W gamma production in hadronic collisions using the POWHEG+MiNLO method

We detail a calculation of W gamma production in hadronic collision, at Next-to-Leading Order (NLO) QCD interfaced to a shower generator according to the POWHEG prescription supplemented with the MiNLO procedure. The fixed order result is matched to an interleaved QCD+QED parton shower, in such a way that the contribution arising from hadron fragmentation into photons is fully modeled. In general, our calculation illustrates a new approach to the fully exclusive simulation of prompt photon production processes accurate at the NLO level in QCD. We compare our predictions to those of the NLO program MCFM, which treats the fragmentation contribution in terms of photon fragmentation functions. We also perform comparisons to available LHC data at 7 TeV, for which we observe good agreement, and provide phenomenological results for physics studies of the W gamma production process at the Run II of the LHC. The new tool, which includes W leptonic decays and the contribution of anomalous gauge couplings, allows a fully exclusive, hadron-level description of the W gamma process, and is publicly available at the repository of the POWHEG BOX. Our approach can be easily adapted to deal with other relevant isolated photon production processes in hadronic collisions.Comment: 38 pages, 5 Tables, 9 Figures. Final version published in JHEP. Acknowledgments to Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics and to INFN adde

Exploring the Interaction of Ammonia with Supported Vanadia Catalysts by Continuous Wave and Pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy are used to investigate the nature of vanadium species on V2O5/TiO2 catalysts prepared via wet impregnation and gas-phase grafting routes. CW EPR experiments show in both cases the formation of VO2+ vanadyl ions upon reaction with ammonia; moreover, phase memory time filtered echo-detected EPR experiments at X- and Q-band frequencies provide direct experimental evidence for the reduction of the TiO2 substrate and the formation of Ti3+ ions. X-band hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) experiments are used to investigate the local environment of VO2+ ions. The direct nitrogen coordination of residual ammonia fragments in the equatorial plane of the vanadyl ion is demonstrated

Adaptation of Volunteer Functions Inventory in adults from Argentina

Los voluntarios son sujetos que participan en una organización sin retribución económica, colaborando con la mejora y el avance de una comunidad. El análisis de sus motivaciones resulta de interés en la psicología, pero no se dispone de un instrumento local para evaluarlas. El objetivode este estudio fue adaptar el Inventario de Funciones del Voluntariado (VFI). Se trabajó con 249 voluntarios de organizaciones no gubernamentales de diferentes provincias. Se recolectaron datos con una encuesta sociodemográfica y el VFI. Mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio utilizando el estimador minimum rank factor analysis con rotación oblimin directa, se aisló una estructura factorial de tres dimensiones (social y carrera, mejora y protección, valores y comprensión) que explicaban el 54.76 % de la varianza. La consistencia interna fue adecuada (α = .89/ .94). Como conclusión, se proporciona a profesionales e investigadores la adaptación del VFI a la población local, aportando evidencias de validez y confiabilidad.Volunteers are subjects who participate in an organization without financial compensation, contributing to the improvement and advancement of a community. The analysis of their motivations is of interest in Psychology; however, there is no local instrument to evaluate them. The aim of this study was to adapt the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI). A sample of 249 volunteers for non-governmental organizations from different provinces was studied. Data was collected through a sociodemographic survey and the VFI. An exploratory factorial analysis was performed using the Minimum Rank Factor Analysis estimator with Direct Oblimin rotation. A three-dimension factorial structure (social and career, improvement andprotection, values and comprehension) was obtained, which explained 54.76 % of the variance. Internal consistency was adequate (α = .89/.94). In conclusion, professionals and researchers are provided with an adaptation of the VFI to the local population, with favorable evidences of validity and reliability.Fil: Chiesa, Valeria Soledad. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Stover, Juliana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones; Argentin

Adaptación del Inventario de Funciones del Voluntariado en adultos de Argentina

Volunteers are subjects who participate in an organization without financial compensation, contributing to the improvement and advancement of a community. The analysis of their motivations is of interest in Psychology; however, there is no local instrument to evaluate them. The aim of this study was to adapt the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI). A sample of 249 volunteers for non-governmental organizations from different provinces was studied. Data was collected through a sociodemographic survey and the VFI. An exploratory factorial analysis was performed using the Minimum Rank Factor Analysis estimator with Direct Oblimin rotation. A three-dimension factorial structure (social and career, improvement andprotection, values and comprehension) was obtained, which explained 54.76 % of the variance. Internal consistency was adequate (α = .89/.94). In conclusion, professionals and researchers are provided with an adaptation of the VFI to the local population, with favorable evidences of validity and reliability.Los voluntarios son sujetos que participan en una organización sin retribución económica, colaborando con la mejora y el avance de una comunidad. El análisis de sus motivaciones resulta de interés en la psicología, pero no se dispone de un instrumento local para evaluarlas. El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar el Inventario de Funciones del Voluntariado (VFI). Se trabajó con 249 voluntarios de organizaciones no gubernamentales de diferentes provincias. Se recolectaron datos con una encuesta sociodemográfica y el VFI. Mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio utilizando el estimador minimum rank factor analysis con rotación oblimin directa, se aisló una estructura factorial de tres dimensiones (social y carrera, mejora y protección, valores y comprensión) que explicaban el 54.76 % de la varianza. La consistencia interna fue adecuada (α = .89/ .94). Como conclusión, se proporciona a profesionales e investigadores la adaptación del VFI a la población local, aportando evidencias de validez y confiabilidad

Codes of Commitment to Crime and Resistance: Determining Social and Cultural Factors over the Behaviors of Italian Mafia Women

This article categorizes thirty-three women in four main Italian Mafia groups and explores social and cultural behaviors of these women. This study introduces the feminist theory of belief and action. The theoretical inquiry investigates the sometimes conflicting behaviors of women when they are subject to systematic oppression. I argue that there is a cultural polarization among the categorized sub-groups. Conservative radicals give their support to the Mafia while defectors and rebels resist the Mafia. After testing the theory, I assert that emancipation of women depends on the strength of their beliefs to perform actions against the Mafiosi culture

PROTECT: pervasive and useR fOcused biomeTrics bordEr projeCT. A Case Study

PROTECT: Pervasive and useR fOcused biomeTrics bordEr projeCT is an EU project funded by the Horizon 2020 research and Innovation Programme. The main aim of PROTECT was to build an advanced biometric-based person identification system that works robustly across a range of border crossing types and that has strong user-centric features. This work presents the case study of the multibiometric verification system developed within PROTECT. The system has been developed to be suitable for different borders such as air, sea, and land borders. The system covers two use cases: the walk-through scenario, in which the traveller is on foot; the drive-through scenario, in which the traveller is in a vehicle. Each deployment includes a different set of biometric traits and this paper illustrates how to evaluate such multibiometric system in accordance with international standards and, in particular, how to overcome practical problems that may be encountered when dealing with multibiometric evaluation, such as different score distributions and missing scores

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications