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Abstract We present SMEFiT3.0, an updated global SMEFT analysis of Higgs, top quark, and diboson production data from the LHC complemented by electroweak precision observables (EWPOs) from LEP and SLD. We consider recent inclusive and differential measurements from the LHC Run II, alongside with a novel implementation of the EWPOs based on independent calculations of the relevant EFT contributions. We estimate the impact of HL-LHC measurements on the SMEFT parameter space when added on top of SMEFiT3.0, through dedicated projections extrapolating from Run II data. We quantify the significant constraints that measurements from two proposed high-energy circular e + e − colliders, the FCC-ee and the CEPC, would impose on both the SMEFT parameter space and on representative UV-complete models. Our analysis considers projections for the FCC-ee and the CEPC based on the latest running scenarios and includes Z-pole EWPOs, fermion-pair, Higgs, diboson, and top quark production, using optimal observables for both the W + W − and the t t ¯ $$ t\overline{t} $$ channels. The framework presented in this work may be extended to other future colliders and running scenarios, providing timely input to ongoing studies towards future high-energy particle physics facilities.

Abstract Precision measurements of diboson production at the LHC is an important probe of the limits of the Standard Model. The gluon-fusion channel of this process offers a connection between the Higgs and top sectors. We study in a systematic way gluon-induced diboson production in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory. We compute the amplitudes of double Higgs, double Z/W and associated ZH production at one loop and with up to one insertion of a dimension-6 operator. We study their high-energy limit and identify to which operators each channel could be most sensitive. To illustrate the relevance of these processes, we perform a phenomenological study of associated ZH production. We show that for some top operators the gluon-induced channel can offer competitive sensitivity to constraints obtained from top quark production processes.

Nematodes are the most abundant and diverse animals on the planet but lack representation in biodiversity research. This presents a problem for studying nematode diversity, particularly when molecular tools (i.e., barcoding and metabarcoding) rely on well-populated and curated reference databases, which are absent for nematodes. To improve molecular identification and the assessment of nematode diversity, we created and curated an 18S rRNA database specific to nematodes (18S-NemaBase) using sequences sourced from the most recent publicly available 18S rRNA SILVA v138 database. As part of the curation process, taxonomic strings were standardized to contain a fixed number of taxonomic ranks relevant to nematology and updated for the most recent accepted nematode classifications. In addition, apparent erroneous sequences were removed. To test the efficacy and accuracy of 18S-NemaBase, we compared it to an older but also curated SILVA v111 and the newest SILVA v138 by assigning taxonomies and analyzing the diversity of a nematode dataset from the Western Nebraska Sandhills. We showed that 18S-NemaBase provided more accurate taxonomic assignments and diversity assessments than either version of SILVA, with a much easier workflow and no need for manual corrections. Additionally, observed diversity further improved when 18S-NemaBase was supplemented with reference sequences from nematodes present in the study site. Although the 18S-NemaBase is a step in the right direction, a concerted effort to increase the number of high-quality, accessible, full-length nematode reference sequences is more important now than ever.

Background: Several studies have investigated the distribution of hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle in healthy populations; however, few have evaluated this metric in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study is to compare HKA angle distribution in early and advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients.Methods: Full limb radiographs were used to measure HKA angle for 983 subjects from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort and 4,901 pre-TKA patients from an institutional cohort. Measurements were made using a previously validated deep learning algorithm. Linear regression models were used to determine the association of HKA alignment angle with patient characteristics.Results: The mean ± standard deviation HKA angle was -1.3° ± 3.2° in the OAI cohort and -4.1° ± 6.1° in the pre-TKA cohort. In the OAI cohort, normal alignment (64%) was the most common knee alignment followed by varus (29%), and valgus (7%). In pre-TKA patients, the most common alignment was varus (62%), followed by normal (27%) and valgus (11%). In pre-TKA patients, mean HKA angle in primary knee OA, post-traumatic knee OA, and rheumatoid arthritis patients were -4.3° ± 6.1°, -3.2° ± 6.4°, and -2.9° ± 6.1°, respectively. HKA angle was strongly associated (P < .001) with gender and body mass index.Conclusion: TKA patients have a wider alignment distribution and more severe varus and valgus alignment than individuals "at risk" for knee OA from the OAI cohort. These epidemiologic findings improve our understanding of HKA angle distribution and its correlation with demographic characteristics in early and late-stage arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]