Prospects for Mirage Mediation

Mirage mediation reduces the fine-tuning in the minimal supersymmetric standard model by dynamically arranging a cancellation between anomaly-mediated and modulus-mediated supersymmetry breaking. We explore the conditions under which a mirage "messenger scale" is generated near the weak scale and the little hierarchy problem is solved. We do this by explicitly including the dynamics of the SUSY-breaking sector needed to cancel the cosmological constant. The most plausible scenario for generating a low mirage scale does not readily admit an extra-dimensional interpretation. We also review the possibilities for solving the mu/Bmu problem in such theories, a potential hidden source of fine-tuning.Comment: 14 page

Infection levels and species diversity of ascaridoid nematodes in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, are correlated with geographic area and fish size

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is among the most important commercial fish species on the world market. Its infection by ascaridoid nematodes has long been known, Pseudoterranova even being named cod worm. In the present study, 755 individuals were sampled in the Barents, Baltic and North Seas during 2012–2014. Prevalences for Anisakis in whole fish and in fillets in the different fishing areas varied from 16 to 100% and from 12 to 90% respectively. Abundance was also greatly influenced by the sampling area. Generalized additive model results indicate higher numbers of Anisakis in the North Sea, even after the larger body size was accounted for. Numbers and prevalence of Anisakis were positively related to fish length or weight. The prevalence of parasites in whole fish and in fillets was also influenced by the season, with the spring displaying a peak for the prevalence in whole fish and, at the same time, a drop for the prevalence in fillets. Whereas 46% of cod had Anisakis larvae in their fillets, the majority (39%) had parasites mainly in the ventral part of the fillet and only 12% had parasites in their dorsal part. This observation is of importance for the processing of the fish. Indeed, the trimming of the ventral part of the cod fillet would allow the almost total elimination of ascaridoids except for cod from the Baltic Sea where there was no difference between the dorsal and the ventral part. The presence of other ascaridoid genera was also noticeable in some areas. For Pseudoterranova, the highest prevalence (45%) in whole fish was observed in the Northern North Sea, whereas the other areas had prevalences between 3 and 16%. Contracaecum was present in every commercial size cod sampled in the Baltic Sea with an intensity of up to 96 worms but no Contracaecum was isolated from the Central North Sea. Non-zoonotic Hysterothylacium was absent from the Baltic Sea but with a prevalence of 83% in the Barents and the Northern North Sea. A subsample of worms was identified with genetic-molecular tools and assigned to the species A. simplex (s.s.), A. pegreffii, P. decipiens (s.s.), P. krabbei, C. osculatum and H. aduncum. In addition to high prevalence and abundance values, the cod sampled in this study presented a diversity of ascaridoid nematodes with a majority of fish displaying a co-infection. Out of 295 whole infected fish, 269 were co-infected by at least 2 genera

Successful recruiting by an academic hospitalist section

Statement of Problem: Because of changes in resident staffing, our academic hospitalist Section required a 50% increase (from 12 to 18 FTE) in faculty members in one year. Thus, we undertook an intensive recruiting effort that spanned 9 months. Innovation Objectives: In a cost effective way, to attract and screen a large number of applicants for a position with our Section of academic hospital medicine. Program Description: In January and October, we advertised in national journals and on websites. We responded to over 100 inquiries with a standardized email describing our program, and with an invitation to formally apply by providing a letter of intent, current curriculum vitae, and three professional references. Over a 9 month period, we received formal applications from 68 physicians (53 were currently completing their residency, and 15 were practicing hospitalists). 5 were from our own residents, and 4 were from local hospitalists who had completed some training with us. These 68 applications and/or letters of reference were reviewed by our Hiring Committee. Using pre-established screening criteria, 26 of 68 (38%) applicants were judged competitive. Using standardized interviewing tools, Hiring Committee members interviewed by telephone 24 of these competitive candidates and their references. Of these, 18 were invited for an on-site visit. Findings to Date: Almost all of the invited candidates (16/18) visited our department for a one or two day visit which included face-to-face interviews, rounding, and social events. 12 of these 16 candidates (and 6 of 8 local candidates) were offered a position, and 5 accepted. Four of these had completed their residency in the past year. 3/5 (60%) of the successfully recruited faculty members had done some training at our institution. The recruiting cost included $6,431 for advertising and$14,292 for candidate visits; and required weekly meetings by our Hiring Committee. Key Lessons Learned: Using pre-established screening criteria and standardized telephone interviews, we targeted those candidates which we felt we were most likely to successfully recruit, and invited them for on-site interviews. We ultimately offered a job to 75% and hired 30% of those who completed an on-site visit. Over half of our successful recruits were from local candidates. The cost of our recruiting was $4,145 per successfully recruited physicia

Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 complicated by ARDS due to TRALI

© 2021 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Convalescent plasma, which contains antibodies from recovered individuals, has been used as an effective treatment for infectious diseases in the past and is currently being used as a potential treatment option for COVID-19. Multiple studies have reported this treatment to be safe. We report a case of a patient who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with features suggestive of transfusion-related acute lung injury after being treated with convalescent plasma for COVID-19. We emphasise the need to be aware of the potential risk of transfusion reactions and disease worsening with convalescent plasma administration and to weigh the risk and benefits of this therapy before administration to patients and propose that further study be done regarding the potential risks of convalescent plasma

Navigation/traffic control satellite mission study. Volume 3 - System concepts

Satellite network for air traffic control, solar flare warning, and collision avoidanc

Quantum Films Adsorbed on Graphite: Third and Fourth Helium Layers

Using a path-integral Monte Carlo method for simulating superfluid quantum films, we investigate helium layers adsorbed on a substrate consisting of graphite plus two solid helium layers. Our results for the promotion densities and the dependence of the superfluid density on coverage are in agreement with experiment. We can also explain certain features of the measured heat capacity as a function of temperature and coverage.Comment: 13 pages in the Phys. Rev. two-column format, 16 Figure

Use of an interactive website to improve communication and education at an academic hospitalist program

Statement of Problem: The academic hospitalist section at UNM expanded by nearly 50% over just 12 months and was intimately involved with major changes in the residency ward structure. Section members repeatedly cited the need for improved communication about administrative and educational matters. Innovation Objectives: To provide a readily available interactive website for use by our hospitalist section to communicate about administrative and educational matters. Program Description: We established an interactive website for use by our hospitalist section through a commercial internet service. Section members were invited to register, and were allowed to contribute comments, edit existing pages, add pages, upload files, and provide links to other websites. Viewing rights to the website were unrestricted. The initial website was begun with 6 pages. Findings to Date: In the first month, 16/17 of our hospitalists and 2/3 of our mid-level providers registered and subsequently make contributions to the website. In the first 90 days, 85 new pages were created and 132 files were uploaded to create a website of 120 MB. Of the first 91 pages, 47 dealt with administrative issues (such as schedules, committee meetings, minutes, credentialing, billing and coding); 27 involved specific information about the residency and new ward structure; 14 specifically addressed educational topics; and 4 addressed faculty development and research efforts. At the end of one year, 289 pages and 330 files were added, creating a website of 627 MB. Lectures by hospitalist are now recorded and uploaded to the site. The website is now frequently viewed by residents and medical students who cite the value of the educational pages and pages that deal with residency issues. 80% of surveyed hospitalists found the site to be helpful or very helpful. To date the size of the website has not exceeded the initial free service, and the Section has incurred no direct cost related to this project. Key Lessons Learned: Establishment of an interactive website resulted in contributions by almost all hospitalists in our Section, has improved communication, and proved to be of value to medical students and residents with regard to educatio