The B(s)→D(s)lνB_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}l\nu Decay with Highly Improved Staggered Quarks and NRQCD

We report on progress of a lattice QCD calculation of the $B\to Dl\nu$ and $B_s\to D_s l\nu$ semileptonic form factors. We use a relativistic staggered action (HISQ) for light and charm quarks, and an improved non-relativistic (NRQCD) action for bottom, on the second generation MILC ensembles.Comment: Presented at Lattice 2017, the 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory at Granada, Spain (18-24 June 2017

Sociobiological Theory and Casual Encounters on Craigslist

Existing research on mating strategies in sociobiological theory focuses largely on long-term mating strategies, and has found differences in the behavior and preferences of men and women (see Wiederman 1993). The current study focused on short-term mating strategies by studying 1,724 hook-up advertisements from Craigslist.com for men seeking women and women seeking men to see if observed gender differences persist when the goal of mating is not reproduction. Results showed that while men’s mating strategies do not appear to differ based on the goal of mating, the behavior of women is inconsistent with sociobiological theory when the goal of mating is simply sex and not reproduction. Risk-taking behavior (contraceptive use, drug use, sexually transmitted infections) was also assessed for frequency. Repercussions for sociobiological theory are discussed, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research

Looking back:ten years of visual qualitative research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reflect on the development of visual qualitative research in organizations and management over the past ten years, the experience of editing a special issue of Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management entitled ‘Exploring the Visual in Organizations and Management’, and the potential contributions this journal could make to the advancement of this significant area of research.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an overview and critical reflections on visual qualitative research in the study of organizations and management.FindingsWe note that organization studies have been slow to develop visual research compared to other disciplines, especially the humanities and branches of the social sciences. However, development has been rapid over the past decade, and we comment on the diverse visual empirical material and the range of conceptual approaches.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is a condensed reflection. It predicts a ‘mainstreaming’ of visual research in future years and an increased integration of the visual into the study of management processes and organizations.Practical implicationsThis piece provides useful directions and references for researchers new to the field and different ways of thinking the visual and visual methodologies.Originality/valueThe paper provides a rapid overview of the state of visual research in organizations and management studies

"You Don't Realize That You Feel Safe Until You Don't": Women's Stories of Dating Violence

Despite decades of activism and research concerning violence against women, young women continue to be victimized in both public and private domains. Movements such as #MeToo show the widespread and pervasive nature of gender-based violence, as well as the utility of sharing stories of trauma to connect and empower victims. Victims of gender-based violence (forms of which include dating violence and sexual assault) often hesitate to seek much-needed support for fear that their experiences will be dismissed or devalued by loved ones and social systems alike. As part of a larger study on the use of Digital Storytelling to empower survivors of dating violence, individual narrative interviews were conducted with 5 women exposed to wide-ranging forms of dating violence, such as severe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as stalking. Using thematic analysis, four overarching themes were found: Experiences of Dating Violence, Trying to Understand the Partner and the Relationship, Outside Responses and Systemic Barriers, and finally, Mental Health, Identity, and Long-Term Impacts of Dating Violence. Within these overarching themes, subthemes included topics such as control and insidious abuse, social media as a site of power and control tactics, sexual coercion and abuse, safety and triggers, PTSD and depression, and making meaning of experiences of dating violence. The content of these narratives will be useful for service providers and community members seeking to understand the many dimensions and far-reaching impacts of dating violence, a topic which is inherently difficult to study (Snyder, 2019)

Efficacy Beliefs are Related to Task Cohesion: Communication is a Mediator

Efficacy beliefs and communication are key constructs which have been targeted to develop task cohesion. This study’s purpose was to: (1) examine whether collective efficacy, team-focused other-efficacy, and team-focused relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) are predictive of task cohesion, and (2) evaluate the possibility that communication mediates efficacy-task cohesion relationships. British university team-sport athletes (n = 250) completed questionnaires assessing efficacy beliefs, communication (i.e., positive conflict, negative conflict, and acceptance communication), and task cohesion (i.e., attractions to group; ATG-T, group integration; GI-T). Data were subjected to a multi-group path analysis to test mediation hypotheses while also addressing potential differences across males and females. Across all athletes, collective efficacy and team-focused other-efficacy significantly predicted ATG-T and GI-T directly. Positive conflict and acceptance communication significantly mediated relationships between efficacy (team-focused other-efficacy, collective efficacy) and cohesion (ATG-T, GI-T). Findings suggest enhancing athletes’ collective efficacy and team-focused efficacy beliefs will encourage communication factors affecting task cohesion

A high-fat diet induces rapid changes in the mouse hypothalamic proteome

Funding LMW, FMC, CG, ACM and C-DM were funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS). FHM was supported by an EASTBIO DTP BBSRC studentship. DS was supported by a SULSA studentship. CR was supported by the HOTSTART Scholarship Programme from the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen. Availability of data and materials All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its Supplementary information files].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Rapid and reversible impairment of episodic memory by a high-fat diet in mice.

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. This work was supported by an EASTBIO BBSRC PhD studentship to F.H.M., L.M.W., C.G., A.C.M., G.W.H. and F.M.C. are supported by Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Anisotropic material properties of the human uterus

The mechanical function of the uterus is crucial for the protection of the fetus during a healthy pregnancy. Early contractile activation of uterine tissue can lead to preterm labor and birth (PTB). In 2014, 9.56 percent of pregnancies ended in PTB; it is also the leading cause of death in children under five years of age. Characterizing the material properties of uterine tissue is important for understanding the mechanical failures of the uterus and the causes of PTB. In this study, a workflow of experiments and data processing techniques were employed. 78 uterine specimens were collected from consenting 28 patients who underwent hysterectomy. A four-level ramp-hold indentation test was performed. IFEA was performed to fit four material parameters to the experimental data: Young's Modulus E, Poisson’s ratio v, the fiber stiffness factor ksi, and the fiber angle concentration b. Within each uterus, significant differences in Young’s Modulus E and Poisson’s ratio n were observed at different locations and different layers, indicating the heterogeneity of the human uterine material properties. However, the fitted values for fiber stiffness x and angle concentration b exhibited a wide spread with no significant differences observed across comparison groups. There were also no obvious differences between patients with different parities, as suggested in previous studies