Polarized deep-inelastic scattering from nuclei: a relativistic approach.

We discuss spin-dependent, deep-inelastic scattering from nuclei within a covariant framework. In the relativistic impulse approximation this is described in terms of the amplitude for forward, virtual-photon scattering from an off-mass-shell nucleon. The general structure of the off-shell nucleon hadronic tensor is derived, and the leading behavior of the off-shell nucleon structure functions computed in the Bjorken limit. The formalism, which is valid for nucleons bound inside nuclei with spin 1/2 or 1, is applied to the case of the deuteron.Piller, G. ; Melnitchouk, W. ; Thomas, A.W

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Effects of thiopentone, propofol and alfaxalone on laryngeal motion during oral laryngoscopy in healthy dogs

Objective To compare the effects of thiopentone, propofol and alfaxalone on arytenoid cartilage motion and establish the dose rates to achieve a consistent oral laryngoscopy examination. Study design Randomised crossover study. Animals Six healthy adult Beagle dogs. Methods Each dog was randomly administered three induction agents with a 1-week washout period between treatments. Thiopentone (7.5 mg kg−1), propofol (3 mg kg−1) or alfaxalone (1.5 mg kg−1) was administered over 1 minute for induction of anaesthesia. If the dog was deemed inadequately anaesthetised, then supplemental boluses of 1.8, 0.75 and 0.4 mg kg−1 were administered, respectively. Continual examination of the larynx, using a laryngoscope, commenced once an adequate anaesthetic depth was reached until examination end point. The number of arytenoid motions and vital breaths were counted during three time periods and compared over time and among treatments. Data were analysed using Friedman and Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman rho and a linear mixed model with post hoc pairwise comparison with Tukey correction. Results The median (range) induction and examination times were 2.8 (2.0–3.0), 2.7 (2.0–3.3) and 2.5 (1.7–3.3) minutes (p = 0.727); and 14.1 (8.0–41.8), 5.4 (3.3–14.8) and 8.5 (3.8–31.6) minutes (p = 0.016) for thiopentone, propofol and alfaxalone, respectively. The median dose rates required to achieve an adequate anaesthetic depth were 6.3 (6.0–6.6), 2.4 (2.4–2.4) and 1.2 (1.2–1.2) mg kg−1 minute−1, respectively. There was no significant difference for the total number of arytenoid motions (p = 0.662) or vital breaths (p = 0.789) among induction agents. Conclusion and clinical relevance The number of arytenoid motions were similar among the induction agents. However, at the dose rates used in this study, propofol provided adequate conditions for evaluation of the larynx with a shorter examination time which may be advantageous during laryngoscopy in dogs.Tesh M. Smalle, Marthinus J. Hartman, Lynette Bester, Roxanne K. Buck, Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Gareth E. Zeile