Recent Higgs → ZZ(∗) → 4l results with the ATLAS experiment

This document presents a short update of the search results and a first measurement of the properties of the newly observed Higgs-like particle in the decay channel H → ZZ(∗) → l+l−l'+l'−, where l,l' = e or μ, using 4.6 fb−1 and 13 fb −1 of proton-proton collisions at √s = 7 and √s = 8TeV, respectively, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. An excess of events over background is seen, with a minimum p0 value of 0.0021% (4.1 standard deviations) at mH = 123.5 GeV in the combined analysis of the two datasets. The fitted Higgs mass is measured to be mH = 123.5 ± 0.9 (stat.) ± 0.3 (syst.) GeV and the signal strength (the ratio of the observed cross-section to the expected SM cross-section) at this mass is found to be μ = 1.3+0.5−0.3. A spin-parity analysis is performed on the events with 115 GeV < mH < 130 GeV. The 0+ state is found to be favoured over the 0− and 2+ states with 0− excluded by 2.7 σ when compared to 0+

Non-equilibrium Green's functions in density functional tight binding: method and applications

We present a detailed description of the implementation of the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) technique on the density-functional-based tight-binding (gDFTB) simulation tool. This approach can be used to compute electronic transport in organic and inorganic molecular-scale devices. The DFTB tight-binding formulation gives an efficient computational tool that is able to handle a large number of atoms. NEGFs are used to compute the electronic density self-consistently with the open-boundary conditions naturally encountered in quantum transport problems and the boundary conditions imposed by the potentials at the contacts. The efficient block-iterative algorithm used to compute the Green's functions is illustrated. The Hartree potential of the density-functional Hamiltonian is obtained by solving the three-dimensional Poisson equation. A scheme to treat geometrically complex boundary conditions is discussed, including the possibility of including multiterminal calculations

Nodulation capacity of Argentinean soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cultivars inoculated with commercial strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the nodulation potential of 31 Argentinean soybean commercial cultivars. Those with the highest nodulation capacity developed twice the amount of nodules than the low nodulating ones, which is the variation contained in soybean genotypes. Furthermore, this was not due to bacterial promiscuity, since the re-sponse was independent of the bradyrhizobia strain inoculated. The ability of cultivars to develop a larger number and biomass of nodules was unrelated with the maturity group they belong to and also was not a response to quorum sensing effects. Our results suggest that breeding programs can be aimed at improving the nodulation capacity of soybean and that cultivars from different maturity groups can be a source of nodulation QTLs

Differences in Multitask Resource Reallocation After Change in Task Values

International audienceObjective The objective was to characterize multitask resource reallocation strategies when managing subtasks with various assigned values.Background When solving a resource conflict in multitasking, Salvucci and Taatgen predict a globally rational strategy will be followed that favors the most urgent subtask and optimizes global performance. However, Katidioti and Taatgen identified a locally rational strategy that optimizes only a subcomponent of the whole task, leading to detrimental consequences on global performance. Moreover, the question remains open whether expertise would have an impact on the choice of the strategy.Method We adopted a multitask environment used for pilot selection with a change in emphasis on two out of four subtasks while all subtasks had to be maintained over a minimum performance. A laboratory eye-tracking study contrasted 20 recently selected pilot students considered as experienced with this task and 15 university students considered as novices.Results When two subtasks were emphasized, novices focused their resources particularly on one high-value subtask and failed to prevent both low-value subtasks falling below minimum performance. On the contrary, experienced people delayed the processing of one low-value subtask but managed to optimize global performance.Conclusion In a multitasking environment where some subtasks are emphasized, novices follow a locally rational strategy whereas experienced participants follow a globally rational strategy.Application During complex training, trainees are only able to adjust their resource allocation strategy to subtask emphasis changes once they are familiar with the multitasking environment

New hints towards a precision medicine strategy for IDH wild-type glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma represents the most common primary malignancy of the central nervous system in adults and remains a largely incurable disease. The elucidation of disease subtypes based on mutational profiling, gene expression and DNA methylation has so far failed to translate into improved clinical outcomes. However, new knowledge emerging from the subtyping effort in the IDH-wild-type setting may provide directions for future precision therapies. Here, we review recent learnings in the field, and further consider how tumour microenvironment differences across subtypes may reveal novel contexts of vulnerability. We discuss recent treatment approaches and ongoing trials in the IDH-wild-type glioblastoma setting, and propose an integrated discovery stratagem incorporating multi-omics, single-cell technologies and computational approaches