Agnostic cosmology in the CAMEL framework

Cosmological parameter estimation is traditionally performed in the Bayesian context. By adopting an "agnostic" statistical point of view, we show the interest of confronting the Bayesian results to a frequentist approach based on profile-likelihoods. To this purpose, we have developed the Cosmological Analysis with a Minuit Exploration of the Likelihood ("CAMEL") software. Written from scratch in pure C++, emphasis was put in building a clean and carefully-designed project where new data and/or cosmological computations can be easily included. CAMEL incorporates the latest cosmological likelihoods and gives access from the very same input file to several estimation methods: (i) A high quality Maximum Likelihood Estimate (a.k.a "best fit") using MINUIT ; (ii) profile likelihoods, (iii) a new implementation of an Adaptive Metropolis MCMC algorithm that relieves the burden of reconstructing the proposal distribution. We present here those various statistical techniques and roll out a full use-case that can then used as a tutorial. We revisit the $\Lambda$CDM parameters determination with the latest Planck data and give results with both methodologies. Furthermore, by comparing the Bayesian and frequentist approaches, we discuss a "likelihood volume effect" that affects the optical reionization depth when analyzing the high multipoles part of the Planck data. The software, used in several Planck data analyzes, is available from http://camel.in2p3.fr. Using it does not require advanced C++ skills.Comment: Typeset in Authorea. Online version available at: https://www.authorea.com/users/90225/articles/104431/_show_articl

Relieving tensions related to the lensing of CMB temperature power spectra

The angular power spectra of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature anisotropies reconstructed from Planck data seem to present too much gravitational lensing distortion. This is quantified by the control parameter $A_L$ that should be compatible with unity for a standard cosmology. With the Class Boltzmann solver and the profile-likelihood method, for this parameter we measure a 2.6$\sigma$ shift from 1 using the Planck public likelihoods. We show that, owing to strong correlations with the reionization optical depth $\tau$ and the primordial perturbation amplitude $A_s$, a $\sim2\sigma$ tension on $\tau$ also appears between the results obtained with the low ($\ell\leq 30$) and high ($30<\ell\lesssim 2500$) multipoles likelihoods. With Hillipop, another high-$\ell$ likelihood built from Planck data, this difference is lowered to $1.3\sigma$. In this case, the $A_L$ value is still in disagreement with unity by $2.2\sigma$, suggesting a non-trivial effect of the correlations between cosmological and nuisance parameters. To better constrain the nuisance foregrounds parameters, we include the very high $\ell$ measurements of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and South Pole Telescope (SPT) experiments and obtain $A_L = 1.03 \pm 0.08$. The Hillipop+ACT+SPT likelihood estimate of the optical depth is $\tau=0.052\pm{0.035,}$ which is now fully compatible with the low $\ell$ likelihood determination. After showing the robustness of our results with various combinations, we investigate the reasons for this improvement that results from a better determination of the whole set of foregrounds parameters. We finally provide estimates of the $\Lambda$CDM parameters with our combined CMB data likelihood.Comment: accepted by A&

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Prognostic value of18 f-choline pet/ct in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with radium-223

We aimed to investigate the role of positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT) with F-18-choline for predicting the outcome of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) submitted to treatment with Radium-223 (Ra-223-therapy). Clinical records of 20 mCRPC patients submitted to PET/CT with F-18-choline before Ra-223-therapy were retrospectively evaluated. The following PET-derived parameters were calculated: number of lesions, maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean), lean body mass corrected SUV peak (SULpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MATV), and total lesion activity (TLA). After Ra-223-therapy, all patients underwent regular follow-up until death. The predictive power of clinical and PET-derived parameters on overall survival (OS) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard method. All the patients showed F-18-choline-avid lesions at baseline PET/CT. Among the enrolled subjects, eleven (55%) completed all the six scheduled cycles of Ra-223-therapy; seven (35%) were responders according to imaging and biochemical parameters. Mean OS was 12.7 +/- 1.4 months: by Kaplan-Meier analysis, number of lesions, PSA level and TLA were significantly correlated with OS. In multivariate Cox analysis, TLA remained the only significant predictor of survival (p = 0.003; hazard ratio = 7.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.9-29.5 months). F-18-choline PET may be useful for patients' stratification before Ra-223-therapy. In particular, high metabolically active tumor burden (i.e., TLA) was predictive of poor outcome

Semiconductor resonator solitons above band gap

We show experimentally the existence of bright and dark spatial solitons in semiconductor resonators for excitation above the band gap energy. These solitons can be switched on, both spontaneously and with address pulses, without the thermal delay found for solitons below the band gap which is unfavorable for applications. The differences between soliton properties above and below gap energy are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure

Benchmarking Technical and Cost Factors in Forest Felling and Processing Operations in Different Global Regions during the Period 2013-2014

In a global bioeconomy, benchmarking costs is essential in the evaluation of current forest harvesting systems and addressing decisions on the most efficient supply chains for available forest resources. Benchmarking cost rates in forestry is challenging, due to a lack of harmonized terminology and difficulties in collecting information on comparable forest technologies. This study provides a first-time series of cost factors to be used when modeling and evaluating the cost competitiveness of forest felling and processing operations on a global scale. It is based on an expert survey using a standardized method of data collection. This benchmarking identifies and updates the knowledge of technical and socio-economic factors capable of influencing the cost rates of forest felling and processing operations across different regions. This study is expected to act as a reference for larger investigations, and for regular updates, with the aim to provide current data that can be used by forest practitioners and decision makers for improving their cost efficiency and for designing future supply systems more effectively

Genetic progress with selection of Coffea canephora clones of superior processed coffee yield.

Progresso genético com a seleção de clones de Coffea canephora para produção superior de café beneficiado: o objetivo desse trabalho foi mensurar o progresso genético da produtividade de café beneficiado a partir da seleção de clones de Coffea canephora, com a obtenção de estimativas dos parâmetros genéticos e de ganhos com a seleção ao longo de três safras

Patterns and localized structures in bistable semiconductor resonators

We report experiments on spatial switching dynamics and steady state structures of passive nonlinear semiconductor resonators of large Fresnel number. Extended patterns and switching front dynamics are observed and investigated. Evidence of localization of structures is given.Comment: 5 pages with 9 figure

Capture-based next-generation sequencing improves the identification of immunoglobulin/t-cell receptor clonal markers and gene mutations in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients lacking molecular probes

The monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) requires the identification at diagnosis of immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor (Ig/TCR) rearrangements as clonality markers. Aiming to simplify and possibly improve the patients\u2019 initial screening, we designed a capture-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel combining the Ig/TCR rearrangement detection with the profiling of relevant leukemia-related genes. The validation of the assay on well-characterized samples allowed us to identify all the known Ig/TCR rearrangements as well as additional clonalities, including rare rearrangements characterized by uncommon combinations of variable, diversity, and joining (V-D-J) gene segments, oligoclonal rearrangements, and low represented clones. Upon validation, the capture NGS approach allowed us to identify Ig/TCR clonal markers in 87% of a retrospective cohort (MRD-unknown within the Northern Italy Leukemia Group (NILG)-ALL 09/00 clinical trial) and in 83% of newly-diagnosed ALL cases in which conventional method failed, thus proving its prospective applicability. Finally, we identified gene variants in 94.7% of patients analyzed for mutational status with the same implemented capture assay. The prospective application of this technology could simplify clonality assessment and improve standard assay development for leukemia monitoring, as well as provide information about the mutational status of selected leukemia-related genes, potentially representing new prognostic elements, MRD markers, and targets for specific therapies