Showing papers by "Bulgarian Academy of Sciences published in 2020"
TL;DR: The extent of the trait data compiled in TRY is evaluated and emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness are analyzed to conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements.
Abstract: Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.
882 citations
American Museum of Natural History1, Umeå University2, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ3, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg4, Free University of Berlin5, University of Helsinki6, University of Toulouse7, Rothamsted Research8, University of Hasselt9, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic10, Sewanee: The University of the South11, Centre national de la recherche scientifique12, National Research Council13, University of Camerino14, University of Porto15, Flanders Marine Institute16, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences17, Lancaster University18, Spanish National Research Council19, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences20, Forest Research Institute21, Utrecht University22, University of Oulu23, University of Warsaw24, University of Copenhagen25, University of Coimbra26, University of Latvia27, University of Sassari28, University of Nova Gorica29, Finnish Environment Institute30, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research31, Norwegian Institute for Water Research32, James Hutton Institute33, University of Duisburg-Essen34, Trier University of Applied Sciences35, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute36, Research Institute for Nature and Forest37
TL;DR: A quantitative synthesis of longterm biodiversity trends across Europe is reported, showing how, despite overall increase in biodiversity metric and stability in abundance, trends differ between regions, ecosystem types, and taxa.
Abstract: Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15–91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions. Our results reveal that local trends of abundance, richness and diversity differ among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, demonstrating that biodiversity changes at local scale are often complex and cannot be easily generalized. However, we find increases in richness and abundance with increasing temperature and naturalness as well as a clear spatial pattern in changes in community composition (i.e. temporal taxonomic turnover) in most biogeoregions of Northern and Eastern Europe.
327 citations
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: This chapter introduces the basic definitions of the concepts of Interval Valued Fuzzy Sets (IVFSs), and the relation between IFSs and IVFSs will be discussed.
Abstract: In this chapter, the basic definitions of the concepts of Interval Valued Fuzzy Sets (IVFSs) and Interval Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IVIFSs) will be introduced. The relation between IFSs and IVFSs will be discussed.
326 citations
TL;DR: For the first time, predictions from pythia8 obtained with tunes based on NLO or NNLO PDFs are shown to reliably describe minimum-bias and underlying-event data with a similar level of agreement to predictions from tunes using LO PDF sets.
Abstract: New sets of CMS underlying-event parameters (“tunes”) are presented for the pythia8 event generator. These tunes use the NNPDF3.1 parton distribution functions (PDFs) at leading (LO), next-to-leading (NLO), or next-to-next-to-leading (NNLO) orders in perturbative quantum chromodynamics, and the strong coupling evolution at LO or NLO. Measurements of charged-particle multiplicity and transverse momentum densities at various hadron collision energies are fit simultaneously to determine the parameters of the tunes. Comparisons of the predictions of the new tunes are provided for observables sensitive to the event shapes at LEP, global underlying event, soft multiparton interactions, and double-parton scattering contributions. In addition, comparisons are made for observables measured in various specific processes, such as multijet, Drell–Yan, and top quark-antiquark pair production including jet substructure observables. The simulation of the underlying event provided by the new tunes is interfaced to a higher-order matrix-element calculation. For the first time, predictions from pythia8 obtained with tunes based on NLO or NNLO PDFs are shown to reliably describe minimum-bias and underlying-event data with a similar level of agreement to predictions from tunes using LO PDF sets.
265 citations
Masaryk University1, University of Bayreuth2, Zurich University of Applied Sciences/ZHAW3, Spanish National Research Council4, Murdoch University5, Stellenbosch University6, University of Belgrade7, Sapienza University of Rome8, University of Göttingen9, University of the Basque Country10, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano11, Russian Academy of Sciences12, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg13, University of Nova Gorica14, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts15, University of Novi Sad16, Research Institute for Nature and Forest17, University of Western Brittany18, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine19, Slovak Academy of Sciences20, Complutense University of Madrid21, University of Lorraine22, University of Catania23, Transilvania University of Brașov24, University of Bremen25, University of Rostock26, Radboud University Nijmegen27, Mendel University28, University of Wrocław29, Karabük University30, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics31, Kazan Federal University32, Forest Research Institute33, Centre national de la recherche scientifique34, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University35, Shirshov Institute of Oceanology36, University of Barcelona37, University of Vic38, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad39, University of Latvia40, University of Kiel41, University of Zagreb42, University of Molise43, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences44, University of Vienna45, European Environment Agency46
TL;DR: This article developed the classification expert system EUNIS-ESy, which assigns vegetation plots to European habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. But the system is not suitable for outdoor gardening.
Abstract: EUNIS Habitat Classification is a standard classification of European habitats. We developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which assigns vegetation plots to EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. We classified 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive and determined characteristic species combinations and prepared distribution maps for 199 habitats at Level 3 of EUNIS hierarchy.
153 citations
Estonian University of Life Sciences1, Plant & Food Research2, Mendel University3, Slovak Academy of Sciences4, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center5, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences6, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research7, University of Valladolid8, Julius Kühn-Institut9, University of Pretoria10, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences11, University of Florence12, ANSES13, Cyprus University of Technology14, Forest Research Institute15, University of Belgrade16, University of Warsaw17, Çankırı Karatekin University18, Saints Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje19, University of Milan20, Kappa21, University of Extremadura22, Tuscia University23
TL;DR: The findings reported in this review will support countries that are currently free of F. circinatum in implementing effective procedures and restrictions and prevent further spread of the pathogen.
Abstract: Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), is currently one of the most important threats of Pinus spp. globally. This pathogen is known in many pine-growing regions, including natural and planted forests, and can affect all life stages of trees, from emerging seedlings to mature trees. Despite the importance of PPC, the global distribution of F. circinatum is poorly documented, and this problem is also true of the hosts within countries that are affected. The aim of this study was to review the global distribution of F. circinatum, with a particular focus on Europe. We considered (1) the current and historical pathogen records, both positive and negative, based on confirmed reports from Europe and globally; (2) the genetic diversity and population structure of the pathogen; (3) the current distribution of PPC in Europe, comparing published models of predicted disease distribution; and (4) host susceptibility by reviewing literature and generating a comprehensive list of known hosts for the fungus. These data were collated from 41 countries and used to compile a specially constructed geo-database. A review of 6297 observation records showed that F. circinatum and the symptoms it causes on conifers occurred in 14 countries, including four in Europe, and is absent in 28 countries. Field observations and experimental data from 138 host species revealed 106 susceptible host species including 85 Pinus species, 6 non-pine tree species and 15 grass and herb species. Our data confirm that susceptibility to F. circinatum varies between different host species, tree ages and environmental characteristics. Knowledge on the geographic distribution, host range and the relative susceptibility of different hosts is essential for disease management, mitigation and containment strategies. The findings reported in this review will support countries that are currently free of F. circinatum in implementing effective procedures and restrictions and prevent further spread of the pathogen.
143 citations
Collège de France1, Max Planck Society2, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences3, University of the Algarve4, New York University5, Aix-Marseille University6, University of Liège7, University of Bordeaux8, University of California, Davis9, University of Aberdeen10, University of Pennsylvania11, University of Kent12, New Bulgarian University13, University of Bologna14, ETH Zurich15, University of Copenhagen16, Fraunhofer Society17
TL;DR: Direct dates for human remains found in association with Initial Upper Palaeolithic artefacts at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) demonstrate the presence of Homo sapiens in the mid-latitudes of Europe before 45 thousand years ago.
Abstract: The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Europe witnessed the replacement and partial absorption of local Neanderthal populations by Homo sapiens populations of African origin1. However, this process probably varied across regions and its details remain largely unknown. In particular, the duration of chronological overlap between the two groups is much debated, as are the implications of this overlap for the nature of the biological and cultural interactions between Neanderthals and H. sapiens. Here we report the discovery and direct dating of human remains found in association with Initial Upper Palaeolithic artefacts2, from excavations at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria). Morphological analysis of a tooth and mitochondrial DNA from several hominin bone fragments, identified through proteomic screening, assign these finds to H. sapiens and link the expansion of Initial Upper Palaeolithic technologies with the spread of H. sapiens into the mid-latitudes of Eurasia before 45 thousand years ago3. The excavations yielded a wealth of bone artefacts, including pendants manufactured from cave bear teeth that are reminiscent of those later produced by the last Neanderthals of western Europe4–6. These finds are consistent with models based on the arrival of multiple waves of H. sapiens into Europe coming into contact with declining Neanderthal populations7,8. Direct dates for human remains found in association with Initial Upper Palaeolithic artefacts at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) demonstrate the presence of Homo sapiens in the mid-latitudes of Europe before 45 thousand years ago.
141 citations
TL;DR: Promising recent approaches that have been developed with the aim of circumventing or overcoming MDR are explored, including the pharmaco-modulation of acridine, the use of natural compounds as means to reverse MDR, and the conjugation of anticancer drugs with carriers that target specific tumor-cell components.
132 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a measurement of the mass of the Higgs boson in the diphoton decay channel is presented, based on 35.9 fb − 1 of proton-proton collision data collected during the 2016 LHC running period, with the CMS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV.
126 citations
TL;DR: The present review focuses on the main factors which have been found to have an impact on the increase in honey bee colony losses, particularly the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor.
Abstract: The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a species of crucial economic, agricultural and environmental importance. In the last ten years, some regions of the world have suffered from a significant reduction of honey bee colonies. In fact, honey bee losses are not an unusual phenomenon, but in many countries worldwide there has been a notable decrease in honey bee colonies. The cases in the USA, in many European countries, and in the Middle East have received considerable attention, mostly due to the absence of an easily identifiable cause. It has been difficult to determine the main factors leading to colony losses because of honey bees’ diverse social behavior. Moreover, in their daily routine, they make contact with many agents of the environment and are exposed to a plethora of human activities and their consequences. Nevertheless, various factors have been considered to be contributing to honey bee losses, and recent investigations have established some of the most important ones, in particular, pests and diseases, bee management, including bee keeping practices and breeding, the change in climatic conditions, agricultural practices, and the use of pesticides. The global picture highlights the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor as a major factor in colony loss. Last but not least, microsporidian parasites, mainly Nosema ceranae, also contribute to the problem. Thus, it is obvious that there are many factors affecting honey bee colony losses globally. Increased monitoring and scientific research should throw new light on the factors involved in recent honey bee colony losses. The present review focuses on the main factors which have been found to have an impact on the increase in honey bee colony losses.
110 citations
University of Cambridge1, University of Granada2, University of Málaga3, University of Leicester4, National University of Distance Education5, University of Geneva6, University of Buenos Aires7, University of Santiago de Compostela8, University of Jaén9, University of Concepción10, King Juan Carlos University11, University of Castilla–La Mancha12, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche13, Technical University of Madrid14, University of the Basque Country15, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences16, University of Minho17, University of North Georgia18, University of A Coruña19, University of Oviedo20, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena21
TL;DR: A review of recent works published in the latter field and the state the art are summarized in a comprehensive and self-contained way to provide a baseline framework for the international community in artificial intelligence.
TL;DR: The standard model (SM) production of four top quarks in proton-proton collisions is studied by the CMS Collaboration, with limits set on the production of a heavy scalar or pseudoscalar boson in Type-II two-Higgs-doublet and simplified dark matter models.
Abstract: The standard model (SM) production of four top quarks ($\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $) in proton–proton collisions is studied by the CMS Collaboration. The data sample, collected during the 2016–2018 data taking of the LHC, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ at a center-of-mass energy of 13$\,\text {TeV}$. The events are required to contain two same-sign charged leptons (electrons or muons) or at least three leptons, and jets. The observed and expected significances for the $\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $ signal are respectively 2.6 and 2.7 standard deviations, and the $\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $ cross section is measured to be $12.6^{+5.8}_{-5.2}\,\text {fb} $. The results are used to constrain the Yukawa coupling of the top quark to the Higgs boson, $y_{\text {t}}$, yielding a limit of $|y_{\text {t}}/y_{\text {t}}^{\mathrm {SM}} | < 1.7$ at $95\%$ confidence level, where $y_{\text {t}}^{\mathrm {SM}}$ is the SM value of $y_{\text {t}}$. They are also used to constrain the oblique parameter of the Higgs boson in an effective field theory framework, $\hat{H}<0.12$. Limits are set on the production of a heavy scalar or pseudoscalar boson in Type-II two-Higgs-doublet and simplified dark matter models, with exclusion limits reaching 350–470$\,\text {GeV}$ and 350–550$\,\text {GeV}$ for scalar and pseudoscalar bosons, respectively. Upper bounds are also set on couplings of the top quark to new light particles.
TL;DR: In this article, a search for narrow and broad resonances with masses greater than 1.8 TeV decaying to a pair of jets is presented, and the results show that no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed.
Abstract: A search for narrow and broad resonances with masses greater than 1.8 TeV decaying to a pair of jets is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV collected at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{−1}$. The background arising from standard model processes is predicted with the fit method used in previous publications and with a new method. The dijet invariant mass spectrum is well described by both data-driven methods, and no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed. Model independent upper limits are reported on the production cross sections of narrow resonances, and broad resonances with widths up to 55% of the resonance mass. Limits are presented on the masses of narrow resonances from various models: string resonances, scalar diquarks, axigluons, colorons, excited quarks, color-octet scalars, W′ and Z′ bosons, Randall-Sundrum gravitons, and dark matter mediators. The limits on narrow resonances are improved by 200 to 800 GeV relative to those reported in previous CMS dijet resonance searches. The limits on dark matter mediators are presented as a function of the resonance mass and width, and on the associated coupling strength as a function of the mediator mass. These limits exclude at 95% confidence level a dark matter mediator with a mass of 1.8 TeV and width 1% of its mass or higher, up to one with a mass of 4.8 TeV and a width 45% of its mass or higher.[graphic not available: see fulltext]
University of the Highlands and Islands1, University of Molise2, University of Valladolid3, Slovak Academy of Sciences4, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad5, University of Turin6, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano7, Technische Universität München8, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research9, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences10, University of Cumbria11
Abstract: Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) is an emerging branch of sustainable forest management that aims to manage forests in response to climate change. Specific CSF strategies are viewed as a way forward for developing suitable management responses and enhancing the provision of ecosystem services. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive and cohesive assessment to implement CSF. This paper describes the step-by-step process that developed a comprehensive and shared definition of CSF, and the process for selecting indicators that assess the “climate-smartness” of forest management. Adaptation, mitigation and social dimensions are the core focus of the CSF definition, which recognises the need to integrate and avoid development of these aspects in isolation. An iterative participatory process was used with a range of experts in forest-related fields from the CLIMO project, this was subsequently supported by a network analysis to identify sustainable forest management indicators important to CSF. The definition developed here, is an important first step in to promote CSF that will aid practice in the forestry sector. It can be used as a template across Europe, tailored to local contexts. Further work communicating CSF to practitioners and policy-makers will create a CSF practice and culture that will help to safeguard future forest economies and communities.
TL;DR: An integrated overview of the possible avenues for enhancing the biosynthesis of high-value marketable molecules produced by plant in vitro systems are presented, including metabolic engineering and CRISPR/Cas9 technology for the regulation of plant metabolism through overexpression/repression of single or multiple structural genes or transcriptional factors.
Abstract: For centuries plants have been intensively utilized as reliable sources of food, flavoring, agrochemical and pharmaceutical ingredients. However, plant natural habitats are being rapidly lost due t...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the performance of the Level-1 trigger upgrade during the data taking period of 2016-2018, which implements pattern recognition and boosted decision tree regression techniques for muon reconstruction, including pileup subtraction for jets and energy sums, and incorporates pileupdependent isolation requirements for electrons and tau leptons.
Abstract: At the start of Run 2 in 2015, the LHC delivered proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13\TeV. During Run 2 (years 2015–2018) the LHC eventually reached a luminosity of 2.1× 1034 cm-2s-1, almost three times that reached during Run 1 (2009–2013) and a factor of two larger than the LHC design value, leading to events with up to a mean of about 50 simultaneous inelastic proton-proton collisions per bunch crossing (pileup). The CMS Level-1 trigger was upgraded prior to 2016 to improve the selection of physics events in the challenging conditions posed by the second run of the LHC. This paper describes the performance of the CMS Level-1 trigger upgrade during the data taking period of 2016–2018. The upgraded trigger implements pattern recognition and boosted decision tree regression techniques for muon reconstruction, includes pileup subtraction for jets and energy sums, and incorporates pileup-dependent isolation requirements for electrons and tau leptons. In addition, the new trigger calculates high-level quantities such as the invariant mass of pairs of reconstructed particles. The upgrade reduces the trigger rate from background processes and improves the trigger efficiency for a wide variety of physics signals.
TL;DR: The results reveal that the functional aspects of LAB fermentation of the most commonly used cereals and pseudocereals are due to significant molecular changes in macronutrients during LA fermentation.
Abstract: Grains are a substantial source of macronutrients and energy for humans. Lactic acid (LA) fermentation is the oldest and most popular way to improve the functionality, nutritional value, taste, appearance and safety of cereal foods and reduce the energy required for cooking. This literature review discusses lactic acid fermentation of the most commonly used cereals and pseudocereals by examination of the microbiological and biochemical fundamentals of the process. The study provides a critical overview of the indispensable participation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the production of many traditional, ethnic, ancient and modern fermented cereals and beverages, as the analysed literature covers 40 years. The results reveal that the functional aspects of LAB fermented foods are due to significant molecular changes in macronutrients during LA fermentation. Through the action of a vast microbial enzymatic pool, LAB form a broad spectrum of volatile compounds, bioactive peptides and oligosaccharides with prebiotic potential. Modern applications of this ancient bioprocess include the industrial production of probiotic sourdough, fortified pasta, cereal beverages and “boutique” pseudocereal bread. These goods are very promising in broadening the daily menu of consumers with special nutritional needs.
TL;DR: In this article, a search for additional scalar (H) or pseudoscalar (A) Higgs bosons decaying to a top quark pair in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is presented.
Abstract: A search is presented for additional scalar (H) or pseudoscalar (A) Higgs bosons decaying to a top quark pair in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data set analyzed corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Final states with one or two charged leptons are considered. The invariant mass of the reconstructed top quark pair system and variables that are sensitive to the spin of the particles decaying into the top quark pair are used to search for signatures of the H or A bosons. The interference with the standard model top quark pair background is taken into account. A moderate signal-like deviation compatible with an A boson with a mass of 400 GeV is observed with a global significance of 1.9 standard deviations. New stringent constraints are reported on the strength of the coupling of the hypothetical bosons to the top quark, with the mass of the bosons ranging from 400 to 750 GeV and their total relative width from 0.5 to 25%. The results of the search are also interpreted in a minimal supersymmetric standard model scenario. Values of mA from 400 to 700 GeV are probed, and a region with values of tan β below 1.0 to 1.5, depending on mA, is excluded at 95% confidence level.
TL;DR: In this article, machine learning techniques are explored to identify and classify hadronic decays of highly Lorentz-boosted W/Z/Higgs bosons and top quarks.
Abstract: Machine-learning (ML) techniques are explored to identify and classify hadronic decays of highly Lorentz-boosted W/Z/Higgs bosons and top quarks. Techniques without ML have also been evaluated and are included for comparison. The identification performances of a variety of algorithms are characterized in simulated events and directly compared with data. The algorithms are validated using proton-proton collision data at ss = 13TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. Systematic uncertainties are assessed by comparing the results obtained using simulation and collision data. The new techniques studied in this paper provide significant performance improvements over non-ML techniques, reducing the background rate by up to an order of magnitude at the same signal efficiency.
TL;DR: It is proposed here that the thromboembolic events and eventually the development of DIC provoked by SARS-CoV-2 infection may represent a secondary anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and it will be proved that secondary APS is likely responsible for coagulopathy during the course of COVID-19 infection.
Abstract: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) is a novel s coronavirus that is the etiological agent of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) that at the time of writing (June 16, 2020) has infected almost 6 million people with some 450,000 deaths These numbers are still rising daily Most (some 80%) cases of COVID19 infection are asymptomatic, a substantial number of cases (15%) require hospitalization and an additional fraction of patients (5%) need recovery in intensive care units Mortality for COVID19 infection appears to occur globally between 01 and 05% of infected patients although the frequency of lethality is significantly augmented in the elderly and in patients with other comorbidities The development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and episodes of thromboembolism that may lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) represent the primary causes of lethality during COVID19 infection Increasing evidence suggests that thrombotic diathesis is due to multiple derangements of the coagulation system including marked elevation of Ddimer that correlate negatively with survival We propose here that the thromboembolic events and eventually the development of DIC provoked by SARSCoV2 infection may represent a secondary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) We will apply both Baconian inductivism and Cartesian deductivism to prove that secondary APS is likely responsible for coagulopathy during the course of COVID19 infection Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of this are also discussed
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for long-lived charged particles that decay within the volume of the silicon tracker of the LHC experiment is presented for events with this "disappearing track" signature.
TL;DR: The latest information on the biological activities, structure–activity relationships, mechanisms, and especially the clinical applications of PhGs will be reviewed and factors leading to the low bioavailability will be analyzed.
Abstract: Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are generally water-soluble phenolic compounds that occur in many medicinal plants. Until June 2020, more than 572 PhGs have been isolated and identified. PhGs possess antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antioxidant, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties. Despite these promising benefits, PhGs have failed to fulfill their therapeutic applications due to their poor bioavailability. The attempts to understand their metabolic pathways to improve their bioavailability are investigated. In this review article, we will first summarize the number of PhGs compounds which is not accurate in the literature. The latest information on the biological activities, structure-activity relationships, mechanisms, and especially the clinical applications of PhGs will be reviewed. The bioavailability of PhGs will be summarized and factors leading to the low bioavailability will be analyzed. Recent advances in methods such as bioenhancers and nanotechnology to improve the bioavailability of PhGs are also summarized. The existing scientific gaps of PhGs in knowledge are also discussed, highlighting research directions in the future.
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for charged Higgs bosons decaying into a top and a bottom quark in the all-jet final state is presented, using LHC proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector in 2016 at 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$−1.
Abstract: A search for charged Higgs bosons (H$^{±}$) decaying into a top and a bottom quark in the all-jet final state is presented. The analysis uses LHC proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector in 2016 at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. No significant excess is observed above the expected background. Model-independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the H$^{±}$ production cross section and branching fraction in two scenarios. For production in association with a top quark, limits of 21.3 to 0.007 pb are obtained for H$^{±}$ masses in the range of 0.2 to 3 TeV. Combining this with a search in leptonic final states results in improved limits of 9.25 to 0.005 pb. The complementary s-channel production of an H$^{±}$ is investigated in the mass range of 0.8 to 3 TeV and the corresponding upper limits are 4.5 to 0.023 pb. These results are interpreted using different minimal supersymmetric extensions of the standard model.[graphic not available: see fulltext]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors study spin-induced scalarization by performing a $2+1$ time evolution of the relevant linearized scalar field perturbation equation and examine the region where the Kerr black hole becomes unstable, giving rise to new scalarized rotating black holes.
Abstract: Scalarization is a very interesting phenomenon allowing a compact object to be endowed with scalar hair while leaving all the predictions in the weak field limit unaltered. In Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the source of the scalar field can be the curvature of the spacetime. It was recently shown that for a particular type of coupling function between the scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant, spin-induced black hole scalarization is possible. In the present paper, we study this phenomenon by performing a $2+1$ time evolution of the relevant linearized scalar field perturbation equation and examine the region where the Kerr black hole becomes unstable, giving rise to new scalarized rotating black holes. This is a direct numerical approach to study the development of spin-induced scalarization, and it can serve as an independent check of previously published results.
TL;DR: In this paper, the first measurements of production cross sections of polarized same-sign W±W± boson pairs in proton-proton collisions are reported, based on a data sample collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137fb−1.
TL;DR: The validation achieved slightly better results in the Mediterranean countries but a definitive validation ranking order was not evident, and Bland–Altman analyses showed an overestimation of the 14-MEDAS score in the whole population.
Abstract: This study provides comprehensive validation of the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (14-MEDAS) in an adult population from Greece (GR), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Spain (SP), Cyprus (CY), Republic of North Macedonia (NMK), and Bulgaria (BG). A moderate association between the 14-MEDAS and the reference food diary was estimated for the entire population (Pearson r = 0.573, p-value < 0.001; Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.692, p-value < 0.001) with the strongest correlation found in GR, followed by PT, IT, SP, and CY. These results were supported by kappa statistics in GR, PT, IT, and SP with ≥50% of food items exhibiting a fair or better agreement. Bland-Altman analyses showed an overestimation of the 14-MEDAS score in the whole population (0.79 ± 1.81, 95%Confidence Interval (CI) 0.61, 0.96), but this value was variable across countries, with GR, NMK, and BG exhibiting the lowest bias. Taking all analyses together, the validation achieved slightly better results in the Mediterranean countries but a definitive validation ranking order was not evident. Considering growing evidence of the shift from Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and of the importance of culture in making food choices it is crucial that we further improve validation protocols with specific applications to compare MD adherence across countries.
Max Planck Society1, University of Bologna2, ETH Zurich3, Heidelberg University4, Aix-Marseille University5, University of the Algarve6, University of California, Davis7, University of Aberdeen8, University of Pennsylvania9, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences10, New Bulgarian University11, University of Copenhagen12, Collège de France13
TL;DR: A new radiocarbon chronology for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition at the Bulgarian site of Bacho Kiro reveals Homo sapiens-associated sediments as early as 46,940 yr bp, which provides chronological context for the early occupation of Europe by UpperPalaeolithic H. sapiens.
Abstract: The stratigraphy at Bacho Kiro Cave, Bulgaria, spans the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition, including an Initial Upper Palaeolithic (IUP) assemblage argued to represent the earliest arrival of Upper Palaeolithic Homo sapiens in Europe. We applied the latest techniques in 14C dating to an extensive dataset of newly excavated animal and human bones to produce a robust, high-precision radiocarbon chronology for the site. At the base of the stratigraphy, the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) occupation dates to >51,000 yr bp. A chronological gap of over 3,000 years separates the MP occupation from the occupation of the cave by H. sapiens, which extends to 34,000 cal bp. The extensive IUP assemblage, now associated with directly dated H. sapiens fossils at this site, securely dates to 45,820–43,650 cal bp (95.4% probability), probably beginning from 46,940 cal bp (95.4% probability). The results provide chronological context for the early occupation of Europe by Upper Palaeolithic H. sapiens. A new radiocarbon chronology for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition at the Bulgarian site of Bacho Kiro reveals Homo sapiens-associated sediments as early as 46,940 yr bp.
TL;DR: In this article, a search for direct top-squark pair production is presented based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC during 2016, 2017, and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb−1.
Abstract: A search for direct top squark pair production is presented. The search is based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC during 2016, 2017, and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb−1. The search is carried out using events with a single isolated electron or muon, multiple jets, and large transverse momentum imbalance. The observed data are consistent with the expectations from standard model processes. Exclusions are set in the context of simplified top squark pair production models. Depending on the model, exclusion limits at 95% confidence level for top squark masses up to 1.2 TeV are set for a massless lightest supersymmetric particle, assumed to be the neutralino. For models with top squark masses of 1 TeV, neutralino masses up to 600 GeV are excluded.
Victor A. Acciari1, Stefano Ansoldi2, Stefano Ansoldi3, L. A. Antonelli4 +184 more•Institutions (21)
TL;DR: In this paper, a lower bound on the quadratic leading order of the speed of light modification was derived based on a set of assumptions on the possible intrinsic spectral and temporal evolution.
Abstract: On January 14, 2019, the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov telescopes detected GRB 190114C above 0.2 TeV, recording the most energetic photons ever observed from a gamma-ray burst. We use this unique observation to probe an energy dependence of the speed of light in vacuo for photons as predicted by several quantum gravity models. Based on a set of assumptions on the possible intrinsic spectral and temporal evolution, we obtain competitive lower limits on the quadratic leading order of speed of light modification.
TL;DR: This work presents the results of a PM2.5 source apportionment study conducted in urban background sites from 16 European and Asian countries, finding that during high pollution days the largest sources of fine particles were biomass burning, traffic and secondary sulfates.