Two-loop cusp anomaly in ABJM at strong coupling

We compute the null cusp anomalous dimension of ABJM theory at strong coupling up to two-loop order. This is done by evaluating corrections to the corresponding superstring partition function, weighted by the AdS 4 × ℂℙ3 action in AdS light-cone gauge. We compare our result, where we use an anomalous shift in the AdS 4 radius, with the cusp anomaly of N = 4 SYM, and extract the two-loop contribution to the non-trivial integrable coupling h(λ) of ABJM theory. It coincides with the strong coupling expansion of the exact expression for h(λ) recently conjectured by Gromov and Sizov. Our work provides thus a non-trivial perturbative check for the latter, as well as evidence for two-loop UV-finiteness and quantum integrability of the Type IIA AdS 4 × ℂℙ3 superstring in this gauge

Influence of Jpeg coding on image descriptors

We present in this paper an experimental study on robustness of main image descriptors regarding to the Jpeg coding noise . We particularly introduce some results concerning histograms and differential characteristics of a given image . This study is a preliminary work of our team in the context of content-based indexation of images and videos .Cet article propose une étude expérimentale de la robustesse des principaux descripteurs d'images par rapport aux distorsions introduites par le codage Jpeg. Tout particulièrement, nous présentons les résultats obtenus pour les histogrammes et les éléments différentiels d'une image. Cette étude est préliminaire à nos travaux sur l'indexation d'images et de vidéo1

The NIKA2 instrument, a dual-band kilopixel KID array for millimetric astronomy

NIKA2 (New IRAM KID Array 2) is a camera dedicated to millimeter wave astronomy based upon kilopixel arrays of Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID). The pathfinder instrument, NIKA, has already shown state-of-the-art detector performance. NIKA2 builds upon this experience but goes one step further, increasing the total pixel count by a factor $\sim$10 while maintaining the same per pixel performance. For the next decade, this camera will be the resident photometric instrument of the Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30m telescope in Sierra Nevada (Spain). In this paper we give an overview of the main components of NIKA2, and describe the achieved detector performance. The camera has been permanently installed at the IRAM 30m telescope in October 2015. It will be made accessible to the scientific community at the end of 2016, after a one-year commissioning period. When this happens, NIKA2 will become a fundamental tool for astronomers worldwide.Comment: Proceedings of the 16th Low Temperature Detectors workshop. To be published in the Journal of Low Temperature Physics. 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Consultancy-Based Projects

This chapter will:; ; ; Show how consultancy work can inform business discourse teaching;; ; ; Discuss how needs analysis and communication audits can be used to generate recommendations for teaching and training;; ; ; Profile a number of consultancy-based business discourse projects and show how they have informed training and course development;; ; ; Provide a case study, together with a set of tasks appropriate for the business discourse classroom, and a set of further readings

Muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search

A dedicated analysis of the muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search has been performed on a data set acquired in 2009 and 2010. The total muon flux underground in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) was measured to be $\Phi_{\mu}=(5.4\pm 0.2 ^{+0.5}_{-0.9})$\,muons/m$^2$/d. The modular design of the muon-veto system allows the reconstruction of the muon trajectory and hence the determination of the angular dependent muon flux in LSM. The results are in good agreement with both MC simulations and earlier measurements. Synchronization of the muon-veto system with the phonon and ionization signals of the Ge detector array allowed identification of muon-induced events. Rates for all muon-induced events $\Gamma^{\mu}=(0.172 \pm 0.012)\, \rm{evts}/(\rm{kg \cdot d})$ and of WIMP-like events $\Gamma^{\mu-n} = 0.008^{+0.005}_{-0.004}\, \rm{evts}/(\rm{kg \cdot d})$ were extracted. After vetoing, the remaining rate of accepted muon-induced neutrons in the EDELWEISS-II dark matter search was determined to be $\Gamma^{\mu-n}_{\rm irred} < 6\cdot 10^{-4} \, \rm{evts}/(\rm{kg \cdot d})$ at 90%\,C.L. Based on these results, the muon-induced background expectation for an anticipated exposure of 3000\,\kgd\ for EDELWEISS-3 is $N^{\mu-n}_{3000 kg\cdot d} < 0.6$ events.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, Accepted for publication in Astropart. Phy

Variations in the mineral content of bottled 'carbonated or sparkling' water across Europe : a comparison of 126 brands across 10 countries

Kidney stone disease is a common disease with high recurrence rates. Sufficient intake of water is the cornerstone in primary prevention of stone disease. However, the mineral composition of water can affect urinary minerals and influence stone formation. The aim of this study is to assess the variation in the mineral composition of bottled sparkling or carbonated drinking water across Europe. The two largest supermarket chains in each participating country were visited to obtain data on mineral composition regarding bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and sulphates of sparkling or carbonated waters by reading the ingredient labels on the bottles supplied by the manufacturers. Alternatively, the web-shops of these supermarkets were consulted. In total, 126 sparkling water brands across ten European countries were analysed regarding mineral composition. The median concentrations per mineral varied greatly. The greatest variation in median mineral content was found for sodium and sulphates with levels ranging from 3.1 mg/l to 63.0 mg/l and 6.0 mg/l to 263.0 mg/l respectively. A wide distribution of calcium content was found in Switzerland, with calcium levels reaching up to 581.6 mg/l. This study confirms that the mineral composition of sparkling or carbonated water varies greatly across Europe. Patients with kidney stone disease should be aware that the mineral content of water may influence stone formation and be mindful of the great variation that exists between different water brands. Mineral water can be a source of potential promotors or inhibitors of stone formation and patients and urologists need to be mindful of this

The Crystal Structure of PPIL1 Bound to Cyclosporine A Suggests a Binding Mode for a Linear Epitope of the SKIP Protein

BACKGROUND: The removal of introns from pre-mRNA is carried out by a large macromolecular machine called the spliceosome. The peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase PPIL1 is a component of the human spliceosome and binds to the spliceosomal SKIP protein via a binding site distinct from its active site. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we have studied the PPIL1 protein and its interaction with SKIP biochemically and by X-ray crystallography. A minimal linear binding epitope derived from the SKIP protein could be determined using a peptide array. A 36-residue region of SKIP centred on an eight-residue epitope suffices to bind PPIL1 in pull-down experiments. The crystal structure of PPIL1 in complex with the inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA) was obtained at a resolution of 1.15 A and exhibited two bound Cd(2+) ions that enabled SAD phasing. PPIL1 residues that have previously been implicated in binding of SKIP are involved in the coordination of Cd(2+) ions in the present crystal structure. Employing the present crystal structure, the determined minimal binding epitope and previously published NMR data, a molecular docking study was performed. In the docked model of the PPIL1.SKIP interaction, a proline residue of SKIP is buried in a hydrophobic pocket of PPIL1. This hydrophobic contact is encircled by several hydrogen bonds between the SKIP peptide and PPIL1. CONCLUSION: We characterized a short, linear epitope of SKIP that is sufficient to bind the PPIL1 protein. Our data indicate that this SKIP peptide could function in recruiting PPIL1 into the core of the spliceosome. We present a molecular model for the binding mode of SKIP to PPIL1 which emphasizes the versatility of cyclophilin-type PPIases to engage in additional interactions with other proteins apart from active site contacts despite their limited surface area