Search

Abstract The production of jets in charged current deep inelastic scattering (CC DIS) constitutes a class of observables that can be used to simultaneously test perturbative predictions for the strong and the electroweak sectors of the Standard Model. We compute both single jet and di-jet production in CC DIS for the first time at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in the strong coupling. Our computation is fully differential in the jet and lepton kinematics, and we observe a substantial reduction of scale variation uncertainties in the NNLO predictions compared to next-to-leading order (NLO). Our calculation will prove essential for full exploitation of data at a possible future LHeC collider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group living is the behavioural response that results when individuals assess the costs vs benefits of sociality, and these trade-offs vary across an animal’s life. Here we quantitatively assess how periparturient condition (mother/non-mother) and births affect the dynamics of social interactions of a gregarious ungulate, and how such can help to explain evolutionary hypotheses of the mother-offspring bond. To achieve this we used data of the individual movement of a group of Scottish blackface sheep ( Ovis aries ) marked with GPS collars and properties of mathematical graphs (networks). Euclidean pair-wise distance between sheep were threshold at different percentiles to determine network links, and these thresholds have a profound effect on the connectivity of the resulting network. Births increased the average pair-wise distance between mothers, and between mothers and non-mothers, with less effect on the distance between non-mothers. Mothers occupied peripheral positions within the flock, more evident following births. Associations between individuals (i.e. network community change) were highly dynamic, though mothers were less likely to change community than non-mothers, especially after births. Births hampered individual communication within the flock (assessed via network closeness centrality), especially in mothers. Overall leadership (lead positioning relative to flock movement) was not associated to reproductive condition, and individual leadership rank was not affected by births. A ten minute GPS acquisition time was adequate to capture complex social dynamics in sheep movement. The results on mother’s isolation behaviour support the hypotheses of selection for maternal imprint facilitation, reducing risks to nursing alien offspring, and group/multilevel selection on group formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined how decision-making processes at small spatial scales can account for individual movements and food intake at larger scales. Our experiment used two currencies that might affect animal decisions: food reward at the patch scale and spatial distribution of the patches. We used Soay sheep, Ovis aries, as the model species in conjunction with an artificial arena that allowed us to modify food-handling conditions and the distribution of the food patches to record variation in food intake of both sexes. The main variable that affected food intake was how efficient the animals were at avoiding patches that were depleted in previous visits. Intake was also affected by mouth size and the spatial distribution of the feeding stations. Sheep were more efficient at exploiting clustered patches with a high energy reward than a matrix of homogeneously distributed patches of lower energy reward. Females'' intake was higher than males''; we discuss this in relation to different foraging strategies related to sexual differences in fibre digestibility and the distribution of food resources of different quality that both sexes might use in field conditions. The results indicated that variation in food-handling conditions at the patch level affects food intake at larger scales, providing support for the hypothesis that animal movement related to grazing activity is a hierarchical process, scaling up from bite size to large spatial scales. However, spatial memory is important for maximizing the use of patchily distributed food. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mechanical strength plays a significant role in the industrial applications of the solid catalysts. Often powder catalysts must be "formed" into pellets to meet pressure drop restrictions in packed tubular reactors. The pellets must be designed to be mechanically stable when subjected to thermal and mechanical stresses during operation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of powder processing parameters on mechanical stability of the resulting extruded cylindrical NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 pellet catalysts. The binder amount, water amount, and pH of solvent impacted physicochemical properties and mechanical strength of the catalysts. Optimal amounts of binder and water, as well as a low slurry pH can increase the crush strength and breakage resistance. An enhancement in mechanical strength of 220% was obtained by optimizing the binder to solvent ratio and pH conditions. The tri-reforming performance (e.g., CH 4 and CO 2 conversions, and H 2 /CO molar ratio) was minimally impacted when the powder processing was optimized to improve mechanical strength. Unlabelled Image • Role of powder processing parameters on mechanical strengths of pellets was studied. • Binder amount, water amount, and pH impacted properties and mechanical strength. • Mechanical strength enhanced 220% by optimizing processing parameters. • Tri-reforming performance was minimally impacted by powder processing optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of jets in charged-current deep-inelastic scattering (CC DIS) probes simultaneously the strong and the electroweak sectors of the Standard Model; its measurement provides important information on the quark flavour structure of the proton. We compute third-order (N 3 LO) perturbative QCD corrections to this process, fully differential in the jet and lepton kinematics. We observe a substantial reduction in the theory uncertainty, to sub-percent level throughout the relevant kinematical range, thus enabling precision phenomenology with jet observables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a structured, integrated approach to the management of heart failure exemplified by the Hastings Heart Function Clinic in England. Omada project as a secondary care, nurse-led, patient management program; Phases of establishing a nurse-led clinic.

A monoclonal rheumatoid factor binding assay has been employed to detect IgG type immune complexes in sera from 21 patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulceration and 31 control subjects. In only one of the ulcer group patients was there a marginal elevation of immune complexes above the normal range, with no statistically significant difference between the patient and control groups. Assays of intrinsic serum rheumatoid factor and serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels also showed no significant differences between patient and control groups, with all mean values falling within the normal ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Improving temporal trends in survival for patients with newly diagnosed heart failure in the UK general population," by P. A. Mehta and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Progressive heart failure, rather than sudden death, accounts for most early deaths in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure," by P. A. Mehta and colleagues is presented.