Constraints from CMB in the intermediate Brans-Dicke inflation

We study an intermediate inflationary stage in a Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory. In this scenario we analyze the quantum fluctuations corresponding to adiabatic and isocurvature modes. Our model is compared to that described by using the intermediate model in Einstein general relativity theory. We assess the status of this model in light of the seven-year WMAP data.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Does Choose & Book fail to deliver the expected choice to patients? A survey of patients' experience of outpatient appointment booking

Provisional abstract: Background: Choose and Book is a central part of the UK Government patient choice agenda that seeks to provide patients with a choice over the time, date and place of their first outpatient appointment. This is done through the use of a computerised booking system. After a 2004 pilot study, Choose and Book was formally launched in January 2006. This is the first study of patient experience of Choose and Book since then. Methods: A questionnaire survey of reported experience of choice over the time, data and place of appointment, carried out in a National Health Service hospital in London. 104 patients at their first outpatient appointment completed the questionnaire, consisting of a consecutive series of patients referred through Choose and Book and a sample referred through the conventional booking system. Results: Among the Choose and Book patients, 66% (31/47; 95% CI 52 to 78%) reported not being given a choice of appointment date, 66% (31/47; 95% CI 52 to 78%) reported not being given a choice of appointment time, 86% (37/43; 95% CI 74 to 94%) reported being given a choice of fewer than four hospitals in total and 32% (15/47; 95% CI 20 to 46%) reported not being given any choice of hospital. Conclusions: In this study, patients did not experience the degree of choice that Choose and Book was designed to deliver

New CC0\pi\ GENIE Model Tune for MicroBooNE

A novel tune has been made for the MicroBooNE experiment. The fit uses 4 new parameters within the GENIE v3.0.6 Monte Carlo program. Charged current pionless data from the T2K experiment was used. New uncertainties were obtained. These results will be used in future MicroBooNE analyses.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figure

An uncertainty index to measure the feasibility of Whole-Life Cycle Costing approach in flood risk management

In the UK, increased use of non-structural responses (NSRs) in integrated urban flood risk management has been recommended since the flood of autumn 2000. Paralleling this change, the UK government are now strongly promoting a Whole Life Cycle Costing approach (WLCC) to flood risk management economic appraisals. However, due to a relative lack of economic knowledge in relation to NSR, costing non-structural responses is still in its infancy. Thus, the feasibility of the WLCC approach to costing non-structural strategies has been brought into question. This paper describes a qualitative method to assess the feasibility of WLCC approach, i.e. a method designed to assess if enough expert-based knowledge and/or economic data are available to support an effective, robust economic appraisal for a scheme that includes NSRs. This conceptual method allows flood risk managers to identify if, and when, further efforts are required in relation to obtaining better cost data to underpin a cost–benefit test. A user-friendly interface has been developed to support decision makers faced with these new challenges. A schematic project has been presented in the text to illustrate the potential application of the method