Amplitude-assisted tagging of longitudinally polarised bosons using wide neural networks

Extracting longitudinal modes of weak bosons in LHC processes is essential to understand the electroweak-symmetry-breaking mechanism. To that end, we propose a general method, based on wide neural networks, to properly model longitudinal-boson signals and hence enable the event-by-event tagging of longitudinal bosons. It combines experimentally accessible kinematic information and genuine theoretical inputs provided by amplitudes in perturbation theory. As an application we consider the production of a Z boson in association with a jet at the LHC, both at leading order and in the presence of parton-shower effects. The devised neural networks are able to extract reliably the longitudinal contribution to the unpolarised process. The proposed method is very general and can be systematically extended to other processes and problems.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Efficacy of vildagliptin versus sulfonylureas as add-on therapy to metformin: comparison of results from randomised controlled and observational studies.

Randomised control trials (RCTs) do not always reflect real-life outcomes for glucose-lowering drugs. In this work we compared RCT and real-life data on the efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitor vildagliptin or sulfonylureas when added to metformin

Social Specialization of Space: Clustering Households on the French Riviera

International audienceThe aim of this paper is to estimate the extent of social specialization of residential space within the French Riviera metropolitan area. Unlike classical approaches, where social groups are pre-defined through given characteristics of households, our approach determines clusters of households inductively. Socio-demographic characteristics of households are thus measured through 16 different indicators. Clustering is then carried out through the optimization of two distinct criteria. Simulated annealing, simple and multi-objective Genetic Algorithm were adapted for this purpose and has produced pertinent results

evaluation models and items of clinical competence for the hospital physicians in internal medicine

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Roles of minerals (Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium) in the prevention and management of high blood pressure

L’hypertension artérielle (HTA) est définie comme étant une pression artérielle systolique supérieure ou égale à 140 mm Hg et une pression diastolique supérieure ou égale à 90 mm Hg, chez un sujet sans complications particulières. L’implication du sodium dans l’augmentation des chiffres tensionnels est détaillée dans de nombreux ouvrages scientifiques dont la majorité rapporte qu’il est dangereux lorsqu’il est consommé en excès. Il provoque notamment la vasoconstriction, la rigidification des artères et accélère le vieillissement rénal. Cependant, les rôles des autres minéraux (calcium, magnésium et potassium) ne semblent pas être suffisamment considérés. Ainsi, il est nécessaire d’éclaircir l’impact de ces minéraux sur la prévention et la prise en charge de l’hypertension. Pour le potassium, plusieurs études ont démontré qu’un moindre apport en potassium, c’est-à-dire inférieur 3500 mg/j, augmenterait le risque de survenue d’une HTA alors qu’un apport situé entre 3500 et 4700 mg par jour permettrait de mettre en évidence l’effet hypotenseur du potassium, son effet est associé à la quantité de sodium. Plus l’apport en sodium est élevé plus le potassium a un pouvoir antihypertensif. Pour le calcium, son mécanisme d’action sur la pression artérielle n’est pas assez clair, mais les hypothèses scientifiques suggèrent que le calcium aurait une action vasodilatatrice par le fait qu’une diminution de la concentration calcique intracellulaire était en mesure de diminuer la pression artérielle. Cette hypothèse elle-même viendrait de l’action des inhibiteurs calciques qui dans leur mécanisme vont réduire le tonus musculaire par blocage des canaux calciques, accompagné d’un effet vasodilatateur. Pour le magnésium, des études ont montré son effet vasodilatateur. En effet, une diminution de la concentration en magnésium provoquerait une vasoconstriction et qu’à l’inverse, une augmentation de sa concentration favoriserait une vasodilatation. De plus, d’autres études ont montré que l’association entre ces différents minéraux était tout autant efficace pour réduire significativement les chiffres tensionnels. Un certain nombre de travaux de recherche à ce sujet montre clairement l’importance de considérer les niveaux en ces minéraux dans la prévention et la prise en charge de l’hypertension. Mots clés: hypertension artérielle, calcium, magnésium, potassium, sodiumHigh blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg in a subject with no particular complications. The involvement of sodium in the increase in blood pressure figures is detailed in many scientific publications, but what about other minerals. After the analysis carried out on various reviews, we were able to identify the effects of K, Ca and Mg on blood pressure. For potassium, several studies have shown that a lower potassium intake, i.e. less than 3500 mg/day, would increase the risk of an hypertension, while an intake between 3500 and 4700 mg per day would highlight the hypotensive effect of potassium, its effect is associated with the amount of sodium, the higher the sodium intake, the more potassium has an antihypertensive power. For calcium, its mechanism of action on blood pressure is still not so clear, but the scientists' hypothesis suggest that calcium has a vasodilatory action because a decrease in intracellular calcium concentration was able to reduce blood pressure. This hypothesis itself comes from the action of calcium inhibitors, which in their mechanism will reduce muscle tone by blocking calcium channels with a vasodilatory effect. For magnesium, studies have shown its vasodilatory effect. A decrease in magnesium concentration would cause vasoconstriction and conversely an increase in its concentration would promote vasodilation. In addition, other studies have shown that the association between these different minerals is equally effective in significantly reducing blood pressure levels. Keywords: hypertension, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodiu

Localization and Function of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor in the Anterolateral Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

11 p.Background: The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in behaviors related to natural reward, drug addiction and stress. In spite of the emerging role of the endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) system in these behaviors, little is known about the anatomy and function of this system in the anterolateral BNST (alBNST). The aim of this study was to provide a detailed morphological characterization of the localization of the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor a necessary step toward a better understanding of the physiological roles of the eCB system in this region of the brain. Methodology/Principal Findings: We have combined anatomical approaches at the confocal and electron microscopy level to ex-vivo electrophysiological techniques. Here, we report that CB1 is localized on presynaptic membranes of about 55% of immunopositive synaptic terminals for the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGluT1), which contain abundant spherical, clear synaptic vesicles and make asymmetrical synapses with alBNST neurons. About 64% of vGluT1 immunonegative synaptic terminals show CB1 immunolabeling. Furthermore, 30% and 35% of presynaptic boutons localize CB1 in alBNST of conditional mutant mice lacking CB1 mainly from GABAergic neurons (GABA-CB1-KO mice) and mainly from cortical glutamatergic neurons (Glu-CB1-KO mice), respectively. Extracellular field recordings and whole cell patch clamp in the alBNST rat brain slice preparation revealed that activation of CB1 strongly inhibits excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission. Conclusions/Significance: This study supports the anterolateral BNST as a potential neuronal substrate of the effects of cannabinoids on stress-related behaviors.Dr. Pedro Grandes' laboratory is supported by The Basque Country Government grant GIC07/70-IT-432-07, by Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RETICS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), grant RD07/0001/2001 and MICINN grant SAF2009-07065. Nagore Puente is supported by a Basque Country University grant for PhD Researcher's Specialization. Leire Reguero is in receipt of a predoctoral fellowship from the Basque Country Government. Dr. Olivier J. Manzoni's laboratory is supported by INSERM, ANR Neurosciences “Neurologie et Psychiatrie ANR-06-NEURO-043-01” and Région Aquitaine. Dr. Giovanni Marsicano's laboratory is supported by AVENIR/INSERM (with the Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller), by ANR (ANR-06-NEURO-043-01), by European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), by the EU-FP7 (REPROBESITY, contract number HEALTH-F2-2008-223713) and European Commission Coordination Action ENINET (contract number LSHM-CT-2005-19063). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Population genetics and forensic DNA for conservation management of the Cypriot mouflon (Ovis orientalis ophion)

The mouflon (Ovis orientalis ophion) is the largest wild terrestrial mammal of Cyprus. Considered as the flagship species of the island, its population (c. 3000 head) has a distribution range limited to the mountainous Paphos Forest and adjacent areas including parts of Troodos National Forest (> 700 Km2). The species is protected by a rigorous national legislation supported since 1996 by management plans carried out by the Game and Fauna Service, and, together with its habitat, by the National Law 152 (I)/2003 for the Protection & Management of Wild Birds and Game Species. The species is listed in the Annexes II and IV of 92/43 Habitats Directive, in the Appendix I of CITES, and classified as “vulnerable” by the IUCN. Poaching, habitat loss, road network building and livestock intrusion (i.e., increased risk of pathogen infection) represent the main threatening factors. We aimed at elucidating the systematic placement of the Cypriot mouflon to enforce its protection within an adaptive conservation framework. Therefore, we attempted to determine its genetic structure and relationships with either historically preserved (Corsica, Sardinia) or recently introduced (central Italy) populations including also GenBank entries from the historical range of the species (Near East). The Game and Fauna Service in collaboration with the Cyprus Veterinary Service collected 63 blood samples: 53 were from mouflons captured in the Paphos forest, eight from captive individuals and two of unknown origin. We also sampled 20 mouflons in Sardinia either in the wild (16) or in captivity (4), and collected scats of both Corsican (19) and central Italy (23: Tuscan Archipelago National Park, 13; Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park, 6; Apuan Alps Regional Park, 4) mouflon populations in order to increase geographical scope. We genotyped each sample at the entire mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome-b codifying gene (Cyt-b, 1140 bp) and up to 12 microsatellite DNA markers (Short Tandem Repeats, STR) isolated from goat, sheep and cattle genomes. We found that the Cypriot mouflon strongly diverged from western Mediterranean conspecifics, while North West Iran appeared as the most credited geographic region as the source for its ancient introduction to Cyprus. Although we disclosed much lower mitochondrial and nuclear DNA diversity in the Cypriot than in other island populations, neither evidence of genetic bottleneck nor significant low level of both average pairwise relatedness and inbreeding coefficient was detected. Overall, present mitochondrial and STR dataset worked reliably as crime-fighting tool to tackle illegal mouflon killing in Cyprus. Between 2008 and 2013, the Police and the Game and Fauna Service, in collaboration with the Cyprus Veterinary Services, confiscated 29 samples (meat, hairs, bloodstains) dealing with nine episodes of supposed poaching against the Cypriot mouflon. In all cases, we identified the species in point by sequencing the mtDNA Cyt-b gene. In one case, we were specifically requested to establish if there was a link between three dead mouflons recovered at a roadside and 12 bloodstains collected in the car of suspected poachers at the crime scene. With reference to this case, we were able to match nine bloodstains to two out of the three carcasses (seven with very strong support: Likelihood Ratio >3000 and Random Match Probability <10-3), overall assigning 22 out of 29 samples to the Cypriot mouflon and the remaining ones to wild boar, cow, domestic goat, horse and hare. These results included the first genetic reference for the Cypriot mouflon and the first published material of forensic wildlife investigations in Cyprus

Charge trapping mechanism leading to sub-60-mV/decade-Swing FETs

In this work, we present a novel method to reduce the subthreshold swing of field-effect transistors below 60 mV/dec. Through modeling, we directly relate trap charge movement between the gate electrode and the gate dielectric to subthreshold swing reduction. We experimentally investigate the impact of charge exchange between a Cu gate electrode and a 5 nm thick amorphous Al2O3 gate dielectric in an InGaZnO4 thin-film transistor. Positive trap charges are generated inside the gate dielectric while the semiconductor is in accumulation. During the subsequent de-trapping, the subthreshold swing diminishes to a minimum value of 46 mV/dec at room temperature. Furthermore, we relate the charge trapping/de-trapping effects to a negative capacitance behavior of the Cu/Al2O3 metal-insulator structure

Positive charge trapping phenomenon in n-channel thin-film transistors with amorphous alumina gate insulators

No description supplie