Calorons and BPS monopoles with non-trivial holonomy in the confinement phase of SU(2) gluodynamics

With the help of the cooling method applied to SU(2) lattice gauge theory at non-zero $T \le T_c$ we present numerical evidence for the existence of superpositions of Kraan-van Baal caloron (or BPS monopole pair) solutions with non-trivial holonomy, which might constitute an important contribution to the semi-classical approximation of the partition function.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, contribution to Lattice2002(topology

On the Limit Performance of Floating Gossip

In this paper we investigate the limit performance of Floating Gossip, a new, fully distributed Gossip Learning scheme which relies on Floating Content to implement location-based probabilistic evolution of machine learning models in an infrastructure-less manner. We consider dynamic scenarios where continuous learning is necessary, and we adopt a mean field approach to investigate the limit performance of Floating Gossip in terms of amount of data that users can incorporate into their models, as a function of the main system parameters. Different from existing approaches in which either communication or computing aspects of Gossip Learning are analyzed and optimized, our approach accounts for the compound impact of both aspects. We validate our results through detailed simulations, proving good accuracy. Our model shows that Floating Gossip can be very effective in implementing continuous training and update of machine learning models in a cooperative manner, based on opportunistic exchanges among moving users

Generic Tasks of Scientific Discovery

Abstract The aim of this paper is conceptual and theoretical: to propose the concept of generic scientific task as an organizing principle for research on scientific discovery, or more broadly, scientific inference. Generic tasks cut across various scientific fields, but involve rather specific inferences; in any case, their generality is found only by surveying science as a whole. Computer programs that carry out these generic tasks may differ somewhat from one science to another, but they all share similar computational mechanisms: hence they represent generic tasks. We assemble a broad array of previous work as evidence to support this concept, and work out the research plan and methods that are implied by it

Investigación experimental sobre los modelos normativos de fisuración en piezas de hormigón armado sometidas a flexión pura

La presente investigación analiza la idoneidad de las formulaciones propuestas por EHE, Eurocódigo 2 y ACI 318 Building Code para el control de la fisuración en elementos de hormigón armado mediante el ensayo de elementos a escala real, 14 vigas a flexión pura. Además analiza la influencia de la variación de parámetros tales como el diámetro, cuantía y disposición de armadura comprimida. En esta investigación se analiza el ajuste de las formulaciones teóricas antes referidas y los resultados experimentales obtenidos, con resultados en algunos casos más desfavorables que los previstos. También pone de manifiesto la notable influencia de algunos parámetros, tales como la cuantía en el control de la fisuración, y por el contrario, la poca influencia de parámetros tales como el diámetro, la separación de armaduras, y la disposición de armadura comprimida. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en la investigación, finalmente se evalúan posibles variantes de la formulación existente, concretamente de la formulación que ha presentado una tendencia más adecuada frente a los resultados de los ensayos (EC-2), con objeto de mejorar el ajuste de dicha formulación a los resultados experimentale

Rapid Phenotype-Driven Gene Sequencing with the NeoSeq Panel: A Diagnostic Tool for Critically Ill Newborns with Suspected Genetic Disease

New genomic sequencing techniques have shown considerable promise in the field of neonatology, increasing the diagnostic rate and reducing time to diagnosis. However, several obstacles have hindered the incorporation of this technology into routine clinical practice. We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic rate and diagnostic turnaround time achieved in newborns with suspected genetic diseases using a rapid phenotype-driven gene panel (NeoSeq) containing 1870 genes implicated in congenital malformations and neurological and metabolic disorders of early onset (<2 months of age). Of the 33 newborns recruited, a genomic diagnosis was established for 13 (39.4%) patients (median diagnostic turnaround time, 7.5 days), resulting in clinical management changes in 10 (76.9%) patients. An analysis of 12 previous prospective massive sequencing studies (whole genome (WGS), whole exome (WES), and clinical exome (CES) sequencing) in newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with suspected genetic disorders revealed a comparable median diagnostic rate (37.2%), but a higher median diagnostic turnaround time (22.3 days) than that obtained with NeoSeq. Our phenotype-driven gene panel, which is specific for genetic diseases in critically ill newborns is an affordable alternative to WGS and WES that offers comparable diagnostic efficacy, supporting its implementation as a first-tier genetic test in NICUs

Morphometric Comparison of Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur, 1840) from Northern and Southern Atlantic Drainages of Me´xico

A morphometric comparison was performed on specimens of blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) from northern (Lower Rı´o Bravo) and southern (Chiapas) Me´xico in order to identify diagnostic characters that allow their discrimination. The discriminant function analysis determined three characters to be highly diagnostic to separate the two groups of specimens: the southern group [SG] has a shorter anal base (mean 5 3.4 times in standard length [SL], range 5 3.1 to 3.7) vs northern group [NG] (mean 5 2.9 times in SL, range 5 2.7 to 3.1), a lesser head width (mean 5 6.0 times in SL, range 5.1 to 6.8) vs NG (mean 5 5.6 times, range 5 5.3 to 6.0), and a lower number of anal rays (mean 5 26, range 5 24 to 28) vs NG (mean 5 31, range 5 29 to 34). Additionally, 14 other characters were also different (P , 0.01) between both groups. All these characters support the taxonomic validation of Ictalurus meridionalis (Gu¨ nther 1864) for the individuals of SG that are currently included in I. furcatus Lesueur. Studies on comparative osteology and molecular genetics of both forms are needed for the clarification of their taxonomic status

Identification of candidate host serum and saliva biomarkers for a better diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis infection

In our work, we aim to identify new candidate host biomarkers to discriminate between active TB patients (n = 28), latent infection (LTBI; n = 27) and uninfected (NoTBI; n = 42) individuals. For that, active TB patients and their contacts were recruited that donated serum and saliva samples. A multiplex assay was performed to study the concentration of different cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Proteins with significant differences between groups were selected and logistic regression and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy. The best marker combinations that discriminate active TB from NoTBI contacts were [IP-10 + IL-7] in serum and [Fractalkine + IP-10 + IL-1alpha + VEGF] in saliva. Best discrimination between active TB and LTBI was achieved using [IP-10 + BCA-1] in serum (AUC = 0.83) and IP-10 in saliva (p = 0.0007; AUC = 0.78). The levels of TNFalpha (p = 0.003; AUC = 0.73) in serum and the combination of [Fractalkine+IL-12p40] (AUC = 0.83) in saliva, were able to differentiate between NoTBI and LTBI contacts. In conclusion, different individual and combined protein markers could help to discriminate between active TB and both uninfected and latently-infected contacts. The most promising ones include [IP-10 + IL-7], [IP-10 + BCA-1] and TNFalpha in serum and [Fractalkine + IP-10 + IL-1alpha + VEGF], IP-10 and [Fractalkine+IL-12p40] in saliva

BASH: a tool for managing BeadArray spatial artefacts

Summary: With their many replicates and their random layouts, Illumina BeadArrays provide greater scope fordetecting spatial artefacts than do other microarray technologies. They are also robust to artefact exclusion, yet there is a lack of tools that can perform these tasks for Illumina. We present BASH, a tool for this purpose. BASH adopts the concepts of Harshlight, but implements them in a manner that utilizes the unique characteristics of the Illumina technology. Using bead-level data, spatial artefacts of various kinds can thus be identified and excluded from further analyses

Enhanced solar anti-neutrino flux in random magnetic fields

We discuss the impact of the recent KamLAND constraint on the solar anti-neutrino flux on the analysis of solar neutrino data in the presence of Majorana neutrino transition magnetic moments and solar magnetic fields. We consider different stationary solar magnetic field models, both regular and random, highlighting the strong enhancement in the anti-neutrino production rates that characterize turbulent solar magnetic field models. Moreover, we show that for such magnetic fields inside the Sun, one can constrain the intrinsic neutrino magnetic moment down to the level of mu_nu lessthan few times 10^-12 x mu_B irrespective of details of the underlying turbulence model. This limit is more stringent than all current experimental sensitivities, and similar to the most stringent bounds obtained from stellar cooling. We also comment on the robustness of this limit and show that at most it might be weakened by one order of magnitude, under very unlikely circumstances.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures; final version to appear in Phys. Rev.