685 research outputs found
Ceramic identity contributes to mechanical properties and osteoblast behavior on macroporous composite scaffolds.
Implants formed of metals, bioceramics, or polymers may provide an alternative to autografts for treating large bone defects. However, limitations to each material motivate the examination of composites to capitalize on the beneficial aspects of individual components and to address the need for conferring bioactive behavior to the polymer matrix. We hypothesized that the inclusion of different bioceramics in a ceramic-polymer composite would alter the physical properties of the implant and the cellular osteogenic response. To test this, composite scaffolds formed from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) and either hydroxyapatite (HA), β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), or bioactive glass (Bioglass 45S®, BG) were fabricated, and the physical properties of each scaffold were examined. We quantified cell proliferation by DNA content, osteogenic response of human osteoblasts (NHOsts) to composite scaffolds by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and changes in gene expression by qPCR. Compared to BG-PLG scaffolds, HA-PLG and TCP-PLG composite scaffolds possessed greater compressive moduli. NHOsts on BG-PLG substrates exhibited higher ALP activity than those on control, HA-, or TCP-PLG scaffolds after 21 days, and cells on composites exhibited a 3-fold increase in ALP activity between 7 and 21 days versus a minimal increase on control scaffolds. Compared to cells on PLG controls, RUNX2 expression in NHOsts on composite scaffolds was lower at both 7 and 21 days, while expression of genes encoding for bone matrix proteins (COL1A1 and SPARC) was higher on BG-PLG scaffolds at both time points. These data demonstrate the importance of selecting a ceramic when fabricating composites applied for bone healing
Running into New Territory in SUSY Parameter Space
The LEP-II bound on the light Higgs mass rules out the vast majority of
parameter space left to the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with
weak-scale soft-masses. This suggests the importance of exploring extensions of
the MSSM with non-minimal Higgs physics. In this article, we explore a theory
with an additional singlet superfield and an extended gauge sector. The theory
has a number of novel features compared to both the MSSM and Next-to-MSSM,
including easily realizing a light CP-even Higgs mass consistent with LEP-II
limits, tan(beta) < 1, and a lightest Higgs which is charged. These features
are achieved while remaining consistent with perturbative unification and
without large stop-masses. Discovery modes at the Tevatron and LHC are
discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures; Typo in equation (4.5) corrected; submitted to
JHE
Aspects of CP violation in the HZZ coupling at the LHC
We examine the CP-conserving (CPC) and CP-violating (CPV) effects of a
general HZZ coupling through a study of the process H -> ZZ* -> 4 leptons at
the LHC. We construct asymmetries that directly probe these couplings. Further,
we present complete analytical formulae for the angular distributions of the
decay leptons and for some of the asymmetries. Using these we have been able to
identify new observables which can provide enhanced sensitivity to the CPV coupling. We also explore probing CP violation through shapes of
distributions in different kinematic variables, which can be used for Higgs
bosons with mH < 2 mZ.Comment: 36 pages, 17 figures, LaTeX, version accepted for publicatio
Astrometry with the Wide-Field InfraRed Space Telescope
The Wide-Field InfraRed Space Telescope (WFIRST) will be capable of
delivering precise astrometry for faint sources over the enormous field of view
of its main camera, the Wide-Field Imager (WFI). This unprecedented combination
will be transformative for the many scientific questions that require precise
positions, distances, and velocities of stars. We describe the expectations for
the astrometric precision of the WFIRST WFI in different scenarios, illustrate
how a broad range of science cases will see significant advances with such
data, and identify aspects of WFIRST's design where small adjustments could
greatly improve its power as an astrometric instrument.Comment: version accepted to JATI
The Minimal Phantom Sector of the Standard Model: Higgs Phenomenology and Dirac Leptogenesis
We propose the minimal, lepton-number conserving, SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1)
gauge-singlet, or phantom, extension of the Standard Model. The extension is
natural in the sense that all couplings are of O(1) or forbidden due to a
phantom sector global U(1)_D symmetry, and basically imitates the standard
Majorana see-saw mechanism. Spontaneous breaking of the U(1)_D symmetry
triggers consistent electroweak gauge symmetry breaking only if it occurs at a
scale compatible with small Dirac neutrino masses and baryogenesis through
Dirac leptogenesis. Dirac leptogenesis proceeds through the usual
out-of-equilibrium decay scenario, leading to left and right-handed neutrino
asymmetries that do not fully equilibrate after they are produced. The model
contains two physical Higgs bosons and a massless Goldstone boson. The
existence of the Goldstone boson suppresses the Higgs to bb branching ratio and
instead the Higgs bosons will mainly decay to invisible Goldstone and/or to
visible vector boson pairs. In a representative scenario, we estimate that with
30 fb^-1 integrated luminosity, the LHC could discover this invisibly decaying
Higgs, with mass ~120 GeV. At the same time a significantly heavier, partner
Higgs boson with mass ~210 GeV could be found through its vector boson decays.
Electroweak constraints as well as astrophysical and cosmological implications
are analysed and discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. Corrected typos and added references. To appear
in JHE
The REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely-collected health Data (RECORD) statement.
Routinely collected health data, obtained for administrative and clinical purposes without specific a priori research goals, are increasingly used for research. The rapid evolution and availability of these data have revealed issues not addressed by existing reporting guidelines, such as Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). The REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely collected health Data (RECORD) statement was created to fill these gaps. RECORD was created as an extension to the STROBE statement to address reporting items specific to observational studies using routinely collected health data. RECORD consists of a checklist of 13 items related to the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion section of articles, and other information required for inclusion in such research reports. This document contains the checklist and explanatory and elaboration information to enhance the use of the checklist. Examples of good reporting for each RECORD checklist item are also included herein. This document, as well as the accompanying website and message board (http://www.record-statement.org), will enhance the implementation and understanding of RECORD. Through implementation of RECORD, authors, journals editors, and peer reviewers can encourage transparency of research reporting
Dynamics of Cough Frequency in Adults Undergoing Treatment for Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Background: Cough is the major determinant of tuberculosis transmission. Despite this, there is a paucity of information regarding characteristics of cough frequency throughout the day and in response to tuberculosis therapy. Here we evaluate the circadian cycle of cough, cough frequency risk factors, and the impact of appropriate treatment on cough and bacillary load. Methods: We prospectively evaluated human immunodeficiency virus-negative adults (n = 64) with a new diagnosis of culture-proven, drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis immediately prior to treatment and repeatedly until treatment day 62. At each time point, participant cough was recorded (n = 670) and analyzed using the Cayetano Cough Monitor. Consecutive coughs at least 2 seconds apart were counted as separate cough episodes. Sputum samples (n = 426) were tested with microscopic-observation drug susceptibility broth culture, and in culture-positive samples (n = 252), the time to culture positivity was used to estimate bacillary load. Results: The highest cough frequency occurred from 1 pm to 2 pm, and the lowest from 1 am to 2 am (2.4 vs 1.1 cough episodes/hour, respectively). Cough frequency was higher among participants who had higher sputum bacillary load (P < .01). Pretreatment median cough episodes/hour was 2.3 (interquartile range [IQR], 1.2-4.1), which at 14 treatment days decreased to 0.48 (IQR, 0.0-1.4) and at the end of the study decreased to 0.18 (IQR, 0.0-0.59) (both reductions P < .001). By 14 treatment days, the probability of culture conversion was 29% (95% confidence interval, 19%-41%). Conclusions: Coughs were most frequent during daytime. Two weeks of appropriate treatment significantly reduced cough frequency and resulted in one-third of participants achieving culture conversion. Thus, treatment by 2 weeks considerably diminishes, but does not eliminate, the potential for airborne tuberculosis transmission
Symmetries and Asymmetries of B -> K* mu+ mu- Decays in the Standard Model and Beyond
The rare decay B -> K* (-> K pi) mu+ mu- is regarded as one of the crucial
channels for B physics as the polarization of the K* allows a precise angular
reconstruction resulting in many observables that offer new important tests of
the Standard Model and its extensions. These angular observables can be
expressed in terms of CP-conserving and CP-violating quantities which we study
in terms of the full form factors calculated from QCD sum rules on the
light-cone, including QCD factorization corrections. We investigate all
observables in the context of the Standard Model and various New Physics
models, in particular the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity and various MSSM
scenarios, identifying those observables with small to moderate dependence on
hadronic quantities and large impact of New Physics. One important result of
our studies is that new CP-violating phases will produce clean signals in
CP-violating asymmetries. We also identify a number of correlations between
various observables which will allow a clear distinction between different New
Physics scenarios.Comment: 56 pages, 18 figures, 14 tables. v5: Missing factor in eqs. (3.31-32)
and fig. 6 corrected. Minor misprints in eq. (2.10) and table A corrected.
Conclusions unchange
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