4,960 research outputs found

    Heavy bottom squark mass in the light gluino and light bottom squark scenario

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    Restrictive upper bounds on the heavy bottom squark mass when the gluino and one bottom squark are both light are based on the predicted reduction of RbR_b (the fraction of ZZ hadronic decays to bbˉb \bar b pairs) in such a scenario. These bounds are found to be relaxed by the process Zbb~ˉg~/bˉb~g~Z \to b\bar{\tilde b}{\tilde g}/{\bar b}{\tilde b}{\tilde g}, which may partially compensate for the reduction of RbR_b. The relaxation of bounds on the top squark and the scale-dependence of the strong coupling constant are also discussed.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Lett. B, more discussions adde

    Assembling life history narratives from quantitative longitudinal panel data: what’s the story for families using social work?

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    Embedded within quantitative longitudinal panel or cohort studies is narrative potential that is arguably untapped but might enrich our understanding of individual and social lives across time. This paper discusses a methodology to assemble the life history narratives of families using social work by drawing on quantitative data from the British Household Panel Survey. It explores whether this person-centred approach helps us to understand the counterintuitive results of a parallel multivariate analyses, which suggest that families using social work fare worse than similar others over time. Our findings are tentative, due to the experimental use of this narrative method and the limits of social work information in the dataset. Nonetheless, the life histories presented bring to light complexities, diversity and the non-linear pathways between families’ needs, support and outcomes that the aggregates obscure. We conclude that reconstructing families’ lives in this way, especially in the absence of complementary longitudinal qualitative data, affords the wider opportunity to interrogate and better understand the findings of quantitative longitudinal studies

    Palaeomagnetic re-investigation of early permian rift basalts from the Baoshan block, SW China: Constraints on the site-of-origin of the gondwana-derived eastern cimmerian terranes

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    A palaeomagnetic investigation was carried out on a series of rift basalts (Woniusi Formation) that accumulated on the Baoshan block (SW China) in the Early Permian, the aim being to provide quantitative palaeogeographical information on the eastern Cimmerian terrane as it detached from eastern Gondwana. Reliable data were obtained from four locations/28 individual cooling units, and when combined with the findings of an earlier study (three locations/19 sites) indicate that breakup occurred at 41.9°S (with errors, 34.2-51.2°S). Using this information, we fit Baoshan against Gondwana within a narrow longitudinal belt close to where northeast Greater India and northwest Australia were once in close proximity. Furthermore, we suggest that Sibumasu (Simao-Burma-Malyasia-Sumatra; the largest of the eastern Cimmerian blocks) lay directly to the east, offshore of Australia; Qiangtang and Lhasa almost certainly sat to the west (off northern Greater India-SE Arabia), but we are uncertain as to their exact configuration. Our findings are compared with several rather different models that have been published in recent years. The new palaeomagnetic constraint highlights the flexibility authors currently have in reconstructing the region, principally because of the overall lack of similar high-quality data from the various blocks. We explain how new data could resolve these ambiguities, thereby offering more robust explanations for eastern Gondwana's late Palaeozoic development

    Hong Kong dentists' preparedness for medical emergency in dental clinics

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    Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the Hong Kong dentists’ and dental clinics’ preparedness for medical emergency in the dental clinic. Methods: Two custom designed questionnaires were developed, one for dentists and another for dental clinics, to collect the required information. The sampling frame for participants was the list of registered dentists published by the Hong Kong Dental Council on its website in January 2016. A total of 434 dentists and 143 dental clinics were selected from the list by systematic random sampling. The latter sample was supplemented by 10 randomly selected government dental clinics. The questionnaires were mailed the selected dentists together with a cover letter and a stamped return envelope. A reminder letter and another copy of the questionnaire were sent out two weeks after the first mailing. Results: 167 (38%) completed dentist questionnaires and 53 (35%) clinic questionnaires were collected. Most of the respondent dentists had some deficient knowledge on basic life support (BLS), their mean score was 3.5 out of a maximum of 5. Most (>60%) of the respondents thought they were competent in performing medical emergency procedures except giving intravenous injection. Moreover, most (>60%) of them held positive attitude towards having immediate availability of essential medical emergency equipment and drugs in their clinic. Dentists who were more recent graduates, those with postgraduate qualifications, and those who work with accompaniment generally had higher mean BLS knowledge scores. In the dental clinics, the most commonly kept medical emergency equipment/drug was instant glucose (70%) and followed by antihistamine (62%). Only a quarter of the clinics were equipped with AED, and 45% were equipped with oxygen cylinder. For 8 out of the 11 items, a higher proportion of the bigger clinics (>2 dental chairs) than the smaller clinics had the medical emergency equipment/drug available (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Conclusion: Hong Kong dentists have a moderate level of knowledge on BLS which should be enhanced through regular attendance at CE courses. Their knowledge level is affected by a number of their background and professional activities factors. Most dental clinics in Hong Kong have only few of the essential medical emergency equipment and drugs while the larger clinics are better equipped than the smaller clinics.published_or_final_versio

    CRISPR Knockout of the HuR Gene Causes a Xenograft Lethal Phenotype.

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    Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, whereas colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. The RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) supports a pro-oncogenic network in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer cells through enhanced HuR expression. Using a publically available database, HuR expression levels were determined to be increased in primary PDA and colorectal cancer tumor cohorts as compared with normal pancreas and colon tissues, respectively. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was successfully used to delete the HuR gene in both PDA (MIA PaCa-2 and Hs 766T) and colorectal cancer (HCT116) cell lines. HuR deficiency has a mild phenotype
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