Search for the Higgs Boson H20H_2^0 at LHC in 3-3-1 Model

We present an analysis of production and signature of neutral Higgs boson ($H_{2}^{0}$) on the version of the 3-3-1 model containing heavy leptons at the Large Hadron Collider. We studied the possibility to identify it using the respective branching ratios. Cross section are given for the collider energy, $\sqrt{s} =$ 14 TeV. Event rates and significances are discussed for two possible values of integrated luminosity, 300 fb$^{-1}$ and 3000 fb$^{-1}$.Comment: 17 pages 7 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1205.404

Insulin levels are decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid of women with prodomal Alzheimer's disease

Previous studies have failed to reach consensus on insulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and on its relation to pathological features. We performed a new analysis in patients at different stages of AD, and investigated the relationship of insulin levels with biochemical disease markers and with cognitive score. We included 99 patients from our Memory Clinic (Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden), including: 27 patients with mild AD, 13 that progressed from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD in two years time, 26 with MCI stable after two years, and 33 with subjective cognitive impairment. Insulin was significantly decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid of both women and men with mild AD. Insulin deficits were seen in women belonging to both MCI groups, suggesting that this occurs earlier than in men. Insulin was positively associated with amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ1-42) levels and cognitive score. Furthermore, total-tau/(Aβ1-42*insulin) ratio showed strikingly better sensitivity and specificity than the total-tau/Aβ1-42 ratio for early AD diagnosis in women

10 kg scaled-up preparation of Al/Fe-pillared clay CWPO catalysts from concentrated precursors

In this work, the significant intensification of a bentonite pillaring process was achieved by using a novel methodological approach, leading to an intercalating Al/Fe mixed oligomeric precursor, around 100 times more concentrated than usually reported. In addition, the intercalating step was achieved directly on the clay with no previous swelling of the mineral being required; this allowed the successful scaled-up preparation of the Al/Fe-PILC, by a factor of one thousand, from the lab (10 g) to the pilot scale (10 kg). Intercalating solutions prepared under either oncentrated (13 cm3) or diluted (widely reported, 2.0 dm3) conditions for lab-scale preparations were both translucent, displaying similar final pH values (close to 4.0) typical of highly oligomerized Al-pillaring solutions. The clay modified from concentrated precursors at the 10 g scale reached a high basal spacing (18.3 Å) and specific surface area (198 m2 g−1 ) with very comparable fractions of Fe forming truly mixed Al/Fe pillars in comparison to a reference material (H2-TPR analyses). This promoted high performance in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution as a toxic model organic molecule at very mild temperature (25.0 °C ± 1.0 °C) and pressure (76 kPa), exhibiting the highest catalytic efficiency as a function of both parameters (full conversion of phenol together with 45.2% of TOC mineralization) with low iron leaching using a very low catalyst concentration (0.25 g dm−3). Particle size refining of the starting clay, the speed of stirring and conditions for the final washing of the interlayered precursor are the main factors influencing successful pillaring at scales higher than 1.0 kg

Plasma osteopontin levels and expression in adipose tissue are increased in obesity

Obesity acts as a cardiovascular risk factor by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory mediator involved in tissue remodeling that plays a role in atherosclerosis and diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the circulating concentrations of OPN and its mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue of lean, overweight, and obese individuals and to analyze the effect of weight loss. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Plasma concentrations of OPN were measured in 77 volunteers. OPN mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue obtained from 12 women was quantified by real-time PCR. In addition, the concentrations of OPN in 12 obese men were measured before and after weight loss following a dietetic program. SETTING: The study was conducted at a University Hospital. RESULTS: Obese and overweight patients exhibited significantly increased circulating OPN concentrations as compared with lean subjects (obese 72.6 +/- 28.5, overweight 68.2 +/- 20.8, lean 42.7 +/- 27.9 ng/ml; P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between OPN levels and body fat (r = 0.45; P < 0.0001). Obese individuals showed significantly increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of OPN in omental adipose tissue as compared with lean volunteers, which was further increased in obese diabetic patients. Diet-induced weight loss significantly decreased OPN concentrations from 64.7 +/- 22.1 to 36.6 +/- 20.1 ng/ml (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: These findings represent the first observation that plasma OPN and mRNA expression of OPN in omental adipose tissue are increased in overweight/obese patients with the latter being further elevated in obesity-associated diabetes. Moreover, weight loss reduces OPN concentrations, which may contribute to the beneficial effects accompanying weight reduction. Measurement of OPN might be useful for evaluating the outcomes of various clinical interventions for obesity-related cardiovascular disease

Increased circulating and visceral adipose tissue expression levels of YKL-40 in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes are related to inflammation: impact of conventional weight loss and gastric bypass

Context: Plasma YKL-40 is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes. The potential role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as a significant source of YKL-40 is unknown. Objective: In the study circulating and expression levels of YKL-40 were examined in VAT analyzing the contribution of adipocytes and stromovascular fraction cells (SVFCs).Wealso explored YKL-40’s implication in insulin resistance and inflammation and the effect of weight loss on plasma YKL-40 concentrations. PatientsandMethods: Samples obtained from 53 subjects were used in the study.Geneandprotein expression levels of YKL-40 were analyzed in VAT as well as in both adipocytes and SVFCs. In addition, circulating YKL-40 concentrations were measured before and after weight loss achieved either by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n 26) or after a conventional dietetic program (n 20). Results: Circulating concentrations and VAT expression of YKL-40 were increased in obese patients with type 2 diabetes (P 0.01) as well as associated with variables of insulin resistance and inflammation. No differences in YKL-40 expression levels between adipocytes and SVFCs were detected. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and homeostasis model assessment emerged (P 0.01) as independent factors predicting circulating YKL-40. Elevated levels of YKL-40 in obese patients decreased after weight loss following a conventional hypocaloric diet (P 0.05) but not via a surgery-induced negative energy balance mediated by the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Conclusions: The association of increased YKL-40 mRNA and protein levels in VAT with its circulating concentrations indicates an important contribution of VAT in YKL-40 regulation. Furthermore, our data suggest a relevant role of glucose metabolism and inflammation on YKL-40 regulation

Week 96 efficacy and safety results of the phase 3, randomized EMERALD trial to evaluate switching from boosted-protease inhibitors plus emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate regimens to the once daily, single-tablet regimen of darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) in treatment-experienced, virologically-suppressed adults living with HIV-1

Darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) 800/150/200/10 mg was investigated through 96 weeks in EMERALD (NCT02269917). Virologically-suppressed, HIV-1-positive treatment-experienced adults (previous non-darunavir virologic failure [VF] allowed) were randomized (2:1) to D/C/F/TAF or boosted protease inhibitor (PI) plus emtricitabine/tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (F/TDF) over 48 weeks. At week 52 participants in the boosted PI arm were offered switch to D/C/F/TAF (late-switch, 44 weeks D/C/F/TAF exposure). All participants were followed on D/C/F/TAF until week 96. Efficacy endpoints were percentage cumulative protocol-defined virologic rebound (PDVR; confirmed viral load [VL] >= 50 copies/mL) and VL = 50 copies/mL (VF) (FDA-snapshot analysis). Of 1141 randomized patients, 1080 continued in the extension phase. Few patients had PDVR (D/C/F/TAF: 3.1%, 24/763 cumulative through week 96; late-switch: 2.3%, 8/352 week 52-96). Week 96 virologic suppression was 90.7% (692/763) (D/C/F/TAF) and 93.8% (330/352) (late-switch). VF was 1.2% and 1.7%, respectively. No darunavir, primary PI, tenofovir or emtricitabine resistance-associated mutations were observed post-baseline. No patients discontinued for efficacy-related reasons. Few discontinued due to adverse events (2% D/C/F/TAF arm). Improved renal and bone parameters were maintained in the D/C/F/TAF arm and observed in the late-switch arm, with small increases in total cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio. A study limitation was the lack of a control arm in the week 96 analysis. Through 96 weeks, D/C/F/TAF resulted in low PDVR rates, high virologic suppression rates, very few VFs, and no resistance development. Late-switch results were consistent with D/C/F/TAF week 48 results. EMERALD week 96 results confirm the efficacy, high genetic barrier to resistance and safety benefits of D/C/F/TAF

Properties of stellar generations in Globular Clusters and relations with global parameters

ABRIDGED) We revise the formation of Galactic GCs by adding the detailed chemical composition of their different stellar generations (from 1200 giants in 19 GCs) to their global parameters. We propose to identify as GCs those showing the Na-O anticorrelation, and we classify the GCs according to kinematics and location in the Galaxy in disk/bulge, inner, and outer halo. We find that the LF of GCs is fairly independent of their population, suggesting that it is imprinted by the formation mechanism, and only marginally affected by the ensuing evolution. We show that a large fraction of the primordial population should have been lost by the proto-GCs. The extremely low Al abundances found for the primordial population of massive GCs indicate a very fast enrichment process before the formation of the primordial population. We suggest a scenario for the formation of GCs including at least 3 main phases: i) the formation of a precursor population (likely due to the interaction of cosmological structures similar to those leading to dwarf spheroidals, but residing at smaller Rgc, with the early Galaxy or with other structures), ii) which triggers a large episode of star formation (the primordial population), and iii) the formation of the current GC, mainly within a cooling flow formed by the slow winds of a fraction of the primordial population. The precursor population is very effective in raising the metal content in massive and/or metal poor (mainly halo) clusters, while its role is minor in small and/or metal rich (mainly disk) ones. Finally, we use PCA and multivariate relations to study the phase of metal-enrichment from 1st to 2nd generation. Most of the chemical signatures of GCs may be ascribed to a few parameters, the most important being [Fe/H], mass, and age of the cluster, with the location within the Galaxy also playing some role.Comment: 24 pages (+2 pages of bibliography and 5 of Appendix), 19 figures, accepted for publication on Astronomy and Astrophysic

Identification of lptA, lpxE, and lpxO, Three Genes Involved in the Remodeling of Brucella Cell Envelope.

The brucellae are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause a worldwide extended zoonosis. One of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these bacteria is their ability to avoid rapid recognition by innate immunity because of a reduction of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), free-lipids, and other envelope molecules. We investigated the Brucella homologs of lptA, lpxE, and lpxO, three genes that in some pathogens encode enzymes that mask the LPS PAMP by upsetting the core-lipid A charge/hydrophobic balance. Brucella lptA, which encodes a putative ethanolamine transferase, carries a frame-shift in B. abortus but not in other Brucella spp. and phylogenetic neighbors like the opportunistic pathogen Ochrobactrum anthropi. Consistent with the genomic evidence, a B. melitensis lptA mutant lacked lipid A-linked ethanolamine and displayed increased sensitivity to polymyxin B (a surrogate of innate immunity bactericidal peptides), while B. abortus carrying B. melitensis lptA displayed increased resistance. Brucella lpxE encodes a putative phosphatase acting on lipid A or on a free-lipid that is highly conserved in all brucellae and O. anthropi. Although we found no evidence of lipid A dephosphorylation, a B. abortus lpxE mutant showed increased polymyxin B sensitivity, suggesting the existence of a hitherto unidentified free-lipid involved in bactericidal peptide resistance. Gene lpxO putatively encoding an acyl hydroxylase carries a frame-shift in all brucellae except B. microti and is intact in O. anthropi. Free-lipid analysis revealed that lpxO corresponded to olsC, the gene coding for the ornithine lipid (OL) acyl hydroxylase active in O. anthropi and B. microti, while B. abortus carrying the olsC of O. anthropi and B. microti synthesized hydroxylated OLs. Interestingly, mutants in lptA, lpxE, or olsC were not attenuated in dendritic cells or mice. This lack of an obvious effect on virulence together with the presence of the intact homolog genes in O. anthropi and B. microti but not in other brucellae suggests that LptA, LpxE, or OL β-hydroxylase do not significantly alter the PAMP properties of Brucella LPS and free-lipids and are therefore not positively selected during the adaptation to intracellular life

INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL SEX ON SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, INDIVIDUAL RECOGNTION, AND NON-ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING IN THE ADULT GRAY SHORT-TAILED OPOSSUM (MONODELPHIS DOMESTICA)

Social behavior is critical for relationship formation and is influenced by myriad environmental and individual factors. Basic and preclinical research typically relies on rodent models to identify the mechanisms that underlie behavior; however, it is important to use non-rodent models as well. A major objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that biological sex and social experience modulate the expression of social behavior in the adult gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica), a non-traditional model. We also investigated the non-associative learning abilities of these animals. Following a period of social isolation, animals of both sexes were paired with a non-familiar, same-sex partner for 10 minutes on three different occasions, with 24-hour inter-trial intervals. We are the first research group to find significant sex differences in submissive and nonsocial behaviors in Monodelphis. Females displayed significantly higher durations of nonsocial behavior that increased over trials. Males were more aggressive; their latencies to the first attack and submissive behavior decreased over trials whereas these latencies increased for females; males’ duration of submissive behavior increased over trials whereas it decreased for females. A different group of subjects habituated in response to repeated presentations to neutral odors and dishabituated in response to novel odors. In addition, both males and females demonstrated the ability to form social memories in a standard individual (social) recognition test. Our results contribute to the characterization of this marsupial species, an important first step in developing it as a model of complex social behaviors