Beyond All Worlds: George MacDonald, the Pre-Tolkienians, and the Forgotten Possibilities of Fantasy

The history of modern fantasy has been powerfully shaped by the worldbuilding paradigm so successfully executed in J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s 1954-55 trilogy The Lord of the Rings. However, there were nearly a hundred and fifty years of creative work between the birth of fantasy as a genre and Tolkien’s publication of The Lord of the Rings. By examining the pre-Tolkienian fantasists, we find that Tolkien\u27s way of exhaustive consistency was not, and is not, the only way to write fantasy. Phantastes (1858), the first novel by the influential Victorian fantasist George MacDonald, defies contemporary worldbuilding standards almost constantly in its use of references to real world phenomena within Fairy Land and its inclusion of elements that have no precedent or rules of explanation elsewhere in the book. Yet these are not failures of worldbuilding, but instead instances of a consistent alternative paradigm to worldbuilding that I call ‘aesthetic cohesion.’ This method draws upon the forms of German Romanticism to bind the elements of the novel together, using implicit principles of mood and evocation. In this thesis, I argue that Worldbuilding is a legitimate mode for writing fantasy, but its hegemony has forced into one narrow path the genre that, perhaps more than any other, has the potential for unlimited diversity

Concert recording 2013-03-31b

[Track 01]. Sweet Georgie fame / Blossom Dearie -- [Track 02]. Joy spring / Clifford Brown -- [Track 03]. Summer samba / Marcos Valle -- [Track 04]. Rhythm\u27ning / Thelonious Monk -- [Track 05]. One note samba / Antonio Carlos Jobim -- [Track 06]. In a sentimental mood / Duke Ellington -- [Track 07]. Recordame / Joe Henderson -- [Track 08]. Full house / Wes Montgomery -- [Track 09]. Cats and kittens / Peter Erskine -- [Track 10]. Primal prayer / Dan Haerle -- [Track 11]. Cookin\u27 Boox / Detroit Jackson

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Observation of the Bs0 ⁣→D∗+D∗−B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-} decay

International audienceThe first observation of the ${B}_s^0$→ D$^{∗+}$D$^{∗−}$ decay and the measurement of its branching ratio relative to the B$^{0}$→ D$^{∗+}$D$^{∗−}$ decay are presented. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV between 2011 and 2018. The decay is observed with more than 10 standard deviations and the time-integrated ratio of branching fractions is determined to be$\frac{\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to {D}^{\ast +}{D}^{\ast -}\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {D}^{\ast +}{D}^{\ast -}\right)}=0.269\pm 0.032\pm 0.011\pm 0.008,$where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the uncertainty of the fragmentation fraction ratio f$_{s}$/f$_{d}$. The ${B}_s^0$→ D$^{*+}$D$^{*−}$ branching fraction is calculated to be$\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to {D}^{\ast +}{D}^{\ast -}\right)=\left(2.15\pm 0.26\pm 0.09\pm 0.06\pm 0.16\right)\times {10}^{-4},$where the fourth uncertainty is due to the B$^{0}$→ D$^{*+}$D$^{*−}$ branching fraction. These results are calculated using the average ${B}_s^0$ meson lifetime in simulation. Correction factors are reported for scenarios where either a purely heavy or a purely light ${B}_s^0$ eigenstate is considered.[graphic not available: see fulltext

First observation of the <math display="inline"><msup><mi>B</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><msubsup><mi>D</mi><mi>s</mi><mo>+</mo></msubsup><msubsup><mi>D</mi><mi>s</mi><mo>-</mo></msubsup><msup><mi>K</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></math> decay

International audienceThe B+→Ds+Ds-K+ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb-1. Its branching fraction relative to that of the B+→D+D-K+ decay is measured to be B(B+→Ds+Ds-K+)B(B+→D+D-K+)=0.525±0.033±0.027±0.034, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the Ds±→K∓K±π± and D±→K∓π±π± decays. This measurement fills an experimental gap in the knowledge of the family of Cabibbo-favored b¯→c¯cs¯ transitions and opens the path for unique studies of spectroscopy in future

Open charm production and asymmetry in ppNe collisions at sNN=\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\rm NN}} = 68.5 GeV

A measurement of $D^0$ meson production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target configuration is presented. The production of $D^0$ mesons is studied with a beam of 2.5 TeV protons colliding on a gaseous neon target at rest, corresponding to a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 68.5 GeV. The $D^0$ and ${\overline D^0}$ production cross-section in $p$Ne collisions in the centre-of-mass rapidity range $y^{\star}\in [-2.29, 0]$ is found to be $\sigma_{D^{0}}^{y^\star \in [-2.29, 0]} = 48.2 \pm 0.3 \pm 4.5 \,\mu\textrm{b/nucleon}$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The $D^0-{\overline D^0}$ production asymmetry is also evaluated and suggests a negative trend at large negative $y^{\star}$. The considered models do not account precisely for all the features observed in the LHCb data, but theoretical predictions including 1$\%$ intrinsic charm and 10$\%$ recombination contributions better describe the data than the other models consideredA measurement of ${{D}} ^0$ meson production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target configuration is presented. The production of ${{D}} ^0$ mesons is studied with a beam of 2.5 $\,\text {Te\hspace{-1.00006pt}V}$ protons colliding on a gaseous neon target at rest, corresponding to a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle \text {NN}}} = 68.5\,\,\text {Ge\hspace{-1.00006pt}V}$. The sum of the ${{D}} ^0$ and ${\hspace{0.0pt}\overline{\hspace{0.0pt}{D}}} {}^0$ production cross-section in $p\text {Ne}$ collisions in the centre-of-mass rapidity range $y^{\star }\in [-2.29, 0]$ is found to be \sigma _{D^{0}}^{y^\star \in [-2.29, 0]} = 48.2 \pm 0.3 \pm 4.5 \,\upmu \text {b}/\text {nucleon} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The ${{{D}} ^0}-{{\hspace{0.0pt}\overline{\hspace{0.0pt}{D}}} {}^0}$ production asymmetry is also evaluated and suggests a trend towards negative values at large negative $y^{\star }$. The considered models do not account precisely for all the features observed in the LHCb data, but theoretical predictions including 1$\%$ intrinsic charm and 10$\%$ recombination contributions better describe the data than the other models considered.A measurement of $D^0$ meson production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target configuration is presented. The production of $D^0$ mesons is studied with a beam of 2.5 TeV protons colliding on a gaseous neon target at rest, corresponding to a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 68.5 GeV. The sum of the $D^0$ and ${\overline D^0}$ production cross-section in $p$Ne collisions in the centre-of-mass rapidity range $y^{\star}\in [-2.29, 0]$ is found to be $\sigma_{D^{0}}^{y^\star \in [-2.29, 0]} = 48.2 \pm 0.3 \pm 4.5 \,\mu\textrm{b/nucleon}$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The $D^0-{\overline D^0}$ production asymmetry is also evaluated and suggests a trend towards negative values at large negative $y^{\star}$. The considered models do not account precisely for all the features observed in the LHCb data, but theoretical predictions including 1$\%$ intrinsic charm and 10$\%$ recombination contributions better describe the data than the other models considered

Observation of a resonant structure near the Ds+Ds−D_s^+ D_s^- threshold in the B+→Ds+Ds−K+B^+\to D_s^+ D_s^- K^+ decay

An amplitude analysis of the $B^+\to D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as $X(3960)$, is observed in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be $3956\pm5\pm10$ MeV, $43\pm13\pm8$ MeV and $J^{PC}=0^{++}$, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of $c\bar{c} s\bar{s}$ quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the $0^{++}$ assignment or by a $J/\psi \phi\leftrightarrow D_s^+ D_s^-$ coupled-channel effect.An amplitude analysis of the B+→Ds+Ds-K+ decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as X(3960), is observed in the Ds+Ds- invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width, and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be 3956±5±10  MeV, 43±13±8  MeV, and JPC=0++, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of cc¯ss¯ quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the Ds+Ds- invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the 0++ assignment or by a J/ψϕ↔Ds+Ds- coupled-channel effect.An amplitude analysis of the $B^+\to D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as $X(3960)$, is observed in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be $3956\pm5\pm10$ MeV, $43\pm13\pm8$ MeV and $J^{PC}=0^{++}$, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of $c\bar{c}s\bar{s}$ quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the $0^{++}$ assignment or by a $J/\psi \phi\leftrightarrow D_s^+ D_s^-$ coupled-channel effect

Measurement of the CKM angle γγ with B±→D[K∓π±π±π∓]h± B^\pm \to D[K^\mp π^\pm π^\pm π^\mp] h^\pm decays using a binned phase-space approach

The CKM angle $\gamma$ is determined from $C\!P$-violating observables measured in ${B^\pm \to D[ K^\mp \pi^\pm\pi^\pm\pi^\mp] h^\pm}$, $(h = K,\pi)$ decays, where the measurements are performed in bins of the decay phase-space of the $D$ meson. Using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $7, 8$ and $13\,\text{TeV}$, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, $\gamma$ is determined to be \begin{equation*} \gamma = \left( 54.8 \: ^{+\:6.0 }_{-\:5.8} \: ^{+\:0.6}_{-\:0.6} \: ^{+\:6.7}_{-\:4.3} \right)^\circ, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third from the external inputs on the coherence factors and strong phases of the $D$-meson decays.The CKM angle γ is determined from CP-violating observables measured in B$^{±}$ → D[K$^{∓}$π$^{±}$π$^{±}$π$^{∓}$]h$^{±}$, (h = K, π) decays, where the measurements are performed in bins of the decay phase-space of the D meson. Using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{−1}$, γ is determined to be$\gamma ={\left(54.8\begin{array}{c}+6.0\\ {}-5.8\end{array}\begin{array}{c}+0.6\\ {}-0.6\end{array}\begin{array}{c}+6.7\\ {}-4.3\end{array}\right)}^{\circ },$where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third from the external inputs on the coherence factors and strong phases of the D-meson decays.[graphic not available: see fulltext]The CKM angle $\gamma$ is determined from $C\!P$-violating observables measured in ${B^\pm \to D[ K^\mp \pi^\pm\pi^\pm\pi^\mp] h^\pm}$, $(h = K,\pi)$ decays, where the measurements are performed in bins of the decay phase-space of the $D$ meson. Using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $7, 8$ and $13\,\text{TeV}$, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, $\gamma$ is determined to be \begin{equation*} \gamma = \left( 54.8 \: ^{+\:6.0 }_{-\:5.8} \: ^{+\:0.6}_{-\:0.6} \: ^{+\:6.7}_{-\:4.3} \right)^\circ, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third from the external inputs on the coherence factors and strong phases of the $D$-meson decays