Inclusive single gauge boson production in s=7,8\sqrt{s} = 7, 8 and 1313 TeV proton-proton collisions

We report LHC measurements of single $W$ and $Z$ boson production at different centre-of-mass energies. Together, the ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb detectors cover an absolute rapidity range from 0 to 4.5, enabling precision tests and studies of Standard Model physics across different kinematic regions. We report total, fiducial and differential cross-section measurements and their ratios. These results allow tests of the performance of different parton distribution functions (PDFs), and can be used to further constrain the PDFs. In addition, the results are compared to theoretical predictions which use different approaches to model effects within quantum chromodynamics. We also report measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry in $Z$ boson decays, and measurements of angular coefficients, which provide sensitivity to the electroweak mixing angle.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, To appear in the proceedings of the 51st Rencontres de Moriond (EW), 201

Calculating pp-values and their significances with the Energy Test for large datasets

The energy test method is a multi-dimensional test of whether two samples are consistent with arising from the same underlying population, through the calculation of a single test statistic (called the $T$-value). The method has recently been used in particle physics to search for differences between samples that arise from CP violation. The generalised extreme value function has previously been used to describe the distribution of $T$-values under the null hypothesis that the two samples are drawn from the same underlying population. We show that, in a simple test case, the distribution is not sufficiently well described by the generalised extreme value function. We present a new method, where the distribution of $T$-values under the null hypothesis when comparing two large samples can be found by scaling the distribution found when comparing small samples drawn from the same population. This method can then be used to quickly calculate the $p$-values associated with the results of the test.Comment: 9 pages (including title page); 4 figure

Control and reduction of unsteady pressure loads in separated shock wave turbulent boundary layer interaction

The focus was on developing means of controlling and reducing unsteady pressure loads in separated shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions. Section 1 describes how vortex generators can be used to effectively reduce loads in compression ramp interaction, while Section 2 focuses on the effects of 'boundary-layer separators' on the same interaction

The Effectiveness Of Repairing Fatigue Damaged 7050 Aluminium Alloy Using Shot Peening

Shot peening is an effective life extension surface treatment process. In this study, experiments were performed to investigate whether shot peening could be used to recover the fatigue resistance of aluminium alloy 7050 that has experienced prior fatigue damage. The results showed that shot peening may be used for restoring the original fatigue life of the material, but the effectiveness strongly depends on the amount of prior damage (e.g. the crack depth of any cracks that have already formed) in the material. A numerical model was established and the effect of residual stress was incorporated into the model. The prediction by the model agreed well with the experimental results in terms of trend

On the USAF ‘risk of failure’ approach and its applicability to composite repairs to metal airframes

The USAF report on the risk analysis of aging aircraft fleets notes that the operational life of individual airframes is seldom equal to the design life of the fleet and that the life of an aircraft fleet t ends to be determined more by its inherent operational capability and maintenance costs rather than by the number of flight hours specified at the design stage. As such this paper focuses on whether the USAF approach to risk assessment can be used for airf rames repaired with a composite patch/doubler. To this end the present paper describes a test program designed to study the effect of adhesively -bonded composite repairs to fatigue cracks that, prior to repair, have grown from small naturally -occurring mat erials discontinuities. This study reveals that crack growth in composite repairs conforms to the exponential growth equation used in the USAF approach to assessing the risk of failure. Furthermore, the exponent, ω, in the exponential growth law can be de termined from the crack growth history associated with the unrepaired specimens and the simple reduction in the stress due to the application of the composite patch/doubler, using the ‘cubic rule’ that was previously used to assess crack growth in the RAAF F/A -18 (Hornet) fleet

Achievement of combined goals of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with three different statins: Results from VOYAGER

AbstractBackgroundGuidelines suggest that the combination of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is the most clinically relevant goal for lipid-lowering treatments.MethodsData from VOYAGER, an individual patient data meta-analysis including 32,258 patients from 37 clinical trials, was used to determine the percentage of patients reaching combined goals of LDL-C and non-HDL-C following treatment with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin. Paired comparisons were made between each dose of rosuvastatin and the same or higher doses of simvastatin and atorvastatin.ResultsEach dose of rosuvastatin brought significantly more patients to the combined goal of LDL-C < 100 mg/dL and non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dL than the same or double dose of atorvastatin; atorvastatin 80 mg was significantly superior to rosuvastatin 10 mg (all p < 0.001). Each dose of rosuvastatin helped significantly more patients reach the combined goal than any dose of simvastatin (all p < 0.001), except for rosuvastatin 10 mg versus simvastatin 80 mg (non-significant). Also, each dose of rosuvastatin helped significantly more patients to reach the combined goal of LDL-C < 70 mg/dL and non-HDL-C < 100 mg/dL than the same or double dose of atorvastatin (all p < 0.001). Every dose of rosuvastatin was significantly superior to all doses of simvastatin (all p ≤ 0.020), except for rosuvastatin 10 mg versus simvastatin 40 mg and 80 mg (non-significant).ConclusionsPhysicians' choice of statin and dose is important in helping patients achieve the combined LDL-C and non-HDL-C goals recommended in established guidelines

Validation of a Multivariate Serum Profile for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Using a Prospective Multi-Site Collection

In previous studies we described the use of a retrospective collection of ovarian cancer and benign disease samples, in combination with a large set of multiplexed immunoassays and a multivariate pattern recognition algorithm, to develop an 11-biomarker classification profile that is predictive for the presence of epithelial ovarian cancer. In this study, customized, Luminex-based multiplexed immunoassay kits were GMP-manufactured and the classification profile was refined from 11 to 8 biomarkers (CA-125, epidermal growth factor receptor, CA 19-9, C-reactive protein, tenascin C, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein CIII, and myoglobin). The customized kits and the 8-biomarker profile were then validated in a double-blinded manner using prospective samples collected from women scheduled for surgery, with a gynecologic oncologist, for suspicion of having ovarian cancer. The performance observed in model development held in validation, demonstrating 81.1% sensitivity (95% CI 72.6 &#x2013; 87.9%) for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer and 85.4% specificity (95% CI 81.1 &#x2013; 88.9%) for benign ovarian conditions. The specificity for normal healthy women was 95.6% (95% CI 83.6 &#x2013; 99.2%). These results have encouraged us to undertake a second validation study arm, currently in progress, to examine the performance of the 8-biomarker profile on the population of women not under the surgical care of a gynecologic oncologist

A Wireless Multi-Channel Recording System for Freely Behaving Mice and Rats

To understand the neural basis of behavior, it is necessary to record brain activity in freely moving animals. Advances in implantable multi-electrode array technology have enabled researchers to record the activity of neuronal ensembles from multiple brain regions. The full potential of this approach is currently limited by reliance on cable tethers, with bundles of wires connecting the implanted electrodes to the data acquisition system while impeding the natural behavior of the animal. To overcome these limitations, here we introduce a multi-channel wireless headstage system designed for small animals such as rats and mice. A variety of single unit and local field potential signals were recorded from the dorsal striatum and substantia nigra in mice and the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex simultaneously in rats. This wireless system could be interfaced with commercially available data acquisition systems, and the signals obtained were comparable in quality to those acquired using cable tethers. On account of its small size, light weight, and rechargeable battery, this wireless headstage system is suitable for studying the neural basis of natural behavior, eliminating the need for wires, commutators, and other limitations associated with traditional tethered recording systems

Inducible nitric oxide synthase, Nos2, does not mediate optic neuropathy and retinopathy in the DBA/2J glaucoma model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) contributes to neural death in some settings, but its role in glaucoma remains controversial. NOS2 is implicated in retinal ganglion cell degeneration in a rat glaucoma model in which intraocular pressure (IOP) is experimentally elevated by blood vessel cauterization, but not in a rat glaucoma model where IOP was elevated by injection of hypertonic saline. To test the importance of NOS2 for an inherited glaucoma, in this study we both genetically and pharmacologically decreased NOS2 activity in the DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression of <it>Nos2 </it>in the optic nerve head was analyzed at both the RNA and protein levels at different stages of disease pathogenesis. To test the involvement of <it>Nos2 </it>in glaucomatous neurodegeneration, a null allele of <it>Nos2 </it>was backcrossed into DBA/2J mice and the incidence and severity of glaucoma was assessed in mice of each <it>Nos2 </it>genotype. Additionally, DBA/2J mice were treated with the NOS2 inhibitor aminoguanidine and the disease compared to untreated mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Optic nerve head <it>Nos2 </it>RNA levels varied and increased during moderate but decreased at early and severe stages of disease. Despite the presence of a few NOS2 positive cells in the optic nerve head, NOS2 protein was not substantially increased during the glaucoma. Genetic deficiency of <it>Nos2 </it>or aminoguanidine treatment did not alter the IOP profile of DBA/2J mice. Additionally, neither <it>Nos2 </it>deficiency nor aminoguanidine had any detectable affect on the glaucomatous optic nerve damage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Glaucomatous neurodegeneration in DBA/2J mice does not require NOS2 activity. Further experiments involving various models are needed to assess the general importance of <it>Nos2 </it>in glaucoma.</p