Inclusive single gauge boson production in s=7,8\sqrt{s} = 7, 8 and 1313 TeV proton-proton collisions

We report LHC measurements of single $W$ and $Z$ boson production at different centre-of-mass energies. Together, the ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb detectors cover an absolute rapidity range from 0 to 4.5, enabling precision tests and studies of Standard Model physics across different kinematic regions. We report total, fiducial and differential cross-section measurements and their ratios. These results allow tests of the performance of different parton distribution functions (PDFs), and can be used to further constrain the PDFs. In addition, the results are compared to theoretical predictions which use different approaches to model effects within quantum chromodynamics. We also report measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry in $Z$ boson decays, and measurements of angular coefficients, which provide sensitivity to the electroweak mixing angle.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, To appear in the proceedings of the 51st Rencontres de Moriond (EW), 201

Materials processing in space: Future technology trends

NASA's materials processing in space- (MPS) program involves both ground and space-based research and looks to frequent and cost effective access to the space environment for necessary progress. The first generation payloads for research are under active design and development. They will be hosted by the Space Shuttle/Spacelab on Earth orbital flights in the early 1980's. hese missions will focus on the acquisition of materials behavior research data, the potential enhancement of Earth based technology, and the implementation of space based processing for specialized, high value materials. Some materials to be studied in these payloads may provide future breakthroughs for stronger alloys, ultrapure glasses, superior electronic components, and new or better chemicals. An operational 25 kW power system is expected to be operational to support sustained, systematic space processing activity beyond shuttle capability for second generation payload systems for SPACELAB and free flyer missions to study solidification and crystal growth and to process metal/alloys, glasses/ceramics, and chemicals and biologicals

Superheat: An R package for creating beautiful and extendable heatmaps for visualizing complex data

The technological advancements of the modern era have enabled the collection of huge amounts of data in science and beyond. Extracting useful information from such massive datasets is an ongoing challenge as traditional data visualization tools typically do not scale well in high-dimensional settings. An existing visualization technique that is particularly well suited to visualizing large datasets is the heatmap. Although heatmaps are extremely popular in fields such as bioinformatics for visualizing large gene expression datasets, they remain a severely underutilized visualization tool in modern data analysis. In this paper we introduce superheat, a new R package that provides an extremely flexible and customizable platform for visualizing large datasets using extendable heatmaps. Superheat enhances the traditional heatmap by providing a platform to visualize a wide range of data types simultaneously, adding to the heatmap a response variable as a scatterplot, model results as boxplots, correlation information as barplots, text information, and more. Superheat allows the user to explore their data to greater depths and to take advantage of the heterogeneity present in the data to inform analysis decisions. The goal of this paper is two-fold: (1) to demonstrate the potential of the heatmap as a default visualization method for a wide range of data types using reproducible examples, and (2) to highlight the customizability and ease of implementation of the superheat package in R for creating beautiful and extendable heatmaps. The capabilities and fundamental applicability of the superheat package will be explored via three case studies, each based on publicly available data sources and accompanied by a file outlining the step-by-step analytic pipeline (with code).Comment: 26 pages, 10 figure

Computing data for Levin-Wen with defects

We demonstrate how to do many computations for non-chiral topological phases with defects. These defects may be 1-dimensional domain walls or 0-dimensional point defects. Using $\operatorname{Vec}(S_3)$ as a guiding example, we demonstrate how domain wall fusion and associators can be computed using generalized tube algebra techniques. These domain walls can be both between distinct or identical phases. Additionally, we show how to compute all possible point defects, and the fusion and associator data of these. Worked examples, tabulated data and Mathematica code are provided.Comment: 17+25 pages, many tables and attached cod

Fusing Binary Interface Defects in Topological Phases: The Vec⁡(Z/pZ)\operatorname{Vec}(\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}) case

A binary interface defect is any interface between two (not necessarily invertible) domain walls. We compute all possible binary interface defects in Kitaev's $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ model and all possible fusions between them. Our methods can be applied to any Levin-Wen model. We also give physical interpretations for each of the defects in the $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ model. These physical interpretations provide a new graphical calculus which can be used to compute defect fusion.Comment: 27+10 pages, 2+5 tables, comments welcom

Using technology to enhance learning, progression and achievement in higher education

The efficiency of the use of technology in higher education teaching and learning has seen limited research which has been mainly theoretical in nature. The research aims to identify the effects of using technology to enhance learning, progression and achievement in Higher Education. The literature review identified a gap, and this study is situated here to provide a proposed solution to the identified problem. The approach taken is iterative, as it seeks to find a solution to a perceived problem. The research reviews the effect of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) on student case studies and establishes whether technology enhancement can be personalised for learners. The research comprises of three individual studies which form the research design and the construction of the pedagogical model is the result of three studies data. The first study investigates the strategic element of TEL implementation from a programme perspective. The second study gains the student voice on the implementation of TEL. The final study measures the effectiveness of TEL implementation at a module level with a focus on personalisation of learning resources. The methodology adopted is viewed through a pragmatist lens, which enables relevant research instruments to be used to find the solution through the use of mixed methods. The results from this research are used to produce a pedagogical model for the implementation of technology into teaching and learning for modules in HE programmes. The model production process identifies the impact of the major findings from the three studies and to assess the effectiveness of the proposed model before testing it statistically for acceptance. The proposed pedagogical model adds to the established research and gives guidance on the implementation of technology in taught modules in a strategic and consistent manner, offering a level of self-personalisation to support learning in the most effective way. The model and accompanying guidance add knowledge to the area, build on published research and will develop practice. The research will contribute knowledge to the area through a new way of looking at TEL pedagogy, manifested in the proposed implementation model