h→Zγh \rightarrow Z \gamma in the complex two Higgs doublet model

The latest LHC data confirmed the existence of a Higgs-like particle and made interesting measurements on its decays into $\gamma \gamma$, $Z Z^\ast$, $W W^\ast$, $\tau^+ \tau^-$, and $b \bar{b}$. It is expected that a decay into $Z \gamma$ might be measured at the next LHC round, for which there already exists an upper bound. The Higgs-like particle could be a mixture of scalar with a relatively large component of pseudoscalar. We compute the decay of such a mixed state into $Z \gamma$, and we study its properties in the context of the complex two Higgs doublet model, analysing the effect of the current measurements on the four versions of this model. We show that a measurement of the $h \rightarrow Z \gamma$ rate at a level consistent with the SM can be used to place interesting constraints on the pseudoscalar component. We also comment on the issue of a wrong sign Yukawa coupling for the bottom in Type II models.Comment: 31 pages, 15 figure

A reappraisal of the wrong-sign hbb‾hb\overline{b} coupling and the study of h→Zγh \rightarrow Z \gamma

It has been pointed out recently that current experiments still allow for a two Higgs doublet model where the $h b \bar{b}$ coupling ($k_D m_b/v$) is negative; a sign opposite to that of the Standard Model. Due to the importance of delayed decoupling in the $h H^+ H^-$ coupling, $h \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ improved measurements will have a strong impact on this issue. For the same reason, measurements or even bounds on $h \rightarrow Z \gamma$ are potentially interesting. In this article, we revisit this problem, highlighting the crucial importance of $h \rightarrow VV$, which can be understood with simple arguments. We show that the impacts on $k_D<0$ models of both $h \rightarrow b \bar{b}$ and $h \rightarrow \tau^+ \tau^-$ are very sensitive to input values for the gluon fusion production mechanism; in contrast, $h \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ and $h \rightarrow Z \gamma$ are not. We also inquire if the search for $h \rightarrow Z \gamma$ and its interplay with $h \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ will impact the sign of the $h b \bar{b}$ coupling. Finally, we study these issues in the context of the Flipped two Higgs doublet model.Comment: 13 pages, pdf figure

Discrete and continuous symmetries in multi-Higgs-doublet models

We consider the Higgs sector of multi-Higgs-doublet models in the presence of simple symmetries relating the various fields. We construct basis invariant observables which may in principle be used to detect these symmetries for any number of doublets. A categorization of the symmetries into classes is required, which we perform in detail for the case of two and three Higgs doublets.Comment: 13 pages, RevTex, references adde

Large pseudoscalar Yukawa couplings in the complex 2HDM

We start by presenting the current status of a complex flavour conserving two-Higgs doublet model. We will focus on some very interesting scenarios where unexpectedly the light Higgs couplings to leptons and to b-quarks can have a large pseudoscalar component with a vanishing scalar component. Predictions for the allowed parameter space at end of the next run with a total collected luminosity of $300 \, fb^{-1}$ and $3000 \, fb^{-1}$ are also discussed. These scenarios are not excluded by present data and most probably will survive the next LHC run. However, a measurement of the mixing angle $\phi_\tau$, between the scalar and pseudoscalar component of the 125 GeV Higgs, in the decay $h \to \tau^+ \tau^-$ will be able to probe many of these scenarios, even with low luminosity. Similarly, a measurement of $\phi_t$ in the vertex $\bar t t h$ could help to constrain the low $\tan \beta$ region in the Type I model.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure

From sharks to yeasts: squalene in the development of vaccine adjuvants

Squalene is a natural linear triterpene that can be found in high amounts in certain fish liver oils, especially from deep-sea sharks, and to a lesser extent in a wide variety of vegeTable oils. It is currently used for numerous vaccine and drug delivery emulsions due to its stability-enhancing properties and biocompatibility. Squalene-based vaccine adjuvants, such as MF59 (Novartis), AS03 (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals), or AF03 (Sanofi) are included in seasonal vaccines against influenza viruses and are presently being considered for inclusion in several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemic threats. However, harvesting sharks for this purpose raises serious ecological concerns that the exceptional demand of the pandemic has exacerbated. In this line, the use of plants to obtain phytosqualene has been seen as a more sustainable alternative, yet the lower yields and the need for huge investments in infrastructures and equipment makes this solution economically ineffective. More recently, the enormous advances in the field of synthetic biology provided innovative approaches to make squalene production more sustainable, flexible, and cheaper by using genetically modified microbes to produce pharmaceutical-grade squalene. Here, we review the biological mechanisms by which squalene-based vaccine adjuvants boost the immune response, and further compare the existing sources of squalene and their environmental impact. We propose that genetically engineered microbes are a sustainable alternative to produce squalene at industrial scale, which are likely to become the sole source of pharmaceutical-grade squalene in the foreseeable future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measuring the importance of the uniform nonsynchronization hypothesis

In this paper we critically reappraise some measures of the importance of time-dependent price setting rules and propose an alternative way to gauge the significance of this type of price setting behaviour. The merits of the proposed measure are highlighted in an application using micro-data. Our results suggest that a large proportion of price trajectories may be compatible with simple time-dependent price setting mechanisms but the strength of this evidence very much depends on the way that is used to evaluate the importance of this type of behaviour. JEL Classification: D40, E31, L11perfect synchronization, Time-dependent price setting models, uniform staggering