpoint was change in bodyweight from baseline to week 52. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02849080, and European Clinical Trials Database, EudraCT number 2015-005593-38, and an open-label extension is ongoing. Findings: Between Sept 20, 2016, and Feb 7, 2017, of 804 patients assessed for eligibility, 504 were eligible and randomly assigned to oral semaglutide (n=253) or sitagliptin (n=251). Most participants were male (285 [57%] of 504) with a mean age of 57·4 years (SD 9·9). All participants were given at least one dose of their allocated study drug except for one participant in the sitagliptin group. From a mean baseline HbA1c of 8·3% (SD 0·6%; 67 mmol/mol [SD 6·4]), a greater proportion of participants achieved an HbA1c of less than 7% with oral semaglutide than did with sitagliptin (treatment policy estimand: 58% [134 of 230] vs 25% [60 of 238]; and trial product estimand: 63% [123 of 196] vs 28% [52 of 184]). The odds of achieving an HbA1c of less than 7% was significantly better with oral semaglutide than sitagliptin (treatment policy estimand: odds ratio [OR] 4·40, 95% CI 2·89–6·70, p<0·0001; and trial product estimand: 5·54, 3·54–8·68, p<0·0001). The odds of decreasing mean bodyweight from baseline to week 52 were higher with oral semaglutide than with sitagliptin (estimated mean change in bodyweight, treatment policy estimand: −2·6 kg [SE 0·3] vs −0·7 kg [SE 0·2], estimated treatment difference [ETD] −1·9 kg, 95% CI −2·6 to −1·2; p<0·0001; and trial product estimand: −2·9 kg [SE 0·3] vs −0·8 kg [SE 0·3], ETD −2·2 kg, −2·9 to −1·5; p<0·0001). Adverse events occurred in 197 (78%) of 253 participants in the oral semaglutide group versus 172 (69%) of 250 in the sitagliptin group, and nausea was the most common adverse event with oral semaglutide (53 [21%]). Two deaths occurred in the sitagliptin group during the trial. Interpretation: Oral semaglutide, with flexible dose adjustment, based on efficacy and tolerability, provided superior glycaemic control and weight loss compared with sitagliptin, and with a safety profile consistent with subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonists. Funding: Novo Nordisk A/S
Efficacy and Safety of Three Antiretroviral Regimens for Initial Treatment of HIV-1: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Diverse Multinational Settings
Background:Antiretroviral regimens with simplified dosing and better safety are needed to maximize the efficiency of antiretroviral delivery in resource-limited settings. We investigated the efficacy and safety of antiretroviral regimens with once-daily compared to twice-daily dosing in diverse areas of the world.Methods and Findings:1,571 HIV-1-infected persons (47% women) from nine countries in four continents were assigned with equal probability to open-label antiretroviral therapy with efavirenz plus lamivudine-zidovudine (EFV+3TC-ZDV), atazanavir plus didanosine-EC plus emtricitabine (ATV+DDI+FTC), or efavirenz plus emtricitabine-tenofovir-disoproxil fumarate (DF) (EFV+FTC-TDF). ATV+DDI+FTC and EFV+FTC-TDF were hypothesized to be non-inferior to EFV+3TC-ZDV if the upper one-sided 95% confidence bound for the hazard ratio (HR) was ≤1.35 when 30% of participants had treatment failure.An independent monitoring board recommended stopping study follow-up prior to accumulation of 472 treatment failures. Comparing EFV+FTC-TDF to EFV+3TC-ZDV, during a median 184 wk of follow-up there were 95 treatment failures (18%) among 526 participants versus 98 failures among 519 participants (19%; HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.72-1.27; p = 0.74). Safety endpoints occurred in 243 (46%) participants assigned to EFV+FTC-TDF versus 313 (60%) assigned to EFV+3TC-ZDV (HR 0.64, CI 0.54-0.76; p<0.001) and there was a significant interaction between sex and regimen safety (HR 0.50, CI 0.39-0.64 for women; HR 0.79, CI 0.62-1.00 for men; p = 0.01). Comparing ATV+DDI+FTC to EFV+3TC-ZDV, during a median follow-up of 81 wk there were 108 failures (21%) among 526 participants assigned to ATV+DDI+FTC and 76 (15%) among 519 participants assigned to EFV+3TC-ZDV (HR 1.51, CI 1.12-2.04; p = 0.007).Conclusion: EFV+FTC-TDF had similar high efficacy compared to EFV+3TC-ZDV in this trial population, recruited in diverse multinational settings. Superior safety, especially in HIV-1-infected women, and once-daily dosing of EFV+FTC-TDF are advantageous for use of this regimen for initial treatment of HIV-1 infection in resource-limited countries. ATV+DDI+FTC had inferior efficacy and is not recommended as an initial antiretroviral regimen.Trial Registration:http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00084136
Ofloxacin ocular inserts: Design, Formulation and Evaluation
In developing a drug delivery strategy, issues of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and elimination must be considered. The eye
presents unique opportunities and challenges when it comes to the
delivery of pharmaceuticals. While absorption by this route is
bungling, there are few side effects with conventional ocular dosage
forms. Hence, ocular inserts were prepared with prolonged release of
drug and minimum swelling within cul-de-sac using ofloxacinas a model
drug; and hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, poly vinyl
pyrrolidone and poly vinyl alcohol as polymers. PEG-400 was
incorporated as plasticizer. The main purpose of the study was to
deliver the drug in zero order kinetics. Solvent casting technique was
followed to prepare ofloxacin ocular films. Eight formulations were
formulated and subjected to various physicochemical evaluations. Ocular
inserts prepared were smooth and passed all the evaluation tests
performed. Formulation OF2 shows a maximum cumulative percentage drug
release of 91.27 % at the end of 24 hours. Ocuserts formulated also
passed the test for sterility. They showed zero-order release of the
drug in the in vitro and in vivo release studies. The drug in the films
was found to be active against selected microorganisms as was proved by
microbial efficacy studies. A high correlation coefficient was found
between in vitro and in vivo release rate studies. Shelf-life of the
product was found to be more than one year.The results of in vitro, in
vivo, kinetic treatment (zero order and Korsemeyer s regression
values) and rate constant k value suggest that OF2 was the
best formulation among the formulations studied for formulating
ofloxacin ocular insert