Neutrino flavor mixing with moments

The successful transition from core-collapse supernova simulations using classical neutrino transport to simulations using quantum neutrino transport will require the development of methods for calculating neutrino flavor transformations that mitigate the computational expense. One potential approach is the use of angular moments of the neutrino field, which has the added appeal that there already exist simulation codes which make use of moments for classical neutrino transport. Evolution equations for quantum moments based on the quantum kinetic equations can be straightforwardly generalized from the evolution of classical moments based on the Boltzmann equation. We present an efficient implementation of neutrino transformation using quantum angular moments in the free streaming, spherically symmetric bulb model. We compare the results against analytic solutions and the results from more exact multi-angle neutrino flavor evolution calculations. We find that our moment-based methods employing scalar closures predict, with good accuracy, the onset of collective flavor transformations seen in the multi-angle results. However in some situations they overestimate the coherence of neutrinos traveling along different trajectories. More sophisticated quantum closures may improve the agreement between the inexpensive moment-based methods and the multi-angle approach.Comment: Accepted in Physical Review

Epidemiology of Traumatic Posterior Hip Instability in the National Football League

BACKGROUND There is a paucity of literature regarding injury incidence, mechanism, and return to play in National Football League (NFL) players who have sustained traumatic posterior hip instability. PURPOSE To describe the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability and the rate of return to play in NFL players across 18 seasons. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS We retrospectively assessed all traumatic posterior hip dislocations/subluxations that occurred during football-related activities in the NFL seasons from 2000 through 2017. Player demographics and injury data (injury mechanism, season of injury, treatment, days missed, and return to play time) were collected from all 32 NFL teams prospectively through a leaguewide electronic health record system. Descriptive statistics are presented. RESULTS Across the 18 NFL seasons, 16 posterior hip instability injuries in 14 players were reported, with a maximum incidence of 4 (25%) in 2013. Posterior hip instability was predominantly sustained by offensive players (64.3%), with tight ends being the most affected (31.3%). Half of the injuries occurred during the regular season, 43.8% in the preseason, and 6.2% in the offseason. Of all injuries, 37.5% were noncontact, while 56.3% involved contact (direct or indirect), and 6.2% were of unknown mechanism. Among noncontact injuries, 66.7% occurred during cutting and change of direction while sprinting. The time of return to full participation was documented for 11 of the 16 reported injuries (68.8%); among them, the mean time loss was 136.7 ± 83.8 days-143.3 ± 99.6 days if the player underwent surgery (n = 4) and 116.7 ± 76.2 days missed by players without surgery (n = 6)-the treatment modality was unknown in 1 player. CONCLUSION Although the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability during the study period was low, all injured athletes missed time from football activities and competitions. Injuries that required surgery led to more missed time than those that did not. Ongoing research to understand risk factors and mechanisms of this injury, in conjunction with improvements to prevention and rehabilitation protocols, is necessary to ensure the safety of professional American football players

Atmospheric Sampling on Ascension Island Using Multirotor UAVs

As part of an NERC-funded project investigating the southern methane anomaly, a team drawn from the Universities of Bristol, Birmingham and Royal Holloway flew small unmanned multirotors from Ascension Island for the purposes of atmospheric sampling. The objective of these flights was to collect air samples from below, within and above a persistent atmospheric feature, the Trade Wind Inversion, in order to characterise methane concentrations and their isotopic composition. These parameters allow the methane in the different air masses to be tied to different source locations, which can be further analysed using back trajectory atmospheric computer modelling. This paper describes the campaigns as a whole including the design of the bespoke eight rotor aircraft and the operational requirements that were needed in order to collect targeted multiple air samples up to 2.5 km above the ground level in under 20 min of flight time. Key features of the system described include real-time feedback of temperature and humidity, as well as system health data. This enabled detailed targeting of the air sampling design to be realised and planned during the flight mission on the downward leg, a capability that is invaluable in the presence of uncertainty in the pre-flight meteorological data. Environmental considerations are also outlined together with the flight plans that were created in order to rapidly fly vertical transects of the atmosphere whilst encountering changing wind conditions. Two sampling campaigns were carried out in September 2014 and July 2015 with over one hundred high altitude sampling missions. Lessons learned are given throughout, including those associated with operating in the testing environment encountered on Ascension Island

Recommendations for the management of MPS IVA: systematic evidence- and consensus-based guidance.

IntroductionMucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA or Morquio A syndrome is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by deficiency of the N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme, which impairs lysosomal degradation of keratan sulphate and chondroitin-6-sulphate. The multiple clinical manifestations of MPS IVA present numerous challenges for management and necessitate the need for individualised treatment. Although treatment guidelines are available, the methodology used to develop this guidance has come under increased scrutiny. This programme was conducted to provide evidence-based, expert-agreed recommendations to optimise management of MPS IVA.MethodsTwenty six international healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines, with expertise in managing MPS IVA, and three patient advocates formed the Steering Committee (SC) and contributed to the development of this guidance. Representatives from six Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs) were interviewed to gain insights on patient perspectives. A modified-Delphi methodology was used to demonstrate consensus among a wider group of healthcare professionals with experience managing patients with MPS IVA and the manuscript was evaluated against the validated Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument by three independent reviewers.ResultsA total of 87 guidance statements were developed covering five domains: (1) general management principles; (2) recommended routine monitoring and assessments; (3) disease-modifying interventions (enzyme replacement therapy [ERT] and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT]); (4) interventions to support respiratory and sleep disorders; (5) anaesthetics and surgical interventions (including spinal, limb, ophthalmic, cardio-thoracic and ear-nose-throat [ENT] surgeries). Consensus was reached on all statements after two rounds of voting. The overall guideline AGREE II assessment score obtained for the development of the guidance was 5.3/7 (where 1 represents the lowest quality and 7 represents the highest quality of guidance).ConclusionThis manuscript provides evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the management of patients with MPS IVA and is for use by healthcare professionals that manage the holistic care of patients with the intention to improve clinical- and patient-reported outcomes and enhance patient quality of life. It is recognised that the guidance provided represents a point in time and further research is required to address current knowledge and evidence gaps

Signal Cost and Value Alignment in Organizational Sustainability Messaging to New Hires

Introduction As companies continue to integrate sustainable initiatives as a strategic focus, their communications to new hires must adapt accordingly. Orientation programs represent an opportunity to inform new hires about the company’s sustainability values, but factors influencing the impact of sustainability messaging on new-hire perceptions remain unexplored. It is important for organizations to send signals to their new hires which are perceived as credible, meaningful, and genuine. However, the framing of sustainability orientation messages may combine with new-hire individual differences to influence these perceptions. We draw from signaling theory and value congruence research in HR to consider the potential impact of organizational sustainability messaging content and emphasis in the orientation context on organizationally pertinent new hire attitudes and perceptions. Signaling theory, in this case, applies to how costly of a signal the organization sends to their incoming employees. Costly signals shown to new employees within the orientation process demonstrates credibility in the organization\u27s sustainable initiatives. Methodology We conducted an experimental vignette study in which we manipulated signal costliness and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation in the administration of a hypothetical new employee orientation presentation, creating a 2x2 factorial design. Surveys were used for manipulation checks and to capture all other variables. The experimental vignettes were developed with an eye toward both construct capture and context richness, based on guidelines and recent uses of vignette methodology in personnel research. Using Mturk, we obtained responses from a heterogeneous sample of working adults (n = 489). These responses were evenly distributed among the 4 conditions. Expected Findings and Analyses We will examine main effects and interaction effects of our independent variables on outcomes such as perceived credibility, perceived organizational sustainability, and intent to engage with organizational sustainability initiatives. In addition, we will perform moderation analyses to assess the potential influence of individual differences on those effects. From this experiment, we expect to find that costly signals will illustrate higher credibility. Additionally, we expect to find intrinsically motivated messaging and extrinsically motivated messaging to resonate more strongly with individuals that are intrinsically motivated and individuals that are extrinsically motivated, respectively