Dark Matter models that employ a vector portal to a dark sector are usually treated as an effective theory that incorporates kinetic mixing of the photon with a new U(1) gauge boson, with the Z boson ...integrated out. However, a more complete theory must employ the full SU(2)×L U(1)×Y U(1)Y′ gauge group, in which kinetic mixing of the Z boson with the new U(1) gauge boson is taken into account. The importance of the more complete analysis is demonstrated by an example where the parameter space of the effective theory that yields the observed dark matter relic density is in conflict with a suitably defined electroweak ρ parameter that is deduced from a global fit to Z physics data.
A
bstract
This is the second of a series of papers that explores the physical parameterization, sum rules and unitarity bounds arising from a non-minimal scalar sector of the Standard Model (SM) that ...consists of
N
Higgs doublets. In this paper, we focus on the structure and implication of the Yukawa interactions that couple the
N
scalar doublets to the SM fermions. We employ the charged Higgs basis, which is defined as the basis of scalar fields such that the neutral scalar field vacuum expectation value resides entirely in one of the
N
scalar doublet fields, and the charged components of the remaining
N
− 1 scalar doublet fields are the physical (mass-eigenstate) charged Higgs fields. Based on the structure of the Yukawa Lagrangian of the model (and as a consequence of tree-level unitarity), one may deduce numerous sum rules, several of which have not appeared previously in the literature. These sum rules can be used to uncover intimate relations between the structure of the Higgs-fermion couplings and the scalar/gauge couplings. In particular, we show that the approximate alignment limit, in which the
W
+
W
−
and
ZZ
couplings to the observed Higgs boson are approximately SM-like, imposes significant constraints on the Higgs-fermion couplings.
L-asparaginase (ASNase) is an amidohydrolase that can be used as a biopharmaceutical, as an agent for acrylamide reduction, and as an active molecule for L-asparagine detection. However, its free ...form displays some limitations, such as the enzyme's single use and low stability. Hence, immobilization is one of the most effective tools for enzyme recovery and reuse. Silica is a promising material due to its low-cost, biological compatibility, and tunable physicochemical characteristics if properly functionalized. Ionic liquids (ILs) are designer compounds that allow the tailoring of their physicochemical properties for a given task. If properly designed, bioconjugates combine the features of the selected ILs with those of the support used, enabling the simple recovery and reuse of the enzyme. In this work, silica-based supported ionic liquid-like phase (SSILLP) materials with quaternary ammoniums and chloride as the counterion were studied as novel supports for ASNase immobilization since it has been reported that ammonium ILs have beneficial effects on enzyme stability. SSILLP materials were characterized by elemental analysis and zeta potential. The immobilization process was studied and the pH effect, enzyme/support ratio, and contact time were optimized regarding the ASNase enzymatic activity. ASNase-SSILLP bioconjugates were characterized by ATR-FTIR. The bioconjugates displayed promising potential since SiN
Cl, SiN
Cl, and SiN
Cl recovered more than 92% of the initial ASNase activity under the optimized immobilization conditions (pH 8, 6 × 10
mg of ASNase per mg of SSILLP material, and 60 min). The ASNase-SSILLP bioconjugates showed more enhanced enzyme reuse than reported for other materials and immobilization methods, allowing five cycles of reaction while keeping more than 75% of the initial immobilized ASNase activity. According to molecular docking studies, the main interactions established between ASNase and SSILLP materials correspond to hydrophobic interactions. Overall, it is here demonstrated that SSILLP materials are efficient supports for ASNase, paving the way for their use in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating and neuroinflammatory disease of the human central nervous system (CNS). The expression of kinins is increased in MS patients, but the underlying mechanisms ...by which the kinin receptor regulates MS development have not been elucidated.
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in female C57BL/6 mice by immunization with MOG(35-55) peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant and injected with pertussis toxin on day 0 and day 2. Here, we report that blockade of the B(1)R in the induction phase of EAE markedly suppressed its progression by interfering with the onset of the immune response. Furthermore, B(1)R antagonist suppressed the production/expression of antigen-specific T(H)1 and T(H)17 cytokines and transcription factors, both in the periphery and in the CNS. In the chronic phase of EAE, the blockade of B(1)R consistently impaired the clinical progression of EAE. Conversely, administration of the B(1)R agonist in the acute phase of EAE suppressed disease progression and inhibited the increase in permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and any further CNS inflammation. Of note, blockade of the B(2)R only showed a moderate impact on all of the studied parameters of EAE progression.
Our results strongly suggest that kinin receptors, mainly the B(1)R subtype, play a dual role in EAE progression depending on the phase of treatment through the lymphocytes and glial cell-dependent pathways.
One of the challenges faced by Brazilian distribution utilities to enable the connection and operation of microgrids (MGs) is the absence of a solid set of technical standards in the country. An ...alternative has been to use and adapt existing standards applied to micro- and mini-distributed generation. In this context, this paper presents an analysis of the development status of norms, standards, and general requirements for the connection and operation of microgrids, as well as a proposal for the regulation and structuring of technical and operational requirements related to the implementation of microgrid projects. Some critical points highlighted in the paper include: the modes of operation, the minimum requirements for the different modes of operation, interoperability of systems, a conceptual model with attribution of responsible actors for the decentralized management of microgrids adapted to the institutional standards of the Brazilian sectorial model, a proposal for a standard connection structure considering the point of connection (PoC) implanted using multifunctional relay and recloser, procedures for technical feasibility assessment (operational studies) of MGs connection, and, finally, a discussion of operational issues of storage systems in a microgrid environment.
Virus infection frequently modifies plant phenotypes, leading to changes in behaviour and performance of their insect vectors in a way that transmission is enhanced, although this may not always be ...the case. Here, we investigated Bemisia tabaci response to tomato plants infected by Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), a non-circulative-transmitted crinivirus, and Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV), a circulative-transmitted begomovirus. Moreover, we examined the role of visual and olfactory cues in host plant selection by both viruliferous and non-viruliferous B. tabaci. Visual cues alone were assessed as targets for whitefly landing by placing leaves underneath a Plexiglas plate. A dual-choice arena was used to assess whitefly response to virus-infected and mock-inoculated tomato leaves under light and dark conditions. Thereafter, we tested the whitefly response to volatiles using an active air-flow Y-tube olfactometer, and chemically characterized the blends using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Visual stimuli tests showed that whiteflies, irrespective of their infectious status, always preferred to land on virus-infected rather than on mock-inoculated leaves. Furthermore, whiteflies had no preference for either virus-infected or mock-inoculated leaves under dark conditions, but preferred virus-infected leaves in the presence of light. ToSRV-infection promoted a sharp decline in the concentration of some tomato volatiles, while an increase in the emission of some terpenes after ToCV infection was found. ToSRV-viruliferous whiteflies preferred volatiles emitted from mock-inoculated plants, a conducive behaviour to enhance virus spread, while volatiles from ToCV-infected plants were avoided by non-viruliferous whiteflies, a behaviour that is likely detrimental to the secondary spread of the virus. In conclusion, the circulative persistent begomovirus, ToSRV, seems to have evolved together with its vector B. tabaci to optimise its own spread. However, this type of virus-induced manipulation of vector behaviour was not observed for the semi persistent crinivirus, ToCV, which is not specifically transmitted by B. tabaci and has a much less intimate virus-vector relationship.
A
bstract
In models with a U(1) gauge extension beyond the Standard Model, one can derive sum rules for the couplings of the theory that are a consequence of tree-level unitarity. In this paper, we ...provide a comprehensive list of coupling sum rules for a general
$$ \textrm{SU}{(2)}_L\times \textrm{U}{(1)}_Y\times \textrm{U}{(1)}_{Y^{\prime }} $$
SU
2
L
×
U
1
Y
×
U
1
Y
′
gauge theory coupled to an arbitrary set of fermion and scalar multiplets. These results are of particular interest for models of dark matter that employ an extended gauge sector mediated by a new (dark)
Z
′
gauge boson. For the case of a minimal extension of the Standard Model with a
$$ \textrm{U}{(1)}_{Y^{\prime }} $$
U
1
Y
′
gauge boson, we clarify the definitions of the weak mixing angle and the electroweak
ρ
parameter. We demonstrate the utility of a generalized
ρ
parameter (denoted by
ρ
′
) whose definition naturally follows from the unitarity sum rules developed in this paper.
Microgrids have emerged as a popular solution for electric energy distribution due to their reliability, sustainability, and growing accessibility. However, their implementation can be challenging, ...particularly due to regulatory and market issues. Building smaller-scale microgrids, also known as nanogrids, can present additional challenges, such as high investment costs that need to be justified by local demands. To address these challenges, this work proposes an economic feasibility assessment model that is applied to a real nanogrid under construction in the Brazilian electrical system, with electric vehicle charging stations as its main load. The model, which takes into account uncertainties, evaluates the economic viability of constructing a nanogrid using economic indicators estimated by the Monte Carlo simulation method, with the system operation represented by the OpenDSS software. The model also considers aspects of energy transactions within the net-metering paradigm, with energy compensation between the nanogrid and the main distribution network, and investigates how incentives can impact the viability of these microgrids.
Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, demyelinating inflammatory disease of the human central nervous system (CNS). While the primary symptoms of MS affect motor function, it is now ...recognized that chronic pain is a relevant symptom that affects both animals and MS patients. There is evidence that glial cells, such as astrocytes, play an important role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Kinins, notably bradykinin (BK) acting through B1 (B1 R) and B2 (B2 R) receptors, play a central role in pain and inflammatory processes. However, it remains unclear whether kinin receptors are involved in neuropathic pain in MS. Here we investigated by genetic and pharmacological approaches the role of kinin receptors in neuropathic pain behaviors induced in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model. Our results showed that gene deletion or antagonism of kinin receptors, especially B1 R, significantly inhibited both tactile and thermal hypersensitivity in EAE animals. By contrast, animals with EAE and treated with a B1 R selective agonist displayed a significant increase in tactile hypersensitivity. We also observed a marked increase in B1 R mRNA and protein level in the mouse spinal cord 14 days after EAE immunization. Blockade of B1 R significantly suppressed the levels of mRNAs for IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-6, CXCL-1/KC, COX-2 and NOS2, as well as glial activation in the spinal cord. Of note, the selective B1 antagonist DALBK consistently prevented IFN-induced up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 release in astrocyte culture. Finally, both B1 R and B2 R antagonists significantly inhibited COX-2 and NOS2 expression in primary astrocyte culture. The B1 R was co-localized with immunomarker of astrocytes in the spinal cord of EAE-treated animals. The above data constitute convincing experimental evidence indicating that both kinin receptors, especially the B1 subtype, exert a critical role in the establishment of persistent hypersensitivity observed in the EAE model, an action that seems to involve a central inflammatory process, possibly acting on astrocytes. Thus, B1 selective antagonists or drugs that reduce kinin release may have the potential to treat neuropathic pain in patients suffering from MS.
A
bstract
We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for all global symmetries of the most general two Higgs doublet model (2HDM) scalar potential entirely in terms of reparametrization ...independent, i.e. basis invariant, objects. This culminates in what we call a “Symmetry Map” of the parameter space of the model and the fundamental insight that there are, in general, two algebraically distinct ways of how symmetries manifest themselves on basis invariant objects: either, basis invariant objects can be non-trivially related, or, basis covariant objects can vanish. These two options have different consequences on the resulting structure of the ring of basis invariants and on the number of remaining physical parameters. Alongside, we derive for the first time necessary and sufficient conditions for CP conservation in the 2HDM entirely in terms of CP-even quantities. This study lays the methodological foundation for analogous investigations of global symmetries in all other models that have unphysical freedom of reparametrization, most notably the Standard Model flavor sector.
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