Correlations and Fluctuations in High-Energy Nuclear Collisions

Nucleon correlations in the target and projectile nuclei are shown to reduce significantly the fluctuations in multiple nucleon-nucleon collisions, total multiplicity and transverse energy in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, in particular for heavy projectile and target. The interplay between cross-section fluctuations, from color transparency and opacity, and nuclear correlations is calculated and found to be able to account for large fluctuations in transverse energy spectra. Numerical implementation of correlations and cross-section fluctuations in Monte-Carlo codes is discussed.Comment: 30 pages, in Revtex, plus 4 figures. Figures and preprint can be obtained by mailing address to: [email protected]

Supporting adjuvant endocrine therapy adherence in women with breast cancer : the development of a complex behavioural intervention using Intervention Mapping guided by the Multiphase Optimisation Strategy

Background: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. However, up to three-quarters of women with breast cancer do not take AET as prescribed. Existing interventions to support adherence to AET have largely been unsuccessful, and have not focused on the most salient barriers to adherence. This paper describes the process of developing four theory-based intervention components to support adherence to AET. Our aim is to provide an exemplar of intervention development using Intervention Mapping (IM) with guidance from the Multiphase Optimisation Strategy (MOST). Methods: Iterative development followed the six-stage IM framework with stakeholder involvement. Stage 1 involved a literature review of barriers to adherence and existing interventions, which informed the intervention objectives outlined in Stage 2. Stage 3 identified relevant theoretical considerations and practical strategies for supporting adherence. Stage 4 used information from Stages 1-3 to develop the intervention components. Stages 1-4 informed a conceptual model for the intervention package. Stages 5 and 6 detailed implementation considerations and evaluation plans for the intervention package, respectively. Results: The final intervention package comprised four individual intervention components: Short Message Service to encourage habitual behaviours surrounding medication taking; an information leaflet to target unhelpful beliefs about AET; remotely delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based guided self-help to reduce psychological distress; and a website to support self-management of AET side-effects. Considerations for implementation within the NHS, including cost, timing and mode of delivery were outlined, with explanation as to how using MOST can aid this. We detail our plans for the final stage of IM which involve feasibility testing. This involved planning an external exploratory pilot trial using a 24-1 fractional factorial design, and a process evaluation to assess acceptability and fidelity of intervention components. Conclusions: We have described a systematic and logical approach for developing a theoretically informed intervention package to support medication adherence in women with breast cancer using AET. Further research to optimise the intervention package, guided by MOST, has the potential to lead to more effective, efficient and scalable interventions

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Hydrodynamic Variability in the Physical Biotopes of a Trout Stream

River research and management activities often focus on mesoscale habitat (mesohabitat) classifications such as physical biotopes (e.g. pools, glides, runs, riffles). The size and surface flow characteristics of these features are such that they can easily be mapped from the bank and incorporated into rapid field reconnaissance surveys (e.g. UK River Habitat Survey). Information from such surveys can then be used in physical habitat assessment, habitat modelling and river rehabilitation applications. The results of recent research suggest, however, that only broad associations exist between hydraulics and mesohabitats. So called ‘standard’ hydraulic variables (depth, mean velocity, Froude number) do not provide adequate discrimination between physical biotopes and may not constitute the most mechanistic descriptors of habitat for plants, benthic invertebrates and fish that have strong associations with high shear zones. Instead, the concept of ‘within-biotope hydrodynamic heterogeneity’ - defined as spatial and discharge-related variation in turbulent flow properties describing the intensity, periodicity, orientation and scale of turbulence - may hold promise as the foundation for a more effective and ecologically relevant classification. Given the dearth of information on the hydrodynamic characteristics of physical biotopes in UK lowland streams, the first step in testing this conceptual framework was to collect high frequency velocity data from a range of habitats on the Leigh Brook, a third-order stream in Central England. A series of 90 second velocity records was taken from each of four types of physical biotope commonly found on lowland rivers using a 25 Hz Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (Nortek NDV). Measurements were taken at 60 mm from the bed, in order to characterise nose velocities of trout, and at 0.6 of the flow depth. In discriminating between physical biotopes, turbulent flow properties were at least as important as standard hydraulic variables. Levels of spatial and discharge-related variability in turbulent flow characteristics differed between habitats, providing support for a classificatory framework based on within-biotope hydrodynamic heterogeneity

Position Choice and Swimming Costs of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar in Turbulent Flow

Swimming costs (SCs) for fish have been shown to be affected by turbulence. However, this idea has not yet been implemented in habitat models, which often represent hydraulics using water velocity averaged over time and space. In this study, we analysed the habitat selection of individual juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (L. 1758) in relation to predicted SC in the turbulent flow of a large outdoor flume. We used a previously published SC model parameterized using mean velocity, turbulence intensity, water temperature and fish mass. Results showed that 86% of fish chose locations with significantly lower predicted SC than expected at random. Position choice was negatively related to predicted SC, mean velocity, spatial velocity gradient, and Reynolds stresses. Based on the findings, a novel habitat suitability curve is recommended for juvenile Atlantic salmon. The results are expected to contribute towards the improvement of bioenergetics modelling to increase our understanding of the impacts of environmental changes and management activities

The Microstructural Characterization of Semi-Solid Slurries

Due to recent interest in semi-solid metal (SSM) processing, there is a need for fundamental knowledge on the formation and solidification of primary particles. The primary particle size, distribution, morphology, and percentage are the main concerns because particle quantity and size affect not only the mechanical properties of as-cast SSM parts but also the flow characteristics of SSM slurries during die filling. Microstructural characterization is a basic tool for measuring the critical parameters that influence the resulting properties. This article describes the tools and techniques available for structural analysis of SSM slurries. It also attempts to elucidate the ambiguities and interpretations of special structural features.Shahrooz Nafisi and Reza Ghomashch