Dynamics of lattice pinned charge stripes

We study the transversal dynamics of a charged stripe (quantum string) and show that zero temperature quantum fluctuations are able to depin it from the lattice. If the hopping amplitude t is much smaller than the string tension J, the string is pinned by the underlying lattice. At t>>J, the string is depinned and allowed to move freely, if we neglect the effect of impurities. By mapping the system onto a 1D array of Josephson junctions, we show that the quantum depinning occurs at t/J = 2 / pi^2. Besides, we exploit the relation of the stripe Hamiltonian to the sine-Gordon theory and calculate the infrared excitation spectrum of the quantum string for arbitrary t/J values.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Optical diagnosis of colorectal polyp images using a newly developed computer-aided diagnosis system (CADx) compared with intuitive optical diagnosis

Background Optical diagnosis of colorectal polyps remains challenging. Image-enhancement techniques such as narrow-band imaging and blue-light imaging (BLI) can improve optical diagnosis. We developed and prospectively validated a computer-aided diagnosis system (CADx) using high-definition white-light (HDWL) and BLI images, and compared the system with the optical diagnosis of expert and novice endoscopists.Methods CADx characterized colorectal polyps by exploiting artificial neural networks. Six experts and 13 novices optically diagnosed 60 colorectal polyps based on intuition. After 4 weeks, the same set of images was permuted and optically diagnosed using the BLI Adenoma Serrated International Classification (BASIC).Results CADx had a diagnostic accuracy of 88.3% using HDWL images and 86.7% using BLI images. The overall diagnostic accuracy combining HDWL and BLI (multimodal imaging) was 95.0%, which was significantly higher than that of experts (81.7%, P =0.03) and novices (66.7%, P <0.001). Sensitivity was also higher for CADx (95.6% vs. 61.1% and 55.4%), whereas specificity was higher for experts compared with CADx and novices (95.6% vs. 93.3% and 93.2%). For endoscopists, diagnostic accuracy did not increase when using BASIC, either for experts (intuition 79.5% vs. BASIC 81.7%, P =0.14) or for novices (intuition 66.7% vs. BASIC 66.5%, P =0.95).Conclusion CADx had a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than experts and novices for the optical diagnosis of colorectal polyps. Multimodal imaging, incorporating both HDWL and BLI, improved the diagnostic accuracy of CADx. BASIC did not increase the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopists compared with intuitive optical diagnosis

Somatic mosaicism and common genetic variation contribute to the risk of very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract: Very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) is a heterogeneous phenotype associated with a spectrum of rare Mendelian disorders. Here, we perform whole-exome-sequencing and genome-wide genotyping in 145 patients (median age-at-diagnosis of 3.5 years), in whom no Mendelian disorders were clinically suspected. In five patients we detect a primary immunodeficiency or enteropathy, with clinical consequences (XIAP, CYBA, SH2D1A, PCSK1). We also present a case study of a VEO-IBD patient with a mosaic de novo, pathogenic allele in CYBB. The mutation is present in ~70% of phagocytes and sufficient to result in defective bacterial handling but not life-threatening infections. Finally, we show that VEO-IBD patients have, on average, higher IBD polygenic risk scores than population controls (99 patients and 18,780 controls; P < 4 × 10−10), and replicate this finding in an independent cohort of VEO-IBD cases and controls (117 patients and 2,603 controls; P < 5 × 10−10). This discovery indicates that a polygenic component operates in VEO-IBD pathogenesis

L'analyse des délits contre le patrimoine et son exploitation dans un cadre opérationnel.

L'apparition de nouvelles formes de délinquances caractérisées par la mobilité des malfaiteurs et l'exploitation des nouvelles technologies a amené les forces de l'ordre à remettre en cause leurs structures, leurs méthodes et leur formation. En particulier, l'engagement des moyens pour lutter contre la délinquance itinérante se fonde sur des instruments d'analyse des problèmes développés depuis plusieurs années au sein du centre régional d'analyse qui couvre la Suisse romande, ainsi que les cantons de Berne et du Tessin. Les expériences effectuées démontrent la nécessité de définir un cadre opérationnel uniforme afin de favoriser la traduction des renseignements extraits en mesures concrètes efficaces. Cela implique le développement des collaborations entre les polices et les autres partenaires chargés de la sécurité publique

Decision making in policing: Operations and management

Decision making in the police environment must take advantage of the latest advances in business and military management, but at the same time remain aware of the challenges associated with maintaining and restoring order on a day-to-day basis. The framework proposed here has been elaborated from the diverse experiences of the authors as managers, police officers and crime analysts, and from some formalized models and methods taken from the literature. It concerns questions such as how to process and interpret information, how to effectively use intelligence for making decisions, which rules to respect when deploying resources, and how to assess and monitor the impact of measures taken. The global context is generic, but its adaptation when dealing with specific recurrent types of problems will be proposed and illustrated through a series of examples. Although addressed mainly to managers and trainers in police environments, every police officer will discover a methodology that will help him or her to deal with the complex situations faced daily. In addition, those in academia who study the police or develop methods and technologies for law enforcement will use this book to frame current and future topics of research