Majorana Physics Through the Cabibbo Haze

We present a model in which the Supersymmetric Standard Model is augmented by the family symmetry \bs{\m Z_7 \rtimes \m Z_3}. Motivated by $SO(10)$, where the charge two-thirds and neutral Dirac Yukawa matrices are related, we propose, using family symmetry, a special form for the seesaw Majorana matrix; it contains a squared correlated hierarchy, allowing it to mitigate the severe hierarchy of the quark sector. It is reproduced naturally by the invariant operators of \bs{\m Z_7 \rtimes \m Z_3}, with the hierarchy carried by familon fields. In addition to relating the hierarchy of the $\Delta I_{\rm w}=1/2$ to the $\Delta I_{\rm w}=0$ sector, it contains a Gatto-Sartori-Tonin like relation, predicts a normal hierarchy for Tri-bimaximal and Golden Ratio mixings, and gives specific values for the light neutrino masses.Comment: 33 pages, 1 figure. This revised version omits a section where a particular linear combination of dimension-five operators was mistakenly claimed to produce the special form of the Majorana matrix. The main changes are to the Introduction, Sec. 5.1 of the previous version, and Summary and Conclusions. In addition to minor changes throughout, we have corrected an erroneous sign in Eq. 1

Consequences of cell-to-cell P-glycoprotein transfer on acquired multidrug resistance in breast cancer: a cell population dynamics model

Cancer is a proliferation disease affecting a genetically unstable cell population, in which molecular alterations can be somatically inherited by genetic, epigenetic or extragenetic transmission processes, leading to a cooperation of neoplastic cells within tumoral tissue. The efflux protein P-glycoprotein (P gp) is overexpressed in many cancer cells and has known capacity to confer multidrug resistance to cytotoxic therapies. Recently, cell-to-cell P-gp transfers have been shown. Herein, we combine experimental evidence and a mathematical model to examine the consequences of an intercellular P-gp trafficking in the extragenetic transfer of multidrug resistance from resistant to sensitive cell subpopulations. We report cell-to-cell transfers of functional P-gp in co-cultures of a P-gp overexpressing human breast cancer MCF-7 cell variant, selected for its resistance towards doxorubicin, with the parental sensitive cell line. We found that P-gp as well as efflux activity distribution are progressively reorganized over time in co-cultures analyzed by flow cytometry. A mathematical model based on a Boltzmann type integro-partial differential equation structured by a continuum variable corresponding to P-gp activity describes the cell populations in co-culture. The mathematical model elucidates the population elements in the experimental data, specifically, the initial proportions, the proliferative growth rates, and the transfer rates of P-gp in the sensitive and resistant subpopulations. We confirmed cell-to-cell transfer of functional P-gp. The transfer process depends on the gradient of P-gp expression in the donor-recipient cell interactions, as they evolve over time. Extragenetically acquired drug resistance is an additional aptitude of neoplastic cells which has implications in the diagnostic value of P-gp expression and in the design of chemotherapy regimensComment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Relations entre l’explicitation, l’anticipation et la performance

La recherche a consisté à vérifier l'observation de Brown et Flavell (1987) selon laquelle les experts n'expliciteraient pas mieux leurs connaissances métacognitives que les sujets moins performants. L'hypothèse de travail est que la relation entre l'explicitation et la performance serait non linéaire et épouserait la forme d'une courbe normale en fonction de la performance alors que, à l'opposé, la relation entre l'anticipation et la performance serait linéaire et croissante. Les auteurs ont demandé à 42 sujets en apprentissage de la conversation anglaise de discriminer deux mots semblables à l'écoute. Les résultats suggèrent que les verbalisations métacognitives à propos de son propre processus cognitif pourraient avoir pour fonction de favoriser l'autorégulation de l'apprentissage.The objective of this research is to re-examine observations made by Brown and Flavell (1987) which state that experts do not explain their own metacognitive knowledge better than less expert subjects. The authors' working hypothesis is that the relation between explanations and performance is non-linear and could be described by a normal curve of performance while, in contrast, the relation between anticipation and performance is linear and increasing. The experimental task involved 42 subjects learning conversational English who were asked to discriminate between two similar sounding words. The results suggest that metacognitive verbalizations about one s own cognitive processes could facilitate self-regulation of learning.Esta investigaciôn consistio en verificar la observacion de Brown y Flavell (1987) segiin la cual los especialistas no explicitan mejor sus conocimientos metacognoscitivos que las personas menos expertas. La hipotesis de trabajo es que la relation entre la explicitud y el desempeno no serfa lineal y tomaria la forma de una curva normal en funcion del desempeno mientras que, por el contrario, la relacion entre la anticipation y el desempeno seria lineal y creciente. Los autores solicitaron a 42 estudiantes de inglés conversacional que discriminaran entre dos palabras oralmente similares. Los resultados sugieren que las verbalizaciones metaco-gnoscitivas sobre su propio proceso cognoscitivo podrian tener por funcion el favorecer la au to regulation del aprendizaje.In dieser Arbeit ging es um die Verifizierung der Feststellung von Brown und Flavell (1987), nach welcher die Experten ihre metakognitiven Kenntnisse nicht besser in Worte fassen wùrden als weniger leistungsfàhige Studenten. Die Arbeitshypothese ist folgende: der Zusammenhang zwischen Darlegung und Leistung ist nicht linear, sondern hat die Form einer normalen leistungsbezogenen Kurve; demgegeniiber miisste der Zusammenhang zwischen Leistungserwartung und tatsâchlicher Leistung linear und steigend sein. Die Verfasser haben 42 Studenten der englischen Umgangssprache zwischen zwei âhnlich klingenden Wôrtern unterscheiden lassen. Den Ergebnissen kann entnommen werden, dass metakognitive Aufierungen ûber den eigenen Kognitionsprozess eine bessere Selbstregelung des Lernprozesses bezwecken

Involvement of small-scale dairy farms in an industrial supply chain: When production standards meet farm diversity

In certain contexts, dairy firms are supplied by small-scale family farms. Firms provide a set of technical and economic recommendations meant to help farmers meet their requirements in terms of the quantity and quality of milk collected. This study analyzes how such recommendations may be adopted by studying six farms in Brazil. All farms are beneficiaries of the country's agrarian reforms, but they differ in terms of how they developed their activities, their resources and their milk collection objectives. First, we built a technical and economic benchmark farm based on recommendations from a dairy firm and farmer advisory institutions. Our analysis of the farms' practices and technical and economic results show that none of the farms in the sample apply all of the benchmark recommendations; however, all farms specialized in dairy production observe the main underlying principles with regard to feeding systems and breeding. The decisive factors in whether the benchmark is adopted and successfully implemented are (i) access to the supply chain when a farmer establishes his activity, (ii) a grasp of reproduction and forage production techniques and (iii) an understanding of dairy cattle feed dietary rationing principles. The technical problems observed in some cases impact the farms' dairy performance and cash position; this can lead to a process of disinvestment. This dynamic of farms facing production standards suggests that the diversity of specialized livestock farmers should be taken into account more effectively through advisory approaches that combine basic zootechnical training with assistance in planning farm activities over the short and medium term. (Résumé d'auteur

Relationships between stressful life events, psychological distress and resilience among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adolescents

Objective(s): In order to shed light on the impacts of various stressful life events and resilience factors during adolescence and across different cultural backgrounds, this study explored a variety of protective and vulnerability factors associated with psychological distress among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth. Methods: The participants were 207 adolescents (mean age = 15.8 years, 55% female, 45% Aboriginal) recruited from two secondary schools located in Innu communities of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean and Côte Nord (Canada). Data were collected on psychological distress, exposure to stressful life events, and resilience. Results: Six multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict six dimensions of psychological distress. Sexual abuse, family violence and other stressful life events were all associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms. Individual resilience factors were associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, dissociation and post-traumatic stress (PTS), whereas relational/familial resilience factors were associated with lower levels of anger and sexual concerns. The relationship with contextual resilience was not significant. Conclusions and implications: Overall, these results indicate that stressful life events such as sexual abuse and family violence may have deleterious effects on the mental health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adolescents. However, some individual and relational factors may have positive effects on their mental health. These findings may provide hope for communities under greater stress and support the importance of establishing culturally sensitive intervention strategies that strengthen the key protective factors identified in this study

Evaluating deliberative dialogues focussed on healthy public policy

Background: Deliberative dialogues have recently captured attention in the public health policy arena because they have the potential to address several key factors that influence the use of research evidence in policymaking. We conducted an evaluation of three deliberative dialogues convened in Canada by the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy in order to learn more about deliberative dialogues focussed on healthy public policy. Methods: The evaluation included a formative assessment of participants’ views about and experiences with ten key design features of the dialogues, and a summative assessment of participants’ intention to use research evidence of the type that was discussed at the dialogue. We surveyed participants immediately after each dialogue was completed and again six months later. We analyzed the ratings using descriptive statistics and the written comments by conducting a thematic analysis. Results: A total of 31 individuals participated in the three deliberative dialogues that we evaluated. The response rate was 94% (N = 29; policymakers (n = 9), stakeholders (n = 18), researchers (n = 2)) for the initial survey and 56% (n = 14) for the follow-up. All 10 of the design features that we examined as part of the formative evaluation were rated favourably by all participant groups. The findings of the summative evaluation demonstrated a mean behavioural intention score of 5.8 on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the promise of deliberative dialogues as a strategy for supporting evidence-informed public health policies. Additional work is needed to understand more about which design elements work in which situations and for different issues, and whether intention to use research evidence is a suitable substitute for measuring actual behaviour change

Affect, Interpersonal Behaviour and Interpersonal Perception During Open-Label, Uncontrolled Paroxetine Treatment of People with Social Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study

Background: Laboratory-based research with community samples has suggested changes in affective, behavioural and cognitive processes as possible explanations for the effects of serotonergic medications. Examining the effects of serotonergic medications using an ecological momentary measure (such as event-contingent recording) in the daily lives of people with social anxiety disorder would contribute to establishing the effects of these medications on affect, behaviour and one form of cognition: perception of others’ behaviour. Methods: The present study assessed changes in affect, interpersonal behaviour and perception of others’ behaviour in adults with social anxiety disorder using ecological momentary assessment at baseline and over 4 months of a single-arm, uncontrolled, open-label trial of treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine. Results: Anxiety and concurrent depressive symptoms decreased. Participants also reported increased positive and decreased negative affect; increased agreeable and decreased quarrelsome behaviour; increased dominant and decreased submissive behaviour; and increased perception that others behaved agreeably toward them. Moreover, participants demonstrated reduced intraindividual variability in affect, interpersonal behaviour and perception of others’ behaviour. Limitations: Limitations included the lack of a placebo group, the inability to identify the temporal order of changes and the restricted assessment of extreme behaviour. Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate changes during pharmacotherapy in the manifestation of affect, interpersonal behaviour and interpersonal perception in the daily lives of people with social anxiety disorder. Given the importance of interpersonal processes to social anxiety disorder, these results may guide future research seeking to clarify mechanisms of action for serotonergic medications

T-Reqs: Tool Support for Managing Requirements in Large-Scale Agile System Development

T-Reqs is a text-based requirements management solution based on the git version control system. It combines useful conventions, templates and helper scripts with powerful existing solutions from the git ecosystem and provides a working solution to address some known requirements engineering challenges in large-scale agile system development. Specifically, it allows agile cross-functional teams to be aware of requirements at system level and enables them to efficiently propose updates to those requirements. Based on our experience with T-Reqs, we i) relate known requirements challenges of large-scale agile system development to tool support; ii) list key requirements for tooling in such a context; and iii) propose concrete solutions for challenges.Comment: Accepted for publication in Proc. of 26th IEEE Int. Requirements Eng. Conf., Demo Track, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 201