3,287 research outputs found
Neutrino Masses, Dark Matter and B-L Symmetry at the LHC
We establish a hybrid seesaw mechanism to explain small neutrino masses and
predict cold dark matter candidate in the context of the B-L gauge symmetry
extension of the Standard Model. In this model a new scalar doublet and two new
fermion singlets are introduced at loop-level beyond the minimal Type I seesaw.
The lightest particle inside the loop can be dark matter candidate. We study in
detail the constraints from neutrino oscillation data, lepton flavor violating
processes and cosmological observation. We also explore the predictions of the
decays of the new charged scalars in each spectrum of neutrino masses and show
the most optimistic scenarios to distinguish the spectra. We consider the pair
production of the stable fermion associated with two observable SM charged
leptons at the LHC, which occurs in a two-step cascade decay of the new gauge
boson Z' and the new charged scalars stand as intermediate particles. The
masses of missing dark matter and its parent particle can be well-determined in
such production topology.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures and 2 tables, revised version accepted for
publication in Nucl. Phys.
Successful treatment of feline leishmaniosis using an association of allopurinol and N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate
This work describes the diagnosis and successful treatment of a 2-year-old domestic cat infected with Leishmania species and presenting fever, and ulcerative and nodular skin lesions after being treated for pyodermatitis for 1 year without clinical improvement. After anamnesis the cat was submitted to a complete clinical examination. Blood was collected for determination of haematological and biochemical parameters, detection of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline coronavirus (FCoV) and Leishmania amastigotes. Fine-needle aspiration puncture from the skin nodules was also performed. After definitive diagnosis the animal was treated and followed up over a 2 year period. The animal tested negative for FIV-specific antibodies, FeLV antigen and feline coronavirus RNA. Leishmania amastigotes in the skin nodules were confirmed by cytology and molecular diagnosis. Treatment was initiated with allopurinol, resulting in a slight clinical improvement. Thus, N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate was added and administered for 30 days, with complete closure of the ulcerative lesions in the hindlimbs requiring a surgical approach. Close monitoring of the patient in the following 24 months indicated that combined therapy was safe and clinical cure was achieved without further relapses or side effects.publishersversionpublishe
Validating module network learning algorithms using simulated data
In recent years, several authors have used probabilistic graphical models to
learn expression modules and their regulatory programs from gene expression
data. Here, we demonstrate the use of the synthetic data generator SynTReN for
the purpose of testing and comparing module network learning algorithms. We
introduce a software package for learning module networks, called LeMoNe, which
incorporates a novel strategy for learning regulatory programs. Novelties
include the use of a bottom-up Bayesian hierarchical clustering to construct
the regulatory programs, and the use of a conditional entropy measure to assign
regulators to the regulation program nodes. Using SynTReN data, we test the
performance of LeMoNe in a completely controlled situation and assess the
effect of the methodological changes we made with respect to an existing
software package, namely Genomica. Additionally, we assess the effect of
various parameters, such as the size of the data set and the amount of noise,
on the inference performance. Overall, application of Genomica and LeMoNe to
simulated data sets gave comparable results. However, LeMoNe offers some
advantages, one of them being that the learning process is considerably faster
for larger data sets. Additionally, we show that the location of the regulators
in the LeMoNe regulation programs and their conditional entropy may be used to
prioritize regulators for functional validation, and that the combination of
the bottom-up clustering strategy with the conditional entropy-based assignment
of regulators improves the handling of missing or hidden regulators.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures + 2 pages, 2 figures supplementary informatio
Proposal for generalised Supersymmetry Les Houches Accord for see-saw models and PDG numbering scheme
The SUSY Les Houches Accord (SLHA) 2 extended the first SLHA to include
various generalisations of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) as
well as its simplest next-to-minimal version. Here, we propose further
extensions to it, to include the most general and well-established see-saw
descriptions (types I/II/III, inverse, and linear) in both an effective and a
simple gauged extension of the MSSM framework. In addition, we generalise the
PDG numbering scheme to reflect the properties of the particles.Comment: 44 pages. Changed titl
International primate neuroscience research regulation, public engagement and transparency opportunities
Scientific excellence is a necessity for progress in biomedical research. As research becomes ever more international, establishing international collaborations will be key to advancing our scientific knowledge. Understanding the similarities in standards applied by different nations to animal research, and where the differences might lie, is crucial. Cultural differences and societal values will also contribute to these similarities and differences between countries and continents. Our overview is not comprehensive for all species, but rather focuses on non-human primate (NHP) research, involving New World marmosets and Old World macaques, conducted in countries where NHPs are involved in neuroimaging research. Here, an overview of the ethics and regulations is provided to help assess welfare standards amongst primate research institutions. A comparative examination of these standards was conducted to provide a basis for establishing a common set of standards for animal welfare. These criteria may serve to develop international guidelines, which can be managed by an International Animal Welfare and Use Committee (IAWUC). Internationally, scientists have a moral responsibility to ensure excellent care and welfare of their animals, which in turn, influences the quality of their research. When working with animal models, maintaining a high quality of care (âculture of careâ) and welfare is essential. The transparent promotion of this level of care and welfare, along with the results of the research and its impact, may reduce public concerns associated with animal experiments in neuroscience research
A simple method for detecting oncofetal chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans in bladder cancer urine
Proteoglycans in bladder tumors are modified with a distinct oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS) glycosaminoglycan that is normally restricted to placental trophoblast cells. This ofCS-modification can be detected in bladder tumors by the malarial VAR2CSA protein, which in malaria pathogenesis mediates adherence of parasite-infected erythrocytes within the placenta. In bladder cancer, proteoglycans are constantly shed into the urine, and therefore have the potential to be used for detection of disease. In this study we investigated whether recombinant VAR2CSA (rVAR2) protein could be used to detect ofCS-modified proteoglycans (ofCSPGs) in the urine of bladder cancer patients as an indication of disease presence. We show that ofCSPGs in bladder cancer urine can be immobilized on cationic nitrocellulose membranes and subsequently probed for ofCS content by rVAR2 protein in a custom-made dot-blot assay. Patients with high-grade bladder tumors displayed a marked increase in urinary ofCSPGs as compared to healthy individuals. Urine ofCSPGs decreased significantly after complete tumor resection compared to matched urine collected preoperatively from patients with bladder cancer. Moreover, ofCSPGs in urine correlated with tumor size of bladder cancer patients. These findings demonstrate that rVAR2 can be utilized in a simple biochemical assay to detect cancer-specific ofCS-modifications in the urine of bladder cancer patients, which may be further developed as a noninvasive approach to detect and monitor the disease
Stressor- and Corticotropin releasing Factor-induced Reinstatement and Active Stress-related Behavioral Responses are Augmented Following Long-access Cocaine Self-administration by Rats
Rationale Stressful events during periods of drug abstinence likely contribute to relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals. Excessive cocaine use may increase susceptibility to stressor-induced relapse through alterations in brain corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) responsiveness.
Objectives This study examined stressor- and CRF-induced cocaine seeking and other stress-related behaviors in rats with different histories of cocaine self-administration (SA).
Materials and methods Rats self-administered cocaine under short-access (ShA; 2 h daily) or long-access (LgA; 6 h daily) conditions for 14 days or were provided access to saline and were tested for reinstatement by a stressor (electric footshock), cocaine or an icv injection of CRF and for behavioral responsiveness on the elevated plus maze, in a novel environment and in the lightâdark box after a 14- to 17-day extinction/withdrawal period.
Results LgA rats showed escalating patterns of cocaine SA and were more susceptible to reinstatement by cocaine, EFS, or icv CRF than ShA rats. Overall, cocaine SA increased activity in the center field of a novel environment, on the open arms of the elevated plus maze, and in the light compartment of a lightâdark box. In most cases, the effects of cocaine SA were dependent on the pattern/amount of cocaine intake with statistically significant differences from saline self-administering controls only observed in LgA rats.
Conclusions When examined after several weeks of extinction/ withdrawal, cocaine SA promotes a more active pattern of behavior during times of stress that is associated with a heightened susceptibility to stressor-induced cocaine-seeking behavior and may be the consequence of augmented CRF regulation of addiction-related neurocircuitry
Unified ethical principles and an animal research âHelsinkiâ declaration as foundations for international collaboration
Ethical frameworks are the foundation for any research with humans or nonhuman animals. Human research is
guided by overarching international ethical principles, such as those defined in the Helsinki Declaration by the
World Medical Association. However, for nonhuman animal research, because there are several sets of ethical
principles and national frameworks, it is commonly thought that there is substantial variability in animal
research approaches internationally and a lack of an animal research âHelsinki Declarationâ, or the basis for one.
We first overview several prominent sets of ethical principles, including the 3Rs, 3Ss, 3Vs, 4Fs and 6Ps. Then
using the 3Rs principles, originally proposed by Russell & Burch, we critically assess them, asking if they can be
Replaced, Reduced or Refined. We find that the 3Rs principles have survived several replacement challenges, and
the different sets of principles (3Ss, 3Vs, 4Fs and 6Ps) are complementary, a natural refinement of the 3Rs and are
ripe for integration into a unified set of principles, as proposed here. We also overview international frameworks
and documents, many of which incorporate the 3Rs, including the Basel Declaration on animal research. Finally,
we propose that the available animal research guidance documents across countries can be consolidated, to
provide a similar structure as seen in the Helsinki Declaration, potentially as part of an amended Basel Declaration on animal research. In summary, we observe substantially greater agreement on and the possibility for
unification of the sets of ethical principles and documents that can guide animal research internationally
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