Mosses from the Guantiva - La Rusia paramo complex in the departments of Boyacá and Santander, Colombia

Objetivo: Conocer los musgos en el complejo Guantiva-La Rusia desde la riqueza y la similitud en los ecosistemas, localidades y sustratos en los flancos oriental y occidental del mismo. Metodología: En el complejo de páramos Guantiva-La Rusia (Boyacá y Santander) se realizaron seis transectos en el gradiente altitudinal; tres en el flanco oriental (municipios de Cerinza, Paipa y Tipacoque) y tres en el occidental (municipios de Onzaga, Belén y Duitama). Resultados: Se registraron 128 especies de musgos en 72 géneros y 36 familias; siendo las más diversas Dicranaceae con 4 géneros y 22 especies, seguido de Pottiaceae (6 y 14), Hypnaceae (8 y 12), Sematophyllaceae (5 y 10) y Bryaceae (4 y 6). A nivel de géneros se destacan Campylopus con 19 especies, Breutelia y Leptodontium (7), Sematophyllum (5) y Neckera (4). En el subpáramo se presenta la mayor riqueza con 67 especies, 45 géneros y 25 familias. El sustrato más diverso es terrícola con 81 especies, seguido de cortícola 64 y rupícola 24. Se registra Leptodontium viticulosoides, Campylopus heterostachys y Molendoa sendneriana en la categoría de vulnerable (VU). Conclusión: Se concluye que la mayor riqueza de especies se registró en el flanco menos húmedo, lo cual puede ser explicado por factores locales y no regionales.Objective. To study the species of moss in the Guantiva - La Rusia paramo complex (Boyacá - Colombia), from the richness and similarity in the ecosystems, localities and substrates in the eastern and western flanks of the paramo. Methodology. On the Guantiva – La Rusia paramo complex (Boyacá and Santander) six transects were made in the altitudinal gradient: three in the eastern flank (Municipalities of Cerinza, Paipa and Tipacoque) and three in the western flank (Onzaga, Belén and Duitama). Results. A total of 128 moss species of 72 genera and 36 families were recorded, being the most diverse Dicranaceae, with four genera and 22 species, followed by Pottiaceae (6/14), Hypnaceae (8/12), Sematophyllaceae (5/10) and Bryaceae (4/6).At the genus level, Campylopus with 19 species, Breutelia and Leptodontium (7), Sematophyllum (5) and Neckera (4) stand out. The greatest richness with 67 species, 45 genera and 25 families were found in the sub-paramo. The most diverse substrate was terrestrial with 81 species, followed by corticola, 64, and rupicolous vegetation, 24. Leptodontium viticulosoides, Campylopus heterostachys and Molendoa sendneriana are recorded in the vulnerable category of (VU). Conclusion. It is concluded that the greatest species richness was recorded in the less humid flank which can be explained by local but not regional factors

Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Measurement of inclusive and differential cross sections for single top quark production in association with a W boson in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

International audienceMeasurements of the inclusive and normalised differential cross sections are presented for the production of single top quarks in association with a W boson in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data used were recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC during 2016–2018, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Events containing one electron and one muon in the final state are analysed. For the inclusive measurement, a multivariate discriminant, exploiting the kinematic properties of the events is used to separate the signal from the dominant $\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}$ background. A cross section of $79.2\pm 0.9{\left(\textrm{stat}\right)}_{-8.0}^{+7.7}\left(\textrm{syst}\right)\pm 1.2\left(\textrm{lumi}\right)$ pb is obtained, consistent with the predictions of the standard model. For the differential measurements, a fiducial region is defined according to the detector acceptance, and the requirement of exactly one jet coming from the fragmentation of a bottom quark. The resulting distributions are unfolded to particle level and agree with the predictions at next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.[graphic not available: see fulltext

Search for Higgs Boson and Observation of Z Boson through their Decay into a Charm Quark-Antiquark Pair in Boosted Topologies in Proton-Proton Collisions at s\sqrt{s} =13 TeV

A search for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson (H) produced with transverse momentum greater than 450 GeV and decaying to a charm quark-antiquark ($\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) pair is presented. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Boosted H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ decay products are reconstructed as a single large-radius jet and identified using a deep neural network charm tagging technique. The method is validated by measuring the Z $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ decay process, which is observed in association with jets at high $p_\mathrm{T}$ for the first time with a signal strength of 1.00 $_{-0.14}^{+0.17}$ (syst) $\pm$ 0.08 (theo) $\pm$ 0.06 (stat), defined as the ratio of the observed process rate to the standard model expectation. The observed (expected) upper limit on $\sigma$(H) $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) is set at 47 (39) times the SM prediction at 95% confidence level

Search for pair production of vector-like quarks in leptonic final states in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

A search is presented for vector-like $\mathrm{T}$ and $\mathrm{B}$ quark-antiquark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016-2018, with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events are separated into single-lepton, same-sign charge dilepton, and multilepton channels. In the analysis of the single-lepton channel a multilayer neural network and jet identification techniques are employed to select signal events, while the same-sign dilepton and multilepton channels rely on the high-energy signature of the signal to distinguish it from standard model backgrounds. The data are consistent with standard model background predictions, and the production of vector-like quark pairs is excluded at 95% confidence level for $\mathrm{T}$ quark masses up to 1.54 TeV and $\mathrm{B}$ quark masses up to 1.56 TeV, depending on the branching fractions assumed, with maximal sensitivity to decay modes that include multiple top quarks. The limits obtained in this search are the strongest limits to date for $\mathrm{T} \overline{\mathrm{T}}$ production, excluding masses below 1.48 TeV for all decays to third generation quarks, and are the strongest limits to date for $\mathrm{B} \overline{\mathrm{B}}$ production with $\mathrm{B}$ quark decays to tW.A search is presented for vector-like T and B quark-antiquark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016–2018, with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Events are separated into single-lepton, same-sign charge dilepton, and multi-lepton channels. In the analysis of the single-lepton channel a multilayer neural network and jet identification techniques are employed to select signal events, while the same-sign dilepton and multilepton channels rely on the high-energy signature of the signal to distinguish it from standard model backgrounds. The data are consistent with standard model background predictions, and the production of vector-like quark pairs is excluded at 95% confidence level for T quark masses up to 1.54 TeV and B quark masses up to 1.56 TeV, depending on the branching fractions assumed, with maximal sensitivity to decay modes that include multiple top quarks. The limits obtained in this search are the strongest limits to date for $\textrm{T}\overline{\textrm{T}}$ production, excluding masses below 1.48 TeV for all decays to third generation quarks, and are the strongest limits to date for $\textrm{B}\overline{\textrm{B}}$ production with B quark decays to tW.[graphic not available: see fulltext]A search is presented for vector-like T and B quark-antiquark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016-2018, with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events are separated into single-lepton, same-sign charge dilepton, and multilepton channels. In the analysis of the single-lepton channel a multilayer neural network and jet identification techniques are employed to select signal events, while the same-sign dilepton and multilepton channels rely on the high-energy signature of the signal to distinguish it from standard model backgrounds. The data are consistent with standard model background predictions, and the production of vector-like quark pairs is excluded at 95% confidence level for T quark masses up to 1.54 TeV and B quark masses up to 1.56 TeV, depending on the branching fractions assumed, with maximal sensitivity to decay modes that include multiple top quarks. The limits obtained in this search are the strongest limits to date for $\mathrm{T\overline{T}}$ production, excluding masses below 1.48 TeV for all decays to third generation quarks, and are the strongest limits to date for $\mathrm{B\overline{B}}$ production with B quark decays to tW

Search for top squarks in the four-body decay mode with single lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at s= \sqrt{s}= 13 TeV

A search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark, the top squark ($\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_{1}$), is presented. The search targets the four-body decay of the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_{1}$, which is preferred when the mass difference between the top squark and the lightest supersymmetric particle is smaller than the mass of the W boson. This decay mode consists of a bottom quark, two other fermions, and the lightest neutralino ($\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$), which is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Events are selected using the presence of a high-momentum jet, an electron or muon with low transverse momentum, and a significant missing transverse momentum. The signal is selected based on a multivariate approach that is optimized for the difference between $m(\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_{1})$ and $m(\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0})$. The contribution from leading background processes is estimated from data. No significant excess is observed above the expectation from standard model processes. The results of this search exclude top squarks at 95% confidence level for masses up to 480 and 700 GeV for $m(\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_{1}) - m(\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}) =$ 10 and 80 GeV, respectively.A search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark, the top squark (${\overset{\sim }{\textrm{t}}}_1$), is presented. The search targets the four-body decay of the ${\overset{\sim }{\textrm{t}}}_1$, which is preferred when the mass difference between the top squark and the lightest supersymmetric particle is smaller than the mass of the W boson. This decay mode consists of a bottom quark, two other fermions, and the lightest neutralino (${\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0$), which is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Events are selected using the presence of a high-momentum jet, an electron or muon with low transverse momentum, and a significant missing transverse momentum. The signal is selected based on a multivariate approach that is optimized for the difference between m(${\overset{\sim }{\textrm{t}}}_1$) and m(${\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0$). The contribution from leading background processes is estimated from data. No significant excess is observed above the expectation from standard model processes. The results of this search exclude top squarks at 95% confidence level for masses up to 480 and 700 GeV for m(${\overset{\sim }{\textrm{t}}}_1$) − m(${\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0$) = 10 and 80 GeV, respectively.[graphic not available: see fulltext]A search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark, the top squark ($\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_1$), is presented. The search targets the four-body decay of the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_1$, which is preferred when the mass difference between the top squark and the lightest supersymmetric particle is smaller than the mass of the W boson. This decay mode consists of a bottom quark, two other fermions, and the lightest neutralino ($\tilde{\chi}^0_1$), which is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Events are selected using the presence of a high-momentum jet, an electron or muon with low transverse momentum, and a significant missing transverse momentum. The signal is selected based on a multivariate approach that is optimized for the difference between $m(\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_1)$ and $m(\tilde{\chi}^0_1)$. The contribution from leading background processes is estimated from data. No significant excess is observed above the expectation from standard model processes. The results of this search exclude top squarks at 95% confidence level for masses up to 480 and 700 GeV for $m(\tilde{\mathrm{t}}_1) - m(\tilde{\chi}^0_1$) = 10 and 80 GeV, respectively

Search for nonresonant Higgs boson pair production in the four leptons plus twob jets final state in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

The first search for nonresonant production of Higgs boson pairs (HH) with one H decaying into four leptons and the other into a pair of b quarks is presented, using proton-proton collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. A 95% confidence level upper limit of 32.4 is set on the signal strength modifier μ, defined as the ratio of the observed HH production rate in the $\textrm{HH}\to {\textrm{ZZ}}^{\ast}\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\to 4\ell \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}$ decay channel to the standard model (SM) expectation. Possible modifications of the H trilinear coupling λ$_{HHH}$ with respect to the SM value are investigated. The coupling modifier κ$_{λ}$, defined as λ$_{HHH}$ divided by its SM prediction, is constrained to be within the observed (expected) range −8.8 (−9.8) < κ$_{λ}$< 13.4 (15.0) at 95% confidence level.[graphic not available: see fulltext

Search for long-lived particles decaying to a pair of muons in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

An inclusive search for long-lived exotic particles decaying to a pair of muons is presented. The search uses data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 97.6 fb$^{−1}$. The experimental signature is a pair of oppositely charged muons originating from a common secondary vertex spatially separated from the pp interaction point by distances ranging from several hundred μm to several meters. The results are interpreted in the frameworks of the hidden Abelian Higgs model, in which the Higgs boson decays to a pair of long-lived dark photons Z$_{D}$, and of a simplified model, in which long-lived particles are produced in decays of an exotic heavy neutral scalar boson. For the hidden Abelian Higgs model with m(Z$_{D}$) greater than 20 GeV and less than half the mass of the Higgs boson, they provide the best limits to date on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to dark photons for cτ(Z$_{D}$) (varying with m(Z$_{D}$)) between 0.03 and ≈0.5 mm, and above ≈0.5 m. Our results also yield the best constraints on long-lived particles with masses larger than 10 GeV produced in decays of an exotic scalar boson heavier than the Higgs boson and decaying to a pair of muons.[graphic not available: see fulltext