Showing papers by "University of Los Andes published in 2020"
TL;DR: The WFH Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia panelists and co-authors thank the panelists for their time and share their views on how to better understand and treat hemophilia.
Abstract: Alok Srivastava 1 | Elena Santagostino 2 | Alison Dougall 3 | Steve Kitchen 4 | Megan Sutherland 5 | Steven W. Pipe 6 | Manuel Carcao 7 | Johnny Mahlangu 8 | Margaret V. Ragni 9 | Jerzy Windyga 10 | Adolfo Llinás 11 | Nicholas J. Goddard 12 | Richa Mohan 13 | Pradeep M. Poonnoose 14 | Brian M. Feldman 15 | Sandra Zelman Lewis 16 | H. Marijke van den Berg 17 | Glenn F. Pierce 18 | on behalf of the WFH Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia panelists and co-authors*
751 citations
National Institutes of Health1, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute2, Rockefeller University3, University of California, Davis4, European Bioinformatics Institute5, Seoul National University6, Max Planck Society7, Durham University8, University of Massachusetts Amherst9, University of Adelaide10, University of Missouri11, East Carolina University12, University of Queensland13, Queen Mary University of London14, Wellington Management Company15, University of Arizona16, Natural History Museum17, Bangor University18, University of Konstanz19, Northeastern University20, Naturalis21, University of Graz22, Florida Museum of Natural History23, University of California, Santa Cruz24, Pacific Biosciences25, University of Maryland, College Park26, Harbin Institute of Technology27, University of Chicago28, Oregon Health & Science University29, Monash University Malaysia Campus30, University of Milan31, University of Copenhagen32, Pennsylvania State University33, University of Los Andes34, Agency for Science, Technology and Research35, Royal Ontario Museum36, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute37, University of East Anglia38, Pompeu Fabra University39, University College Dublin40, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign41, La Trobe University42, University of California, San Diego43, UPRRP College of Natural Sciences44, Dresden University of Technology45
TL;DR: The Vertebrate Genomes Project is embarked on, an effort to generate high-quality, complete reference genomes for all ~70,000 extant vertebrate species and help enable a new era of discovery across the life sciences.
Abstract: High-quality and complete reference genome assemblies are fundamental for the application of genomics to biology, disease, and biodiversity conservation. However, such assemblies are only available for a few non-microbial species. To address this issue, the international Genome 10K (G10K) consortium has worked over a five-year period to evaluate and develop cost-effective methods for assembling the most accurate and complete reference genomes to date. Here we summarize these developments, introduce a set of quality standards, and present lessons learned from sequencing and assembling 16 species representing major vertebrate lineages (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, teleost fishes and cartilaginous fishes). We confirm that long-read sequencing technologies are essential for maximizing genome quality and that unresolved complex repeats and haplotype heterozygosity are major sources of error in assemblies. Our new assemblies identify and correct substantial errors in some of the best historical reference genomes. Adopting these lessons, we have embarked on the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP), an effort to generate high-quality, complete reference genomes for all ~70,000 extant vertebrate species and help enable a new era of discovery across the life sciences.
567 citations
University of Helsinki1, Australian National University2, Brandenburg University of Technology3, Stellenbosch University4, University of Osnabrück5, University of Salzburg6, Radboud University Nijmegen7, University of Huddersfield8, University of Trier9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, National University of Singapore11, IRSA12, University of Los Andes13, University of Florida14, Florida A&M University15, University of Zurich16, James Cook University17, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul18, University of the Philippines Los Baños19, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ20, Griffith University21
TL;DR: In this paper, a group of conservation biologists deeply concerned about the decline of insect populations, reviewed what we know about the drivers of insect extinctions, their consequences, and how extinctions can negatively impact humanity.
392 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
TL;DR: It is imperative to better comprehend the rationale and underlying data that both support and refute effectiveness of MSCs in respiratory virus infections, and to define the targeted patient population and potential cell therapy approaches for COVID-19.
Abstract: The severe respiratory consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have prompted urgent need for novel therapies. Cell-based approaches, primarily using mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs), have demonstrated safety and possible efficacy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), although they are not yet well studied in respiratory virus-induced ARDS. Limited pre-clinical data suggest that systemic MSC administration can significantly reduce respiratory virus (influenza strains H5N1 and H9N2)-induced lung injury; however, there are no available data in models of coronavirus respiratory infection.There is a rapidly increasing number of clinical investigations of cell-based therapy approaches for COVID-19. These utilise a range of different cell sources, doses, dosing strategies and targeted patient populations. To provide a rational strategy to maximise potential therapeutic use, it is critically important to understand the relevant pre-clinical studies and postulated mechanisms of MSC actions in respiratory virus-induced lung injuries. This review presents these, along with consideration of current clinical investigations.
196 citations
University of Sheffield1, Australian Catholic University2, University of Southampton3, Arthritis Research UK4, World Health Organization5, National Research Council6, University of Gothenburg7, Sahlgrenska University Hospital8, University of Oxford9, Geneva College10, King Saud University11, University of Los Andes12, Singapore General Hospital13, Tufts University14, International Osteoporosis Foundation15, Northwestern University16, Marquette University17, Carlos III Health Institute18, University of Alabama at Birmingham19, Peking Union Medical College Hospital20, University of Liège21
TL;DR: Guidance is provided in an international setting on the assessment and specific treatment of postmenopausal women at low, high and very high risk of fragility fractures as mentioned in this paper, taking additional account of further categorisation of increased risk of fracture.
Abstract: Guidance is provided in an international setting on the assessment and specific treatment of postmenopausal women at low, high and very high risk of fragility fractures. The International Osteoporosis Foundation and European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis published guidance for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in 2019. This manuscript seeks to apply this in an international setting, taking additional account of further categorisation of increased risk of fracture, which may inform choice of therapeutic approach. Clinical perspective and updated literature search. The following areas are reviewed: categorisation of fracture risk and general pharmacological management of osteoporosis. A platform is provided on which specific guidelines can be developed for national use to characterise fracture risk and direct interventions.
190 citations
Stellenbosch University1, Australian National University2, Brandenburg University of Technology3, University of Helsinki4, University of Osnabrück5, University of Salzburg6, Technische Universität München7, Radboud University Nijmegen8, University of Huddersfield9, University of Trier10, National University of Singapore11, Research Institute for Nature and Forest12, IRSA13, University of Los Andes14, Florida A&M University15, University of Florida16, University of Zurich17, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul18, James Cook University19, University of the Philippines Los Baños20, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ21, German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research22, Griffith University23, Braunschweig University of Technology24
TL;DR: The fate of humans and insects intertwine, especially through the medium of plants as mentioned in this paper, and despite a sound philosophical foundation, recognized ethical values, and scientific evidence, globally we are performing poorly at instigating effective insect conservation.
177 citations
TL;DR: An optimized plugin for imageJ is developed to automatically recognize the wound healing size, correct the average wound width by considering its inclination, and quantify other important parameters such as: area, wound area fraction, average wounds width, and width deviation of the wound images obtained from a scratch/ wound healing assay.
Abstract: In vitro scratch wound healing assay, a simple and low-cost technique that works along with other image analysis tools, is one of the most widely used 2D methods to determine the cellular migration and proliferation in processes such as regeneration and disease. There are open-source programs such as imageJ to analyze images of in vitro scratch wound healing assays, but these tools require manual tuning of various parameters, which is time-consuming and limits image throughput. For that reason, we developed an optimized plugin for imageJ to automatically recognize the wound healing size, correct the average wound width by considering its inclination, and quantify other important parameters such as: area, wound area fraction, average wound width, and width deviation of the wound images obtained from a scratch/ wound healing assay. Our plugin is easy to install and can be used with different operating systems. It can be adapted to analyze both individual images and stacks. Additionally, it allows the analysis of images obtained from bright field, phase contrast, and fluorescence microscopes. In conclusion, this new imageJ plugin is a robust tool to automatically standardize and facilitate quantification of different in vitro wound parameters with high accuracy compared with other tools and manual identification.
175 citations
Martin J. P. Sullivan1, Martin J. P. Sullivan2, Simon L. Lewis3, Simon L. Lewis2 +247 more•Institutions (104)
TL;DR: This synthesis of plot networks across climatic and biogeographic gradients shows that forest thermal sensitivity is dominated by high daytime temperatures, and biome-wide variation in tropical forest carbon stocks and dynamics shows long-term resilience to increasing high temperatures.
Abstract: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth’s climate.
172 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: Although P. aeruginosa may be ubiquitous in nature, it is usually scarce in pristine environments and should be described as a bacterium largely found in locations associated with human activity, according to a systematic review and meta‐analysis of published data.
Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally described as ubiquitous in natural settings, such as soil and water. However, because anecdotal observations and published reports have questioned whether or not this description is true, we undertook a rigorous study using three methods to investigate the occurrence of P. aeruginosa: We investigated environmental samples, analyzed 16S rRNA data, and undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. The environmental sample screening identified P. aeruginosa as significantly associated with hydrocarbon and pesticide-contaminated environments and feces, as compared to uncontaminated environments in which its prevalence was relatively low. The 16S rRNA data analysis showed that P. aeruginosa sequences were present in all habitats but were most abundant in samples from human and animals. Similarly, the meta-analysis revealed that samples obtained from environments with intense human contact had a higher prevalence of P. aeruginosa compared to those with less human contact. Thus, we found a clear tendency of P. aeruginosa to be present in places closely linked with human activity. Although P. aeruginosa may be ubiquitous in nature, it is usually scarce in pristine environments. Thus, we suggest that P. aeruginosa should be described as a bacterium largely found in locations associated with human activity.
TL;DR: An algorithm of care for the acutely ill parturient and guidelines for the protection of the healthcare team who is caring for the patient are presented, and management of the unwell parturients are presented.
TL;DR: Findings point to a unique CD4+ T‐cell reprogramming mechanism with pre‐clinical proof‐of‐concept data that pave the way for the exploration of organelle‐based therapies in immune diseases.
Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have fueled ample translation for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases. They exert immunoregulatory and tissue-restoring effects. MSC-mediated transfer of mitochondria (MitoT) has been demonstrated to rescue target organs from tissue damage, yet the mechanism remains to be fully resolved. Therefore, we explored the effect of MitoT on lymphoid cells. Here, we describe dose-dependent MitoT from mitochondria-labeled MSCs mainly to CD4+ T cells, rather than CD8+ T cells or CD19+ B cells. Artificial transfer of isolated MSC-derived mitochondria increases the expression of mRNA transcripts involved in T-cell activation and T regulatory cell differentiation including FOXP3, IL2RA, CTLA4, and TGFβ1, leading to an increase in a highly suppressive CD25+ FoxP3+ population. In a GVHD mouse model, transplantation of MitoT-induced human T cells leads to significant improvement in survival and reduction in tissue damage and organ T CD4+ , CD8+ , and IFN-γ+ expressing cell infiltration. These findings point to a unique CD4+ T-cell reprogramming mechanism with pre-clinical proof-of-concept data that pave the way for the exploration of organelle-based therapies in immune diseases.
TL;DR: A global summary on the progress of, gaps in and future directions for physical activity research in the following areas are provided: surveillance and trends, correlates and determinants, health outcomes and interventions, programmes and policies.
Abstract: In the past few decades, the field of physical activity has grown and evolved in scope, depth, visibility and impact around the world. Global progress has been observed in research and practice in physical activity regarding surveillance, health outcomes, correlates/determinants, interventions, translation and policy. The 2012 and 2016 Lancet series on physical activity provide some of the most comprehensive global analysis on various topics within physical activity. Based on the Lancet series and other key developments in the field, literature searches, and expert group meetings and consultation, we provide a global summary on the progress of, gaps in and future directions for physical activity research in the following areas: (1) surveillance and trends, (2) correlates and determinants, (3) health outcomes and (4) interventions, programmes and policies. Besides lessons learnt within each specific area, several recommendations are shared across areas of research, including improvement in measurement, applying a global perspective with a growing emphasis on low-income and middle-income countries, improving inclusiveness and equity in research, making translation an integral part of research for real-world impact, taking an 'upstream' public health approach, and working across disciplines and sectors to co-design research and co-create solutions. We have summarised lessons learnt and recommendations for future research as 'roadmaps' in progress to encourage moving the field of physical activity towards achieving population-level impact globally.
State University of Campinas1, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro2, Université de Montréal3, University of Toulouse4, University of British Columbia5, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez6, Centre national de la recherche scientifique7, University of the French West Indies and Guiana8, University of Auvergne9, National University of Rosario10, Agrocampus Ouest11, Utah State University12, University of São Paulo13, University of Caldas14, University of Los Andes15, Federal University of Pará16, Queen Mary University of London17, University of Essex18
TL;DR: In tropical tank bromeliads, lower trophic levels are more abundant in stable rainfall conditions, while biomass pyramids are inverted in conditions with periodic droughts, illustrating how extremes of precipitation can erode the base of freshwater food webs.
Abstract: Changes in global and regional precipitation regimes are among the most pervasive components of climate change. Intensification of rainfall cycles, ranging from frequent downpours to severe droughts, could cause widespread, but largely unknown, alterations to trophic structure and ecosystem function. We conducted multi-site coordinated experiments to show how variation in the quantity and evenness of rainfall modulates trophic structure in 210 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) across Central and South America (18°N to 29°S). The biomass of smaller organisms (detritivores) was higher under more stable hydrological conditions. Conversely, the biomass of predators was highest when rainfall was uneven, resulting in top-heavy biomass pyramids. These results illustrate how extremes of precipitation, resulting in localized droughts or flooding, can erode the base of freshwater food webs, with negative implications for the stability of trophic dynamics.
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 paper, the authors assessed whether individual differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity, social anxiety and generalized social trust predicted judgments of trustworthiness, desired social distance and perceptions of sickness of target faces wearing surgical masks.
TL;DR: The guidance uses a minimally contextualised approach that avoids value judgments regarding the magnitude of intervention effects and is simple, methodologically sound, and flexible, allowing for modifications to resolve situations in which additional complexity or value judgments might be appropriate.
Abstract: This article describes GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation) guidance on how to make conclusions from a network meta-analysis of interventions that includes individual randomised controlled trials for one outcome at a time. The guidance is based on a partially contextualised approach in which review authors must establish ranges of magnitudes of effect that represent a trivial to no effect, small but important effect, moderate effect, and large effect. The principles guiding this framework are that interventions should be grouped in categories, based on the magnitude of the effect; and that the judgments that place interventions in such categories should consider the estimates of effect, the certainty of the evidence, and the rankings. We describe and illustrate the four steps of this framework using an example.
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]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore new nonlinear optical materials with high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) in the infrared (IR) region for the development of technologies relying on tunable laser sys...
Abstract: Exploring new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials with high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) in the infrared (IR) region is vital for the development of technologies relying on tunable laser sys...
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: GASP Codes are shown to outperform all previously known polynomial codes for secure distributed matrix multiplication in terms of download rate.
Abstract: We consider the problem of secure distributed matrix multiplication (SDMM) in which a user wishes to compute the product of two matrices with the assistance of honest but curious servers. We construct polynomial codes for SDMM by studying a combinatorial problem on a special type of addition table, which we call the degree table. The codes are based on arithmetic progressions, and are thus named GASP (Gap Additive Secure Polynomial) Codes. GASP Codes are shown to outperform all previously known polynomial codes for secure distributed matrix multiplication in terms of download rate.
University of Leeds1, University College London2, Forestry Commission3, National Institute of Amazonian Research4, National Institute for Space Research5, University of Exeter6, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno7, Naturalis8, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute9, National Park Service10, University of Buea11, University of Plymouth12, James Cook University13, George Mason University14, Environmental Change Institute15, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso16, University of York17, University of the Sunshine Coast18, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco19, Duke University20, Wageningen University and Research Centre21, Universidade Federal do Acre22, University of Yaoundé I23, University of British Columbia24, Center for International Forestry Research25, VU University Amsterdam26, Florida Museum of Natural History27, University of Nottingham28, University of Los Andes29, University of Stirling30, Bangor University31, University of Regina32
TL;DR: It is suggested that competition influences the structure and dynamics of tropical forests primarily through effects on individual tree growth rather than mortality and that the strength of competition largely depends on environment‐mediated variation in basal area.
Abstract: Competition among trees is an important driver of community structure and dynamics in tropical forests. Neighboring trees may impact an individual tree's growth rate and probability of mortality, but large-scale geographic and environmental variation in these competitive effects has yet to be evaluated across the tropical forest biome. We quantified effects of competition on tree-level basal area growth and mortality for trees ≥10-cm diameter across 151 ~1-ha plots in mature tropical forests in Amazonia and tropical Africa by developing nonlinear models that accounted for wood density, tree size, and neighborhood crowding. Using these models, we assessed how water availability (i.e., climatic water deficit) and soil fertility influenced the predicted plot-level strength of competition (i.e., the extent to which growth is reduced, or mortality is increased, by competition across all individual trees). On both continents, tree basal area growth decreased with wood density and increased with tree size. Growth decreased with neighborhood crowding, which suggests that competition is important. Tree mortality decreased with wood density and generally increased with tree size, but was apparently unaffected by neighborhood crowding. Across plots, variation in the plot-level strength of competition was most strongly related to plot basal area (i.e., the sum of the basal area of all trees in a plot), with greater reductions in growth occurring in forests with high basal area, but in Amazonia, the strength of competition also varied with plot-level wood density. In Amazonia, the strength of competition increased with water availability because of the greater basal area of wetter forests, but was only weakly related to soil fertility. In Africa, competition was weakly related to soil fertility and invariant across the shorter water availability gradient. Overall, our results suggest that competition influences the structure and dynamics of tropical forests primarily through effects on individual tree growth rather than mortality and that the strength of competition largely depends on environment-mediated variation in basal area.
TL;DR: The capitol of Hubei province in China, Wuhan, became the center of an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in December 2019 and this outbreak was the emergence of the novel coronavirus.
Abstract: The capitol of Hubei province in China, Wuhan, became the center of an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in December 2019 [1]. This outbreak of pneumonia was the emergence of the novel coronav...
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: A methodology to apply three-way decisions with probabilistic rough sets for credit scoring and an extensive case study with more than 7000 credit applications from Chilean micro-enterprises are presented.
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 was found that the use of ML in PLF is in a stage of development and has several research challenges, and the current sensors, software and techniques for data analysis and meta-learning are shown.
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: An overview of the recent findings on chemosensors containing pyrazole derivatives (pyrazoles, pyrazolines and fused pyrazoles) can be found in this article.
Abstract: Colorimetric and fluorescent probes based on small organic molecules have become important tools in modern biology because they provide dynamic information concerning the localization and quantity of the molecules and ions of interest without the need for genetic engineering of the sample. In the past five years, these probes for ions and molecules have attracted great attention because of their biological, environmental and industrial significance combined with the simplicity and high sensitivity of absorption and fluorescence techniques. Moreover, pyrazole derivatives display a number of remarkable photophysical properties and wide synthetic versatility superior to those of other broadly used scaffolds. This review provides an overview of the recent (2016–2020) findings on chemosensors containing pyrazole derivatives (pyrazoles, pyrazolines and fused pyrazoles). The discussion focuses on the design and physicochemical properties of chemosensors in order to realize their full potential for practical applications in environmental and biological monitoring (sensing of metal ions, anions, explosives, and biomolecules). We also present our conclusions and outlook for the future.