Supersymmetry without R-parity : Constraints from Leptonic Phenomenology

R-parity conservation is an {\it ad hoc} assumption in the most popular version of the supersymmetric standard model. Most studies of models which do allow for R-parity violation have been restricted to various limiting scenarios. The single-VEV parametrization used in this paper provides a workable framework to analyze phenomenology of the most general theory of SUSY without R-parity. We perform a comprehensive study of leptonic phenomenology at tree-level. Experimental constraints on various processes are studied individually and then combined to yield regions of admissible parameter space. In particular, we show that large R-parity violating bilinear couplings are not ruled out, especially for large $\tan\beta$.Comment: 56 pages Revtex with figures incorporated; typos (including transcription typo in Table II) and minor corrections; proof-read version, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Gamma Prime Precipitate Evolution During Aging of a Model Nickel-Based Superalloy

The microstructural stability of nickel-based superalloys is critical for maintaining alloy performance during service in gas turbine engines. In this study, the precipitate evolution in a model polycrystalline Ni-based superalloy during aging to 1000 hours has been studied via transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography and neutron diffraction. Variations in phase composition and precipitate morphology, size and volume fraction were observed during aging, whilst the constrained lattice misfit remained constant at approximately zero. The experimental composition of the γ matrix phase was consistent with thermodynamic equilibrium predictions, whilst significant differences were identified between the experimental and predicted results from the γʹ phase. These results have implications for the evolution of mechanical properties in service and their prediction using modeling methods.The authors wish to acknowledge Mrs. S. Rhodes, Dr. H.T. Pang, Dr. D.M. Collins, and Dr. O.M.D.M. Messé for their assistance with the experiments performed. Funding was provided by the EPSRC/Rolls-Royce Strategic Partnership under EP/M005607/1 and EP/H022309/1. The Oxford Atom Probe facility was funded by the EPSRC under EP/M022803/1. Neutron diffraction beam time was supported through the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre under Experiment number 1258

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3�6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55 of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017�and more than 80 in some low- and middle-income regions�was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing�and in some countries reversal�of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories. © 2019, The Author(s)

On the decomposition of Martensite during bake hardening of thermomechanically processed transformation-induced plasticity steels

Thermomechanically processed (TMP) CMnSi transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels with and without additions of Nb, Mo, or Al were subjected to prestraining and bake hardening. Atom probe tomography (APT) revealed the presence of fine C-rich clusters in the martensite of all studied steels after the thermomechanical processing. After bake hardening, the formation of iron carbides, containing from 25 to 90 at. pct C, was observed. The evolution of iron carbide compositions was independent of steel composition and was a function of carbide size

Genetic analysis of drought resistance in rice by molecular markers: association between secondary traits and field performance

Drought stress is the major constraint to rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and yield stability in rainfed ecosystems. Identifying genomic regions contributing to drought resistance will help develop rice cultivars suitable for rainfed regions through molecular marker assisted breeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to plant water stress indicators, phenology and production traits under irrigated and drought stress conditions were mapped by means of a doubled-haploid (DH) population of 154 rice lines from the cross CT9993-5-10-1-M/ IR62266-42-6-2. The DH lines were subjected to water stress before anthesis in three field experiments at two locations. The DH lines showed significant variation for plant water stress indicators, phenology, plant biomass, yield and yield components under irrigated control and water stress. A total of 47 QTLs were identified for various plant water stress indicators, phenology, and production traits under control and water stress conditions in the field, which individually explained 5 to 59% of the phenotype variation. A region was identified on chromosome 4 that harbored major QTLs for plant height, grain yield, and number of grains per panicle under drought stress. By comparing the coincidence of QTLs with specific traits, we also genetically dissected the nature of association of root traits and capacity for osmotic adjustment with rice production under drought. Root traits had positive correlations with yield and yield components under drought stress. This study demonstrated that the region RG939-RG476-RG214 on chromosome 4 identified for root-related drought resistance component QTLs also had pleiotropic effects on yield traits under stress. Consistent QTLs for drought resistance traits and yield under stress were detected and might be useful for marker-assisted selection for rainfed rice improvement