Aix-Marseille University

About: Aix-Marseille University is a education organization based out in Marseille, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 24326 authors who have published 54240 publications receiving 1455416 citations. The organization is also known as: University Aix-Marseille & université d'Aix-Marseille.

The Vimos VLT deep survey - stellar mass segregation and large-scale galaxy environment in the redshift range 0.2 < z < 1.4

Abstract: Context. Hierarchical models of galaxy formation predict that the properties of a dark matter halo depend on the large-scale environment surrounding the halo. As a result of this correlation, we expect massive haloes to be present in larger number in overdense regions than in underdense ones. Given that a correlation exists between a galaxy stellar mass and the hosting dark matter halo mass, the segregation in dark matter halo mass should then result in a segregation in the distribution of stellar mass in the galaxy population. Aims. In this work we study the distribution of galaxy stellar mass and rest-frame optical color as a function of the large-scale galaxy distribution using the VLT VIMOS Deep Survey sample, in order to verify the presence of segregation in the properties of the galaxy population. Methods. We use VVDS redshift measurements and multi-band photometric data to derive estimates of the stellar mass, rest-frame optical color, and of the large-scale galaxy density, on a scale of approximately 8 Mpc, for a sample of 5619 galaxies in the redshift range 0.2 0.7. However, when we consider only galaxies in narrow bins of stellar mass, in order to exclude the effects of stellar mass segregation on galaxy properties, we no longer observe any significant color segregation.

Factors predictive of response, disease progression, and overall survival after dabrafenib and trametinib combination treatment: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials

Abstract: Summary Background Dabrafenib plus trametinib treatment provides significant benefits over BRAF-inhibitor monotherapy in patients with BRAF V600E -mutant or BRAF V600K -mutant advanced melanoma; however, in many patients the disease progresses, leading to death. With many treatment options available, understanding clinical factors that predict long-term response and survival for treatments is important for optimisation of patient management. We aimed to identify clinical factors associated with long-term response and survival using pooled data from randomised trials of dabrafenib plus trametinib in patients with metastatic BRAF -mutant melanoma. Methods We did a retrospective individual data analysis based on all published randomised trials that included treatment-naive patients with BRAF V600E -mutant or BRAF V600K -mutant metastatic melanoma who received the approved dose of dabrafenib 150 mg twice daily plus trametinib 2 mg once daily. Data were pooled from patients in the BRF113220 (part C; March 26, 2010, to Jan 15, 2015), COMBI-d (May 4, 2012, to Jan 12, 2015), and COMBI-v (June 4, 2012, to March 13, 2015) randomised trials. Patients with untreated brain metastases were not permitted to enrol in these trials. Baseline factors, identified a priori based on known melanoma clinical or prognostic characteristics, were analysed for association with progression-free survival and overall survival using univariate and multivariate analyses and assessed for hierarchical effect on outcomes using regression tree analyses. We also analysed factors identified after baseline, on treatment, and at progression, for associations with survival after progression. The trials included in this analysis are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: BRF113220, number NCT01072175; COMBI-d, number NCT01584648; COMBI-v, number NCT01597908. Findings 617 patients were included in this analysis with a median follow-up of 20·0 months (range 0−48·0, IQR 10·1−24·8); 396 patients had progression events (ie, disease progression or death) and 290 patients had died. Median progression-free survival (11·1 months [95% CI 9·7−12·9]), median overall survival (25·6 months [23·1−34·3]), 1-year progression-free survival (48% [44–52]) and overall survival (74% [71–78]), and 2-year progression-free survival (30% [26–34]) and overall survival (53% [49–57]) were consistent with those in the individual trials. Patients with normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration and fewer than three organ sites containing metastases (n=237) had the longest 1-year progression-free survival (68% [95% CI 62–74]) and overall survival (90% [87–94]) and 2-year progression-free survival (46% [40–54]) and overall survival (75% [70–81]), whereas patients with LDH concentration at least two times the upper limit of normal (n=70) had the shortest 1-year progression-free survival (8% [3–19]) and overall survival (40% [29–55]) and 2-year progression-free survival (2% [0–13]) and overall survival (7% [3–19]). Of patients with disease progression (n=379), survival after progression was longest in those with progression in baseline or new non-CNS lesions (n=205; median 10·0 months [95% CI 7·9−12·0]) and shortest in those with new CNS lesions or concurrent progression in baseline and new lesions (n=171; median 4·0 months [3·5−4·9]). Interpretation Several patient and clinical characteristics at and after baseline are associated with outcomes with dabrafenib plus trametinib, and durable benefit is possible with targeted treatment in defined patient subsets. Funding Novartis.

Measurement of b hadron production fractions in 7 TeV pp collisions

Abstract: Measurements of $b$ hadron production ratios in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 3 pb$^{-1}$ are presented. We study the ratios of strange $B$ meson to light $B$ meson production $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ and $Lambda_b^0$ baryon to light $B$ meson production $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ as a function of the charmed hadron-muon pair transverse momentum $p_T$ and the $b$ hadron pseudorapidity $eta$, for $p_T$ between 0 and 14 GeV and $eta$ between 2 and 5. We find that $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ is consistent with being independent of $p_{rm T}$ and $eta$, and we determine $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ = 0.134$pm$ 0.004 $^{+0.011}_{-0.010}$, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The corresponding ratio $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ is found to be dependent upon the transverse momentum of the charmed hadron-muon pair, $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)=(0.404pm 0.017 (stat) pm 0.027 (syst) pm 0.105 (Br))times[1 -(0.031 pm 0.004 (stat) pm 0.003 (syst))times p_T(GeV)]$, where Br reflects an absolute scale uncertainty due to the poorly known branching fraction Br(Lambda_c^+ to pK^-pi^+)$. We extract the ratio of strange $B$ meson to light neutral $B$ meson production $f_s/f_d$ by averaging the result reported here with two previous measurements derived from the relative abundances of $bar{B}_s to D_S^+ pi ^-$ to $bar{B}^0 to D^+K^-$ and $bar{B}^0 to D^+pi^-$. We obtain $f_s/f_d=0.267^{+0.021}_{-0.020}$.

Long livestock farming history and human landscape shaping revealed by lake sediment DNA

Abstract: The reconstruction of human-driven, Earth-shaping dynamics is important for understanding past human/environment interactions and for helping human societies that currently face global changes. However, it is often challenging to distinguish the effects of the climate from human activities on environmental changes. Here we evaluate an approach based on DNA metabarcoding used on lake sediments to provide the first high-resolution reconstruction of plant cover and livestock farming history since the Neolithic Period. By comparing these data with a previous reconstruction of erosive event frequency, we show that the most intense erosion period was caused by deforestation and overgrazing by sheep and cowherds during the Late Iron Age and Roman Period. Tracking plants and domestic mammals using lake sediment DNA (lake sedDNA) is a new, promising method for tracing past human practices, and it provides a new outlook of the effects of anthropogenic factors on landscape-scale changes.