Search for a very light NMSSM Higgs boson produced in decays of the 125 GeV scalar boson and decaying into τ leptons in pp collisions at s = 8 $$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV

Khachatryan, V.,Sirunyan, A. M.,Tumasyan, A.,Adam, W.,Asilar, E.,Bergauer, T.,Brandstetter, J.,Brondolin, E.,Dragicevic, M.,Erö,, J.,Flechl, M.,Friedl, M.,Frü,hwirth, R.,Ghete, V. M.,Hartl, C. Springer-Verlag 2016 Journal of high energy physics Vol.2016 No.1

<P>A search for a very light Higgs boson decaying into a pair of tau leptons is presented within the framework of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. This search is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The signal is defined by the production of either of the two lightest scalars, h(1) or h(2), via gluon-gluon fusion and subsequent decay into a pair of the lightest Higgs bosons, a(1) or h(1). The h(1) or h(2) boson is identified with the observed state at a mass of 125 GeV. The analysis searches for decays of the a(1) (h(1)) states into pairs of tau leptons and covers a mass range for the a(1) (h(1)) boson of 4 to 8 GeV. The search reveals no significant excess in data above standard model background expectations, and an upper limit is set on the signal production cross section times branching fraction as a function of the a(1) (h(1)) boson mass. The 95% confidence level limit ranges from 4.5 pb at m(a1) (m(h1)) = 8 GeV to 10.3 pb at m(a1) (m(h1)) = 5 GeV.</P>

Mergers and Acquisitions as Vital Instruments of Corporate Strategy: Current and Historical Perspective

M. Jibran Sheikh,Mah-a-Mobeen Ahmed,Qudsia Arshad,Wajid Shakeel 한국유통과학회 2015 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.2 No.1

In this paper our main focus is to provide insight into the history of M&A’s for this purpose we have analysed the different waves of M&A. We have analysed these waves in context of available literature and fact and figures. During the study we realised that almost all of the waves of M&A’s ended because of financial crises, although impact and severity of that crises may differ. We analysed the impact of current crises on M&A in global context and in order to establish how companies have and in post crises era i.e. after crises of 2007 onwards how the companies have changed their corporate strategies to accommodate M&A’s. We have also analysed which factors fuelled M&A’s in past and were these factors present in post crises era M&A activities. By first quarter of 2011 the many firms saw new growth opportunities in M&A activities seemed to rebound as large companies used M&A’s as part of their corporate strategy but this was cut short by events like US debt ceiling, down grade of USA’s credit ratings along with fears about Eurozone’s financial health and their impact on future prospects of M&A’s would they continue to prosper or would they be weighed down by these events.

A POSSIBLE BINARY SYSTEM OF A STELLAR REMNANT IN THE HIGH-MAGNIFICATION GRAVITATIONAL MICROLENSING EVENT OGLE-2007-BLG-514

Miyake, N.,Udalski, A.,Sumi, T.,Bennett, D. P.,Dong, S.,Street, R. A.,Greenhill, J.,Bond, I. A.,Gould, A.,Kubiak, M.,Szymań,ski, M. K.,Pietrzyń,ski, G.,Soszyń,ski, I.,Ulaczyk, K.,Wyrzyk IOP Publishing 2012 The Astrophysical journal Vol.752 No.2

<P>We report the extremely high-magnification (A > 1000) binary microlensing event OGLE-2007-BLG-514. We obtained good coverage around the double peak structure in the light curve via follow-up observations from different observatories. The binary lens model that includes the effects of parallax (known orbital motion of the Earth) and orbital motion of the lens yields a binary lens mass ratio of q = 0.321 +/- 0.007 and a projected separation of s = 0.072 +/- 0.001 in units of the Einstein radius. The parallax parameters allow us to determine the lens distance D-L = 3.11 +/- 0.39 kpc and total mass M-L = 1.40 +/- 0.18 M-circle dot; this leads to the primary and secondary components having masses of M-1 = 1.06 +/- 0.13 M-circle dot and M-2 = 0.34 +/- 0.04 M-circle dot, respectively. The parallax model indicates that the binary lens system is likely constructed by the main-sequence stars. On the other hand, we used a Bayesian analysis to estimate probability distributions by the model that includes the effects of xallarap (possible orbital motion of the source around a companion) and parallax (q = 0.270 +/- 0.005, s = 0.083 +/- 0.001). The primary component of the binary lens is relatively massive, with M-1 = 0.9(-0.3)(+4.6) M-circle dot and it is at a distance of D-L = 2.6(-0.9)(+3.8) kpc. Given the secure mass ratio measurement, the companion mass is therefore M-2 = 0.2(-0.1)(+1.2) M-circle dot. The xallarap model implies that the primary lens is likely a stellar remnant, such as a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.</P>

Measurement of the top quark mass in the dileptonic tt¯ decay channel using the mass observables Mbℓ , MT2 , and Mbℓν in pp collisions at s=8 TeV

Sirunyan, A. M.,Tumasyan, A.,Adam, W.,Asilar, E.,Bergauer, T.,Brandstetter, J.,Brondolin, E.,Dragicevic, M.,Erö,, J.,Flechl, M.,Friedl, M.,Frü,hwirth, R.,Ghete, V. M.,Hartl, C.,Hö,rmann, N American Physical Society 2017 Physical Review D Vol.96 No.3

<P>A measurement of the top quark mass (M-t) in the dileptonic t (t) over bar decay channel is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The data was recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 +/- 0.5 fb(-1). Events are selected with two oppositely charged leptons (l = e, mu) and two jets identified as originating from b quarks. The analysis is based on three kinematic observables whose distributions are sensitive to the value of Mt. An invariant mass observable, M-bl, and a 'stransverse mass' observable, M-T2, are employed in a simultaneous fit to determine the value of M-t and an overall jet energy scale factor (JSF). A complementary approach is used to construct an invariant mass observable, M-blv, that is combined with M-T2 to measure M-t. The shapes of the observables, along with their evolutions in M-t and JSF, are modeled by a nonparametric Gaussian process regression technique. The sensitivity of the observables to the value of M-t is investigated using a Fisher information density method. The top quark mass is measured to be 172.22 +/- 0.18(stat)(-0.93)(+0.89) (syst) GeV.</P>

Restricted growth of U‐type infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in rainbow trout cells may be linked to casein kinase II activity

Park, J W,Moon, C H,Harmache, A,Wargo, A R,Purcell, M K,Bremont, M,Kurath, G Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Journal of fish diseases Vol.34 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Previously, we demonstrated that a representative M genogroup type strain of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) from rainbow trout grows well in rainbow trout‐derived RTG‐2 cells, but a U genogroup type strain from sockeye salmon has restricted growth, associated with reduced genome replication and mRNA transcription. Here, we analysed further the mechanisms for this growth restriction of U‐type IHNV in RTG‐2 cells, using strategies that assessed differences in viral genes, host immune regulation and phosphorylation. To determine whether the viral glycoprotein (G) or non‐virion (NV) protein was responsible for the growth restriction, four recombinant IHNV viruses were generated in which the G gene of an infectious IHNV clone was replaced by the G gene of U‐ or M‐type IHNV and the NV gene was replaced by NV of U‐ or M‐type IHNV. There was no significant difference in the growth of these recombinants in RTG‐2 cells, indicating that G and NV proteins are not major factors responsible for the differential growth of the U‐ and M‐type strains. Poly I:C pretreatment of RTG‐2 cells suppressed the growth of both U‐ and M‐type IHNV, although the M virus continued to replicate at a reduced level. Both viruses induced type 1 interferon (IFN1) and the IFN1 stimulated gene Mx1, but the expression levels in M‐infected cells were significantly higher than in U‐infected cells and an inhibitor of the IFN1‐inducible protein kinase PKR, 2‐aminopurine (2‐AP), did not affect the growth of U‐ or M‐type IHNV in RTG‐2 cells. These data did not indicate a role for the IFN1 system in the restricted growth of U‐type IHNV in RTG‐2 cells. Prediction of kinase‐specific phosphorylation sites in the viral phosphoprotein (P) using the NetPhosK program revealed differences between U‐ and M‐type P genes at five phosphorylation sites. Pretreatment of RTG‐2 cells with a PKC inhibitor or a p38MAPK inhibitor did not affect the growth of the U‐ and M‐type viruses. However, 100 μ<SMALL>m</SMALL> of the casein kinase II (CKII) inhibitor, 5,6‐dichloro‐1‐β‐<SMALL>d</SMALL>‐ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB), reduced the titre of the U type 8.3‐fold at 24 h post‐infection. In contrast, 100 μ<SMALL>m</SMALL> of the CKII inhibitor reduced the titre of the M type only 1.3‐fold at 48 h post‐infection. Our data suggest that the different growth of U‐ and M‐type IHNV in RTG‐2 cells may be linked to a differential requirement for cellular protein kinases such as CKII for their growth.</P>

A SUB-SATURN MASS PLANET, MOA-2009-BLG-319Lb

Miyake, N.,Sumi, T.,Dong, Subo,Street, R.,Mancini, L.,Gould, A.,Bennett, D. P.,Tsapras, Y.,Yee, J. C.,Albrow, M. D.,Bond, I. A.,Fouqué,, P.,Browne, P.,Han, C.,Snodgrass, C.,Finet, F.,Furusawa, K IOP Publishing 2011 The Astrophysical journal Vol.728 No.2

<P>We report the gravitational microlensing discovery of a sub-Saturn mass planet, MOA-2009-BLG-319Lb, orbiting a K-or M-dwarf star in the inner Galactic disk or Galactic bulge. The high-cadence observations of the MOA-II survey discovered this microlensing event and enabled its identification as a high-magnification event approximately 24 hr prior to peak magnification. As a result, the planetary signal at the peak of this light curve was observed by 20 different telescopes, which is the largest number of telescopes to contribute to a planetary discovery to date. The microlensing model for this event indicates a planet-star mass ratio of q = (3.95 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4) and a separation of d = 0.97537 +/- 0.00007 in units of the Einstein radius. A Bayesian analysis based on the measured Einstein radius crossing time, t(E), and angular Einstein radius,theta(E), along with a standard Galactic model indicates a host star mass of M-L = 0.38(-0.18)(+0.34) M-circle dot and a planet mass of M-p = 50(-24)(+44)M(circle plus), which is half the mass of Saturn. This analysis also yields a planet-star three-dimensional separation of a = 2.4(-0.6)(+1.2) AU and a distance to the planetary system of D-L = 6.1(-1.2)(+1.1) kpc. This separation is similar to 2 times the distance of the snow line, a separation similar to most of the other planets discovered by microlensing.</P>

Search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs in pp collisions at s=7 TeV

CMS Collaboration,Chatrchyan, S.,Khachatryan, V.,Sirunyan, A.M.,Tumasyan, A.,Adam, W.,Bergauer, T.,Dragicevic, M.,Ero, J.,Fabjan, C.,Friedl, M.,Fruhwirth, R.,Ghete, V.M.,Hammer, J.,Hoch, M.,Hormann, N North-Holland Pub. Co 2012 Physics letters: B Vol.713 No.2

A search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is performed using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb<SUP>-1</SUP> recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The search is sensitive to both the standard model Higgs boson and to the neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM). No excess of events is observed in the tau-pair invariant-mass spectrum. For a standard model Higgs boson in the mass range of 110-145 GeV upper limits at 95% confidence level (CL) on the production cross section are determined. We exclude a Higgs boson with m<SUB>H</SUB>=115 GeV with a production cross section 3.2 times of that predicted by the standard model. In the MSSM, upper limits on the neutral Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction to tau pairs, as a function of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson mass, m<SUB>A</SUB>, sets stringent new bounds in the parameter space, excluding at 95% CL values of tanβ as low as 7.1 at m<SUB>A</SUB>=160 GeV in the m<SUB>h</SUB><SUP>max</SUP> benchmark scenario.

Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation of Some Novel Benzofuran Derivatives as Potential Anti-HIV-1, Anticancer, and Antimicrobial Agents

Rida, Samia M.,EI-Hawash, Soad A.M.,Fahmy, Hesham T.Y.,Hazza, Aly A.,EI-Meligy, Mostafa M.M. The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea 2006 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.29 No.1

A novel series of 1-(1-benzofuran-2-yl-ethylidene)-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides (2a-d) along with some derived ring systems: substituted-2,3-dihydro-thiazoles(3a-c, 4a-f) and thiazolidin-4-ones(5a-d and 6a-d), were synthesized. In addition, cyanoacetic acid-(1-benzofuran-2-yl-ethylidene) hydrazide(7) was used to prepare another new series of compounds consisting of substituted pyridin-2(1H)-ones(8a-c); 2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-thiazoles(9a-d) and 2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-ones (10a-c, 11a-c). The absolute configuration of compound 5c was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compounds prepared were evaluated for their in vitro anti-HIV, anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Among the tested compounds, compounds 5c and 9a produced a significant reduction ㅐ ㄹ the viral cytopathic effect (93.19% and 59.55%) at concentrations $>2.0{\times}10^{-4}\;M\;and\;2.5{\times}10^{-5}\;M$respectively. Compound 9a was confirmed to have moderate anti-HIV activity. Compounds 2a, 2d, and 5c showed mild antifungal activity. However, none of the tested compounds showed any significant anticancer activity.

OGLE-2014-BLG-0257L: A MICROLENSING BROWN DWARF ORBITING A LOW-MASS M DWARF

Han, C.,Jung, Y. K.,Udalski, A.,Gould, A.,Bozza, V.,Szymań,ski, M. K.,Soszyń,ski, I.,Poleski, R.,Kozłowski, S.,Pietrukowicz, P.,Skowron, J.,Ulaczyk, K.,Wyrzykowski, Ł. American Astronomical Society 2016 The Astrophysical Journal Vol.822 No.2

<P>In this paper, we report the discovery of a binary composed of a brown dwarf (BD) and a low-mass M dwarf from observation of the microlensing event OGLE-2014-BLG-0257. The resolution of the very brief caustic crossing combined with the detection of subtle continuous deviation in the lensing light curve induced by the Earth's orbital motion enable us to precisely measure both the Einstein radius theta(E) and the lens parallax pi(E), which are the two quantities needed to unambiguously determine the mass and distance to the lens. It is found that the companion is a substellar BD with a mass of 0.036 +/- 0.005 M-circle dot (37.7 +/- 5.2 M-J) and it is orbiting an M dwarf with a mass of 0.19 +/- 0.02 M-circle dot. The binary is located at a distance of 1.25 +/- 0.13 kpc toward the Galactic bulge and the projected separation between the binary components is 0.61 +/- 0.07 au. The separation scaled by the mass of the host is 3.2 au/M-circle dot. Based on the assumption that separations scale with masses, the discovered BD is located in the BD desert. With the growing sample of BDs in various environments, microlensing will provide a powerful probe of BDs in the Galaxy.</P>

Novel anti-apoptotic mechanism of A20 through targeting ASK1 to suppress TNF-induced JNK activation

Won, M,Park, K A,Byun, H S,Sohn, K-C,Kim, Y-R,Jeon, J,Hong, J H,Park, J,Seok, J H,Kim, J M,Yoon, W-H,Jang, I-S,Shen, H M,Liu, Z G,Hur, G M Macmillan Publishers Limited 2010 CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION Vol.17 No.12

The zinc-finger protein A20 has crucial physiological functions as a dual inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and apoptosis in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 signaling pathway. Although the molecular basis for the anti-NF-κB function of A20 has been well elucidated, the anti-apoptotic function of A20 is largely unknown. Here, we report a novel mechanism underlying the anti-apoptotic function of A20: A20 blocks TNF-induced apoptosis through suppression of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by targeting apoptosis signal-regulating kinase1 (ASK1). First, the ectopic expression of A20 drastically inhibits TNF-induced JNK activation and apoptosis in multiple cell types including those deficient of NF-κB activation. Unexpectedly, the blunting effect of A20 on TNF-induced JNK activation is not mediated by affecting the TNFR1 signaling complex formation. Instead, A20 interacts with ASK1, an important MAPKK kinase in the JNK signaling cascade. More importantly, overexpression of wild-type A20, but not of mutant A20 (ZnF4; C624A, C627A), promotes degradation of the ASK1 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Taken together, the results from this study reveal a novel anti-apoptotic mechanism of A20 in TNF signaling pathway: A20 binds to ASK1 and mediates ASK1 degradation, leading to suppression of JNK activation and eventually blockage of apoptosis.