Two-loop Master Integrals with the Simplified Differential Equations approach

We calculate the complete set of two-loop Master Integrals with two off mass-shell legs with massless internal propagators, that contribute to amplitudes of diboson $V_1V_2$ production at the LHC. This is done with the Simplified Differential Equations approach to Master Integrals, which was recently proposed by one of the authors.Comment: 4 figures, 6 ancillary files. Version as published in JHE

The Pentabox Master Integrals with the Simplified Differential Equations approach

We present the calculation of massless two-loop Master Integrals relevant to five-point amplitudes with one off-shell external leg and derive the complete set of planar Master Integrals with five on-mass-shell legs, that contribute to many $2\to 3$ amplitudes of interest at the LHC, as for instance three jet production, $\gamma, V, H +2$ jets etc., based on the Simplified Differential Equations approach.Comment: Revised version accepted for publication in JHEP. Ancillary files with results can be downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/s/90iiqfcazrhwtso/results.tgz?dl=

Penrose limits and maximal supersymmetry

We show that the maximally supersymmetric pp-waves of IIB superstring and M-theories can be obtained as a Penrose limit of the supersymmetric AdS x S solutions. In addition we find that in a certain large tension limit, the geometry seen by a brane probe in an AdS x S background is either Minkowski space or a maximally supersymmetric pp-wave.Comment: 12 pages, v2: references adde

Non-categorical approaches to property induction with uncertain categories

Three studies examined how people make feature inferences about exemplars whose category membership is uncertain. Participants studied categorized exemplars, were given a feature of a novel item and asked to make predictions about other features. Stimuli were constructed so that different inference strategies led to divergent feature predictions. Experiments 1 and 3 found that most participants used a feature association strategy where predictions werebased on comparisons with exemplars similar to the test item. Experiment 2 showed that the dominance of feature association over categorical approaches to reasoning was not an artifact of stimulus complexity

Spatially-averaged flows over mobile rough beds : equations for the second-order velocity moments

This study was part of the research project ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous interfaces’ (HYTECH), the support of which, under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (Marie Curie Actions FP7PEOPLE-2012-ITN, European Commission [grant agreement number 316546]),is gratefully acknowledged. Financial support was also provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)/UK grant “Bed friction in roughbed free-surface flows: a theoretical framework, roughness regimes, and quantification” [grant EP/K041088/1].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mitochondrial DNA paradox: sex-specific genetic structure in a marine mussel despite maternal inheritance and passive dispersal

Background: When genetic structure is identified using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but no structure is identified using biparentally-inherited nuclear DNA, the discordance is often attributed to differences in dispersal potential between the sexes. Results: We sampled the intertidal rocky shore mussel Perna perna in a South African bay and along the nearby open coast, and sequenced maternally-inherited mtDNA (there is no evidence for paternally-inherited mtDNA in this species) and a biparentally-inherited marker. By treating males and females as different populations, we identified significant genetic structure on the basis of mtDNA data in the females only. Conclusions: This is the first study to report sex-specific differences in genetic structure based on matrilineally-inherited mtDNA in a passively dispersing species that lacks social structure or sexual dimorphism. The observed pattern most likely stems from females being more vulnerable to selection in habitats from which they did not originate, which also manifests itself in a male-biased sex ratio. Our results have three important implications for the interpretation of population genetic data. First, even when mtDNA is inherited exclusively in the female line, it also contains information about males. For that reason, using it to identify sex-specific differences in genetic structure by contrasting it with biparentally-inherited markers is problematic. Second, the fact that sex-specific differences were found in a passively dispersing species in which sex-biased dispersal is unlikely highlights the fact that significant genetic structure is not necessarily a function of low dispersal potential or physical barriers. Third, even though mtDNA is typically used to study historical demographic processes, it also contains information about contemporary processes. Higher survival rates of males in non-native habitats can erase the genetic structure present in their mothers within a single generation

Realising the potential of linked data in healthcare performance assessment efforts in New South Wales, Australia

Objectives: To describe: (1) a stepwise guide to the use of linked data in the development of individual healthcare performance metrics; and (2) the application of these metrics in comprehensive performance assessment efforts at a system, regional and hospital level of analysis. Approach: A stepwise guide to the definition and validation of linked-data based indicators was developed following a rapid review of peer reviewed and grey literature and a series of semi-structured interviews with international subject experts. The review and interviews adopted a snowball approach to collect information on the ways in which linked data are currently used in performance measurement efforts. Data collection continued until indicator type saturation was reached. Details about existing applications of linked data in performance reporting were mapped, and used to inform the development of the guide. Indicators were aligned within a conceptual framework that is used to assess healthcare performance in New South Wales, on the basis of accessibility, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity and sustainability. Results: The guide to indicator development considers the use and contribution of linked data in four stages: defining a cohort; capturing outcomes of interest; risk adjustment; and attribution. A series of vignettes illustrate the various contributions that linked data can make to performance measurement efforts – highlighting the ways in which those data can enhance understanding of complexity and dynamic relationships, and help build a comprehensive picture of performance