Breast Cancer Detection by Means of Artificial Neural Networks

Breast cancer is a fatal disease causing high mortality in women. Constant efforts are being made for creating more efficient techniques for early and accurate diagnosis. Classical methods require oncologists to examine the breast lesions for detection and classification of various stages of cancer. Such manual attempts are time consuming and inefficient in many cases. Hence, there is a need for efficient methods that diagnoses the cancerous cells without human involvement with high accuracies. In this research, image processing techniques were used to develop imaging biomarkers through mammography analysis and based on artificial intelligence technology aiming to detect breast cancer in early stages to support diagnosis and prioritization of high-risk patients. For automatic classification of breast cancer on mammograms, a generalized regression artificial neural network was trained and tested to separate malignant and benign tumors reaching an accuracy of 95.83%. With the biomarker and trained neural net, a computer-aided diagnosis system is being designed. The results obtained show that generalized regression artificial neural network is a promising and robust system for breast cancer detection. The Laboratorio de Innovacion y Desarrollo Tecnologico en Inteligencia Artificial is seeking collaboration with research groups interested in validating the technology being developed

Quantisation without Gauge Fixing: Avoiding Gribov Ambiguities through the Physical Projector

The quantisation of gauge invariant systems usually proceeds through some gauge fixing procedure of one type or another. Typically for most cases, such gauge fixings are plagued by Gribov ambiguities, while it is only for an admissible gauge fixing that the correct dynamical description of the system is represented, especially with regards to non perturbative phenomena. However, any gauge fixing procedure whatsoever may be avoided altogether, by using rather a recently proposed new approach based on the projection operator onto physical gauge invariant states only, which is necessarily free on any such issues. These different aspects of gauge invariant systems are explicitely analysed within a solvable U(1) gauge invariant quantum mechanical model related to the dimensional reduction of Yang-Mills theory.Comment: 22 pages, no figures, plain LaTeX fil

Nuclear Muon Capture on the Proton and 3He within the Standard Model and Beyond

Nuclear muon capture on the proton and $^3$He is considered both within and beyond the Standard Model in terms as general as is possible. Explicit and precise analytic expressions for all possible observables are given, assuming only a Dirac neutrino in the limit of vanishing mass. These results allow both for precision tests of the Standard Model and new physics, as well as for the assessment of the potential physics reach of experiments designed to measure specific observables. Using these expressions, stringent constraints can already be inferred from a recent precision measurement of the statistical capture rate on $^3$He. Likewise, similar constraints should follow the completion of a precision measurement in progress of the singlet capture rate on the proton.Comment: 36 pages, no figures, plain LaTeX fil

La integración del conocimiento sobre la Cordillera Cantábrica: hacia un observatorio inter-autonómico del cambio global

La Cordillera Cantábrica (CC) presenta una serie de singularidades que le convierten en un excelente enclave para el seguimiento de los efectos del cambio global. Este estudio analiza la necesidad de generar un observatorio inter-autonómico del cambio global, que permitiría integrar el conocimiento actual sobre estas montañas y determinar las prioridades en la generación de nuevo conocimiento. Para cumplir este objetivo, se presentan dos aproximaciones complementarias. La primera consiste en la revisión de la literatura científica publicada sobre la CC y su comparación con otros enclaves geográficos de la Península Ibérica. La segunda consiste en la síntesis de información de un seminario titulado ?La CC como Centinela de los Efectos del Cambio Global?, celebrado en Santander en agosto de 2015. El análisis bibliográfico muestra que el número de publicaciones científicas sobre la CC es similar al de otros enclaves geográficos de la Península Ibérica, pero con menor riqueza de disciplinas. La producción científica está dominada por los centros de investigación más próximos y tiene una alta participación internacional. Las conclusiones del seminario evidencian que este sistema es un candidato ideal para el seguimiento de los efectos del cambio global sobre multitud de elementos biofísicos. Se considera que la generación de un seminario permanente, junto con la consolidación de las redes de seguimiento actuales, la coordinación de nuevos trabajos, y la mejora de la comunicación entre administraciones y comunidad científico-técnica son elementos esenciales en la futura generación de un observatorio del cambio global en la CC

Preemptive-TIPS improves outcome in high-risk variceal bleeding : An observational study

Objective Patients admitted with acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and Child Pugh C score (CP\u2010C) or Child Pugh B plus active bleeding at endoscopy (CP\u2010B+AB) are at high risk for treatment failure, rebleeding and mortality. Preemptive TIPS (p\u2010TIPS) has been shown to improve survival in these patients but its use in clinical practice has been challenged and not routinely incorporated. The present study aimed to further validate the role of preemptive TIPS in a large number of high\u2010risk patients. Design Multicenter, international, observational study including 671 patients from 34 centers admitted for AVB and high\u2010risk of treatment failure. Patients were managed according to current guidelines and use of drugs and endoscopic therapy (D+E) or preemptive TIPS (p\u2010TIPS) was based on individual center policy. Results p\u2010TIPS in the setting of AVB is associated with a lower mortality in Child C patients compared to D+E (1 year mortality 22% vs 47% in D+E group; P=0.002). Mortality rate in CP\u2010B+AB patients was low and p\u2010TIPS did not improve it. In CP\u2010C and CP\u2010B +AB patients, p\u2010TIPS reduces treatment failure and rebleeding (1 year CIF\u2010probability of remaining free of the composite endpoint: 92% vs 74% in the D+E group; P=0.017), development of \u201cde novo\u201d or worsening of previous ascites without increasing rates of hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion p\u2010TIPS must be the treatment of choice in CP\u2010C patients with AVB. Due to the strong benefit in preventing further bleeding and ascites, p\u2010TIPS could be a good treatment strategy for CP\u2010B+AB patients

Red Argentina de Parcelas Permanentes de Bosques Nativos para promover colaboraciones científicas en estudios de largo plazo

Las parcelas forestales permanentes son áreas de muestreo donde se registran periódicamente la identidad, abundancia y tamaño de los árboles, para estudiar cómo cambian los bosques en relación con el clima, los disturbios naturales y los usos y manejos. Hasta hoy, los patrones de cambio observados con parcelas permanentes en la Argentina tuvieron alcance local o regional. Para potenciar los vínculos entre los diferentes grupos de trabajo que promuevan colaboraciones a escalas intra- e inter-regionales creamos la Red Argentina de Parcelas Permanentes de Bosques Nativos (RAPP), abarcando las regiones forestales de los Bosques Andino-Patagónicos, Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, Monte de Llanuras y Mesetas, Selva Paranaense y Yungas. Aquí sintetizamos y caracterizamos la información de 317 parcelas permanentes (328.9 ha) incluidas en la RAPP, describiendo su distribución geográfica, objetivos, principales aspectos metodológicos y características de los bosques donde están establecidas (e.g., disturbios, tenencia de la tierra, estructura, riqueza de especies). Asimismo, se discute la complementariedad entre la RAPP y los inventarios nacionales de bosques nativos. Las parcelas se distribuyen entre 22.02° y 54.89° S y entre 19 y 2304 m s. n. m., aunque están concentradas principalmente en el Subtrópico (Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Selva Paranaense y Yungas) y en los Bosques Andino-Patagónicos. En todas las parcelas se identifica la taxonomía de los árboles y se miden diferentes variables dasométricas, fundamentales para responder preguntas ecológicas a una mayor escala mediante colaboraciones. Esperamos continuar incorporando grupos de trabajo a la RAPP e incentivar el establecimiento de nuevas parcelas permanentes en regiones poco representadas (e.g., Monte, Espinal y Delta e Islas del Paraná). La meta es que la RAPP permita avanzar en el estudio a largo plazo de todos los bosques nativos de la Argentina, aumentando la cobertura nacional y las interacciones entre los grupos de trabajo.Permanent forest plots are sampling areas where tree identity, abundance and size are recorded periodically, in order to study how forests change with climate, natural disturbances, uses and management. So far, patterns of change observed with permanent plots in Argentina have been local or regional. To promote scientific collaborations between different research groups within and among regions of Argentina, we created the Network of Permanent Plots of Native Argentinian Forests (RAPP), which includes the regions of Bosques Andino-Patagónicos, Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, Monte de Llanuras y Mesetas, Selva Paranaense and Yungas. Here we synthesize and characterize the information of 317 permanent plots (328.9 ha) included in the RAPP, describing their geographic distribution, objectives, main methodological aspects, and characteristics of the forests where they are established (e.g., disturbance, land tenure, structure, species richness), and after that, discuss the complementarity between the RAPP and the national inventories of native forests. Permanent plots are established over a wide range of latitude (22.02-54.89° S) and elevation (19 a 2304 m a. s. l.), but they are mainly concentrated in Subtropics (Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Selva Paranaense, and Yungas) and in Bosques Andino-Patagónicos. In all plots, trees are taxonomically identified and different dasometric variables are remeasured, which are the basis for potential collaborations to answer ecological questions at a larger scale. We hope to continue incorporating working groups in the RAPP and encouraging the establishment of plots, mainly in regions with a low number of permanent plots such as Monte, Espinal, and Delta e Islas del Paraná. The goal is that the RAPP advances in the long-term study of all native forests in Argentina, achieving a greater national cover and more interactions among research teams.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Ceballos, Sergio Javier. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Blundo, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Malizia, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Osinaga Acosta, Oriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Carilla, Julieta. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Grau, Hector Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Cuchietti, Anibal. Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Bosques; ArgentinaFil: Campanello, Paula Inés. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Gasparri, Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Gatti, Genoveva. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Loto, Dante. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Pastur, Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas. Laboratorio de recursos agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Saucedo Miranda, Jimena. Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Bosques; ArgentinaFil: Amoroso, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Andino, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Arpigiani, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Aschero, Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Barberis, Ignacio Martin. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bedrij, Natalia Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Nicora Chequin, Renata. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botanica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Chillo, María Verónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extension Rural El Bolson; ArgentinaFil: Chillo, María Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Eibl, Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Eliano, Pablo. Asociación Forestal Industrial de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Romina Daiana. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Giannoni, Stella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Goldenberg, Matias Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Peñalba, Marcelo. Administracion Nacional de Parques Nacionales. Parque Nacional Lanin; ArgentinaFil: Jimenez, Yohana Gisell. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Ecologia Regional; ArgentinaFil: Kees, Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Saenz Peña. Campo Anexo Estacion Forestal Plaza; ArgentinaFil: Klekailo, Graciela Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Lara, Martin. Administracion Nacional de Parques Nacionales. Parque Nacional Lanin; ArgentinaFil: Mac Donagh, Patricio. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Malizia, Lucio Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Centro de Estudios Territoriales Ambientales y Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Mazzini, Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Centro de Estudios Territoriales Ambientales y Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Walter Adrian. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Oddi, Facundo Jose.Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Paredes, Dardo. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de Tierra del Fuego. Dirección General de Desarrollo Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Persini, Carlos. Fundación Huellas para un Futuro, Reserva, Refugio y Estación Biológica Aponapó. ArgentinaFil: Prado, Darien Eros. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Salas, Roberto Manuel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botanica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Srur, Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Villagra, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Zelaya, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Humanidades, Ciencias Sociales y de la Salud. Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo Social; ArgentinaFil: Villagra, Pablo Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentin

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Les droits disciplinaires des fonctions publiques : « unification », « harmonisation » ou « distanciation ». A propos de la loi du 26 avril 2016 relative à la déontologie et aux droits et obligations des fonctionnaires

The production of tt‾ , W+bb‾ and W+cc‾ is studied in the forward region of proton–proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98±0.02 fb−1 . The W bosons are reconstructed in the decays W→ℓν , where ℓ denotes muon or electron, while the b and c quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.The production of $t\overline{t}$, $W+b\overline{b}$ and $W+c\overline{c}$ is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 $\pm$ 0.02 \mbox{fb}^{-1}. The $W$ bosons are reconstructed in the decays $W\rightarrow\ell\nu$, where $\ell$ denotes muon or electron, while the $b$ and $c$ quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements