New Production Mechanism for Heavy Neutrinos at the LHC

We study a new production mechanism for heavy neutrinos at the LHC, which dominates over the usually considered $s$-channel $W$-exchange diagram for heavy-neutrino masses larger than 100 - 200 GeV. The new mechanism is infrared-enhanced by $t$-channel $W\gamma$-fusion processes. This has important implications for experimental tests of the seesaw mechanism of neutrino masses, and in particular, for the ongoing heavy neutrino searches at the LHC. We find that the direct collider limits on the light-to-heavy neutrino mixing can be significantly improved, when this new production channel is properly taken into account. The scope of this new mechanism can equally well be extended to other exotic searches at the LHC.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; version accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

Communication Management and Trust: Their Role in Building Resilience to “Surprises” Such as Natural Disasters, Pandemic Flu, and Terrorism

In times of public danger such as natural disasters and health emergencies, a country’s communication systems will be some of its most important assets because access to information will make individuals and groups more resilient. Communication by those charged with dealing with the situation is often critical. We analyzed reports from a wide variety of crisis incidents and found a direct correlation between trust and an organization’s preparedness and internal coordination of crisis communication and the effectiveness of its leadership. Thus, trust is one of the most important variables in effective communication management in times of “surprise.

The EU and ‘pro-poor’ contributions to sustainable development in the post-2015 consensus

The EU has expressed a long-standing commitment to sustainable development, from the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam through to the current Europe 2020 strategy for sustainable development and inclusive growth. Commitment at a regional level has been matched by the role the EU has played at a global level, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This collection examines the EU's role in supporting the post-2015 consensus through a discussion of the EU’s trade and development policy, with a particular focus on the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries

ANALISIS KELAYAKAN FINANSIAL USAHA BISNIS PUPUK BOKASHI PADA CV GESTY SINO ORGANIK (GS ORGANIK) DI DESA PENFUI TIMUR, KECAMATAN KUPANG TENGAH

The research conducted  at CV. GS Organik, located in East Penfui Village, Centre Kupang District inDecember 2019, aimed  to determine the income and feasibility of the bokashi fertilizer business that CV. GS Organic was working on. The data was collected using the case study method. Data collected in the form of primary data, obtained from interviews and secondary data, obtained from related references and literatures. Income analysis was used to determine the first purpose, while the second purposewas analyzed using  R/C ratio, BEP and payback period. The results showed that: 1) the amount of income obtained from bokashi fertilizer business in CV. GS Organic in 2016-2019 was as followed: income in 2016 was Rp 13.680.002 in 2017 was Rp 22.953.334, 2018 was Rp 31.521.334 and in 2019 Rp 40.636.669; 2) The bokashi fertilizer business in CV. GS Organik in 2016-2019 was profitable and reasonable to be developed, because the income obtained was sufficient and the value of R/C ratio was more than one, namely in 2016 was 1.52, 2017 was 1.62,  2018 was 1.65 and in 2019 was 1.68. The BEP value both of production level and price, namely in 2016 was 13.160 kg and the price of Rp 1.316, in 2017 was 18.523 kg and the price of Rp 1,235, in 2018 of 24.239 kg and Rp 1.212 if stated in price, and in 2019 was 29,682 kg at the production level and the price of Rp 1.187. The payback period was also relatively quick, namely 1 year and 5 months

Biogas production by co-ensiling catch crops and straw, effect of substrate blend and microbial communities

The combination of catch crop (CC) and barley straw(S) for biogas production was investigated in order to evaluate the ensiling process in batch assay and in continuous process. Based on two new agriculture strategies designed to produce energy and improve nutrient cycling in organic farming are being evaluated, one of them consisting on the harvest of straw and catch crop in different periods whereas the other strategy consists on harvesting them at the same time. Catch crops is promoted to reduce nutrient leaching during rainy season and straw that is not used for animal feeding or bedding is generally left in the field. Mixtures of CC and S provides several advantages: 1) Provides adequate TS for silage, 2) Absorbs the silage effluent, 3) Produces high LAB activity, and 4) Provides an optimal C/N for anaerobic digestion (AD). The effect of feeding compositions (straw or manurea ddition) on the microbial community structures were also investigated

Rapid acceptability and adherence testing of a lipid-based nutrient supplement and a micronutrient powder among refugee children and pregnant and lactating women in Algeria

OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability and adherence to daily doses of lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) among children and micronutrient powder (MNP) among children and pregnant and lactating women. DESIGN: Household interviews and sachet counting were conducted to measure acceptability and adherence, 15 and 30 d after product distribution. Qualitative information on product acceptability was collected using focus group discussions. SETTING: Saharawi refugee camps, Algeria, August-October 2009. SUBJECTS: LNS was distributed to 123 children aged 6-35 months (LNS-C), and MNP to 112 children aged 36-59 months (MNP-C) and 119 pregnant or lactating women (MNP-W). RESULTS: At the end of the test 98·4 % of LNS-C, 90·4 % of MNP-C and 75·5 % of MNP-W participants reported that they liked the product (P<0·05). Other measures of acceptability did not differ. Median consumption of sachets was highest in the LNS-C group (P<0·001). 'Good' adherence to the daily regimen (consumption of 75-125 % of recommended dose) was 89·1 % in the LNS-C, compared with 57·0 % in the MNP-C and 65·8 % in the MNP-W groups (P<0·001). Qualitative findings supported the quantitative measures and guided selection of local product names, packaging designs, distribution mechanisms, and the design of the information campaign in the subsequent programme scale-up. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptability, consumption and adherence were higher in participants receiving LNS compared with MNP. However, both products were found to be suitable when compared with predefined acceptability criteria. Acceptability studies are feasible and important in emergency nutrition programmes when the use of novel special nutritional products is considered

The changing faces of soil organic matter research

This work contributes to the projects N-Circle (BB/N013484/1), DEVIL NE/M021327/1) and U-GRASS (NE/M017125/1). MST and WJR were supported by U.S. Department of Energy funding under contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. We are grateful to Dr John M. Kimble for providing the idea for this paper through a remembered conversation in around 1996.Peer reviewedPostprin

Interpretation of World Health Organization growth charts for assessing infant malnutrition: A randomised controlled trial

Aims The study aims to assess the effects of switching from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth references to World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards on health-care workers' decisions about malnutrition in infants aged <6 months. Methods We conducted a single blind randomised crossover trial involving 78 health-care workers (doctors, clinical officers, health service assistants) in Southern Malawi. Participants were offered hypothetical clinical scenarios with the same infant plotted on NCHS-based weight-for-age charts and again on WHO-based charts. Additional scenarios compared growth charts with a single final weight against charts with the same final weight plus a preceding growth trend. Reported (i) level of concern, (ii) referral suggestions and (iii) feeding advice were elicited with a questionnaire. Results Even after adjusting for health-care worker type and experience, using WHO rather than NCHS charts increased: (i) concern: aOR 4.4 (95% CI 2.4-8.1); (ii) odds of referral: aOR 5.1 (95% CI 2.4-10.8); and (iii) odds of feeding advice which would interrupt exclusive breastfeeding (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.9). A preceding steady growth trend line did not affect concern, referral or feeding advice. Conclusions Health-care workers take insufficient account of linear growth trend, clinical and feeding status when interpreting a low weight-for-age plot. Because more infants <6 months fall below low centile lines on WHO growth charts, their use may increase inappropriate referrals and risks undermining already low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. To avoid their being misinterpreted in this way, WHO charts need accompanying guidelines and training materials that recognise and address this possible adverse effect. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2013 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians)