QCD corrections to the electric dipole moment of the neutron in the MSSM

We consider the QCD corrections to the electric dipole moment of the neutron in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We provide a master formula for the Wilson coefficients at the low energy scale including for the first time the mixing between the electric and chromoelectric operators and correcting widely used previous LO estimates. We show that, because of the mixing between the electric and chromoelectric operators, the neutralino contribution is always strongly suppressed. We find that, in general, the effect of the QCD corrections is to reduce the amount of CP violation generated at the high scale. We discuss the perturbative uncertainties of the LO computation, which are particularly large for the gluino-mediated contribution. This motivates our Next-to-Leading order analysis. We compute for the first time the order alpha_s corrections to the Wilson coefficients for the gluino contributions, and recompute the two-loop anomalous dimension for the dipole operators. We show that the large LO uncertainty disappears once NLO corrections are taken into account.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, added references, corrected typo

Invalid party wall awards and how to avoid them

Considers the reasons for the invalidity of party wall awards. Examines decided cases under earlier party wall legislation in the context of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Explains invalidity on the basis of an excess of the surveyors’ statutory authority. Defines this authority in terms of jurisdiction and power. Demonstrates the limits of the surveyors’ authority and emphasises the importance of strict compliance with statutory procedures. Concludes that surveyors should adopt an inquisitive and analytical approach to the scope of their authority to avoid the possibility of invalid awards. Echoes John Anstey’s earlier warning that surveyors should avoid a broad-brush approach to their duties which will only leave them “covered in soot”

Hybrid effect of basalt fiber textile and macro polypropylene fiber on flexural load-bearing capacity and toughness of two-way concrete slabs

This paper presents an experimental study on the two-way concrete slabs with steel-free reinforcements. These include basalt fiber textile, macro polypropylene (PP) fiber and a combination of both. The plain concrete (PC) slab and steel reinforced concrete (RC) slab are studied as references. Furthermore, a comparative analysis on load bearing capacity, toughness and failure pattern of the slabs is performed. The test results indicate that the incorporation of basalt fiber textile and macro PP fibers can significantly improve load bearing capacity and toughness, and there is a positive synergetic effect between basalt fiber textile and macro PP fiber in the hybrid system. Similar to PC slab, the concrete slab reinforced with only 1-layer basalt fiber textile (BTRC1) demonstrates clearly brittle behavior. The addition of macro PP fibers may enhance the load bearing capacity in the post-peak region and convert the brittle failure pattern into a ductile one. In addition, BTRC1 slab with 8 kg/m3 macro PP fibers shows higher flexural capacity than those of RC slab with a steel ratio of 0.31%, and this implies that the combination of basalt fiber textile and macro PP fiber can be used to replace the steel mesh as a new type of durable reinforcement in structural members.National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51578109

International differences in self-reported health measures in 33 major metropolitan areas in Europe.

The increasing concentration of populations into large conurbations in recent decades has not been matched by international health assessments, which remain largely focused at the country level. We aimed to demonstrate the use of routine survey data to compare the health of large metropolitan centres across Europe and determine the extent to which differences are due to socio-economic factors

Cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanowires active coatings for the development of antibacterial packaging surfaces

An active ink composed of cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanowires was deposited on flexible and transparent polymer films using the bar coating process, achieving controlled thicknesses ranging from 200 nm up to 2 µm. For 350 nm thick coating on polyethylene terephthalate films, high transparency (75.6% transmittance) and strong reduction of bacterial growth equal to 89.3% and 100% was noted respectively against Gram-negative Escherichia Coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria using AATCC contact active standard test. Retained antibacterial activity was found with films produced by reverse gravure roll-to-roll process, showing the promising capability of this antibacterial solution to be deployed industrially. Finally, the same ink was also deposited on polylactic acid substrate to investigate barrier properties: for 350 nm thick coating, a reduction of 49% of oxygen transmission rate (dry conditions) and 47% reduction of water vapor transmission rate was noted, proving the enhanced barrier properties of the coatings

Spanning the multilevel boundaries of construction organisations: Towards the delivery of BIM-compliant projects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the interdependent boundary-spanning activities that characterise the level of permeability of knowledge, information flow and learning among construction supply chains involved in the delivery of building information modelling (BIM)-compliant construction projects. Construction projects are mobilised through a number of interdependent processes and multi-functional activities by different practitioners with myriad specialised skills. Many of the difficulties that manifest in construction projects can be attributed to the fragmented work activities and inter-disciplinary nature of project teams. This is nevertheless becoming ever more pertinent with the rise of technology deployment in construction organisations. Design/methodology/approach The study combined experts’ sampling interviews and a case study research method to help offer better insights into the kind of emerging multilevel boundary practices as influenced by the rapidly evolving construction technological solutions. The experts’ sampling helped inform better understanding by unravelling the key changes in contemporary boundary configurations and related boundary-spanning practices within technology-mediated construction project settings. The case study also helped to establish the manifestation of best practices for managing multilevel boundaries in BIM-enabled construction project organisations. Findings The study has revealed that different generic organisational BIM strategies as developed in specialised boundaries are reconfigured as appropriate at the project level to produce project-specific BIM execution plan (BXP). The outcome of project BXP is dependent on the project organisational teams that cooperate in creating new solutions and on conceding space for negotiations and compromises which conflicting interests at the project level can find to be both desirable and feasible. The implementation effort is therefore contingent on mutual translation in which different actors with different insights instigate their practice through negotiation and persuasion which eventually are reinforced by contractual agreements and obligations. Originality/value The paper has presented a novel and well-timed empirical insight into BIM-enabled project delivery and best practices that span multilevel boundaries of construction organisations

Running Spectral Index and Formation of Primordial Black Hole in Single Field Inflation Models

A broad range of single field models of inflation are analyzed in light of all relevant recent cosmological data, checking whether they can lead to the formation of long-lived Primordial Black Holes (PBHs). To that end we calculate the spectral index of the power spectrum of primordial perturbations as well as its first and second derivatives. PBH formation is possible only if the spectral index increases significantly at small scales, i.e. large wave number $k$. Since current data indicate that the first derivative $\alpha_S$ of the spectral index $n_S(k_0)$ is negative at the pivot scale $k_0$, PBH formation is only possible in the presence of a sizable and positive second derivative ("running of the running") $\beta_S$. Among the three small-field and five large-field models we analyze, only one small-field model, the "running mass" model, allows PBH formation, for a narrow range of parameters. We also note that none of the models we analyze can accord for a large and negative value of $\alpha_S$, which is weakly preferred by current data.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, Refs. added, Minor textual change; version to appear in JCA

Mass Determination in SUSY-like Events with Missing Energy

We describe a kinematic method which is capable of determining the overall mass scale in SUSY-like events at a hadron collider with two missing (dark matter) particles. We focus on the kinematic topology in which a pair of identical particles is produced with each decaying to two leptons and an invisible particle (schematically, $pp\to YY+jets$ followed by each $Y$ decaying via $Y\to \ell X\to \ell\ell'N$ where $N$ is invisible). This topology arises in many SUSY processes such as squark and gluino production and decay, not to mention t\anti t di-lepton decays. In the example where the final state leptons are all muons, our errors on the masses of the particles $Y$, $X$ and $N$ in the decay chain range from 4 GeV for 2000 events after cuts to 13 GeV for 400 events after cuts. Errors for mass differences are much smaller. Our ability to determine masses comes from considering all the kinematic information in the event, including the missing momentum, in conjunction with the quadratic constraints that arise from the $Y$, $X$ and $N$ mass-shell conditions. Realistic missing momentum and lepton momenta uncertainties are included in the analysis.Comment: 41 pages, 14 figures, various clarifications and expanded discussion included in revised version that conforms to the version to be publishe