Regge asymptotics and color suppressed heavy meson decays

We discuss a possible generation of color suppressed B-decays amplitudes through a soft final state interaction. As a typical example, we consider in detail the decay $\bar{B}^{0} \rightarrow D^{0} \pi^{0}$ (and also $\bar{B}^{0} \rightarrow 2 \pi^{0}$). We show that in the approximation of the two particle unitarity and at zero order in $\alpha_{s}$ this process can be related to the weak decay $\bar{B}^{0} \rightarrow D^{+} \pi^{-}$ followed by the strong charge exchange scattering in the Regge kinematics. We estimate the amplitude of this process using the light cone QCD sum rule technique and find that it is supppressed as a power of $1/m_{B}$ in comparison to the amplitude generated by the effective non-leptonic Hamiltonian, but remains important for the physical value of $m_{B}$.Comment: 14 pages,Latex,no figure

Real-time embedded video denoiser prototype

International audienceLow light or other poor visibility conditions often generate noise on any vision system. However, video denoising requires a lot of computational effort and most of the state-of-the-art algorithms cannot be run in real-time at camera framerate. Noisy video is thus a major issue especially for embedded systems that provide low computational power. This article presents a new real-time video denoising algorithm for embedded platforms called RTE-VD [1]. We first compare its denoising capabilities with other online and offline algorithms. We show that RTE-VD can achieve real-time performance (25 frames per second) for qHD video (960x540 pixels) on embedded CPUs with an output image quality comparable to state-of-the-art algorithms. In order to reach real-time denoising, we applied several high-level transforms and optimizations. We study the relation between computation time and power consumption on several embedded CPUs and show that it is possible to determine find out frequency and core configurations in order to minimize either the computation time or the energy. Finally, we introduce VIRTANS our embedded real-time video denoiser based on RTE-VD

A New Real-Time Embedded Video Denoising Algorithm

International audienceMany embedded applications rely on video processing or on video visualization. Noisy video is thus a major issue for such applications. However, video denoising requires a lot of computational effort and most of the state-of-the-art algorithms cannot be run in real-time at camera framerate. This article introduces a new real-time video denoising algorithm for embedded platforms called RTE-VD. We first compare its denoising capabilities with other online and offline algorithms. We show that RTE-VD can achieve real-time performance (25 frames per second) for qHD video (960×540 pixels) on embedded CPUs and the output image quality is comparable to state-of-the-art algorithms. In order to reach real-time denoising, we applied several high-level transforms and optimizations (SIMDization, multi-core parallelization, operator fusion and pipelining). We study the relation between computation time and power consumption on several embedded CPUs and show that it is possible to determine different frequency and core configurations in order to minimize either the computation time or the energy

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes, NM-400, NM-401, NM-402, NM-403: Characterisation and Physico-Chemical Properties

In 2011 the JRC launched a Repository for Representative Test Materials that supports both EU and international research projects, and especially the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials' (WPMN) exploratory testing programme "Testing a Representative set of Manufactured Nanomaterials" for the development and collection of data on characterisation, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties, as well as risk assessment and safety evaluation of nanomaterials. The JRC Repository responds to a need for availability of nanomaterial from a single production batch to enhance the comparability of results between different research laboratories and projects. The present report presents the physico-chemical characterisation of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) from the JRC Repository: NM-400, NM-401, NM-402 and NM-403. NM-400 was selected as principal material for the OECD WPMN testing programme. They are produced by catalytic chemical vapour deposition. Each of these NMs originates from one respective batch of commercially manufactured MWCNT. They are nanostructured, i.e. they consist of more than one graphene layer stacked on each other and rolled together as concentric tubes. The MWCNT NMs may be used as a representative material in the measurement and testing with regard to hazard identification, risk and exposure assessment studies. The results are based on studies by several European laboratories participating to the NANOGENOTOX Joint Action.JRC.I.4-Nanobioscience

Titanium Dioxide, NM-100, NM-101, NM-102, NM-103, NM-104, NM-105: Characterisation and Physico-Chemical Properties

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides scientific support to European Union policy including nanotechnology. Within this context, the JRC launched, in February 2011, a repository for Representative Test Materials (RTMs), based on preparatory work started in 2008. It supports both EU and international research projects, and especially the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN). The WPMN leads an exploratory testing programme "Testing a Representative set of Manufactured Nanomaterials" for the development and collection of data on characterisation, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties, as well as risk assessment and safety evaluation of nanomaterials. The purpose is to understand the applicability of the OECD Test Guidelines for the testing of nanomaterials as well as end-points relevant for such materials. The Repository responds to a need for nanosafety research purposes: availability of nanomaterial from a single production batch to enhance the comparability of results between different research laboratories and projects. The availability of representative nanomaterials to the international scientific community furthermore enhances and enables development of safe materials and products. The present report presents the physico-chemical characterisation of the Titanium dioxide series from the JRC repository: NM-100, NM-101, NM-102, NM-103, NM-104 and NM-105. NM-105 was selected as principal material for the OECD test programme "Testing a representative set of manufactured nanomaterials". NM-100 is included in the series as a bulk comparator. Each of these NMs originates from one batch of commercially manufactured TiO2. The TiO2 NMs may be used as representative material in the measurement and testing with regard to hazard identification, risk and exposure assessment studies. The results for more than 15 endpoints are addressed in the present report, including physico-chemical properties, such as size and size distribution, crystallite size and electron microscopy images. Sample and test item preparation procedures are addressed. The results are based on studies by several European laboratories participating to the NANOGENOTOX Joint Action, as well as by the JRC.JRC.I.4-Nanobioscience

Associations between depressive symptoms and disease progression in older patients with chronic kidney disease: results of the EQUAL study

Background Depressive symptoms are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, few small studies have examined this association in patients with earlier phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied associations between baseline depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced CKD and examined whether these associations differed depending on sex. Methods CKD patients (>= 65 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate <= 20 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were included from a European multicentre prospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item Mental Health Inventory (cut-off <= 70; 0-100 scale). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study associations between depressive symptoms and time to dialysis initiation, all-cause mortality and these outcomes combined. A joint model was used to study the association between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time. Analyses were adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Results Overall kidney function decline in 1326 patients was -0.12 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/month. A total of 515 patients showed depressive symptoms. No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time (P = 0.08). Unlike women, men with depressive symptoms had an increased mortality rate compared with those without symptoms [adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.93)]. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with a higher hazard of dialysis initiation, or with the combined outcome (i.e. dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality). Conclusions There was no significant association between depressive symptoms at baseline and decline in kidney function over time in older patients with advanced CKD. Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher mortality rate in men

Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution

For 10,000 years pigs and humans have shared a close and complex relationship. From domestication to modern breeding practices, humans have shaped the genomes of domestic pigs. Here we present the assembly and analysis of the genome sequence of a female domestic Duroc pig (Sus scrofa) and a comparison with the genomes of wild and domestic pigs from Europe and Asia. Wild pigs emerged in South East Asia and subsequently spread across Eurasia. Our results reveal a deep phylogenetic split between European and Asian wild boars ∼1 million years ago, and a selective sweep analysis indicates selection on genes involved in RNA processing and regulation. Genes associated with immune response and olfaction exhibit fast evolution. Pigs have the largest repertoire of functional olfactory receptor genes, reflecting the importance of smell in this scavenging animal. The pig genome sequence provides an important resource for further improvements of this important livestock species, and our identification of many putative disease-causing variants extends the potential of the pig as a biomedical model

A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing

Purpose Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned. Methods Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted. Results We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency). Conclusion The “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock

Prodrugs of alkylphospholipids (pro-APLs) as a new therapeutic approach to cancer by antitumour lipids

Les précédents travaux menés au laboratoire avaient permis d’obtenir des lipides cationiques biolabiles dérivés d’un constituant naturel des membranes cellulaires, la DOPC, en masquant temporairement sa charge négative par l’introduction d’un substituant, clivable sous stimuli acide ou enzymatique. Ce concept s’était révélé efficace pour la délivrance, in vitro et in vivo, d’acides nucléiques, avec un impact toxicologique minimisé. Ce doctorat est la transposition de ce système à une approche thérapeutique du cancer, à l’aide de constructions dérivées d’alkylphospholipides (APLs), des lipides antitumoraux. De nombreuses prodrogues biolabiles (pro-APLs) ont été développées à partir de trois APLs prometteurs : miltéfosine, périfosine et érufosine. L’évaluation et l’optimisation de l’activité biologique des pro-APLs ont conduit à des formulations performantes pour la délivrance in vitro d’un ADN thérapeutique TRAIL et la production in situ d’APLs, pour une combothérapie antitumorale.Previous work in the laboratory had resulted in biolabile cationic lipids derived from a naturally cell membrane component, DOPC, by temporarily masking its negative charge by the introduction of a cleavable substituent, under acidic or enzymatic stimuli. This concept was particularly efficient for the delivery, in vitro and in vivo, of nucleic acids such as DNA plasmid or siRNA, with a minimized toxicological impact for cells. The present study is the transposition of this system to a therapeutic approach to cancer, using constructions derived from alkylphospholipids (APLs), a recent class of antitumor lipids. Biolabile prodrugs (pro-APLs) have been developed from three promising APLs: miltefosine, perifosine and erufosine. The biological evaluation of pro-APLs activity and the optimization of various parameters led to efficient formulations for the in vitro delivery of a therapeutic DNA plasmid, related to TRAIL, and the in situ APLs production for a potential antitumor combotherapy

Prodrogues d’alkylphospholipides (pro-APLs) pour une nouvelle approche thérapeutique du cancer par les lipides antitumoraux

Previous work in the laboratory had resulted in biolabile cationic lipids derived from a naturally cell membrane component, DOPC, by temporarily masking its negative charge by the introduction of a cleavable substituent, under acidic or enzymatic stimuli. This concept was particularly efficient for the delivery, in vitro and in vivo, of nucleic acids such as DNA plasmid or siRNA, with a minimized toxicological impact for cells. The present study is the transposition of this system to a therapeutic approach to cancer, using constructions derived from alkylphospholipids (APLs), a recent class of antitumor lipids. Biolabile prodrugs (pro-APLs) have been developed from three promising APLs: miltefosine, perifosine and erufosine. The biological evaluation of pro-APLs activity and the optimization of various parameters led to efficient formulations for the in vitro delivery of a therapeutic DNA plasmid, related to TRAIL, and the in situ APLs production for a potential antitumor combotherapy.Les précédents travaux menés au laboratoire avaient permis d’obtenir des lipides cationiques biolabiles dérivés d’un constituant naturel des membranes cellulaires, la DOPC, en masquant temporairement sa charge négative par l’introduction d’un substituant, clivable sous stimuli acide ou enzymatique. Ce concept s’était révélé efficace pour la délivrance, in vitro et in vivo, d’acides nucléiques, avec un impact toxicologique minimisé. Ce doctorat est la transposition de ce système à une approche thérapeutique du cancer, à l’aide de constructions dérivées d’alkylphospholipides (APLs), des lipides antitumoraux. De nombreuses prodrogues biolabiles (pro-APLs) ont été développées à partir de trois APLs prometteurs : miltéfosine, périfosine et érufosine. L’évaluation et l’optimisation de l’activité biologique des pro-APLs ont conduit à des formulations performantes pour la délivrance in vitro d’un ADN thérapeutique TRAIL et la production in situ d’APLs, pour une combothérapie antitumorale