NLO electroweak corrections in general scalar singlet models

If no new physics signals are found, in the coming years, at the Large Hadron Collider Run-2, an increase in precision of the Higgs couplings measurements will shift the dicussion to the effects of higher order corrections. In Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) theories this may become the only tool to probe new physics. Extensions of the Standard Model (SM) with several scalar singlets may address several of its problems, namely to explain dark matter, the matter-antimatter asymmetry, or to improve the stability of the SM up to the Planck scale. In this work we propose a general framework to calculate one loop-corrections in BSM models with an arbitrary number of scalar singlets. We then apply our method to a real and to a complex scalar singlet models. We assess the importance of the one-loop radiative corrections first by computing them for a tree level mixing sum constraint, and then for the main Higgs production process $gg \to H$. We conclude that, for the currently allowed parameter space of these models, the corrections can be at most a few percent. Notably, a non-zero correction can survive when dark matter is present, in the SM-like limit of the Higgs couplings to other SM particles.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figure

Assessing the ability of Transformer-based Neural Models to represent structurally unbounded dependencies

Filler-gap dependencies are among the most challenging syntactic constructions for com- putational models at large. Recently, Wilcox et al. (2018) and Wilcox et al. (2019b) provide some evidence suggesting that large-scale general-purpose LSTM RNNs have learned such long-distance filler-gap dependencies. In the present work we provide evidence that such models learn filler-gap dependencies only very imperfectly, despite being trained on massive amounts of data. Finally, we compare the LSTM RNN models with more modern state-of-the-art Transformer models, and find that these have poor-to-mixed degrees of success, despite their sheer size and low perplexity

Knowledge retention through observation of instant messaging systems

Knowledge is the most valuable asset in today’s organizations. Since it offers an unbeatable competitive advantage, valuable knowledge demands strict management principles to avoid being lost. Instant messengers provide an opportunity to gather knowledge passed through individuals in the organization. By modeling that knowledge using machine learning techniques, it becomes possible to retain and make it ubiquitous throughout the organization. This paper presents a solution for gathering, modeling, and retrieving knowledge associated with the technical support in organizations, using machine learning algorithms. The solution comprises the architecture, data preparation techniques and machine learning algorithms. The experimental evaluation exhibits the algorithms with better performance for this class of problems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Developmental depression-to-facilitation shift controls excitation-inhibition balance

Changes in the short-term dynamics of excitatory synapses over development have been observed throughout cortex, but their purpose and consequences remain unclear. Here, we propose that developmental changes in synaptic dynamics buffer the effect of slow inhibitory long-term plasticity, allowing for continuously stable neural activity. Using computational modeling we demonstrate that early in development excitatory short-term depression quickly stabilises neural activity, even in the face of strong, unbalanced excitation. We introduce a model of the commonly observed developmental shift from depression to facilitation and show that neural activity remains stable throughout development, while inhibitory synaptic plasticity slowly balances excitation, consistent with experimental observations. Our model predicts changes in the input responses from phasic to phasic-and-tonic and more precise spike timings. We also observe a gradual emergence of short-lasting memory traces governed by short-term plasticity development. We conclude that the developmental depression-to-facilitation shift may control excitation-inhibition balance throughout development with important functional consequences

Fractionation of flavonols and anthocyanins in winemaking residues using molecularly imprinted cellulose‐synthetic hybrid particles with pyridyl active surface

Hybrid cellulose-synthetic particles with surface active pyridyl moieties and molecularly imprinted cavities for quercetin were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization. The functionalization of the materials with pyridyl groups was confirmed by FTIR and the SEM micrographs of the hybrid particles demonstrate a clear surface modification compared with the pristine cellulose. Competitive sorption/desorption testing of the imprinted and non-imprinted particles with standard polyphenols show the achievement of an imprinting factor IF similar to 8. Moreover, it was also confirmed the high retention capability of the hybrid materials for polyphenols, due to their strong binding with the surface pyridyl moieties, even when using hydroalcoholic solvents of high ethanol content (e.g., ethanol/water 80/20 v/v). The sorption capabilities of the synthesized materials for polyphenols were explored with the fractionation of flavonols and anthocyanins in winemaking residues. High concentration and enrichment factors were achieved for high-added value compounds, namely five times for quercetin and 12 for quercetin-3-O-glucuronide with a diatomaceous earth extract and up to 4 for flavonols in a grape pomace (e.g. myricetin and quercetin glucosides). This research demonstrates de feasibility for the combination between the development of engineered materials addressing sustainability with their application to the valorization of agro-industrial wastes.The authors are thankful for the funding through the project "BacchusTech-Integrated Approach for the Valorization of Winemaking Residues" (POCI-01-0247FEDER-069583), supported by the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (COMPETE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Catarina Gomes acknowledges to FCT for the PhD scholarship 2020.06057.BD. R.D. is grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020). M.R.C. acknowledges the support by LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/50020/2020, and UIDP/50020/2020 (LSRE-LCM), funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

One cell to rule them all, and in the dendrites bind them

A commentary on Branch-specific plasticity enables selforganization of non-linear computation in single neurons by Legenstein, R., and Maass, W. (2011). J

Early release from prison in time of COVID-19: Determinants of unfavourable decisions towards Black prisoners

On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overcrowding in prisons led to efforts to decarcerate in order to prevent and control outbreaks in prisons. This study analyses how public support for such exceptional measures are determined by cognitive and ideological factors known to create and maintain racial biases in the criminal system. Participants were asked to express their level of agreement with the early-release of hypothetical prisoners. Results showed participants to be less favourable to the early-release of Black compared to White prisoners, when they had committed a stereotypically Black crime. As expected, the congruency between the crime stereotypicality and the colour of the prisoner's skin did not emerge for White prisoners. Moreover, the difference between the agreement with the release of the Black vs. the White prisoner when both committed a stereotypically Black crime was higher as the level of endorsement of Meritocracy increased. Contrastingly, Anti-egalitarianism only predicted an overall disagreement with prisoners' early-release. This paper highlights the cumulative explanation by different levels of analysis of this current problem and implications for the development of the public opinion on penal subjects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio