Bluues: a program for the analysis of the electrostatic properties of proteins based on generalized Born radii

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation and its linear approximation have been widely used to describe biomolecular electrostatics. Generalized Born (GB) models offer a convenient computational approximation for the more fundamental approach based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, and allows estimation of pairwise contributions to electrostatic effects in the molecular context. Results We have implemented in a single program most common analyses of the electrostatic properties of proteins. The program first computes generalized Born radii, via a surface integral and then it uses generalized Born radii (using a finite radius test particle) to perform electrostic analyses. In particular the ouput of the program entails, depending on user's requirement: 1) the generalized Born radius of each atom; 2) the electrostatic solvation free energy; 3) the electrostatic forces on each atom (currently in a dvelopmental stage); 4) the pH-dependent properties (total charge and pH-dependent free energy of folding in the pH range -2 to 18; 5) the pKa of all ionizable groups; 6) the electrostatic potential at the surface of the molecule; 7) the electrostatic potential in a volume surrounding the molecule; Conclusions Although at the expense of limited flexibility the program provides most common analyses with requirement of a single input file in PQR format. The results obtained are comparable to those obtained using state-of-the-art Poisson-Boltzmann solvers. A Linux executable with example input and output files is provided as supplementary material. PMID:22536964

L-shell x-ray production cross sections of Ni, Cu, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Pd by (0. 25--2. 5)-MeV protons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Duggan, J.L.; Kocur, P.M.; Price, J.L.

1985-10-01

L-shell x-ray production cross sections by /sub 1//sup 1/H/sup +/ ions are reported. The data are compared to the first Born approximation (plane-wave Born approximation for direct ionization and Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers approximation for electron capture) and to the ECPSSR (energy-loss and Coulomb-deflection effects, perturbed stationary-state approximation with relativistic correction) theory. The energy of the protons ranged from 0.25 to 2.5 MeV in steps of 0.25 MeV. The targets used in these measurements were /sub 28/Ni, /sub 29/Cu, /sub 32/Ge, /sub 33/As, /sub 37/Rb, /sub 38/Sr, /sub 39/Y, /sub 40/Zr, and /sub 46/Pd. The first Born theory generally agrees with the datamore » found in the literature at high energies and overpredicts them below 1.5 MeV. The ECPSSR predictions are in better agreement with experimental cross sections. At 0.25 MeV our data, however, are underestimated by this theory and tend to agree with the first Born approximation.« less

Calculation of Protein Heat Capacity from Replica-Exchange Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Different Implicit Solvent Models

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-30

rigorous Poisson-based methods generally apply a Lee-Richards mo- lecular surface.9 This surface is considered the de facto description for continuum...definition and calculation of the Born radii. To evaluate the Born radii, two approximations are invoked. The first is the Coulomb field approximation (CFA...energy term, and depending on the particular GB formulation, higher-order non- Coulomb correction terms may be added to the Born radii to account for the

Potential-Energy Surfaces, the Born-Oppenheimer Approximations, and the Franck-Condon Principle: Back to the Roots.

PubMed

Mustroph, Heinz

2016-09-05

The concept of a potential-energy surface (PES) is central to our understanding of spectroscopy, photochemistry, and chemical kinetics. However, the terminology used in connection with the basic approximations is variously, and somewhat confusingly, represented with such phrases as "adiabatic", "Born-Oppenheimer", or "Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic" approximation. Concerning the closely relevant and important Franck-Condon principle (FCP), the IUPAC definition differentiates between a classical and quantum mechanical formulation. Consequently, in many publications we find terms such as "Franck-Condon (excited) state", or a vertical transition to the "Franck-Condon point" with the "Franck-Condon geometry" that relaxes to the excited-state equilibrium geometry. The Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the "classical" model of the Franck-Condon principle are typical examples of misused terms and lax interpretations of the original theories. In this essay, we revisit the original publications of pioneers of the PES concept and the FCP to help stimulate a lively discussion and clearer thinking around these important concepts. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Towards a complete North American Anabaptist Genealogy II: analysis of inbreeding.

PubMed

Agarwala, R; Schäffer, A A; Tomlin, J F

2001-08-01

We describe a large genealogy data base, which can be searched by computer, of 295,095 Amish and Mennonite individuals. The data base was constructed by merging our existing Anabaptist Genealogy Database 2.0 containing approximately 85,000 individuals with a genealogy file containing approximately 242,000 individuals, kindly provided by Mr. James Hostetler. The merging process corrected thousands of inconsistencies and eliminated hundreds of duplicate individuals. Geneticists have long been interested in Anabaptist populations because they are closed and have detailed written genealogies. The creation of an enlarged and unified data base affords the opportunity to examine inbreeding trends and correlates in these populations. We show the following results. The frequency of consanguineous marriages shows steady increase over time and reached approximately 85% for individuals born in 1940-1959. Among consanguineous marriages, the median kinship coefficient stayed stable in the 19th century, but rose from 0.0115 to 0.0151 in the 20th century. There are statistically significant associations (p < 0.0001) between inbreeding and family size and interbirth intervals in the 20th century. There is an association (p < 0.0005) between inbreeding and early death for individuals born in 1920-1959. However, this association reverses dramatically (p < 0.0005 in the opposite direction) for individuals born in 1960-1979. We tested for an association between inbreeding and being the mother of twins, but found none.

Microwave imaging by three-dimensional Born linearization of electromagnetic scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caorsi, S.; Gragnani, G. L.; Pastorino, M.

1990-11-01

An approach to microwave imaging is proposed that uses a three-dimensional vectorial form of the Born approximation to linearize the equation of electromagnetic scattering. The inverse scattering problem is numerically solved for three-dimensional geometries by means of the moment method. A pseudoinversion algorithm is adopted to overcome ill conditioning. Results show that the method is well suited for qualitative imaging purposes, while its capability for exactly reconstructing the complex dielectric permittivity is affected by the limitations inherent in the Born approximation and in ill conditioning.

Non-linear 3-D Born shear waveform tomography in Southeast Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panning, Mark P.; Cao, Aimin; Kim, Ahyi; Romanowicz, Barbara A.

2012-07-01

Southeast (SE) Asia is a tectonically complex region surrounded by many active source regions, thus an ideal test bed for developments in seismic tomography. Much recent development in tomography has been based on 3-D sensitivity kernels based on the first-order Born approximation, but there are potential problems with this approach when applied to waveform data. In this study, we develop a radially anisotropic model of SE Asia using long-period multimode waveforms. We use a theoretical 'cascade' approach, starting with a large-scale Eurasian model developed using 2-D Non-linear Asymptotic Coupling Theory (NACT) sensitivity kernels, and then using a modified Born approximation (nBorn), shown to be more accurate at modelling waveforms, to invert a subset of the data for structure in a subregion (longitude 75°-150° and latitude 0°-45°). In this subregion, the model is parametrized at a spherical spline level 6 (˜200 km). The data set is also inverted using NACT and purely linear 3-D Born kernels. All three final models fit the data well, with just under 80 per cent variance reduction as calculated using the corresponding theory, but the nBorn model shows more detailed structure than the NACT model throughout and has much better resolution at depths greater than 250 km. Based on variance analysis, the purely linear Born kernels do not provide as good a fit to the data due to deviations from linearity for the waveform data set used in this modelling. The nBorn isotropic model shows a stronger fast velocity anomaly beneath the Tibetan Plateau in the depth range of 150-250 km, which disappears at greater depth, consistent with other studies. It also indicates moderate thinning of the high-velocity plate in the middle of Tibet, consistent with a model where Tibet is underplated by Indian lithosphere from the south and Eurasian lithosphere from the north, in contrast to a model with continuous underplating by Indian lithosphere across the entire plateau. The nBorn anisotropic model detects negative ξ anomalies suggestive of vertical deformation associated with subducted slabs and convergent zones at the Himalayan front and Tien Shan at depths near 150 km.

On the mathematical treatment of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jecko, Thierry, E-mail: thierry.jecko@u-cergy.fr

2014-05-15

Motivated by the paper by Sutcliffe and Woolley [“On the quantum theory of molecules,” J. Chem. Phys. 137, 22A544 (2012)], we present the main ideas used by mathematicians to show the accuracy of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for molecules. Based on mathematical works on this approximation for molecular bound states, in scattering theory, in resonance theory, and for short time evolution, we give an overview of some rigorous results obtained up to now. We also point out the main difficulties mathematicians are trying to overcome and speculate on further developments. The mathematical approach does not fit exactly to the common usemore » of the approximation in Physics and Chemistry. We criticize the latter and comment on the differences, contributing in this way to the discussion on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation initiated by Sutcliffe and Woolley. The paper neither contains mathematical statements nor proofs. Instead, we try to make accessible mathematically rigourous results on the subject to researchers in Quantum Chemistry or Physics.« less

Handle with Care

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merrill, Margaret C.

2006-01-01

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that every year 76 million Americans get some kind of food poisoning, more than 300,000 are hospitalized, and approximately 5,000 people die. A 2004 analysis by the Center for Science in the Public Interest indicates that contaminated produce is responsible for the greatest number of food-borne illnesses.…

Approximate solutions of acoustic 3D integral equation and their application to seismic modeling and full-waveform inversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malovichko, M.; Khokhlov, N.; Yavich, N.; Zhdanov, M.

2017-10-01

Over the recent decades, a number of fast approximate solutions of Lippmann-Schwinger equation, which are more accurate than classic Born and Rytov approximations, were proposed in the field of electromagnetic modeling. Those developments could be naturally extended to acoustic and elastic fields; however, until recently, they were almost unknown in seismology. This paper presents several solutions of this kind applied to acoustic modeling for both lossy and lossless media. We evaluated the numerical merits of those methods and provide an estimation of their numerical complexity. In our numerical realization we use the matrix-free implementation of the corresponding integral operator. We study the accuracy of those approximate solutions and demonstrate, that the quasi-analytical approximation is more accurate, than the Born approximation. Further, we apply the quasi-analytical approximation to the solution of the inverse problem. It is demonstrated that, this approach improves the estimation of the data gradient, comparing to the Born approximation. The developed inversion algorithm is based on the conjugate-gradient type optimization. Numerical model study demonstrates that the quasi-analytical solution significantly reduces computation time of the seismic full-waveform inversion. We also show how the quasi-analytical approximation can be extended to the case of elastic wavefield.

Low-energy Scattering of Positronium by Atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, Hasi

2007-01-01

The survey reports theoretical studies involving positronium (Ps) - atom scattering. Investigations carried out in last few decades have been briefly reviewed in this article. A brief description of close-coupling approximation (CCA), the first-Born approximation (FBA) and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation (BOA) for Ps-Atom systems are made. The CCA codes of Ray et a1 [1-6] are reinvestigated using very fine mesh-points to search for resonances. The article advocates the need for an extended basis set & a systematic study using CCAs.

bb̅ud̅ four-quark systems in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation: prospects and challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, Antje; Bicudo, Pedro; Wagner, Marc

2018-03-01

We summarize previous work on b̅b̅ud four-quark systems in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and discuss first steps towards an extension to the theoretically more challenging bb̅ud̅ system. Strategies to identify a possibly existing bb̅ud̅ bound state are discussed and first numerical results are presented.

VLF Trimpi modelling on the path NWC-Dunedin using both finite element and 3D Born modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nunn, D.; Hayakawa, K. B. M.

1998-10-01

This paper investigates the numerical modelling of VLF Trimpis, produced by a D region inhomogeneity on the great circle path. Two different codes are used to model Trimpis on the path NWC-Dunedin. The first is a 2D Finite Element Method Code (FEM), whose solutions are rigorous and valid in the strong scattering or non-Born limit. The second code is a 3D model that invokes the Born approximation. The predicted Trimpis from these codes compare very closely, thus confirming the validity of both models. The modal scattering matrices for both codes are analysed in some detail and are found to have a comparable structure. They indicate strong scattering between the dominant TM modes. Analysis of the scattering matrix from the FEM code shows that departure from linear Born behaviour occurs when the inhomogeneity has a horizontal scale size of about 100 km and a maximum electron density enhancement at 75 km altitude of about 6 electrons.

Convergence of the strong-potential-Born approximation in Z/sub less-than//Z/sub greater-than/

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, J.H.; Sil, N.C.

1986-01-01

Convergence of the strong-potential Born (SPB) approximation as a function of the charges of the projectile and target is studied numerically. Time-reversal invariance (or detailed balance) is satisfied at sufficiently high velocities even when the charges are asymmetric. This demonstarates that the SPB approximation converges to the correct result even when the charge of the ''weak'' potential, which is kept to first order, is larger than the charge of the ''strong'' potential, which is retained to all orders. Consequently, the SPB approximation is valid for systems of arbitrary charge symmetry (including symmetric systems) at sufficiently high velocities.

Microwave beam broadening due to turbulent plasma density fluctuations within the limit of the Born approximation and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köhn, A.; Guidi, L.; Holzhauer, E.; Maj, O.; Poli, E.; Snicker, A.; Weber, H.

2018-07-01

Plasma turbulence, and edge density fluctuations in particular, can under certain conditions broaden the cross-section of injected microwave beams significantly. This can be a severe problem for applications relying on well-localized deposition of the microwave power, like the control of MHD instabilities. Here we investigate this broadening mechanism as a function of fluctuation level, background density and propagation length in a fusion-relevant scenario using two numerical codes, the full-wave code IPF-FDMC and the novel wave kinetic equation solver WKBeam. The latter treats the effects of fluctuations using a statistical approach, based on an iterative solution of the scattering problem (Born approximation). The full-wave simulations are used to benchmark this approach. The Born approximation is shown to be valid over a large parameter range, including ITER-relevant scenarios.

A new probability distribution model of turbulent irradiance based on Born perturbation theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hongxing; Liu, Min; Hu, Hao; Wang, Qian; Liu, Xiguo

2010-10-01

The subject of the PDF (Probability Density Function) of the irradiance fluctuations in a turbulent atmosphere is still unsettled. Theory reliably describes the behavior in the weak turbulence regime, but theoretical description in the strong and whole turbulence regimes are still controversial. Based on Born perturbation theory, the physical manifestations and correlations of three typical PDF models (Rice-Nakagami, exponential-Bessel and negative-exponential distribution) were theoretically analyzed. It is shown that these models can be derived by separately making circular-Gaussian, strong-turbulence and strong-turbulence-circular-Gaussian approximations in Born perturbation theory, which denies the viewpoint that the Rice-Nakagami model is only applicable in the extremely weak turbulence regime and provides theoretical arguments for choosing rational models in practical applications. In addition, a common shortcoming of the three models is that they are all approximations. A new model, called the Maclaurin-spread distribution, is proposed without any approximation except for assuming the correlation coefficient to be zero. So, it is considered that the new model can exactly reflect the Born perturbation theory. Simulated results prove the accuracy of this new model.

Race differences in infant mortality from endogenous causes: a population-based study in North Carolina.

PubMed

Michielutte, R; Moore, M L; Meis, P J; Ernest, J M; Wells, H B

1994-02-01

This study examines the associations between race, birth weight, and mortality from endogenous causes for all singleton births born in 1984-1987 in a 20-county region of North Carolina. A more detailed analysis of preterm low birth weight infants examines these associations according to the proximate medical causes (medical etiology) of the preterm birth. Overall, black infants were found to have approximately twice the mortality risk of white infants. Most of the excess black mortality risk is explained by the larger proportion of black infants born at lower birth weights. The pattern of race differences in infant mortality by birth weight generally replicates the results of earlier studies, but the relative risk ratios within specific birth weight categories are smaller than previously reported. Among preterm low birth weight infants, the association between race and endogenous mortality differs within categories of medical etiology. The mortality risk is the same for black and white infants born preterm due to premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), lower for black infants born preterm due to medical problems, and higher for black infants born preterm due to idiopathic premature labor (IPL).

/sub 1//sup 1/H/sup +/- and /sub 2//sup 4/He/sup +/-induced M-shell x-ray-production cross sections for selected elements in the rare-earth region

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mehta, R.; Duggan, J.L.; Price, J.L.

1983-12-01

The measurements of M-shell x-ray-production cross sections induced by /sub 1//sup 1/H/sup +/ and /sub 2//sup 4/He/sup +/ ions are compared to the first-Born-approximation and ECPSSR (energy loss, Coulomb-deflection effects; perturbed-stationary-state approximation, with relativistic corrections) theories. Most of the reported experimental data were measured in our laboratory and the other measurements were taken from the literature. The data from our laboratory were for incident H/sup +/ and He/sup +/ ions in the energy range from 0.25 to 2.5 MeV. The M-shell x-ray-production cross sections were measured for the following thin targets: /sub 59/Pr, /sub 60/Nd, /sub 63/Eu, /sub 64/Gd, /submore » 66/Dy, /sub 67/Ho, /sub 68/Er, /sub 70/Yb, and /sub 72/Hf. The data from the literature were for protons and He/sup +/ ions in the energy range from 30 keV to 40 MeV. These data were for the following elements: /sub 54/Xe, /sub 59/Pr, /sub 60/Nd, /sub 62/Sm, /sub 63/Eu, /sub 64/Gd, /sub 65/Tb, /sub 66/Dy, /sub 67/Ho, /sub 68/Er, /sub 70/Yb, /sub 72/Hf, /sub 73/Ta, /sub 74/W, /sub 78/Pt, /sub 79/Au, /sub 80/Hg, /sub 82/Pb, /sub 83/Bi, and /sub 92/U. The first-Born-approximation calculations of the ionization cross section were made using the plane-wave Born approximation for direct ionization and the Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers approximation of Nikolaev for electron capture. The ECPSSR theory of Brandt and Lapicki (Phys. Rev. A 23, 1717 (1981)) goes beyond the first Born approximation and accounts for the energy loss, Coulomb deflection, and relativistic effects in the perturbed-stationary-state theory. The first Born approximation overpredicts all measurements. The ECPSSR theory predicts the M-shell production cross sections correctly for Z/sub 2/>70 and energies per ..mu..>0.25 MeV/..mu...« less

School-Aged Children Born Preterm: Review of Functioning across Multiple Domains and Guidelines for Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dempsey, Allison G.; Keller-Margulis, Milena; Mire, Sarah; Abrahamson, Catherine; Dutt, Sonia; Llorens, Ashlie; Payan, Anita

2015-01-01

Children born preterm are at risk for developmental deficits across multiple functional domains. As the rate of survival for preterm infants increases due to medical advancements, a greater understanding is needed for how to meet the needs of this growing population in schools. Because approximately 50-70% of children born preterm require…

CMB-lensing beyond the Born approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marozzi, Giovanni; Fanizza, Giuseppe; Durrer, Ruth

2016-09-01

We investigate the weak lensing corrections to the cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropies considering effects beyond the Born approximation. To this aim, we use the small deflection angle approximation, to connect the lensed and unlensed power spectra, via expressions for the deflection angles up to third order in the gravitational potential. While the small deflection angle approximation has the drawback to be reliable only for multipoles ℓ ∼< 2500, it allows us to consistently take into account the non-Gaussian nature of cosmological perturbation theory beyond the linear level. The contribution to the lensed temperature power spectrum coming from the non-Gaussianmore » nature of the deflection angle at higher order is a new effect which has not been taken into account in the literature so far. It turns out to be the leading contribution among the post-Born lensing corrections. On the other hand, the effect is smaller than corrections coming from non-linearities in the matter power spectrum, and its imprint on CMB lensing is too small to be seen in present experiments.« less

Recovery of singularities from a backscattering Born approximation for a biharmonic operator in 3D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyni, Teemu

2018-04-01

We consider a backscattering Born approximation for a perturbed biharmonic operator in three space dimensions. Previous results on this approach for biharmonic operator use the fact that the coefficients are real-valued to obtain the reconstruction of singularities in the coefficients. In this text we drop the assumption about real-valued coefficients and also establish the recovery of singularities for complex coefficients. The proof uses mapping properties of the Radon transform.

How will millennials impact freight flows in Texas? Final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-01-01

Millennials (born between 1983 and 2000) represent approximately 25 percent of the population in the United States and already outnumber baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) in the current population (15,16,17). As young adults, millennials are ...

Distorted-wave methods for electron capture in ion-atom collisions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burgdoerfer, J.; Taulbjerg, K.

1986-05-01

Distorted-wave methods for electron capture are discussed with emphasis on the surface term in the T matrix and on the properties of the associated integral equations. The surface term is generally nonvanishing if the distorted waves are sufficiently accurate to include parts of the considered physical process. Two examples are considered in detail. If distorted waves of the strong-potential Born-approximation (SPB) type are employed the surface term supplies the first-Born-approximation part of the T matrix. The surface term is shown to vanish in the continuum-distorted-wave (CDW) method. The integral kernel is in either case free of the dangerous disconnected termsmore » discussed by Greider and Dodd but the CDW theory is peculiar in the sense that its first-order approximation (CDW1) excludes a specific on-shell portion of the double-scattering term that is closely connected with the classical Thomas process. The latter is described by the second-order term in the CDW series. The distorted-wave Born approximation with SPB waves is shown to be free of divergences. In the limit of asymmetric collisions the DWB suggests a modification of the SPB approximation to avoid the divergence problem recently identified by Dewangan and Eichler.« less

Urbanization and human health in urban India: institutional analysis of water-borne diseases in Ahmedabad.

PubMed

Saravanan, V S; Ayessa Idenal, Marissa; Saiyed, Shahin; Saxena, Deepak; Gerke, Solvay

2016-10-01

Diseases are rapidly urbanizing. Ageing infrastructures, high levels of inequality, poor urban governance, rapidly growing economies and highly dense and mobile populations all create environments rife for water-borne diseases. This article analyzes the role of institutions as crosscutting entities among a myriad of factors that breed water-borne diseases in the city of Ahmedabad, India. It applies 'path dependency' and a 'rational choice' perspective to understand the factors facilitating the breeding of diseases. This study is based on household surveys of approximately 327 households in two case study wards and intermittent interviews with key informants over a period of 2 years. Principle component analysis is applied to reduce the data and convert a set of observations, which potentially correlate with each other, into components. Institutional analyses behind these components reveal the role of social actors in exploiting the deeply rooted inefficiencies affecting urban health. This has led to a vicious cycle; breaking this cycle requires understanding the political dynamics that underlie the exposure and prevalence of diseases to improve urban health. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

ANALYSIS OF DEUTERON STRIPPING EXPERIMENTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amado, R.D.

1959-05-01

Deuteron stripping experiments analyzed according to the theory of Butter are a nearly unique source of information on the orbital angular momentum and single-particle widths of nuclear bound states. A number of problems in the Butter theory remain. Chew and Low show that in reactions in which there is a contribution from thc exchange of a single particles there can appear isolated poles in the normalized Born approximation to the cross section and that the residue at these poles can be related to quantities of physical interest. Stripping is such a reactions and the Butter theory is the renormalized Bornmore » approximation. (A.C.)« less

Many-body Green’s function theory for electron-phonon interactions: The Kadanoff-Baym approach to spectral properties of the Holstein dimer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Säkkinen, Niko; Peng, Yang; Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem

2015-12-21

We present a Kadanoff-Baym formalism to study time-dependent phenomena for systems of interacting electrons and phonons in the framework of many-body perturbation theory. The formalism takes correctly into account effects of the initial preparation of an equilibrium state and allows for an explicit time-dependence of both the electronic and phononic degrees of freedom. The method is applied to investigate the charge neutral and non-neutral excitation spectra of a homogeneous, two-site, two-electron Holstein model. This is an extension of a previous study of the ground state properties in the Hartree (H), partially self-consistent Born (Gd) and fully self-consistent Born (GD) approximationsmore » published in Säkkinen et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 143, 234101 (2015)]. Here, the homogeneous ground state solution is shown to become unstable for a sufficiently strong interaction while a symmetry-broken ground state solution is shown to be stable in the Hartree approximation. Signatures of this instability are observed for the partially self-consistent Born approximation but are not found for the fully self-consistent Born approximation. By understanding the stability properties, we are able to study the linear response regime by calculating the density-density response function by time-propagation. This amounts to a solution of the Bethe-Salpeter equation with a sophisticated kernel. The results indicate that none of the approximations is able to describe the response function during or beyond the bipolaronic crossover for the parameters investigated. Overall, we provide an extensive discussion on when the approximations are valid and how they fail to describe the studied exact properties of the chosen model system.« less

Comment on “On the quantum theory of molecules” [J. Chem. Phys. 137, 22A544 (2012)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sutcliffe, Brian T., E-mail: bsutclif@ulb.ac.be; Woolley, R. Guy

2014-01-21

In our previous paper [B. T. Sutcliffe and R. G. Woolley, J. Chem. Phys. 137, 22A544 (2012)] we argued that the Born-Oppenheimer approximation could not be based on an exact transformation of the molecular Schrödinger equation. In this Comment we suggest that the fundamental reason for the approximate nature of the Born-Oppenheimer model is the lack of a complete set of functions for the electronic space, and the need to describe the continuous spectrum using spectral projection.

Divergence of the total cross section for three body rearrangement collisions with coulomb interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Omidvar, K.

1972-01-01

Three charged particles 1, 2, 3 collide according to the reaction 1+(2+3) yields (1+3)+2, where (2+3) and (1+3) are hydrogenlike bound states. It is shown when (1+3) is in a highly excited state n, due to the repulsive potential, the cross section in the first Born approximation behaves as 1/n which makes the total cross section to diverge like ln n. The total cross sections in the higher orders of the Born approximation are similarly divergent logarithmically.

Mathematical analysis of the boundary-integral based electrostatics estimation approximation for molecular solvation: exact results for spherical inclusions.

PubMed

Bardhan, Jaydeep P; Knepley, Matthew G

2011-09-28

We analyze the mathematically rigorous BIBEE (boundary-integral based electrostatics estimation) approximation of the mixed-dielectric continuum model of molecular electrostatics, using the analytically solvable case of a spherical solute containing an arbitrary charge distribution. Our analysis, which builds on Kirkwood's solution using spherical harmonics, clarifies important aspects of the approximation and its relationship to generalized Born models. First, our results suggest a new perspective for analyzing fast electrostatic models: the separation of variables between material properties (the dielectric constants) and geometry (the solute dielectric boundary and charge distribution). Second, we find that the eigenfunctions of the reaction-potential operator are exactly preserved in the BIBEE model for the sphere, which supports the use of this approximation for analyzing charge-charge interactions in molecular binding. Third, a comparison of BIBEE to the recent GBε theory suggests a modified BIBEE model capable of predicting electrostatic solvation free energies to within 4% of a full numerical Poisson calculation. This modified model leads to a projection-framework understanding of BIBEE and suggests opportunities for future improvements. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Born Hartree Bethe approximation in the theory of inelastic electron molecule scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kretinin, I. Yu; Krisilov, A. V.; Zon, B. A.

2008-11-01

We propose a new approximation in the theory of inelastic electron atom and electron molecule scattering. Taking into account the completeness property of atomic and molecular wavefunctions, considered in the Hartree approximation, and using Bethe's parametrization for electronic excitations during inelastic collisions via the mean excitation energy, we show that the calculation of the inelastic total integral cross-sections (TICS), in the framework of the first Born approximation, involves only the ground-state wavefunction. The final analytical formula obtained for the TICS, i.e. for the sum of elastic and inelastic ones, contains no adjusting parameters. Calculated TICS for electron scattering by light atoms and molecules (He, Ne, and H2) are in good agreement within the experimental data; results show asymptotic coincidence for heavier ones (Ar, Kr, Xe and N2).

The influence of cross-order terms in interface mobilities for structure-borne sound source characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonhoff, H. A.; Petersson, B. A. T.

2010-08-01

For the characterization of structure-borne sound sources with multi-point or continuous interfaces, substantial simplifications and physical insight can be obtained by incorporating the concept of interface mobilities. The applicability of interface mobilities, however, relies upon the admissibility of neglecting the so-called cross-order terms. Hence, the objective of the present paper is to clarify the importance and significance of cross-order terms for the characterization of vibrational sources. From previous studies, four conditions have been identified for which the cross-order terms can become more influential. Such are non-circular interface geometries, structures with distinctively differing transfer paths as well as a suppression of the zero-order motion and cases where the contact forces are either in phase or out of phase. In a theoretical study, the former four conditions are investigated regarding the frequency range and magnitude of a possible strengthening of the cross-order terms. For an experimental analysis, two source-receiver installations are selected, suitably designed to obtain strong cross-order terms. The transmitted power and the source descriptors are predicted by the approximations of the interface mobility approach and compared with the complete calculations. Neglecting the cross-order terms can result in large misinterpretations at certain frequencies. On average, however, the cross-order terms are found to be insignificant and can be neglected with good approximation. The general applicability of interface mobilities for structure-borne sound source characterization and the description of the transmission process thereby is confirmed.

Average-atom treatment of relaxation time in x-ray Thomson scattering from warm dense matter.

PubMed

Johnson, W R; Nilsen, J

2016-03-01

The influence of finite relaxation times on Thomson scattering from warm dense plasmas is examined within the framework of the average-atom approximation. Presently most calculations use the collision-free Lindhard dielectric function to evaluate the free-electron contribution to the Thomson cross section. In this work, we use the Mermin dielectric function, which includes relaxation time explicitly. The relaxation time is evaluated by treating the average atom as an impurity in a uniform electron gas and depends critically on the transport cross section. The calculated relaxation rates agree well with values inferred from the Ziman formula for the static conductivity and also with rates inferred from a fit to the frequency-dependent conductivity. Transport cross sections determined by the phase-shift analysis in the average-atom potential are compared with those evaluated in the commonly used Born approximation. The Born approximation converges to the exact cross sections at high energies; however, differences that occur at low energies lead to corresponding differences in relaxation rates. The relative importance of including relaxation time when modeling x-ray Thomson scattering spectra is examined by comparing calculations of the free-electron dynamic structure function for Thomson scattering using Lindhard and Mermin dielectric functions. Applications are given to warm dense Be plasmas, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 32 eV and densities ranging from 2 to 64 g/cc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, W. R.; Nilsen, J.

Here, the influence of finite relaxation times on Thomson scattering from warm dense plasmas is examined within the framework of the average-atom approximation. Presently most calculations use the collision-free Lindhard dielectric function to evaluate the free-electron contribution to the Thomson cross section. In this work, we use the Mermin dielectric function, which includes relaxation time explicitly. The relaxation time is evaluated by treating the average atom as an impurity in a uniform electron gas and depends critically on the transport cross section. The calculated relaxation rates agree well with values inferred from the Ziman formula for the static conductivity andmore » also with rates inferred from a fit to the frequency-dependent conductivity. Transport cross sections determined by the phase-shift analysis in the average-atom potential are compared with those evaluated in the commonly used Born approximation. The Born approximation converges to the exact cross sections at high energies; however, differences that occur at low energies lead to corresponding differences in relaxation rates. The relative importance of including relaxation time when modeling x-ray Thomson scattering spectra is examined by comparing calculations of the free-electron dynamic structure function for Thomson scattering using Lindhard and Mermin dielectric functions. Applications are given to warm dense Be plasmas, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 32 eV and densities ranging from 2 to 64 g/cc.« less

Average-atom treatment of relaxation time in x-ray Thomson scattering from warm dense matter

DOE PAGES

Johnson, W. R.; Nilsen, J.

2016-03-14

Here, the influence of finite relaxation times on Thomson scattering from warm dense plasmas is examined within the framework of the average-atom approximation. Presently most calculations use the collision-free Lindhard dielectric function to evaluate the free-electron contribution to the Thomson cross section. In this work, we use the Mermin dielectric function, which includes relaxation time explicitly. The relaxation time is evaluated by treating the average atom as an impurity in a uniform electron gas and depends critically on the transport cross section. The calculated relaxation rates agree well with values inferred from the Ziman formula for the static conductivity andmore » also with rates inferred from a fit to the frequency-dependent conductivity. Transport cross sections determined by the phase-shift analysis in the average-atom potential are compared with those evaluated in the commonly used Born approximation. The Born approximation converges to the exact cross sections at high energies; however, differences that occur at low energies lead to corresponding differences in relaxation rates. The relative importance of including relaxation time when modeling x-ray Thomson scattering spectra is examined by comparing calculations of the free-electron dynamic structure function for Thomson scattering using Lindhard and Mermin dielectric functions. Applications are given to warm dense Be plasmas, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 32 eV and densities ranging from 2 to 64 g/cc.« less

Transmutation approximations for the application of hybrid Monte Carlo/deterministic neutron transport to shutdown dose rate analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Biondo, Elliott D.; Wilson, Paul P. H.

In fusion energy systems (FES) neutrons born from burning plasma activate system components. The photon dose rate after shutdown from resulting radionuclides must be quantified. This shutdown dose rate (SDR) is calculated by coupling neutron transport, activation analysis, and photon transport. The size, complexity, and attenuating configuration of FES motivate the use of hybrid Monte Carlo (MC)/deterministic neutron transport. The Multi-Step Consistent Adjoint Driven Importance Sampling (MS-CADIS) method can be used to optimize MC neutron transport for coupled multiphysics problems, including SDR analysis, using deterministic estimates of adjoint flux distributions. When used for SDR analysis, MS-CADIS requires the formulation ofmore » an adjoint neutron source that approximates the transmutation process. In this work, transmutation approximations are used to derive a solution for this adjoint neutron source. It is shown that these approximations are reasonably met for typical FES neutron spectra and materials over a range of irradiation scenarios. When these approximations are met, the Groupwise Transmutation (GT)-CADIS method, proposed here, can be used effectively. GT-CADIS is an implementation of the MS-CADIS method for SDR analysis that uses a series of single-energy-group irradiations to calculate the adjoint neutron source. For a simple SDR problem, GT-CADIS provides speedups of 200 100 relative to global variance reduction with the Forward-Weighted (FW)-CADIS method and 9 ± 5 • 104 relative to analog. As a result, this work shows that GT-CADIS is broadly applicable to FES problems and will significantly reduce the computational resources necessary for SDR analysis.« less

Transmutation approximations for the application of hybrid Monte Carlo/deterministic neutron transport to shutdown dose rate analysis

DOE PAGES

Biondo, Elliott D.; Wilson, Paul P. H.

2017-05-08

In fusion energy systems (FES) neutrons born from burning plasma activate system components. The photon dose rate after shutdown from resulting radionuclides must be quantified. This shutdown dose rate (SDR) is calculated by coupling neutron transport, activation analysis, and photon transport. The size, complexity, and attenuating configuration of FES motivate the use of hybrid Monte Carlo (MC)/deterministic neutron transport. The Multi-Step Consistent Adjoint Driven Importance Sampling (MS-CADIS) method can be used to optimize MC neutron transport for coupled multiphysics problems, including SDR analysis, using deterministic estimates of adjoint flux distributions. When used for SDR analysis, MS-CADIS requires the formulation ofmore » an adjoint neutron source that approximates the transmutation process. In this work, transmutation approximations are used to derive a solution for this adjoint neutron source. It is shown that these approximations are reasonably met for typical FES neutron spectra and materials over a range of irradiation scenarios. When these approximations are met, the Groupwise Transmutation (GT)-CADIS method, proposed here, can be used effectively. GT-CADIS is an implementation of the MS-CADIS method for SDR analysis that uses a series of single-energy-group irradiations to calculate the adjoint neutron source. For a simple SDR problem, GT-CADIS provides speedups of 200 100 relative to global variance reduction with the Forward-Weighted (FW)-CADIS method and 9 ± 5 • 104 relative to analog. As a result, this work shows that GT-CADIS is broadly applicable to FES problems and will significantly reduce the computational resources necessary for SDR analysis.« less

Determination of the charge of relativistic heavy nuclei from emulsion tracks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, S. H., Jr.; Eby, P. B.

1971-01-01

The number of delta rays with energies between 50 and 150 keV that are produced by heavy nuclei in emulsions is calculated. The Z(2) dependence predicted by the first Born approximation is corrected by a direct calculation of the Mott exact phase-shift scattering cross section. Comparisons are made with corrections predicted by the second Born approximation. When the phase-shift results are applied to the problem of charge identification, corrections of up to 4 units of charge for 1.457-GeV/nucleon nuclei with charge Z = 75 are found.

Measurements of the scattering of sound by a line vortex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horne, W. C.

1983-01-01

This paper presents measurements of the phase and magnitude of the scattered field arising from the incidence of a monochromatic plane sound field as a steady vortex. The amplitude of the scattered field was found to vary linearly with the vortex strength, and with the incident wave amplitude and frequency as predicted by solutions based on the Born approximation. The scattered field was observed to be nonsingular in the incidence direction, and this was similar to predictions by the Parabolic Equation Method (PEM) rather than the Born approximation, which predicts singular behavior in the incidence direction.

Are neutrons precursors of solar flares?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martirosyan, H.

2001-08-01

The analysis of data of a worldwide network of neutron monitors (NM) shows, that at local noon and during approximately 4 hours after, the NM sometimes register statistically significant excess. Enhancement of count rate is approxi-mately ≈ 1.5÷2%. Depending on the geographical coordinates the time slice is determined, during which the global increase of a registered ux (characteristic time of the order of tens of hours) is observed. These data are correlated with data from space-borne sensors, proving significant increase ( ≈ 5 ÷ 10 times) of the low energy protons and electrons in near-earth space. In both cases the ux enhancement during tenths of hours is proceeding by an impulse phase of the next solar are. The analysis of data allows to put forward a hypothesis that the enhancement of the protons and electrons ux is stipulated by decay of solar neutrons with energies 10 ÷ 30 MeV . These neutrons during tenths of hours before an impulse phase of a are are born in active areas of the Sun, as a product of thermonuclear reactions (D + d → He3 + n, T + d → He4 + n). The part of neutrons are decaying in the interplanetary space, and part of high en-ergy neutrons (En > 20 V ) penetrate through terrestrial atmosphere (with probability ≈ 10-7 and are registered by neutron monitors.

Growth hormone therapy for children born small for gestational age: height gain is less dose dependent over the long term than over the short term.

PubMed

de Zegher, Francis; Hokken-Koelega, Anita

2005-04-01

Approximately 3% of children are born small for gestational age (SGA), and approximately 10% of SGA children maintain a small body size throughout childhood and often into adult life. Among short SGA children, growth hormone (GH) therapy increases short-term growth in a dose-dependent manner; experience with long-term therapy is limited. To delineate the dose dependency of long-term height gain among short SGA children receiving GH therapy. We performed an epianalysis of the first adult height data for SGA children (n = 28) enrolled in 3 randomized trials comparing the growth-promoting efficacy of 2 continuous GH regimens (33 or 67 microg/kg per day for approximately 10 years, starting at approximately 5 years of age); in addition, we performed a meta-analysis of the adult height results published previously and those presented here. Epianalysis outcomes (n = 28) suggested that adult height increased more with a higher-dose regimen than with a lower-dose regimen. In the meta-analysis (n = 82), the higher-dose regimen was found to elicit a long-term height gain superior to that achieved with the lower-dose regimen by a mean of 0.4 SD (approximately 1 inch). Children who were shorter at the start of therapy experienced more long-term height gain. These findings confirm GH therapy as an effective and safe approach to reduce the adult height deficit that short SGA children otherwise face. In addition, the first meta-analysis indicated that height gain is less dose dependent over the long term than over the short term, at least within the dose range explored to date. For SGA children whose stature is not extremely short, current data support the use of a GH dose of approximately 33 microg/kg per day from start to adult height, particularly if treatment starts at a young age; shorter children (for example, height below -3 SD) might benefit from an approach in which short-term catch-up growth is achieved with a higher dose (> or =50 microg/kg per day) and long-term growth to adult height is ensured with a GH dose of approximately 33 mug/kg per day. Because GH-induced accelerations of height and weight gain evolve in parallel, the dose tapering from > or =50 microg/kg to approximately 33 microg/kg can be accomplished by simply maintaining the absolute GH dose (in micrograms) while the child gains weight (in kilograms). With this algorithm, more growth-responsive children taper their GH dose down to approximately 33 microg/kg per day more quickly.

Mental Health of Aging Immigrants and Native-Born Men Across 11 European Countries

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Objectives. Though working-age immigrants exhibit lower mortality compared with those domestic-born immigrants, consequences of immigration for mental health remain unclear. We examine whether older immigrants exhibit a mental advantage and whether factors believed to underlie immigrant vulnerability explain disparities. Method. The sample includes 12,247 noninstitutionalized men more than 50 years in 11 European countries. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated the impact of physical health, health behaviors, availability of social support, social participation, citizenship, time since immigration, socioeconomic status (SES), and employment on the mental health of immigrants. Results. Immigrants face 1.60 increased odds of depression despite a physical health advantage, evidenced by 0.74 lower odds of chronic illness. SES and availability of social support were predictive, though acculturation measures were not. Decomposition analysis revealed that only approximately 20% of the variation in depression rates between immigrants and native-born peers were explained by commonly cited risk factors. Conclusions. Despite physical health advantages, older immigrants suffer substantially higher depression rates. Time since immigration does not appear to mitigate depressive symptoms. PMID:23325505

24Na at Ex=4.7 -5.9 MeV from 22Ne(3He,p )

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fortune, H. T.

2018-04-01

Abstract. Analysis of data from the 22Ne(3He,p ) 24Na reaction has been extended to include 18 angular distributions for states between 4.7 and 5.9 MeV. A distorted-wave Born-approximation analysis allows the determination of ℓ value(s) for most of them. Results for Jπ are compared with previous information. In general, agreement is good. Some apparent disagreements between current and past results are indicative of population of a different state in this reaction than the nearby one listed in the compilation.

Perturbations of the seismic reflectivity of a fluid-saturated depth-dependent poroelastic medium.

PubMed

de Barros, Louis; Dietrich, Michel

2008-03-01

Analytical formulas are derived to compute the first-order effects produced by plane inhomogeneities on the point source seismic response of a fluid-filled stratified porous medium. The derivation is achieved by a perturbation analysis of the poroelastic wave equations in the plane-wave domain using the Born approximation. This approach yields the Frechet derivatives of the P-SV- and SH-wave responses in terms of the Green's functions of the unperturbed medium. The accuracy and stability of the derived operators are checked by comparing, in the time-distance domain, differential seismograms computed from these analytical expressions with complete solutions obtained by introducing discrete perturbations into the model properties. For vertical and horizontal point forces, it is found that the Frechet derivative approach is remarkably accurate for small and localized perturbations of the medium properties which are consistent with the Born approximation requirements. Furthermore, the first-order formulation appears to be stable at all source-receiver offsets. The porosity, consolidation parameter, solid density, and mineral shear modulus emerge as the most sensitive parameters in forward and inverse modeling problems. Finally, the amplitude-versus-angle response of a thin layer shows strong coupling effects between several model parameters.

Role of the 3He optical model potential ambiguity in the distorted-wave Born approximation description of the 58Ni(3He, d)59Cu reaction at 130 MeV incident energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djaloeis, A.; Alderliesten, C.; Bojowald, J.; Mayer-Böricke, C.; Oelert, W.; Turek, P.

1983-04-01

Angular distributions of 58Ni(3He, d)59Cu transitions leading to the (0.0 MeV, 32-), (0.91 MeV, 52-), and (3.04 MeV, 92+) states in 59Cu have been measured at an incident energy of 130 MeV. The experimental data have been used to study mainly the role of the 3He optical model potential ambiguity in the distorted-wave Born approximation description of the reaction. Satisfactory fits to the data are obtained using a deep helion potential in standard local zero-range calculations. For a shallow 3He potential a comparable description can be achieved if the depth of the real part of the deuteron optical potential is reduced considerably, and nonlocality as well as finite-range corrections are taken into account. Under these conditions, the use of a 3He potential constructed according to the Johnson-Soper prescription yields similar results. NUCLEAR REACTIONS 58Ni (3He, d)59Cu, E=130 MeV; measured dσ(θ)dΩ. Enriched target; DWBA analysis; discussed reaction mechanism.

Generalized Born Models of Macromolecular Solvation Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashford, Donald; Case, David A.

2000-10-01

It would often be useful in computer simulations to use a simple description of solvation effects, instead of explicitly representing the individual solvent molecules. Continuum dielectric models often work well in describing the thermodynamic aspects of aqueous solvation, and approximations to such models that avoid the need to solve the Poisson equation are attractive because of their computational efficiency. Here we give an overview of one such approximation, the generalized Born model, which is simple and fast enough to be used for molecular dynamics simulations of proteins and nucleic acids. We discuss its strengths and weaknesses, both for its fidelity to the underlying continuum model and for its ability to replace explicit consideration of solvent molecules in macromolecular simulations. We focus particularly on versions of the generalized Born model that have a pair-wise analytical form, and therefore fit most naturally into conventional molecular mechanics calculations.

Immunological control of ticks and tick-borne diseases that impact cattle health and production in Mexico

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The cattle industry is one of the most important agroeconomic activities in Mexico. The national herd is estimated to include approximately 33.5 million head of cattle. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are principal factors with a negative impact on cattle health and production in Mexico. The most econ...

Two-proton transfer reactions on even Ni and Zn isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boucenna, A.; Kraus, L.; Linck, I.; Chan, Tsan Ung

1990-10-01

New levels strongly excited by 112-MeV 12C ions on even Ni and Zn isotopes are Jπ assigned on kinematical and geometrical arguments, crude shell-model calculations, and distorted-wave Born approximation angular-distribution analysis. These tentative assignments are supported by the Bansal-French model. Because of the contribution of additional collective effects, the two-proton transfer reaction spectra are less selectively fed than those obtained with the analogous two-neutron transfer reactions induced on the same targets in a similar energy range.

Communication: On the calculation of time-dependent electron flux within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation: A flux-flux reflection principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albert, Julian; Hader, Kilian; Engel, Volker

2017-12-01

It is commonly assumed that the time-dependent electron flux calculated within the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation vanishes. This is not necessarily true if the flux is directly determined from the continuity equation obeyed by the electron density. This finding is illustrated for a one-dimensional model of coupled electronic-nuclear dynamics. There, the BO flux is in perfect agreement with the one calculated from a solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the coupled motion. A reflection principle is derived where the nuclear BO flux is mapped onto the electronic flux.

First-principles calculations reveal controlling principles for carrier mobilities in semiconductors

DOE PAGES

Wu, Yu -Ning; Zhang, Xiaoguang; Pantelides, Sokrates T.; ...

2016-10-11

It has long been believed that carrier mobilities in semiconductors can be calculated by Fermi s golden rule (Born approximation). Phenomenological models for scattering amplitudes are typically used for engineering- level device modeling. Here we introduce a parameter-free, first-principles approach based on complex- wavevector energy bands that does not invoke the Born approximation. We show that phonon-limited mobility is controlled by low-resistivity percolation paths and that in ionized-impurity scattering one must account for the effect of the screening charge, which cancels most of the Coulomb tail.Finally, calculated electron mobilities in silicon are in agreement with experimental data.

Comparing the role of the height of men and women in the marriage market.

PubMed

Yamamura, Eiji; Tsutsui, Yoshiro

2017-08-01

This paper explores how the role of men and women's height in the marriage market has changed across generations. Using individual-level data from Japan, we compared the effect of height on marriages between men and women, and investigated how the effect of height on marriage has changed across generations. Our key findings are: (1) for men born before 1965, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 0.56% increase in the probability of being married. Conversely, for women born before 1965, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 0.56% decrease in the probability of being married. (2) For men born in or after 1965, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 1.05% (0.18%) increase (decrease) in the probability of being married (divorced). However, the height effect was not present for women. Japan experienced astounding economic development after World War II, which resulted in changes in its economic and social structure. These changes may have also altered the role of height for Japanese men and women in the marriage market. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scattering and absorption of massless scalar waves by Born-Infeld black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez, Pablo Alejandro; Bretón, Nora; Bergliaffa, Santiago Esteban Perez

2018-06-01

We present the results of a study of the scattering of massless planar scalar waves by a Born-Infeld black hole. The scattering and absorption cross sections are calculated using partial-wave methods. The numerical results are checked by reproducing those of the Reissner-Nordstrom black hole, and also using several approximations, with which our results are in very good agreement. The dependence of these phenomena on the effective potential, the charge of the black hole, and the value of the Born-Infeld parameter is discussed.

Migration timing and parenting practices: Contributions to social development in preschoolers with foreign-born and native-born mothers

PubMed Central

Glick, Jennifer E.; Hanish, Laura D.; Yabiku, Scott T.; Bradley, Robert H.

2012-01-01

Little is known about how key aspects of parental migration or child-rearing history affect social development across children from immigrant families. Relying on data on approximately 6,400 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort, analyses assessed the role of mothers’ age at migration on children’s social development in the United States (sociability and problem behaviors). Consistent with models of divergent adaptation and assimilation, the relationship between age at arrival and children’s social development is not linear. Parenting practices, observed when children were approximately 24 months of age, partially mediated the relation between mothers’ age at arrival and children’s social development reported at approximate age 48 months, particularly in the case of mothers who arrived as adults. PMID:22966921

Second-order Born calculation of coplanar symmetric (e, 2e) process on Mg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yong-Zhi; Wang, Yang; Zhou, Ya-Jun

2014-06-01

The second-order distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) method is employed to investigate the triple differential cross sections (TDCS) of coplanar doubly symmetric (e, 2e) collisions for magnesium at excess energies of 6 eV-20 eV. Comparing with the standard first-order DWBA calculations, the inclusion of the second-order Born term in the scattering amplitude improves the degree of agreement with experiments, especially for backward scattering region of TDCS. This indicates that the present second-order Born term is capable to give a reasonable correction to DWBA model in studying coplanar symmetric (e, 2e) problems of two-valence-electron target in low energy range.

Migration Timing and Parenting Practices: Contributions to Social Development in Preschoolers with Foreign-Born and Native-Born Mothers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glick, Jennifer E.; Hanish, Laura D.; Yabiku, Scott T.; Bradley, Robert H.

2012-01-01

Little is known about how key aspects of parental migration or childrearing history affect social development across children from immigrant families. Relying on data on approximately 6,400 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, analyses assessed the role of mother's age at migration on children's social development in…

CMB weak-lensing beyond the Born approximation: a numerical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabbian, Giulio; Calabrese, Matteo; Carbone, Carmelita

2018-02-01

We perform a complete study of the gravitational lensing effect beyond the Born approximation on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies using a multiple-lens raytracing technique through cosmological N-body simulations of the DEMNUni suite. The impact of second-order effects accounting for the non-linear evolution of large-scale structures is evaluated propagating for the first time the full CMB lensing jacobian together with the light rays trajectories. We carefully investigate the robustness of our approach against several numerical effects in the raytracing procedure and in the N-body simulation itself, and find no evidence of large contaminations. We discuss the impact of beyond-Born corrections on lensed CMB observables, and compare our results with recent analytical predictions that appeared in the literature, finding a good agreement, and extend these results to smaller angular scales. We measure the gravitationally-induced CMB polarization rotation that appears in the geodesic equation at second order, and compare this result with the latest analytical predictions. We then present the detection prospect of beyond-Born effects with the future CMB-S4 experiment. We show that corrections to the temperature power spectrum can be measured only if a good control of the extragalactic foregrounds is achieved. Conversely, the beyond-Born corrections on E and B-modes power spectra will be much more difficult to detect.

Cubic Calorimeter for High-Energy Electrons in Ultra-Long Ballooning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moiseev, Alexander A.; Mitchell, John W.; Ormes, Jonathan F.; Streitmatter, Robert E.

2003-01-01

The concept and optimization study of a balloon-borne instrument to study high-energy (from 100 GeV to 5 TeV) cosmic ray electrons will be presented. This energy range of electrons is very interesting for the study of cosmic ray propagation and the search for the nearby sources of high-energy electrons. The instrument is based on a cubic design that allows the detection from all sides. Proton rejection is provided by stringent track analysis, which allows defining when an electron shower is exhausted while the hadron shower continues development. The collecting power of a nominal balloon-borne instrument using this concept will be over 2 square meters sr. This will provide approximately 3,000 electron events above 500 GeV for 3-month long ULDB flight. This instrument will also be capable of detecting sharp features in the high energy gamma-ray spectrum such as gamma-ray lines originating from the dark matter annihilation.

Probing multi-scale self-similarity of tissue structures using light scattering spectroscopy: prospects in pre-cancer detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Subhasri; Das, Nandan K.; Kumar, Satish; Mohapatra, Sonali; Pradhan, Asima; Panigrahi, Prasanta K.; Ghosh, Nirmalya

2013-02-01

Multi-resolution analysis on the spatial refractive index inhomogeneities in the connective tissue regions of human cervix reveals clear signature of multifractality. We have thus developed an inverse analysis strategy for extraction and quantification of the multifractality of spatial refractive index fluctuations from the recorded light scattering signal. The method is based on Fourier domain pre-processing of light scattering data using Born approximation, and its subsequent analysis through Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis model. The method has been validated on several mono- and multi-fractal scattering objects whose self-similar properties are user controlled and known a-priori. Following successful validation, this approach has initially been explored for differentiating between different grades of precancerous human cervical tissues.

Proton scattering by short lived sulfur isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maréchal, F.; Suomijärvi, T.; Blumenfeld, Y.; Azhari, A.; Bauge, E.; Bazin, D.; Brown, J. A.; Cottle, P. D.; Delaroche, J. P.; Fauerbach, M.; Girod, M.; Glasmacher, T.; Hirzebruch, S. E.; Jewell, J. K.; Kelley, J. H.; Kemper, K. W.; Mantica, P. F.; Morrissey, D. J.; Riley, L. A.; Scarpaci, J. A.; Scheit, H.; Steiner, M.

1999-09-01

Elastic and inelastic proton scattering has been measured in inverse kinematics on the unstable nucleus 40S. A phenomenological distorted wave Born approximation analysis yields a quadrupole deformation parameter β2=0.35+/-0.05 for the 2+1 state. Consistent phenomenological and microscopic proton scattering analyses have been applied to all even-even sulfur isotopes from A=32 to A=40. The second analysis used microscopic collective model densities and a modified Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux nucleon-nucleon effective interaction. This microscopic analysis suggests the presence of a neutron skin in the heavy sulfur isotopes. The analysis is consistent with normalization values for λv and λw of 0.95 for both the real and imaginary parts of the Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux potential.

Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J; Voter, Arthur F; Niklasson, Anders M N

2015-04-21

Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached at each time step. The thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.

Communication: Vibrational and vibronic coherences in the two dimensional spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear motion.

PubMed

Albert, Julian; Falge, Mirjam; Gomez, Sandra; Sola, Ignacio R; Hildenbrand, Heiko; Engel, Volker

2015-07-28

We theoretically investigate the photon-echo spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear quantum dynamics. Two situations are treated. In the first case, the Born-Oppenheimer (adiabatic) approximation holds. It is then possible to interpret the two-dimensional (2D) spectra in terms of vibrational motion taking place in different electronic states. In particular, pure vibrational coherences which are related to oscillations in the time-dependent third-order polarization can be identified. This concept fails in the second case, where strong non-adiabatic coupling leads to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer-approximation. Then, the 2D-spectra reveal a complicated vibronic structure and vibrational coherences cannot be disentangled from the electronic motion.

Communication: Vibrational and vibronic coherences in the two dimensional spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear motion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Albert, Julian; Falge, Mirjam; Hildenbrand, Heiko

2015-07-28

We theoretically investigate the photon-echo spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear quantum dynamics. Two situations are treated. In the first case, the Born-Oppenheimer (adiabatic) approximation holds. It is then possible to interpret the two-dimensional (2D) spectra in terms of vibrational motion taking place in different electronic states. In particular, pure vibrational coherences which are related to oscillations in the time-dependent third-order polarization can be identified. This concept fails in the second case, where strong non-adiabatic coupling leads to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer-approximation. Then, the 2D-spectra reveal a complicated vibronic structure and vibrational coherences cannot be disentangled from the electronic motion.

Spatial Risk Assessments Based on Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiologic Data: Importance of Scale for West Nile Virus Disease in Colorado

PubMed Central

Winters, Anna M.; Eisen, Rebecca J.; Delorey, Mark J.; Fischer, Marc; Nasci, Roger S.; Zielinski-Gutierrez, Emily; Moore, Chester G.; Pape, W. John; Eisen, Lars

2010-01-01

We used epidemiologic data for human West Nile virus (WNV) disease in Colorado from 2003 and 2007 to determine 1) the degree to which estimates of vector-borne disease occurrence is influenced by spatial scale of data aggregation (county versus census tract), and 2) the extent of concordance between spatial risk patterns based on case counts versus incidence. Statistical analyses showed that county, compared with census tract, accounted for approximately 50% of the overall variance in WNV disease incidence, and approximately 33% for the subset of cases classified as West Nile neuroinvasive disease. These findings indicate that sub-county scale presentation provides valuable risk information for stakeholders. There was high concordance between spatial patterns of WNV disease incidence and case counts for census tract (83%) but not for county (50%) or zip code (31%). We discuss how these findings impact on practices to develop spatial epidemiologic data for vector-borne diseases and present data to stakeholders. PMID:20439980

Three-dimensional inversion of multisource array electromagnetic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tartaras, Efthimios

Three-dimensional (3-D) inversion is increasingly important for the correct interpretation of geophysical data sets in complex environments. To this effect, several approximate solutions have been developed that allow the construction of relatively fast inversion schemes. One such method that is fast and provides satisfactory accuracy is the quasi-linear (QL) approximation. It has, however, the drawback that it is source-dependent and, therefore, impractical in situations where multiple transmitters in different positions are employed. I have, therefore, developed a localized form of the QL approximation that is source-independent. This so-called localized quasi-linear (LQL) approximation can have a scalar, a diagonal, or a full tensor form. Numerical examples of its comparison with the full integral equation solution, the Born approximation, and the original QL approximation are given. The objective behind developing this approximation is to use it in a fast 3-D inversion scheme appropriate for multisource array data such as those collected in airborne surveys, cross-well logging, and other similar geophysical applications. I have developed such an inversion scheme using the scalar and diagonal LQL approximation. It reduces the original nonlinear inverse electromagnetic (EM) problem to three linear inverse problems. The first of these problems is solved using a weighted regularized linear conjugate gradient method, whereas the last two are solved in the least squares sense. The algorithm I developed provides the option of obtaining either smooth or focused inversion images. I have applied the 3-D LQL inversion to synthetic 3-D EM data that simulate a helicopter-borne survey over different earth models. The results demonstrate the stability and efficiency of the method and show that the LQL approximation can be a practical solution to the problem of 3-D inversion of multisource array frequency-domain EM data. I have also applied the method to helicopter-borne EM data collected by INCO Exploration over the Voisey's Bay area in Labrador, Canada. The results of the 3-D inversion successfully delineate the shallow massive sulfides and show that the method can produce reasonable results even in areas of complex geology and large resistivity contrasts.

Total Born approximation cross sections for single electron loss by atoms and ions colliding with atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rule, D. W.

1977-01-01

The first born approximation (FBA) is applied to the calculation of single electron loss cross sections for various ions and atoms containing from one to seven electrons. Screened hydrogenic wave functions were used for the states of the electron ejected from the projectile, and Hartree-Fock elastic and incoherent scattering factors were used to describe the target. The effect of the target atom on the scaling of projectile ionization cross sections with respect to the projectile nuclear charge was explored in the case of hydrogen-like ions. Scaling of the cross section with respect to the target nuclear charge for electron loss by Fe (+25) in collision with neutral atoms ranging from H to Fe is also examined. These results were compared to those of the binary encounter approximation and to the FBA for the case of ionization by completely stripped target ions.

Selection, Language Heritage, and the Earnings Trajectories of Black Immigrants in the United States

PubMed Central

Hamilton, Tod G.

2014-01-01

Research suggests that immigrants from the English-speaking Caribbean surpass the earnings of U.S.-born blacks approximately one decade after arriving in the United States. Using data from the 1980–2000 U.S. censuses and the 2005–2007 American Community Surveys on U.S.-born black and non-Hispanic white men as well as black immigrant men from all the major sending regions of the world, I evaluate whether selective migration and language heritage of immigrants’ birth countries account for the documented earnings crossover. I validate the earnings pattern of black immigrants documented in previous studies, but I also find that the earnings of most arrival cohorts of immigrants from the English-speaking Caribbean, after residing in the United States for more than 20 years, are projected to converge with or slightly overtake those of U.S.-born black internal migrants. The findings also show three arrival cohorts of black immigrants from English-speaking African countries are projected to surpass the earnings of U.S.-born black internal migrants. No arrival cohort of black immigrants is projected to surpass the earnings of U.S.-born non-Hispanic whites. Birth-region analysis shows that black immigrants from English-speaking countries experience more rapid earnings growth than immigrants from non-English-speaking countries. The arrival-cohort and birth-region variation in earnings documented in this study suggest that selective migration and language heritage of black immigrants’ birth countries are important determinants of their initial earnings and earnings trajectories in the United States. PMID:24854004

Energy conserving, linear scaling Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Cawkwell, M J; Niklasson, Anders M N

2012-10-07

Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations with long-term conservation of the total energy and a computational cost that scales linearly with system size have been obtained simultaneously. Linear scaling with a low pre-factor is achieved using density matrix purification with sparse matrix algebra and a numerical threshold on matrix elements. The extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics formalism [A. M. N. Niklasson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 123004 (2008)] yields microcanonical trajectories with the approximate forces obtained from the linear scaling method that exhibit no systematic drift over hundreds of picoseconds and which are indistinguishable from trajectories computed using exact forces.

Application of meteorological data to agroclimatological mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaar, E.

1980-03-01

During the years 1969 72 a comprehensive agroclimatic survery was carried out in Aust-Agder, a county of approximately 9000 km2 in the southernmost part of Norway. Meteorological data were collected from some 70 stations grouped in 11 model locations. In the analysis the agricultural purposes behind the survey are born in mind and importance is attached to simple and direct methods that will allow extrapolations within the region with sufficient confidence. The geographical variations in growth climate is expressed by average radiation and temperature conditions, and by estimates of plant-available soil moisture.

Two-proton transfer reactions on even Ni and Zn isotopes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boucenna, A.; Kraus, L.; Linck, I.

New levels strongly excited by 112-MeV {sup 12}C ions on even Ni and Zn isotopes are {ital J}{sup {pi}} assigned on kinematical and geometrical arguments, crude shell-model calculations, and distorted-wave Born approximation angular-distribution analysis. These tentative assignments are supported by the Bansal-French model. Because of the contribution of additional collective effects, the two-proton transfer reaction spectra are less selectively fed than those obtained with the analogous two-neutron transfer reactions induced on the same targets in a similar energy range.

A Stochastic Tick-Borne Disease Model: Exploring the Probability of Pathogen Persistence.

PubMed

Maliyoni, Milliward; Chirove, Faraimunashe; Gaff, Holly D; Govinder, Keshlan S

2017-09-01

We formulate and analyse a stochastic epidemic model for the transmission dynamics of a tick-borne disease in a single population using a continuous-time Markov chain approach. The stochastic model is based on an existing deterministic metapopulation tick-borne disease model. We compare the disease dynamics of the deterministic and stochastic models in order to determine the effect of randomness in tick-borne disease dynamics. The probability of disease extinction and that of a major outbreak are computed and approximated using the multitype Galton-Watson branching process and numerical simulations, respectively. Analytical and numerical results show some significant differences in model predictions between the stochastic and deterministic models. In particular, we find that a disease outbreak is more likely if the disease is introduced by infected deer as opposed to infected ticks. These insights demonstrate the importance of host movement in the expansion of tick-borne diseases into new geographic areas.

Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J.; Voter, Arthur F.

Here, Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached atmore » each time step. Lastly, the thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.« less

Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

DOE PAGES

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J.; Voter, Arthur F.; ...

2015-04-21

Here, Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached atmore » each time step. Lastly, the thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.« less

Phenomenological Study of Interaction between Solar Acoustic Waves and Sunspots from Measured Scattered Wavefunctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ming-Hsu; Chou, Dean-Yi; Zhao, Hui; Liang, Zhi-Chao

2012-08-01

The solar acoustic waves around a sunspot are modified because of the interaction with the sunspot. The interaction can be viewed as that the sunspot, excited by the incident wave, generates the scattered wave, and the scattered wave is added to the incident wave to form the total wave around the sunspot. We define an interaction parameter, which could be complex, describing the interaction between the acoustic waves and the sunspot. The scattered wavefunction on the surface can be expressed as a two-dimensional integral of the product of the Green's function, the wavefunction, and the two-dimensional interaction parameter over the sunspot area for the Born approximation of different orders. We assume a simple model for the two-dimensional interaction parameter distribution: its absolute value is axisymmetric with a Gaussian distribution and its phase is a constant. The measured scattered wavefunctions of various modes for NOAAs 11084 and 11092 are fitted to the theoretical scattered wavefunctions to determine the three model parameters, magnitude, Gaussian radius, and phase, for the Born approximation of different orders. The three model parameters converge to some values at high-order Born approximations. The result of the first-order Born approximation is significantly different from the convergent value in some cases. The rate of convergence depends on the sunspot size and wavelength. It converges more rapidly for the smaller sunspot and longer wavelength. The magnitude increases with mode frequency and degree for each radial order. The Gaussian radius is insensitive to frequency and degree. The spatial range of the interaction parameter is greater than that of the continuum intensity deficit, but smaller than that of the acoustic power deficit of the sunspot. The phase versus phase speed falls into a small range. This suggests that the phase could be a function phase speed. NOAAs 11084 and 11092 have a similar magnitude and phase, although the ratio of their sizes is 0.75.

Interpretation of ES, CS, and IOS approximations within a translational--internal coupling scheme. IV. ES and IOS molecule--molecule cross sections

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Snider, R.F.; Parvatiyar, M.G.

1981-05-15

Properties of energy sudden and infinite order sudden translational--internal reduced S matrices are given for general molecule--molecule collisions. Formal similarities with the distorted wave Born approximation are discussed. Structural simplifications of energy dependent and kinetic cross sections associated with making the ES approximation are described. Conceptual difficulties associated with applying the ES and IOS approximations to kinetic processes dominated by energetically inelastic collisions are pointed out.

Birth Order and Injury-Related Infant Mortality in the U.S.

PubMed

Ahrens, Katherine A; Rossen, Lauren M; Thoma, Marie E; Warner, Margaret; Simon, Alan E

2017-10-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of death during the first year of life due to injury, such as unintentional injury and homicide, by birth order in the U.S. Using national birth cohort-linked birth-infant death data (births, 2000-2010; deaths, 2000-2011), risks of infant mortality due to injury in second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth or later-born singleton infants were compared with first-born singleton infants. Risk ratios were estimated using log-binomial models adjusted for maternal age, marital status, race/ethnicity, and education. The statistical analyses were conducted in 2016. Approximately 40%, 32%, 16%, 7%, and 4% of singleton live births were first, second, third, fourth, and fifth or later born, respectively. From 2000 to 2011, a total of 15,866 infants died as a result of injury (approximately 1,442 deaths per year). Compared with first-born infants (2.9 deaths per 10,000 live births), second or later-born infants were at increased risk of infant mortality due to injury (second, 3.6 deaths; third, 4.2 deaths; fourth, 4.8 deaths; fifth or later, 6.4 deaths). The corresponding adjusted risk ratios were as follows: second, 1.84 (95% CI=1.76, 1.91); third, 2.42 (95% CI=2.30, 2.54); fourth, 2.96 (95% CI=2.77, 3.16); and fifth or later, 4.26 (95% CI=3.96, 4.57). Singleton infants born second or later were at increased risk of mortality due to injury during their first year of life in the U.S. This study's findings highlight the importance of investigating underlying mechanisms behind this increased risk. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Aging in Australia: country of birth and language preferences of residents in aged care facilities.

PubMed

Petrov, Ljubica; Joyce, Catherine; Gucciardo-Masci, Tonina

2017-09-05

Objective There is a need to better understand the use of aged care services by people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) who were born in non-English-speaking countries and/or have a preferred language other than English and to describe service utilisation rates. Methods The present study consisted of a secondary analysis of data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse. Data were analysed by country of birth, preferred language, state or territory and Aged Care Planning Regions within Victoria. Results Nationally, over 30000 (18.3%) RACF residents were born in a non-English-speaking country. In Victoria, almost one in four RACF residents (23.9%) was born in a non-English-speaking country, and approximately one in eight (13.1%) has a preferred language other than English. Most Victorian RACFs (72.4%) have at least one resident with a preferred language other than English. Approximately one in four residents (26.1%) with a preferred language other than English are the sole speaker of the language in their facility. Conclusion All RACFs need to effectively address the needs and preferences of their residents, including those who were born in a non-English-speaking country or prefer to speak a language other than English. What is known about the topic? The number of older people from a non-English-speaking background continues to increase, but little is known about the prevalence of this cohort living in RACFs and how aged care providers are responding to their needs and preferences. What does this paper add? The present study provides detailed, service- and policy-relevant information, demonstrating a substantial degree of diversity among people living in RACFs, with wide distribution across facilities and regions. The findings confirm the need for a systematic, sector-wide approach to addressing linguistic diversity and developing inclusive practices. What are the implications for practitioners? All RACFs are required to develop policies and procedures in order to cater to the needs and preferences of residents who were born in non-English-speaking countries and/or who prefer to speak a language other than English.

Strong-potential Born calculations for electron capture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, J.H.; Sil, N.C.

1983-12-01

A closed-form expression for 1s-1s electron capture has been developed in the strong-potential Born (SPB) approximation. Terms of the order (Z/sub p//v)/sup 2/ are ignored in our expression, where Z/sub p/ is the charge of the projectile and v is the collision velocity. Our errors of order (Z/sub p//v)/sup 2/ are within the accuracy of the SPB approximation itself, which is valid to first order in the projectile-electron interaction V/sub p/ (and all orders in the stronger target potential V/sub T/). Calculations using our expression are in better agreement with experimental observations of the shape of the Thomas peak thanmore » are other calculations.« less

Electromagnetic backscattering from a random distribution of lossy dielectric scatterers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lang, R. H.

1980-01-01

Electromagnetic backscattering from a sparse distribution of discrete lossy dielectric scatterers occupying a region 5 was studied. The scatterers are assumed to have random position and orientation. Scattered fields are calculated by first finding the mean field and then by using it to define an equivalent medium within the volume 5. The scatterers are then viewed as being embedded in the equivalent medium; the distorted Born approximation is then used to find the scattered fields. This technique represents an improvement over the standard Born approximation since it takes into account the attenuation of the incident and scattered waves in the equivalent medium. The method is used to model a leaf canopy when the leaves are modeled by lossy dielectric discs.

Time-dependent calculations of transfer ionization by fast proton-helium collision in one-dimensional kinematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serov, Vladislav V.; Kheifets, A. S.

2014-12-01

We analyze a transfer ionization (TI) reaction in the fast proton-helium collision H++He →H0+He2 ++ e- by solving a time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) under the classical projectile motion approximation in one-dimensional kinematics. In addition, we construct various time-independent analogs of our model using lowest-order perturbation theory in the form of the Born series. By comparing various aspects of the TDSE and the Born series calculations, we conclude that the recent discrepancies of experimental and theoretical data may be attributed to deficiency of the Born models used by other authors. We demonstrate that the correct Born series for TI should include the momentum-space overlap between the double-ionization amplitude and the wave function of the transferred electron.

BORN CROSS SECTIONS FOR INELASTIC SCATTERING OF ELECTRONS BY HYDROGEN ATOMS. III. 5s, 5p, 5d, 5f, 5g STATES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Milford, S.N.; Morrissey, J.J.; Scanlon, J.H.

1960-12-01

Born total cross sections were computed for the strong optically allowed transitions from n = 5 to n' = 6, at incident energies between 0.2 and 1361 ev. Thirty energy values were considered for the 5s to 6p and 5g to 6h cases, and nine for the other transitions. The cross sections obtained were larger than those of comparable transitions for lower n. The Bethe (dipole) approximation was also used, and was found to give good agreement with the Born results down to relatively low energies ( approx equal 3 ev). (auth)

Effect of maternal smoking cessation before and during early pregnancy on fetal and childhood growth.

PubMed

Suzuki, Kohta; Sato, Miri; Zheng, Wei; Shinohara, Ryoji; Yokomichi, Hiroshi; Yamagata, Zentaro

2014-01-01

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a major cause of intrauterine growth restriction and childhood obesity, but only a few studies have examined the association of smoking cessation before and during pregnancy with fetal and childhood growth. We examined this association in a prospective cohort study in Japan. Our study included children born between 1991 and 2006 and their mothers. Using a questionnaire, maternal smoking status was recorded at pregnancy. The anthropometric data of the children were collected during a medical check-up at age 3 years. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used for data analysis stratified by sex. In total, 2663 mothers reported their smoking status during early pregnancy, and data were collected from 2230 (83.7%) children at age 3 years. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a significant reduction in birth weight (approximately 120-150 g). Body mass index at age 3 years was significantly higher among boys born to smoking mothers than among boys born to nonsmoking mothers. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with overweight at age 3 years among boys (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.03-5.4). However, among women who stopped smoking in early pregnancy, there was no increase in the risks of a small for gestational age birth or childhood overweight at age 3 years. Children born to mothers who stopped smoking before or during early pregnancy had appropriate fetal and childhood growth.

Congenital abnormalities in newborns of women with pregestational diabetes: A time-trend analysis, 1994 to 2009.

PubMed

Agha, Mohammad M; Glazier, Richard H; Moineddin, Rahim; Booth, Gillian

2016-10-01

The main objective of the current study is to examine the trend of congenital abnormalities among children born by women with and without diabetes, and to explore the impact of food fortification by folic acid on the rate of birth defects among these two groups of mothers. All children born alive in Ontario, Canada, during 1994 to 2009 and their mothers were included in study. Diagnosis of pregestational diabetes among mothers was identified using Diabetes registry, and diagnosis of birth defects among children were identified using hospital records. The prevalence of births among diabetic mothers increased by almost 200% during the study period. Among children born to mothers with diabetes, the prevalence for all anomalies combined was approximately 47% higher and for various cardiac and central nervous system anomalies up to a three- to fivefold higher than those born to nondiabetic mothers. While the rate of birth defects in both groups observed a considerable decline after food fortification in 1999, but the gap between two groups remained unchanged over time. While the prevalence of birth defects among diabetic pregnancies is still considerably higher that nondiabetic pregnancies, results of the current study indicate a declining trend in the prevalence of some congenital abnormalities among babies born to both diabetic and nondiabetic mothers after 1999. We need to be more aggressive in implementing preventive measures, including a national diabetes plan or the proposed universal policy of supra-dietary folic acid supplementation for women with diabetes who are of reproductive age. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:831-839, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Three-dimensional imaging of buried objects in very lossy earth by inversion of VETEM data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cui, T.J.; Aydiner, A.A.; Chew, W.C.; Wright, D.L.; Smith, D.V.

2003-01-01

The very early time electromagnetic system (VETEM) is an efficient tool for the detection of buried objects in very lossy earth, which allows a deeper penetration depth compared to the ground-penetrating radar. In this paper, the inversion of VETEM data is investigated using three-dimensional (3-D) inverse scattering techniques, where multiple frequencies are applied in the frequency range from 0-5 MHz. For small and moderately sized problems, the Born approximation and/or the Born iterative method have been used with the aid of the singular value decomposition and/or the conjugate gradient method in solving the linearized integral equations. For large-scale problems, a localized 3-D inversion method based on the Born approximation has been proposed for the inversion of VETEM data over a large measurement domain. Ways to process and to calibrate the experimental VETEM data are discussed to capture the real physics of buried objects. Reconstruction examples using synthesized VETEM data and real-world VETEM data are given to test the validity and efficiency of the proposed approach.

Effects of a finite aperture on the Inverse Born Approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kogan, V.G.; Rose, J.H.

1983-01-01

One of the most important effects of complex part geometry is that the available entrance and exit angles for ultrasound are limited. We will present a study of the Inverse Born approximation in which we have data for incident (and exit) directions confined to a conical aperture. Modeling the direct problem by the Born Approximation, we obtained analytical results for (1) a weak spherical inclusion, and (2) a penny shaped crack (modeled by an oblate spheroid). General results are: (a) the value of the characteristic function ..gamma.. is constant in the interior of the flaw, but reduced in value; (b)more » the discontinuity at the boundary of the flaw occurs over the lighted portion of the flaw; (c) this discontinuity is contrasted by a region where ..gamma.. is negative; and (d) new non-physical discontinuities and non-analyticities appear in the reconstructed characteristic function. These general features also appear in numerical calculations which use as input strong scattering data from a spherical void and a flat penny shaped crack in Titanium. The numerical results can be straightforwardly interpreted in terms of the analytical calculation mentioned above, indicating that they will be useful in the study of realistic flaws. We conclude by discussing the stabilization of the aperture limited inversion problem and the removal of non-physical features in the reconstruction.« less

Does really Born Oppenheimer approximation break down in charge transfer processes? An exactly solvable model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuznetsov, Alexander M.; Medvedev, Igor G.

2006-05-01

Effects of deviation from the Born-Oppenheimer approximation (BOA) on the non-adiabatic transition probability for the transfer of a quantum particle in condensed media are studied within an exactly solvable model. The particle and the medium are modeled by a set of harmonic oscillators. The dynamic interaction of the particle with a single local mode is treated explicitly without the use of BOA. Two particular situations (symmetric and non-symmetric systems) are considered. It is shown that the difference between the exact solution and the true BOA is negligibly small at realistic parameters of the model. However, the exact results differ considerably from those of the crude Condon approximation (CCA) which is usually considered in the literature as a reference point for BOA (Marcus-Hush-Dogonadze formula). It is shown that the exact rate constant can be smaller (symmetric system) or larger (non-symmetric one) than that obtained in CCA. The non-Condon effects are also studied.

Cross sections and rate coefficients for inner-shell excitation of Li-like ions with 6 < Z < 42

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safronova, U. I.; Safronova, M. S.; Kato, T.

1996-07-01

Excitation cross sections and rate coefficients by electron impact were calculated for the 1s22s-1s2s2p, 1s22s-1s2s2 and 1s22s-1s2p2 transitions of the Li-like ions (C IV, N V, O VI, Ne VIII, Mg X, Al XI, Si XII, S XIV, Ar XVI, Ca XVIII, Ti XX, Fe XXIV, Ni XXVI, Zn XXVIII, Ge XXX, Se XXXII, Kr XXXIV and Mo XXXX) in the Coulomb-Born approximation with exchange including relativistic effects and configuration interaction. Level energies, mixing coefficients and transition wavelengths and probabilities were also computed. Calculations performed by the 1/Z perturbation theory and Coulomb-Born approximation are compared with the R-matrix method and the distorted-wave approximation were Z is the nuclear charge. Formulae obtained for the angular factors of n-electron atomic system allow one to generalize this method to an arbitrary system of highly charged ions.

Co-occurrence of chronic disease lifestyle risk factors in middle-aged and older immigrants: A cross-sectional analysis of 264,102 Australians.

PubMed

Sarich, Peter Eugene Andrew; Ding, Ding; Sitas, Freddy; Weber, Marianne Frances

2015-12-01

The way in which lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease co-occur among people with different cultural backgrounds is largely unknown. This study investigated chronic disease risk among immigrants aged ≥45 years in Australia by combining common lifestyle risk factors into a weighted chronic disease risk index (CDRI). Among 64,194 immigrants and 199,908 Australian-born participants in the 45 and Up Study (2006-2009), Poisson regression was used to derive relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for five risk factors (smoking, alcohol use, overweight/obesity, physical activity, diet) by place of birth adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to determine adjusted mean differences (AMDs) in CDRI score by place of birth and years lived in Australia. Immigrants had higher RRs of smoking than Australian-born participants, lower RRs of excessive alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity, and no difference in RR for physical inactivity and insufficient fruit/vegetable intake. Participants born in the Middle East/North Africa (AMD 3.5, 95% CI 2.7, 4.3), Eastern/Central Europe (1.3, 0.8, 1.9), and Western Europe (0.5, 0.1, 0.8) had higher mean CDRI scores than Australian-born participants, while participants born in East Asia (-7.2, -7.8, -6.6), Southeast Asia (-6.6, -7.2, -6.1), Central/South Asia (-3.1, -4.0, -2.1), Sub-Saharan Africa (-1.9, -2.6, -1.2) and the United Kingdom/Ireland (-0.2, -0.5, 0.0) had lower scores. CDRI score among immigrants generally approximated that of Australian-born participants with greater years lived in Australia. This study reveals differences in potential risk of chronic disease among different immigrant groups in Australia. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toohey, M.; Quine, B. M.; Strong, K.; Bernath, P. F.; Boone, C. D.; Jonsson, A. I.; McElroy, C. T.; Walker, K. A.; Wunch, D.

2007-12-01

Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-11 and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.

Corrections to the one-photon approximation in the 0+-->2+ transition of 12C

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paul Gueye; Madeleine Bernheim; J. F. Danel

2001-04-18

Contribution of higher order effects to the one-photon exchange approximation were studied in the first excited state of 12C by comparing inclusive inelastic scattering cross sections of electrons and positrons obtained at the Saclay Linear Accelerator. The data were compared to a distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA)calculation. The results indicate an effect less than 2% within 2sigma, compatible with what was observed in recent elastic scattering measurements.

The graviton luminosity of the sun and other stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gould, R. J.

1985-01-01

Graviton production in electron-electron (e-e) and electron-ion (e-z) scattering is evaluated in the Born approximation. The calculation is compared with that for photon production, that is, Coulomb quadrupole bremsstrahlung, and a number of results are taken over from that problem. Application is made to the sun, and it is found that for the solar plasma the main contribution to the graviton luminosity comes from the central core at r/R approximately 0.1. The total luminosity (Lg) in gravitons is about 7.9 x 10 to the 14th ergs/s, close to an earlier estimate by Weinberg (1965, 1972); about 33 percent of the total results from e-e collisions with the rest from e-z collisions (mainly e-p and e-alpha). Approximate corrections to Born formulas are evaluated, and this Lg includes the associated (approximately + or - 10 percent, respectively) modification. The quantum-mechanical aspects of the solar Lg problem are discussed, and it is shown why a previous classical calculation overestimated Lg by about an order of magnitude. Production of gravitons in binary collisions in other types of stars is discussed briefly. It is found that Lg varies very little along the main sequence. White dwarfs have a typical graviton luminosity LWD approximately 10 to the 19th ergs/s, while neutron stars have LNS approximately 10 to the 25th ergs/s; these estimates are very rough.

Postural Complexity Differs Between Infant Born Full Term and Preterm During the Development of Early Behaviors

PubMed Central

Dusing, Stacey C; Izzo, Theresa A.; Thacker, Leroy R.; Galloway, James C

2014-01-01

Background and Aims Postural control differs between infants born preterm and full term at 1–3 weeks of age. It is unclear if differences persist or alter the development of early behaviors. The aim of this longitudinal study was to compare changes in postural control variability during development of head control and reaching in infants born preterm and full term. Methods Eighteen infants born preterm (mean gestational age 28.3±3.1 weeks) were included in this study and compared to existing data from 22 infants born full term. Postural variability was assessed longitudinally using root mean squared displacement and approximate entropy of the center of pressure displacement from birth to 6 months as measures of the magnitude of the variability and complexity of postural control. Behavioral coding was used to quantify development of head control and reaching. Results Group differences were identified in postural complexity during the development of head control and reaching. Infants born preterm used more repetitive and less adaptive postural control strategies than infants born full term. Both groups changed their postural complexity utilized during the development of head control and reaching. Discussion Early postural complexity was decreased in infants born preterm, compared to infants born full term. Commonly used clinical assessments did not identify these early differences in postural control. Altered postural control in infants born preterm influenced ongoing skill development in the first six months of life. PMID:24485170

Genetic Characterization of the Tick-Borne Orbiviruses

PubMed Central

Belaganahalli, Manjunatha N.; Maan, Sushila; Maan, Narender S.; Brownlie, Joe; Tesh, Robert; Attoui, Houssam; Mertens, Peter P. C.

2015-01-01

The International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recognizes four species of tick-borne orbiviruses (TBOs): Chenuda virus, Chobar Gorge virus, Wad Medani virus and Great Island virus (genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae). Nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequence comparisons provide a basis for orbivirus detection and classification, however full genome sequence data were only available for the Great Island virus species. We report representative genome-sequences for the three other TBO species (virus isolates: Chenuda virus (CNUV); Chobar Gorge virus (CGV) and Wad Medani virus (WMV)). Phylogenetic comparisons show that TBOs cluster separately from insect-borne orbiviruses (IBOs). CNUV, CGV, WMV and GIV share low level aa/nt identities with other orbiviruses, in ‘conserved’ Pol, T2 and T13 proteins/genes, identifying them as four distinct virus-species. The TBO genome segment encoding cell attachment, outer capsid protein 1 (OC1), is approximately half the size of the equivalent segment from insect-borne orbiviruses, helping to explain why tick-borne orbiviruses have a ~1 kb smaller genome. PMID:25928203

Genetic characterization of the tick-borne orbiviruses.

PubMed

Belaganahalli, Manjunatha N; Maan, Sushila; Maan, Narender S; Brownlie, Joe; Tesh, Robert; Attoui, Houssam; Mertens, Peter P C

2015-04-28

The International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recognizes four species of tick-borne orbiviruses (TBOs): Chenuda virus, Chobar Gorge virus, Wad Medani virus and Great Island virus (genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae). Nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequence comparisons provide a basis for orbivirus detection and classification, however full genome sequence data were only available for the Great Island virus species. We report representative genome-sequences for the three other TBO species (virus isolates: Chenuda virus (CNUV); Chobar Gorge virus (CGV) and Wad Medani virus (WMV)). Phylogenetic comparisons show that TBOs cluster separately from insect-borne orbiviruses (IBOs). CNUV, CGV, WMV and GIV share low level aa/nt identities with other orbiviruses, in 'conserved' Pol, T2 and T13 proteins/genes, identifying them as four distinct virus-species. The TBO genome segment encoding cell attachment, outer capsid protein 1 (OC1), is approximately half the size of the equivalent segment from insect-borne orbiviruses, helping to explain why tick-borne orbiviruses have a ~1 kb smaller genome.

Elastic scattering of spin-polarized electrons and positrons from 23Na nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakubassa-Amundsen, D. H.

2018-07-01

Differential cross sections and polarization correlations for the scattering of relativistic spin-polarized leptons from unpolarized ground-state sodium nuclei are calculated within the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA). Various nuclear ground-state charge distributions are probed. Besides potential scattering, also electric C2 and magnetic M1 and M3 transitions are taken into account. It is shown that even for a light nucleus such as 23Na there are considerable electron-positron differences at high collision energies and large scattering angles. In particular, the symmetry of the Sherman function with respect to a global sign change, as predicted by the second-order Born approximation when replacing electrons by positrons, is broken whenever the diffraction structures come into play beyond 100 MeV.

Born-Oppenheimer approximation for a singular system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbas, Haci; Turgut, O. Teoman

2018-01-01

We discuss a simple singular system in one dimension, two heavy particles interacting with a light particle via an attractive contact interaction and not interacting among themselves. It is natural to apply the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to this problem. We present a detailed discussion of this approach; the advantage of this simple model is that one can estimate the error terms self-consistently. Moreover, a Fock space approach to this problem is presented where an expansion can be proposed to get higher order corrections. A slight modification of the same problem in which the light particle is relativistic is discussed in a later section by neglecting pair creation processes. Here, the second quantized description is more challenging, but with some care, one can recover the first order expression exactly.

Coupled-Sturmian and perturbative treatments of electron transfer and ionization in high-energy p-He+ collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, Thomas G.; Alston, Steven G.

1992-02-01

Cross sections have been determined for electron transfer and ionization in collisions between protons and He+ ions at proton energies from several hundred kilo-electron-volts to 2 MeV. A coupled-Sturmian approach is taken, extending the work of Winter [Phys. Rev. A 35, 3799 (1987)] and Stodden et al. [Phys. Rev. A 41, 1281 (1990)] to high energies where perturbative approaches are expected to be valid. An explicit connection is made with the first-order Born approximation for ionization and the impulse version of the distorted, strong-potential Born approximation for electron transfer. The capture cross section is shown to be affected by the presence of target basis functions of positive energy near v2/2, corresponding to the Thomas mechanism.

Calculation of the total electron excitation cross section in the Born approximation using Slater wave functions for the Li (2s yields 2p), Li (2s yields 3p), Na (3s yields 4p), Mg (3p yields 4s), Ca (4s yields 4p) and K (4s yields 4p) excitations. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simsic, P. L.

1974-01-01

Excitation of neutral atoms by inelastic scattering of incident electrons in gaseous nebulae were investigated using Slater Wave functions to describe the initial and final states of the atom. Total cross sections using the Born Approximation are calculated for: Li(2s yields 2p), Na(3s yields 4p), k(4s yields 4p). The intensity of emitted radiation from gaseous nebulae is also calculated, and Maxwell distribution is employed to average the kinetic energy of electrons.

Alcohol-related morbidity and mortality within siblings.

PubMed

Søndergaard, Grethe; Osler, Merete; Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo; Andersen, Per Kragh; Dalton, Susanne Oksbjerg; Mortensen, Laust H

2015-03-01

To estimate the association between educational status and alcohol-related somatic and non-somatic morbidity and mortality among full siblings in comparison with non-related individuals. Cohort study. Denmark. Approximately 1.4 million full siblings born in Denmark between 1950 and 1979 were followed from age 28-58 years or censoring due to alcohol-related hospitalization and mortality. Cox regression analyses were used to estimate associations of educational status with alcohol-related outcomes. Results from cohort analyses based on non-related individuals and inter-sibling analyses were compared. A lower educational status was associated with a higher rate of alcohol-related outcomes, especially among the youngest (aged 28-37 years) and individuals born 1970-79. Compared with the cohort analyses, the associations attenuated slightly in the inter-sibling analysis. For example, in the cohort analysis, females with a basic school education born 1970-79 had an increased rate of alcohol-related non-somatic morbidity and mortality [hazard rate ratio (HR) = 4.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.27-5.02] compared to those with a vocational education. In the inter-sibling analysis, the HR attenuated (HR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.95-3.63). For alcohol-related somatic outcomes the corresponding figures were HR = 3.47 (95% CI = 2.63-4.58) and HR = 3.36 (95% CI = 2.10-5.38), respectively. In general, the associations were stronger among females than males (aged 28-37) in the analyses of alcohol-related non-somatic outcomes. Health conditions earlier in life explained only a minor part of the associations. The association between educational status and alcohol-related somatic and non-somatic morbidity and mortality is only driven by familial factors to a small degree. © 2014 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Resonating group method as applied to the spectroscopy of α-transfer reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subbotin, V. B.; Semjonov, V. M.; Gridnev, K. A.; Hefter, E. F.

1983-10-01

In the conventional approach to α-transfer reactions the finite- and/or zero-range distorted-wave Born approximation is used in liaison with a macroscopic description of the captured α particle in the residual nucleus. Here the specific example of 16O(6Li,d)20Ne reactions at different projectile energies is taken to present a microscopic resonating group method analysis of the α particle in the final nucleus (for the reaction part the simple zero-range distorted-wave Born approximation is employed). In the discussion of suitable nucleon-nucleon interactions, force number one of the effective interactions presented by Volkov is shown to be most appropriate for the system considered. Application of the continuous analog of Newton's method to the evaluation of the resonating group method equations yields an increased accuracy with respect to traditional methods. The resonating group method description induces only minor changes in the structures of the angular distributions, but it does serve its purpose in yielding reliable and consistent spectroscopic information. NUCLEAR STRUCTURE 16O(6Li,d)20Ne; E=20 to 32 MeV; calculated B(E2); reduced widths, dσdΩ extracted α-spectroscopic factors. ZRDWBA with microscope RGM description of residual α particle in 20Ne; application of continuous analog of Newton's method; tested and applied Volkov force No. 1; direct mechanism.

West nile virus and equine encephalitis viruses: new perspectives.

PubMed

Long, Maureen T

2014-12-01

Mosquito-borne diseases affect horses worldwide. Mosquito-borne diseases generally cause encephalomyelitis in the horse and can be difficult to diagnose antemortem. In addition to general disease, and diagnostic and treatment aspects, this review article summarizes the latest information on these diseases, covering approximately the past 5 years, with a focus on new equine disease encroachments, diagnostic and vaccination aspects, and possible therapeutics on the horizon. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Initial results from the Caltech/DRSI balloon-borne isotope experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schindler, S. M.; Buffington, A.; Christian, E. C.; Grove, J. E.; Lau, K. H.; Stone, E. C.; Rasmussen, I. L.; Laursen, S.

1985-01-01

The Caltech/DSRI balloonborne High Energy Isotope Spectrometer Telescope (HEIST) was flown successfully from Palestine, Texas on 14 May, 1984. The experiment was designed to measure cosmic ray isotopic abundances from neon through iron, with incident particle energies from approx. 1.5 to 2.2 GeV/nucleon depending on the element. During approximately 38 hours at float altitude, 100,000 events were recorded with Z or = 6 and incident energies approx. 1.5 GeV/nucleon. We present results from the ongoing data analysis associated with both the preflight Bevalac calibration and the flight data.

Second Order Born Effects in the Perpendicular Plane Ionization of Xe (5p) Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purohit, G.; Singh, Prithvi; Patidar, Vinod

We report triple differential cross section (TDCS) results for the perpendicular plane ionization of xenon atoms at incident electron energies 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 eV above ionization potential. The TDCS calculation have been preformed within the modified distorted wave Born approximation formalism including the second order Born (SBA) amplitude. We compare the (e, 2e) TDCS result of our calculation with the very recent measurements of Nixon and Murray [Phys. Rev. A 85, 022716 (2012)] and relativistic DWBA-G results of Illarionov and Stauffer [J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 45, 225202 (2012)] and discuss the process contributing to structure seen in the differential cross section.

Few-particle quantum dynamics-comparing nonequilibrium Green functions with the generalized Kadanoff-Baym ansatz to density operator theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermanns, S.; Balzer, K.; Bonitz, M.

2013-03-01

The nonequilibrium description of quantum systems requires, for more than two or three particles, the use of a reduced description to be numerically tractable. Two possible approaches are based on either reduced density matrices or nonequilibrium Green functions (NEGF). Both concepts are formulated in terms of hierarchies of coupled equations—the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon (BBGKY) hierarchy for the reduced density operators and the Martin-Schwinger-hierarchy (MS) for the Green functions, respectively. In both cases, similar approximations are introduced to decouple the hierarchy, yet still many questions regarding the correspondence of both approaches remain open. Here we analyze this correspondence by studying the generalized Kadanoff-Baym ansatz (GKBA) that reduces the NEGF to a single-time theory. Starting from the BBGKY-hierarchy we present the approximations that are necessary to recover the GKBA result both, with Hartree-Fock propagators (HF-GKBA) and propagators in second Born approximation. To test the quality of the HF-GKBA, we study the dynamics of a 4-electron Hubbard nanocluster starting from a strong nonequilibrium initial state and compare to exact results and the Wang-Cassing approximation to the BBGKY hierarchy presented recently by Akbari et al. [1].

Ab initio design of laser pulses to control molecular motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balint-Kurti, Gabriel; Ren, Qinghua; Manby, Frederick; Artamonov, Maxim; Ho, Tak-San; Rabitz, Herschel; Zou, Shiyang; Singh, Harjinder

2007-03-01

Our recent attempts to design laser pulses entirely theoretically, in a quantitative and accurate manner, so as to fully understand the underlying mechanisms active in the control process will be outlined. We have developed a new Born-Oppenheimer like separation called the electric-nuclear Born-Oppenheimer (ENBO) approximation. In this approximation variations of both the nuclear geometry and of the external electric field are assumed to be slow compared with the speed at which the electronic degrees of freedom respond to these changes. This assumption permits the generation of a potential energy surface that depends not only on the relative geometry of the nuclei, but also on the electric field strength and on the orientation of the molecule with respect to the electric field. The range of validity of the ENBO approximation is discussed. Optimal control theory is used along with the ENBO approximation to design laser pulses for exciting vibrational and rotational motion in H2 and CO molecules. Progress on other applications, including controlling photodissociation processes, isotope separation, stabilization of molecular Bose-Einstein condensates as well as applications to biological molecules also be presented. *Support acknowledged from EPSRC.

Tick-borne haemoparasites and Anaplasmataceae in domestic dogs in Zambia.

PubMed

Qiu, Yongjin; Kaneko, Chiho; Kajihara, Masahiro; Ngonda, Saasa; Simulundu, Edgar; Muleya, Walter; Thu, May June; Hang'ombe, Mudenda Bernard; Katakura, Ken; Takada, Ayato; Sawa, Hirofumi; Simuunza, Martin; Nakao, Ryo

2018-05-01

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, are important threats to human and animal health worldwide. Indeed, the number of reported human and animal infectious cases of novel TBD agents has increased in recent decades. However, TBDs tend to be neglected, especially in resource-limited countries that often have limited diagnostic capacity. The aim of this molecular survey was to detect and characterise tick-borne pathogens (Babesia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon parasites and Anaplasmataceae bacteria) in domestic dogs in Zambia. In total, 247 canine peripheral blood samples were collected in Lusaka, Mazabuka, Monze, and Shangombo. Conventional PCR to detect the selected pathogens was performed using DNA extracted from canine blood. One hundred eleven samples were positive for protozoa and 5 were positive for Anaplasmataceae. Sequencing of thirty-five randomly selected protozoa-positive samples revealed the presence of Babesia rossi, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis 18S rDNA. Based on these sequences, a multiplex PCR system was developed to yield PCR products with different amplicons, the size of which depended on the parasite species; thus, each species could be identified without the need for sequence analysis. Approximately 40% of dogs were positive for H. canis. In particular, the positive rate (75.2%) of H. canis infection was significantly higher in Shangombo than in other sampling sites. Multiplex PCR assay detected B. rossi and B. vogeli infections in five and seven dogs, respectively, indicating that this approach is useful for detecting parasites with low prevalence. Sequencing analysis of gltA and groEL genes of Anaplasmataceae revealed that two and one dogs in Lusaka were infected with Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis, respectively. The data indicated that Zambian dogs were infected with multiple tick-borne pathogens such as H. canis, B. rossi, B. vogeli, A. platys, E. canis and uncharacterized Ehrlichia sp. Since some of these parasites are zoonotic, concerted efforts are needed to raise awareness of, and control, these tick-borne pathogens. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Interpreting the Coulomb-field approximation for generalized-Born electrostatics using boundary-integral equation theory.

PubMed

Bardhan, Jaydeep P

2008-10-14

The importance of molecular electrostatic interactions in aqueous solution has motivated extensive research into physical models and numerical methods for their estimation. The computational costs associated with simulations that include many explicit water molecules have driven the development of implicit-solvent models, with generalized-Born (GB) models among the most popular of these. In this paper, we analyze a boundary-integral equation interpretation for the Coulomb-field approximation (CFA), which plays a central role in most GB models. This interpretation offers new insights into the nature of the CFA, which traditionally has been assessed using only a single point charge in the solute. The boundary-integral interpretation of the CFA allows the use of multiple point charges, or even continuous charge distributions, leading naturally to methods that eliminate the interpolation inaccuracies associated with the Still equation. This approach, which we call boundary-integral-based electrostatic estimation by the CFA (BIBEE/CFA), is most accurate when the molecular charge distribution generates a smooth normal displacement field at the solute-solvent boundary, and CFA-based GB methods perform similarly. Conversely, both methods are least accurate for charge distributions that give rise to rapidly varying or highly localized normal displacement fields. Supporting this analysis are comparisons of the reaction-potential matrices calculated using GB methods and boundary-element-method (BEM) simulations. An approximation similar to BIBEE/CFA exhibits complementary behavior, with superior accuracy for charge distributions that generate rapidly varying normal fields and poorer accuracy for distributions that produce smooth fields. This approximation, BIBEE by preconditioning (BIBEE/P), essentially generates initial guesses for preconditioned Krylov-subspace iterative BEMs. Thus, iterative refinement of the BIBEE/P results recovers the BEM solution; excellent agreement is obtained in only a few iterations. The boundary-integral-equation framework may also provide a means to derive rigorous results explaining how the empirical correction terms in many modern GB models significantly improve accuracy despite their simple analytical forms.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

MedlinePlus

... EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality ... Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) Email Recommend Tweet YouTube Instagram Listen Watch ...

Electron impact excitation of H2 - Rydberg band systems and the benchmark dissociative cross section for H Lyman-alpha

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shemansky, D. E.; Hall, D. T.; Ajello, J. M.

1985-01-01

The cross sections sigma R 1 (2p) for excitation of H Ly-alpha emission produced by electron impact on H2 is reexamined. A more accurate estimate for sigma R 1 (2p) is obtained based on Born approximation estimates of the H2 Rydberg system cross sections using measured relative excitation functions. The obtained value is (8.18 + or -1.2) x 10 to the -18th sq cm at 100 eV, a factor of 0.69 below the value universally applied to cross section measurements over the past decade. Cross sections for the H2 Rydberg systems fixed in magnitude by the Born approximation have also been obtained using experimentally determined excitation functions. Accurate analytic expressions for these cross sections allow the direct calculation of rate coefficients.

Single electron impact ionization of the methane molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouamoud, Mammar; Sahlaoui, Mohammed; Benmansour, Nour El Houda; Atomic and Molecular Collisions Team

2014-10-01

Triply differential cross sections (TDCS) results of electron-impact ionization of the inner 2a1 molecular orbital of CH4 are presented in the framework of the Second Born Approximation and compared with the experimental data performed in coplanar asymmetric geometry. The cross sections are averaged on the random orientations of the molecular target for accurate comparison with experiments and are compared also with the theoretical calculations of the Three Coulomb wave (3CW) model. Our results are in good agreement with experiments and 3CW results in the binary peak. In contrast the Second Born Approximation yields a significant higher values compared to the 3CW results for the recoil peak and seems to describe suitably the recoil region where higher order effects can occur with the participation of the recoiling ion in the collision process.

Precise calculations in simulations of the interaction of low energy neutrons with nano-dispersed media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artem'ev, V. A.; Nezvanov, A. Yu.; Nesvizhevsky, V. V.

2016-01-01

We discuss properties of the interaction of slow neutrons with nano-dispersed media and their application for neutron reflectors. In order to increase the accuracy of model simulation of the interaction of neutrons with nanopowders, we perform precise quantum mechanical calculation of potential scattering of neutrons on single nanoparticles using the method of phase functions. We compare results of precise calculations with those performed within first Born approximation for nanodiamonds with the radius of 2-5 nm and for neutron energies 3 × 10-7-10-3 eV. Born approximation overestimates the probability of scattering to large angles, while the accuracy of evaluation of integral characteristics (cross sections, albedo) is acceptable. Using Monte-Carlo method, we calculate albedo of neutrons from different layers of piled up diamond nanopowder.

Immigration, race/ethnicity, and social and economic factors as predictors of breastfeeding initiation.

PubMed

Celi, Ann C; Rich-Edwards, Janet W; Richardson, Marcie K; Kleinman, Ken P; Gillman, Matthew W

2005-03-01

To determine the impact of immigration status as well as race/ethnicity and social and economic factors on breastfeeding initiation. Cohort. Multisite group practice in eastern Massachusetts. One thousand eight hundred twenty-nine pregnant women prospectively followed up in Project Viva. Whether the participant breastfed her infant. The overall breastfeeding initiation rate was 83%. In multivariate models that included race/ethnicity and social, economic, and demographic factors, foreign-born women were more likely to initiate breastfeeding than US-born women (odds ratio [OR], 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.0-5.2]). In models stratified by both race/ethnicity and immigration status, and further adjusted for whether the mother herself was breastfed as an infant and the mother's parents' immigration status, US-born and foreign-born black and Hispanic women initiated breastfeeding at rates at least as high as US-born white women (US-born black vs US-born white women, OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.8-1.9], US-born Hispanic vs US-born white women, OR, 1.1 [95% CI, 0.6-1.9], foreign-born black vs US-born white women, OR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.1-6.0], and foreign-born Hispanic vs US-born white women, OR, 1.8 [95% CI, 0.7-4.8]). Calculations of predicted prevalences showed that, for example, the 2.6-fold increase in odds for the foreign-born black vs US-born white women translated to an increase in probability of approximately 1.4. Higher maternal education and household income also predicted higher initiation rates. Immigration status was strongly associated with increased breastfeeding initiation in this cohort, implying that cultural factors are important in the decision to breastfeed. Immigrants of all races/ethnicities initiated breastfeeding more often than their US-born counterparts. In addition, US-born minority groups initiated breastfeeding at rates at least as high as their white counterparts, likely due in part to high levels of education and income as well as to access to a medical care system that explicitly supports breastfeeding.

Fast inverse scattering solutions using the distorted Born iterative method and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm

PubMed Central

Hesford, Andrew J.; Chew, Weng C.

2010-01-01

The distorted Born iterative method (DBIM) computes iterative solutions to nonlinear inverse scattering problems through successive linear approximations. By decomposing the scattered field into a superposition of scattering by an inhomogeneous background and by a material perturbation, large or high-contrast variations in medium properties can be imaged through iterations that are each subject to the distorted Born approximation. However, the need to repeatedly compute forward solutions still imposes a very heavy computational burden. To ameliorate this problem, the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) has been applied as a forward solver within the DBIM. The MLFMA computes forward solutions in linear time for volumetric scatterers. The typically regular distribution and shape of scattering elements in the inverse scattering problem allow the method to take advantage of data redundancy and reduce the computational demands of the normally expensive MLFMA setup. Additional benefits are gained by employing Kaczmarz-like iterations, where partial measurements are used to accelerate convergence. Numerical results demonstrate both the efficiency of the forward solver and the successful application of the inverse method to imaging problems with dimensions in the neighborhood of ten wavelengths. PMID:20707438

A differential equation for the Generalized Born radii.

PubMed

Fogolari, Federico; Corazza, Alessandra; Esposito, Gennaro

2013-06-28

The Generalized Born (GB) model offers a convenient way of representing electrostatics in complex macromolecules like proteins or nucleic acids. The computation of atomic GB radii is currently performed by different non-local approaches involving volume or surface integrals. Here we obtain a non-linear second-order partial differential equation for the Generalized Born radius, which may be solved using local iterative algorithms. The equation is derived under the assumption that the usual GB approximation to the reaction field obeys Laplace's equation. The equation admits as particular solutions the correct GB radii for the sphere and the plane. The tests performed on a set of 55 different proteins show an overall agreement with other reference GB models and "perfect" Poisson-Boltzmann based values.

Electron-ion collision rates in noble gas clusters irradiated by femtosecond laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, R.; Roy, A. C.

2012-05-01

We report a theoretical analysis of electron-ion collision rates in xenon gas clusters irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses. The present analysis is based on the eikonal approximation (EA), the first Born approximation (FBA) and the classical (CL) methods. The calculations are performed using the plasma-screened Rogers potential introduced by Moll et al. [J. Phys. B. 43, 135103 (2010)] as well as the Debye potential for a wide range of experimental parameters. We find that the magnitudes of electron-ion collision frequency obtained in the EA do not fall as rapidly with the kinetic energy of electrons as in the FBA and CL methods for higher charge states of xenon ion (Xe8+ and Xe14+). Furthermore, EA shows that the effect of the inner structure of ion is most dominant for the lowest charge state of xenon ion (Xe1+). In the case of the present effective potential, FBA overestimates the CL results for all three different charge states of xenon, whereas for the Debye potential, both the FBA and CL methods predict collision frequencies which are nearly close to each other.

Methods in the study of discrete upper hybrid waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, P. H.; Ye, S.; Labelle, J.; Weatherwax, A. T.; Menietti, J. D.

2007-11-01

Naturally occurring plasma waves characterized by fine frequency structure or discrete spectrum, detected by satellite, rocket-borne instruments, or ground-based receivers, can be interpreted as eigenmodes excited and trapped in field-aligned density structures. This paper overviews various theoretical methods to study such phenomena for a one-dimensional (1-D) density structure. Among the various methods are parabolic approximation, eikonal matching, eigenfunction matching, and full numerical solution based upon shooting method. Various approaches are compared against the full numerical solution. Among the analytic methods it is found that the eigenfunction matching technique best approximates the actual numerical solution. The analysis is further extended to 2-D geometry. A detailed comparative analysis between the eigenfunction matching and fully numerical methods is carried out for the 2-D case. Although in general the two methods compare favorably, significant differences are also found such that for application to actual observations it is prudent to employ the fully numerical method. Application of the methods developed in the present paper to actual geophysical problems will be given in a companion paper.

Simulating the spread of malaria using a generic transmission model for mosquito-borne infectious diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kon, Cynthia Mui Lian; Labadin, Jane

2016-06-01

Malaria is a critical infection caused by parasites which are spread to humans through mosquito bites. Approximately half of the world's population is in peril of getting infected by malaria. Mosquito-borne diseases have a standard behavior where they are transmitted in the same manner, only through vector mosquito. Taking this into account, a generic spatial-temporal model for transmission of multiple mosquito-borne diseases had been formulated. Our interest is to reproduce the actual cases of different mosquito-borne diseases using the generic model and then predict future cases so as to improve control and target measures competently. In this paper, we utilize notified weekly malaria cases in four districts in Sarawak, Malaysia, namely Kapit, Song, Belaga and Marudi. The actual cases for 36 weeks, which is from week 39 in 2012 to week 22 in 2013, are compared with simulations of the generic spatial-temporal transmission mosquito-borne diseases model. We observe that the simulation results display corresponding result to the actual malaria cases in the four districts.

Multigrid based First-Principles Molecular Dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fattebert, Jean-Luc; Osei-Kuffuor, Daniel; Dunn, Ian

2017-06-01

MGmol ls a First-Principles Molecular Dynamics code. It relies on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and models the electronic structure using Density Functional Theory, either LDA or PBE. Norm-conserving pseudopotentials are used to model atomic cores.

A balloon measurement of the isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray boron, carbon and nitrogen. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zumberge, J. F.

1981-01-01

The isotopic compositions of galactic cosmic ray boron, carbon, and nitrogen were measured at energies near 300 MeV amu, using a balloon-borne instrument at an atmospheric depth of approximately 5 g/sq cm. The calibrations of the detectors comprising the instrument are described. The saturation properties of the cesium iodide scintillators used for measurement of particle energy are studied in the context of analyzing the data for mass. The achieved rms mass resolution varies from approximately 0.3 amu at boron to approximately 0.5 amu at nitrogen, consistent with a theoretical analysis of the contributing factors. Corrected for detector interactions and the effects of the residual atmosphere the results are B-10/B=0.33 (+0.17, -0.11), C-13/C=0.06 (+0.13, -0.11), and N-15/N=0.42 (+0.19, -0.17). A model of galactic propagation and solar modulation is described. Assuming a cosmic ray source composition of solar-like isotopic abundances, the model predicts abundances near Earth consistent with the measurements.

Neutron-hole strength in the N = 81 isotones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, A. M.; Freeman, S. J.; Schiffer, J. P.; Bloxham, T.; Clark, J. A.; Deibel, C. M.; Kay, B. P.; Parker, P. D.; Sharp, D. K.; Thomas, J. S.

2012-09-01

The distribution of neutron-hole strength has been studied in the N = 81 isotones 137Ba, 139Ce, 141Nd and 143Sm through the single-neutron removing reactions (p,d) and (3He,α), at energies of 23 and 34 MeV, respectively. Systematic cross section measurements were made at angles sensitive to the transferred angular momentum, and spectroscopic factors extracted through a distorted-wave Born approximation analysis. Application of the MacFarlane-French sum rules indicate an anomalously low summed g7/2 spectroscopic factor, most likely due to extensive fragmentation of the single-particle strength. Single-particle energies, based upon the centroids of observed strength, are presented.

Genetic analysis of litter size, parturition length, and birth assistance requirements in primiparous sows using a joint linear-threshold animal model.

PubMed

Holm, B; Bakken, M; Vangen, O; Rekaya, R

2004-09-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether selection for number of live born piglets has led to prolonged parturition and increased requirement for birth assistance, resulting in increased numbers of stillborn piglets. Data were collected from 6,718 primiparous Norwegian Landrace sows farrowing between 2001 and 2003. The need for birth assistance was recorded as a binary response. Physical intervention in the birth of piglets and/or hormonal treatment by the farmer was recorded as birth assistance. The duration of the parturition was analyzed as a binary trait (<4 h and >4 h). The statistical model used for analysis included contemporary groups of herd-year, litter breed, season of farrowing, parity in which the sow was born, a regression on the age of sow at farrowing, an additive genetic effect, and a service sire effect. A full Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling was adopted to estimate the genetic relationships between these four traits. A total chain length of 100,000 iterations was run. The first 10,000 samples were discarded as burn-in, and the remaining 90,000 iterations were retained without thinning for post-Gibbs analysis. The highest direct heritability was estimated for the number of live-born piglets (h2 = 0.07), followed by the duration of farrowing (h2 = 0.05), the need for birth assistance (h2 = 0.05), and the number of stillborn piglets (h2 = 0.04). The genetic correlations revealed that the number of live and stillborn piglets was uncorrelated; however, the number of live piglets born had a moderate genetic correlation to the need for birth assistance (rg = 0.24 +/- 0.01) and duration of farrowing (rg = -0.20 +/- 0.01), whereas the number of stillborn piglets was highly correlated to the need for birth assistance (rg = 0.74 +/- 0.01) and the duration of parturition (rg = 0.66 +/- 0.01). The duration of farrowing and the need for birth assistance were genetically highly correlated (rg = 0.89 +/- 0.00). For all traits, the service sire variance was approximately one quarter in magnitude compared with its respective genetic variance. The results showed that selection for the number of live born piglets is not expected to influence the number of stillborn piglets. Increasing the number of live piglets born through selection should have a slight negative effect on farrowing duration and a minor increase in the need for birth assistance. Sows with a high genetic potential for birth assistance and prolonged parturition were more likely to give birth to greater numbers of stillborn piglets.

120 DEG C Cure, Durable, Corrosion Protection Powder Coatings for Temperature Sensitive Substrates

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-28

Extrudate was passed through water-cooled pinch-rolls and collected onto a stainless steel belt; from exit of the extruder, approximately 60 sec... stainless steel belt; from exit of the extruder, approximately 60 sec. was required to reach ambient temperature. Production scale processing at...inherently free from volatile organic compounds, chromates, and hazardous air pollutants. Relative to the incumbent solvent-borne urethane paint

Prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) and short stature in children born SGA who qualify for growth hormone treatment at 3 years of age: Population-based study.

PubMed

Fujita, Kaori; Nagasaka, Miwako; Iwatani, Sota; Koda, Tsubasa; Kurokawa, Daisuke; Yamana, Keiji; Nishida, Kosuke; Taniguchi-Ikeda, Mariko; Uchino, Eiko; Shirai, Chika; Iijima, Kazumoto; Morioka, Ichiro

2016-05-01

To treat children born small for gestational age (SGA) with severe short stature, treatment with growth hormone (GH) has been approved in the USA, Europe, and Japan, but no population-based studies have reported their prevalence. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of SGA and short stature in children born SGA who qualify for GH treatment at 3 years of age in a Japanese population. A population-based study was conducted in Kobe, Japan with 27 228 infants who were born between 2006 and 2008 and followed until 3 years of age. Prevalence of birthweight (BW) or birth length (BL) ≤ -2.0 standard deviation scores (SDS) for gestational age (GA; definition of SGA) was calculated. Short children born SGA who qualify for GH treatment at 3 years of age were estimated using the following criteria: BW and BL below the 10th percentile for GA, BW or BL ≤ -2.0 SDS for GA, and 2.5 SDS below the mean height for age. The prevalence of SGA was 3.5%. The estimated prevalence of short stature in children born SGA who met the criteria for GH treatment was 0.06%. The prevalence in infants born <34 weeks (0.39%) was significantly higher than that in infants born 34-41 weeks GA (0.05%, P = 0.02). The prevalence of SGA and short stature in children born SGA who qualify for GH treatment is approximately 1 of 30 infants and 1 of 1800 children, respectively. The risk is increased when children are born <34 weeks GA. © 2015 Japan Pediatric Society.

Impact of maternal obesity on inhaled corticosteroid use in childhood: a registry based analysis of first born children and a sibling pair analysis.

PubMed

Lowe, Adrian J; Ekeus, Cecilia; Bråbäck, Lennart; Rajaleid, Kristiina; Forsberg, Bertil; Hjern, Anders

2013-01-01

It has been proposed that maternal obesity during pregnancy may increase the risk that the child develops allergic disease and asthma, although the mechanisms underpinning this relationship are currently unclear. We sought to assess if this association may be due to confounding by genetic or environmental risk factors that are common to maternal obesity and childhood asthma, using a sibling pair analysis. The study population comprised a Swedish national cohort of term children born between 1992 and 2008 to native Swedish parents. Maternal body mass index (BMI) was measured at 8-10 weeks gestation. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to determine if maternal obesity was associated with increased risk of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in 431,718 first-born children, while adjusting for potential confounders. An age-matched discordant sib-pair analysis was performed, taking into account shared genetic and environmental risk factors. Maternal over-weight and obesity were associated with increased risk that the child would require ICS (for BMI≥35 kg/m(2), aOR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.10-1.52 compared with normal weight mothers) in children aged 6-12 years. Similar effects were seen in younger children, but in children aged 13-16 years, maternal obesity (BMI≥30) was related to increased risk of ICS use in girls (aOR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.07-1.53) but not boys (OR = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.87-1.26). The sib-pair analysis, which included 2,034 sib-pairs older than six years who were discordant for both ICS use and maternal BMI category, failed to find any evidence that increasing maternal weight was related to increased risk of ICS use. Maternal obesity is associated with increased risk of childhood ICS use up to approximately 12 years of age, but only in girls after this age. These effects could not be confirmed in a sib pair analysis, suggesting either limited statistical power, or the effects of maternal BMI may be due to shared genetic or environmental risk factors.

How large are nonadiabatic effects in atomic and diatomic systems?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Yubo, E-mail: yyang173@illinois.edu, E-mail: normantubman2015@u.northwestern.edu; Tubman, Norm M., E-mail: yyang173@illinois.edu, E-mail: normantubman2015@u.northwestern.edu; Ceperley, David M.

2015-09-28

With recent developments in simulating nonadiabatic systems to high accuracy, it has become possible to determine how much energy is attributed to nuclear quantum effects beyond zero-point energy. In this work, we calculate the non-relativistic ground-state energies of atomic and molecular systems without the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. For this purpose, we utilize the fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo method, in which the nodes depend on both the electronic and ionic positions. We report ground-state energies for all systems studied, ionization energies for the first-row atoms and atomization energies for the first-row hydrides. We find the ionization energies of the atoms to bemore » nearly independent of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, within the accuracy of our results. The atomization energies of molecular systems, however, show small effects of the nonadiabatic coupling between electrons and nuclei.« less

Elastic and inelastic scattering of /sup 58/Ni+/sup 208/Pb at bombarding energies from 598 to 1011 MeV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beckerman, M.; Auble, R.L.; Bertrand, F.E.

1987-08-01

High-resolution measurements have been made of elastic and inelastic scattering of /sup 58/Ni+ /sup 208/Pb at four bombarding energies from 10.3 to 17.4 MeV/nucleon. The considerable inelastic strength observed for excitation energies up to at least 7 MeV is dominated by Coulomb-driven quadrupole transitions. Analyses were done using both the distorted-wave Born approximation and coupled-channels models. At the highest bombarding energies the data can be described equally well by distorted-wave Born approximations and coupled channels analyses. We find that B(E2) = 0.062 e/sup 2/b/sup 2/ for the 1.454 MeV 2/sup +/ state in /sup 58/Ni and B(E2) = 0.34 e/supmore » 2/b/sup 2/ for the 4.09 MeV 2/sup +/ state in /sup 208/Pb.« less

u d b \\xAF b \\xAF tetraquark resonances with lattice QCD potentials and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bicudo, Pedro; Cardoso, Marco; Peters, Antje; Pflaumer, Martin; Wagner, Marc

2017-09-01

We study tetraquark resonances with lattice QCD potentials computed for a static b ¯b ¯ pair in the presence of two lighter quarks u d , the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the emergent wave method. As a proof of concept we focus on the system with isospin I =0 , but consider different relative angular momenta l of the heavy quarks b ¯b ¯. For l =0 a bound state has already been predicted with quantum numbers I (JP)=0 (1+). Exploring various angular momenta we now compute the phase shifts and search for S and T matrix poles in the second Riemann sheet. We predict a tetraquark resonance for l =1 , decaying into two B mesons, with quantum numbers I (JP)=0 (1-) , mass m =10 57 6-4+4 MeV and decay width Γ =11 2-103+90 MeV .

How large are nonadiabatic effects in atomic and diatomic systems?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Yubo; Kylänpää, Ilkka; Tubman, Norm M.

2015-09-29

With recent developments in simulating nonadiabatic systems to high accuracy, it has become possible to determine how much energy is attributed to nuclear quantum effects beyond zero-point energy. Here, we calculate the non-relativistic ground-state energies of atomic and molecular systems without the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. For this purpose, we utilize the fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo method, in which the nodes depend on both the electronic and ionic positions. Our report shows the ground-state energies for all systems studied, ionization energies for the first-row atoms and atomization energies for the first-row hydrides. We find the ionization energies of the atoms to bemore » nearly independent of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, within the accuracy of our results. The atomization energies of molecular systems, however, show small effects of the nonadiabatic coupling between electrons and nuclei.« less

On proton excitation of forbidden lines in positive ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgess, Alan; Tully, John A.

2005-08-01

The semi-classical impact parameter approximations used by Bahcall and Wolf and by Bely and Faucher, for proton excitation of electric quadrupole transitions in positive ions, both fail at high energies, giving cross sections which do not fall off correctly as constant/E. This is in contrast with the pioneering example of Seaton for Fe+13 and of Reid and Schwarz for S+3, both of whom achieve the correct functional form, but do not ensure the correct constant of proportionality. By combining the Born and semi-classical approximations one can obtain cross sections which have the full correct behaviour as E → ∞, and hence, rate coefficients which have the correct high temperature behaviour (~C/T1/2 with the correct value of C). We provide a computer program for calculating these. An error in Faucher's derivation of the Born formula is also discussed.

Born distorted-wave approximation applied to the H+ + He collisions at intermediate and high energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmanian, M.; Fathi, R.; Shojaei, F.

2017-11-01

The single-charge transfer process in collision of protons with helium atoms in their ground states is investigated. The model utilizes the second-order three-body Born distorted-wave approximation (BDW-3B) with correct Coulomb boundary conditions to calculate the differential and total cross sections at intermediate and high energies. The role of the passive electrons and electron-electron correlations are studied by comparing our results and the BDW-4B calculations with the complete perturbation potential. The present results are also compared with other theories, and the Thomas scattering mechanism is investigated. The obtained results are also compared with the recent experimental measurements. For the prior differential cross sections, the comparisons show better agreement with the experiments at smaller scattering angles. The agreement between the total cross sections and the BDW-4B results as well as the experimental data is good at higher impact energies.

The He+H¯→He p¯+e+ rearrangement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Todd, Allan C.; Armour, Edward A. G.

2006-06-01

In this paper, we present a summary of our work in progress on calculating cross sections for the He+H¯→He p¯+e+ rearrangement process in He H¯ scattering. This has involved a study of the system He p¯ within the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation using the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. This work has been reported in [A.C. Todd, E.A.G. Armour, J. Phys. B 38 (2005) 3367] and is summarised here. Similar calculations are in progress for the He+H¯ entrance channel. We intend to use the entrance channel and rearrangement channel wave functions to obtain the cross sections for the rearrangement using the distorted wave Born approximation T-matrix method described elsewhere in these proceedings [E.A.G. Armour, S. Jonsell, Y. Liu, A.C. Todd, these Proceedings, doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2006.01.049].

High-frequency Born synthetic seismograms based on coupled normal modes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, Fred F.

2011-01-01

High-frequency and full waveform synthetic seismograms on a 3-D laterally heterogeneous earth model are simulated using the theory of coupled normal modes. The set of coupled integral equations that describe the 3-D response are simplified into a set of uncoupled integral equations by using the Born approximation to calculate scattered wavefields and the pure-path approximation to modulate the phase of incident and scattered wavefields. This depends upon a decomposition of the aspherical structure into smooth and rough components. The uncoupled integral equations are discretized and solved in the frequency domain, and time domain results are obtained by inverse Fourier transform. Examples show the utility of the normal mode approach to synthesize the seismic wavefields resulting from interaction with a combination of rough and smooth structural heterogeneities. This approach is applied to an ∼4 Hz shallow crustal wave propagation around the site of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD).

Higher-Order Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics for Classical Polarizable Models.

PubMed

Albaugh, Alex; Head-Gordon, Teresa; Niklasson, Anders M N

2018-02-13

Generalized extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (XLBOMD) methods provide a framework for fast iteration-free simulations of models that normally require expensive electronic ground state optimizations prior to the force evaluations at every time step. XLBOMD uses dynamically driven auxiliary degrees of freedom that fluctuate about a variationally optimized ground state of an approximate "shadow" potential which approximates the true reference potential. While the requirements for such shadow potentials are well understood, constructing such potentials in practice has previously been ad hoc, and in this work, we present a systematic development of XLBOMD shadow potentials that match the reference potential to any order. We also introduce a framework for combining friction-like dissipation for the auxiliary degrees of freedom with general-order integration, a combination that was not previously possible. These developments are demonstrated with a simple fluctuating charge model and point induced dipole polarization models.

Direct pair production in heavy-ion--atom collisions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anholt, R.; Jakubassa-Amundsen, D.H.; Amundsen, P.A.

1983-02-01

Direct pair production in approx.5-MeV/amu heavy-ion--atom collisions with uranium target atoms is calculated with the plane-wave Born approximation and the semiclassical approximation. Briggs's approximation is used to obtain the electron and positron wave functions. Since pair production involves high momentum transfer q from the moving projectile to the vacuum, use is made of a high-q approximation to greatly simplify the numerical computations. Coulomb deflection of the projectile, the effect of finite nuclear size on the elec- tronic wave functions, and the energy loss by the projectile exciting the pair are all taken into account in these calculations.

NASA upper atmosphere research program: Research summaries, 1990 - 1991. Report to the Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The objectives, status, and accomplishments of the research tasks supported under the NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Program (UARP) are presented. The topics covered include the following: balloon-borne in situ measurements; balloon-borne remote measurements; ground-based measurements; aircraft-borne measurements; rocket-borne measurements; instrument development; reaction kinetics and photochemistry; spectroscopy; stratospheric dynamics and related analysis; stratospheric chemistry, analysis, and related modeling; and global chemical modeling.

The novel support structure design of high stability for space borne primary reflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Fei; Ding, Lin; Tan, Ting; Pei, Jing-yang.; Zhao, Xue-min; Bai, Shao-jun

2018-01-01

The novel support structure design of high stability for space borne primary mirror is presented. The structure is supported by a ball head support rod, for statically determinate support of reflector. The ball head assembly includes the supporting rod, nesting, bushing and other important parts. The liner bushing of the resistant material is used to fit for ball head approximated with the reflector material, and then the bad impact of thermal mismatch could be minimized to minimum. In order to ensure that the structure of the support will not be damaged, the glue spots for limitation is added around the reflector, for position stability of reflector. Through analysis and calculation, it can be seen that the novel support structure would not transfer the external stresses to the reflector, and the external stresses usually result from thermal mismatch and assembly misalignment. The novel method is useful for solving the problem of the bad influence form thermal stress and assembly force. In this paper, the supporting structure is introduced and analyzed in detail. The simulation results show that the ball head support reflector works more stably.

Current and Future Repellent Technologies: The Potential of Spatial Repellents and Their Place in Mosquito-Borne Disease Control.

PubMed

Norris, Edmund J; Coats, Joel R

2017-01-29

Every year, approximately 700,000 people die from complications associated with etiologic disease agents transmitted by mosquitoes. While insecticide-based vector control strategies are important for the management of mosquito-borne diseases, insecticide-resistance and other logistical hurdles may lower the efficacy of this approach, especially in developing countries. Repellent technologies represent another fundamental aspect of preventing mosquito-borne disease transmission. Among these technologies, spatial repellents are promising alternatives to the currently utilized contact repellents and may significantly aid in the prevention of mosquito-borne disease if properly incorporated into integrated pest management approaches. As their deployment would not rely on prohibitively expensive or impractical novel accessory technologies and resources, they have potential utility in developing countries where the burden of mosquito-borne disease is most prevalent. This review aims to describe the history of various repellent technologies, highlight the potential of repellent technologies in preventing the spread of mosquito-borne disease, and discuss currently known mechanisms that confer resistance to current contact and spatial repellents, which may lead to the failures of these repellents. In the subsequent section, current and future research projects aimed at exploring long-lasting non-pyrethroid spatial repellent molecules along with new paradigms and rationale for their development will be discussed.

Current and Future Repellent Technologies: The Potential of Spatial Repellents and Their Place in Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

PubMed Central

Norris, Edmund J.; Coats, Joel R.

2017-01-01

Every year, approximately 700,000 people die from complications associated with etiologic disease agents transmitted by mosquitoes. While insecticide-based vector control strategies are important for the management of mosquito-borne diseases, insecticide-resistance and other logistical hurdles may lower the efficacy of this approach, especially in developing countries. Repellent technologies represent another fundamental aspect of preventing mosquito-borne disease transmission. Among these technologies, spatial repellents are promising alternatives to the currently utilized contact repellents and may significantly aid in the prevention of mosquito-borne disease if properly incorporated into integrated pest management approaches. As their deployment would not rely on prohibitively expensive or impractical novel accessory technologies and resources, they have potential utility in developing countries where the burden of mosquito-borne disease is most prevalent. This review aims to describe the history of various repellent technologies, highlight the potential of repellent technologies in preventing the spread of mosquito-borne disease, and discuss currently known mechanisms that confer resistance to current contact and spatial repellents, which may lead to the failures of these repellents. In the subsequent section, current and future research projects aimed at exploring long-lasting non-pyrethroid spatial repellent molecules along with new paradigms and rationale for their development will be discussed. PMID:28146066

Quantifying Fusion Born Ion Populations in Magnetically Confined Plasmas using Ion Cyclotron Emission

DOE PAGES

Carbajal, L.; Warwick Univ., Coventry; Dendy, R. O.; ...

2017-03-07

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) offers unique promise as a diagnostic of the fusion born alpha-particle population in magnetically confined plasmas. Pioneering observations from JET and TFTR found that ICE intensity P ICE scales approximately linearly with the measured neutron flux from fusion reactions, and with the inferred concentration, n /n i , of fusion-born alpha-particles confined within the plasma. We present fully nonlinear self-consistent kinetic simulations that reproduce this scaling for the first time. This resolves a longstanding question in the physics of fusion alpha particle confinement and stability in MCF plasmas. It confirms the MCI as the likely emissionmore » mechanism and greatly strengthens the basis for diagnostic exploitation of ICE in future burning plasmas.« less

Quantifying Fusion Born Ion Populations in Magnetically Confined Plasmas using Ion Cyclotron Emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbajal, L.; Dendy, R. O.; Chapman, S. C.; Cook, J. W. S.

2017-03-01

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) offers a unique promise as a diagnostic of the fusion born alpha-particle population in magnetically confined plasmas. Pioneering observations from JET and TFTR found that ICE intensity PICE scales approximately linearly with the measured neutron flux from fusion reactions, and with the inferred concentration, nα/ni, of fusion born alpha particles confined within the plasma. We present fully nonlinear self-consistent kinetic simulations that reproduce this scaling for the first time. This resolves a long-standing question in the physics of fusion alpha-particle confinement and stability in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. It confirms the magnetoacoustic cyclotron instability as the likely emission mechanism and greatly strengthens the basis for diagnostic exploitation of ICE in future burning plasmas.

Quantifying Fusion Born Ion Populations in Magnetically Confined Plasmas using Ion Cyclotron Emission.

PubMed

Carbajal, L; Dendy, R O; Chapman, S C; Cook, J W S

2017-03-10

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) offers a unique promise as a diagnostic of the fusion born alpha-particle population in magnetically confined plasmas. Pioneering observations from JET and TFTR found that ICE intensity P_{ICE} scales approximately linearly with the measured neutron flux from fusion reactions, and with the inferred concentration, n_{α}/n_{i}, of fusion born alpha particles confined within the plasma. We present fully nonlinear self-consistent kinetic simulations that reproduce this scaling for the first time. This resolves a long-standing question in the physics of fusion alpha-particle confinement and stability in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. It confirms the magnetoacoustic cyclotron instability as the likely emission mechanism and greatly strengthens the basis for diagnostic exploitation of ICE in future burning plasmas.

Domestic violence and immigration status among Latina mothers in the child welfare system: findings from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being II (NSCAW II).

PubMed

Ogbonnaya, Ijeoma Nwabuzor; Finno-Velasquez, Megan; Kohl, Patricia L

2015-01-01

Many children involved with the child welfare system witness parental domestic violence. The association between children's domestic violence exposure and child welfare involvement may be influenced by certain socio-cultural factors; however, minimal research has examined this relationship. The current study compares domestic violence experiences and case outcomes among Latinas who are legal immigrants (n=39), unauthorized immigrants (n=77), naturalized citizens (n=30), and US-born citizen mothers (n=383) reported for child maltreatment. This analysis used data from the second round of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Mothers were asked about whether they experienced domestic violence during the past year. In addition, data were collected to assess if (a) domestic violence was the primary abuse type reported and, if so, (b) the maltreatment allegation was substantiated. Results show that naturalized citizens, legal residents, and unauthorized immigrants did not differ from US-born citizens in self-reports of domestic violence; approximately 33% of mothers reported experiences of domestic violence within the past year. Yet, unauthorized immigrants were 3.76 times more likely than US-born citizens to have cases with allegations of domestic violence as the primary abuse type. Despite higher rates of alleged domestic violence, unauthorized citizens were not more likely than US-born citizens to have these cases substantiated for domestic violence (F(2.26, 153.99)=0.709, p=.510). Findings highlight that domestic violence is not accurately accounted for in families with unauthorized immigrant mothers. We recommend child welfare workers are trained to properly assess and fulfill the needs of immigrant families, particularly as it relates to domestic violence. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asymptotic form for the cross section for the Coulomb interacting rearrangement collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Omidvar, K.

1973-01-01

It is shown that in a rearrangement collision leading to the formation of the highly excited hydrogenlike states the cross section in all orders of the Born approximation behaves as 1/n sq, with n the principal quantum number, thus invalidating the Brinkman-Kramers approximation for large n. Similarly, in high energy inelastic electron-hydrogenlike atom collisions the exchange cross section for sufficiently large n dominates the direct excitation cross section.

Optical-model potential for electron and positron elastic scattering by atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salvat, Francesc

2003-07-01

An optical-model potential for systematic calculations of elastic scattering of electrons and positrons by atoms and positive ions is proposed. The electrostatic interaction is determined from the Dirac-Hartree-Fock self-consistent atomic electron density. In the case of electron projectiles, the exchange interaction is described by means of the local-approximation of Furness and McCarthy. The correlation-polarization potential is obtained by combining the correlation potential derived from the local density approximation with a long-range polarization interaction, which is represented by means of a Buckingham potential with an empirical energy-dependent cutoff parameter. The absorption potential is obtained from the local-density approximation, using the Born-Ochkurmore » approximation and the Lindhard dielectric function to describe the binary collisions with a free-electron gas. The strength of the absorption potential is adjusted by means of an empirical parameter, which has been determined by fitting available absolute elastic differential cross-section data for noble gases and mercury. The Dirac partial-wave analysis with this optical-model potential provides a realistic description of elastic scattering of electrons and positrons with energies in the range from {approx}100 eV up to {approx}5 keV. At higher energies, correlation-polarization and absorption corrections are small and the usual static-exchange approximation is sufficiently accurate for most practical purposes.« less

Role of Educational Exposure in the Association Between Myopia and Birth Order.

PubMed

Guggenheim, Jeremy A; Williams, Cathy

2015-12-01

Visual impairment due to myopia is an important public health issue. A prior analysis of population-based cohorts aged 15 to 22 years recruited from the United Kingdom and Israel suggested myopia and high myopia were approximately 10% more common in first-born compared with later-born children. To examine whether myopia was associated with birth order in an earlier generation than studied previously and, if so, whether the association was attenuated after adjusting for education exposure, as predicted by the hypothesis that the education of children with later birth orders is less intense. Cross-sectional study of UK Biobank participants recruited from 2006 to 2010. Analysis was restricted to participants aged 40 to 69 years who had a vision assessment, self-reported white ethnicity, and no history of eye disorders (N = 89,120). Myopia and high myopia were defined as autorefraction of -0.75 diopters (D) or less and -6.00 D or less, respectively. Birth order and information on potential confounders including highest educational qualification ascertained using a structured questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) for myopia and high myopia by birth order, using logistic regression and adjusting for age and sex (model 1) or age, sex, and highest educational qualification (model 2). In model 1 (no adjustment for education), birth order was associated with both myopia and high myopia (eg, comparing first- vs second-born individuals; OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.16; P = 1.40E-11 and OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11-1.30; P = 3.60E-06 for myopia and high myopia, respectively). The risk for myopia became progressively lower for later birth orders, suggesting a dose response. In model 2 (after adjusting for education), the effect sizes were attenuated by approximately 25% (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05-1.12; P = 1.30E-06 and OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.25; P = 4.60E-04 for myopia and high myopia, respectively) and the apparent dose response was abolished. These data suggest that the association between birth order and myopia is not due to a new environmental pressure in the last 30 to 40 years. The attenuated effect size after adjusting for educational exposure supports a role for reduced parental investment in education of children with later birth orders in their relative protection from myopia.

Functional neural bases of numerosity judgments in healthy adults born preterm.

PubMed

Clark, Caron A C; Liu, Yating; Wright, Nicolas Lee Abbot; Bedrick, Alan; Edgin, Jamie O

2017-11-01

High rates of mathematics learning disabilities among individuals born preterm (<37weeksGA) have spurred calls for a greater understanding of the nature of these weaknesses and their neural underpinnings. Groups of healthy, high functioning young adults born preterm and full term (n=20) completed a symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison task while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Collectively, participants showed activation in superior and inferior frontal and parietal regions previously linked to numeric processing when comparing non-symbolic magnitude arrays separated by small numeric distances. Simultaneous deactivation of the default mode network also was evident during these trials. Individuals born preterm showed increased signal change relative to their full term peers in right inferior frontal and parietal regions when comparing the non-symbolic magnitude arrays. Elevated signal change during non-symbolic task blocks was associated with poorer performance on a calculation task administered outside of the scanner. These findings indicate that healthy, high-functioning adults born preterm may recruit fronto-parietal networks more extensively when processing non-symbolic magnitudes, suggesting that approximate number system training may be an inroad for early intervention to prevent mathematics difficulties in this population. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Differential and Total Cross Sections Due to Different Radial Wave Functions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williamson, W., Jr.; Greene, T.

1976-01-01

Three sets of analytical wave functions are used to calculate the Na (3s---3p) transition differential and total electron excitation cross sections by Born approximations. Results show expected large variations in values. (Author/CP)

Multi-source analysis reveals latitudinal and altitudinal shifts in range of Ixodes ricinus at its northern distribution limit.

PubMed

Jore, Solveig; Viljugrein, Hildegunn; Hofshagen, Merete; Brun-Hansen, Hege; Kristoffersen, Anja B; Nygård, Karin; Brun, Edgar; Ottesen, Preben; Sævik, Bente K; Ytrehus, Bjørnar

2011-05-19

There is increasing evidence for a latitudinal and altitudinal shift in the distribution range of Ixodes ricinus. The reported incidence of tick-borne disease in humans is on the rise in many European countries and has raised political concern and attracted media attention. It is disputed which factors are responsible for these trends, though many ascribe shifts in distribution range to climate changes. Any possible climate effect would be most easily noticeable close to the tick's geographical distribution limits. In Norway- being the northern limit of this species in Europe- no documentation of changes in range has been published. The objectives of this study were to describe the distribution of I. ricinus in Norway and to evaluate if any range shifts have occurred relative to historical descriptions. Multiple data sources - such as tick-sighting reports from veterinarians, hunters, and the general public - and surveillance of human and animal tick-borne diseases were compared to describe the present distribution of I. ricinus in Norway. Correlation between data sources and visual comparison of maps revealed spatial consistency. In order to identify the main spatial pattern of tick abundance, a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain a weighted mean of four data sources. The weighted mean explained 67% of the variation of the data sources covering Norway's 430 municipalities and was used to depict the present distribution of I. ricinus. To evaluate if any geographical range shift has occurred in recent decades, the present distribution was compared to historical data from 1943 and 1983. Tick-borne disease and/or observations of I. ricinus was reported in municipalities up to an altitude of 583 metres above sea level (MASL) and is now present in coastal municipalities north to approximately 69°N. I. ricinus is currently found further north and at higher altitudes than described in historical records. The approach used in this study, a multi-source analysis, proved useful to assess alterations in tick distribution.

An approximate inverse scattering technique for reconstructing blockage profiles in water pipelines using acoustic transients.

PubMed

Jing, Liwen; Li, Zhao; Wang, Wenjie; Dubey, Amartansh; Lee, Pedro; Meniconi, Silvia; Brunone, Bruno; Murch, Ross D

2018-05-01

An approximate inverse scattering technique is proposed for reconstructing cross-sectional area variation along water pipelines to deduce the size and position of blockages. The technique allows the reconstructed blockage profile to be written explicitly in terms of the measured acoustic reflectivity. It is based upon the Born approximation and provides good accuracy, low computational complexity, and insight into the reconstruction process. Numerical simulations and experimental results are provided for long pipelines with mild and severe blockages of different lengths. Good agreement is found between the inverse result and the actual pipe condition for mild blockages.

Ionization potential depression and optical spectra in a Debye plasma model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chengliang; Röpke, Gerd; Reinholz, Heidi; Kraeft, Wolf-Dietrich

2017-11-01

We show how optical spectra in dense plasmas are determined by the shift of energy levels as well as the broadening owing to collisions with the plasma particles. In lowest approximation, the interaction with the plasma particles is described by the RPA dielectric function, leading to the Debye shift of the continuum edge. The bound states remain nearly un-shifted, their broadening is calculated in Born approximation. The role of ionization potential depression as well as the Inglis-Teller effect are shown. The model calculations have to be improved going beyond the lowest (RPA) approximation when applying to WDM spectra.

Accounting for Location Error in Kalman Filters: Integrating Animal Borne Sensor Data into Assimilation Schemes

PubMed Central

Sengupta, Aritra; Foster, Scott D.; Patterson, Toby A.; Bravington, Mark

2012-01-01

Data assimilation is a crucial aspect of modern oceanography. It allows the future forecasting and backward smoothing of ocean state from the noisy observations. Statistical methods are employed to perform these tasks and are often based on or related to the Kalman filter. Typically Kalman filters assumes that the locations associated with observations are known with certainty. This is reasonable for typical oceanographic measurement methods. Recently, however an alternative and abundant source of data comes from the deployment of ocean sensors on marine animals. This source of data has some attractive properties: unlike traditional oceanographic collection platforms, it is relatively cheap to collect, plentiful, has multiple scientific uses and users, and samples areas of the ocean that are often difficult of costly to sample. However, inherent uncertainty in the location of the observations is a barrier to full utilisation of animal-borne sensor data in data-assimilation schemes. In this article we examine this issue and suggest a simple approximation to explicitly incorporate the location uncertainty, while staying in the scope of Kalman-filter-like methods. The approximation stems from a Taylor-series approximation to elements of the updating equation. PMID:22900005

On the Mass of Atoms in Molecules: Beyond the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherrer, Arne; Agostini, Federica; Sebastiani, Daniel; Gross, E. K. U.; Vuilleumier, Rodolphe

2017-07-01

Describing the dynamics of nuclei in molecules requires a potential energy surface, which is traditionally provided by the Born-Oppenheimer or adiabatic approximation. However, we also need to assign masses to the nuclei. There, the Born-Oppenheimer picture does not account for the inertia of the electrons, and only bare nuclear masses are considered. Nowadays, experimental accuracy challenges the theoretical predictions of rotational and vibrational spectra and requires the participation of electrons in the internal motion of the molecule. More than 80 years after the original work of Born and Oppenheimer, this issue has still not been solved, in general. Here, we present a theoretical and numerical framework to address this problem in a general and rigorous way. Starting from the exact factorization of the electron-nuclear wave function, we include electronic effects beyond the Born-Oppenheimer regime in a perturbative way via position-dependent corrections to the bare nuclear masses. This maintains an adiabaticlike point of view: The nuclear degrees of freedom feel the presence of the electrons via a single potential energy surface, whereas the inertia of electrons is accounted for and the total mass of the system is recovered. This constitutes a general framework for describing the mass acquired by slow degrees of freedom due to the inertia of light, bounded particles; thus, it is applicable not only in electron-nuclear systems but in light-heavy nuclei or ions as well. We illustrate this idea with a model of proton transfer, where the light particle is the proton and the heavy particles are the oxygen atoms to which the proton is bounded. Inclusion of the light-particle inertia allows us to gain orders of magnitude in accuracy. The electron-nuclear perspective is adopted, instead, to calculate position-dependent mass corrections using density functional theory for a few polyatomic molecules at their equilibrium geometry. These data can serve as input for the computation of high-precision molecular spectra.

Few-body quark dynamics for doubly heavy baryons and tetraquarks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richard, Jean-Marc; Valcarce, Alfredo; Vijande, Javier

2018-03-01

We discuss the adequate treatment of the three- and four-body dynamics for the quark model picture of double-charm baryons and tetraquarks. We stress that the variational and Born-Oppenheimer approximations give energies very close to the exact ones, while the diquark approximation might be somewhat misleading. The Hall-Post inequalities also provide very useful lower bounds that exclude the possibility of stable tetraquarks for some mass ratios and some color wave functions.

Density functional theory of electron transfer beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation: Case study of LiF.

PubMed

Li, Chen; Requist, Ryan; Gross, E K U

2018-02-28

We perform model calculations for a stretched LiF molecule, demonstrating that nonadiabatic charge transfer effects can be accurately and seamlessly described within a density functional framework. In alkali halides like LiF, there is an abrupt change in the ground state electronic distribution due to an electron transfer at a critical bond length R = R c , where an avoided crossing of the lowest adiabatic potential energy surfaces calls the validity of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation into doubt. Modeling the R-dependent electronic structure of LiF within a two-site Hubbard model, we find that nonadiabatic electron-nuclear coupling produces a sizable elongation of the critical R c by 0.5 bohr. This effect is very accurately captured by a simple and rigorously derived correction, with an M -1 prefactor, to the exchange-correlation potential in density functional theory, M = reduced nuclear mass. Since this nonadiabatic term depends on gradients of the nuclear wave function and conditional electronic density, ∇ R χ(R) and ∇ R n(r, R), it couples the Kohn-Sham equations at neighboring R points. Motivated by an observed localization of nonadiabatic effects in nuclear configuration space, we propose a local conditional density approximation-an approximation that reduces the search for nonadiabatic density functionals to the search for a single function y(n).

Environmental effects on long term behavior of composite laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singhal, S. N.; Chamis, C. C.

Model equations are presented for approximate methods simulating the long-term behavior of composite materials and structures in hot/humid service environments. These equations allow laminate property upgradings with time, and can account for the effects of service environments on creep response. These methodologies are illustrated for various individual and coupled temperature/moisture, longitudinal/transverse, and composite material type cases. Creep deformation is noted to rise dramatically for cases of matrix-borne, but not of fiber-borne, loading in hot, humid environments; the coupled influence of temperature and moisture is greater than a mere combination of their individual influences.

Environmental effects on long term behavior of composite laminates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singhal, S. N.; Chamis, C. C.

1992-01-01

Model equations are presented for approximate methods simulating the long-term behavior of composite materials and structures in hot/humid service environments. These equations allow laminate property upgradings with time, and can account for the effects of service environments on creep response. These methodologies are illustrated for various individual and coupled temperature/moisture, longitudinal/transverse, and composite material type cases. Creep deformation is noted to rise dramatically for cases of matrix-borne, but not of fiber-borne, loading in hot, humid environments; the coupled influence of temperature and moisture is greater than a mere combination of their individual influences.

Balloon borne Antarctic frost point measurements and their impact on polar stratospheric cloud theories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosen, James M.; Hofmann, D. J.; Carpenter, J. R.; Harder, J. W.; Oltsmans, S. J.

1988-01-01

Balloon-borne frost point measurements were performed over Antarctica during September-October 1987 as part of the NOZE II effort at McMurdo. The results show water mixing ratios on the order of 2 ppmv in the 20 km region, suggesting that models of the springtime Antarctic stratosphere should be based on approximately 2 ppmv water vapor. Evidence indicating that some PSCs form at temperatures higher than the frost point in the 15 to 20 km region is discussed. This supports the binary HNO3-H2O theory of PSC composition.

Submicron scale tissue multifractal anisotropy in polarized laser light scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Nandan Kumar; Dey, Rajib; Chakraborty, Semanti; Panigrahi, Prasanta K.; Meglinski, Igor; Ghosh, Nirmalya

2018-03-01

The spatial fluctuations of the refractive index within biological tissues exhibit multifractal anisotropy, leaving its signature as a spectral linear diattenuation of scattered polarized light. The multifractal anisotropy has been quantitatively assessed by the processing of relevant Mueller matrix elements in the Fourier domain, utilizing the Born approximation and subsequent multifractal analysis. The differential scaling exponent and width of the singularity spectrum appear to be highly sensitive to the structural multifractal anisotropy at the micron/sub-micron length scales. An immediate practical use of these multifractal anisotropy parameters was explored for non-invasive screening of cervical precancerous alterations ex vivo, with the indication of a strong potential for clinical diagnostic purposes.

Anthropometric geography applied to the analysis of socioeconomic disparities: cohort trends and spatial patterns of height and robustness in 20th-century Spain.

PubMed

Camara, Antonio D; Roman, Joan Garcia

2015-11-01

Anthropometrics have been widely used to study the influence of environmental factors on health and nutritional status. In contrast, anthropometric geography has not often been employed to approximate the dynamics of spatial disparities associated with socioeconomic and demographic changes. Spain exhibited intense disparity and change during the middle decades of the 20 th century, with the result that the life courses of the corresponding cohorts were associated with diverse environmental conditions. This was also true of the Spanish territories. This paper presents insights concerning the relationship between socioeconomic changes and living conditions by combining the analysis of cohort trends and the anthropometric cartography of height and physical build. This analysis is conducted for Spanish male cohorts born 1934-1973 that were recorded in the Spanish military statistics. This information is interpreted in light of region-level data on GDP and infant mortality. Our results show an anthropometric convergence across regions that, nevertheless, did not substantially modify the spatial patterns of robustness, featuring primarily robust northeastern regions and weak Central-Southern regions. These patterns persisted until the 1990s (cohorts born during the 1970s). For the most part, anthropometric disparities were associated with socioeconomic disparities, although the former lessened over time to a greater extent than the latter. Interestingly, the various anthropometric indicators utilized here do not point to the same conclusions. Some discrepancies between height and robustness patterns have been found that moderate the statements from the analysis of cohort height alone regarding the level and evolution of living conditions across Spanish regions.

Mechanisms of double-strand-break repair during gene targeting in mammalian cells.

PubMed Central

Ng, P; Baker, M D

1999-01-01

In the present study, the mechanism of double-strand-break (DSB) repair during gene targeting at the chromosomal immunoglobulin mu-locus in a murine hybridoma was examined. The gene-targeting assay utilized specially designed insertion vectors genetically marked in the region of homology to the chromosomal mu-locus by six diagnostic restriction enzyme site markers. The restriction enzyme markers permitted the contribution of vector-borne and chromosomal mu-sequences in the recombinant product to be determined. The use of the insertion vectors in conjunction with a plating procedure in which individual integrative homologous recombination events were retained for analysis revealed several important features about the mammalian DSB repair process:The presence of the markers within the region of shared homology did not affect the efficiency of gene targeting.In the majority of recombinants, the vector-borne marker proximal to the DSB was absent, being replaced with the corresponding chromosomal restriction enzyme site. This result is consistent with either formation and repair of a vector-borne gap or an "end" bias in mismatch repair of heteroduplex DNA (hDNA) that favored the chromosomal sequence. Formation of hDNA was frequently associated with gene targeting and, in most cases, began approximately 645 bp from the DSB and could encompass a distance of at least 1469 bp.The hDNA was efficiently repaired prior to DNA replication.The repair of adjacent mismatches in hDNA occurred predominantly on the same strand, suggesting the involvement of a long-patch repair mechanism. PMID:10049929

Born-Oppenheimer approximation in an effective field theory language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brambilla, Nora; Krein, Gastão; Tarrús Castellà, Jaume; Vairo, Antonio

2018-01-01

The Born-Oppenheimer approximation is the standard tool for the study of molecular systems. It is founded on the observation that the energy scale of the electron dynamics in a molecule is larger than that of the nuclei. A very similar physical picture can be used to describe QCD states containing heavy quarks as well as light-quarks or gluonic excitations. In this work, we derive the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for QED molecular systems in an effective field theory framework by sequentially integrating out degrees of freedom living at energies above the typical energy scale where the dynamics of the heavy degrees of freedom occurs. In particular, we compute the matching coefficients of the effective field theory for the case of the H2+ diatomic molecule that are relevant to compute its spectrum up to O (m α5). Ultrasoft photon loops contribute at this order, being ultimately responsible for the molecular Lamb shift. In the effective field theory the scaling of all the operators is homogeneous, which facilitates the determination of all the relevant contributions, an observation that may become useful for high-precision calculations. Using the above case as a guidance, we construct under some conditions an effective field theory for QCD states formed by a color-octet heavy quark-antiquark pair bound with a color-octet light-quark pair or excited gluonic state, highlighting the similarities and differences between the QED and QCD systems. Assuming that the multipole expansion is applicable, we construct the heavy-quark potential up to next-to-leading order in the multipole expansion in terms of nonperturbative matching coefficients to be obtained from lattice QCD.

Disparities in vaccinations and cancer screening among U.S.- and foreign-born Arab and European American non-Hispanic White women.

PubMed

Dallo, Florence J; Kindratt, Tiffany B

2015-01-01

Disparities in vaccinations and cancer screening exist when comparing foreign-born and U.S.-born women collectively and disaggregated by race and ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the age-adjusted prevalence of not receiving a flu or pneumonia vaccine, clinical breast examination, mammogram or Pap smear among U.S.- and foreign-born White women by region of birth and examine associations while controlling for potential confounders. We pooled 12 years of National Health Interview Survey data (n = 117,893). To approximate an "Arab-American" ethnicity, we identified 15 "Arab" countries from the Middle East region that comprise the Arab Nations. Data was requested from the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center. We used the χ(2) statistic to compare descriptive statistics and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were used for inferential statistics. Compared to U.S.-born, foreign-born Whites from the Arab Nations had higher estimates of not receiving recommended vaccinations and cancer screenings. In crude and adjusted analyses, foreign-born Arab-American women were less likely to report receiving a flu vaccine (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.58), pneumonia vaccine (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.06-0.32), Pap smear (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.05-0.31), or clinical breast examination (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.07-0.37) compared with U.S.-born White women. There were no differences for mammography. This national study examining uptake of flu and pneumonia vaccines and preventive cancer screenings suggests that estimates are lower for foreign-born Arab-American women compared with U.S.-born White women. Future studies should collect qualitative data that assess the cultural context surrounding prevention and screening behaviors among Arab-American women. Copyright © 2015 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Detection and Identification: Instrumentation and Calibration for Air/Liquid/Surface-borne Nanoscale Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Tsz Yan; Zuo, Zhili; Pui, David Y. H.

2013-04-01

Nanoscale particles can be found in the air-borne, liquid-borne and surface-borne dispersed phases. Measurement techniques for nanoscale particles in all three dispersed phases are needed for the environmental, health and safety studies of nanomaterials. We present our studies on connecting the nanoparticle measurements in different phases to enhance the characterization capability. Microscopy analysis for particle morphology can be performed by depositing air-borne or liquid-borne nanoparticles on surfaces. Detection limit and measurement resolution of the liquid-borne nanoparticles can be enhanced by aerosolizing them and taking advantage of the well-developed air-borne particle analyzers. Sampling electrically classified air-borne virus particles with a gelatin filter provides higher collection efficiency than a liquid impinger.

Testicular cancer risk and maternal parity: a population-based cohort study.

PubMed

Westergaard, T; Andersen, P K; Pedersen, J B; Frisch, M; Olsen, J H; Melbye, M

1998-04-01

The aim was to study, in a population-based cohort design, whether first-born sons run a higher risk of testicular cancer than later born sons; to investigate whether this difference in risk was affected by birth cohort, age of the son, maternal age, interval to previous delivery and other reproductive factors; and, finally, to evaluate to what extent changes in women's parity over time might explain the increasing incidence of testicular cancer. By using data from the Civil Registration System, a database was established of all women born in Denmark since 1935 and all their children alive in 1968 or born later. Sons with testicular cancer were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry. Among 1015994 sons followed for 15981 967 person-years, 626 developed testicular cancer (443 non-seminomas, 183 seminomas). Later born sons had a decreased risk of testicular cancer (RR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67-0.95) compared with first-born sons. The RR was 0.79 (95% CI = 0.64-0.98) for non-seminomas and 0.81 (95% CI = 0.58-1.13) for seminomas. There was no association between testicular cancer risk and overall parity of the mother, maternal or paternal age at the birth of the son, or maternal age at first birth. The decreased risk of testicular cancer among later born sons was not modified by age, birth cohort, interval to the previous birth, sex of the first-born child, or maternal age at birth of the son or at first birth. The increased proportion of first-borns from birth cohort 1946 to birth cohort 1969 only explained around 3% of an approximated two-fold increase in incidence between the cohorts. Our data document a distinctly higher risk of testicular cancer in first-born compared with later born sons and suggest that the most likely explanation should be sought among exposures in utero. The increase in the proportion of first-borns in the population has only contributed marginally to the increase in testicular cancer incidence.

Suburban migration and the birth outcome of Chicago-born white and African-American women: the merit of the healthy migrant theory?

PubMed

Collins, James W; Rankin, Kristin M; Janowiak, Christine M

2013-11-01

The healthy migrant theory posits that women who migrate before pregnancy are intrinsically healthier and therefore have better birth outcomes than those who don't move. Objective. To determine whether migration to the suburbs is associated with lower rates of preterm (<37 weeks) birth among Chicago-born White and African-American mothers. We performed stratified and multilevel logistic regression analyses on an Illinois transgenerational dataset of non-Latino White and African-American infants (1989-1991) and their mothers (1956-1976) with appended US census income information. Forty percent of Chicago-born White mothers (N = 45,135) migrated to Suburban Cook County and 30 % migrated to the more geographically distant collar counties. In contrast, 10 % of Chicago-born African-American mothers (N = 41,221) migrated to Suburban Cook and only two percent migrated to the collar counties. Chicago-born White and African-American migrant mothers to Suburban Cook County had lower preterm birth rates than their non-migrant counterparts; RR = 0.8 (0.8-0.9) and 0.8 (0.7-0.8), respectively. When neighborhood income was singularly taken into account, the protective association of suburban migration and preterm birth disappeared among Chicago-born Whites. In race-specific multilevel multivariate regression models which included neighborhood income, the adjusted odds ratio of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational-age for Chicago-born White and African-American migrant (compared to non-migrant) mothers approximated unity. Neighborhood income underlies the protective association of suburban migration and birth outcome among Chicago-born White and African-American mothers. These findings do not support the healthy migrant hypothesis of reproductive outcome.

Students' Moral Reasoning as Related to Cultural Background and Educational Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bar-Yam, Miriam; And Others

The relationship between moral development and cultural and educational background is examined. Approximately 120 Israeli youth representing different social classes, sex, religious affiliation, and educational experience were interviewed. The youth interviewed included urban middle and lower class students, Kibbutz-born, Youth Aliyah…

Research notes : pavement markings using waterborne paint and Visibeads in Region 2.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-01-01

In order to address the problems associated with solvent-borne patins, ODOT Region 2 staff bought sufficient waterborne paint to place approximately 760 linear miles of stripes. This enabled the Region staff to evaluate state-of-the-art materials and...

Aharonov-Casher effect and quantum transport in graphene based nano rings: A self-consistent Born approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghaderzadeh, A.; Rahbari, S. H. Ebrahimnazhad; Phirouznia, A.

2018-03-01

In this study, Rashba coupling induced Aharonov-Casher effect in a graphene based nano ring is investigated theoretically. The graphene based nano ring is considered as a central device connected to semi-infinite graphene nano ribbons. In the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction, two armchair shaped edge nano ribbons are considered as semi-infinite leads. The non-equilibrium Green's function approach is utilized to obtain the quantum transport characteristics of the system. The relaxation and dephasing mechanisms within the self-consistent Born approximation is scrutinized. The Lopez-Sancho method is also applied to obtain the self-energy of the leads. We unveil that the non-equilibrium current of the system possesses measurable Aharonov-Casher oscillations with respect to the Rashba coupling strength. In addition, we have observed the same oscillations in dilute impurity regimes in which amplitude of the oscillations is shown to be suppressed as a result of the relaxations.

High-frequency Born synthetic seismograms based on coupled normal modes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, F.

2011-01-01

High-frequency and full waveform synthetic seismograms on a 3-D laterally heterogeneous earth model are simulated using the theory of coupled normal modes. The set of coupled integral equations that describe the 3-D response are simplified into a set of uncoupled integral equations by using the Born approximation to calculate scattered wavefields and the pure-path approximation to modulate the phase of incident and scattered wavefields. This depends upon a decomposition of the aspherical structure into smooth and rough components. The uncoupled integral equations are discretized and solved in the frequency domain, and time domain results are obtained by inverse Fourier transform. Examples show the utility of the normal mode approach to synthesize the seismic wavefields resulting from interaction with a combination of rough and smooth structural heterogeneities. This approach is applied to an ~4 Hz shallow crustal wave propagation around the site of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD). ?? The Author Geophysical Journal International ?? 2011 RAS.

Electron-impact ionization of Ne (2 p ) and Ar (3 p ) at intermediate energies: Role of the postcollision interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xiaoqing; Gao, Cong-Zhang; Chen, Zhanbin; Wang, Jianguo; Wu, Yong; Wang, Yang

2017-11-01

We present the absolute triple differential cross section (TDCS) for single ionization of Ne (2 p ) at an impact energy of 599.6 eV and Ar (3 p ) at 195 eV. The role of the postcollision interaction (PCI) is studied using a high-order distorted-wave Born approximation model with a continuum distorted-waves expansion. Both the second- and third-order effects are considered in the present calculations, and the third-order distorted wave Born approximation model is reported in the (e ,2 e ) reaction. The calculated results show satisfactory agreement with experimental data. The magnitude of the absolute TDCS is enhanced by a factor 2-3 when the strength factor γ of the PCI amplitude is summarized just from 0 to 2. This proves that the PCI plays an important role in the absolute TDCS of the (e ,2 e ) reaction in the intermediate-energy region.

Development of a balloon-borne device for analysis of high-altitude ice and aerosol particulates: Ice Cryo Encapsulator by Balloon (ICE-Ball)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boaggio, K.; Bandamede, M.; Bancroft, L.; Hurler, K.; Magee, N. B.

2016-12-01

We report on details of continuing instrument development and deployment of a novel balloon-borne device for capturing and characterizing atmospheric ice and aerosol particles, the Ice Cryo Encapsulator by Balloon (ICE-Ball). The device is designed to capture and preserve cirrus ice particles, maintaining them at cold equilibrium temperatures, so that high-altitude particles can recovered, transferred intact, and then imaged under SEM at an unprecedented resolution (approximately 3 nm maximum resolution). In addition to cirrus ice particles, high altitude aerosol particles are also captured, imaged, and analyzed for geometry, chemical composition, and activity as ice nucleating particles. Prototype versions of ICE-Ball have successfully captured and preserved high altitude ice particles and aerosols, then returned them for recovery and SEM imaging and analysis. New improvements include 1) ability to capture particles from multiple narrowly-defined altitudes on a single payload, 2) high quality measurements of coincident temperature, humidity, and high-resolution video at capture altitude, 3) ability to capture particles during both ascent and descent, 4) better characterization of particle collection volume and collection efficiency, and 5) improved isolation and characterization of capture-cell cryo environment. This presentation provides detailed capability specifications for anyone interested in using measurements, collaborating on continued instrument development, or including this instrument in ongoing or future field campaigns.

General relativistic corrections to the weak lensing convergence power spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giblin, John T.; Mertens, James B.; Starkman, Glenn D.; Zentner, Andrew R.

2017-11-01

We compute the weak lensing convergence power spectrum, Cℓκκ, in a dust-filled universe using fully nonlinear general relativistic simulations. The spectrum is then compared to more standard, approximate calculations by computing the Bardeen (Newtonian) potentials in linearized gravity and partially utilizing the Born approximation. We find corrections to the angular power spectrum amplitude of order ten percent at very large angular scales, ℓ˜2 - 3 , and percent-level corrections at intermediate angular scales of ℓ˜20 - 30 .

Positronium formation in e+ plus H- collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Straton, Jack C.; Drachman, Richard J.

1990-01-01

Cross sections for positronium formation by capture from the negative hydrogen ion are given. Orthogonalization corrections to the Coulomb (First) Born Approximation (CBA) differential and total cross sections are calculated using approximate H- wave functions of both Lowdin and Chandrasekhar. Various methods of orthogonalizing the unbound projectile to the possible bound states are considered. It is found that treating the atomic nuclei as if they were isotopic spin projections of a single type of nucleon gives cross sections that are an improvement over the CBA.

Polarization transfer observables in elastic electron-proton scattering at Q2=2.5 , 5.2, 6.8, and 8.5 GeV2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puckett, A. J. R.; Brash, E. J.; Jones, M. K.; Luo, W.; Meziane, M.; Pentchev, L.; Perdrisat, C. F.; Punjabi, V.; Wesselmann, F. R.; Afanasev, A.; Ahmidouch, A.; Albayrak, I.; Aniol, K. A.; Arrington, J.; Asaturyan, A.; Baghdasaryan, H.; Benmokhtar, F.; Bertozzi, W.; Bimbot, L.; Bosted, P.; Boeglin, W.; Butuceanu, C.; Carter, P.; Chernenko, S.; Christy, M. E.; Commisso, M.; Cornejo, J. C.; Covrig, S.; Danagoulian, S.; Daniel, A.; Davidenko, A.; Day, D.; Dhamija, S.; Dutta, D.; Ent, R.; Frullani, S.; Fenker, H.; Frlez, E.; Garibaldi, F.; Gaskell, D.; Gilad, S.; Gilman, R.; Goncharenko, Y.; Hafidi, K.; Hamilton, D.; Higinbotham, D. W.; Hinton, W.; Horn, T.; Hu, B.; Huang, J.; Huber, G. M.; Jensen, E.; Keppel, C.; Khandaker, M.; King, P.; Kirillov, D.; Kohl, M.; Kravtsov, V.; Kumbartzki, G.; Li, Y.; Mamyan, V.; Margaziotis, D. J.; Marsh, A.; Matulenko, Y.; Maxwell, J.; Mbianda, G.; Meekins, D.; Melnik, Y.; Miller, J.; Mkrtchyan, A.; Mkrtchyan, H.; Moffit, B.; Moreno, O.; Mulholland, J.; Narayan, A.; Nedev, S.; Nuruzzaman, Piasetzky, E.; Pierce, W.; Piskunov, N. M.; Prok, Y.; Ransome, R. D.; Razin, D. S.; Reimer, P.; Reinhold, J.; Rondon, O.; Shabestari, M.; Shahinyan, A.; Shestermanov, K.; Širca, S.; Sitnik, I.; Smykov, L.; Smith, G.; Solovyev, L.; Solvignon, P.; Subedi, R.; Tomasi-Gustafsson, E.; Vasiliev, A.; Veilleux, M.; Wojtsekhowski, B. B.; Wood, S.; Ye, Z.; Zanevsky, Y.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, Y.; Zheng, X.; Zhu, L.

2017-11-01

Background: Interest in the behavior of nucleon electromagnetic form factors at large momentum transfers has steadily increased since the discovery, using polarization observables, of the rapid decrease of the ratio GEp/GMp of the proton's electric and magnetic form factors for momentum transfers Q2≳1 GeV2, in strong disagreement with previous extractions of this ratio using the traditional Rosenbluth separation technique. Purpose: The GEp-III and GEp -2 γ experiments were carried out in Jefferson Laboratory's (JLab's) Hall C from 2007 to 2008, to extend the knowledge of GEp/GMp to the highest practically achievable Q2 given the maximum beam energy of 6 GeV and to search for effects beyond the Born approximation in polarization transfer observables of elastic e ⃗p scattering. This article provides an expanded description of the common experimental apparatus and data analysis procedures, and reports the results of a final reanalysis of the data from both experiments, including the previously unpublished results of the full-acceptance dataset of the GEp -2 γ experiment. Methods: Polarization transfer observables in elastic e ⃗p →e p ⃗ scattering were measured at central Q2 values of 2.5, 5.2, 6.8, and 8.54 GeV2. At Q2=2.5 GeV2 , data were obtained for central values of the virtual photon polarization parameter ɛ of 0.149, 0.632, and 0.783. The Hall C High Momentum Spectrometer detected and measured the polarization of protons recoiling elastically from collisions of JLab's polarized electron beam with a liquid hydrogen target. A large-acceptance electromagnetic calorimeter detected the elastically scattered electrons in coincidence to suppress inelastic backgrounds. Results: The final GEp-III data are largely unchanged relative to the originally published results. The statistical uncertainties of the final GEp -2 γ data are significantly reduced at ɛ =0.632 and 0.783 relative to the original publication. Conclusions: The final GEp-III results show that the decrease with Q2 of GEp/GMp continues to Q2=8.5 GeV2 , but at a slowing rate relative to the approximately linear decrease observed in earlier Hall A measurements. At Q2=8.5 GeV2 , GEp/GMp remains positive but is consistent with zero. At Q2=2.5 GeV2 , GEp/GMp derived from the polarization component ratio R ∝Pt/Pℓ shows no statistically significant ɛ dependence, as expected in the Born approximation. On the other hand, the ratio Pℓ/PℓBorn of the longitudinal polarization transfer component to its Born value shows an enhancement of roughly 1.7% at ɛ =0.783 relative to ɛ =0.149 , with ≈2.2 σ significance based on the total uncertainty, implying a similar effect in the transverse component Pt that cancels in the ratio R .

U.S.-born compared to non-U.S.-born abused women: analysis of baseline data.

PubMed

Montalvo-Liendo, Nora; Koci, Anne; McFarlane, Judith; Gilroy, Heidi; Maddoux, John

2013-01-01

It is evident from recent studies that a woman's citizenship status does not exempt her from exposure to partner violence. The purpose of this article was to examine if social support, self-efficacy, and marginalization of abused women differ based on U.S. born compared to non-U.S. born with and without documentation. The findings suggest that women who were born in the United States had significantly higher self-efficacy scores compared to non-U.S.-born women without documents. There were no significant differences in social support among abused women who are U.S. born compared to non-U.S. born with and without documentation. In addition, women who were not born in the United States and did not have documents had higher marginalization.

The fading American dream: Trends in absolute income mobility since 1940.

PubMed

Chetty, Raj; Grusky, David; Hell, Maximilian; Hendren, Nathaniel; Manduca, Robert; Narang, Jimmy

2017-04-28

We estimated rates of "absolute income mobility"-the fraction of children who earn more than their parents-by combining data from U.S. Census and Current Population Survey cross sections with panel data from de-identified tax records. We found that rates of absolute mobility have fallen from approximately 90% for children born in 1940 to 50% for children born in the 1980s. Increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates alone cannot restore absolute mobility to the rates experienced by children born in the 1940s. However, distributing current GDP growth more equally across income groups as in the 1940 birth cohort would reverse more than 70% of the decline in mobility. These results imply that reviving the "American dream" of high rates of absolute mobility would require economic growth that is shared more broadly across the income distribution. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction for coupled-cluster wave-functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamasundar, K. R.

2018-06-01

We examine how geometry-dependent normalisation freedom of electronic wave-functions affects extraction of a meaningful diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction (DBOC) to the ground-state Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surface (PES). By viewing this freedom as a kind of gauge-freedom, it is shown that DBOC and the resulting associated mass-dependent adiabatic PES are gauge-invariant quantities. A sum-over-states (SOS) formula for DBOC which explicitly exhibits this invariance is derived. A biorthogonal formulation suitable for DBOC computations using standard unnormalised coupled-cluster (CC) wave-functions is presented. This is shown to lead to a biorthogonal version of SOS formula with similar properties. On this basis, different computational schemes for evaluating DBOC using approximate CC wave-functions are derived. One of this agrees with the formula used in the current literature. The connection to adiabatic-to-diabatic transformations in non-adiabatic dynamics is explored and complications arising from biorthogonal nature of CC theory are identified.

A multiplex serologic platform for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.

PubMed

Tokarz, Rafal; Mishra, Nischay; Tagliafierro, Teresa; Sameroff, Stephen; Caciula, Adrian; Chauhan, Lokendrasingh; Patel, Jigar; Sullivan, Eric; Gucwa, Azad; Fallon, Brian; Golightly, Marc; Molins, Claudia; Schriefer, Martin; Marques, Adriana; Briese, Thomas; Lipkin, W Ian

2018-02-16

Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States, with serology being the primary method of diagnosis. We developed the first multiplex, array-based assay for serodiagnosis of tick-borne diseases called the TBD-Serochip. The TBD-Serochip was designed to discriminate antibody responses to 8 major tick-borne pathogens present in the United States, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Rickettsia rickettsii, Heartland virus and Powassan virus. Each assay contains approximately 170,000 12-mer linear peptides that tile along the protein sequence of the major antigens from each agent with 11 amino acid overlap. This permits accurate identification of a wide range of specific immunodominant IgG and IgM epitopes that can then be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and integrate differential diagnosis into a single assay. To test the performance of the TBD-Serochip, we examined sera from patients with confirmed Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus disease. We identified a wide range of specific discriminatory epitopes that facilitated accurate diagnosis of each disease. We also identified previously undiagnosed infections. Our results indicate that the TBD-Serochip is a promising tool for a differential diagnosis not available with currently employed serologic assays for TBDs.

Electrical excitability: a spectrum of properties in the progeny of a single embryonic neuroblast.

PubMed Central

Goodman, C S; Pearson, K G; Spitzer, N C

1980-01-01

We have examined the range of some properties of the progeny of a single embryonic precursor cell in the grasshopper. The approximately 100 progeny of this single neuroblast share certain features such as their transmitter and some aspects of their morphology; at the same time, however, they demonstrate a broad spectrum of electrical properties, from spiking to non-spiking neurons. The first-born progeny are spiking neurons with peripheral axons. Many of the progeny, including all of the last-born, do not generate action potentials. The nonspiking progeny are local intraganglionic neurons and appear to compose a major proportion of the progeny of this neuroblast. All of the nonspiking neurons have calcium inward current channels and can make action potentials when outward current channels are blocked. We propose a model for grasshopper neurogenesis based on cell lineage such that (i) certain features (e.g., transmitter) are shared by the progeny of all cell divisions from a single neuroblast, and (ii) other features (e.g., electrical properties) are shared by the progeny of a given birth position (e.g., first versus last born) from all of the neuroblasts. According to this model, the first-born progeny from all neuroblasts are spiking neurons, whereas the last-born are nonspiking. Images PMID:6246499

Relationship between parent demographic characteristics, perinatal and early childhood behaviors, and body mass index among preschool-age children.

PubMed

Messiah, Sarah E; Asfour, Lila; Arheart, Kristopher L; Selem, Sarah M; Uhlhorn, Susan B; Natale, Ruby

2015-04-01

Approximately 25% of US 2-to-5-year olds are overweight and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected. We explored the relationship between parent demographic characteristics, various perinatal/early childhood (EC) factors, and child body mass index (BMI) to determine possible contributors to these disparities. A preschool-based randomized controlled (N = 28 centers) obesity prevention intervention was conducted among multiethnic 2-to-5 year olds. Baseline assessment of demographic characteristics, various perinatal/EC factors, and child BMI were analyzed via generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression analysis. Foreign-born parents were almost 2.5 times as likely to have an obese child versus children of US-born parents (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.53-3.87). Families who spoke Spanish only or a combination of Creole/English at home were over twice as likely to have an obese preschool child versus families who spoke English only at home. Parent place of birth and language spoken at home plays a significant role in early childhood obesity. Future early childhood healthy weight initiatives should incorporate strategies that take into account these particular parent characteristics.

Investigation of Tropospheric Pollutants and Stratospheric Ozone Using Infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometers from the Ground, Space and Balloons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffin, Debora

This thesis focusses on transport and composition of boreal fire plumes, evolution of trace gases in the Arctic, multi-year comparisons of ground-based and satellite-borne instruments, and depletion of Arctic ozone. Two similar Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) instruments were utilized: (1) the ground-based and balloon-borne Portable Atmospheric Research Interferometric Spectrometer for the InfraRed (PARIS-IR) and (2) the space-borne Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) FTS. Additional datasets, from other satellite and ground-based instruments, as well as Chemical Transport Models (CTMs) complemented the analysis. Transport and composition of boreal fire plumes were analysed with PARIS-IR measurements taken in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This study analysed the retrievals of different FTSs and investigated transport and composition of a smoke plume utilizing various models. The CO retrievals of three different FTSs (PARIS-IR, DA8, and IASI) were consistent and detected a smoke plume between 19 and 21 July 2011. These measurements were similar to the concentrations computed by GEOS-Chem ( 3% for CO and 8% for C2H6). Multi-year comparisons (2006-2013) of ground-based and satellite-borne FTSs near Eureka, Nunavut were carried out utilizing measurements from PARIS-IR, the Bruker 125HR and ACEFTS. The mean and interannual differences between the datasets were investigated for eight species (ozone, HCl, HNO3, HF, CH4, N2O, CO, and C2H6) and good agreement between these instruments was found. Furthermore, the evolution of the eight gases was investigated and increasing ozone, HCl, HF, CH4 and C2H6 were found. Springtime Arctic ozone depletion was studied, where six different methods to estimate ozone depletion were evaluated using the ACE-FTS dataset. It was shown that CH4, N2O, HF, and CCl2F2 are suitable tracers to estimate the ozone loss. The loss estimates (mixing ratio and partial column) are consistent for all six methods. Finally, PARIS-IR was prepared for a balloon-borne measurement campaign and a new suntracker for these measurements was designed and tested. The balloon was launched in September 2015. The suntracker performed with a +/-0.04° accuracy. From the balloon-borne sunset spectra, an ozone profile was retrieved and is consistent with measurements from a nearby ozonesonde within approximately 10 %.

Analysis of tidal currents in the North Sea from shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vindenes, Håvard; Orvik, Kjell Arild; Søiland, Henrik; Wehde, Henning

2018-06-01

North Sea tidal currents are determined by applying harmonic analysis to ship-borne acoustic Doppler current profiler data recorded from 1999 to 2016, covering large areas of the northern North Sea. Direct current measurement data sets of this magnitude are rare in the otherwise well investigated North Sea, and thus it is a valuable asset in studying and expanding our understanding of its tidal currents and circulation in general. The harmonic analysis is applied to a least squares fit of the current observations at a set of knot points. Results from the harmonic analysis compare favorably to tidal parameters estimated from observations from moored instruments. The analysis shows that the tides are characterized by strong semi-diurnal component, with amplitudes of the principal Lunar constituent ranging from 1.6 cm/s in the Skagerrak to 67 cm/s in the Fair Isle Channel. Diurnal tides are found to be approximately one fifth the strength of the predominant semi-diurnal constituent. Output from a regional barotropic tide model compares well to tidal current determined from the harmonic analysis of the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data.

Predictability of tick-borne encephalitis fluctuations.

PubMed

Zeman, P

2017-10-01

Tick-borne encephalitis is a serious arboviral infection with unstable dynamics and profound inter-annual fluctuations in case numbers. A dependable predictive model has been sought since the discovery of the disease. The present study demonstrates that four superimposed cycles, approximately 2·4, 3, 5·4, and 10·4 years long, can account for three-fifths of the variation in the disease fluctuations over central Europe. Using harmonic regression, these cycles can be projected into the future, yielding forecasts of sufficient accuracy for up to 4 years ahead. For the years 2016-2018, this model predicts elevated incidence levels in most parts of the region.

The extreme ultraviolet spectrograph: A radial groove grating, sounding rocket-borne, astronomical instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilkinson, Erik; Green, James C.; Cash, Webster

1993-01-01

The design, calibration, and sounding rocket flight performance of a novel spectrograph suitable for moderate-resolution EUV spectroscopy are presented. The sounding rocket-borne instrument uses a radial groove grating to maintain a high system efficiency while controlling the aberrations induced when doing spectroscopy in a converging beam. The instrument has a resolution of approximately 2 A across the 200-330 A bandpass with an average effective area of 2 sq cm. The instrument, called the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph, acquired the first EUV spectra in this wavelength region of the hot white dwarf G191-B2B and the late-type star Capella.

Full-Genome Characterisation of Orungo, Lebombo and Changuinola Viruses Provides Evidence for Co-Evolution of Orbiviruses with Their Arthropod Vectors

PubMed Central

Mohd Jaafar, Fauziah; Belhouchet, Mourad; Belaganahalli, Manjunatha; Tesh, Robert B.; Mertens, Peter P. C.; Attoui, Houssam

2014-01-01

The complete genomes of Orungo virus (ORUV), Lebombo virus (LEBV) and Changuinola virus (CGLV) were sequenced, confirming that they each encode 11 distinct proteins (VP1-VP7 and NS1-NS4). Phylogenetic analyses of cell-attachment protein ‘outer-capsid protein 1′ (OC1), show that orbiviruses fall into three large groups, identified as: VP2(OC1), in which OC1 is the 2nd largest protein, including the Culicoides transmitted orbiviruses; VP3(OC1), which includes the mosquito transmitted orbiviruses; and VP4(OC1) which includes the tick transmitted viruses. Differences in the size of OC1 between these groups, places the T2 ‘subcore-shell protein’ as the third largest protein ‘VP3(T2)’ in the first of these groups, but the second largest protein ‘VP3(T2)’ in the other two groups. ORUV, LEBV and CGLV all group with the Culicoides-borne VP2(OC1)/VP3(T2) viruses. The G+C content of the ORUV, LEBV and CGLV genomes is also similar to that of the Culicoides-borne, rather than the mosquito-borne, or tick borne orbiviruses. These data suggest that ORUV and LEBV are Culicoides- rather than mosquito-borne. Multiple isolations of CGLV from sand flies suggest that they are its primary vector. OC1 of the insect-borne orbiviruses is approximately twice the size of the equivalent protein of the tick borne viruses. Together with internal sequence similarities, this suggests its origin by duplication (concatermerisation) of a smaller OC1 from an ancestral tick-borne orbivirus. Phylogenetic comparisons showing linear relationships between the dates of evolutionary-separation of their vector species, and genetic-distances between tick-, mosquito- or Culicoides-borne virus-groups, provide evidence for co-evolution of the orbiviruses with their arthropod vectors. PMID:24475112

Assessment of changes of vector borne diseases with wetland characteristics using multivariate analysis.

PubMed

Sheela, A M; Sarun, S; Justus, J; Vineetha, P; Sheeja, R V

2015-04-01

Vector borne diseases are a threat to human health. Little attention has been paid to the prevention of these diseases. We attempted to identify the significant wetland characteristics associated with the spread of chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria in Kerala, a tropical region of South West India using multivariate analyses (hierarchical cluster analysis, factor analysis and multiple regression). High/medium turbid coastal lagoons and inland water-logged wetlands with aquatic vegetation have significant effect on the incidence of chikungunya while dengue influenced by high turbid coastal beaches and malaria by medium turbid coastal beaches. The high turbidity in water is due to the urban waste discharge namely sewage, sullage and garbage from the densely populated cities and towns. The large extent of wetland is low land area favours the occurrence of vector borne diseases. Hence the provision of pollution control measures at source including soil erosion control measures is vital. The identification of vulnerable zones favouring the vector borne diseases will help the authorities to control pollution especially from urban areas and prevent these vector borne diseases. Future research should cover land use cover changes, climatic factors, seasonal variations in weather and pollution factors favouring the occurrence of vector borne diseases.

Density functional theory of electron transfer beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation: Case study of LiF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chen; Requist, Ryan; Gross, E. K. U.

2018-02-01

We perform model calculations for a stretched LiF molecule, demonstrating that nonadiabatic charge transfer effects can be accurately and seamlessly described within a density functional framework. In alkali halides like LiF, there is an abrupt change in the ground state electronic distribution due to an electron transfer at a critical bond length R = Rc, where an avoided crossing of the lowest adiabatic potential energy surfaces calls the validity of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation into doubt. Modeling the R-dependent electronic structure of LiF within a two-site Hubbard model, we find that nonadiabatic electron-nuclear coupling produces a sizable elongation of the critical Rc by 0.5 bohr. This effect is very accurately captured by a simple and rigorously derived correction, with an M-1 prefactor, to the exchange-correlation potential in density functional theory, M = reduced nuclear mass. Since this nonadiabatic term depends on gradients of the nuclear wave function and conditional electronic density, ∇Rχ(R) and ∇Rn(r, R), it couples the Kohn-Sham equations at neighboring R points. Motivated by an observed localization of nonadiabatic effects in nuclear configuration space, we propose a local conditional density approximation—an approximation that reduces the search for nonadiabatic density functionals to the search for a single function y(n).

Infant born preterm have delayed development of adaptive postural control in the first 5 months of life.

PubMed

Dusing, Stacey C; Thacker, Leroy R; Galloway, James C

2016-08-01

Infants born preterm are at increased risk of developmental disabilities, that may be attributed to their early experiences and ability to learn. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the ability of infants born preterm to adapt their postural control to changing task demands. This study included 18 infants born at 32 weeks of gestation or less whose posture was compared in supine under 2 conditions, with and without a visual stimulus presented. The postural variability, measured with root mean squared displacement of the center of pressure, and postural complexity, measured with the approximate entropy of the center of pressure displacement were measured longitudinally from 2.5 to 5 months of age. The infants looked at the toys in midline for several months prior to adapting their postural variability in a manner similar to full term infants. Only after postural variability was reduced in both the caudal cephalic and medial lateral direction in the toy condition did the infants learn to reach for the toy. Postural complexity did not vary between conditions. These findings suggest that infants used a variety of strategies to control their posture. In contrast to research with infants born full term, the infants born preterm in this study did not identify the successful strategy of reducing movement of the center of pressure until months after showing interest in the toy. This delayed adaptation may impact the infants ability to learn over time. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S STUDY: BEGINNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIONAL-PROBABILITY SAMPLE

EPA Science Inventory

Introduction: The National Children's Study (NCS) is a longitudinal cohort study that will follow a sample of approximately 100,000 children born in the United States from before birth until 21 years of age. The NCS will investigate the separate and combined effects of environmen...

Helping Young Hispanic Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia, Eugene E.; Jensen, Bryant

2007-01-01

Hispanics are the largest and youngest ethnic group in the United States. Moreover, young Hispanic children make up approximately 80 percent of the U.S. English language learner population. They are a heterogeneous group, born both inside and outside the United States and having origins in Mexico, Cuba, Central America, South America, and the…

Johanna and Tommy: Two Preschoolers in Sweden with Brittle Bones.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Millde, Kristina; Brodin, Jane

Information is presented for caregivers of Swedish children with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones) and their families. Approximately five children with brittle bones are born in Sweden annually. Two main types of brittle bone disease have been identified: congenita and tarda. Typical symptoms include numerous and unexpected fractures, bluish…

Earth Observation

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-05-31

ISS040-E-006165 (31 May 2014 ) --- One of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the International Space Station photographed this nadir image of the volcanic-born Banks Peninsula, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand on May 31, 2014. Banks Peninsula covers an area of approximately 1,150 square kilometers.

Combined active and passive microwave remote sensing of vegetated surfaces at l-band

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In previous work the distorted Born approximation (DBA) of volume scattering was combined with the numerical solutions of Maxwell equations (NMM3D) for a rough surface to calculate the radar backscattering coefficient for the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The model results were valida...

Leucine is a major regulator of muscle protein synthesis in neonates

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Approximately 10 % of infants born in the United States are of low birth weight. Growth failure during the neonatal period is a common occurrence in low birth weight infants due to their inability to tolerate full feeds, concerns about advancing protein supply, and high nutrient requirements for gro...

Exploring the Large Scale Anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation at 170 GHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganga, Kenneth Matthew

1994-01-01

In this thesis, data from the Far Infra-Red Survey (FIRS), a balloon-borne experiment designed to measure the large scale anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation, are analyzed. The FIRS operates in four frequency bands at 170, 280, 480, and 670 GHz, using an approximately Gaussian beam with a 3.8 deg full-width-at-half-maximum. A cross-correlation with the COBE/DMR first-year maps yields significant results, confirming the DMR detection of anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation. Analysis of the FIRS data alone sets bounds on the amplitude of anisotropy under the assumption that the fluctuations are described by a Harrison-Peebles-Zel'dovich spectrum and further analysis sets limits on the index of the primordial density fluctuations for an Einstein-DeSitter universe. Galactic dust emission is discussed and limits are set on the magnitude of possible systematic errors in the measurement.

Correlation of TBE Incidence with Red Deer and Roe Deer Abundance in Slovenia

PubMed Central

Knap, Nataša; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana

2013-01-01

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a virus infection which sometimes causes human disease. The TBE virus is found in ticks and certain vertebrate tick hosts in restricted endemic localities termed TBE foci. The formation of natural foci is a combination of several factors: the vectors, a suitable and numerous enough number of hosts and in a habitat with suitable vegetation and climate. The present study investigated the influence of deer on the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis. We were able to obtain data from deer culls. Using this data, the abundance of deer was estimated and temporal and spatial analysis was performed. The abundance of deer has increased in the past decades, as well as the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis. Temporal analysis confirmed a correlation between red deer abundance and tick-borne encephalitis occurrence. Additionally, spatial analysis established, that in areas with high incidence of tick-borne encephalitis red deer density is higher, compared to areas with no or few human cases of tick-borne encephalitis. However, such correlation could not be confirmed between roe deer density and the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis. This is presumably due to roe deer density being above a certain threshold so that availability of tick reproduction hosts has no apparent effect on ticks' host finding and consequently may not be possible to correlate with incidence of human TBE. PMID:23776668

Tissue multifractality and hidden Markov model based integrated framework for optimum precancer detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukhopadhyay, Sabyasachi; Das, Nandan K.; Kurmi, Indrajit; Pradhan, Asima; Ghosh, Nirmalya; Panigrahi, Prasanta K.

2017-10-01

We report the application of a hidden Markov model (HMM) on multifractal tissue optical properties derived via the Born approximation-based inverse light scattering method for effective discrimination of precancerous human cervical tissue sites from the normal ones. Two global fractal parameters, generalized Hurst exponent and the corresponding singularity spectrum width, computed by multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA), are used here as potential biomarkers. We develop a methodology that makes use of these multifractal parameters by integrating with different statistical classifiers like the HMM and support vector machine (SVM). It is shown that the MFDFA-HMM integrated model achieves significantly better discrimination between normal and different grades of cancer as compared to the MFDFA-SVM integrated model.

Final Scientific/Technical Report: Breakthrough Design and Implementation of Many-Body Theories for Electron Correlation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

So Hirata

2012-01-03

This report discusses the following highlights of the project: (1) grid-based Hartree-Fock equation solver; (2) explicitly correlated coupled-cluster and perturbation methods; (3) anharmonic vibrational frequencies and vibrationally averaged NMR and structural parameters of FHF; (4) anharmonic vibrational frequencies and vibrationally averaged structures of hydrocarbon combustion species; (5) anharmonic vibrational analysis of the guanine-cytosine base pair; (6) the nature of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation; (7) Polymers and solids Brillouin-zone downsampling - the modulo MP2 method; (8) explicitly correlated MP2 for extended systems; (9) fast correlated method for molecular crystals - solid formic acid; and (10) fast correlated method for molecular crystals -more » solid hydrogen fluoride.« less

Matrix elements of N-particle explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions with complex exponential parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubin, Sergiy; Adamowicz, Ludwik

2006-06-01

In this work we present analytical expressions for Hamiltonian matrix elements with spherically symmetric, explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions with complex exponential parameters for an arbitrary number of particles. The expressions are derived using the formalism of matrix differential calculus. In addition, we present expressions for the energy gradient that includes derivatives of the Hamiltonian integrals with respect to the exponential parameters. The gradient is used in the variational optimization of the parameters. All the expressions are presented in the matrix form suitable for both numerical implementation and theoretical analysis. The energy and gradient formulas have been programed and used to calculate ground and excited states of the He atom using an approach that does not involve the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.

Matrix elements of N-particle explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions with complex exponential parameters.

PubMed

Bubin, Sergiy; Adamowicz, Ludwik

2006-06-14

In this work we present analytical expressions for Hamiltonian matrix elements with spherically symmetric, explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions with complex exponential parameters for an arbitrary number of particles. The expressions are derived using the formalism of matrix differential calculus. In addition, we present expressions for the energy gradient that includes derivatives of the Hamiltonian integrals with respect to the exponential parameters. The gradient is used in the variational optimization of the parameters. All the expressions are presented in the matrix form suitable for both numerical implementation and theoretical analysis. The energy and gradient formulas have been programmed and used to calculate ground and excited states of the He atom using an approach that does not involve the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.

Chronic treatment with AMPA receptor potentiator Org 26576 increases neuronal cell proliferation and survival in adult rodent hippocampus.

PubMed

Su, Xiaowei W; Li, Xiao-Yuan; Banasr, Mounira; Koo, Ja Wook; Shahid, Mohammed; Henry, Brian; Duman, Ronald S

2009-10-01

Currently available antidepressants upregulate hippocampal neurogenesis and prefrontal gliogenesis after chronic administration, which could block or reverse the effects of stress. Allosteric alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor potentiators (ARPs), which have novel targets compared to current antidepressants, have been shown to have antidepressant properties in neurogenic and behavioral models. This study analyzed the effect of the ARP Org 26576 on the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of neurons and glia in the hippocampus and prelimbic cortex of adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received acute (single day) or chronic (21 day) twice-daily intraperitoneal injections of Org 26576 (1-10 mg/kg). Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry was conducted 24 h or 28 days after the last drug injection for the analysis of cell proliferation or survival, respectively. Confocal immunofluorescence analysis was used to determine the phenotype of surviving cells. Acute administration of Org 26576 did not increase neuronal cell proliferation. However, chronic administration of Org 26576 increased progenitor cell proliferation in dentate gyrus (approximately 40%) and in prelimbic cortex (approximately 35%) at the 10-mg/kg dosage. Cells born in response to chronic Org 26576 in dentate gyrus exhibited increased rates of survival (approximately 30%) with the majority of surviving cells expressing a neuronal phenotype. Findings suggest that Org 26576 may have antidepressant properties, which may be attributed, in part, to upregulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and prelimbic cell proliferation.

Electropalatography in home training of retracted articulation in a Swedish child with cleft palate: effect on articulation pattern and speech.

PubMed

Lohmander, Anette; Henriksson, Cecilia; Havstam, Christina

2010-12-01

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of electropalatography (EPG) in home training of persistent articulation errors in an 11-year-old Swedish girl born with isolated cleft palate. The /t/ and /s/ sounds were trained in a single subject design across behaviours during an eight month period using a portable training unit (PTU). Both EPG analysis and perceptual analysis showed an improvement in the production of /t/ and /s/ in words and sentences after therapy. Analysis of tongue-contact patterns showed that the participant had more normal articulatory patterns of /t/ and /s/ after just 2 months (after approximately 8 hours of training) respectively. No statistically significant transfer by means of intelligibility in connected speech was found. The present results show that EPG home training can be a sufficient method for treating persistent speech disorders associated with cleft palate. Methods for transfer from function (articulation) to activity (intelligibility) need to be explored.

Anthropometric geography applied to the analysis of socioeconomic disparities: cohort trends and spatial patterns of height and robustness in 20th-century Spain

PubMed Central

Camara, Antonio D.; Roman, Joan Garcia

2014-01-01

Anthropometrics have been widely used to study the influence of environmental factors on health and nutritional status. In contrast, anthropometric geography has not often been employed to approximate the dynamics of spatial disparities associated with socioeconomic and demographic changes. Spain exhibited intense disparity and change during the middle decades of the 20th century, with the result that the life courses of the corresponding cohorts were associated with diverse environmental conditions. This was also true of the Spanish territories. This paper presents insights concerning the relationship between socioeconomic changes and living conditions by combining the analysis of cohort trends and the anthropometric cartography of height and physical build. This analysis is conducted for Spanish male cohorts born 1934–1973 that were recorded in the Spanish military statistics. This information is interpreted in light of region-level data on GDP and infant mortality. Our results show an anthropometric convergence across regions that, nevertheless, did not substantially modify the spatial patterns of robustness, featuring primarily robust northeastern regions and weak Central-Southern regions. These patterns persisted until the 1990s (cohorts born during the 1970s). For the most part, anthropometric disparities were associated with socioeconomic disparities, although the former lessened over time to a greater extent than the latter. Interestingly, the various anthropometric indicators utilized here do not point to the same conclusions. Some discrepancies between height and robustness patterns have been found that moderate the statements from the analysis of cohort height alone regarding the level and evolution of living conditions across Spanish regions. PMID:26640422

Inflows of foreign-born physicians and their access to employment and work experiences in health care in Finland: qualitative and quantitative study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background In many developed countries, including Finland, health care authorities customarily consider the international mobility of physicians as a means for addressing the shortage of general practitioners (GPs). This study i) examined, based on register information, the numbers of foreign-born physicians migrating to Finland and their employment sector, ii) examined, based on qualitative interviews, the foreign-born GPs’ experiences of accessing employment and work in primary care in Finland, and iii) compared experiences based on a survey of the psychosocial work environment among foreign-born physicians working in different health sectors (primary care, hospitals and private sectors). Methods Three different data sets were used: registers, theme interviews among foreign-born GPs (n = 12), and a survey for all (n = 1,292; response rate 42%) foreign-born physicians living in Finland. Methods used in the analyses were qualitative content analysis, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression analysis. Results The number of foreign-born physicians has increased dramatically in Finland since the year 2000. In 2000, a total of 980 foreign-born physicians held a Finnish licence and lived in Finland, accounting for less than 4% of the total number of practising physicians. In 2009, their proportion of all physicians was 8%, and a total of 1,750 foreign-born practising physicians held a Finnish licence and lived in Finland. Non-EU/EEA physicians experienced the difficult licensing process as the main obstacle to accessing work as a physician. Most licensed foreign-born physicians worked in specialist care. Half of the foreign-born GPs could be classified as having an ‘active’ job profile (high job demands and high levels of job control combined) according to Karasek’s demand-control model. In qualitative interviews, work in the Finnish primary health centres was described as multifaceted and challenging, but also stressful. Conclusions Primary care may not be able in the long run to attract a sufficient number of foreign-born GPs to alleviate Finland’s GP shortage, although speeding up the licensing process may bring in more foreign-born physicians to work, at least temporarily, in primary care. For physicians to be retained as active GPs there needs to be improvement in the psychosocial work environment within primary care. PMID:25103861

Inflows of foreign-born physicians and their access to employment and work experiences in health care in Finland: qualitative and quantitative study.

PubMed

Kuusio, Hannamaria; Lämsä, Riikka; Aalto, Anna-Mari; Manderbacka, Kristiina; Keskimäki, Ilmo; Elovainio, Marko

2014-08-07

In many developed countries, including Finland, health care authorities customarily consider the international mobility of physicians as a means for addressing the shortage of general practitioners (GPs). This study i) examined, based on register information, the numbers of foreign-born physicians migrating to Finland and their employment sector, ii) examined, based on qualitative interviews, the foreign-born GPs' experiences of accessing employment and work in primary care in Finland, and iii) compared experiences based on a survey of the psychosocial work environment among foreign-born physicians working in different health sectors (primary care, hospitals and private sectors). Three different data sets were used: registers, theme interviews among foreign-born GPs (n = 12), and a survey for all (n = 1,292; response rate 42%) foreign-born physicians living in Finland. Methods used in the analyses were qualitative content analysis, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression analysis. The number of foreign-born physicians has increased dramatically in Finland since the year 2000. In 2000, a total of 980 foreign-born physicians held a Finnish licence and lived in Finland, accounting for less than 4% of the total number of practising physicians. In 2009, their proportion of all physicians was 8%, and a total of 1,750 foreign-born practising physicians held a Finnish licence and lived in Finland. Non-EU/EEA physicians experienced the difficult licensing process as the main obstacle to accessing work as a physician. Most licensed foreign-born physicians worked in specialist care. Half of the foreign-born GPs could be classified as having an 'active' job profile (high job demands and high levels of job control combined) according to Karasek's demand-control model. In qualitative interviews, work in the Finnish primary health centres was described as multifaceted and challenging, but also stressful. Primary care may not be able in the long run to attract a sufficient number of foreign-born GPs to alleviate Finland's GP shortage, although speeding up the licensing process may bring in more foreign-born physicians to work, at least temporarily, in primary care. For physicians to be retained as active GPs there needs to be improvement in the psychosocial work environment within primary care.

Inelastic cross sections for low-energy electrons in liquid water: exchange and correlation effects.

PubMed

Emfietzoglou, Dimitris; Kyriakou, Ioanna; Garcia-Molina, Rafael; Abril, Isabel; Nikjoo, Hooshang

2013-11-01

Low-energy electrons play a prominent role in radiation therapy and biology as they are the largest contributor to the absorbed dose. However, no tractable theory exists to describe the interaction of low-energy electrons with condensed media. This article presents a new approach to include exchange and correlation (XC) effects in inelastic electron scattering at low energies (below ∼10 keV) in the context of the dielectric theory. Specifically, an optical-data model of the dielectric response function of liquid water is developed that goes beyond the random phase approximation (RPA) by accounting for XC effects using the concept of the many-body local-field correction (LFC). It is shown that the experimental energy-loss-function of liquid water can be reproduced by including into the RPA dispersion relations XC effects (up to second order) calculated in the time-dependent local-density approximation with the addition of phonon-induced broadening in N. D. Mermin's relaxation-time approximation. Additional XC effects related to the incident and/or struck electrons are included by means of the vertex correction calculated by a modified Hubbard formula for the exchange-only LFC. Within the first Born approximation, the present XC corrections cause a significantly larger reduction (∼10-50%) to the inelastic cross section compared to the commonly used Mott and Ochkur approximations, while also yielding much better agreement with the recent experimental data for amorphous ice. The current work offers a manageable, yet rigorous, approach for including non-Born effects in the calculation of inelastic cross sections for low-energy electrons in liquid water, which due to its generality, can be easily extended to other condensed media.

Immunological control of ticks and tick-borne diseases that impact cattle health and production.

PubMed

Almazan, Consuelo; Tipacamu, Gabriela Aguilar; Rodriguez, Sergio; Mosqueda, Juan; Perez de Leon, Adalberto

2018-03-01

The cattle industry is one of the most important agroeconomic activities in Mexico. The national herd is estimated to include approximately 33.5. million head of cattle. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are principal factors with a negative impact on cattle health and production. The most economically important tick species parasitizing cattle in Mexico are Rhipicephalus microplus , R. annulatus , and Amblyomma mixtum . Parasitism by ticks affects cattle health and production directly. Morbidity and mortality caused by tick-borne diseases augment the detrimental effect of tick infestation in cattle. Bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis are the most important tick-borne diseases of cattle, which are caused by infectious agents transmitted by R. microplus and R. annulatus . However, there are no prophylactic therapies to control bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Chemical control is the most common way to treat animals against ticks, and the use of acaricides can also help manage tick-borne diseases. However, the evolution of resistance to acaricides among cattle tick populations renders chemical control ineffective; which represents a challenge for sustainable ticks and tick-borne diseases control. The only anti-tick vaccine commercially available globally is based on the recombinant antigen Bm86. Because of its mode of immunity against R. microplus and R. annulatus , the Bm86-based vaccine also decreases the exposition of bovines to babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Research with Bm86-based vaccines documented high efficacy against R. annulatus , the efficacy levels against R. microplus varies according to the geographic origin of tick populations, and there is not effect against other ticks species such as Amblyomma spp. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases, the problem of chemical control due to acaricide resistance, and progress with anti-tick vaccine research efforts in Mexico are reviewed herein.

Quantifying postfire aeolian sediment transport using rare earth element tracers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dukes, David; Gonzales, Howell B.; Ravi, Sujith; Grandstaff, David E.; Van Pelt, R. Scott; Li, Junran; Wang, Guan; Sankey, Joel B.

2018-01-01

Grasslands, which provide fundamental ecosystem services in many arid and semiarid regions of the world, are undergoing rapid increases in fire activity and are highly susceptible to postfire-accelerated soil erosion by wind. A quantitative assessment of physical processes that integrates fire-wind erosion feedbacks is therefore needed relative to vegetation change, soil biogeochemical cycling, air quality, and landscape evolution. We investigated the applicability of a novel tracer technique—the use of multiple rare earth elements (REE)—to quantify soil transport by wind and to identify sources and sinks of wind-blown sediments in both burned and unburned shrub-grass transition zone in the Chihuahuan Desert, NM, USA. Results indicate that the horizontal mass flux of wind-borne sediment increased approximately threefold following the fire. The REE tracer analysis of wind-borne sediments shows that the source of the horizontal mass flux in the unburned site was derived from bare microsites (88.5%), while in the burned site it was primarily sourced from shrub (42.3%) and bare (39.1%) microsites. Vegetated microsites which were predominantly sinks of aeolian sediments in the unburned areas became sediment sources following the fire. The burned areas showed a spatial homogenization of sediment tracers, highlighting a potential negative feedback on landscape heterogeneity induced by shrub encroachment into grasslands. Though fires are known to increase aeolian sediment transport, accompanying changes in the sources and sinks of wind-borne sediments may influence biogeochemical cycling and land degradation dynamics. Furthermore, our experiment demonstrated that REEs can be used as reliable tracers for field-scale aeolian studies.

Rotational-vibrational coupling in the theory of electron-molecule scattering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Temkin, A.; Sullivan, E. C.

1974-01-01

The adiabatic-nuclei approximation of vibrational-rotational excitation of homonuclear diatomic molecules can be simply augmented to describe the vibrational-rotational coupling by including the dependence of the vibrational wave function on j. Appropriate formulas are given, and the theory, is applied to e-H2 excitation, whereby it is shown that deviations from the simple Born-Oppenheimer approximation measured by Wong and Schultz can be explained. More important, it can be seen that the inclusion of the j-dependent centrifugal term is essential for transitions involving high-rotational quantum numbers.

Onsets of hierarchy truncation and self–consistent Born approximation with quantum mechanics prescriptions invariance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hou-Dao; Yan, YiJing, E-mail: yyan@ust.hk; iChEM and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026

2015-12-07

The issue of efficient hierarchy truncation is related to many approximate theories. In this paper, we revisit this issue from both the numerical efficiency and quantum mechanics prescription invariance aspects. The latter requires that the truncation approximation made in Schrödinger picture, such as the quantum master equations and their self–consistent–Born–approximation improvements, should be transferable to their Heisenberg–picture correspondences, without further approximations. We address this issue with the dissipaton equation of motion (DEOM), which is a unique theory for the dynamics of not only reduced systems but also hybrid bath environments. We also highlight the DEOM theory is not only aboutmore » how its dynamical variables evolve in time, but also the underlying dissipaton algebra. We demonstrate this unique feature of DEOM with model systems and report some intriguing nonlinear Fano interferences characteristics that are experimentally measurable.« less

Mosquito-borne viruses circulating in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

PubMed

Mbanzulu, Kennedy Makola; Wumba, Roger; Mukendi, Jean-Pierre Kambala; Zanga, Josué Kikana; Shija, Fortunate; Bobanga, Thierry Lengu; Aloni, Michel Ntetani; Misinzo, Gerald

2017-04-01

Diseases caused by mosquito-borne viruses are among the most important emerging diseases that threaten human and animal health, particularly in Africa. However, little attention has been paid to these diseases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The present cross-sectional study was undertaken between March and May 2014 to investigate the presence of mosquito-borne viruses in mosquitoes collected from five municipalities of Kinshasa, DRC. Mosquitoes were collected using BG-Sentinel traps and battery-powered aspirators. Female mosquitoes were pooled according to their genera and sampling locations, preserved in RNAlater, and later screened for viruses using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assays. A total of 2922 mosquitoes were collected and 29 pools of female mosquitoes, containing approximately 30 mosquitoes each, were tested. Twelve of the 29 (41.4%) mosquito pools were found to be infected with at least one arbovirus, with eight (27.5%) pools positive for Alphavirus, nine (31%) for Flavivirus, and five (17.2%) for Bunyaviridae. Chikungunya, o'nyong'nyong, and Rift valley fever viruses were detected. The present study shows that mosquitoes in Kinshasa carry mosquito-borne viruses that may have serious public health implications. Further investigations on the presence of mosquito-borne viruses in the human and livestock populations of Kinshasa and DRC are recommended. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer risks in relation to occupational history and asbestos lung burden

PubMed Central

Gilham, Clare; Rake, Christine; Burdett, Garry; Nicholson, Andrew G; Davison, Leslie; Franchini, Angelo; Carpenter, James; Hodgson, John; Darnton, Andrew; Peto, Julian

2016-01-01

Background We have conducted a population-based study of pleural mesothelioma patients with occupational histories and measured asbestos lung burdens in occupationally exposed workers and in the general population. The relationship between lung burden and risk, particularly at environmental exposure levels, will enable future mesothelioma rates in people born after 1965 who never installed asbestos to be predicted from their asbestos lung burdens. Methods Following personal interview asbestos fibres longer than 5 µm were counted by transmission electron microscopy in lung samples obtained from 133 patients with mesothelioma and 262 patients with lung cancer. ORs for mesothelioma were converted to lifetime risks. Results Lifetime mesothelioma risk is approximately 0.02% per 1000 amphibole fibres per gram of dry lung tissue over a more than 100-fold range, from 1 to 4 in the most heavily exposed building workers to less than 1 in 500 in most of the population. The asbestos fibres counted were amosite (75%), crocidolite (18%), other amphiboles (5%) and chrysotile (2%). Conclusions The approximate linearity of the dose–response together with lung burden measurements in younger people will provide reasonably reliable predictions of future mesothelioma rates in those born since 1965 whose risks cannot yet be seen in national rates. Burdens in those born more recently will indicate the continuing occupational and environmental hazards under current asbestos control regulations. Our results confirm the major contribution of amosite to UK mesothelioma incidence and the substantial contribution of non-occupational exposure, particularly in women. PMID:26715106

Age correction in cognitive, linguistic, and motor domains for infants born preterm: an analysis of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition developmental patterns.

PubMed

Morsan, Valentina; Fantoni, Carlo; Tallandini, Maria Anna

2018-03-15

To verify whether it is appropriate to use age correction for infants born preterm in all the developmental domains (cognitive, linguistic, and motor) considered by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Seventy-three infants born preterm (26-35wks) without major neurological sequelae and 67 infants born at term were assessed at 12 months (corrected age for infants born preterm). The performance of the infants born preterm was assessed with two different evaluations: scores based on uncorrected age and scores based on corrected age. The developmental trends of infants born at term and infants born preterm differ across domains. Statistical analysis shows that age correction produces an overrated estimate of motor performance (12.5 points [95% confidence interval 9.05-16.01]) but not of cognitive performance. Given the broad use of the Bayley-III by psychologists and paediatricians, these results are important in the early diagnosis of developmental difficulties for children born preterm. Correction for gestational age should be applied for the cognitive domain only; whereas for the motor domain, chronological age should be used. No clear data emerged for language. Age correction with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) for infants born preterm should be applied differently in cognitive, language, and motor domains. Using corrected age with Bayley-III, the motor skills are overrated. Correction for preterm births adequately measures cognitive skills. No clear indication emerged about language skills. © 2018 Mac Keith Press.

Reading abilities in school-aged preterm children: a review and meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Kovachy, Vanessa N; Adams, Jenna N; Tamaresis, John S; Feldman, Heidi M

2014-01-01

AIM Children born preterm (at ≤32wk) are at risk of developing deficits in reading ability. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether or not school-aged preterm children perform worse than those born at term in single-word reading (decoding) and reading comprehension. METHOD Electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2013, which assessed decoding or reading comprehension performance in English-speaking preterm and term-born children aged between 6 years and 13 years, and born after 1990. Standardized mean differences in decoding and reading comprehension scores were calculated. RESULTS Nine studies were suitable for analysis of decoding, and five for analysis of reading comprehension. Random-effects meta-analyses showed that children born preterm had significantly lower scores (reported as Cohen’s d values [d] with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) than those born at term for decoding (d=−0.42, 95% CI −0.57 to −0.27, p<0.001) and reading comprehension (d=−0.57, 95% CI −0.68 to −0.46, p<0.001). Meta-regressions showed that lower gestational age was associated with larger differences in decoding (Q[1]=5.92, p=0.02) and reading comprehension (Q[1]=4.69, p=0.03) between preterm and term groups. Differences between groups increased with age for reading comprehension (Q[1]=5.10, p=0.02) and, although not significant, there was also a trend for increased group differences for decoding (Q[1]=3.44, p=0.06). INTERPRETATION Preterm children perform worse than peers born at term on decoding and reading comprehension. These findings suggest that preterm children should receive more ongoing monitoring for reading difficulties throughout their education. PMID:25516105

Separation of Pygmy Dipole and M1 Resonances in Zr90 by a High-Resolution Inelastic Proton Scattering Near 0°

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwamoto, C.; Utsunomiya, H.; Tamii, A.; Akimune, H.; Nakada, H.; Shima, T.; Yamagata, T.; Kawabata, T.; Fujita, Y.; Matsubara, H.; Shimbara, Y.; Nagashima, M.; Suzuki, T.; Fujita, H.; Sakuda, M.; Mori, T.; Izumi, T.; Okamoto, A.; Kondo, T.; Bilgier, B.; Kozer, H. C.; Lui, Y.-W.; Hatanaka, K.

2012-06-01

A high-resolution measurement of inelastic proton scattering off Zr90 near 0° was performed at 295 MeV with a focus on a pronounced strength previously reported in the low-energy tail of giant dipole resonance. A forest of fine structure was observed in the excitation energy region 7-12 MeV. A multipole decomposition analysis of the angular distribution for the forest was carried out using the ECIS95 distorted-wave Born approximation code with the Hartree-Fock plus random-phase approximation model of E1 and M1 transition densities and inclusion of E1 Coulomb excitation. The analysis separated pygmy dipole and M1 resonances in the forest at EPDR=9.15±0.18MeV with ΓPDR=2.91±0.64MeV and at EM1=9.53±0.06MeV with ΓM1=2.70±0.17MeV in the Lorentzian function, respectively. The B(E1)↑ value for pygmy dipole resonance over 7-11 MeV is 0.75±0.08e2fm2, which corresponds to 2.1±0.2% of the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule.

Emissivity of half-space random media. [in passive remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsang, L.; Kong, J. A.

1976-01-01

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by a half-space random medium with three-dimensional correlation functions is studied with the Born approximation. The emissivity is calculated from a simple integral and is illustrated for various cases. The results are valid over a wavelength range smaller or larger than the correlation lengths.

Transitioning Young Adults with Autism: Hopes & Challenges for Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mookerjee, Veera

2012-01-01

Data generated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from the 2010 census indicates that out of four million children born in the United States "approximately 36,500 children will eventually be diagnosed with an [Autism Spectrum Disorder] ASD" ("http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html"). The process of caring for an…

A Cartoon in One Dimension of the Hydrogen Molecular Ion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dutta, Sourav; Ganguly, Shreemoyee; Dutta-Roy, Binayak

2008-01-01

To illustrate the basic methodology involved in the quantum mechanics of molecules, a one-dimensional caricature of the hydrogen molecular ion (H[superscript +][subscript 2]) is presented, which is exactly solvable, in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, in terms of elementary functions. The purpose of the exercise is to elucidate in a simple…

Dietary Patterns and Intelligence in Early and Middle Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Theodore, Reremoana F.; Thompson, John M. D.; Waldie, Karen E.; Wall, Clare; Becroft, David M. O.; Robinson, Elizabeth; Wild, Chris J.; Clark, Philippa M.; Mitchell, Ed A.

2009-01-01

The association between intelligence and diet at 3.5 and 7 years was examined in 591 children of European descent. Approximately half of the children were born small-for-gestational age (birth weight @?10th percentile). The relationship between IQ and diet (measured by food frequency) was investigated using multiple regression analyses. Eating…

Magnetic Resonance Imaging--Insights into Brain Injury and Outcomes in Premature Infants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathur, Amit; Inder, Terrie

2009-01-01

Preterm birth is a major public-health issue because of its increasing incidence combined with the frequent occurrence of subsequent behavioral, neurological, and psychiatric challenges faced by surviving infants. Approximately 10-15% of very preterm children (born less than 30 weeks gestational age) develop cerebral palsy, and 30-60% of them…

Lessons in Learning: More Education, Less Employment--Immigrants and the Labour Market

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canadian Council on Learning, 2008

2008-01-01

Nearly one out of five Canadian residents was born outside of Canada and approximately two-thirds of Canada's population growth results from net international migration. Only Australia, where immigrants represent 24% of the population, has a greater percentage of immigrants than Canada (18%). Immigration is a major factor in Canada's economic…

Microbial profiling, neural network and semantic web: an integrated information system for human pathogen risk management, prevention and surveillance in food safety

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

It is estimated that food-borne pathogens cause approximately 76 million cases of gastrointestinal illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States annually. Genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies, particularly, genome sequencing projects are providing valuable inform...

New approach to description of (d,xn) spectra at energies below 50 MeV in Monte Carlo simulation by intra-nuclear cascade code with Distorted Wave Born Approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, S.; Iwamoto, Y.; Sato, T.; Niita, K.; Boudard, A.; Cugnon, J.; David, J.-C.; Leray, S.; Mancusi, D.

2014-08-01

A new approach to describing neutron spectra of deuteron-induced reactions in the Monte Carlo simulation for particle transport has been developed by combining the Intra-Nuclear Cascade of Liège (INCL) and the Distorted Wave Born Approximation (DWBA) calculation. We incorporated this combined method into the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) and applied it to estimate (d,xn) spectra on natLi, 9Be, and natC targets at incident energies ranging from 10 to 40 MeV. Double differential cross sections obtained by INCL and DWBA successfully reproduced broad peaks and discrete peaks, respectively, at the same energies as those observed in experimental data. Furthermore, an excellent agreement was observed between experimental data and PHITS-derived results using the combined method in thick target neutron yields over a wide range of neutron emission angles in the reactions. We also applied the new method to estimate (d,xp) spectra in the reactions, and discussed the validity for the proton emission spectra.

Calculation of the age of the first infection for skin sores and scabies in five remote communities in northern Australia.

PubMed

Lydeamore, M J; Campbell, P T; Cuningham, W; Andrews, R M; Kearns, T; Clucas, D; Gundjirryirr Dhurrkay, R; Carapetis, J; Tong, S Y C; McCaw, J M; McVernon, J

2018-05-08

Prevalence of skin sores and scabies in remote Australian Aboriginal communities remains unacceptably high, with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) the dominant pathogen. We aim to better understand the drivers of GAS transmission using mathematical models. To estimate the force of infection, we quantified the age of first skin sores and scabies infection by pooling historical data from three studies conducted across five remote Aboriginal communities for children born between 2001 and 2005. We estimated the age of the first infection using the Kaplan-Meier estimator; parametric exponential mixture model; and Cox proportional hazards. For skin sores, the mean age of the first infection was approximately 10 months and the median was 7 months, with some heterogeneity in median observed by the community. For scabies, the mean age of the first infection was approximately 9 months and the median was 8 months, with significant heterogeneity by the community and an enhanced risk for children born between October and December. The young age of the first infection with skin sores and scabies reflects the high disease burden in these communities.

Force-field functor theory: classical force-fields which reproduce equilibrium quantum distributions

PubMed Central

Babbush, Ryan; Parkhill, John; Aspuru-Guzik, Alán

2013-01-01

Feynman and Hibbs were the first to variationally determine an effective potential whose associated classical canonical ensemble approximates the exact quantum partition function. We examine the existence of a map between the local potential and an effective classical potential which matches the exact quantum equilibrium density and partition function. The usefulness of such a mapping rests in its ability to readily improve Born-Oppenheimer potentials for use with classical sampling. We show that such a map is unique and must exist. To explore the feasibility of using this result to improve classical molecular mechanics, we numerically produce a map from a library of randomly generated one-dimensional potential/effective potential pairs then evaluate its performance on independent test problems. We also apply the map to simulate liquid para-hydrogen, finding that the resulting radial pair distribution functions agree well with path integral Monte Carlo simulations. The surprising accessibility and transferability of the technique suggest a quantitative route to adapting Born-Oppenheimer potentials, with a motivation similar in spirit to the powerful ideas and approximations of density functional theory. PMID:24790954

Relativistic corrections to the ground state of H2 calculated without using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L. M.; Yan, Z.-C.

2018-06-01

The Schrödinger equation for the ground state of the hydrogen molecule H2 is solved by applying the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method in Hylleraas coordinates without using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The nonrelativistic energy eigenvalue is converged to -1.164 025 030 880 (7 ) atomic units. The leading-order relativistic corrections, including the mass-velocity, Darwin, orbit-orbit, spin-spin, and relativistic recoil terms, are evaluated perturbatively. Together with the higher-order relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections obtained by Puchalski et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 263002 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.263002], we determine the dissociation energy of the hydrogen molecule, D0=36 118.069 71 (33 ) cm-1 , which agrees with the two recent experimental results of Liu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 130, 174306 (2009), 10.1063/1.3120443], 36 118.069 62 (37 ) cm-1 , and Altmann et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 043204 (2018), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.043204], 36 118.069 45 (31 ) cm-1 .

Nonequilibrium Green's functions and atom-surface dynamics: Simple views from a simple model system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boström, E.; Hopjan, M.; Kartsev, A.; Verdozzi, C.; Almbladh, C.-O.

2016-03-01

We employ Non-equilibrium Green's functions (NEGF) to describe the real-time dynamics of an adsorbate-surface model system exposed to ultrafast laser pulses. For a finite number of electronic orbitals, the system is solved exactly and within different levels of approximation. Specifically i) the full exact quantum mechanical solution for electron and nuclear degrees of freedom is used to benchmark ii) the Ehrenfest approximation (EA) for the nuclei, with the electron dynamics still treated exactly. Then, using the EA, electronic correlations are treated with NEGF within iii) 2nd Born and with iv) a recently introduced hybrid scheme, which mixes 2nd Born self-energies with non-perturbative, local exchange- correlation potentials of Density Functional Theory (DFT). Finally, the effect of a semi-infinite substrate is considered: we observe that a macroscopic number of de-excitation channels can hinder desorption. While very preliminary in character and based on a simple and rather specific model system, our results clearly illustrate the large potential of NEGF to investigate atomic desorption, and more generally, the non equilibrium dynamics of material surfaces subject to ultrafast laser fields.

Multiple outer-shell ionization effect in inner-shell x-ray production by light ions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lapicki, G.; Mehta, R.; Duggan, J.L.

1986-11-01

L-shell x-ray production cross sections by 0.25--2.5-MeV /sub 2//sup 4/He/sup +/ ions in /sub 28/Ni, /sub 29/Cu, /sub 32/Ge, /sub 33/As, /sub 37/Rb, /sub 38/Sr, /sub 39/Y, /sub 40/Zr, and /sub 46/Pd are reported. The data are compared to the first Born approximation and the ECPSSR theory that accounts for the projectile energy loss (E) and Coulomb deflection (C) as well as the perturbed-stationary-state (PSS) and relativistic (R) effects in the treatment of the target L-shell electron. Surprisingly, the first Born approximation appears to converge to the data while the ECPSSR predictions underestimate them in the low-velocity limit. This ismore » explained as the result of improper use of single-hole fluorescence yields. A heuristic formula is proposed to account for multiple ionizations in terms of a classical probability for these phenomena and, after it is applied, the ECPSSR theory of L-shell ionization is found to be in good agreement with the data.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carbajal, L.; Warwick Univ., Coventry; Dendy, R. O.

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) offers unique promise as a diagnostic of the fusion born alpha-particle population in magnetically confined plasmas. Pioneering observations from JET and TFTR found that ICE intensity P ICE scales approximately linearly with the measured neutron flux from fusion reactions, and with the inferred concentration, n /n i , of fusion-born alpha-particles confined within the plasma. We present fully nonlinear self-consistent kinetic simulations that reproduce this scaling for the first time. This resolves a longstanding question in the physics of fusion alpha particle confinement and stability in MCF plasmas. It confirms the MCI as the likely emissionmore » mechanism and greatly strengthens the basis for diagnostic exploitation of ICE in future burning plasmas.« less

Calculation of total electron excitation cross-sections and partial electron ionization cross-sections for the elements. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, T. J.

1973-01-01

Computer programs were used to calculate the total electron excitation cross-section for atoms and the partial ionization cross-section. The approximations to the scattering amplitude used are as follows: (1) Born, Bethe, and Modified Bethe for non-exchange excitation; (2) Ochkur for exchange excitation; and (3) Coulomb-Born of non-exchange ionization. The amplitudes are related to the differential cross-sections which are integrated to give the total excitation (or partial ionization) cross-section for the collision. The atomic wave functions used are Hartree-Fock-Slater functions for bound states and the coulomb wave function for the continuum. The programs are presented and the results are examined.

The PoGO+ Ballon-Borne Hard X-ray Polarimetry Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friis, Mette; Kiss, Mózsi; Mikhalev, Victor; Pearce, Mark; Takahashi, Hiromitsu

2018-03-01

The PoGO mission, including the PoGOLite Pathfinder and PoGO+, aims to provide polarimetric measurements of the Crab system and Cygnus X-1 in the hard X-ray band. Measurements are conducted from a stabilized balloon-borne platform, launched on a 1 million cubic meter balloon from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden to an altitude of approximately 40 km. Several flights have been conducted, resulting in two independent measurements of the Crab polarization and one of Cygnus X-1. Here, a review of the PoGO mission is presented, including a description of the payload and the flight campaigns, and a discussion of some of the scientific results obtained to date.

2-D Fused Image Reconstruction approach for Microwave Tomography: a theoretical assessment using FDTD Model.

PubMed

Bindu, G; Semenov, S

2013-01-01

This paper describes an efficient two-dimensional fused image reconstruction approach for Microwave Tomography (MWT). Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) models were created for a viable MWT experimental system having the transceivers modelled using thin wire approximation with resistive voltage sources. Born Iterative and Distorted Born Iterative methods have been employed for image reconstruction with the extremity imaging being done using a differential imaging technique. The forward solver in the imaging algorithm employs the FDTD method of solving the time domain Maxwell's equations with the regularisation parameter computed using a stochastic approach. The algorithm is tested with 10% noise inclusion and successful image reconstruction has been shown implying its robustness.

Are Canadian-born Major League Baseball players more likely to bat left-handed? A partial test of the hockey-influence on batting hypothesis.

PubMed

Cairney, John; Chirico, Daniele; Li, Yao-Chuen; Bremer, Emily; Graham, Jeffrey D

2018-01-01

It has been suggested that Canadian-born Major League Baseball (MLB) players are more likely to bat left-handed, possibly owing to the fact that they learn to play ice hockey before baseball, and that there is no clear hand-preference when shooting with a hockey stick; approximately half of all ice hockey players shoot left. We constructed a database on active (i.e., October, 2016) MLB players from four countries/regions based on place of birth (Canada, United States of America [USA], Dominican Republic and South Asia [i.e., Japan, Taiwan and South Korea]), including information on which hand they use to bat and throw. We also extracted information on all Canadian-born MLB players, dating back to 1917. Our results confirm that the proportion of left-handed batters born in Canada is higher when compared to the other countries selected; also, since 1917, the proportion of Canadian MLB players who bat left has been consistently higher than the league average. We also compared the proportion of left-handed batters in Canada with players born in states in the USA grouped into high, average and low based on hockey participation. The proportion of MLB players born in states with a high level of hockey participation were more likely to bat left, although the differences were significant at trend level only (p < .10). Lastly, we found that while Canadians were more likely to bat left-handed, this did not correspond with a greater left-hand dominance, as determined by throwing hand. In conclusion, the present study confirms that Canadian-born MLB players are more likely to bat left-handed when compared to American, Dominican Republic and South Asian-born MLB players, providing partial support for the hockey influence on batting hypothesis.

Using Diffraction Tomography to Estimate Marine Animal Size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaffe, J. S.; Roberts, P.

In this article we consider the development of acoustic methods which have the potential to size marine animals. The proposed technique uses scattered sound in order to invert for both animal size and shape. The technique uses the Distorted Wave Born Approximation (DWBA) in order to model sound scattered from these organisms. The use of the DWBA also provides a valuable context for formulating data analysis techniques in order to invert for parameters of the animal. Although 3-dimensional observations can be obtained from a complete set of views, due to the difficulty of collecting full 3-dimensional scatter, it is useful to simplify the inversion by approximating the animal by a few parameters. Here, the animals are modeled as 3-dimensional ellipsoids. This reduces the complexity of the problem to a determination of the 3 semi axes for the x, y and z dimensions from just a few radial spokes through the 3-dimensional Fourier Transform. In order to test the idea, simulated scatter data is taken from a 3-dimensional model of a marine animal and the resultant data are inverted in order to estimate animal shape

Women in Free Clinics: An Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life for Prevention and Health Education.

PubMed

Kamimura, Akiko; Myers, Kyl; Ashby, Jeanie; Trinh, Ha Ngoc; Nourian, Maziar M; Reel, Justine J

2015-08-01

Understanding gender influences on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important to improve women's health when considering diseases that afflict women specifically. The target population of this study was uninsured female free clinic patients who are low socio-economic status and lack access to healthcare resources. Free clinics provide free or reduced fee healthcare to individuals who lack access to primary care and are socio-economically disadvantaged. While approximately half of free clinic patients are women, there is a paucity of comprehensive health-related data for female free clinic patients. US born English, non-US born English, and Spanish speaking female free clinic patients completed a self-administered survey using a standardized women's HRQoL measure in Fall 2014 (N = 389). Female free clinic patients reported lower HRQoL on all aspects of women's health compared to the US baseline scores, and were less likely to utilize preventive care including: mammograms, Pap smear, and HPV vaccination compared to the US general population. Spanish speakers reported a higher percentage of having had mammography and Pap smear, and heard about HPV compared to the other two groups. US born English speakers reported lower levels of HRQoL in vasomotor symptoms and sleep symptoms, and the lowest percentage of breast health and Pap smear screenings compared to non-US born English and Spanish speakers. Non-US born English speakers reported higher preference for female physician compared to US born English speakers and Spanish speakers. Free clinic female patients need preventative interventions and educational opportunities to improve their overall HRQoL.

Electron-Phonon and Electron-Electron Interactions in Individual Suspended Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cronin, Stephen

2010-03-01

The fabrication of pristine, nearly defect-free, suspended carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enables the observation of several phenomena not seen before in carbon nanotubes, including breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation^1, mode selective electron-phonon coupling^2, and a Mott insulator transition^3. Raman spectroscopy of these nanotubes under applied gate and bias potentials reveals exceptionally strong electron-phonon coupling, arising from Kohn anomalies, which result in mode selective electron-phonon coupling, negative differential conductance (NDC), and non-equilibrium phonon populations^2,4. Due to the extremely long electron lifetimes, we observe a breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, as deduced from the gate voltage-induced changes in the vibrational energies of suspended carbon nanotubes^1. We also report strikingly large variations in the Raman intensity of pristine metallic CNTs in response to gate voltages, which are attributed to a Mott insulating state of the strongly correlated electrons^3. As will be shown, preparing clean, defect-free devices is an essential prerequisite for studying the rich low-dimensional physics of CNTs. (1.) Bushmaker, A.W., Deshpande, V.V., Hsieh, S., Bockrath, M.W., and Cronin, S.B., ``Direct Observation of Born-Oppenheimer Approximation Breakdown in Carbon Nanotubes.'' Nano Letters, 9, 607 (2009). (2.) Bushmaker, A.W., Deshpande, V.V., Bockrath, M.W., and Cronin, S.B., ``Direct Observation of Mode Selective Electron-Phonon Coupling in Suspended Carbon Nanotubes.'' Nano Letters, 7, 3618 (2007) (3.) Bushmaker, A.W., Deshpande, V.V., Hsieh, S., Bockrath, M.W., and Cronin, S.B., ``Large Modulations in the Intensity of Raman-Scattered Light from Pristine Carbon Nanotubes.'' Physical Review Letters, 103, 067401 (2009). (4.) Bushmaker, A.W., Deshpande, V.V., Hsieh, S., Bockrath, M.W., and Cronin, S.B., ``Gate Voltage Controlled Non-Equilibrium and Non-Ohmic Behavior in Suspended Carbon Nanotubes.'' Nano Letters, 9, 2862 (2009)

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants following pertussis prophylaxis with erythromycin--Knoxville, Tennessee, 1999.

PubMed

1999-12-17

In February 1999, pertussis was diagnosed in six neonates born at hospital A in Knoxville, Tennessee. Because a health-care worker at hospital A was most likely the source of exposure, the local health department recommended on February 25, 1999, that erythromycin be prescribed as postexposure prophylaxis for the approximately 200 infants born at hospital A during February 1-24, 1999. In March 1999, local pediatric surgeons noticed an increased number of cases of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) in the area, with seven cases occurring during a 2-week period. All seven IHPS cases were in infants born in hospital A during February who were given erythromycin orally for prophylaxis following possible exposure to pertussis, although none had pertussis diagnosed. The Tennessee Department of Health and CDC investigated the cluster of IHPS cases and its possible association with use of erythromycin. This report summarizes the results of the investigation, which suggest a causal role of erythromycin in this cluster of IHPS cases.

Neonatal infrared axillary thermometry.

PubMed

Seguin, J; Terry, K

1999-01-01

The authors compared axillary skin temperatures (AT) measured with an infrared (IR) thermometer (Lightouch Neonate, Exergen Corp) with rectal temperatures (RT) in 16 newly born term infants under radiant warmers (RW) and in cribs. Twelve stable, growing premature infants in incubators were also studied. This new device may be useful because of safety and rapid results (1 second), but clinical accuracy is unknown. For term infants, mean (SD) RT-AT difference was 0.1 (0.48) degree C under RW and 0.25 (0.17) degree C 2 hours later in cribs. For premature infants in incubators the mean RT-AT difference was 0.09 (0.16) degree C. Axillary temperatures measured by IR thermometer approximate RT for newly born term infants in cribs and stable premature infants in incubators. For newly born term infants under RW, RT-AT differences vary more widely, limiting clinical usefulness in this setting. The device, the unique age of this population, and the RW environment may play a role.

Strong-potential Born calculations for 1s-1s electron capture from atoms by protons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, J.H.; Kletke, R.E.; Sil, N.C.

1985-08-01

The strong-potential Born (SPB) approximation is examined by comparing various SPB calculations of high-velocity 1s-1s electron capture cross sections with one another and with experimental data. Above about 1 MeV, calculations using the SPB method of McGuire and Sil (SPMS) (Phys. Rev. A 28, 3679 (1983)) are in good agreement with total-cross-section observations for protons on H, He, C, Ne, and Ar as expected. For p+H and p+He, the SPB full-peaking (SPB-FP) approximation of Macek and Alston (Phys. Rev. A 26, 250 (1982)) and the SPB transverse-peaking (SPB-TP) approximation of Alston (Phys. Rev. A 27, 2342 (1982)) differ from ourmore » SPMS total cross sections by typically a factor of 2, as expected from general validity criteria. However, the differential cross sections at very forward angles (well within the Thomas angle) are the same in SPMS, SPB-FP, and SPB-TP methods in all cases. Below 1 MeV, cross sections obtained with use of various SPB methods differ considerably from one another, placing a limit of validity for these SPB calculations. We also suggest that in the gap between those energies where continuum intermediate states simply dominate, and above those energies where bound intermediate states simply dominate, detailed conceptual understanding of electron capture is incomplete.« less

Interpretation of ES, CS, and IOS approximations within a translational-internal coupling scheme. II. Application to atom--diatom kinetic cross sections

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coombe, D.A.; Snider, R.F.

1980-02-15

ES, CS, and IOS approximations to atom--diatom kinetic cross sections are derived. In doing so, reduced S-matrices in a translational-internal coupling scheme are stressed. This entails the insertion of recently obtained approximate reduced S-matrices in the translational-internal coupling scheme into previously derived general expressions for the kinetic cross sections. Of special interest is the structure (rotational j quantum number dependence) of the kinetic cross sections associated with the Senftleben Beenakker effects and of pure internal state relaxation phenomena. The viscomagnetic effect is used as an illustrative example. It is found in particular that there is a great similarity of structuremore » between the energy sudden (and IOS) approximation and the previously derived distorted wave Born results.« less

Strong potential wave functions with elastic channel distortion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Macek, J.; Taulbjerg, K.

1989-06-01

The strong-potential Born approximation is analyzed in a channel-distorted-wave approach. Channel-distorted SPB wave functions are reduced to a conventional form in which the standard off-energy-shell factor /ital g/ has been replaced by a modified factor ..gamma.., which represents a suitable average of /ital g/ over the momentum distribution of the distorted-channel function. The modified factor is evaluated in a physically realistic model for the distortion potential, and it is found that ..gamma.. is well represented by a slowly varying phase factor. The channel-distorted SPB approximation is accordingly identical to the impulse approximation if the phase variation of ..gamma.. can bemore » ignored. This is generally the case in applications to radiative electron capture and to a good approximation for ordinary capture at not too small velocities.« less

Evaluation of the Impact of Mandating Health Care Providers to Offer Hepatitis C Virus Screening to All Persons Born During 1945-1965 - New York, 2014.

PubMed

Flanigan, Colleen A; Leung, Shu-Yin J; Rowe, Kirsten A; Levey, Wendy K; King, Andrea; Sommer, Jamie N; Morne, Johanne E; Zucker, Howard A

2017-09-29

Approximately 75% of all hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the United States and 73% of HCV-associated mortality occur in persons born during 1945-1965, placing this birth cohort at increased risk for liver cancer and other HCV-related liver disease (1). In the United States, an estimated 2.7 million persons are living with HCV infection, and it is estimated that up to 75% of these persons do not know their status. Since 2012, CDC has recommended that persons born during 1945-1965 receive one-time HCV testing. To increase the number of persons tested for HCV and to ensure timely diagnosis and linkage to care, in 2014, New York enacted a hepatitis C testing law that requires health care providers to offer HCV antibody screening to all persons born during 1945-1965 who are receiving services in primary care settings or as hospital inpatients, and to refer persons with positive HCV antibody tests for follow-up health care, including an HCV diagnostic test (i.e., HCV RNA).* The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) used survey data from clinical laboratories and Medicaid claims and encounter data, and state and New York City (NYC) HCV surveillance data to assess the number of persons tested for HCV and number of persons with newly diagnosed HCV infections who were linked to care. During the first year of the HCV law implementation, there was a 51% increase in specimens submitted for HCV testing to surveyed clinical laboratories; testing rates among active Medicaid clients increased 52%, and linkage to care among persons with newly diagnosed HCV infection increased approximately 40% in New York and 11% in NYC. These findings highlight the potential for state laws to promote HCV testing and the utility of HCV surveillance and Medicaid claims data to monitor the quality of HCV testing and linkage to care for HCV-infected persons.

Effect of compound nuclear reaction mechanism in 12C(6Li,d) reaction at sub-Coulomb energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mondal, Ashok; Adhikari, S.; Basu, C.

2017-09-01

The angular distribution of the 12C(6Li,d) reaction populating the 6.92 and 7.12 MeV states of 16O at sub-Coulomb energy (Ecm=3 MeV) are analysed in the framework of the Distorted Wave Born Approximation (DWBA). Recent results on excitation function measurements and backward angle angular distributions derive ANC for both the states on the basis of an alpha transfer mechanism. In the present work, we show that considering both forward and backward angle data in the analysis, the 7.12 MeV state at sub-Coulomb energy is populated from Compound nuclear process rather than transfer process. The 6.92 MeV state is however produced from direct reaction mechanism.

Work Hours of Immigrant Versus U.S.-Born Female Workers.

PubMed

Bae, Sung-Heui

2017-10-01

This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data extracted from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey. Data from 8,931 full-time (i.e., 21 hours or more per week) women workers aged 18 to 85 years were analyzed to examine the nature and prevalence of immigrant female workers' work hours, overtime, and related factors in the United States compared to U.S.-born female workers. Results showed that foreign-born female workers did not work longer hours than U.S.-born female workers. Foreign-born female workers who reported poor health worked longer hours than did their U.S.-born counterparts. Foreign-born female workers who were self-employed or worked in family businesses tended to work longer hours than did those women who worked for private companies or nonprofit organizations.

Cell Phone Utilization among Foreign-born Latinos: a Promising Tool for Dissemination of Health and HIV Information

PubMed Central

Leite, Lorena; Buresh, Megan; Rios, Naomi; Conley, Anna; Flys, Tamara; Page, Kathleen R.

2013-01-01

Latinos in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by HIV and are at risk for late presentation to care. Between June 2011 and January 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 209 Baltimore Latinos at community-based venues to evaluate the feasibility of using communication technology (ICT)-based interventions to improve access to HIV testing and education within the Spanish-speaking community in Baltimore. Participants had a median age of 33 years (IQR 28-42), 51.7% were male, and 95.7% were foreign-born. Approximately two-thirds (63.2%) had been in the U.S. less than 10 years and 70.1% had been previously tested for HIV. Cell phone (92.3%) and text messaging (74.2%) was used more than Internet (52.2%) or e-mail (42.8%) (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, older age and lower education were associated with less utilization of Internet, e-mail and text messaging, but not cell phones. Interest was high for receiving health education (73.1%), HIV education (70.2%), and test results (68.8%) via text messaging. Innovative cell phone-based communication interventions have the potential to link Latino migrants to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. PMID:23440452

Cell phone utilization among foreign-born Latinos: a promising tool for dissemination of health and HIV information.

PubMed

Leite, Lorena; Buresh, Megan; Rios, Naomi; Conley, Anna; Flys, Tamara; Page, Kathleen R

2014-08-01

Latinos in the US are disproportionately affected by HIV and are at risk for late presentation to care. Between June 2011 and January 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 209 Baltimore Latinos at community-based venues to evaluate the feasibility of using information communication technology-based interventions to improve access to HIV testing and education within the Spanish-speaking community in Baltimore. Participants had a median age of 33 years interquartile range (IQR) (IQR 28-42), 51.7 % were male, and 95.7 % were foreign-born. Approximately two-thirds (63.2 %) had been in the US less than 10 years and 70.1 % had been previously tested for HIV. Cell phone (92.3 %) and text messaging (74.2 %) was used more than Internet (52.2 %) or e-mail (42.8 %) (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, older age and lower education were associated with less utilization of Internet, e-mail and text messaging, but not cell phones. Interest was high for receiving health education (73.1 %), HIV education (70.2 %), and test results (68.8 %) via text messaging. Innovative cell phone-based communication interventions have the potential to link Latino migrants to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

Spatial analysis of vector-borne infectious diseases and ecological indicators using GIS and remote sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anh, N. K.; Liou, Y. A.

2017-12-01

Ecological and climate indicators play a vital role in defining patterns of human activities and behaviors, such as seasonal features, migration, winter-summer lifestyles, which in turn might be associated with vector-borne disease habitats and transmission risks. Remote sensing has been instrumental in deriving environmental variables and indicators. GIS is shown to be a powerful tool in spatiotemporal visualization and distribution of vector-borne diseases and for analysis of associations between environmental conditions and characteristics of vector-borne habitats. Vietnam is in the sub-tropical climate zone with high humidity and abundant precipitation, while the distribution of precipitation is uneven leading to frequently annual occurrence of drought and flood disasters. Moreover, urban heat island effect is significantly enhanced in urbanized areas in recent years. The increase in the frequency and magnitude of severity of weather extremes that are potentially linked to climate change and anthropogenic processes have highlighted the demand of research into health risk assessment and adaptive capacity. This research focuses on the analysis of physical features of environmental indicators and its association with vector-borne diseases as well as adaptive capacity. The study illustrates how remotely sensed data has been utilized in geohealth applications, surveillance, and health risk mapping. In addition, promising possibilities of allowing disease early-warning systems with citizen participation platform will be proposed. Keywords: Vector-borne diseases; environmental indicators; remote sensing; GIS; Vietnam.

An Analysis of Generational Differences Among Civil Servants

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-01

studied differences between Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1964), Generation Xers (born 1965 – 1977), and Millenials (born 1978 – 1995). They found that... Millenials (1979-1994) Cufaude (2000) Matures (1909-1945) Boomers (1946-1964) Generation X...Comparison Table Smola & Sutton (2002) Study Sample (2003) 2003 Survey Items Boomers Gen-X Boomers Gen-X Millenials DESIRABILITY OF WORK OUTCOMESa

HIV Transmission Dynamics Among Foreign-Born Persons in the United States.

PubMed

Valverde, Eduardo E; Oster, Alexandra M; Xu, Songli; Wertheim, Joel O; Hernandez, Angela L

2017-12-15

In the United States (US), foreign-born persons are disproportionately affected by HIV and differ epidemiologically from US-born persons with diagnosed HIV infection. Understanding HIV transmission dynamics among foreign-born persons is important to guide HIV prevention efforts for these populations. We conducted molecular transmission network analysis to describe HIV transmission dynamics among foreign-born persons with diagnosed HIV. Using HIV-1 polymerase nucleotide sequences reported to the US National HIV Surveillance System for persons with diagnosed HIV infection during 2001-2013, we constructed a genetic distance-based transmission network using HIV-TRACE and examined the birth region of potential transmission partners in this network. Of 77,686 people, 12,064 (16%) were foreign born. Overall, 28% of foreign-born persons linked to at least one other person in the transmission network. Of potential transmission partners, 62% were born in the United States, 31% were born in the same region as the foreign-born person, and 7% were born in another region of the world. Most transmission partners of male foreign-born persons (63%) were born in the United States, whereas most transmission partners of female foreign-borns (57%) were born in their same world region. These finding suggests that a majority of HIV infections among foreign-born persons in our network occurred after immigrating to the United States. Efforts to prevent HIV infection among foreign-born persons in the United States should include information of the transmission networks in which these individuals acquire or transmit HIV to develop more targeted HIV prevention interventions.

Functional Brain Organization for Number Processing in Pre-Verbal Infants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Laura A.; Wagner, Jennifer B.; Simon, Charline E.; Hyde, Daniel C.

2016-01-01

Humans are born with the ability to mentally represent the approximate numerosity of a set of objects, but little is known about the brain systems that sub-serve this ability early in life and their relation to the brain systems underlying symbolic number and mathematics later in development. Here we investigate processing of numerical magnitudes…

Genetic evaluation of the probability of lambing in yearling Targhee ewes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to determine the additive genetic control of lambing percentage in yearling Targhee ewes. The records of 3,103 ewe lambs born from 1989 to 2011 and mated at approximately 7.5 mo of age were analyzed. Records included sire, dam, weaning weight, breeding pen, age of dam...

New Utrecht High School Project IMPACT. O.E.E. Evaluation Report, 1982-1983.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bulkin, Elly; Sica, Michael

Project IMPACT, a magnet program in its third and final year of funding, provided instruction in ESL and Italian language skills, as well as bilingual instruction in mathematics, social studies and typing to approximately 200 students of limited English proficiency in a Brooklyn, New York, high school. Nearly all program students were born in…

Project KANPE, 1982-1983. O.E.E. Evaluation Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clesca, Monique; And Others

This report describes Project KANPE, a multi-site program. In its final year of a three-year funding cycle, the project served approximately 275 Haitian students of limited English proficiency in grades nine through twelve at three New York City high schools. Ninety-six percent of the target population were born in Haiti and all spoke either…

Do Twins Have Lower Cognitive Ability than Singletons?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webbink, Dinand; Posthuma, Danielle; Boomsma, Dorret I.; de Geus, Eco J. C.; Visscher, Peter M.

2008-01-01

Previous studies based on population cohorts born at least 35 years ago, have reported appreciable childhood cognitive deficits for twins. We compared longitudinal IQ scores from approximately 188,000 singletons and some 6000 twins who went to primary school in the Netherlands from 1994 to 2003. In addition, we used a family-based design in which…

Combined active and passive microwave remote sensing of soil moisture for vegetated surfaces at L-band

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The distorted Born approximation (DBA) combined with the numerical solutions of Maxwell equations (NMM3D) has been used for the radar backscattering model for the SMAP mission. The models for vegetated surfaces such as wheat, grass, soybean and corn have been validated with the Soil Moisture Active ...

Numicon, Numeracy and a Special Need

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horner, Vikki

2002-01-01

Charlotte, the author's 11-year-old daughter, was born with Down syndrome, and is currently attending the local middle school. In terms of her disability Charlotte is developing very well and has a reading age of 9+, however her maths skills age is approximately 4 years. It is not necessarily the case that if a child has good language and literacy…

Hepatocellular carcinoma in urban born blacks: frequency and relation to hepatitis B virus infection.

PubMed Central

Kew, M C; Kassianides, C; Hodkinson, J; Coppin, A; Paterson, A C

1986-01-01

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is far less common in urban born than in rural born southern African blacks, who also have a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. A case-control study was carried out to determine the relative frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma and its relation to hepatitis B virus infection in urban born blacks. Three hundred and ninety two black patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and matched controls seen at two city hospitals were classified by questioning as urban born or rural born. The ratio of rural born to urban born blacks among the controls was 1.1:1.0 (207/185), whereas in the patients with cancer the ratio was 4.8:1.0 (324/68) (p less than 0.0001). Analysis of the prevalence of hepatitis B markers in 62 urban born and matched rural born blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma showed no differences in the frequency of current or past hepatitis B virus infection. It is concluded that urban born blacks are less likely than rural born blacks to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, but when they do the tumour is equally likely to be related to infection with hepatitis B virus. The findings lend further support to an important role for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. PMID:3024771

Semiclassical Origin of Superdeformed Shell Structure in the Spheroidal Cavity Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arita, K.; Sugita, A.; Matsuyanagi, K.

1998-12-01

Classical periodic orbits responsible for emergence of the superdeformed shell structures of single-particle motion in spheroidal cavities are identified and their relative contributions to the shell structures are evaluated. Both prolate and oblate superdeformations (axis ratio approximately 2:1) as well as prolate hyperdeformation (axis ratio approximately 3:1) are investigated. Fourier transforms of quantum spectra clearly show that three-dimensional periodic orbits born out of bifurcations of planar orbits in the equatorial plane become predominant at large prolate deformations, while butterfly-shaped planar orbits bifurcated from linear orbits along the minor axis are important at large oblate deformations.

Syphilis in HIV-Infected Mothers and Infants: Results from the NICHD/HPTN 040 Study

PubMed Central

Yeganeh, Nava; Watts, Heather D.; Camarca, Margaret; Soares, Gabriel; Joao, Esau; Pilotto, Jose Henrique; Gray, Glenda; Theron, Gerhard; Santos, Breno; Fonseca, Rosana; Kreitchmann, Regis; Pinto, Jorge; Mussi-Pinhata, Marisa; Ceriotto, Mariana; Machado, Daisy Maria; Veloso, Valdilea G.; Grinzstejn, Beatriz; Morgado, Mariza G; Bryson, Yvonne; Mofenson, Lynne M.; Nielsen-Saines, Karin

2014-01-01

Background Untreated syphilis during pregnancy is associated with spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, prematurity and infant mortality. Syphilis may facilitate HIV transmission, which is especially concerning in low and middle income countries where both diseases are common. Methods We performed an analysis of data available from NICHD/HPTN 040 (P1043), a study focused on the prevention of intrapartum HIV transmission to 1684 infants born to 1664 untreated HIV-infected women. The present analysis evaluates risk factors and outcomes associated with a syphilis diagnosis in this cohort of HIV-infected women and their infants. Results Approximately 10% (n=171) of women enrolled had serological evidence of syphilis without adequate treatment documented and 1.4% (n=24) infants were dually HIV and syphilis infected. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that compared to HIV-infected women, co-infected women were significantly more likely to self-identify as non-white (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.2), to consume alcohol during pregnancy (AOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1) and to transmit HIV to their infants (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.4), with 88% of HIV infections being acquired in-utero. As compared to HIV infected or HIV exposed infants, co-infected infants were significantly more likely to be born to mothers with VDRL titers ≥1:16 (AOR 3, 95% CI 1.1-8.2) and higher viral loads (AOR 1.5 95% CI 1.1-1.9). Of 6 newborns with symptomatic syphilis, 2 expired shortly after birth, and 2 were HIV-infected. Conclusion Syphilis continues to be a common co-infection in HIV-infected women and can facilitate in utero transmission of HIV to infants. Most infants are asymptomatic at birth, but those with symptoms have high mortality rates. PMID:25742089

Syphilis in HIV-infected mothers and infants: results from the NICHD/HPTN 040 study.

PubMed

Yeganeh, Nava; Watts, Heather D; Camarca, Margaret; Soares, Gabriel; Joao, Esau; Pilotto, Jose Henrique; Gray, Glenda; Theron, Gerhard; Santos, Breno; Fonseca, Rosana; Kreitchmann, Regis; Pinto, Jorge; Mussi-Pinhata, Marisa; Ceriotto, Mariana; Machado, Daisy Maria; Grinzstejn, Beatriz; Grinsztejn, Beatriz; Veloso, Valdilea G; Morgado, Mariza G; Bryson, Yvonne; Mofenson, Lynne M; Nielsen-Saines, Karin

2015-03-01

Untreated syphilis during pregnancy is associated with spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, prematurity and infant mortality. Syphilis may facilitate HIV transmission, which is especially concerning in low- and middle-income countries where both diseases are common. We performed an analysis of data available from NICHD/HPTN 040 (P1043), a study focused on the prevention of intrapartum HIV transmission to 1684 infants born to 1664 untreated HIV-infected women. This analysis evaluates risk factors and outcomes associated with a syphilis diagnosis in this cohort of HIV-infected women and their infants. Approximately, 10% of women (n=171) enrolled had serological evidence of syphilis without adequate treatment documented and 1.4% infants (n=24) were dually HIV and syphilis infected. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that compared with HIV-infected women, co-infected women were significantly more likely to self-identify as non-white (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.2), to consume alcohol during pregnancy (AOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.1) and to transmit HIV to their infants (AOR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4), with 88% of HIV infections being acquired in utero. As compared with HIV-infected or HIV-exposed infants, co-infected infants were significantly more likely to be born to mothers with venereal disease research laboratory titers≥1:16 (AOR 3, 95% CI: 1.1-8.2) and higher viral loads (AOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9). Of 6 newborns with symptomatic syphilis, 2 expired shortly after birth, and 2 were HIV-infected. Syphilis continues to be a common co-infection in HIV-infected women and can facilitate in utero transmission of HIV to infants. Most infants are asymptomatic at birth, but those with symptoms have high mortality rates.

Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, a multitherapy antenatal education programme to reduce routine interventions in labour

PubMed Central

Dahlen, Hannah G; Smith, Caroline A; Finlayson, Kenneth William; Downe, Soo

2018-01-01

Objective To assess whether the multitherapy antenatal education ‘CTLB’ (Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth) Study programme leads to net cost savings. Design Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, using analysis of outcomes and hospital funding data. Methods We take a payer perspective and use Australian Refined Diagnosis-Related Group (AR-DRG) cost data to estimate the potential savings per woman to the payer (government or private insurer). We consider scenarios in which the intervention cost is either borne by the woman or by the payer. Savings are computed as the difference in total cost between the control group and the study group. Results If the cost of the intervention is not borne by the payer, the average saving to the payer was calculated to be $A808 per woman. If the payer covers the cost of the programme, this figure reduces to $A659 since the average cost of delivering the programme was $A149 per woman. All these findings are significant at the 95% confidence level. Significantly more women in the study group experienced a normal vaginal birth, and significantly fewer women in the study group experienced a caesarean section. The main cost saving resulted from the reduced rate of caesarean section in the study group. Conclusion The CTLB antenatal education programme leads to significant savings to payers that come from reduced use of hospital resources. Depending on which perspective is considered, and who is responsible for covering the cost of the programme, the net savings vary from $A659 to $A808 per woman. Compared with the average cost of birth in the control group, we conclude that the programme could lead to a reduction in birth-related healthcare costs of approximately 9%. Trial registration number ACTRN12611001126909. PMID:29439002

Cancer mortality by country of birth, sex, and socioeconomic position in Sweden, 1961-2009.

PubMed

Abdoli, Gholamreza; Bottai, Matteo; Moradi, Tahereh

2014-01-01

In 2010, cancer deaths accounted for more than 15% of all deaths worldwide, and this fraction is estimated to rise in the coming years. Increased cancer mortality has been observed in immigrant populations, but a comprehensive analysis by country of birth has not been conducted. We followed all individuals living in Sweden between 1961 and 2009 (7,109,327 men and 6,958,714 women), and calculated crude cancer mortality rates and age-standardized rates (ASRs) using the world population for standardization. We observed a downward trend in all-site ASRs over the past two decades in men regardless of country of birth but no such trend was found in women. All-site cancer mortality increased with decreasing levels of education regardless of sex and country of birth (p for trend <0.001). We also compared cancer mortality rates among foreign-born (13.9%) and Sweden-born (86.1%) individuals and determined the effect of education level and sex estimated by mortality rate ratios (MRRs) using multivariable Poisson regression. All-site cancer mortality was slightly higher among foreign-born than Sweden-born men (MRR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.07), but similar mortality risks was found among foreign-born and Sweden-born women. Men born in Angola, Laos, and Cambodia had the highest cancer mortality risk. Women born in all countries except Iceland, Denmark, and Mexico had a similar or smaller risk than women born in Sweden. Cancer-specific mortality analysis showed an increased risk for cervical and lung cancer in both sexes but a decreased risk for colon, breast, and prostate cancer mortality among foreign-born compared with Sweden-born individuals. Further studies are required to fully understand the causes of the observed inequalities in mortality across levels of education and countries of birth.

MASERATI: a RocketBorne tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer.

PubMed

Lübken, F J; Dingler, F; von Lucke, H; Anders, J; Riedel, W J; Wolf, H

1999-09-01

The MASERATI (middle-atmosphere spectrometric experiment on rockets for analysis of trace-gas influences) instrument is, to our knowledge, the first rocket-borne tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer that was developed for in situ measurements of trace gases in the middle atmosphere. Infrared absorption spectroscopy with lead salt diode lasers is applied to measure water vapor and carbon dioxide in the altitude range from 50 to 90 km and 120 km, respectively. The laser beams are directed into an open multiple-pass absorption setup (total path length 31.7 m) that is mounted on top of a sounding rocket and that is directly exposed to ambient air. The two species are sampled alternately with a sampling time of 7.37 ms, each corresponding to an altitude resolution of approximately 15 m. Frequency-modulation and lock-in techniques are used to achieve high sensitivity. Tests in the laboratory have shown that the instrument is capable of detecting a very small relative absorbance of 10(-4)-10(-5) when integrating spectra for 1 s. The instrument is designed and qualified to resist the mechanical stress occurring during the start of a sounding rocket and to be operational during the cruising phase of the flight when accelerations are very small. Two almost identical versions of the MASERATI instrument were built and were launched on sounding rockets from the Andøya Rocket Range (69 degrees N) in northern Norway on 12 October 1997 and on 31 January 1998. The good technical performance of the instruments during these flights has demonstrated that MASERATI is indeed a new suitable tool to perform rocket-borne in situ measurements in the upper atmosphere.

Patched Skin Bilirubin Assay to Monitor Neonates Born Extremely Preterm Undergoing Phototherapy.

PubMed

De Luca, Daniele; Dell'Orto, Valentina

2017-09-01

To verify the reliability and safety of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements in patched skin areas in neonates born extremely preterm under phototherapy. Sixty neonates (<30 weeks' gestation) receiving phototherapy were enrolled and TcB was measured via a second-generation transcutaneous bilirubinometer in patched skin areas (of at least 2.5 cm diameter). Total serum bilirubin (TSB), lactate, pH, hemoglobin, and skin temperature were measured within 10 minutes of the TcB assay. Clinicians were blinded to TcB values, and clinical decisions about phototherapy were made with the TSB measurement only. TcB and TSB significantly were correlated (r = 0.84; P <.001), even after adjustment for hemoglobin, pH, lactate, gestational and postnatal age (standardized β = 0.8; P <.001; adjusted R 2  = 0.75), or treatment duration (standardized β = 0.8; P <.001; adjusted R 2  = 0.7). When the Bland-Altman analysis was used, TcB overestimated TSB at high values (mean difference TSB - TcB: -2.8 [2.4] mg/dL). If clinicians used the TcB only, no neonate would have had phototherapy stopped prematurely, and 21 (35%) would have continued phototherapy when it could have been stopped. The correlation between TSB and TcB (measured in patched skin areas) was comparable with that obtained in more mature neonates, and it was not influenced by clinical variables or factors affecting skin bilirubin passage. TcB overestimated TSB, and this may expose infants born preterm to unnecessary phototherapy, although it could spare approximately 65% of TSB assays. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

25 Years of Atmospheric Science with the Balloon-borne Limb Sounder MIPAS-B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oelhaf, H.; Friedl-Vallon, F.; Wetzel, G.; Ebersoldt, A.; Hoepfner, M.; Kleinert, A.; Maucher, G.; Maurer, K.; Nordmeyer, H.; Piesch, C.; Ruhnke, R.; Sartorius, C.; Sinnhuber, B. M.; Orphal, J.; Fischer, H.

2017-12-01

MIPAS-B (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding - Balloon) is a balloon-borne limb-emission sounder for atmospheric research. The heart of the instrument is a Fourier spectrometer that covers the mid-infrared spectral range (4 to 14 µm) operating at a temperature of approximately 215 K. Essential for this application is the sophisticated line of sight stabilization system, which is based on an inertial navigation system and supplemented with a star camera reference system. The major scientific benefit of the instrument is the simultaneous detection of complete trace gas families in the stratosphere, without restrictions concerning time of the day and viewing directions. MIPAS-B is an in-house development that was started in the mid-eighties. It initially served as proof of concept for the proposed space borne MIPAS instrument that was later realized and operated on the ESA satellite ENVISAT between 2002 and 2012. But actually it soon became obvious that operation from stratospheric balloons offered a number of benefits to address dedicated scientific questions in an optimal way. MIPAS-B was operated in two versions during 24 flights at tropical, mid-latitudinal and arctic latitudes between 1989 and 2014 covering the `golden era' of ozone loss research and the full operational period of ENVISAT. This paper describes briefly specifications, design considerations, technological upgrades and the characterization of the instrument. Evolving skills with respect to its remote operation from ground and to data analysis in the course of the 25 years are outlined. Scientific applications in the field of atmospheric research, spectroscopy and satellite validation are highlighted with a focus on recent research concerning bromine nitrate and age of air.

Placental telomere length decreases with gestational age and is influenced by parity: a study of third trimester live-born twins.

PubMed

Gielen, M; Hageman, G; Pachen, D; Derom, C; Vlietinck, R; Zeegers, M P

2014-10-01

In contrast to the postnatal period, little is known about telomere length (TL) during prenatal life. The decrease in placental TL remains unknown, although intra uterine growth retardation and preeclampsia are associated with shorter placental TL. The aim of this study is to assess the decrease of placental TL during the third trimester of gestation and to explore the role of potential "growth influencing factors". The study sample consisted of 329 live-born twins from the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. TL was determined using a multiplex quantitative PCR method. Gestational age, sex, birth order, placental characteristics, parity, maternal and paternal age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol use, and socio economic status (SES) were considered "growth influencing factors". Bivariable multilevel regression analysis with "growth influencing factors" was performed. Placental TL ranged from 4.3 kbp to 84.4 kbp with a median of 10.8 kbp. Ln(TL) decreased in a linear fashion with an estimated TL decreasing from 13.98 kbp at 28 weeks to 10.56 kbp at 42 weeks. The regression coefficient of gestational age became smaller if considered together with SES (b = -0.017; p = 0.08) or diabetes (b = -0.018; p = 0.07) and bigger if considered together with parity (b = -0.022; p = 0.02), indicating that part of the association between gestational age and telomere length is explained by these three confounding factors. Placental TL decreases during the third trimester of gestation of live-born twins with approximately 25% indicating that telomere shortening may play a role in aging of the placenta. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eye Growth in Term- And Preterm-Born Eyes Modeled From Magnetic Resonance Images

PubMed Central

Munro, Robert J.; Fulton, Anne B.; Chui, Toco Y. P.; Moskowitz, Anne; Ramamirtham, Ramkumar; Hansen, Ronald M.; Prabhu, Sanjay P.; Akula, James D.

2015-01-01

Purpose. We generated a model of eye growth and tested it against an eye known to develop abnormally, one with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods. We reviewed extant magnetic resonance images (MRIs) from term and preterm-born patients for suitable images (n = 129). We binned subjects for analysis based upon postmenstrual age at birth (in weeks) and ROP history (“Term” ≥ 37, “Premature” ≤ 32 with no ROP, “ROP” ≤ 32 with ROP). We measured the axial positions and curvatures of the cornea, anterior and posterior lens, and inner retinal surface. We fit anterior chamber depth (ACD), posterior segment depth (PSD), axial length (AL), and corneal and lenticular curvatures with logistic growth curves that we then evaluated for significant differences. We also measured the length of rays from the centroid to the surface of the eye at 5° intervals, and described the length versus age relationship of each ray, Lray(x), using the same logistic growth curve. We determined the rate of ray elongation, Eray(x), from Lray dy/dx. Then, we estimated the scleral growth that accounted for Eray(x), G(x), at every age and position. Results. Relative to Term, development of ACD, PSD, AL, and corneal and lenticular curvatures was delayed in ROP eyes, but not Premature eyes. In Term infants, G(x) was fast and predominantly equatorial; in age-matched ROP eyes, maximal G(x) was offset by approximately 90°. Conclusions. We produced a model of normal eye growth in term-born subjects. Relative to normal, the ROP eye is characterized by delayed, abnormal growth. PMID:26024095

Born iterative reconstruction using perturbed-phase field estimates.

PubMed

Astheimer, Jeffrey P; Waag, Robert C

2008-10-01

A method of image reconstruction from scattering measurements for use in ultrasonic imaging is presented. The method employs distorted-wave Born iteration but does not require using a forward-problem solver or solving large systems of equations. These calculations are avoided by limiting intermediate estimates of medium variations to smooth functions in which the propagated fields can be approximated by phase perturbations derived from variations in a geometric path along rays. The reconstruction itself is formed by a modification of the filtered-backpropagation formula that includes correction terms to account for propagation through an estimated background. Numerical studies that validate the method for parameter ranges of interest in medical applications are presented. The efficiency of this method offers the possibility of real-time imaging from scattering measurements.

Systems and methods for locating and imaging proppant in an induced fracture

DOEpatents

Aldridge, David F.; Bartel, Lewis C.

2016-02-02

Born Scattering Inversion (BSI) systems and methods are disclosed. A BSI system may be incorporated in a well system for accessing natural gas, oil and geothermal reserves in a geologic formation beneath the surface of the Earth. The BSI system may be used to generate a three-dimensional image of a proppant-filled hydraulically-induced fracture in the geologic formation. The BSI system may include computing equipment and sensors for measuring electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the fracture before and after the fracture is generated, adjusting the parameters of a first Born approximation model of a scattered component of the surface electromagnetic fields using the measured electromagnetic fields, and generating the image of the proppant-filled fracture using the adjusted parameters.

2-D Fused Image Reconstruction approach for Microwave Tomography: a theoretical assessment using FDTD Model

PubMed Central

Bindu, G.; Semenov, S.

2013-01-01

This paper describes an efficient two-dimensional fused image reconstruction approach for Microwave Tomography (MWT). Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) models were created for a viable MWT experimental system having the transceivers modelled using thin wire approximation with resistive voltage sources. Born Iterative and Distorted Born Iterative methods have been employed for image reconstruction with the extremity imaging being done using a differential imaging technique. The forward solver in the imaging algorithm employs the FDTD method of solving the time domain Maxwell’s equations with the regularisation parameter computed using a stochastic approach. The algorithm is tested with 10% noise inclusion and successful image reconstruction has been shown implying its robustness. PMID:24058889

The Generalized Born solvation model: What is it?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onufriev, Alexey

2004-03-01

Implicit solvation models provide, for many applications, an effective way of describing the electrostatic effects of aqueous solvation. Here we outline the main approximations behind the popular Generalized Born solvation model. We show how its accuracy, relative to the Poisson-Boltzmann treatment, can be significantly improved in a computationally inexpensive manner to make the model useful in the studies of large-scale conformational transitions at the atomic level. The improved model is tested in a molecular dynamics simulation of folding of a 46-residue (three helix bundle) protein. Starting from an extended structure at 450K, the protein folds to the lowest energy conformation within 6 ns of simulation time, and the predicted structure differs from the native one by 2.4 A (backbone RMSD).

Immigration, stress, and depressive symptoms in a Mexican-American community.

PubMed

Golding, J M; Burnam, M A

1990-03-01

This study assessed levels of depressive symptomatology in a household probability sample of Mexico-born (N = 706) and U.S.-born (N = 538) Mexican Americans. We hypothesized that immigration status differences in acculturation, strain, social resources, and social conflict, as well as differences in the associations of these variables with depression, would account for differences in depression between U.S.-born and Mexico-born respondents. U.S.-born Mexican Americans had higher depression scores than those born in Mexico. When cultural and social psychological variables were controlled in a multiple regression analysis, the immigrant status difference persisted. Tests of interaction terms suggested greater vulnerability to the effects of low acculturation and low educational attainment among the U.S.-born relative to those born in Mexico; however, the immigrant status difference persisted after controlling for these interactions. Unmeasured variables such as selective migration of persons with better coping skills, selective return of depressed immigrants, or generational differences in social comparison processes may account for the immigration status difference.

An Analysis of Generational Differences Among Active Duty Members

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-01

studied differences between Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1964), Generation Xers (born 1965 – 1977), and Millenials (born 1978 – 1995). They found that work...1946-1964) Generation X (1965-1978) Millenials (1979-1994) Cufaude (2000) Matures (1909-1945...Mean & Standard Deviation Comparison Smola & Sutton (2002) Study Sample (2003) 2003 Survey Items Boomers Gen-X Boomers Gen-X Millenials

Do ewes born with a male co-twin have greater longevity with lambing over time?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Based on a recent analysis of historical records, ewes born co-twin to a ram had greater lifetime reproductive performance than ewes born co-twin to a ewe. We are interested in determining what component(s) of lifetime reproductive performance may be associated with a ewe’s co-twin sex. As an initi...

[Occupational exposure to blood in multiple trauma care].

PubMed

Wicker, S; Wutzler, S; Schachtrupp, A; Zacharowski, K; Scheller, B

2015-01-01

Trauma care personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Little is known regarding compliance with standard precautions or occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among multiple trauma care personnel in Germany. Compliance rates of multiple trauma care personnel in applying standard precautions, knowledge about transmission risks of blood-borne pathogens, perceived risks of acquiring hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the personal attitude towards testing of the index patient for blood-borne pathogens after a needlestick injury were evaluated. In the context of an advanced multiple trauma training an anonymous questionnaire was administered to the participants. Almost half of the interviewees had sustained a needlestick injury within the last 12 months. Approximately three quarters of the participants were concerned about the risk of HIV and hepatitis. Trauma care personnel had insufficient knowledge of the risk of blood-borne pathogens, overestimated the risk of hepatitis C infection and underused standard precautionary measures. Although there was excellent compliance for using gloves, there was poor compliance in using double gloves (26.4 %), eye protectors (19.7 %) and face masks (15.8 %). The overwhelming majority of multiple trauma care personnel believed it is appropriate to test an index patient for blood-borne pathogens following a needlestick injury. The process of treatment in prehospital settings is less predictable than in other settings in which invasive procedures are performed. Periodic training and awareness programs for trauma care personnel are required to increase the knowledge of occupational infections and the compliance with standard precautions. The legal and ethical aspects of testing an index patient for blood-borne pathogens after a needlestick injury of a healthcare worker have to be clarified in Germany.

Engine-induced structural-borne noise in a general aviation aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Unruh, J. F.; Scheidt, D. C.; Pomerening, D. J.

1979-01-01

Structural borne interior noise in a single engine general aviation aircraft was studied to determine the importance of engine induced structural borne noise and to determine the necessary modeling requirements for the prediction of structural borne interior noise. Engine attached/detached ground test data show that engine induced structural borne noise is a primary interior noise source for the single engine test aircraft, cabin noise is highly influenced by responses at the propeller tone, and cabin acoustic resonances can influence overall noise levels. Results from structural and acoustic finite element coupled models of the test aircraft show that wall flexibility has a strong influence on fundamental cabin acoustic resonances, the lightweight fuselage structure has a high modal density, and finite element analysis procedures are appropriate for the prediction of structural borne noise.

Health Disparities and Delayed Health care among Older Adults in California: A Perspective from Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration.

PubMed

Du, Yan; Xu, Qingwen

2016-09-01

To examine racial/ethnic/immigration disparities in health and to investigate the relationships among race/ethnic/immigration status, delayed health care, and health of the elderly. Responses from 13,508 people aged 65 and above were analyzed based on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011-2012. Key variables include race/ethnicity/immigration status, health outcome, and delayed health care. Age, gender, education, work status, and annual family income are used as covariates. The findings indicate that Whites (regardless of country of birth) and U.S.-born Asians enjoy better health than Latinos, African-Americans, and Foreign-born Asians. Foreign-born Asians and foreign-born Latinos have the poorest self-reported health and mental health, respectively. Delayed use of health care is negatively associated with both self-reported health and mental health status. Health disparities exist among older adult populations; the combined effects of minority and immigrant status can be approximated from the results in this study. Health care accessibility and the quality of care should be promoted in minority/immigrant populations. Public health nurses have a strong potential to aide in reducing health disparities among an aging American population that continues to exhibit increasing racial/ethnic diversity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Multivariate Analysis of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Facial Skeletal Morphology.

PubMed

Starbuck, John M; Ghoneima, Ahmed; Kula, Katherine

2015-07-01

Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) occurs when the maxillary and nasal facial prominences fail to fuse correctly during development, resulting in a palatal cleft and clefted soft and hard tissues of the dentoalveolus. The UCLP deformity may compromise an individual's ability to eat, chew, and speak. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 7-17-year-old individuals born with UCLP (n = 24) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 24) were assessed. Coordinate values of three-dimensional anatomical landmarks (n = 32) were recorded from each CBCT image. Data were evaluated using principal coordinates analysis (PCOORD) and Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA). Approximately 40% of morphometric variation is captured by PCOORD axes 1-3, and the negative and positive ends of each axis are associated with specific patterns of morphological differences. Approximately 36% of facial skeletal measures significantly differ by confidence interval testing (α = 0.10) between samples. Although significant form differences occur across the facial skeleton, strong patterns of morphological differences were localized to the lateral and superioinferior aspects of the nasal aperture, particularly on the clefted side of the face. The UCLP deformity strongly influences facial skeletal morphology of the midface and oronasal facial regions, and to a lesser extent the upper and lower facial skeletons. The pattern of strong morphological differences in the oronasal region combined with differences across the facial complex suggests that craniofacial bones are integrated and covary, despite influences from the congenital cleft.

Using performance indicators to monitor attendance at the Broken Hill blood lead screening clinic.

PubMed

Boreland, Frances; Lyle, David

2009-04-01

Although the average blood lead level of 1-4-year-old children in Broken Hill has halved since 1991, about 1 in 5 still have blood lead levels higher than the national target (<10 microg/dL). The estimated proportion of children attending the Lead Clinic has declined, to approximately 42% in 2006, raising concern that some children with elevated blood lead levels may not be presenting, thus missing out on appropriate treatment and advice. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of attendance at the clinic as a first step to understanding what factors contribute to clinic attendance and non-attendance. Routinely collected data from the Lead Clinic database were used to describe the impact of factors such as child age, the lead-risk area in which they live, seasonal influences and specific promotional activities on clinic attendance rates from 1999 to June 2007. Estimates of the number of children living in each of the five lead-risk areas were derived from 2001 and 2006 census data and estimates of the number of children born to mothers resident in Broken Hill were derived from the Midwives Data Collection. Attendance rates declined by approximately one-third during the study period. Younger children, and those living closer to the central mining area, were more likely to attend for blood lead screening. Cohort analysis indicated cumulative attendance has declined, with children born in 2005 having a cumulative incidence at 18 months of age 5-10% lower than that for previous birth cohorts. The majority (54%) of children who developed a notifiable blood lead level (15 microg/dL) were first detected at 2 years of age or older, a number of whom (40%) had no recorded tests before the age of 2 years. The analysis has demonstrated the benefits of using an expanded set of performance indicators to monitor the blood lead screening programme. It provides valuable additional information about the reach of the programme. Next steps include seeking additional feedback from carers and the broader community, developing a strategy to increase screening and monitoring the effectiveness of efforts to reinvigorate the lead management programme.

Urbanization factors associated with childhood asthma and prematurity: a population-based analysis aged from 0 to 5 years in Taiwan by using Cox regression within a hospital cluster model.

PubMed

Lin, Sheng-Chieh; Lin, Hui-Wen

2015-04-01

Childhood asthma and premature birth are both common; however, no studies have reported urbanization association between asthma and prematurity and the duration of prematurity affect asthma development. We use Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) to explore association between asthma and prematurity among children by using a population-based analysis. This is a retrospective cohort study with registration data derived from Taiwan LHID. We evaluated prematurely born infants and children aged <5 years (n = 532) and age-matched control patients (n = 60505) using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis within a hospital cluster model. Of the 61 037 examinees, 14 012 experienced asthma during the 5-year follow-up, including 161 (72.26 per 1000 person-years) infants and children born prematurely and 13 851 (40.27 per 1000 person-years) controls. The hazard ratio for asthma during 5-year follow-up period was 1.95 (95% confidence interval = 1.67-2.28) among children born prematurely. Boys born prematurely aged 0-2 years were associated with higher asthma rates compared with girls in non-premature and premature groups. Living in urban areas, those born prematurely were associated with higher rates of asthma compared with non-prematurity. Those born prematurely lived in northern region had higher asthma hazard ratio than other regions. Our analyses indicated that sex, age, urbanization level, and geographic region are significantly associated with prematurity and asthma. Based on cumulative asthma-free survival curve generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, infants born prematurely should be closely monitored to see if they would develop asthma until the age of 6 years.

SEM Imaging and Chemical Analysis of Aerosol Particles from Surface and Hi-altitudes in New Jersey.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandamede, M.; Boaggio, K.; Bancroft, L.; Hurler, K.; Magee, N. B.

2016-12-01

We report on Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis of aerosol particle morphology and chemistry. The work includes the first comparative SEM analysis of aerosol particles captured by balloon at high altitude. The particles were acquired in an urban/suburban environment in central New-Jersey. Particles were sampled from near the surface using ambient air filtration and at high-altitudes using a novel balloon-borne instrument (ICE-Ball, see abstract by K. Boaggio). Particle images and 3D geometry are acquired by a Hitachi SU-5000 SEM, with resolution to approximately 3 nm. Elemental analysis on particles is provided by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS, EDAX, Inc.). Uncoated imaging is conducted in low vacuum within the variable-pressure SEM, which provides improved detection and analysis of light-element compositions including Carbon. Preliminary results suggest that some similar particle types and chemical species are sampled at both surface and high-altitude. However, as expected, particle morphologies, concentrations, chemistry, and apparent origin vary significantly at different altitudes and under different atmospheric flow regimes. Improved characterization of high-altitude aerosol particles, and differences from surface particulate composition, may advance inputs for atmospheric cloud and radiation models.

Balloon-Borne Full-Column Greenhouse Gas Profiling Field Campaign Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fischer, Marc L

The vertical distributions of CO2, CH4, and other gases provide important constraints for the determination of terrestrial and ocean sources and sinks of carbon and other biogeochemical processes in the Earth system. The DOE Biological and Environmental Research Program (DOE-BER) and the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA-ESRL) collaborate to quantify the vertically resolved distribution of atmospheric carbon-cycle gases (CO2, and CH4) within approximately 99% of the atmospheric column at the DOE ARM Southern Great Plains Facility in Oklahoma. In 2015, flights were delayed while research at NOAA focused on evaluating sources of systematic errors in the gas collection andmore » analysis system and modifying the sampling system to provide duplicate air samples in a single flight package. In 2017, we look forward to proposing additional sampling and analysis at ARM-SGP (and other sites) that characterize the vertical distribution of CO2 and CH4 over time and space.« less

Fleas, hosts and habitat: What can we predict about the spread of vector-borne zoonotic diseases?

Treesearch

Megan M. Friggens

2010-01-01

Vector-borne diseases of humans and wildlife are experiencing resurgence across the globe. I examine the dynamics of flea borne diseases through a comparative analysis of flea literature and analyses of field data collected from three sites in New Mexico: The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, the Sandia Mountains and the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP). My...

Tick-Borne Encephalitis with Hemorrhagic Syndrome, Novosibirsk Region, Russia, 1999

PubMed Central

Ternovoi, Vladimir A.; Kurzhukov, Gennady P.; Sokolov, Yuri V.; Ivanov, Gennady Y.; Ivanisenko, Vladimir A.; Loktev, Alexander V.; Ryder, Robert W.; Netesov, Sergey V.

2003-01-01

Eight fatal cases of tick-borne encephalitis with unusual hemorrhagic syndrome were identified in 1999 in the Novosibirsk Region, Russia. To study these strains, we sequenced cDNA fragments of protein E gene from six archival formalin-fixed brain samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed tick-borne encephalitis variants clustered with a Far Eastern subtype (homology 94.7%) but not with the Siberian subtype (82%). PMID:12781020

Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases – Incidence through Vectors

PubMed Central

Savić, Sara; Vidić, Branka; Grgić, Zivoslav; Potkonjak, Aleksandar; Spasojevic, Ljubica

2014-01-01

Vector-borne diseases use to be a major public health concern only in tropical and subtropical areas, but today they are an emerging threat for the continental and developed countries also. Nowadays, in intercontinental countries, there is a struggle with emerging diseases, which have found their way to appear through vectors. Vector-borne zoonotic diseases occur when vectors, animal hosts, climate conditions, pathogens, and susceptible human population exist at the same time, at the same place. Global climate change is predicted to lead to an increase in vector-borne infectious diseases and disease outbreaks. It could affect the range and population of pathogens, host and vectors, transmission season, etc. Reliable surveillance for diseases that are most likely to emerge is required. Canine vector-borne diseases represent a complex group of diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, bartonellosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis, ehrlichiosis, and leishmaniosis. Some of these diseases cause serious clinical symptoms in dogs and some of them have a zoonotic potential with an effect to public health. It is expected from veterinarians in coordination with medical doctors to play a fundamental role at primarily prevention and then treatment of vector-borne diseases in dogs. The One Health concept has to be integrated into the struggle against emerging diseases. During a 4-year period, from 2009 to 2013, a total number of 551 dog samples were analyzed for vector-borne diseases (borreliosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, dirofilariosis, and leishmaniasis) in routine laboratory work. The analysis was done by serological tests – ELISA for borreliosis, dirofilariosis, and leishmaniasis, modified Knott test for dirofilariosis, and blood smear for babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. This number of samples represented 75% of total number of samples that were sent for analysis for different diseases in dogs. Annually, on average more then half of the samples brought to the laboratory to analysis for different infectious diseases are analyzed for vector-borne diseases. In the region of Vojvodina (northern part of Serbia), the following vector-borne infectious diseases have been found in dogs so far borreliosis, babesiosis, dirofilariosis, leishmaniasis, and anaplasmosis. PMID:25520951

Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases - Incidence through Vectors.

PubMed

Savić, Sara; Vidić, Branka; Grgić, Zivoslav; Potkonjak, Aleksandar; Spasojevic, Ljubica

2014-01-01

Vector-borne diseases use to be a major public health concern only in tropical and subtropical areas, but today they are an emerging threat for the continental and developed countries also. Nowadays, in intercontinental countries, there is a struggle with emerging diseases, which have found their way to appear through vectors. Vector-borne zoonotic diseases occur when vectors, animal hosts, climate conditions, pathogens, and susceptible human population exist at the same time, at the same place. Global climate change is predicted to lead to an increase in vector-borne infectious diseases and disease outbreaks. It could affect the range and population of pathogens, host and vectors, transmission season, etc. Reliable surveillance for diseases that are most likely to emerge is required. Canine vector-borne diseases represent a complex group of diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, bartonellosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis, ehrlichiosis, and leishmaniosis. Some of these diseases cause serious clinical symptoms in dogs and some of them have a zoonotic potential with an effect to public health. It is expected from veterinarians in coordination with medical doctors to play a fundamental role at primarily prevention and then treatment of vector-borne diseases in dogs. The One Health concept has to be integrated into the struggle against emerging diseases. During a 4-year period, from 2009 to 2013, a total number of 551 dog samples were analyzed for vector-borne diseases (borreliosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, dirofilariosis, and leishmaniasis) in routine laboratory work. The analysis was done by serological tests - ELISA for borreliosis, dirofilariosis, and leishmaniasis, modified Knott test for dirofilariosis, and blood smear for babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. This number of samples represented 75% of total number of samples that were sent for analysis for different diseases in dogs. Annually, on average more then half of the samples brought to the laboratory to analysis for different infectious diseases are analyzed for vector-borne diseases. In the region of Vojvodina (northern part of Serbia), the following vector-borne infectious diseases have been found in dogs so far borreliosis, babesiosis, dirofilariosis, leishmaniasis, and anaplasmosis.

Excitation of levels in Li6 by inelastic electron scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bernheim, M.; Bishop, G. R.

1963-07-01

Inelastic scattering of electrons from metallic targets of Li 6 was studied as part of a program to establish the validity of the Born approximation calculation of the cross section. This calculation predicts the separation of the inelastic form factor into two contributions corresponding to the absorption of longitudinal and transverse virtual photons by the bombarded system. (R.E.U.)

Parametrization of electron impact ionization cross sections for CO, CO2, NH3 and SO2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srivastava, Santosh K.; Nguyen, Hung P.

1987-01-01

The electron impact ionization and dissociative ionization cross section data of CO, CO2, CH4, NH3, and SO2, measured in the laboratory, were parameterized utilizing an empirical formula based on the Born approximation. For this purpose an chi squared minimization technique was employed which provided an excellent fit to the experimental data.

Theoretical and experimental quantification of doubly and singly differential cross sections for electron-induced ionization of isolated tetrahydrofuran molecules

DOE PAGES

Champion, Christophe; Quinto, Michele A.; Bug, Marion U.; ...

2014-07-29

Electron-induced ionization of the commonly used surrogate of the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone, namely, the tetrahydrofuran molecule, is here theoretically described within the 1 st Born approximation by means of quantum-mechanical approach. Comparisons between theory and recent experiments are reported in terms of doubly and singly differential cross sections.

Reprint of: Ionization probabilities of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe by proton impact for different initial states and impact energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montanari, C. C.; Miraglia, J. E.

2018-01-01

In this contribution we present ab initio results for ionization total cross sections, probabilities at zero impact parameter, and impact parameter moments of order +1 and -1 of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe by proton impact in an extended energy range from 100 keV up to 10 MeV. The calculations were performed by using the continuum distorted wave eikonal initial state approximation (CDW-EIS) for energies up to 1 MeV, and using the first Born approximation for larger energies. The convergence of the CDW-EIS to the first Born above 1 MeV is clear in the present results. Our inner-shell ionization cross sections are compared with the available experimental data and with the ECPSSR results. We also include in this contribution the values of the ionization probabilities at the origin, and the impact parameter dependence. These values have been employed in multiple ionization calculations showing very good description of the experimental data. Tables of the ionization probabilities are presented, disaggregated for the different initial bound states, considering all the shells for Ne and Ar, the M-N shells of Kr and the N-O shells of Xe.

Cavity Born-Oppenheimer Approximation for Correlated Electron-Nuclear-Photon Systems.

PubMed

Flick, Johannes; Appel, Heiko; Ruggenthaler, Michael; Rubio, Angel

2017-04-11

In this work, we illustrate the recently introduced concept of the cavity Born-Oppenheimer approximation [ Flick et al. PNAS 2017 , 10.1073/pnas.1615509114 ] for correlated electron-nuclear-photon problems in detail. We demonstrate how an expansion in terms of conditional electronic and photon-nuclear wave functions accurately describes eigenstates of strongly correlated light-matter systems. For a GaAs quantum ring model in resonance with a photon mode we highlight how the ground-state electronic potential-energy surface changes the usual harmonic potential of the free photon mode to a dressed mode with a double-well structure. This change is accompanied by a splitting of the electronic ground-state density. For a model where the photon mode is in resonance with a vibrational transition, we observe in the excited-state electronic potential-energy surface a splitting from a single minimum to a double minimum. Furthermore, for a time-dependent setup, we show how the dynamics in correlated light-matter systems can be understood in terms of population transfer between potential energy surfaces. This work at the interface of quantum chemistry and quantum optics paves the way for the full ab initio description of matter-photon systems.

Explicit inclusion of nonlocality in ( d , p ) transfer reactions

DOE PAGES

Titus, L. J.; Nunes, F. M.; Potel, G.

2016-01-06

Traditionally, nucleon-nucleus optical potentials are made local for convenience. In recent work we studied the effects of including nonlocal interactions explicitly in the final state for (d,p) reactions, within the distorted wave Born approximation. Our goal in this work is to develop an improved formalism for nonlocal interactions that includes deuteron breakup and to use it to study the effects of including nonlocal interactions in transfer (d,p) reactions, in both the deuteron and the proton channel. We extend the finite-range adiabatic distorted wave approximation to include nonlocal nucleon optical potentials. We apply our method to (d,p) reactions on 16O, 40Ca,more » 48Ca, 126Sn, 132Sn, and 208Pb at 10, 20 and 50 MeV. Here, we find that nonlocality in the deuteron scattering state reduces the amplitude of the wave function in the nuclear interior, and shifts the wave function outward. In many cases, this has the effect of increasing the transfer cross section at the first peak of the angular distributions. This increase was most significant for heavy targets and for reactions at high energies. Lastly, our systematic study shows that, if only local optical potentials are used in the analysis of experimental (d, p) transfer cross sections, the extracted spectroscopic factors may be incorrect by up to 40% due to the local approximation.« less

Theory of electron capture from a hydrogen-like ion by a bare ion with extensions to inner-shell capture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alston, S.G.

1982-01-01

A complete systematic derivation is given of a new approximation for the calculation of the cross section for electron capture from a hydrogen-like ion of large nuclear charge Z/sub T/e by a bare ion of charge Z/sub p/e moving with speed v. The amplitude in the wave treatment is obtained through consistent expansion in the small parameters Z/sub p//Z/sub T/ and Z/sub p/e/sup 2//hv; however, the ratio Z/sub T/e/sup 2//hv is not assumed small. Electron-target nucleus interactions are included to all orders and electron-projectile interactions were included consistently to first order so that the theory is called the strong potentialmore » Born (SPB). Following a careful analysis of the approach to the energy shell, an off-shell factor is seen to arise which does not appear in the impulse approximation (IA). The effects of this factor on the capture amplitude are explored. It is shown that, in comparison with the IA, the correct weighting of the target spectrum of intermediate states in the SPB significantly alters the 1s ..-->.. ns cross section and at the same time makes peaking approximations to the amplitude more realistic, even for intermediate velocity Z/sub p/e/sup 2//h<« less

Scaling Cross Sections for Ion-atom Impact Ionization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Igor D. Kaganovich; Edward Startsev; Ronald C. Davidson

2003-06-06

The values of ion-atom ionization cross sections are frequently needed for many applications that utilize the propagation of fast ions through matter. When experimental data and theoretical calculations are not available, approximate formulas are frequently used. This paper briefly summarizes the most important theoretical results and approaches to cross section calculations in order to place the discussion in historical perspective and offer a concise introduction to the topic. Based on experimental data and theoretical predictions, a new fit for ionization cross sections is proposed. The range of validity and accuracy of several frequently used approximations (classical trajectory, the Born approximation,more » and so forth) are discussed using, as examples, the ionization cross sections of hydrogen and helium atoms by various fully stripped ions.« less

Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a half-space of randomly distributed discrete scatterers and polarized backscattering ratio law

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, P. Y.

1991-01-01

The effective-medium approximation is applied to investigate scattering from a half-space of randomly and densely distributed discrete scatterers. Starting from vector wave equations, an approximation, called effective-medium Born approximation, a particular way, treating Green's functions, and special coordinates, of which the origin is set at the field point, are used to calculate the bistatic- and back-scatterings. An analytic solution of backscattering with closed form is obtained and it shows a depolarization effect. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental measurements in the cases of snow, multi- and first-year sea-ice. The root product ratio of polarization to depolarization in backscattering is equal to 8; this result constitutes a law about polarized scattering phenomena in the nature.

Estimating the impact of newly arrived foreign-born persons on tuberculosis in the United States.

PubMed

Liu, Yecai; Painter, John A; Posey, Drew L; Cain, Kevin P; Weinberg, Michelle S; Maloney, Susan A; Ortega, Luis S; Cetron, Martin S

2012-01-01

Among approximately 163.5 million foreign-born persons admitted to the United States annually, only 500,000 immigrants and refugees are required to undergo overseas tuberculosis (TB) screening. It is unclear what extent of the unscreened nonimmigrant visitors contributes to the burden of foreign-born TB in the United States. We defined foreign-born persons within 1 year after arrival in the United States as "newly arrived", and utilized data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization to estimate the incidence of TB among newly arrived foreign-born persons in the United States. During 2001 through 2008, 11,500 TB incident cases, including 291 multidrug-resistant TB incident cases, were estimated to occur among 20,989,738 person-years for the 1,479,542,654 newly arrived foreign-born persons in the United States. Of the 11,500 estimated TB incident cases, 41.6% (4,783) occurred among immigrants and refugees, 36.6% (4,211) among students/exchange visitors and temporary workers, 13.8% (1,589) among tourists and business travelers, and 7.3% (834) among Canadian and Mexican nonimmigrant visitors without an I-94 form (e.g., arrival-departure record). The top 3 newly arrived foreign-born populations with the largest estimated TB incident cases per 100,000 admissions were immigrants and refugees from high-incidence countries (e.g., 2008 WHO-estimated TB incidence rate of ≥100 cases/100,000 population/year; 235.8 cases/100,000 admissions, 95% confidence interval [CI], 228.3 to 243.3), students/exchange visitors and temporary workers from high-incidence countries (60.9 cases/100,000 admissions, 95% CI, 58.5 to 63.3), and immigrants and refugees from medium-incidence countries (e.g., 2008 WHO-estimated TB incidence rate of 15-99 cases/100,000 population/year; 55.2 cases/100,000 admissions, 95% CI, 51.6 to 58.8). Newly arrived nonimmigrant visitors contribute substantially to the burden of foreign-born TB in the United States. To achieve the goals of TB elimination, direct investment in global TB control and strategies to target nonimmigrant visitors should be considered.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Profiles of 263,356 Older Australians According to Region of Birth and Acculturation, with a Focus on Migrants Born in Asia

PubMed Central

Guo, Shuyu; Lucas, Robyn M.; Joshy, Grace; Banks, Emily

2015-01-01

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity, are common in Australia, but the prevalence varies according to cultural background. We examined the relationship between region of birth, measures of acculturation, and CVD risk profiles in immigrant, compared to Australian-born, older Australians. Cross-sectional data from 263,356 participants aged 45 and over joining the population-based 45 and Up Study cohort from 2006–2008 were used. Prevalence ratios for CVD risk factors in Australian- versus overseas-born participants were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for age, sex and socioeconomic factors and focusing on Asian migrants. The association between time resident in Australia and age at migration and CVD risk factors in Asian migrants was also examined. Migrants from Northeast (n = 3,213) and Southeast Asia (n = 3,942) had lower levels of overweight/obesity, physical activity and female smoking than Australian-born participants (n = 199,356), although differences in prevalence of overweight/obesity were sensitive to body-mass-index cut-offs used. Compared to Australian-born participants, migrants from Northeast Asia were 20–30% less likely, and from Southeast Asia 10–20% more likely, to report being treated for hypertension and/or hypercholesterolaemia; Southeast Asian migrants were 40–60% more likely to report diabetes. Northeast Asian-born individuals were less likely than Australian-born to have 3 or more CVD risk factors. Diabetes, treated hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia occurred at relatively low average body-mass-index in Southeast Asian migrants. The CVD risk factor profiles of migrants tended to approximate those of Australian-born with increasing acculturation, in both favourable (e.g., increased physical activity) and unfavourable directions (e.g., increased female smoking). Minimizing CVD risk in migrant populations may be achieved through efforts to retain the healthy facets of the traditional lifestyle, such as a normal body mass index and low prevalence of smoking in women, in addition to adopting healthy aspects of the host country lifestyle, such as increased physical activity. PMID:25695771

Gravitational corrections to light propagation in a perturbed FLRW universe and corresponding weak-lensing spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuesta-Lazaro, Carolina; Quera-Bofarull, Arnau; Reischke, Robert; Schäfer, Björn Malte

2018-06-01

When the gravitational lensing of the large-scale structure is calculated from a cosmological model a few assumptions enter: (i) one assumes that the photons follow unperturbed background geodesics, which is usually referred to as the Born approximation, (ii) the lenses move slowly, (iii) the source-redshift distribution is evaluated relative to the background quantities, and (iv) the lensing effect is linear in the gravitational potential. Even though these approximations are small individually they could sum up, especially since they include local effects such as the Sachs-Wolfe and peculiar motion, but also non-local ones like the Born approximation and the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. In this work, we will address all points mentioned and perturbatively calculate the effect on a tomographic cosmic shear power spectrum of each effect individually as well as all cross-correlations. Our findings show that each effect is at least 4-5 orders of magnitude below the leading order lensing signal. Finally, we sum up all effects to estimate the overall impact on parameter estimation by a future cosmological weak-lensing survey such as Euclid in a wcold dark matter cosmology with parametrization Ωm, σ8, ns, h, w0, and wa, using five tomographic bins. We consistently find a parameter bias of 10-5, which is therefore completely negligible for all practical purposes, confirming that other effects such as intrinsic alignments, magnification bias and uncertainties in the redshift distribution will be the dominant systematic source in future surveys.

Pygmy dipole resonance in 140Ce via inelastic scattering of 17O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krzysiek, M.; Kmiecik, M.; Maj, A.; Bednarczyk, P.; Bracco, A.; Crespi, F. C. L.; Lanza, E. G.; Litvinova, E.; Paar, N.; Avigo, R.; Bazzacco, D.; Benzoni, G.; Birkenbach, B.; Blasi, N.; Bottoni, S.; Brambilla, S.; Camera, F.; Ceruti, S.; Ciemała, M.; de Angelis, G.; Désesquelles, P.; Eberth, J.; Farnea, E.; Gadea, A.; Giaz, A.; Görgen, A.; Gottardo, A.; Grebosz, J.; Hess, H.; Isocarte, R.; Jungclaus, A.; Leoni, S.; Ljungvall, J.; Lunardi, S.; Mazurek, K.; Menegazzo, R.; Mengoni, D.; Michelagnoli, C.; Milion, B.; Morales, A. I.; Napoli, D. R.; Nicolini, R.; Pellegri, L.; Pullia, A.; Quintana, B.; Recchia, F.; Reiter, P.; Rosso, D.; Salsac, M. D.; Siebeck, B.; Siem, S.; Söderström, P.-A.; Ur, C.; Valiente-Dobon, J. J.; Wieland, O.; Ziebliński, M.

2016-04-01

The γ decay from the high-lying states of 140Ce excited via inelastic scattering of 17O at a bombarding energy of 340 MeV was measured using the high-resolution AGATA-demonstrator array in coincidence with scattered ions detected in two segmented Δ E -E silicon detectors. Angular distributions of scattered ions and emitted γ rays were measured, as well as their differential cross sections. The excitation of 1- states below the neutron separation energy is similar to the one obtained in reactions with the α isoscalar probe. The comparison between the experimental differential cross sections and the corresponding predictions using the distorted-wave Born approximation allowed us to extract the isoscalar component of identified 1- pygmy states. For this analysis the form factor obtained by folding microscopically calculated transition densities and optical potentials was used.

Spectroscopic study of uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil: Hydrogen bond interactions in crystals and ab-initio molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brela, Mateusz Z.; Boczar, Marek; Malec, Leszek M.; Wójcik, Marek J.; Nakajima, Takahito

2018-05-01

Hydrogen bond networks in uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil were studied by ab initio molecular dynamics as well as analysis of the orbital interactions. The power spectra calculated by ab initio molecular dynamics for atoms involved in hydrogen bonds were analyzed. We calculated spectra by using anharmonic approximation based on the autocorrelation function of the atom positions obtained from the Born-Oppenheimer simulations. Our results show the differences between hydrogen bond networks in uracil and its methylated derivatives. The studied methylated derivatives, 1-methyluracil as well as 1-methyl-4-thiouracil, form dimeric structures in the crystal phase, while uracil does not form that kind of structures. The presence of sulfur atom instead oxygen atom reflects weakness of the hydrogen bonds that build dimers.

Nativity and nutritional behaviors in the Mexican origin population living in the US-Mexico border region.

PubMed

Montoya, Jared A; Salinas, Jennifer J; Barroso, Cristina S; Mitchell-Bennett, Lisa; Reininger, Belinda

2011-02-01

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between nativity and nutritional behaviors and beliefs in the Mexican American population living in the South Texas border region. Mexican Americans living the border region of South Texas were sampled to assess their nutrition behaviors and beliefs. Nativity was measured as whether subjects were born in the United States or Mexico. Nutritional behaviors were measured using the SPAN and indexes were used to measure barriers to good nutrition, dietary self-efficacy, and dietary importance. OLS regression analysis was used and adjustments were made for sociodemographic factors. Differences between US-born Mexican Americans and Mexico-born Mexican Americans existed in nutritional beliefs, but not in behaviors. Mexico-born Mexican Americans reported their dietary choices as more important and reported greater food self-efficacy than their US-born Mexican American counterparts. Socioeconomic status influenced US-born Mexican Americans nutritional beliefs only and the same effect was not observed for Mexico-born Mexican Americans. Despite low levels of overall acculturation in the border region dietary beliefs still exist between immigrants and US-born Mexican Americans in dietary beliefs, but, not behaviors in US-born Mexican Americans.

[Study on national active monitoring for food borne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in China 2001].

PubMed

Wang, Maoqi; Ran, Lu; Wang, Zhutian; Li, Zhigang

2004-01-01

To survey food borne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in China. A total of 4034 samples of foods (raw meats, raw milk, cooked meats, ice cream, yoghurt, aquatic product and vegetable) were examined for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Salmonella spp and Listeria monocytogens by national active foodborne pathogens surveillance system. The samples were obtained from 11 provinces in 2001. Approximate 5.50% of the all samples yielded 3 pathogenes, whereas Escherichia coli O157:H7 (0.82%), Salmonella servoars (3.32%) and Listeria monocytogens (1.29%). The most heavy contamination by three food borne pathogens are in raw meat (12.96%). Top seven serotype of the 137 Salmonella isolates are S. derby, S. agona, S. enteritidis, S. reading, S. anatum. S. muenster, S. typhimurium. Serotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella isolates are different in 11 provinces. E. coli O157:H7 strains that are isolated from raw meat and cooked meat have VT2, eae, Hly genes. Salmonella and E. coli strains of multidrug resistance were isolated and identified.

Electric transition dipole moment in pre-Born-Oppenheimer molecular structure theory.

PubMed

Simmen, Benjamin; Mátyus, Edit; Reiher, Markus

2014-10-21

This paper presents the calculation of the electric transition dipole moment in a pre-Born-Oppenheimer framework. Electrons and nuclei are treated equally in terms of the parametrization of the non-relativistic total wave function, which is written as a linear combination of basis functions constructed from explicitly correlated Gaussian functions and the global vector representation. The integrals of the electric transition dipole moment are derived corresponding to these basis functions in both the length and the velocity representation. The calculations are performed in laboratory-fixed Cartesian coordinates without relying on coordinates which separate the center of mass from the translationally invariant degrees of freedom. The effect of the overall motion is eliminated through translationally invariant integral expressions. The electric transition dipole moment is calculated between two rovibronic levels of the H2 molecule assignable to the lowest rovibrational states of the X (1)Σ(g)(+) and B (1)Σ(u)(+) electronic states in the clamped-nuclei framework. This is the first evaluation of this quantity in a full quantum mechanical treatment without relying on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.

Persistent and progressive long-term lung disease in survivors of preterm birth.

PubMed

Urs, Rhea; Kotecha, Sailesh; Hall, Graham L; Simpson, Shannon J

2018-04-13

Preterm birth accounts for approximately 11% of births globally, with rates increasing across many countries. Concurrent advances in neonatal care have led to increased survival of infants of lower gestational age (GA). However, infants born <32 weeks of GA experience adverse respiratory outcomes, manifesting with increased respiratory symptoms, hospitalisation and health care utilisation into early childhood. The development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) - the chronic lung disease of prematurity - further increases the risk of poor respiratory outcomes throughout childhood, into adolescence and adulthood. Indeed, survivors of preterm birth have shown increased respiratory symptoms, altered lung structure, persistent and even declining lung function throughout childhood. The mechanisms behind this persistent and sometimes progressive lung disease are unclear, and the implications place those born preterm at increased risk of respiratory morbidity into adulthood. This review aims to summarise what is known about the long-term pulmonary outcomes of contemporary preterm birth, examine the possible mechanisms of long-term respiratory morbidity in those born preterm and discuss addressing the unknowns and potentials for targeted treatments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Treecode-based generalized Born method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhenli; Cheng, Xiaolin; Yang, Haizhao

2011-02-01

We have developed a treecode-based O(Nlog N) algorithm for the generalized Born (GB) implicit solvation model. Our treecode-based GB (tGB) is based on the GBr6 [J. Phys. Chem. B 111, 3055 (2007)], an analytical GB method with a pairwise descreening approximation for the R6 volume integral expression. The algorithm is composed of a cutoff scheme for the effective Born radii calculation, and a treecode implementation of the GB charge-charge pair interactions. Test results demonstrate that the tGB algorithm can reproduce the vdW surface based Poisson solvation energy with an average relative error less than 0.6% while providing an almost linear-scaling calculation for a representative set of 25 proteins with different sizes (from 2815 atoms to 65456 atoms). For a typical system of 10k atoms, the tGB calculation is three times faster than the direct summation as implemented in the original GBr6 model. Thus, our tGB method provides an efficient way for performing implicit solvent GB simulations of larger biomolecular systems at longer time scales.

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Among Patients in Baja California, Mexico, and Hispanic Patients in California

PubMed Central

Bojorquez, Ietza; Barnes, Richard F. W.; Flood, Jennifer; López-Gatell, Hugo; Garfein, Richard S.; Bäcker, Claudia E.; Alpuche, Celia; Vinetz, Joseph M.; Catanzaro, Antonino; Kato-Maeda, Midori

2013-01-01

Objectives. We sought to compare prevalence and determinants of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) between tuberculosis patients in Baja California, Mexico, and Hispanic patients in California. Methods. Using data from Mexico’s National TB Drug Resistance Survey (2008–2009) and California Department of Public Health TB case registry (2004–2009), we assessed differences in MDR-TB prevalence comparing (1) Mexicans in Baja California, (2) Mexico-born Hispanics in California, (3) US-born Hispanics in California, and (4) California Hispanics born elsewhere. Results. MDR-TB prevalence was 2.1% in Baja California patients, 1.6% in Mexico-born California patients, 0.4% in US-born California patients, and 2.7% in Hispanic California patients born elsewhere. In multivariate analysis, previous antituberculosis treatment was associated with MDR-TB (odds ratio [OR] = 6.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.34, 12.96); Mexico-born TB patients in California (OR = 5.08; 95% CI = 1.19, 21.75) and those born elsewhere (OR = 7.69; 95% CI = 1.71, 34.67) had greater odds of MDR-TB compared with US-born patients (reference category). Conclusions. Hispanic patients born outside the US or Mexico were more likely to have MDR-TB than were those born within these countries. Possible explanations include different levels of exposure to resistant strains and inadequate treatment. PMID:23678924

COMMUNITY LEVEL ANALYSIS OF VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE

EPA Science Inventory

Ecological community structure is particularly important in vector-borne zoonotic diseases with complex life cycles. Single population models, such as the so-called Ross-Macdonald model (Baily, 1982), have been important in developing and characterizing our current understanding...

Change-point analysis data of neonatal diffusion tensor MRI in preterm and term-born infants.

PubMed

Wu, Dan; Chang, Linda; Akazawa, Kentaro; Oishi, Kumiko; Skranes, Jon; Ernst, Thomas; Oishi, Kenichi

2017-06-01

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Mapping the Critical Gestational Age at Birth that Alters Brain Development in Preterm-born Infants using Multi-Modal MRI" (Wu et al., 2017) [1]. Brain immaturity at birth poses critical neurological risks in the preterm-born infants. We used a novel change-point model to analyze the critical gestational age at birth (GAB) that could affect postnatal development, based on diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) acquired from 43 preterm and 43 term-born infants in 126 brain regions. In the corresponding research article, we presented change-point analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivities (MD) measurements in these infants. In this article, we offered the relative changes of axonal and radial diffusivities (AD and RD) in relation to the change of FA and FA-based change-points, and we also provided the AD- and RD-based change-point results.

Strategies Used by Foreign-Born Family Therapists to Connect Across Cultural Differences: A Thematic Analysis.

PubMed

Niño, Alba; Kissil, Karni; Davey, Maureen P

2016-01-01

With the growing diversity in the United States among both clinicians and clients, many therapeutic encounters are cross-cultural, requiring providers to connect across cultural differences. Foreign-born therapists have many areas of differences to work through. Thus, exploring how foreign-born family therapists in the United States connect to their clients can uncover helpful strategies that all therapists can use to establish stronger cross-cultural therapeutic connections. A thematic analysis was conducted to understand strategies 13 foreign-born therapists used during therapeutic encounters. Four themes were identified: making therapy a human-to-human connection, dealing with stereotypes, what really matters, and flexibility. Findings suggest that developing a deep therapeutic connection using emotional attunement and human-to-human engagement is crucial for successful cross-cultural therapy. Clinical and training implications are provided. © 2015 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Humans with Tick Bites and Erythema Migrans, in the Netherlands

PubMed Central

Jahfari, Setareh; Hofhuis, Agnetha; Fonville, Manoj; van der Giessen, Joke; van Pelt, Wilfrid; Sprong, Hein

2016-01-01

Background Tick-borne diseases are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in Europe. Knowledge on the incidence and clinical presentation of other tick-borne diseases than Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis is minimal, despite the high human exposure to these pathogens through tick bites. Using molecular detection techniques, the frequency of tick-borne infections after exposure through tick bites was estimated. Methods Ticks, blood samples and questionnaires on health status were collected from patients that visited their general practitioner with a tick bite or erythema migrans in 2007 and 2008. The presence of several tick-borne pathogens in 314 ticks and 626 blood samples of this cohort were analyzed using PCR-based methods. Using multivariate logistic regression, associations were explored between pathogens detected in blood and self-reported symptoms at enrolment and during a three-month follow-up period. Results Half of the ticks removed from humans tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia miyamotoi and several Babesia species. Among 92 Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. positive ticks, 33% carried another pathogen from a different genus. In blood of sixteen out of 626 persons with tick bites or erythema migrans, DNA was detected from Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (n = 7), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (n = 5), Babesia divergens (n = 3), Borrelia miyamotoi (n = 1) and Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. (n = 1). None of these sixteen individuals reported any overt symptoms that would indicate a corresponding illness during the three-month follow-up period. No associations were found between the presence of pathogen DNA in blood and; self-reported symptoms, with pathogen DNA in the corresponding ticks (n = 8), reported tick attachment duration, tick engorgement, or antibiotic treatment at enrolment. Conclusions Based on molecular detection techniques, the probability of infection with a tick-borne pathogen other than Lyme spirochetes after a tick bite is roughly 2.4%, in the Netherlands. Similarly, among patients with erythema migrans, the probability of a co-infection with another tick-borne pathogen is approximately 2.7%. How often these infections cause disease symptoms or to what extend co-infections affect the course of Lyme borreliosis needs further investigations. PMID:27706159

Nuclear Fusion Rate Study of a Muonic Molecule via Nuclear Threshold Resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faghihi, F.; Eskandari, M. R.

This work follows our previous calculations of the ground state binding energy, size, and the effective nuclear charge of the muonic T3 molecule, using the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation. In our past articles, we showed that the system possesses two minimum positions, the first one at the muonic distance and the second at the atomic distance. Also, the symmetric planner vibrational model assumed between the two minima and the approximated potential were calculated. Following from the previous studies, we now calculate the fusion rate of the T3 muonic molecule according to the overlap integral of the resonance nuclear compound nucleus and the molecular wave functions.

Quantum gravitational contributions to the cosmic microwave background anisotropy spectrum.

PubMed

Kiefer, Claus; Krämer, Manuel

2012-01-13

We derive the primordial power spectrum of density fluctuations in the framework of quantum cosmology. For this purpose we perform a Born-Oppenheimer approximation to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for an inflationary universe with a scalar field. In this way, we first recover the scale-invariant power spectrum that is found as an approximation in the simplest inflationary models. We then obtain quantum gravitational corrections to this spectrum and discuss whether they lead to measurable signatures in the cosmic microwave background anisotropy spectrum. The nonobservation so far of such corrections translates into an upper bound on the energy scale of inflation.

Improved distorted wave theory with the localized virial conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Y. K.; Zerrad, E.

2009-12-01

The distorted wave theory is operationally improved to treat the full collision amplitude, such that the corrections to the distorted wave Born amplitude can be systematically calculated. The localized virial conditions provide the tools necessary to test the quality of successive approximations at each stage and to optimize the solution. The details of the theoretical procedure are explained in concrete terms using a collisional ionization model and variational trial functions. For the first time, adjustable parameters associated with an approximate scattering solution can be fully determined by the theory. A small number of linear parameters are introduced to examine the convergence property and the effectiveness of the new approach.

Born Oppenheimer potential energy for interaction of antihydrogen with molecular hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strasburger, Krzysztof

2005-09-01

Inelastic collisions with hydrogen molecules are claimed to be an important channel of antihydrogen (\\overlineH) losses (Armour and Zeman 1999 Int. J. Quantum Chem. 74 645). In the present work, interaction energies for the H_{2}\\--\\overlineH system in the ground state have been calculated within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The leptonic problem was solved variationally with the basis of explicitly correlated Gaussian functions. The geometry of H2 was fixed at equilibrium geometry and the \\overlineH atom approached the molecule from two directions—along or perpendicularly to the bond axis. Purely attractive potential energy curve has been obtained for the first nuclear configuration, while a local maximum (lower than the energy at infinite separation) has been found for the second one.

Non-Born-Oppenheimer calculations of the pure vibrational spectrum of HeH+.

PubMed

Pavanello, Michele; Bubin, Sergiy; Molski, Marcin; Adamowicz, Ludwik

2005-09-08

Very accurate calculations of the pure vibrational spectrum of the HeH(+) ion are reported. The method used does not assume the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, and the motion of both the electrons and the nuclei are treated on equal footing. In such an approach the vibrational motion cannot be decoupled from the motion of electrons, and thus the pure vibrational states are calculated as the states of the system with zero total angular momentum. The wave functions of the states are expanded in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions multipled by even powers of the internuclear distance. The calculations yielded twelve bound states and corresponding eleven transition energies. Those are compared with the pure vibrational transition energies extracted from the experimental rovibrational spectrum.

Born iterative reconstruction using perturbed-phase field estimates

PubMed Central

Astheimer, Jeffrey P.; Waag, Robert C.

2008-01-01

A method of image reconstruction from scattering measurements for use in ultrasonic imaging is presented. The method employs distorted-wave Born iteration but does not require using a forward-problem solver or solving large systems of equations. These calculations are avoided by limiting intermediate estimates of medium variations to smooth functions in which the propagated fields can be approximated by phase perturbations derived from variations in a geometric path along rays. The reconstruction itself is formed by a modification of the filtered-backpropagation formula that includes correction terms to account for propagation through an estimated background. Numerical studies that validate the method for parameter ranges of interest in medical applications are presented. The efficiency of this method offers the possibility of real-time imaging from scattering measurements. PMID:19062873

A study of the geographic coverage properties of a satellite borne Doppler lidar wind velocity measuring system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pate, T. H.

1982-01-01

Geographic coverage frequency and geographic shot density for a satellite borne Doppler lidar wind velocity measuring system are measured. The equations of motion of the light path on the ground were derived and a computer program devised to compute shot density and coverage frequency by latitude-longitude sections. The equations for the coverage boundaries were derived and a computer program developed to plot these boundaries, thus making it possible, after an application of a map coloring algorithm, to actually see the areas of multiple coverage. A theoretical cross-swath shot density function that gives close approximations in certain cases was also derived. This information should aid in the design of an efficient data-processing system for the Doppler lidar.

The impact and implications of undocumented immigration on individual and collective health in the United States.

PubMed

Hilfinger Messias, DeAnne K; McEwen, Marylyn Morris; Clark, Lauren

2015-01-01

A nation of immigrants, the United States currently has more foreign-born residents than any other country; approximately 28% of these foreign-born residents are undocumented immigrants--individuals who either entered or are currently residing in the country without valid immigration or residency documents. The complex and constantly changing social, political, and economic context of undocumented migration has profound effects on individuals, families, and communities. The lack of demographic and epidemiologic data on undocumented immigrants is a major public health challenge. In this article, we identify multiple dimensions of vulnerability among undocumented persons; examine how undocumentedness impacts health and health care access and utilization; and consider the professional, practice, and policy issues and implications for nurses. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of an RNA-seq Strand-Specific Library from an East Timorese Cucumber Sample Reveals a Complete Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus Genome

PubMed Central

Maina, Solomon; Edwards, Owain R.; de Almeida, Luis; Ximenes, Abel

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Analysis of an RNA-seq library from cucumber leaf RNA extracted from a fast technology for analysis of nucleic acids (FTA) card revealed the first complete genome of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) from East Timor. We compare it with 35 complete CABYV genomes from other world regions. It most resembled the genome of the South Korean isolate HD118. PMID:28495776

The growth of railway ground vibration problems - A review.

PubMed

Connolly, David P; Marecki, Grzegorz P; Kouroussis, Georges; Thalassinakis, Ioannis; Woodward, Peter K

2016-10-15

Ground-borne noise and vibration from railway lines can cause human distress/annoyance, and also negatively affect real estate property values. Therefore this paper analyses a collection of technical ground-borne noise and vibration reports, detailing commercial vibration assessments undertaken at 1604 railway track sections, in 9 countries across the world. A wide range of rail projects are considered including light rail, tram lines, underground/tunnelled lines, freight, conventional rail and high speed rail. It documents the rise in ground-borne vibration problems and trends in the prediction industry, with the aim of informing the current research area. Firstly, the reports are analysed chronologically and it is found that railway vibration is a growing global concern, and as such, assessments have become more prevalent. International assessment metrics are benchmarked and it is found that velocity decibels (VdB), vibration dose value (VDV) and peak particle velocity (PPV) are the most commonly used methods of assessment. Furthermore, to predict vibration levels, the physical measurement of frequency transfer functions is preferential to numerical modelling. Results from the reports show that ground vibration limits are exceeded in 44% of assessments, and that ground-borne noise limits are exceeded in 31%. Moreover, mitigation measures were required on approximately 50% of projects, revealing that ground-borne noise and vibration is a widespread railroad engineering challenge. To solve these problems, the most commonly used abatement strategy is a modification of the railtrack structure (active mitigation), rather than the implementation of a more passive solution in the far-field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Increasing lung cancer death rates among young women in southern and midwestern States.

PubMed

Jemal, Ahmedin; Ma, Jiemin; Rosenberg, Philip S; Siegel, Rebecca; Anderson, William F

2012-08-01

Previous studies reported that declines in age-specific lung cancer death rates among women in the United States abruptly slowed in women younger than age 50 years (ie, women born after the 1950s). However, in view of substantial geographic differences in antitobacco measures and sociodemographic factors that affect smoking prevalence, it is unknown whether this change in the trend was similar across all states. We examined female age-specific lung cancer death rates (1973 through 2007) by year of death and birth in each state by using age-period-cohort models. Cohort relative risks adjusted for age and period effects were used to compare the lung cancer death rate for a given birth cohort to a referent birth cohort (ie, the 1933 cohort herein). Age-specific lung cancer death rates declined continuously in white women in California, but the rates declined less quickly or even increased in the remaining states among women younger than age 50 years and women born after the 1950s, especially in several southern and midwestern states. For example, in some southern states (eg, Alabama), lung cancer death rates among women born in the 1960s were approximately double those of women born in the 1930s. The unfavorable lung cancer trend in white women born after circa 1950 in southern and midwestern states underscores the need for additional interventions to promote smoking cessation in these high-risk populations, which could lead to more favorable future mortality trends for lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases.

Increasing Lung Cancer Death Rates Among Young Women in Southern and Midwestern States

PubMed Central

Jemal, Ahmedin; Ma, Jiemin; Rosenberg, Philip S.; Siegel, Rebecca; Anderson, William F.

2012-01-01

Purpose Previous studies reported that declines in age-specific lung cancer death rates among women in the United States abruptly slowed in women younger than age 50 years (ie, women born after the 1950s). However, in view of substantial geographic differences in antitobacco measures and sociodemographic factors that affect smoking prevalence, it is unknown whether this change in the trend was similar across all states. Methods We examined female age-specific lung cancer death rates (1973 through 2007) by year of death and birth in each state by using age-period-cohort models. Cohort relative risks adjusted for age and period effects were used to compare the lung cancer death rate for a given birth cohort to a referent birth cohort (ie, the 1933 cohort herein). Results Age-specific lung cancer death rates declined continuously in white women in California, but the rates declined less quickly or even increased in the remaining states among women younger than age 50 years and women born after the 1950s, especially in several southern and midwestern states. For example, in some southern states (eg, Alabama), lung cancer death rates among women born in the 1960s were approximately double those of women born in the 1930s. Conclusion The unfavorable lung cancer trend in white women born after circa 1950 in southern and midwestern states underscores the need for additional interventions to promote smoking cessation in these high-risk populations, which could lead to more favorable future mortality trends for lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases. PMID:22734032

The Effect of Birth Order on Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality in Very Preterm Twins.

PubMed

Mei-Dan, Elad; Shah, Jyotsna; Lee, Shoo; Shah, Prakesh S; Murphy, Kellie E

2017-07-01

Objective  This retrospective cohort study examined the effect of birth order on neonatal morbidity and mortality in very preterm twins. Study Design  Using 2005 to 2012 data from the Canadian Neonatal Network, very preterm twins born between 24 0/7 and 32 6/7 weeks of gestation were included. Odds of morbidity and mortality of second-born cotwins compared with first-born cotwins were examined by matched-pair analysis. Outcomes were neonatal death, severe brain injury (intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or 4 or persistent periventricular echogenicity), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (> stage 2), necrotizing enterocolitis (≥ stage 2), and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Multivariable analysis was performed adjusting for confounders. Result  There were 6,636 twins (3,318 pairs) included with a mean gestational age (GA) of 28.9 weeks. A higher rate of small for GA occurred in second-born twins (10 vs. 6%). Mortality was significantly lower for second-born twins (4.3 vs. 5.3%; adjusted odds ratio: 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.95). RDS (66 vs. 60%; adjusted odds ratio: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.29-1.52) and severe retinopathy (9 vs. 7%; adjusted odds ratio: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.07-2.01) were significantly higher in second-born twins. Conclusion  Thus, while second-born twins had reduced odds of mortality, they also had increased odds of RDS and ROP. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Age of Onset of Blindness and the Development of the Semantics of Color Names.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marmor, Gloria Strauss

The relationship between age of onset of blindness and development of knowledge of color relations was examined with 16 college students who had been born totally blind, 16 who had been blinded totally at approximately 15 years of age, and 16 who had normal vision. Ss were asked to judge the similarities between color names, and judgments were…

Born in Hope and Controversy: The Challenges of Infusing Sustainability in the Campus Operations and Curriculum at Florida Gulf Coast University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wohlpart, A. James; Shepard, Joseph; Corcoran, Peter Blaze

2009-01-01

Florida Gulf Coast University, located in southwest Florida in the United States, opened its doors in 1997 with approximately 1,500 students as the tenth institution in the State University System. The site of the campus was a topic of disagreement between proponents of economic growth and development and proponents of sustainability and…

SAR Imaging through the Earth’s Ionosphere

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-06

or, otherwise, if polarimetry puts too high of a demand on storage, downlink capacity, etc.), then the approach based on the Faraday rotation is not...reflected fields for both are the same in the first Born approximation. Modern practical applications of radar polarimetry employ different empirical and...Fruneau, and J.-P. Rudant. Classification of tropical vegetation using multifrequency partial SAR polarimetry . IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters

Encouraging the next generation into land-based industries.

PubMed

Rowarth, Js

2008-12-01

Members of the Y-Generation (born between approximately 1978 and 1994) have expectations of careers, rewards and 'work-life balance' that are very different from those of previous generations. This paper discusses these differences, how the land-based industries can position in order to offer 'the career path of choice', and how doing so will be of benefit not only to employers but also to New Zealand.

Generational Differences in Knowledge Markets

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

and Generation X generations. Following Generation X, Generation Y , or the Millennial Generation, includes those born between 1979 and 1994. The...positions but their numbers are small—approximately half the Baby Boomer population—and they’ll be leading Generation Y which is three times their size...boom” resulted in the 98.8 million-strong Generation Y (Sincavage, 2004). The resulting unevenness of the population distribution by age in the

Genetic evaluation of weaning weight and probability of lambing at 1 year of age in Targhee lambs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to investigate genetic control of 120-day weaning weight and the probability of lambing at 1 year of age in Targhee ewe lambs. Records of 5,967 ewe lambs born from 1989 to 2012 and first exposed to rams for breeding at approximately 7 months of age were analyzed. Reco...

Racial Gaps in Early Childhood: Socio-Emotional Health, Developmental, and Educational Outcomes among African-American Boys. Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aratani, Yumiko; Wight, Vanessa R.; Cooper, Janice L.

2011-01-01

This study uses the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (child-B) data, collected by the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education. The EC LS-B is a nationally representative longitudinal study of approximately 11,000 children who were born in 2001. The children in the EC LS-B have been followed…

Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer risks in relation to occupational history and asbestos lung burden.

PubMed

Gilham, Clare; Rake, Christine; Burdett, Garry; Nicholson, Andrew G; Davison, Leslie; Franchini, Angelo; Carpenter, James; Hodgson, John; Darnton, Andrew; Peto, Julian

2016-05-01

We have conducted a population-based study of pleural mesothelioma patients with occupational histories and measured asbestos lung burdens in occupationally exposed workers and in the general population. The relationship between lung burden and risk, particularly at environmental exposure levels, will enable future mesothelioma rates in people born after 1965 who never installed asbestos to be predicted from their asbestos lung burdens. Following personal interview asbestos fibres longer than 5 µm were counted by transmission electron microscopy in lung samples obtained from 133 patients with mesothelioma and 262 patients with lung cancer. ORs for mesothelioma were converted to lifetime risks. Lifetime mesothelioma risk is approximately 0.02% per 1000 amphibole fibres per gram of dry lung tissue over a more than 100-fold range, from 1 to 4 in the most heavily exposed building workers to less than 1 in 500 in most of the population. The asbestos fibres counted were amosite (75%), crocidolite (18%), other amphiboles (5%) and chrysotile (2%). The approximate linearity of the dose-response together with lung burden measurements in younger people will provide reasonably reliable predictions of future mesothelioma rates in those born since 1965 whose risks cannot yet be seen in national rates. Burdens in those born more recently will indicate the continuing occupational and environmental hazards under current asbestos control regulations. Our results confirm the major contribution of amosite to UK mesothelioma incidence and the substantial contribution of non-occupational exposure, particularly in women. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Born scattering of long-period body waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalkolmo, Jörg; Friederich, Wolfgang

2000-09-01

The Born approximation is applied to the modelling of the propagation of deeply turning long-period body waves through heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle. We use an exact Green's function for a spherically symmetric earth model that also satisfies the appropriate boundary conditions at internal boundaries and the surface of the earth. The scattered displacement field is obtained by a numerical quadrature of the product of the Green's function, the exciting wavefield and structural perturbations. We study three examples: scattering of long-period P waves from a plume rising from the core-mantle boundary (CMB), generation of long-period precursors to PKIKP by strong, localized scatterers at the CMB, and propagation of core-diffracted P waves through large-scale heterogeneities in D''. The main results are as follows: (1) the signals scattered from a realistic plume are small with relative amplitudes of less than 2 per cent at a period of 20s, rendering plume detection a fairly difficult task; (2) strong heterogeneities at the CMB of appropriate size may produce observable long-period precursors to PKIKP in spite of the presence of a diffraction from the PKP-B caustic; (3) core-diffracted P waves (Pdiff) are sensitive to structure in D'' far off the geometrical ray path and also far beyond the entry and exit points of the ray into and out of D'' sensitivity kernels exhibit ring-shaped patterns of alternating sign reminiscent of Fresnel zones; (4) Pdiff also shows a non-negligible sensitivity to shear wave velocity in D'' (5) down to periods of 40s, the Born approximation is sufficiently accurate to allow waveform modelling of Pdiff through large-scale heterogeneities in D'' of up to 5 per cent.

Electron-vibration entanglement in the Born-Oppenheimer description of chemical reactions and spectroscopy.

PubMed

McKemmish, Laura K; McKenzie, Ross H; Hush, Noel S; Reimers, Jeffrey R

2015-10-14

Entanglement is sometimes regarded as the quintessential measure of the quantum nature of a system and its significance for the understanding of coupled electronic and vibrational motions in molecules has been conjectured. Previously, we considered the entanglement developed in a spatially localized diabatic basis representation of the electronic states, considering design rules for qubits in a low-temperature chemical quantum computer. We extend this to consider the entanglement developed during high-energy processes. We also consider the entanglement developed using adiabatic electronic basis, providing a novel way for interpreting effects of the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation. We consider: (i) BO entanglement in the ground-state wavefunction relevant to equilibrium thermodynamics, (ii) BO entanglement associated with low-energy wavefunctions relevant to infrared and tunneling spectroscopies, (iii) BO entanglement in high-energy eigenfunctions relevant to chemical reaction processes, and (iv) BO entanglement developed during reactive wavepacket dynamics. A two-state single-mode diabatic model descriptive of a wide range of chemical phenomena is used for this purpose. The entanglement developed by BO breakdown correlates simply with the diameter of the cusp introduced by the BO approximation, and a hierarchy appears between the various BO-breakdown correction terms, with the first-derivative correction being more important than the second-derivative correction which is more important than the diagonal correction. This simplicity is in contrast to the complexity of BO-breakdown effects on thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and kinetic properties. Further, processes poorly treated at the BO level that appear adequately treated using the Born-Huang adiabatic approximation are found to have properties that can only be described using a non-adiabatic description. For the entanglement developed between diabatic electronic states and the nuclear motion, qualitatively differently behavior is found compared to traditional properties of the density matrix and hence entanglement provides new information about system properties. For chemical reactions, this type of entanglement simply builds up as the transition-state region is crossed. It is robust to small changes in parameter values and is therefore more attractive for making quantum qubits than is the related fragile ground-state entanglement, provided that coherent motion at the transition state can be sustained.

Living with the Sins of Their Fathers: An Analysis of Self-Representation of Adolescents Born of War Rape

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erjavec, Karmen; Volcic; Zala

2010-01-01

Children born of war rape continue to be a taboo theme in many post-war societies, also in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). This study is based on in-depth interviews with eleven adolescents born of war rape in BH. The main goal is to present how these adolescents represent themselves and their life-situations. On the basis of the research we identify…

Wave function continuity and the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction at conical intersections

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meek, Garrett A.; Levine, Benjamin G., E-mail: levine@chemistry.msu.edu

2016-05-14

We demonstrate that though exact in principle, the expansion of the total molecular wave function as a sum over adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) vibronic states makes inclusion of the second-derivative nonadiabatic energy term near conical intersections practically problematic. In order to construct a well-behaved molecular wave function that has density at a conical intersection, the individual BO vibronic states in the summation must be discontinuous. When the second-derivative nonadiabatic terms are added to the Hamiltonian, singularities in the diagonal BO corrections (DBOCs) of the individual BO states arise from these discontinuities. In contrast to the well-known singularities in the first-derivative couplingsmore » at conical intersections, these singularities are non-integrable, resulting in undefined DBOC matrix elements. Though these singularities suggest that the exact molecular wave function may not have density at the conical intersection point, there is no physical basis for this constraint. Instead, the singularities are artifacts of the chosen basis of discontinuous functions. We also demonstrate that continuity of the total molecular wave function does not require continuity of the individual adiabatic nuclear wave functions. We classify nonadiabatic molecular dynamics methods according to the constraints placed on wave function continuity and analyze their formal properties. Based on our analysis, it is recommended that the DBOC be neglected when employing mixed quantum-classical methods and certain approximate quantum dynamical methods in the adiabatic representation.« less

Consequences of intrauterine growth restriction on ventilatory and thermoregulatory responses to asphyxia and hypercapnia in the newborn guinea-pig.

PubMed

Tolcos, Mary; Rees, Sandra; McGregor, Hugh; Walker, David

2002-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of prenatal growth restriction on the ventilatory and thermoregulatory responses to asphyxia and hypercapnia in the newborn guinea-pig. Spontaneously growth-restricted (SGR) animals born to unoperated dams, and growth-retarded (GR) neonates born to dams in which a uterine artery had been ligated at mid gestation, were studied and compared with control neonates. Ventilatory responses to progressive asphyxia and steady-state hypercapnia were tested at 3-6 days of age using a barometric plethysmograph. The animals were then killed and the brains prepared for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. During progressive asphyxia, SGR neonates (n = 5) had a significantly increased minute ventilation compared with both control (n = 6) and GR (n = 5) neonates. Rectal temperature fell significantly in GR and SGR neonates after progressive asphyxia, but was unchanged in control neonates. The ventilatory responses to steady-state hypercapnia were not different in the GR, SGR and control neonates. The immunoreactive expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P and met-enkephalin in the medulla was also not different between the three groups. It was concluded that prenatal growth restriction is associated with alterations in the respiratory and thermoregulatory responses to asphyxia and hypercapnia, with greater effects observed when in utero growth restriction arises spontaneously, compared with that produced experimentally over approximately the last half of gestation.

Wave function continuity and the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction at conical intersections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meek, Garrett A.; Levine, Benjamin G.

2016-05-01

We demonstrate that though exact in principle, the expansion of the total molecular wave function as a sum over adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) vibronic states makes inclusion of the second-derivative nonadiabatic energy term near conical intersections practically problematic. In order to construct a well-behaved molecular wave function that has density at a conical intersection, the individual BO vibronic states in the summation must be discontinuous. When the second-derivative nonadiabatic terms are added to the Hamiltonian, singularities in the diagonal BO corrections (DBOCs) of the individual BO states arise from these discontinuities. In contrast to the well-known singularities in the first-derivative couplings at conical intersections, these singularities are non-integrable, resulting in undefined DBOC matrix elements. Though these singularities suggest that the exact molecular wave function may not have density at the conical intersection point, there is no physical basis for this constraint. Instead, the singularities are artifacts of the chosen basis of discontinuous functions. We also demonstrate that continuity of the total molecular wave function does not require continuity of the individual adiabatic nuclear wave functions. We classify nonadiabatic molecular dynamics methods according to the constraints placed on wave function continuity and analyze their formal properties. Based on our analysis, it is recommended that the DBOC be neglected when employing mixed quantum-classical methods and certain approximate quantum dynamical methods in the adiabatic representation.

Non-Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics of the spin-forbidden reaction O(3P) + CO(X 1Σ+) → CO2(tilde X{}^1Σ _g^ +)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasper, Ahren W.; Dawes, Richard

2013-10-01

The lowest-energy singlet (1 1A') and two lowest-energy triplet (1 3A' and 1 3A″) electronic states of CO2 are characterized using dynamically weighted multireference configuration interaction (dw-MRCI+Q) electronic structure theory calculations extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. Global analytic representations of the dw-MRCI+Q/CBS singlet and triplet surfaces and of their CASSCF/aug-cc-pVQZ spin-orbit coupling surfaces are obtained via the interpolated moving least squares (IMLS) semiautomated surface fitting method. The spin-forbidden kinetics of the title reaction is calculated using the coupled IMLS surfaces and coherent switches with decay of mixing non-Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. The calculated spin-forbidden association rate coefficient (corresponding to the high pressure limit of the rate coefficient) is 7-35 times larger at 1000-5000 K than the rate coefficient used in many detailed chemical models of combustion. A dynamical analysis of the multistate trajectories is presented. The trajectory calculations reveal direct (nonstatistical) and indirect (statistical) spin-forbidden reaction mechanisms and may be used to test the suitability of transition-state-theory-like statistical methods for spin-forbidden kinetics. Specifically, we consider the appropriateness of the "double passage" approximation, of assuming statistical distributions of seam crossings, and of applications of the unified statistical model for spin-forbidden reactions.

Wave function continuity and the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction at conical intersections.

PubMed

Meek, Garrett A; Levine, Benjamin G

2016-05-14

We demonstrate that though exact in principle, the expansion of the total molecular wave function as a sum over adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) vibronic states makes inclusion of the second-derivative nonadiabatic energy term near conical intersections practically problematic. In order to construct a well-behaved molecular wave function that has density at a conical intersection, the individual BO vibronic states in the summation must be discontinuous. When the second-derivative nonadiabatic terms are added to the Hamiltonian, singularities in the diagonal BO corrections (DBOCs) of the individual BO states arise from these discontinuities. In contrast to the well-known singularities in the first-derivative couplings at conical intersections, these singularities are non-integrable, resulting in undefined DBOC matrix elements. Though these singularities suggest that the exact molecular wave function may not have density at the conical intersection point, there is no physical basis for this constraint. Instead, the singularities are artifacts of the chosen basis of discontinuous functions. We also demonstrate that continuity of the total molecular wave function does not require continuity of the individual adiabatic nuclear wave functions. We classify nonadiabatic molecular dynamics methods according to the constraints placed on wave function continuity and analyze their formal properties. Based on our analysis, it is recommended that the DBOC be neglected when employing mixed quantum-classical methods and certain approximate quantum dynamical methods in the adiabatic representation.

Increasing Prevalence of Myopia in Europe and the Impact of Education

PubMed Central

Williams, Katie M.; Bertelsen, Geir; Cumberland, Phillippa; Wolfram, Christian; Verhoeven, Virginie J.M.; Anastasopoulos, Eleftherios; Buitendijk, Gabriëlle H.S.; Cougnard-Grégoire, Audrey; Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine; Erke, Maja Gran; Hogg, Ruth; Höhn, René; Hysi, Pirro; Khawaja, Anthony P.; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Ried, Janina; Vingerling, Johannes R.; Bron, Alain; Dartigues, Jean-François; Fletcher, Astrid; Hofman, Albert; Kuijpers, Robert W.A.M.; Luben, Robert N.; Oxele, Konrad; Topouzis, Fotis; von Hanno, Therese; Mirshahi, Alireza; Foster, Paul J.; van Duijn, Cornelia M.; Pfeiffer, Norbert; Delcourt, Cécile; Klaver, Caroline C.W.; Rahi, Jugnoo; Hammond, Christopher J.

2015-01-01

Purpose To investigate whether myopia is becoming more common across Europe and explore whether increasing education levels, an important environmental risk factor for myopia, might explain any temporal trend. Design Meta-analysis of population-based, cross-sectional studies from the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) Consortium. Participants The E3 Consortium is a collaborative network of epidemiological studies of common eye diseases in adults across Europe. Refractive data were available for 61 946 participants from 15 population-based studies performed between 1990 and 2013; participants had a range of median ages from 44 to 78 years. Methods Noncycloplegic refraction, year of birth, and highest educational level achieved were obtained for all participants. Myopia was defined as a mean spherical equivalent ≤−0.75 diopters. A random-effects meta-analysis of age-specific myopia prevalence was performed, with sequential analyses stratified by year of birth and highest level of educational attainment. Main Outcome Measures Variation in age-specific myopia prevalence for differing years of birth and educational level. Results There was a significant cohort effect for increasing myopia prevalence across more recent birth decades; age-standardized myopia prevalence increased from 17.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.6–18.1) to 23.5% (95% CI, 23.2–23.7) in those born between 1910 and 1939 compared with 1940 and 1979 (P = 0.03). Education was significantly associated with myopia; for those completing primary, secondary, and higher education, the age-standardized prevalences were 25.4% (CI, 25.0–25.8), 29.1% (CI, 28.8–29.5), and 36.6% (CI, 36.1–37.2), respectively. Although more recent birth cohorts were more educated, this did not fully explain the cohort effect. Compared with the reference risk of participants born in the 1920s with only primary education, higher education or being born in the 1960s doubled the myopia prevalence ratio–2.43 (CI, 1.26–4.17) and 2.62 (CI, 1.31–5.00), respectively—whereas individuals born in the 1960s and completing higher education had approximately 4 times the reference risk: a prevalence ratio of 3.76 (CI, 2.21–6.57). Conclusions Myopia is becoming more common in Europe; although education levels have increased and are associated with myopia, higher education seems to be an additive rather than explanatory factor. Increasing levels of myopia carry significant clinical and economic implications, with more people at risk of the sight-threatening complications associated with high myopia. PMID:25983215

Increasing Prevalence of Myopia in Europe and the Impact of Education.

PubMed

Williams, Katie M; Bertelsen, Geir; Cumberland, Phillippa; Wolfram, Christian; Verhoeven, Virginie J M; Anastasopoulos, Eleftherios; Buitendijk, Gabriëlle H S; Cougnard-Grégoire, Audrey; Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine; Erke, Maja Gran; Hogg, Ruth; Höhn, René; Hysi, Pirro; Khawaja, Anthony P; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Ried, Janina; Vingerling, Johannes R; Bron, Alain; Dartigues, Jean-François; Fletcher, Astrid; Hofman, Albert; Kuijpers, Robert W A M; Luben, Robert N; Oxele, Konrad; Topouzis, Fotis; von Hanno, Therese; Mirshahi, Alireza; Foster, Paul J; van Duijn, Cornelia M; Pfeiffer, Norbert; Delcourt, Cécile; Klaver, Caroline C W; Rahi, Jugnoo; Hammond, Christopher J

2015-07-01

To investigate whether myopia is becoming more common across Europe and explore whether increasing education levels, an important environmental risk factor for myopia, might explain any temporal trend. Meta-analysis of population-based, cross-sectional studies from the European Eye Epidemiology (E(3)) Consortium. The E(3) Consortium is a collaborative network of epidemiological studies of common eye diseases in adults across Europe. Refractive data were available for 61 946 participants from 15 population-based studies performed between 1990 and 2013; participants had a range of median ages from 44 to 78 years. Noncycloplegic refraction, year of birth, and highest educational level achieved were obtained for all participants. Myopia was defined as a mean spherical equivalent ≤-0.75 diopters. A random-effects meta-analysis of age-specific myopia prevalence was performed, with sequential analyses stratified by year of birth and highest level of educational attainment. Variation in age-specific myopia prevalence for differing years of birth and educational level. There was a significant cohort effect for increasing myopia prevalence across more recent birth decades; age-standardized myopia prevalence increased from 17.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.6-18.1) to 23.5% (95% CI, 23.2-23.7) in those born between 1910 and 1939 compared with 1940 and 1979 (P = 0.03). Education was significantly associated with myopia; for those completing primary, secondary, and higher education, the age-standardized prevalences were 25.4% (CI, 25.0-25.8), 29.1% (CI, 28.8-29.5), and 36.6% (CI, 36.1-37.2), respectively. Although more recent birth cohorts were more educated, this did not fully explain the cohort effect. Compared with the reference risk of participants born in the 1920s with only primary education, higher education or being born in the 1960s doubled the myopia prevalence ratio-2.43 (CI, 1.26-4.17) and 2.62 (CI, 1.31-5.00), respectively-whereas individuals born in the 1960s and completing higher education had approximately 4 times the reference risk: a prevalence ratio of 3.76 (CI, 2.21-6.57). Myopia is becoming more common in Europe; although education levels have increased and are associated with myopia, higher education seems to be an additive rather than explanatory factor. Increasing levels of myopia carry significant clinical and economic implications, with more people at risk of the sight-threatening complications associated with high myopia. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Molecular evolution of the tick-borne encephalitis and Powassan viruses].

PubMed

Subbotina, E L; Loktev, V B

2012-01-01

The problem of emerging viruses, their genetic diversity and viral evolution in nature are attracting more attention. The phylogenetic analysis and evaluationary rate estimation were made for pathogenic flaviviruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Powassan (PV) circulated in natural foci in Russia. 47 nucleotide sequences of encoded protein E of the TBEV and 17 sequences of NS5 genome region of the PV have been used. It was found that the rate of accumulation of nucleotide substitutions for E genome region of TBEV was approximately 1.4 x 10(-4) and 5.4 x 10(-5) substitutions per site per year for NS5 genome region of PV. The ratio of non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions to synonymous substitution (dN/dS) for viral sequences were estimated of 0.049 for TBEV and 0.098 for PV. Maximum value dN/dS was 0.201-0.220 for sub-cluster of Russian and Canadian strains of PV and the minimum - 0.024 for cluster of Russian and Chinese strains of Far Eastern genotype TBEV. Evaluation of time intervals of evolutionary events associated with these viruses showed that European subtype TBEV are diverged from all-TBEV ancestor within approximately 2750 years and the Siberian and Far Eastern subtypes are emerged about 2250 years ago. The PV was introduced into natural foci of the Primorsky Krai of Russia only about 70 years ago and PV is a very close to Canadian strains of PV. Evolutionary picture for PV in North America is similar to evolution of Siberian and Far Eastern subtypes TBEV in Asia. The divergence time for main genetic groups of TBEV and PV are correlated with historical periods of warming and cooling. These allow to propose a hypothesis that climate changes were essential to the evolution of the flaviviruses in the past millenniums.

Analysis of an RNA-seq Strand-Specific Library from an East Timorese Cucumber Sample Reveals a Complete Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus Genome.

PubMed

Maina, Solomon; Edwards, Owain R; de Almeida, Luis; Ximenes, Abel; Jones, Roger A C

2017-05-11

Analysis of an RNA-seq library from cucumber leaf RNA extracted from a fast technology for analysis of nucleic acids (FTA) card revealed the first complete genome of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) from East Timor. We compare it with 35 complete CABYV genomes from other world regions. It most resembled the genome of the South Korean isolate HD118. Copyright © 2017 Maina et al.

Suicide among immigrant population in Norway: a national register-based study.

PubMed

Puzo, Q; Mehlum, L; Qin, P

2017-06-01

To investigate differences in suicide risk among immigrant population in Norway compared with native Norwegians, with respect to associated country group of origin. Based on the entire national population, a nested case-control design was adopted using Norwegian national longitudinal registers to obtain 23 073 suicide cases having occurred in 1969-2012 and 373 178 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) for suicide were estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis adjusting for socio-economic factors. Compared with native Norwegians, suicide risk was significantly lower in first- and second-generation immigrants but higher in Norwegian-born with one foreign-born parent and foreign-born individuals with at least one Norwegian-born parent. When stratifying data by country group of origin, first-generation immigrants had lower ORs in most of the strata. Subjects born in Asia and in Central and South America with at least one Norwegian-born parent had a significantly higher risk of suicide. The observed results remained mostly unchanged in the analyses controlled for socio-economic status. Suicide risk is lower in first- and second-generation immigrants but higher in subjects born in Norway with one foreign-born parent and those born abroad with at least one Norwegian-born parent, with notable differences by country group of origin. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Direct Measurement of Wave Kernels in Time-Distance Helioseismology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duvall, T. L., Jr.

2006-01-01

Solar f-mode waves are surface-gravity waves which propagate horizontally in a thin layer near the photosphere with a dispersion relation approximately that of deep water waves. At the power maximum near 3 mHz, the wavelength of 5 Mm is large enough for various wave scattering properties to be observable. Gizon and Birch (2002,ApJ,571,966)h ave calculated kernels, in the Born approximation, for the sensitivity of wave travel times to local changes in damping rate and source strength. In this work, using isolated small magnetic features as approximate point-sourc'e scatterers, such a kernel has been measured. The observed kernel contains similar features to a theoretical damping kernel but not for a source kernel. A full understanding of the effect of small magnetic features on the waves will require more detailed modeling.

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in foreign-born persons living in San Francisco.

PubMed

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G; Grinsdale, Jennifer A; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L Masae; Hopewell, Philip C; Kato-Maeda, Midori

2013-05-01

In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions.

Common mental disorders in primary health care: differences between Latin American-born and Spanish-born residents in Madrid, Spain.

PubMed

Salinero-Fort, Miguel A; Jiménez-García, Rodrigo; de Burgos-Lunar, Carmen; Chico-Moraleja, Rosa M; Gómez-Campelo, Paloma

2015-03-01

Our main objective was to estimate and compare the prevalence of the most common mental disorders between Latin American-born and Spanish-born patients in Madrid, Spain. We also analyzed sociodemographic factors associated with these disorders and the role of the length of residency for Latin American-born patients. We performed a cross-sectional study to compare Latin American-born (n = 691) and Spanish-born outpatients (n = 903) from 15 primary health care centers in Madrid, Spain. The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used to diagnose common mental disorders. Sociodemographic, psychosocial, and migration data were collected. We detected common mental disorders in 49.9 % (95 % CI = 47.4-52.3 %) of the total sample. Values were higher in Latin American-born patients than in Spanish-born patients for any disorder (57.8 % vs. 43.9 %, p < 0.001), mood disorders (40.1 % vs. 34.8 %, p = 0.030), anxiety disorders (20.5 % vs. 15.3 %, p = 0.006), and somatoform disorders (18.1 % vs. 6.6 %, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in prevalence between Latin American-born patients with less than 5 years of residency and Latin American-born residents with 5 or more years of residency. Finally, multivariate analysis shows that gender, having/not having children, monthly income, geographic origin, and social support were significantly associated with several disorders. The sample was neither population-based nor representative of the general immigrant or autochthonous populations. The study provides further evidence of the high prevalence of common mental disorders in Latin American-born patients in Spain compared with Spanish-born patients.

Genetic correlations between body weight change and reproduction traits in Merino ewes depend on age.

PubMed

Rose, G; Mulder, H A; van der Werf, J H J; Thompson, A N; van Arendonk, J A M

2014-08-01

Merino sheep in Australia experience periods of variable feed supply. Merino sheep can be bred to be more resilient to this variation by losing less BW when grazing poor quality pasture and gaining more BW when grazing good quality pasture. Therefore, selection on BW change might be economically attractive but correlations with other traits in the breeding objective need to be known. The genetic correlations (rg) between BW, BW change, and reproduction were estimated using records from approximately 7,350 fully pedigreed Merino ewes managed at Katanning in Western Australia. Number of lambs and total weight of lambs born and weaned were measured on approximately 5,300 2-yr-old ewes, approximately 4,900 3-yr-old ewes, and approximately 3,600 4-yr-old ewes. On a proportion of these ewes BW change was measured: approximately 1,950 2-yr-old ewes, approximately 1,500 3-yr-old ewes, and approximately 1,100 4-yr-old ewes. The BW measurements were for 3 periods. The first period was during mating period over 42 d on poor pasture. The second period was during pregnancy over 90 d for ewes that got pregnant on poor and medium quality pasture. The third period was during lactation over 130 d for ewes that weaned a lamb on good quality pasture. Genetic correlations between weight change and reproduction were estimated within age classes. Genetic correlations were tested to be significantly greater magnitude than 0 using likelihood ratio tests. Nearly all BW had significant positive genetic correlations with all reproduction traits. In 2-yr-old ewes, BW change during the mating period had a positive genetic correlation with number of lambs weaned (rg = 0.58); BW change during pregnancy had a positive genetic correlation with total weight of lambs born (rg = 0.33) and a negative genetic correlation with number of lambs weaned (rg = -0.49). All other genetic correlations were not significantly greater magnitude than 0 but estimates of genetic correlations for 3-yr-old ewes were generally consistent with these findings. The direction of the genetic correlations mostly coincided with the energy requirements of the ewes and the stage of maturity of the ewes. In conclusion, optimized selection strategies on BW changes to increase resilience will depend on the genetic correlations with reproduction and are dependent on age.

Bilateral cleft lip and palate: A morphometric analysis of facial skeletal form using cone beam computed tomography.

PubMed

Starbuck, John M; Ghoneima, Ahmed; Kula, Katherine

2015-07-01

Bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) is caused by a lack of merging of maxillary and nasal facial prominences during development and morphogenesis. BCLP is associated with congenital defects of the oronasal facial region that can impair ingestion, mastication, speech, and dentofacial development. Using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, 7- to 18-year old individuals born with BCLP (n = 15) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 15) were retrospectively assessed. Coordinate values of three-dimensional facial skeletal anatomical landmarks (n = 32) were measured from each CBCT image. Data were evaluated using principal coordinates analysis (PCOORD) and Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA). PCOORD axes 1-3 explain approximately 45% of the morphological variation between samples, and specific patterns of morphological differences were associated with each axis. Approximately, 30% of facial skeletal measures significantly differ by confidence interval testing (α = 0.10) between samples. While significant form differences occur across the facial skeleton, strong patterns of differences are localized to the lateral and superioinferior aspects of the nasal aperture. In conclusion, the BCLP deformity significantly alters facial skeletal morphology of the midface and oronasal regions of the face, but morphological differences were also found in the upper facial skeleton and to a lesser extent, the lower facial skeleton. This pattern of strong differences in the oronasal region of the facial skeleton combined with differences across the rest of the facial complex underscores the idea that bones of the craniofacial skeleton are integrated. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Critical Discourse Analysis on Chinese Racial Pride Underlying the Malaysian National Identity in "Proud to Be Born a Chinese"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cyn, Khoo Wei; Ganapathy, Malini

2016-01-01

The ideology of Chinese racial pride in an online essay "Proud to be born a Chinese" by Dr. Chan-Lui Lee is described and analysed by using the sociocognitive approach to critical discourse analysis (CDA). The research design is based on the notion that Chinese racial pride is a tool to persuade Chinese Malaysians to prioritise their…

Changing geographic ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogens: drivers, mechanisms and consequences for pathogen diversity

PubMed Central

Ogden, Nick H.; Mechai, Samir; Margos, Gabriele

2013-01-01

The geographic ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are changing due to global and local environmental (including climatic) changes. In this review we explore current knowledge of the drivers for changes in the ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogen species and strains via effects on their basic reproduction number (R0), and the mechanisms of dispersal that allow ticks and tick-borne pathogens to invade suitable environments. Using the expanding geographic distribution of the vectors and agent of Lyme disease as an example we then investigate what could be expected of the diversity of tick-borne pathogens during the process of range expansion, and compare this with what is currently being observed. Lastly we explore how historic population and range expansions and contractions could be reflected in the phylogeography of ticks and tick-borne pathogens seen in recent years, and conclude that combined study of currently changing tick and tick-borne pathogen ranges and diversity, with phylogeographic analysis, may help us better predict future patterns of invasion and diversity. PMID:24010124

Changing geographic ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogens: drivers, mechanisms and consequences for pathogen diversity.

PubMed

Ogden, Nick H; Mechai, Samir; Margos, Gabriele

2013-01-01

The geographic ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are changing due to global and local environmental (including climatic) changes. In this review we explore current knowledge of the drivers for changes in the ranges of ticks and tick-borne pathogen species and strains via effects on their basic reproduction number (R 0), and the mechanisms of dispersal that allow ticks and tick-borne pathogens to invade suitable environments. Using the expanding geographic distribution of the vectors and agent of Lyme disease as an example we then investigate what could be expected of the diversity of tick-borne pathogens during the process of range expansion, and compare this with what is currently being observed. Lastly we explore how historic population and range expansions and contractions could be reflected in the phylogeography of ticks and tick-borne pathogens seen in recent years, and conclude that combined study of currently changing tick and tick-borne pathogen ranges and diversity, with phylogeographic analysis, may help us better predict future patterns of invasion and diversity.

Dynamic Structure Factor: An Introduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturm, K.

1993-02-01

The doubly differential cross-section for weak inelastic scattering of waves or particles by manybody systems is derived in Born approximation and expressed in terms of the dynamic structure factor according to van Hove. The application of this very general scheme to scattering of neutrons, x-rays and high-energy electrons is discussed briefly. The dynamic structure factor, which is the space and time Fourier transform of the density-density correlation function, is a property of the many-body system independent of the external probe and carries information on the excitation spectrum of the system. The relation of the electronic structure factor to the density-density response function defined in linear-response theory is shown using the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. This is important for calculations, since the response function can be calculated approximately from the independent-particle response function in self-consistent field approximations, such as the random-phase approximation or the local-density approximation of the density functional theory. Since the density-density response function also determines the dielectric function, the dynamic structure can be expressed by the dielectric function.

Contact investigation outcomes of Canadian-born adults with tuberculosis in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Alberta.

PubMed

Eisenbeis, Lisa; Gao, Zhiwei; Heffernan, Courtney; Yacoub, Wadieh; Long, Richard; Verma, Geetika

2016-06-27

Contact investigations are a critical component of tuberculosis control in high-income countries. However, the relative success of conventional methods by population group and place of residence is unknown. This study compares outcomes of contact investigations of Canadian-born Indigenous tuberculosis cases living on- and off-reserve with other Canadian-born cases. In a retrospective analysis, Canadian-born adult culture-positive pulmonary TB cases (2001-2010) were identified. Characteristics of source cases and their contacts were compared by population group. Outcomes of contact investigations, including completion of recommended investigations and preventive therapy, were compared in multivariable analysis. Of 171 cases of tuberculosis identified, 49 (29%) were Indigenous on-reserve, 62 (36%) Indigenous off-reserve, and 60 (35%) non-Indigenous or Canadian-born, "other". Indigenous people had more contacts identified per case compared to non-Indigenous patients. Case population group and smear status were the main predictors of the success of contact investigations. Of those recommended preventive therapy, close contacts of Indigenous cases on-reserve had the highest rate of completion, at 54%, vs. 41% and 37% for close contacts of Indigenous living off-reserve and Canadian-born "other" respectively (p = 0.02). Contacts of Indigenous cases living off-reserve had the greatest delay in assessment and the lowest rates of completion of assessment and preventive therapy. In multivariable analysis, population group, smear status of source case and proximity of contact were predictors of preventive therapy acceptance and/or completion. Significant differences in outcomes of contact investigations were observed between population groups. The higher priority of contacts of smear-positive cases appears to influence efficiency of service delivery, regardless of population group. Jurisdictional differences in program delivery, resource availability and perceived risk of transmission likely influence outcomes of contact investigations.

Experimental and theoretical triple differential cross sections for electron-impact ionization of Ar (3p) for equal energy final state electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amami, Sadek; Ozer, Zehra N.; Dogan, Mevlut; Yavuz, Murat; Varol, Onur; Madison, Don

2016-09-01

There have been several studies of electron-impact ionization of inert gases for asymmetric final state energy sharing and normally one electron has an energy significantly higher than the other. However, there have been relatively few studies examining equal energy final state electrons. Here we report experimental and theoretical triple differential cross sections for electron impact ionization of Ar (3p) for equal energy sharing of the outgoing electrons. Previous experimental results combined with some new measurements are compared with distorted wave born approximation (DWBA) results, DWBA results using the Ward-Macek (WM) approximation for the post collision interaction (PCI), and three-body distorted wave (3DW) which includes PCI without approximation. The results show that it is crucially important to include PCI in the calculation particularly for lower energies and that the WM approximation is valid only for high energies. The 3DW, on the other hand, is in reasonably good agreement with data down to fairly low energies.

Pseudostate methods and differential cross sections for antiproton ionization of atomic hydrogen and helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGovern, M.; Walters, H. R. J.; Assafrao, D.

2010-03-15

A relaxed form of a recent impact parameter coupled pseudostate approximation of McGovern et al. [Phys. Rev. A 79, 042707 (2009)] for calculating differential ionization cross sections is proposed. This greatly eases the computational burden in cases where a range of ejected electron energies has to be considered. The relaxed approximation is tested against exact first Born calculations for antiproton impact on H and nonperturbatively for the highly nonperturbative system of Au{sup 53+} incident upon He. The approximation performs well in these tests. It is shown how, with a little further approximation, the relaxed theory leads to a widely usedmore » prescription for the total ionization cross section. Results for differential ionization of H and He by antiprotons are presented. These reveal the growing dominance of the interaction between the antiproton and the target nucleus at low impact energies and show the changing importance of the role of the postcollisional interaction between the antiproton and the ejected electron.« less

Birth order and physical fitness in early adulthood: evidence from Swedish military conscription data.

PubMed

Barclay, Kieron; Myrskylä, Mikko

2014-12-01

Physical fitness at young adult ages is an important determinant of physical health, cognitive ability, and mortality. However, few studies have addressed the relationship between early life conditions and physical fitness in adulthood. An important potential factor influencing physical fitness is birth order, which prior studies associate with several early- and later-life outcomes such as height and mortality. This is the first study to analyse the association between birth order and physical fitness in late adolescence. We use military conscription data on 218,873 Swedish males born between 1965 and 1977. Physical fitness is measured by a test of maximal working capacity, a measure of cardiovascular fitness closely related to V02max. We use linear regression with sibling fixed effects, meaning a within-family comparison, to eliminate the confounding influence of unobserved factors that vary between siblings. To understand the mechanism we further analyse whether the association between birth order and physical fitness varies by sibship size, parental socioeconomic status, birth cohort or length of the birth interval. We find a strong, negative and monotonic relationship between birth order and physical fitness. For example, third-born children have a maximal working capacity approximately 0.1 (p < 0.000) standard deviations lower than first-born children. The association exists both in small (3 or less children) and large families (4 or more children), in high and low socioeconomic status families, and amongst cohorts born in the 1960s and the 1970s. While in the whole population the birth order effect does not depend on the length of the birth intervals, in two-child families a longer birth interval strengthens the advantage of the first-born. Our results illustrate the importance of birth order for physical fitness, and suggest that the first-born advantage already arises in late adolescence. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Instability of quantum equilibrium in Bohm's dynamics

PubMed Central

Colin, Samuel; Valentini, Antony

2014-01-01

We consider Bohm's second-order dynamics for arbitrary initial conditions in phase space. In principle, Bohm's dynamics allows for ‘extended’ non-equilibrium, with initial momenta not equal to the gradient of phase of the wave function (as well as initial positions whose distribution departs from the Born rule). We show that extended non-equilibrium does not relax in general and is in fact unstable. This is in sharp contrast with de Broglie's first-order dynamics, for which non-standard momenta are not allowed and which shows an efficient relaxation to the Born rule for positions. On this basis, we argue that, while de Broglie's dynamics is a tenable physical theory, Bohm's dynamics is not. In a world governed by Bohm's dynamics, there would be no reason to expect to see an effective quantum theory today (even approximately), in contradiction with observation. PMID:25383020

Geometric integration in Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Odell, Anders; Delin, Anna; Johansson, Börje; Cawkwell, Marc J; Niklasson, Anders M N

2011-12-14

Geometric integration schemes for extended Lagrangian self-consistent Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics, including a weak dissipation to remove numerical noise, are developed and analyzed. The extended Lagrangian framework enables the geometric integration of both the nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom. This provides highly efficient simulations that are stable and energy conserving even under incomplete and approximate self-consistent field (SCF) convergence. We investigate three different geometric integration schemes: (1) regular time reversible Verlet, (2) second order optimal symplectic, and (3) third order optimal symplectic. We look at energy conservation, accuracy, and stability as a function of dissipation, integration time step, and SCF convergence. We find that the inclusion of dissipation in the symplectic integration methods gives an efficient damping of numerical noise or perturbations that otherwise may accumulate from finite arithmetics in a perfect reversible dynamics. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

First Principle Predictions of Isotopic Shifts in H2O

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwenke, David W.; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We compute isotope independent first and second order corrections to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for water and use them to predict isotopic shifts. For the diagonal correction, we use icMRCI wavefunctions and derivatives with respect to mass dependent, internal coordinates to generate the mass independent correction functions. For the non-adiabatic correction, we use scaled SCF/CIS wave functions and a generalization of the Handy method to obtain mass independent correction functions. We find that including the non-adiabatic correction gives significantly improved results compared to just including the diagonal correction when the Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surface is optimized for H2O-16. The agreement with experimental results for deuterium and tritium containing isotopes is nearly as good as our best empirical correction, however, the present correction is expected to be more reliable for higher, uncharacterized levels.

Acculturation and sleep among a multiethnic sample of women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

PubMed

Hale, Lauren; Troxel, Wendy M; Kravitz, Howard M; Hall, Martica H; Matthews, Karen A

2014-02-01

Mexican immigrants to the United States report longer sleep duration and fewer sleep complaints than their US-born counterparts. To investigate whether this effect extends to other immigrant groups, we examined whether the prevalence of self-reported sleep complaints is higher among US-born Hispanic/Latina, Chinese, and Japanese immigrant women compared to their first-generation immigrant ethnic counterparts as well as to US-born whites. We examined whether these associations persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics and whether acculturation mediated the effects. Cross-sectional observational study. Multisite study in Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Newark, NJ. Hispanic/Latina (n = 196), Chinese (n = 228), Japanese (n = 271) and non-Hispanic white (n = 485) women (mean age = 46 y, range 42-52 y) participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN); 410 or 59.0% of the nonwhites were first-generation immigrants. None. Questionnaires were used to assess sleep complaints, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, language acculturation (use of English language), and sociodemographic and health variables. Approximately 25% of first-generation immigrant women reported sleep complaints compared to 37% of those who were US-born nonwhites and 42% of US-born whites. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that US-born nonwhites had higher odds of reporting any sleep complaints (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-3.0), compared to first-generation immigrants. Women with higher levels of language acculturation had greater odds of reporting any sleep complaint compared to those with less language acculturation. Adjustment for language acculturation mediated 40.4% (95% CI 28.5-69.8) of the association between immigrant status and any sleep complaint. When results were stratified by race/ethnicity, significant mediation effects of acculturation were only found for Hispanic/Latina and Japanese women, but not for Chinese women. US-born Hispanic/Latina, Chinese, and Japanese immigrants were more likely to report sleep complaints than their first-generation ethnic counterparts, a finding largely explained by language acculturation and unmeasured factors associated with language acculturation.

Analysis of early life influences on cognitive development in childhood using multilevel ordinal models

PubMed Central

Li, Leah

2012-01-01

Summary Studies of cognitive development in children are often based on tests designed for specific ages. Examination of the changes of these scores over time may not be meaningful. This paper investigates the influence of early life factors on cognitive development using maths and reading test scores at ages 7, 11, and 16 years in a British birth cohort born in 1958. The distributions of these test scores differ between ages, for example, 20% participants scored the top mark in the reading test at 7 and the distribution of reading score at 16 is heavily skewed. In this paper, we group participants into 5 ordered categories, approximately 20% in each category according to their test scores at each age. Multilevel models for a repeated ordinal outcome are applied to relate the ordinal scale of maths and reading ability to early life factors. PMID:22661923

Spectroscopic study of uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil: Hydrogen bond interactions in crystals and ab-initio molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Brela, Mateusz Z; Boczar, Marek; Malec, Leszek M; Wójcik, Marek J; Nakajima, Takahito

2018-05-15

Hydrogen bond networks in uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil were studied by ab initio molecular dynamics as well as analysis of the orbital interactions. The power spectra calculated by ab initio molecular dynamics for atoms involved in hydrogen bonds were analyzed. We calculated spectra by using anharmonic approximation based on the autocorrelation function of the atom positions obtained from the Born-Oppenheimer simulations. Our results show the differences between hydrogen bond networks in uracil and its methylated derivatives. The studied methylated derivatives, 1-methyluracil as well as 1-methyl-4-thiouracil, form dimeric structures in the crystal phase, while uracil does not form that kind of structures. The presence of sulfur atom instead oxygen atom reflects weakness of the hydrogen bonds that build dimers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The HEROES Balloon-Borne Hard X-Ray Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson-Hodge, C.; Gaskin, J.; Christe, S.; Shih, A. Y.; Swartz, D. A.; Tennant, A. F.; Ramsey, B.; Kilaru, K.

2014-01-01

The High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun (HEROES) payload flew on a balloon from Ft. Sumner, NM, September 21-22, 2013. HEROES is sensitive from about 20-75 keV and comprises 8 optics modules (HPD approximately 33" as flown), each consisting of 13-14 nickel replicated optics shells and 8 matching Xenon-filled position-sensitive proportional counter detectors (dE/E=0.05 @ 60 keV). Our targets included the Sun, the Crab Nebula and pulsar and the black hole binary GRS 1915+105. HEROES was pointed using a day/night star camera system for astrophysical observations and a newly developed Solar Aspect System for solar observations (with a shutter protecting the star camera.) We have successfully detected the Crab Nebula. Analyses for GRS 1915+105 and the Sun are ongoing. In this presentation, I will describe the HEROES mission, the data analysis pipeline and calibrations, preliminary results, and plans for follow-on missions.

Lattice dynamical and dielectric properties of L-amino acids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tulip, P. R.; Clark, S. J.

2006-08-01

We present the results of ab initio calculations of the lattice dynamical and dielectric properties of the L-amino acids L-alanine, L-leucine, and L-isoleucine. Normal-mode frequencies and dielectric permittivity tensors are obtained using density-functional perturbation theory implemented within the plane-wave pseudopotential approximation. IR spectra are calculated and are used to analyze the effects of intermolecular interactions and zwitterionization upon the lattice dynamics. It is found that vibronic modes associated with the carboxy and amino functional groups undergo modification from their free-molecule values due to the presence of hydrogen bonds. The role of macroscopic electric fields set up by zone-center normal modes in the lattice dynamics is investigated by analysis of the Born effective charge. Calculated permittivity tensors are found to be greater than would be obtained by a naive use of the isolated molecular values, indicating the role of intermolecular interactions in increasing molecular polarizability.

Isospin Character of Low-Lying Pygmy Dipole States in Pb208 via Inelastic Scattering of O17 Ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crespi, F. C. L.; Bracco, A.; Nicolini, R.; Mengoni, D.; Pellegri, L.; Lanza, E. G.; Leoni, S.; Maj, A.; Kmiecik, M.; Avigo, R.; Benzoni, G.; Blasi, N.; Boiano, C.; Bottoni, S.; Brambilla, S.; Camera, F.; Ceruti, S.; Giaz, A.; Million, B.; Morales, A. I.; Vandone, V.; Wieland, O.; Bednarczyk, P.; Ciemała, M.; Grebosz, J.; Krzysiek, M.; Mazurek, K.; Zieblinski, M.; Bazzacco, D.; Bellato, M.; Birkenbach, B.; Bortolato, D.; Calore, E.; Cederwall, B.; Charles, L.; de Angelis, G.; Désesquelles, P.; Eberth, J.; Farnea, E.; Gadea, A.; Görgen, A.; Gottardo, A.; Isocrate, R.; Jolie, J.; Jungclaus, A.; Karkour, N.; Korten, W.; Menegazzo, R.; Michelagnoli, C.; Molini, P.; Napoli, D. R.; Pullia, A.; Recchia, F.; Reiter, P.; Rosso, D.; Sahin, E.; Salsac, M. D.; Siebeck, B.; Siem, S.; Simpson, J.; Söderström, P.-A.; Stezowski, O.; Theisen, Ch.; Ur, C.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.

2014-07-01

The properties of pygmy dipole states in Pb208 were investigated using the Pb208(O17, O17'γ) reaction at 340 MeV and measuring the γ decay with high resolution with the AGATA demonstrator array. Cross sections and angular distributions of the emitted γ rays and of the scattered particles were measured. The results are compared with (γ, γ') and (p, p') data. The data analysis with the distorted wave Born approximation approach gives a good description of the elastic scattering and of the inelastic excitation of the 2+ and 3- states. For the dipole transitions a form factor obtained by folding a microscopically calculated transition density was used for the first time. This has allowed us to extract the isoscalar component of the 1- excited states from 4 to 8 MeV.

Controlling Thermodynamic Properties of Ferromagnetic Group-IV Graphene-Like Nanosheets by Dilute Charged Impurity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarmohammadi, Mohsen; Mirabbaszadeh, Kavoos

2017-05-01

Using the Kane-Mele Hamiltonian, Dirac theory and self-consistent Born approximation, we investigate the effect of dilute charged impurity on the electronic heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of two-dimensional ferromagnetic honeycomb structure of group-IV elements including silicene, germanene and stanene within the Green’s function approach. We also find these quantities in the presence of applied external electric field. Our results show that the silicene (stanene) has the maximum (minimum) heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility at uniform electric fields. From the behavior of theses quantities, the band gap has been changed with impurity concentration, impurity scattering strength and electric field. The analysis on the impurity-dependent magnetic susceptibility curves shows a phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. Interestingly, electronic heat capacity increases (decreases) with impurity concentration in silicene (germanene and stanene) structure.

Consanguineous marriage and reproduction in Beirut, Lebanon.

PubMed

Khlat, M

1988-08-01

Effects of consanguineous marriages on couples' fertility and on offspring mortality were investigated in Beirut through a population-based health survey of 2,752 households. A multistage random sampling procedure was used, and information was obtained from all ever-married women in the household about their reproductive performance and genealogical relationship with spouse; demographic and socioeconomic information was also recorded. Twenty-five percent of all marriages were between relatives, and the spouses were first cousins in approximately 57% of all consanguineous marriages. Total pregnancies, live births, and living children were significantly higher among consanguineous couples than among nonconsanguineous ones, as was the proportion dead among children ever born. However, no difference remained in either fertility or mortality, when allowance was made for socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, and marriage duration. The issue of confounding is discussed, and the lack of significant pattern in the final analysis is interpreted as resulting from a long-term practice of consanguineous marriages.

Calculation and analysis of cross-sections for p+184W reactions up to 200 MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Zheng-Jun; Han, Yin-Lu

2015-08-01

A set of optimal proton optical potential parameters for p+ 184W reactions are obtained at incident proton energy up to 250 MeV. Based on these parameters, the reaction cross-sections, elastic scattering angular distributions, energy spectra and double differential cross sections of proton-induced reactions on 184W are calculated and analyzed by using theoretical models which integrate the optical model, distorted Born wave approximation theory, intra-nuclear cascade model, exciton model, Hauser-Feshbach theory and evaporation model. The calculated results are compared with existing experimental data and good agreement is achieved. Supported by National Basic Research Program of China, Technology Research of Accelerator Driven Sub-critical System for Nuclear Waste Transmutation (2007CB209903) and Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Nuclear Energy System (XDA02010100)

Lactose intolerance: diagnosis, genetic, and clinical factors

PubMed Central

Mattar, Rejane; de Campos Mazo, Daniel Ferraz; Carrilho, Flair José

2012-01-01

Most people are born with the ability to digest lactose, the major carbohydrate in milk and the main source of nutrition until weaning. Approximately 75% of the world’s population loses this ability at some point, while others can digest lactose into adulthood. This review discusses the lactase-persistence alleles that have arisen in different populations around the world, diagnosis of lactose intolerance, and its symptomatology and management. PMID:22826639

Multiple scaled disorder in the photonic structure of Morpho rhetenor butterfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boulenguez, J.; Berthier, S.; Leroy, F.

2012-03-01

The iridescence of Morpho rhetenor butterfly is known to result from a photonic structure on wing scales, where multilayer interference and grating diffraction occur simultaneously. We characterize the disorder at the photonic structure length scale and at the butterfly scale. We measure the scattering pattern of the wing. Through RCWA and 1st Born approximation models, we link the different disorders to different features in the scattering patterns.

Excitation energy spectrum in helium II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu, P.; Chan, C.K.

1979-11-01

We obtain the roton part of the excitation energy spectrum in He II qualitatively. We point out that the distinct difference between this calculation and that of Parry and Ter Haar is that we do not use the Born approximation in the evaluation of t-matrix elements. We found that in addition to the contribution due to the hard-core part, the attractive potential helps to form the roton dip.

Model Development for Graphene Spintronics

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-21

structure near the dirac point. Scattering was evaluated in born approximation. Screening and transport were treated semi-classically...requested and granted by the cognizant office, and the program ran through 25 May 2015. Graphene is a promising material for electronic and spintronic...of an insulating material such as Al2O3, to enable efficient spin injection. The graphene layer is beneath the tunnel barrier, followed by SiO2 (on

The Information Lives of Immigrant and Refugee Youth Acting as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Wayfarers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fawcett, Philip Earl

2017-01-01

The Center for Immigration Studies reported in October 2016 that immigration to the U.S. had reached historic numbers. According to the U.S. Census estimates, 59.1 million immigrants live in the U.S.; this numbers includes 16.7 million American-born children who are under the age of 18. Thus, approximately one in five U.S. residents is an…

Phoenix Union High School District #210 Adult Academy Evaluation Report, 1980-81. Research Services Report No. 33:08:80/81:010.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norris, Carol A.; Wheeler, Linda

The Adult Reading Academy, a federally-funded service of the Phoenix Union High School District, serves native- and foreign-born adult students who are deficient in the basic skills of reading, writing, arithmetic, and oral communication. In 1980/81, the program served 476 students at 17 sites. Approximately 24 percent of the clients served were…

Distorted-wave born approximation calculations for turbulence scattering in an upward-refracting atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilbert, Kenneth E.; Di, Xiao; Wang, Lintao

1990-01-01

Weiner and Keast observed that in an upward-refracting atmosphere, the relative sound pressure level versus range follows a characteristic 'step' function. The observed step function has recently been predicted qualitatively and quantitatively by including the effects of small-scale turbulence in a parabolic equation (PE) calculation. (Gilbert et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 87, 2428-2437 (1990)). The PE results to single-scattering calculations based on the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) are compared. The purpose is to obtain a better understanding of the physical mechanisms that produce the step-function. The PE calculations and DWBA calculations are compared to each other and to the data of Weiner and Keast for upwind propagation (strong upward refraction) and crosswind propagation (weak upward refraction) at frequencies of 424 Hz and 848 Hz. The DWBA calculations, which include only single scattering from turbulence, agree with the PE calculations and with the data in all cases except for upwind propagation at 848 Hz. Consequently, it appears that in all cases except one, the observed step function can be understood in terms of single scattering from an upward-refracted 'skywave' into the refractive shadow zone. For upwind propagation at 848 Hz, the DWBA calculation gives levels in the shadow zone that are much below both the PE and the data.

A balloon-borne instrument for high-resolution astrophysical spectroscopy in the 20-8000 keV energy range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paciesas, W. S.; Baker, R.; Boclet, D.; Brown, S.; Cline, T.; Costlow, H.; Durouchoux, P.; Ehrmann, C.; Gehrels, N.; Hameury, J. M.

1983-01-01

The Low Energy Gamma ray Spectrometer (LEGS) is designed to perform fine energy resolution measurements of astrophysical sources. The instrument is configured for a particular balloon flight with either of two sets of high purity germanium detectors. In one configuration, the instrument uses an array of three coaxial detectors (effective volume equal to or approximately 230 cubic cm) inside an NaI (T1) shield and collimator (field of view equal to or approximately 16 deg FWHM) and operates in the 80 to 8000 keV energy range. In the other configuration, three planar detectors (effective area equal to or approximately square cm) surrounded by a combination of passive Fe and active NaI for shielding and collimation (field of view equal to or approximately 5 deg x 10 deg FWHM) are optimized for the 20 to 200 keV energy range. In a typical one day balloon flight, LEGS sensitivity limit (3 sigma) for narrow line features is less than or approximately .0008 ph/cm/s square (coaxial array: 80 to 2000 keV) and less than or approximately .0003 ph/square cm/s (planar array: 50 to 150 keV).

The effectiveness of copper oxide wire particles as an anthelmintic in pregnant ewes and safety to offspring.

PubMed

Burke, J M; Miller, J E; Brauer, D K

2005-08-10

The objective of the experiment was to determine the effectiveness of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) in pregnant ewes and safety to lambs. COWP have been used recently as an anthelmintic in small ruminants to overcome problems associated with nematode resistance to chemical dewormers. Doses of COWP (

Dyadic contrast function and quadratic forward model for radio frequency tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Picco, Vittorio

Radio Frequency Tomography is an underground imaging technology that aims to reconstruct extended, deeply buried objects such as tunnels or Underground Facilities (UGF). A network of sensors collects scattered electromagnetic field samples, which are processed to obtain 2D or 3D images of the complex dielectric permittivity profile of the volume under investigation. Unlike systems such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) which normally employ wide-band pulses, RF Tomography uses Continuous Wave (CW) signals to illuminate the scene. The information about the target is not retrieved by relying on bandwidth but by exploiting spatial, frequency and/or polarization diversity. Interestingly, RF Tomography can be readily adapted to obtain images of targets in free space. In this context, in the Andrew Electromagnetics Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago, a measurement system aimed to validate experimentally the performance of RF Tomography has been designed and built. Experimental data have been used to validate its forward model, different inversion algorithms, its performance in terms of resolution and the ability of the system to distinguish between metallic and non-metallic targets. In the specific case of imaging of metallic targets, this thesis proposes to extend the capabilities of RF Tomography by introducing a dyadic permittivity contrast. Electromagnetic scattering from a thin, wire-like object placed in free space with its main axis at an angle with respect to the incident electric field is studied. It is possible to show that for this configuration a fundamental difference exists between a metallic and a dielectric object. This phenomenon can be modeled into Maxwell's equations by using a dyadic permittivity contrast, as it is commonly done when studying crystals. As a result a new formulation of the RF Tomography forward model is obtained, based on a dyadic contrast function. Reconstruction of this dyad allows to estimate not only the location and shape, but also the spatial orientation of the target. In addition, this dissertation proposes an alternative modification of the forward model which removes some limitations caused by the Born approximation. Traditionally, the Born approximation is used to linearize the inherently non-linear forward model. This approximation is valid if the scatterer is small and does not interact strongly with other objects. A quadratic forward model represents a more correct formulation of the scattering phenomenon, and it allows to attempt quantitative reconstruction. Numerical results are presented to highlight the advantages that such a formulation provides over the Born approximation.

Investigation of Extensions to the Distorted Born Approximation in Strong Fluctuation Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-10-01

9316I * where D = 3/4[bop+b# J+ l/4b;) D = 1/4[ bpp +bo | (35)n12 b -bo( I D 13 =l/ 2 [Cppzz +C4zzI n Here -1 0~ o , bus(z,z)= (271) u I dl )acs (zl) am...that FXW = 1- 2X + 32. + 1 2(X) = 2 - 23 + + ... (-5 F (X) = 2 3 3 42 3 ’ + VX +.. D5 F3 (X) = 2/X + 3 gn X + ... Using (D-4) and (D-5) as guides for...showed that the rational approximations to Fir F2, F3 have maximum errors of .06%, .03%, and .06%, respectively. The integrals in (C-5) are completely

Choice of phase in the CS and IOS approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Snider, R.F.

1982-04-01

With the recognition that the angular momentum representations of unit position and momentum directional states must have different but uniquely related phases, the previously presented expression of scattering amplitude in terms of IOS angle dependent phase shifts must be modified. This resolves a major disagreement between IOS and close coupled degeneracy averaged differential cross sections. It is found that the phase factors appearing in the differential cross section have nothing to do with any particular choice of decoupling parameter. As a consequence, the differential cross section is relatively insensitive to the choice of CS decoupling parameter. The phase relations obtainedmore » are also in agreement with those deduced from the Born approximation.« less

Radiative transfer theory for active remote sensing of a layer of small ellipsoidal scatterers. [of vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsang, L.; Kubacsi, M. C.; Kong, J. A.

1981-01-01

The radiative transfer theory is applied within the Rayleigh approximation to calculate the backscattering cross section of a layer of randomly positioned and oriented small ellipsoids. The orientation of the ellipsoids is characterized by a probability density function of the Eulerian angles of rotation. The radiative transfer equations are solved by an iterative approach to first order in albedo. In the half space limit the results are identical to those obtained via the approach of Foldy's and distorted Born approximation. Numerical results of the theory are illustrated using parameters encountered in active remote sensing of vegetation layers. A distinctive characteristic is the strong depolarization shown by vertically aligned leaves.

Axions and SN1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burrows, Adam; Turner, Michael S.; Brinkmann, R. P.

1988-01-01

The effect of free-streaming axion emission on numerical models for the cooling of the newly born neutron star associated with SN1987A is considered. It is found that for an axion mass of greater than approximately 10 to the -3 eV, axion emission shortens the duration of the expected neutrino burst so significantly that it would be inconsistent with the neutrino observations made by the Kamiokande II and Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven detectors. However, the possibility has not been investigated that axion trapping (which should occur for masses greater than or equal to 0.02 eV) sufficiently reduces axion emission so that axion masses greater than approximately 2 eV would be consistent with the neutrino observations.

Electron scattering intensities and Patterson functions of Skyrmions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karliner, M.; King, C.; Manton, N. S.

2016-06-01

The scattering of electrons off nuclei is one of the best methods of probing nuclear structure. In this paper we focus on electron scattering off nuclei with spin and isospin zero within the Skyrme model. We consider two distinct methods and simplify our calculations by use of the Born approximation. The first method is to calculate the form factor of the spherically averaged Skyrmion charge density; the second uses the Patterson function to calculate the scattering intensity off randomly oriented Skyrmions, and spherically averages at the end. We compare our findings with experimental scattering data. We also find approximate analytical formulae for the first zero and first stationary point of a form factor.

Origin of non-spherical particles in the boundary layer over Beijing, China: based on balloon-borne observations.

PubMed

Chen, Bin; Yamada, Maromu; Iwasaka, Yasunobu; Zhang, Daizhou; Wang, Hong; Wang, Zhenzhu; Lei, Hengchi; Shi, Guangyu

2015-10-01

Vertical structures of aerosols from the ground to about 1,000 m altitude in Beijing were measured with a balloon-borne optical particle counter. The results showed that, in hazy days, there were inversions at approximately 500-600 m, below which the particulate matters were well mixed vertically, while the concentration of particles decreased sharply above the mixing layer. Electron microscopic observation of the particles collected with the balloon-borne impactor indicates that the composition of particles is different according to weather conditions in the boundary mixing layer of Beijing city and suggests that dust particles are always dominant in coarse-mode particles. Interestingly, sea-salt particles are frequently identified, suggesting the importance of marine air inflow to the Beijing area even in summer. The Ca-rich spherical particles are also frequently identified, suggesting chemical modification of dust particle by NOx or emission of CaO and others from local emission. Additionally, those types of particles showed higher concentration above the mixing layer under the relatively calm weather condition of summer, suggesting the importance of local-scale convection found in summer which rapidly transported anthropogenic particles above the mixing layer. Lidar extinction profiles qualitatively have good consistency with the balloon-borne measurements. Attenuation effects of laser pulse intensity are frequently observed due to high concentration of particulate matter in the Beijing atmosphere, and therefore quantitative agreement of lidar return and aerosol concentration can be hardly observed during dusty condition. Comparing the depolarization ratio obtained from the lidar measurements with the balloon-borne measurements, the contribution of the dry sea-salt particles, in addition to the dust particles, is suggested as an important factor causing depolarization ratio in the Beijing atmosphere.

Imaging electrical conductivity, permeability, and/or permittivity contrasts using the Born Scattering Inversion (BSI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darrh, A.; Downs, C. M.; Poppeliers, C.

2017-12-01

Born Scattering Inversion (BSI) of electromagnetic (EM) data is a geophysical imaging methodology for mapping weak conductivity, permeability, and/or permittivity contrasts in the subsurface. The high computational cost of full waveform inversion is reduced by adopting the First Born Approximation for scattered EM fields. This linearizes the inverse problem in terms of Born scattering amplitudes for a set of effective EM body sources within a 3D imaging volume. Estimation of scatterer amplitudes is subsequently achieved by solving the normal equations. Our present BSI numerical experiments entail Fourier transforming real-valued synthetic EM data to the frequency-domain, and minimizing the L2 residual between complex-valued observed and predicted data. We are testing the ability of BSI to resolve simple scattering models. For our initial experiments, synthetic data are acquired by three-component (3C) electric field receivers distributed on a plane above a single point electric dipole within a homogeneous and isotropic wholespace. To suppress artifacts, candidate Born scatterer locations are confined to a volume beneath the receiver array. Also, we explore two different numerical linear algebra algorithms for solving the normal equations: Damped Least Squares (DLS), and Non-Negative Least Squares (NNLS). Results from NNLS accurately recover the source location only for a large dense 3C receiver array, but fail when the array is decimated, or is restricted to horizontal component data. Using all receiver stations and all components per station, NNLS results are relatively insensitive to a sub-sampled frequency spectrum, suggesting that coarse frequency-domain sampling may be adequate for good target resolution. Results from DLS are insensitive to diminishing array density, but contain spatially oscillatory structure. DLS-generated images are consistently centered at the known point source location, despite an abundance of surrounding structure.

Changing perspectives on marijuana use during early adolescence and young adulthood: Evidence from a panel of cross-sectional surveys.

PubMed

Salas-Wright, Christopher P; Vaughn, Michael G; Perron, Brian E; Gonzalez, Jennifer M Reingle; Goings, Trenette Clark

2016-12-01

Prior research has often overlooked potential cohort differences in marijuana views and use across adolescence and young adulthood. To begin to address this gap, we conduct an exploratory examination of marijuana views and use among American youth using a panel of cross-sectional surveys. Findings are based on repeated, cross-sectional data collected annually from adolescents (ages 12-17; n=230,452) and young adults (ages 18-21; n=120,588) surveyed as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2014. For each of the birth years between 1986 and 1996, we combined a series of nationally representative cross-sections to provide multi-year data strings designed to approximate nationally representative cohorts. Compared to youth born in the mid-to-late 1980s, youth born in the mid-1990s reported significantly higher levels of marijuana disapproval during the early adolescent years (Age 14: 1988=64.7%, 1994=70.4%) but lower levels of disapproval during the young adult years (Age 19: 1988=32.0%, 1994=25.0%; Age 20: 1988=27.9%, 1994=19.7%). Moreover, the prevalence of marijuana use among youth born in 1994 was significantly lower-compared to youth born in 1988-at age 14 (1988: 11.39%, 1994: 8.19%) and significantly higher at age 18 (1988: 29.67%, 1994: 34.83%). This pattern held even when adjusting for potential confounding by demographic changes in the population across the study period. We see evidence of changes in the perceptions of marijuana use among youth born during the late twentieth century. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical and epidemiological features of HIV/AIDS infection among migrants at first access to healthcare services as compared to Italian patients in Italy: a retrospective multicentre study, 2000-2010.

PubMed

Sulis, G; El Hamad, I; Fabiani, M; Rusconi, S; Maggiolo, F; Guaraldi, G; Bozzi, G; Bernardini, C; Lichtner, M; Stentarelli, C; Carenzi, L; Francisci, D; Saracino, A; Castelli, F

2014-10-01

Migrants account for approximately 8.7% of the resident population in Italy. The immigration status deeply influences access to prevention and care, thus contributing to increase the burden of HIV/AIDS among such a fragile category. The aim of this study was to investigate socio-demographic and baseline clinical and immunological features of HIV-infected migrants, as compared to Italians. We retrospectively analysed data for all the 1,611 HIV-infected migrant patients and a random sample of 4,230 HIV-infected Italian patients aged 18 or older who first accessed nine Italian clinical centres in 2000-2010 and were followed up at least 1 year. Differences in baseline characteristics between migrants and Italians were evaluated in univariate analysis, while factors associated with late presentation were evaluated in multivariate analysis using logistic regression models. The baseline profile differs between the HIV-infected migrant and Italian patients, substantially reflecting what reported by current statistics in terms of gender, age, risk category as well as clinical features. Late presenters were more frequent among migrants as compared to Italians (53.0 vs 45.8%; adjusted odds ratio [(AOR) = 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-1.78]. Other factors associated with late presentation included increasing age, as well as undocumented legal status among foreign-born subjects (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI 0.97-2.04), though of borderline significance. Late presentation still represents a relevant problem despite the advances in the management of HIV infection. More efforts are needed to allow early diagnosis and access to care among the most vulnerable, such as undocumented foreign-born subjects in a country where migration flows are on the rise.

The Influence Analysis of the Rainfall Meteorological Conditions on the Operation of the Balloon Borne Radar in Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiong; Geng, Fangzhi

2018-03-01

Based on the characteristics of complex terrain and different seasons’ weather in Qinghai Tibet Plateau, through statistic the daily rainfall that from 2002 to 2012, nearly 11 years, by Bomi meteorological station, Bomi area rainfall forecast model is established, and which can provide the basis forecasting for dangerous weather warning system on the balloon borne radar in the next step, to protect the balloon borne radar equipment’s safety work and combat effectiveness.

Costs of Food Safety Investments in the Meat and Poultry Slaughter Industries.

PubMed

Viator, Catherine L; Muth, Mary K; Brophy, Jenna E; Noyes, Gary

2017-02-01

To develop regulations efficiently, federal agencies need to know the costs of implementing various regulatory alternatives. As the regulatory agency responsible for the safety of meat and poultry products, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is interested in the costs borne by meat and poultry establishments. This study estimated the costs of developing, validating, and reassessing hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), sanitary standard operating procedures (SSOP), and sampling plans; food safety training for new employees; antimicrobial equipment and solutions; sanitizing equipment; third-party audits; and microbial tests. Using results from an in-person expert consultation, web searches, and contacts with vendors, we estimated capital equipment, labor, materials, and other costs associated with these investments. Results are presented by establishment size (small and large) and species (beef, pork, chicken, and turkey), when applicable. For example, the cost of developing food safety plans, such as HACCP, SSOP, and sampling plans, can range from approximately $6000 to $87000, depending on the type of plan and establishment size. Food safety training costs from approximately $120 to $2500 per employee, depending on the course and type of employee. The costs of third-party audits range from approximately $13000 to $24000 per audit, and establishments are often subject to multiple audits per year. Knowing the cost of these investments will allow researchers and regulators to better assess the effects of food safety regulations and evaluate cost-effective alternatives. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Foreign-Born Persons Living in San Francisco

PubMed Central

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G.; Grinsdale, Jennifer A.; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L. Masae; Hopewell, Philip C.

2013-01-01

Rationale: In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. Objectives: To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. Methods: We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. Measurements and Main Results: We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. Conclusions: There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions. PMID:23471470

Prostate and Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake among US and Foreign-Born Males: Evidence from the 2015 NHIS Survey.

PubMed

Ilunga Tshiswaka, Daudet; Donley, Tiffany; Okafor, Anthony; Memiah, Peter; Mbizo, Justice

2017-06-01

Research suggests that prostate and colorectal cancers disproportionately affect men in the US, but little is known about the determinants of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake among US and foreign-born males. The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors influence prostate and colorectal cancer screening uptake among US-native born and foreign-born men. Using the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, we conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to highlight factors associated with the uptake of prostate and colorectal cancer screening among US-native born and foreign-born men. The sample size consisted of 5651 men respondents, with the mean age of 59.7 years (SD = 12.1). Of these, more than two-fifths (42%) were aged 50-64 years old. With respect to race/ethnicity, the sample was predominantly non-Hispanic Whites (65.5%), 863 (15.6%) Hispanics, and 710 (12.4%) Blacks. Our analysis found higher rates of both US-born and foreign-born men aged 65 years or older, who had either a PSA or CRC screening tests than those aged <65 years. Results of the general multivariate model suggest that men under 50 years old, US-born and foreign-born alike, are statistically significantly less likely to have prostate or colorectal cancer screenings than men aged 65 years or above. This study highlights the influencing factors that encourage or discourage PSA and CRC screening uptake between US-native born and foreign-born men. The results of this inquiry provide an evidence-based blueprint for policymakers and interventionists seeking to address prostate and colorectal cancer among men.

A finite element study on the effects of midsymphyseal distraction osteogenesis on the mandible and articular disc.

PubMed

Kim, Ki-Nam; Cha, Bong-Kuen; Choi, Dong-Soon; Jang, Insan; Yi, Yang-Jin; Jost-Brinkmann, Paul-Georg

2012-05-01

To evaluate the biomechanical effect of midsymphyseal distraction osteogenesis with three types of distractors on the mandible and articular disc using a three-dimensional finite element model analysis. A virtual model of the mandible was produced from computed tomography scan images of a healthy 27-year-old man. On the finite element model of the mandible, expansion of the bone-borne, tooth-borne, and hybrid type distractors were simulated with the jaw-closing muscles. The displacement and stress distribution of the mandible and articular disc were analyzed. With the bone-borne appliance the alveolar process area was displaced more than the basal bone area. The tooth-borne appliance displaced the mandibular body in a parallel manner and showed high level of the von Mises stress in the alveolar process and the ramal region as well as in the condylar neck area. The hybrid type showed medium amount of displacement and stress distribution compared with the bone-borne and tooth-borne type. At the articular disc the compressive stress was concentrated in the anteromedial and posterolateral area, and it was highest in the tooth-borne distractor, followed by hybrid appliance and bone-borne appliance. The tooth-borne distractor produced more parallel bony widening in the midsymphyseal area and larger expansion in the molar region; however, it induced higher stress concentration on the articular disc than the hybrid appliance and bone-borne appliance. Whether any long-term side effects on the temporomandibular joint are anticipated, especially in tooth-borne distractor, remains to be investigated.

Analysis of atmospheric trace constituents from high resolution infrared balloon-borne and ground-based solar absorption spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldman, A.; Murcray, F. J.; Rinsland, C. P.; Blatherwick, R. D.; Murcray, F. H.; Murcray, D. G.

1991-01-01

Results of ongoing studies of high-resolution solar absorption spectra aimed at the identification and quantification of trace constituents of importance in the chemistry of the stratosphere and upper troposphere are presented. An analysis of balloon-borne and ground-based spectra obtained at 0.0025/cm covering the 700-2200/cm interval is presented. The 0.0025/cm spectra, along with corresponding laboratory spectra, improves the spectral line parameters, and thus the accuracy of quantifying trace constituents. Results for COF2, F22, SF6, and other species are presented. The retrieval methods used for total column density and altitude distribution for both ground-based and balloon-borne spectra are also discussed.

Interpregnancy interval and risk of autistic disorder.

PubMed

Gunnes, Nina; Surén, Pål; Bresnahan, Michaeline; Hornig, Mady; Lie, Kari Kveim; Lipkin, W Ian; Magnus, Per; Nilsen, Roy Miodini; Reichborn-Kjennerud, Ted; Schjølberg, Synnve; Susser, Ezra Saul; Øyen, Anne-Siri; Stoltenberg, Camilla

2013-11-01

A recent California study reported increased risk of autistic disorder in children conceived within a year after the birth of a sibling. We assessed the association between interpregnancy interval and risk of autistic disorder using nationwide registry data on pairs of singleton full siblings born in Norway. We defined interpregnancy interval as the time from birth of the first-born child to conception of the second-born child in a sibship. The outcome of interest was autistic disorder in the second-born child. Analyses were restricted to sibships in which the second-born child was born in 1990-2004. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by fitting ordinary logistic models and logistic generalized additive models. The study sample included 223,476 singleton full-sibling pairs. In sibships with interpregnancy intervals <9 months, 0.25% of the second-born children had autistic disorder, compared with 0.13% in the reference category (≥ 36 months). For interpregnancy intervals shorter than 9 months, the adjusted OR of autistic disorder in the second-born child was 2.18 (95% confidence interval 1.42-3.26). The risk of autistic disorder in the second-born child was also increased for interpregnancy intervals of 9-11 months in the adjusted analysis (OR = 1.71 [95% CI = 1.07-2.64]). Consistent with a previous report from California, interpregnancy intervals shorter than 1 year were associated with increased risk of autistic disorder in the second-born child. A possible explanation is depletion of micronutrients in mothers with closely spaced pregnancies.

Severe postwar malnutrition did not have a negative impact on the earnings and subsequent pensions of German men born in 1945-1948.

PubMed

Hermanussen, M; Weick, S; Scheffler, C

2017-10-01

Poverty has often been associated with malnutrition, stunted growth, impaired cognitive development and poor earnings. We studied whether these associations were found in German men born and raised shortly after World War II during severe and long-standing nationwide malnutrition. We analysed German old-age pension payments, as a rough measure of lifetime earnings, in German men born from 1932 to 1960 and compared the at-risk-of-poverty rates of German men born in 1945-1948 versus 1935-1938 and 1955-1958. Substantially fewer women worked during this period and their longer life expectancy makes their pension payments difficult to interpret. We therefore limited our analysis to men. Men born in the 1930s received the highest monthly old-age pensions and these declined slightly in men born from 1945 to 1948, indicating a minute impairment in work-related income in cohorts born shortly after the war. We also found that there was no evidence for increased at-risk-of-poverty rates in men born in 1945-1948 versus those born in 1935-1938 and in 1955-1958. Being born and raised following World War II was associated with a minute work and pension impairment that was not visible in the at-risk-of-poverty rates. These findings question statements associating early childhood nutrition and future lifetime earnings. ©2017 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Relationships between Social Cognition and Sibling Constellations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goebel, Barbara L.

1985-01-01

First and second born college students (N=178) responded to measures of four social cognition factors. Multivariate analysis of variance identified relationships of social cognition factors with five sibling constellation components: subject's sex, subject's birth order (first or second), adjacent first or second born sibling's sex, spacing…

Salecan Enhances the Activities of β-1,3-Glucanase and Decreases the Biomass of Soil-Borne Fungi

PubMed Central

Chen, Yunmei; Xu, Haiyang; Zhou, Mengyi; Wang, Yang; Wang, Shiming; Zhang, Jianfa

2015-01-01

Salecan, a linear extracellular polysaccharide consisting of β-1,3-D-glucan, has potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salecan on soil microbial communities in a vegetable patch. Compositional shifts in the genetic structure of indigenous soil bacterial and fungal communities were monitored using culture-dependent dilution plating, culture-independent PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative PCR. After 60 days, soil microorganism counts showed no significant variation in bacterial density and a marked decrease in the numbers of fungi. The DGGE profiles revealed that salecan changed the composition of the microbial community in soil by increasing the amount of Bacillus strains and decreasing the amount of Fusarium strains. Quantitative PCR confirmed that the populations of the soil-borne fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma spp. were decreased approximately 6- and 2-fold, respectively, in soil containing salecan. This decrease in the amount of fungi can be explained by salecan inducing an increase in the activities of β-1,3-glucanase in the soil. These results suggest the promising application of salecan for biological control of pathogens of soil-borne fungi. PMID:26247592

Future perspectives, applications and challenges of genomic epidemiology studies for food-borne pathogens: A case study of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) of the O157:H7 serotype

PubMed Central

Eppinger, Mark; Cebula, Thomas A

2015-01-01

The shiga-toxin (Stx)-producing human pathogen Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 is a highly pathogenic subgroup of Stx-producing E. coli (STEC) with food-borne etiology and bovine reservoir. Each year in the U. S., approximately 100,000 patients are infected with enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) of the O157:H7 serotype. This food-borne pathogen is a global public health threat responsible for widespread outbreaks of human disease. Since its initial discovery in 1982, O157:H7 has rapidly become the dominant EHEC serotype in North America. Hospitalization rates among patients as high as 50% have been reported for severe outbreaks of human disease. Symptoms of disease can rapidly deteriorate and progress to life-threatening complications such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children, or Hemorrhagic Colitis. In depth understanding of the genomic diversity that exists among currently circulating EHEC populations has broad applications for improved molecular-guided biosurveillance, outbreak preparedness, diagnostic risk assessment, and development of alternative toxin-suppressing therapeutics. PMID:25483335

Long-term effects on adult attachment in German occupation children born after World War II in comparison with a birth-cohort-matched representative sample of the German general population.

PubMed

Kaiser, Marie; Kuwert, Philipp; Braehler, Elmar; Glaesmer, Heide

2018-02-01

Children born of war are a phenomenon of every conflict. At the end of World War II and thereafter, approximately 400,000 children were fathered by foreign soldiers and born to local women in Germany. Quantitative research on psychosocial consequences of growing up as German occupation child (GOC) has been missing so far. This study examines adult attachment and its association with current depression in GOC (N = 146) using self-report instruments: Adult Attachment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire. Data were compared to a birth-cohort-matched representative sample of the German population (BCMS; N = 786). GOC differ in both attachment dimensions (less comfortable with closeness/intimacy, lowered ability to depend on others) and adult attachment (more dismissive and fearful) compared to BCMS. Insecure adult attachment is associated with current depression. GOC grew up under difficult circumstances (e.g. poverty, adverse events, and stigmatization). Even decades later they display more insecure attachment in current relationships. Findings underline the complex and long-term impact of their developmental conditions on attachment and current mental health.

Path integral molecular dynamics for exact quantum statistics of multi-electronic-state systems.

PubMed

Liu, Xinzijian; Liu, Jian

2018-03-14

An exact approach to compute physical properties for general multi-electronic-state (MES) systems in thermal equilibrium is presented. The approach is extended from our recent progress on path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD), Liu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 145, 024103 (2016)] and Zhang et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 147, 034109 (2017)], for quantum statistical mechanics when a single potential energy surface is involved. We first define an effective potential function that is numerically favorable for MES-PIMD and then derive corresponding estimators in MES-PIMD for evaluating various physical properties. Its application to several representative one-dimensional and multi-dimensional models demonstrates that MES-PIMD in principle offers a practical tool in either of the diabatic and adiabatic representations for studying exact quantum statistics of complex/large MES systems when the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Condon approximation, and harmonic bath approximation are broken.

Path integral molecular dynamics for exact quantum statistics of multi-electronic-state systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xinzijian; Liu, Jian

2018-03-01

An exact approach to compute physical properties for general multi-electronic-state (MES) systems in thermal equilibrium is presented. The approach is extended from our recent progress on path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD), Liu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 145, 024103 (2016)] and Zhang et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 147, 034109 (2017)], for quantum statistical mechanics when a single potential energy surface is involved. We first define an effective potential function that is numerically favorable for MES-PIMD and then derive corresponding estimators in MES-PIMD for evaluating various physical properties. Its application to several representative one-dimensional and multi-dimensional models demonstrates that MES-PIMD in principle offers a practical tool in either of the diabatic and adiabatic representations for studying exact quantum statistics of complex/large MES systems when the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Condon approximation, and harmonic bath approximation are broken.

Estimating the Gibbs energy of hydration from molecular dynamics trajectories obtained by integral equations of the theory of liquids in the RISM approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tikhonov, D. A.; Sobolev, E. V.

2011-04-01

A method of integral equations of the theory of liquids in the reference interaction site model (RISM) approximation is used to estimate the Gibbs energy averaged over equilibrium trajectories computed by molecular mechanics. Peptide oxytocin is selected as the object of interest. The Gibbs energy is calculated using all chemical potential formulas introduced in the RISM approach for the excess chemical potential of solvation and is compared with estimates by the generalized Born model. Some formulas are shown to give the wrong sign of Gibbs energy changes when peptide passes from the gas phase into water environment; the other formulas give overestimated Gibbs energy changes with the right sign. Note that allowance for the repulsive correction in the approximate analytical expressions for the Gibbs energy derived by thermodynamic perturbation theory is not a remedy.

Testing the Impulsiveness of Solar Flare Heating through Analysis of Dynamic Atmospheric Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newton, E. K.; Emslie, A. G.; Mariska, J. T.

1996-03-01

One crucial test of a solar flare energy transport model is its ability to reproduce the characteristics of the atmospheric motions inferred from soft X-ray line spectra. Using a recently developed diagnostic, the velocity differential emission measure (VDEM), we can obtain from observations a physical measure of the amount of soft X-ray mitting plasma flowing at each velocity, v, and hence the total momentum of the upflowing plasma, without approximation or parametric fitting. We have correlated solar hard X-ray emission profiles by the Yohkoh Hard X-ray telescope with the mass and momentum histories inferred from soft X-ray line profiles observed by the Yohkoh Bragg crystal spectrometers. For suitably impulsive hard X-ray emission, an analysis of the hydrodynamic equations predicts a proportionality between the hard X-ray intensity and the second time derivative of the soft X-ray mitting plasma's momentum. This relationship is borne out by an analysis of 18 disk-center impulsive flares of varying durations, thereby lending support to the hypothesis that a prompt energy deposition mechanism, such as an energetic electron flux, is indeed responsible for the soft X-ray response observed in the rise phase of sufficiently impulsive solar flares.

Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the envelope gene of the Vasilchenko strain of TBE virus; comparison with other flaviviruses.

PubMed

Gritsun, T S; Frolova, T V; Pogodina, V V; Lashkevich, V A; Venugopal, K; Gould, E A

1993-02-01

A strain of tick-borne encephalitis virus known as Vasilchenko (Vs) exhibits relatively low virulence characteristics in monkeys, Syrian hamsters and humans. The gene encoding the envelope glycoprotein of this virus was cloned and sequenced. Alignment of the sequence with those of other known tick-borne flaviviruses and identification of the recognised amino acid genetic marker EHLPTA confirmed its identity as a member of the TBE complex. However, Vs virus was distinguishable from eastern and western tick-borne serotypes by the presence of the sequence AQQ at amino acid positions 232-234 and also by the presence of other specific amino acid substitutions which may be genetic markers for these viruses and could determine their pathogenetic characteristics. When compared with other tick-borne flaviviruses, Vs virus had 12 unique amino acid substitutions including an additional potential glycosylation site at position (315-317). The Vs virus strain shared closest nucleotide and amino acid homology (84.5% and 95.5% respectively) with western and far eastern strains of tick-borne encephalitis virus. Comparison with the far eastern serotype of tick-borne encephalitis virus, by cross-immunoelectrophoresis of Vs virions and PAGE analysis of the extracted virion proteins, revealed differences in surface charge and virus stability that may account for the different virulence characteristics of Vs virus. These results support and enlarge upon previous data obtained from molecular and serological analysis.

Mueller matrix approach for probing multifractality in the underlying anisotropic connective tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Nandan Kumar; Dey, Rajib; Ghosh, Nirmalya

2016-09-01

Spatial variation of refractive index (RI) in connective tissues exhibits multifractality, which encodes useful morphological and ultrastructural information about the disease. We present a spectral Mueller matrix (MM)-based approach in combination with multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to exclusively pick out the signature of the underlying connective tissue multifractality through the superficial epithelium layer. The method is based on inverse analysis on selected spectral scattering MM elements encoding the birefringence information on the anisotropic connective tissue. The light scattering spectra corresponding to the birefringence carrying MM elements are then subjected to the Born approximation-based Fourier domain preprocessing to extract ultrastructural RI fluctuations of anisotropic tissue. The extracted RI fluctuations are subsequently analyzed via MFDFA to yield the multifractal tissue parameters. The approach was experimentally validated on a simple tissue model comprising of TiO2 as scatterers of the superficial isotropic layer and rat tail collagen as an underlying anisotropic layer. Finally, the method enabled probing of precancer-related subtle alterations in underlying connective tissue ultrastructural multifractality from intact tissues.

Twin-singleton differences in intelligence: a register-based birth cohort study of Norwegian males.

PubMed

Eriksen, Willy; Sundet, Jon M; Tambs, Kristian

2012-10-01

The aim was to determine the difference in intelligence between singletons and twins in young adulthood. Data from the Medical Birth Register of Norway were linked with register data from the Norwegian National Conscript Service. The study base consisted of data on the 445,463 males who were born alive in either single or twin births in Norway during 1967-1984 and who were examined at the time of the mandatory military conscription (age 18-20). Within this study base, there were data on 1,653 sibships of full brothers that included at least one man born in single birth and at least one man born in twin birth (4,307 persons, including 2,378 twins and 1,929 singletons). The intelligence scores of the singletons were 11% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9-14%) of a standard deviation higher than those of the twins, after adjustment for birth year, birth order, parental ages at delivery, parental education levels, and other factors. The adjusted within-family difference was also 11% (95 % CI: 6-16%) of a standard deviation, indicating that unmeasured factors shared by siblings (e.g., maternal body height) have not influenced the estimate in important ways. When gestational age at birth was added to the model, the estimate for the difference in intelligence score was approximately the same. Including birth weight in the model strongly reduced the estimate. In conclusion, twins born in Norway during 1967-1984 had slightly lower intelligence in early adulthood compared with the singletons.

Application of a Protocol Based on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to Manage Unowned Urban Cats on an Australian University Campus.

PubMed

Swarbrick, Helen; Rand, Jacquie

2018-05-17

In August 2008, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, commenced a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to manage the population of approximately 69 free-roaming unowned urban cats on its Kensington campus. The goals of the program included an ongoing audit of cats on campus, stabilization of cat numbers through TNR, and a subsequent reduction in cat numbers over time while maintaining the health of remaining campus cats. Continuation of the TNR program over nine years resulted in a current population, as of September 2017, of 15 cats, all desexed (78% reduction). Regular monitoring of the cats through a daily feeding program identified a further 34 cats that immigrated on to campus since initiation of the program; these comprised 28 adult cats (16 unsocialized, 12 socialized) and six solitary kittens. In addition, 19 kittens were born on campus, 14 of which were born to immigrant pregnant females. Unsocialized adult immigrants were absorbed into the resident campus population. Where possible, socialized adult immigrants, solitary kittens, and campus-born kittens were removed from campus through rehoming. Overall, reasons for reductions in the cat population (original residents, immigrants, campus-born kittens; n = 122) included rehoming or return to owner (30%), death/euthanasia (30%) and disappearance (29%). This successful animal management program received some initial funding from the university to support desexing, but was subsequently funded through donations, and continues with the university's approval and support.

Molecular subtyping of Clostridium perfringens by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to facilitate food-borne-disease outbreak investigations.

PubMed

Maslanka, S E; Kerr, J G; Williams, G; Barbaree, J M; Carson, L A; Miller, J M; Swaminathan, B

1999-07-01

Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of food-borne illness. The illness is characterized by profuse diarrhea and acute abdominal pain. Since the illness is usually self-limiting, many cases are undiagnosed and/or not reported. Investigations are often pursued after an outbreak involving large numbers of people in institutions, at restaurants, or at catered meals. Serotyping has been used in the past to assist epidemiologic investigations of C. perfringens outbreaks. However, serotyping reagents are not widely available, and many isolates are often untypeable with existing reagents. We developed a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method for molecular subtyping of C. perfringens isolates to aid in epidemiologic investigations of food-borne outbreaks. Six restriction endonucleases (SmaI, ApaI, FspI, MluI, KspI, and XbaI) were evaluated with a select panel of C. perfringens strains. SmaI was chosen for further studies because it produced 11 to 13 well-distributed bands of 40 to approximately 1,100 kb which provided good discrimination between isolates. Seventeen distinct patterns were obtained with 62 isolates from seven outbreak investigations or control strains. In general, multiple isolates from a single individual had indistinguishable PFGE patterns. Epidemiologically unrelated isolates (outbreak or control strains) had unique patterns; isolates from different individuals within an outbreak had similar, if not identical, patterns. PFGE identifies clonal relationships of isolates which will assist epidemiologic investigations of food-borne-disease outbreaks caused by C. perfringens.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Sheep, Romania.

PubMed

Salat, Jiri; Mihalca, Andrei D; Mihaiu, Marian; Modrý, David; Ruzek, Daniel

2017-12-01

Little is known about the occurrence of tick-borne encephalitis in Romania. Sheep are an infection source for humans and are useful sentinels for risk analysis. We demonstrate high antibody prevalence (15.02%) among sheep used as sentinels for this disease in 80% of the tested localities in 5 counties of northwestern Romania.

Counting the cost of child mortality in the World Health Organization African region.

PubMed

Kirigia, Joses M; Muthuri, Rosenabi Deborah Karimi; Nabyonga-Orem, Juliet; Kirigia, Doris Gatwiri

2015-11-06

Worldwide, a total of 6.282 million deaths occurred among children aged less than 5 years in 2013. About 47.4 % of those were borne by the 47 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. Sadly, even as we approach the end date for the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), only eight African countries are on track to achieve the MDG 4 target 4A of reducing under-five mortality by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. The post-2015 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 target is "by 2030, end preventable deaths of new-borns and children under 5 years of age". There is urgent need for increased advocacy among governments, the private sector and development partners to provide the resources needed to build resilient national health systems to deliver an integrated package of people-centred interventions to end preventable child morbidity and mortality and other structures to address all the basic needs for a healthy population. The specific objective of this study was to estimate expected/future productivity losses from child deaths in the WHO African Region in 2013 for use in advocacy for increased investments in child health services and other basic services that address children's welfare. A cost-of-illness method was used to estimate future non-health GDP losses related to child deaths. Future non-health GDP losses were discounted at 3 %. The analysis was undertaken with the countries categorized under three income groups: Group 1 consisted of nine high and upper middle income countries, Group 2 of 13 lower middle income countries, and Group 3 of 25 low income countries. One-way sensitivity analysis at 5 % and 10 % discount rates assessed the impact of the expected non-health GDP loss. The discounted value of future non-health GDP loss due to the deaths of children under 5 years old in 2013 will be in the order of Int$ 150.3 billion. Approximately 27.3 % of the loss will be borne by Group 1 countries, 47.1 % by Group 2 and 25.7 % by Group 3. The average non-health GDP lost per child death will be Int$ 174 310 for Group 1, Int$ 57 584 for Group 2 and Int$ 25 508 for Group 3. It is estimated that the African Region will incur a loss of approximately 6 % of its non-health GDP from the future years of life lost among the 2 976 000 child deaths that occurred in 2013. Therefore, countries and development partners should in solidarity sustainably provide the resources essential to build resilient national health systems and systems to address the determinants of health and meet the other basic needs such as for clothing, education, food, shelter, sanitation and clean water to end preventable child morbidity and mortality.

Recurrent evolution of host and vector association in bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex.

PubMed

Becker, Noémie S; Margos, Gabriele; Blum, Helmut; Krebs, Stefan; Graf, Alexander; Lane, Robert S; Castillo-Ramírez, Santiago; Sing, Andreas; Fingerle, Volker

2016-09-15

The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) species complex consists of tick-transmitted bacteria and currently comprises approximately 20 named and proposed genospecies some of which are known to cause Lyme Borreliosis. Species have been defined via genetic distances and ecological niches they occupy. Understanding the evolutionary relationship of species of the complex is fundamental to explaining patterns of speciation. This in turn forms a crucial basis to frame testable hypotheses concerning the underlying processes including host and vector adaptations. Illumina Technology was used to obtain genome-wide sequence data for 93 strains of 14 named genospecies of the B. burgdorferi species complex and genomic data already published for 18 additional strain (including one new species) was added. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on 114 orthologous single copy genes shows that the genospecies represent clearly distinguishable taxa with recent and still ongoing speciation events apparent in Europe and Asia. The position of Borrelia species in the phylogeny is consistent with host associations constituting a major driver for speciation. Interestingly, the data also demonstrate that vector associations are an additional driver for diversification in this tick-borne species complex. This is particularly obvious in B. bavariensis, a rodent adapted species that has diverged from the bird-associated B. garinii most likely in Asia. It now consists of two populations one of which most probably invaded Europe following adaptation to a new vector (Ixodes ricinus) and currently expands its distribution range. The results imply that genotypes/species with novel properties regarding host or vector associations have evolved recurrently during the history of the species complex and may emerge at any time. We suggest that the finding of vector associations as a driver for diversification may be a general pattern for tick-borne pathogens. The core genome analysis presented here provides an important source for investigations of the underlying mechanisms of speciation in tick-borne pathogens.

Does time since immigration modify neighborhood deprivation gradients in preterm birth? A multilevel analysis.

PubMed

Urquia, Marcelo Luis; Frank, John William; Moineddin, Rahim; Glazier, Richard Henry

2011-10-01

Immigrants' health is jointly influenced by their pre- and post-migration exposures, but how these two influences operate with increasing duration of residence has not been well-researched. We aimed to examine how the influence of maternal country of birth and neighborhood deprivation effects, if any, change over time since migration and how neighborhood effects among immigrants compare with those observed in the Canadian-born population. Birth data from Ontario hospital records (2002-2007) were linked with an official Canadian immigration database (1985-2000). The outcome measure was preterm birth. Neighborhoods were ranked according to a neighborhood deprivation index developed for Canadian urban areas and collapsed into tertiles of approximately equal size. Time since immigration was measured from the date of arrival to Canada to the date of delivery, ranging from 1 to 22 years. We used cross-classified random effect models to simultaneously account for the membership of births (N = 83,233) to urban neighborhoods (N = 1,801) and maternal countries of birth (N = 168). There were no differences in preterm birth between neighborhood deprivation tertiles among immigrants with less than 15 years of residence. Among immigrants with 15 years of stay or more, the adjusted absolute risk difference (ARD%, 95% confidence interval) between high-deprived (tertile 3) and low-deprived (tertile 1) neighborhoods was 1.86 (0.68, 2.98), while the ARD% observed among the Canadian-born (N = 314,237) was 1.34 (1.11, 1.57). Time since migration modifies the neighborhood deprivation gradient in preterm birth among immigrants living in Ontario cities. Immigrants reached the level of inequalities in preterm birth observed at the neighborhood level among the Canadian-born after 14 years of stay, but neighborhoods did not influence preterm birth among more recent immigrants, for whom the maternal country of birth was more predictive of preterm birth.

The detection and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Shigella isolates from meat and swab samples at butchers' shops in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Garedew, Legesse; Hagos, Zenabu; Zegeye, Bidir; Addis, Zelalem

2016-01-01

Food borne pathogens are major causes of deaths, illnesses and billions of dollars of expenses. The burden of food borne illness is worsened by the ever increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance microbes. Shigella, a bacterial pathogen associated with food, is reported to account for higher prevalence rates of food borne illness in different settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 10 to June 30, 2013, at the butcher houses of Gondar town in the Northwest of Ethiopia to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Shigella. Cattle raw meat and swab samples from selected critical control points, including knives, chopping boards, and the hands and noses of butchers, were collected and analyzed. The identification of Shigella was carried out using colony characteristics, the Gram reaction, and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The overall hygienic status of the butcher shops was also assessed using a checklist. An observational analysis revealed that the sanitary condition of the butcher shops and their premises was poor. Of 306 samples screened, 10.5% were positive for Shigella. Approximately 7.4% of meat samples and 10.2% of swab samples were contaminated with Shigella. Out of the total Shigella isolates, 90.6%, 46.9%, 18.8% and 9.4% were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone and tetracycline, respectively. A multidrug resistance pattern was recorded in 27.8% of the isolates. In conclusion, the safety of meat sold at Gondar butchers houses was poor. The identified Shigella isolates showed high levels of drug resistance and multidrug resistance patterns for commonly used antimicrobials in veterinary and human medicine. Practicing wise use of antimicrobials and strict sanitary interventions at different critical control points is strongly recommended, in addition to further in-depth studies to prevent unprecedented consequences from shigellosis. Copyright © 2015 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Foreign-born Peers and Academic Performance.

PubMed

Conger, Dylan

2015-04-01

The academic performance of foreign-born youth in the United States is well studied, yet little is known about whether and how foreign-born students influence their classmates. In this article, I develop a set of expectations regarding the potential consequences of immigrant integration across schools, with a distinction between the effects of sharing schools with immigrants who are designated as English language learners (ELL) and those who are not. I then use administrative data on multiple cohorts of Florida public high school students to estimate the effect of immigrant shares on immigrant and native-born students' academic performance. The identification strategy pays careful attention to the selection problem by estimating the effect of foreign-born peers from deviations in the share foreign-born across cohorts of students attending the same school in different years. The assumption underlying this approach is that students choose schools based on the composition of the entire school, not on the composition of each entering cohort. The results of the analysis, which hold under several robustness checks, indicate that foreign-born peers (both those who are ELL and those who are non-ELL) have no effect on their high school classmates' academic performance.

Work Disability Among Native-born and Foreign-born Americans: On Origins, Health, and Social Safety Nets.

PubMed

Engelman, Michal; Kestenbaum, Bert M; Zuelsdorff, Megan L; Mehta, Neil K; Lauderdale, Diane S

2017-12-01

Public debates about both immigration policy and social safety net programs are increasingly contentious. However, little research has explored differences in health within America's diverse population of foreign-born workers, and the effect of these workers on public benefit programs is not well understood. We investigate differences in work disability by nativity and origins and describe the mix of health problems associated with receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Our analysis draws on two large national data sources-the American Community Survey and comprehensive administrative records from the Social Security Administration-to determine the prevalence and incidence of work disability between 2001 and 2010. In sharp contrast to prior research, we find that foreign-born adults are substantially less likely than native-born Americans to report work disability, to be insured for work disability benefits, and to apply for those benefits. Overall and across origins, the foreign-born also have a lower incidence of disability benefit award. Persons from Africa, Northern Europe, Canada, and parts of Asia have the lowest work disability benefit prevalence rates among the foreign-born; persons from Southern Europe, Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Caribbean have the highest rates.

Place of Birth and Sleep Duration: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

PubMed

Newsome, Valerie; Seixas, Azizi; Iwelunmor, Juliet; Zizi, Ferdinand; Kothare, Sanjeev; Jean-Louis, Girardin

2017-07-07

While sleep disturbance has been related to a number of negative health outcomes, few studies have examined the relationship between place of birth and sleep duration among individuals living in the US. Data for 416,152 adult participants in the 2000-2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), who provided self-reported hours of sleep and place of birth were examined. Associations were explored between healthy sleep (7-8 h), referenced to unhealthy sleep (<7 or >8 h), and place of birth using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The mean age of the sample was 47.4 ± 0.03 years; 56% were female. Of the respondents, 61.5% reported experiencing healthy sleep, 81.5% reported being born in the US and 18.5% were foreign-born adults. Descriptive statistics revealed that Indian Subcontinent-born respondents (71.7%) were more likely to report healthy sleep compared to US-born respondents (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.37-1.71, p < 0.001), whereas African-born respondents (43.5%) were least likely to report healthy sleep (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.70-0.87, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that place of birth should be considered in the assessment of risk factors for unhealthy sleep.

A measurement of the relative cross sections for simultaneous ionization and excitation of the degenerate He(plus) n equals 4 levels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutton, J. F.; Kay, R. B.

1972-01-01

The relative cross sections for simultaneous ionization and excitation of helium by 200 eV electrons into the 4S, 4P, 4D and 4F levels have been measured via a fast delayed coincidence technique. Results are in poor agreement with Born approximation calculations for simultaneous ionization and excitation of helium, the 4P component being larger than expected.

Tilting-filter measurements in dayglow rocket photometry.

PubMed

Schaeffer, R C; Fastie, W G

1972-10-01

A rocket-borne photometer containing two tilting-filter channels for the measurement of the [OI] lambdalambda6300-A and 5577A emission lines in the day airglow is described. The results of one flight substantiate the employment of tilting filters to determine accurate corrections for background continuum and provide reliable height profiles of emission intensity down to approximately 90 km. Discussions on the calibration of the instrument and its baffling against sunlight are also presented.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Health Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of Older, Foreign-Born, Chinese American Adults Living in New York City

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyatt, Laura C.; Trinh-Shevrin, Chau; Islam, Nadia S.; Kwon, Simona C.

2014-01-01

Although the New York City Chinese population aged =65 years increased by 50% between 2000 and 2010, the health needs of this population are poorly understood. Approximately 3,001 Chinese individuals from high-density Asian American New York City areas were included in the REACH U.S. Risk Factor Survey; 805 (26.8%) were aged =65 years and…

Prevalence of direct-reaction mechanism in a deeply inelastic reaction, /sup 197/Au(/sup 19/F,/sup 12/B)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ishihara, M.; Shimoda, T.; Froehlich, H.

1979-07-09

Continuum cross sections and spin polarizations of /sup 12/B produced in the reaction /sup 197/Au(/sup 19/F,/sup 12/B) induced by 186-MeV/sup 19/F were measured. The observed data were reproduced very well in terms of a distorted-wave Born-approximation theory, indicating that this reaction transferring as many as seven nucleons proceeds as a direct process.

Satisfaction with emergency obstetric and new born care services among clients using public health facilities in Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia; a cross sectional study.

PubMed

Kumsa, Alemayehu; Tura, Gurmessa; Nigusse, Aderajew; Kebede, Getahun

2016-04-25

The 2005 report of United Nations Millennium Project of Transforming Health Systems for women and children concluded that universal access to Emergency Obstetric and New born Care could reduce maternal deaths by 74%. Even though some studies investigated quality of Emergency Obstetric and New born Care in different parts of the world, there is scarcity of data regarding this issue in Ethiopia, particularly in Jimma zone. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and new born Care services among clients using public health facilities in Jimma zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A facility-based cross sectional study was conducted in Jimma Zone from April 01-30, 2014. The data were collected by interviewing 403 clients, who gave birth in the past 12 months prior to data collection in 34 randomly selected public health facilities. The collected data were entered by using Epi-info version 3.5.4 and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Linear regression analysis was done to ascertain the association between covariates and the outcome variable, and finally the results were presented using frequency distribution tables, graphs and texts. The overall mean client satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services in this study was 79.4%; 95% CI (75%, 83%). The result of linear regression analysis revealed that a unit decrease in satisfaction to availability of drugs and equipment, decreased overall clients' satisfaction by 0.23 unit 95% CI (0.15, 0.31). The level of clients' satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services was low in the study area. Factors such as availability of essential equipment and drugs, health workers' communication, health care provided, and attitude of health workers had positive association with client satisfaction with Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services. This in turn could affect utilization of Emergency Obstetric and New born Care services and play a role in contribution to maternal and new born mortality. Therefore, the efforts of health facilities leaders and health care providers towards improvement of quality of care could contribute more for better maternal satisfaction.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Afonso, V.I.; Olmo, Gonzalo J.; Rubiera-Garcia, D., E-mail: viafonso@df.ufcg.edu.br, E-mail: gonzalo.olmo@uv.es, E-mail: drgarcia@fc.ul.pt

The existence of static, spherically symmetric, self-gravitating scalar field solutions in the context of Born-Infeld gravity is explored. Upon a combination of analytical approximations and numerical methods, the equations for a free scalar field (without a potential term) are solved, verifying that the solutions recover the predictions of General Relativity far from the center but finding important new effects in the central regions. We find two classes of objects depending on the ratio between the Schwarzschild radius and a length scale associated to the Born-Infeld theory: massive solutions have a wormhole structure, with their throat at r ≈ 2 Mmore » , while for the lighter configurations the topology is Euclidean. The total energy density of these solutions exhibits a solitonic profile with a maximum peaked away from the center, and located at the throat whenever a wormhole exists. The geodesic structure and curvature invariants are analyzed for the various configurations considered.« less

Electron-positron pair production in ion collisions at low velocity beyond Born approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, R. N.; Milstein, A. I.

2016-10-01

We derive the spectrum and the total cross section of electromagnetic e+e- pair production in the collisions of two nuclei at low relative velocity β. Both free-free and bound-free e+e- pair production is considered. The parameters ηA,B =ZA,B α are assumed to be small compared to unity but arbitrary compared to β (ZA,B are the charge numbers of the nuclei and α is the fine structure constant). Due to a suppression of the Born term by high power of β, the first Coulomb correction to the amplitude appears to be important at ηA,B ≳ β. The effect of a finite nuclear mass is discussed. In contrast to the result obtained in the infinite nuclear mass limit, the terms ∝M-2 are not suppressed by the high power of β and may easily dominate at sufficiently small velocities.

Culicoides variipennis and bluetongue-virus epidemiology in the United States.

PubMed

Tabachnick, W J

1996-01-01

The bluetongue viruses are transmitted to ruminants in North America by Culicoides variipennis. US annual losses of approximately $125 million are due to restrictions on the movement of livestock and germplasm to bluetongue-free countries. Bluetongue is the most economically important arthropod-borne animal disease in the United States. Bluetongue is absent in the northeastern United States because of the inefficient vector ability there of C. variipennis for bluetongue. The vector of bluetongue virus elsewhere in the United States is C. variipennis sonorensis. The three C. variipennis subspecies differ in vector competence for bluetongue virus in the laboratory. Understanding C. variipennis genetic variation controlling bluetongue transmission will help identify geographic regions at risk for bluetongue and provide opportunities to prevent virus transmission. Information on C. variipennis and bluetongue epidemiology will improve trade and provide information to protect US livestock from domestic and foreign arthropod-borne pathogens.

Lidar- and balloon-borne particle counter comparisons following recent volcanic eruptions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hofmann, D. J.; Rosen, J. M.; Reiter, R.; Jager, H.

1983-01-01

Balloon-borne particle counter measurements at Laramie, Wyoming (41 deg N) are used to calculate the expected lidar backscatter at 0.694 micron wavelength from July 1979 to February 1982, a period which included at least four detectable perturbations of the stratospheric aerosol layer due to volcanic eruptions. These calculations are compared with lidar measurements conducted at Garmisch-Partenkirchen (47.5 deg N) during the same period. While the agreement is generally good using only the main mode in the particle size distribution (radius about 0.07 micron) during approximately the first 6 months following a major volcanic eruption, a measured secondary mode near 1 micron radius, when included, improves the agreement. Calculations of the expected backscatter at 25-30 km reveal that substantial number of particles diffuse into this high altitude region about 7 months after a major eruption, and these particles should be taken into account when normalizing lidar at these altitudes.

"Know More Hepatitis:" CDC's National Education Campaign to Increase Hepatitis C Testing Among People Born Between 1945 and 1965.

PubMed

Jorgensen, Cynthia; Carnes, C Amanda; Downs, Alycia

2016-01-01

In 2012, CDC issued recommendations calling for those born between 1945 and 1965, or baby boomers, to get tested for the hepatitis C virus. To help implement this recommendation, CDC developed "Know More Hepatitis," a multimedia national education campaign. Guided by behavioral science theories and formative research, the campaign used multiple strategies to reach baby boomers and health-care providers with messages encouraging baby boomers to get tested for hepatitis C. With a limited campaign budget, the "Know More Hepatitis" campaign relied mostly on donated time and space from broadcast and print outlets. Donated placements totaled approximately $14.7 million, which reflected a more than 12-to-1 return on the campaign investment. This effort was supplemented with a small, paid digital advertising campaign. Combining audience impressions from both paid and donated campaign efforts resulted in more than 1.2 billion audience impressions.

The Role of Clinics in Determining Older Recent Immigrants' Use of Health Services.

PubMed

Vega, Alma; Porteny, Thalia; Aguila, Emma

2018-01-30

Immigrants are ineligible for federally-funded Medicaid in the U.S. until at least 5 years after arrival. There is little information on where they receive care in light of this restriction. Using Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition, this study examines whether the setting in which older recent immigrants receive care (i.e., health clinic, emergency room or doctor's office) explains delays in care. Among older adults with a usual source of care, 13.5% of recent immigrants had not seen a health professional in the past year compared to 8.6% of non-recent immigrants and 6.3% of native-born. Approximately 23% of these differences is attributable to recent immigrants' tendency to receive care in clinics and community health centers. Even when older recent immigrants manage to find a usual source of care, it is of lower quality than that received by their non-recent immigrant and native-born counterparts.

A rigorous approach to the formulation of extended Born-Oppenheimer equation for a three-state system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Biplab; Adhikari, Satrajit

If a coupled three-state electronic manifold forms a sub-Hilbert space, it is possible to express the non-adiabatic coupling (NAC) elements in terms of adiabatic-diabatic transformation (ADT) angles. Consequently, we demonstrate: (a) Those explicit forms of the NAC terms satisfy the Curl conditions with non-zero Divergences; (b) The formulation of extended Born-Oppenheimer (EBO) equation for any three-state BO system is possible only when there exists coordinate independent ratio of the gradients for each pair of ADT angles leading to zero Curls at and around the conical intersection(s). With these analytic advancements, we formulate a rigorous EBO equation and explore its validity as well as necessity with respect to the approximate one (Sarkar and Adhikari, J Chem Phys 2006, 124, 074101) by performing numerical calculations on two different models constructed with different chosen forms of the NAC elements.

Reduced rotavirus vaccine effectiveness among children born during the rotavirus season: a pooled analysis of 5 case-control studies from the Americas.

PubMed

Premkumar, Prasanna S; Parashar, Umesh D; Gastanaduy, Paul A; McCracken, John P; de Oliveira, Lucia Helena; Payne, Daniel C; Patel, Manish M; Tate, Jacqueline E; Lopman, Ben A

2015-04-01

Using data from rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies, we assessed whether rotavirus season modifies rotavirus VE in infants. In the first year of life, adjusted VE was 72% for children born during rotavirus season and 84% for children born in other months (P = .01). Seasonal factors may interfere with vaccine performance. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and non-recent immigrants in Japan - some issues for post-entry interventions.

PubMed

Kawatsu, Lisa; Uchimura, Kazuhiro; Ohkado, Akihiro; Kato, Seiya

2017-01-01

Foreign-born persons are considered one of the high-risk populations for tuberculosis (TB), and numerous studies have discussed the potential role of pre-entry TB screening for immigrants. However, rates of TB disease among immigrants can remain high several years after entry. In Japan, approximately 50% of TB among foreign-born persons occurs among those who have entered Japan more than five years before being diagnosed, i.e. non-recent immigrants. However, little attention has been paid so far to the issue of TB control among the non-recent immigrants. A detailed analysis of the Japan Tuberculosis Surveillance data was therefore conducted to describe the characteristics of TB among non-recent immigrants and discuss policy implications in terms of post-entry interventions in Japan. The main findings were as follows: 1) the proportion of pulmonary TB cases aged 65 years and older was higher among non-recent than recent immigrants (9.8% vs 1.2%); 2) the proportion of those with social risk factors including homelessness and and being on social welfare assistance was higher among non-recent than recent immigrants; and 3) the proportion of those detected via routine screening at school or workplace was significantly lower among non-recent immigrants aged between 25 and 64 than among recent immigrants in the same age group (15.4% vs 28.7%). Our results suggested the need to increase the opportunities for and simultaneously improve the take-up rate of community-based screening for non-recent immigrants.

Impact of preterm birth on infant mortality for newborns with congenital heart defects: The EPICARD population-based cohort study.

PubMed

Laas, Enora; Lelong, Nathalie; Ancel, Pierre-Yves; Bonnet, Damien; Houyel, Lucile; Magny, Jean-François; Andrieu, Thibaut; Goffinet, François; Khoshnood, Babak

2017-05-15

Congenital heart defects (CHD) and preterm birth (PTB) are major causes of infant mortality. However, limited data exist on risk of mortality associated with PTB for newborns with CHD. Our objective was to assess impact of PTB on risk of infant mortality for newborns with CHD, while taking into account the role of associated anomalies and other potentially confounding factors. We used data on 2172 live births from a prospective population-based cohort study of CHD (the EPICARD Study) and compared neonatal, post-neonatal and overall infant mortality for infants born at <32, 32-34 and 35-36 weeks vs. those born at term (37-41 weeks). Preterm newborns had a 3.8-fold higher risk of infant death (17.9%) than term newborns (4.7%), RR 3.8, 95%CI 2.7-5.2; the risk associated with PTB was more than four-fold higher for neonatal (RR 4.3, 95% CI 2.9-6.6) and three-fold higher for post-neonatal deaths (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.2). Survival analysis showed that newborns <35 weeks had a higher risk of mortality, which decreased but persisted after exclusion of associated anomalies and adjustment for potential confounders. Preterm birth is associated with an approximately four-fold higher risk of infant mortality for newborns with CHD. This excess risk appears to be mostly limited to newborns <35 weeks of gestation and is disproportionately due to early deaths.

Topologically nontrivial black holes in Lovelock-Born-Infeld gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farhangkhah, N.

2018-04-01

We present the black hole solutions possessing horizon with nonconstant-curvature and additional scalar restrictions on the base manifold in Lovelock gravity coupled to Born-Infeld (BI) nonlinear electrodynamics. The asymptotic and near origin behavior of the metric is presented and we analyze different behaviors of the singularity. We find that, in contrast to the case of black hole solutions of BI-Lovelock gravity with constant curvature horizon and Maxwell-Lovelock gravity with non constant horizon which have only timelike singularities, spacelike, and timelike singularities may exist for BI-Lovelock black holes with nonconstant curvature horizon. By calculating the thermodynamic quantities, we study the effects of nonlinear electrodynamics via the Born-Infeld action. Stability analysis shows that black holes with positive sectional curvature, κ , possess an intermediate unstable phase and large and small black holes are stable. We see that while Ricci flat Lovelock-Born-Infeld black holes having exotic horizons are stable in the presence of Maxwell field or either Born Infeld field with large born Infeld parameter β , unstable phase appears for smaller values of β , and therefore nonlinearity brings in the instability.

Effects of monocortical and bicortical mini-implant anchorage on bone-borne palatal expansion using finite element analysis.

PubMed

Lee, Robert J; Moon, Won; Hong, Christine

2017-05-01

Bone-borne palatal expansion relies on mini-implant stability for successful orthopedic expansion. The large magnitude of applied force experienced by mini-implants during bone-borne expansion may lead to high failure rates. Use of bicortical mini-implant anchorage rather than monocortical anchorage may improve mini-implant stability. The aims of this study were to analyze and compare the effects of bicortical and monocortical anchorages on stress distribution and displacement during bone-borne palatal expansion using finite element analysis. Two skull models were constructed to represent expansion before and after midpalatal suture opening. Three clinical situations with varying mini-implant insertion depths were studied in each skull model: monocortical, 1-mm bicortical, and 2.5-mm bicortical. Finite element analysis simulations were performed for each clinical situation in both skull models. Von Mises stress distribution and transverse displacement were evaluated for all models. Peri-implant stress was greater in the monocortical anchorage model compared with both bicortical anchorage models. In addition, transverse displacement was greater and more parallel in the coronal plane for both bicortical models compared with the monocortical model. Minimal differences were observed between the 1-mm and the 2.5-mm bicortical models for both peri-implant stress and transverse displacement. Bicortical mini-implant anchorage results in improved mini-implant stability, decreased mini-implant deformation and fracture, more parallel expansion in the coronal plane, and increased expansion during bone-borne palatal expansion. However, the depth of bicortical mini-implant anchorage was not significant. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stratified at Seven: In-Class Ability Grouping and the Relative Age Effect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Tammy

2014-01-01

There is an established body of evidence indicating that a pupil's relative age within their school year cohort is associated with academic attainment throughout compulsory education. In England, autumn-born pupils consistently attain at higher levels than summer-born pupils. Analysis here investigates a possible channel of this relative age…

Predictors of Post-Secondary Academic Outcomes among Local-Born, Immigrant, and International Students in Canada: A Retrospective Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Silva, Tricia L.; Zakzanis, Konstantine; Henderson, Joanna; Ravindran, Arun V.

2017-01-01

Poor academic performance and dropout are major concerns at post-secondary institutions. Influences include sociodemographic, psychosocial, and academic functioning factors. Canadian literature is limited, and little published data directly compare academic outcomes between local-born, immigrant, and international students. We conducted a…

Work Experiences of Foreign-Born Asian Women Counseling and Psychology Faculty

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Eunha; Hogge, Ingrid; Mok, Geoffrey; Nishida, Harumi

2014-01-01

Eleven foreign-born and -raised Asian women faculty in counseling and psychology programs in the United States were interviewed about their work experiences. Analysis using consensual qualitative research revealed 7 sources of stressors, 6 emotional reactions associated with stressors, 5 coping strategies, and 4 types of intrinsic rewards gained…

The “anomalous cedar trees” of Lake Ashi, Hakone Volcano, Japan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Oki, Y.

1984-01-01

On the bottom of Lake Ashi at Hakone, Japan, there stand great trees that, since ancient times, have been widely known as the "Anomalous Cedar Trees" of Ashi. It is not known why these trees grow on the bottom of the lake, and it remains one of the mysteries of Hakone. It was formerly thought that, at the time Lake Ashi was born, a great forest of cedar trees which was growing in the caldera of the volcano sank into the water. From radioactive carbon dating techniques, it is known that a steam explosion in the Kami Mountains created the caldera approximately 3,000 years ago. The age of the "Anomalous Cedars" is placed at approximately. 

Stability of phases of a square-well fluid within superposition approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piasecki, Jarosław; Szymczak, Piotr; Kozak, John J.

2013-04-01

The analytic and numerical methods introduced previously to study the phase behavior of hard sphere fluids starting from the Yvon-Born-Green (YBG) equation under the Kirkwood superposition approximation (KSA) are adapted to the square-well fluid. We are able to show conclusively that the YBG equation under the KSA closure when applied to the square-well fluid: (i) predicts the existence of an absolute stability limit corresponding to freezing where undamped oscillations appear in the long-distance behavior of correlations, (ii) in accordance with earlier studies reveals the existence of a liquid-vapor transition by the appearance of a "near-critical region" where monotonically decaying correlations acquire very long range, although the system never loses stability.

Microwave scattering and emission from a half-space anisotropic random medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mudaliar, Saba; Lee, Jay Kyoon

1990-12-01

This paper is a sequel to an earlier paper (Lee and Mudaliar, 1988) where the backscattering coefficients of a half-space anisotropic random medium were obtained. Here the bistatic scattering coefficients are calculated by solving the modified radiative transfer equations under a first-order approximation. The effects of multiple scattering on the results are observed. Emissivities are calculated and compared with those obtained using the Born approximation (single scattering). Several interesting properties of the model are brought to notice using numerical examples. Finally, as an application, the theory is used to interpret the passive remote sensing data of multiyear sea ice in the microwave frequency range. A quite close agreement between theoretical prediction and the measured data is found.

Bound and continuum energy distributions of nuclear fragments resulting from tunneling ionization of molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svensmark, Jens; Tolstikhin, Oleg I.; Madsen, Lars Bojer

2018-03-01

We present the theory of tunneling ionization of molecules with both electronic and nuclear motion treated quantum mechanically. The theory provides partial rates for ionization into the different final states of the molecular ion, including both bound vibrational and dissociative channels. The exact results obtained for a one-dimensional model of H2 and D2 are compared with two approximate approaches, the weak-field asymptotic theory and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The validity ranges and compatibility of the approaches are identified formally and illustrated by the calculations. The results quantify that at typical field strengths considered in strong-field physics, it is several orders of magnitude more likely to ionize into bound vibrational ionic channels than into the dissociative channel.

Lung parenchyma at maturity is influenced by postnatal growth but not by moderate preterm birth in sheep.

PubMed

Maritz, Gert; Probyn, Megan; De Matteo, Robert; Snibson, Ken; Harding, Richard

2008-01-01

We have recently shown that moderate preterm birth, in the absence of respiratory support, altered the structure of lung parenchyma in young lambs, but the long-term effects are unknown. To determine whether structural changes persist to maturity, and whether postnatal growth affects lung structure at maturity in sheep. At approximately 1.2 years after birth, lung parenchyma of sheep born 14 days before term (n = 7) was stereologically compared with that of controls born at term (n = 8, term approx. 146 days). Preterm birth per se had no significant effect on lung volume, alveolar number and size, and thicknesses of the alveolar walls and blood-gas barrier. After combining the preterm and term groups, we examined the effects of postnatal growth rates on lung parenchyma. Slower-growing sheep (SG; n = 7: 4 preterm, 3 term) were compared with faster-growing sheep (FG; n = 8: 3 preterm, 5 term). At approximately 1.2 years, the right lung volume, relative to body weight, was significantly lower in SG than FG sheep (p < 0.05) and alveolar number was significantly lower by approximately 44%. The total alveolar internal surface area of the right lung of SG sheep was 38% smaller than in FG sheep; it was also significantly lower when related to both lung and body weight. Our data suggest that moderate preterm birth does not cause persistent alterations in lung parenchyma. However, slow postnatal growth in low-birth-weight sheep results in smaller lungs with fewer alveoli and a lower alveolar surface area relative to body weight. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

WaFIRS, a Waveguide Far-IR Spectrometer: Enabling Space-Borne Spectroscopy of High-z Galaxies in the Far-IR and Submm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradford, C. M.; Bock, J. J.; Dragovan, M.; Earle, L.; Glenn, J.; Naylor, B.; Nguyen, H.; Zmuidzinas, J.

2004-01-01

The discovery of galaxies beyond z approximately equal to 1 which emit the bulk of their luminosity at long wavelengths has demonstrated the need for high sensitivity, broadband spectroscopy in the far-IR/submm/mm bands. Because many of these sources are not detectable in the optical, long wavelength spectroscopy is key to measuring their redshifts and ISM conditions. The continuum source list will increase in the next decade with new ground-based instruments (SCUBA2, Bolocam, MAMBO) and the surveys of HSO and SIRTF. Yet the planned spectroscopic capabilities lag behind, primarily due to the difficulty in scaling existing IR spectrograph designs to longer wavelengths. To overcome these limitations, we are developing WaFIRS, a novel concept for long-wavelength spectroscopy which utilizes a parallel-plate waveguide and a curved diffraction grating. WaFIRS provides the large (approximately 60%) instantaneous bandwidth and high throughput of a conventional grating system, but offers a dramatic reduction in volume and mass. WaFIRS requires no space overheads for extra optical elements beyond the diffraction grating itself, and is two-dimensional because the propagation is confined between two parallel plates. Thus several modules could be stacked to multiplex either spatially or in different frequency bands. The size and mass savings provide opportunities for spectroscopy from space-borne observatories which would be impractical with conventional spectrographs. With background-limited detectors and a cooled 3.5 telescope, the line sensitivity would be better than that of ALMA, with instantaneous broad-band coverage. We have built and tested a WaFIRS prototype for 1-1.6 mm, and are currently constructing Z-Spec, a 100 mK model to be used as a ground-based lambda/DELTAlambda approximately equal to 350 submillimeter galaxy redshift machine.

Edge turbulence effect on ultra-fast swept reflectometry core measurements in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadvitskiy, G. V.; Heuraux, S.; Lechte, C.; Hacquin, S.; Sabot, R.

2018-02-01

Ultra-fast frequency-swept reflectometry (UFSR) enables one to provide information about the turbulence radial wave-number spectrum and perturbation amplitude with good spatial and temporal resolutions. However, a data interpretation of USFR is quiet tricky. An iterative algorithm to solve this inverse problem was used in past works, Gerbaud (2006 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77 10E928). For a direct solution, a fast 1D Helmholtz solver was used. Two-dimensional effects are strong and should be taken into account during data interpretation. As 2D full-wave codes are still too time consuming for systematic application, fast 2D approaches based on the Born approximation are of prime interest. Such methods gives good results in the case of small turbulence levels. However in tokamak plasmas, edge turbulence is usually very strong and can distort and broaden the probing beam Sysoeva et al (2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 033016). It was shown that this can change reflectometer phase response from the plasma core. Comparison between 2D full wave computation and the simplified Born approximation was done. The approximated method can provide a right spectral shape, but it is unable to describe a change of the spectral amplitude with an edge turbulence level. Computation for the O-mode wave with the linear density profile in the slab geometry and for realistic Tore-Supra density profile, based on the experimental data turbulence amplitude and spectrum, were performed to investigate the role of strong edge turbulence. It is shown that the spectral peak in the signal amplitude variation spectrum which rises with edge turbulence can be a signature of strong edge turbulence. Moreover, computations for misaligned receiving and emitting antennas were performed. It was found that the signal amplitude variation peak changes its position with a receiving antenna poloidal displacement.

Is the mothers' country of birth associated with the sex of their offspring in England and Wales from 2007 to 2011?

PubMed

Smith, Cameron; Fogarty, Andrew

2014-09-25

Preference for sons in India has resulted in a skewed sex ratio at live birth, probably as a consequence of female feticide. However, it is unclear if these cultural preferences are also currently present in communities who have emigrated from India to England and Wales. Data of all live births in England and Wales from 2007-2011 were obtained from the Office of National Statistics. A logistic regression analysis was used to compare the probability of having a male infant in mothers born inside the United Kingdom (UK) to those born outside the UK, stratified by mothers' region and country of birth. Mothers born in India were not observed to be giving birth to disproportionately more boys than mothers that were born in the UK (Odds Ratio OR: 1.00, 95% Confidence Interval CI: 0.98-1.02), although an excess of male births were observed in mothers born in South-East Asia (OR 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p = 0.005), the Middle East (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, p = 0.047), and South America (1.04; 95% CI: 1.00-1.07, p = 0.025). Mothers who were born in Africa were found to be less likely to give birth to boys than girls when compared to mothers born in the UK (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99), and this observation was attributable to women born in East and West Africa. There was no evidence of an excess of males born to women from India in England and Wales. An excess of males were observed in mothers born in South-East Asia, the Middle East and South America. Women born in Africa are less likely to give birth to boys than UK born mothers, an observation that is consistent with previous data.

Complete sequence of two tick-borne flaviviruses isolated from Siberia and the UK: analysis and significance of the 5' and 3'-UTRs.

PubMed

Gritsun, T S; Venugopal, K; Zanotto, P M; Mikhailov, M V; Sall, A A; Holmes, E C; Polkinghorne, I; Frolova, T V; Pogodina, V V; Lashkevich, V A; Gould, E A

1997-05-01

The complete nucleotide sequence of two tick-transmitted flaviviruses, Vasilchenko (Vs) from Siberia and louping ill (LI) from the UK, have been determined. The genomes were respectively, 10928 and 10871 nucleotides (nt) in length. The coding strategy and functional protein sequence motifs of tick-borne flaviviruses are presented in both Vs and LI viruses. The phylogenies based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and distance analysis of the polyproteins, identified Vs virus as a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus subgroup within the tick-borne serocomplex, genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Comparative alignment of the 3'-untranslated regions revealed deletions of different lengths essentially at the same position downstream of the stop codon for all tick-borne viruses. Two direct 27 nucleotide repeats at the 3'-end were found only for Vs and LI virus. Immediately following the deletions a region of 332-334 nt with relatively conserved primary structure (67-94% identity) was observed at the 3'-non-coding end of the virus genome. Pairwise comparisons of the nucleotide sequence data revealed similar levels of variation between the coding region, and the 5' and 3'-termini of the genome, implying an equivalent strong selective control for translated and untranslated regions. Indeed the predicted folding of the 5' and 3'-untranslated regions revealed patterns of stem and loop structures conserved for all tick-borne flaviviruses suggesting a purifying selection for preservation of essential RNA secondary structures which could be involved in translational control and replication. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.

Challenges facing effective implementation of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in children born to HIV-infected mothers in the public health facilities.

PubMed

Kamuhabwa, Appolinary Ar; Manyanga, Vicky

2015-01-01

If children born to HIV-infected mothers are not identified early, approximately 30% of them will die within the first year of life due to opportunistic infections. In order to prevent morbidity and mortality due to opportunistic infections in children, the World Health Organization recommends the use of prophylaxis using co-trimoxazole. However, the challenges affecting effective implementation of this policy in Tanzania have not been documented. In this study, we assessed the challenges facing the provision of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis among children born to HIV-infected mothers in the public hospitals of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Four hundred and ninety-eight infants' PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV) register books for the past 2 years were reviewed to obtain information regarding the provision of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. One hundred and twenty-six health care workers were interviewed to identify success stories and challenges in the provision of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in children. In addition, 321 parents and guardians of children born to HIV-infected mothers were interviewed in the health facilities. Approximately 80% of children were initiated with co-trimoxazole prophylaxis within 2 months after birth. Two hundred and ninety-one (58.4%) children started using co-trimoxazole within 4 weeks after birth. Majority (n=458, 91.8%) of the children were prescribed 120 mg of co-trimoxazole per day, whereas 39 (7.8%) received 240 mg per day. Only a small proportion (n=1, 0.2%) of children received 480 mg/day. Dose determination was based on the child's age rather than body weight. Parents and guardians reported that 42 (13.1%) children had missed one or more doses of co-trimoxazole during the course of prophylaxis. The majority of health care workers (89.7%) reported that co-trimoxazole is very effective for the prevention of opportunistic infections among children, but frequent shortage of co-trimoxazole in the health facilities was the main challenge. Most children who were initiated with co-trimoxazole prophylaxis did not experience significant opportunistic infections, and the drug was well tolerated. The major barrier for co-trimoxazole prophylaxis was due to frequent out-of-stocks of pediatric co-trimoxazole formulations in the health facilities. Dose determination was based on the age rather than the weight of children, thus creating potential for under- or over-dosing of children.

Environmental and genetic factors affecting cow survival of Israeli Holsteins.

PubMed

Weller, J I; Ezra, E

2015-01-01

The objectives were to investigate the effects of various environmental factors that may affect herd-life of Israeli Holsteins, including first-calving age and season, calving ease, number of progeny born, and service sire for first calving in complete and truncated records; and to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations between herd-life and the other traits included in the Israeli breeding index. The basic data set consisted of 590,869 cows in milk recording herds with first freshening day between 1985 and at least 8 yr before the cut-off date of September 15, 2013. Herd-life was measured as days from first calving to culling. The phenotypic and genetic trends for herd-life were 5.7 and 16.8d/yr. The genetic trend was almost linear, whereas the phenotypic trend showed 4 peaks and 3 valleys. Cows born in February and March had the shortest herd-life, whereas cows born in September had the longest herd-life. Herd-life was maximal with calving age of 23mo, which is 1mo less than the mean calving age, and minimal at 19 and 31mo of calving age. Dystocia and twinning on first-parity calving reduced herd-life by approximately180 and 120d, but the interaction effect increased herd-life by 140d. Heritability for herd-life was 0.14. Despite the fact that the service sire effect was significant in the fixed model analysis, service sire effect accounted for <0.05% of the total variance. In the analysis of 1,431,938 truncated records, the effects of dystocia and twinning rate were very similar but less than 50% of the effects found in the analysis of complete records. Pregnancy at the truncation date increased expected herd-life by 432d. The correlation between actual herd-life and predicted herd-life based on truncated records was 0.44. Genetic correlations between the truncated records and actual herd-life were 0.75 for records truncated after 6mo but approached unity for records truncated after 3 yr. The genetic correlations of herd-life with first-parity milk, fat, and protein production, somatic cell score (SCS), and female fertility were all positive, except for SCS, in which negative values are economically favorable. The highest correlations with herd-life in absolute value were with female fertility and SCS. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Anharmonic phonon-phonon scattering modeling of three-dimensional atomistic transport: An efficient quantum treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Y.; Bescond, M.; Logoteta, D.; Cavassilas, N.; Lannoo, M.; Luisier, M.

2018-05-01

We propose an efficient method to quantum mechanically treat anharmonic interactions in the atomistic nonequilibrium Green's function simulation of phonon transport. We demonstrate that the so-called lowest-order approximation, implemented through a rescaling technique and analytically continued by means of the Padé approximants, can be used to accurately model third-order anharmonic effects. Although the paper focuses on a specific self-energy, the method is applicable to a very wide class of physical interactions. We apply this approach to the simulation of anharmonic phonon transport in realistic Si and Ge nanowires with uniform or discontinuous cross sections. The effect of increasing the temperature above 300 K is also investigated. In all the considered cases, we are able to obtain a good agreement with the routinely adopted self-consistent Born approximation, at a remarkably lower computational cost. In the more complicated case of high temperatures (≫300 K), we find that the first-order Richardson extrapolation applied to the sequence of the Padé approximants N -1 /N results in a significant acceleration of the convergence.

Creating a Business Plan and Projecting Revenue for a Cosmetic Laser Center in a Community Hospital

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-05-01

at $300.00. Expenses for physician faculty were borne by ESC Sharplan. Overhead. Overhead was based upon $2.75 per square foot per month, or...33.00 per square foot per year. Total square footage of the laser center is approximately 300 square foot ($9,900 per year) (Sound Shore Finance...of holistic nursing therapies, including self- hypnosis, guided imagery, reflexology and therapeutic touch, into patient care. Establishing a Laser

Resolving electrical conductivities from collisionally damped plasmons in isochorically heated warm dense aluminum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sperling, P.; Fletcher, L. B.; Chung, H. -K.

2016-03-29

We measure the highly-resolved inelastic x-ray scattering spectrum of isochorically ultrafast heated aluminum. In the x-ray forward scattering spectra the electron temperature could be measured from the down- and upshifted plasmon, where the electron density of ne = 1:8 1023 cm 3 is known a priori. We have studied the plasmon damping by applying electron-particle collision models beyond the Born approximation determining the electrical conductivity of warm dense aluminum.

Breakup processes in heavy-ion induced reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Udagawa, T.; Tamura, T.; Shimoda, T.

1979-11-01

Cross sections for breakup of /sup 20/Ne into /sup 16/O and ..cap alpha.. during scattering from /sup 40/Ca were calculated in terms of the distorted-wave Born approximation. The inclusive /sup 16/O cross section observed in the /sup 40/Ca(/sup 20/Ne,/sup 16/O) reaction was then found to be fitted very well by the sum of this breakup contribution and that of the ..cap alpha..-transfer reaction calculated in our previous work.

Statistics of optical vortex wander on propagation through atmospheric turbulence.

PubMed

Gu, Yalong

2013-04-01

The transverse position of an optical vortex on propagation through atmospheric turbulence is studied. The probability density of the optical vortex position on a transverse plane in the atmosphere is formulated in weak turbulence by using the Born approximation. With these formulas, the effect of aperture averaging on topological charge detection is investigated. These results provide quantitative guidelines for the design of an optimal detector of topological charge, which has potential application in optical vortex communication systems.

Molecular spectroscopy and collisional excitation. [in astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, S.

1975-01-01

The paper examines the basic principles underlying the molecular transitions responsible for interstellar molecular spectra. The energy levels of molecules are discussed in detail with special attention given to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, the electronic Hamiltonian, and the parameters of vibrational and rotational energy. The probabilities for radiative and collisional transitions are calculated. A brief review of techniques for molecular spectroscopy is presented along with methods used to determine collision cross sections on both an experimental and a theoretical basis.

Electron-ion collision-frequency for x-ray Thomson scattering in dense plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Faussurier, Gérald, E-mail: gerald.faussurier@cea.fr; Blancard, Christophe

2016-01-15

Two methods are presented to calculate the electron-ion collision-frequency in dense plasmas using an average-atom model. The first one is based on the Kubo-Greenwood approach. The second one uses the Born and Lenard-Balescu approximations. The two methods are used to calculate x-ray Thomson scattering spectra. Illustrations are shown for dense beryllium and aluminum plasmas. Comparisons with experiment are presented in the case of an x-ray Thomson scattering spectrum.

The effect of density fluctuations on electron cyclotron beam broadening and implications for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snicker, A.; Poli, E.; Maj, O.; Guidi, L.; Köhn, A.; Weber, H.; Conway, G.; Henderson, M.; Saibene, G.

2018-01-01

We present state-of-the-art computations of propagation and absorption of electron cyclotron waves, retaining the effects of scattering due to electron density fluctuations. In ITER, injected microwaves are foreseen to suppress neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) by driving current at the q=2 and q=3/2 resonant surfaces. Scattering of the beam can spoil the good localization of the absorption and thus impair NTM control capabilities. A novel tool, the WKBeam code, has been employed here in order to investigate this issue. The code is a Monte Carlo solver for the wave kinetic equation and retains diffraction, full axisymmetric tokamak geometry, determination of the absorption profile and an integral form of the scattering operator which describes the effects of turbulent density fluctuations within the limits of the Born scattering approximation. The approach has been benchmarked against the paraxial WKB code TORBEAM and the full-wave code IPF-FDMC. In particular, the Born approximation is found to be valid for ITER parameters. In this paper, we show that the radiative transport of EC beams due to wave scattering in ITER is diffusive unlike in present experiments, thus causing up to a factor of 2-4 broadening in the absorption profile. However, the broadening depends strongly on the turbulence model assumed for the density fluctuations, which still has large uncertainties.

M-shell x-ray production cross sections for 19 elements in the range Z=54-92 by H/sup +/, He/sup +/ and He/sup + +/ ions from 300 keV to 40 MeV. [Xe, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, and U

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mehta, R.; Duggan, J.L.; Kocur, P.M.

1983-04-01

In this report, the measurements done over the last three decades at various laboratories are surveyed. The elements studied were Xe, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, and U. The projectile energies investigated range from 300 keV to 40 MeV for the protons and 250 keV to 2.5 MeV for He/sup +/ ions. Also reported are the M-shell x-ray production cross sections of some rare-earth elements recently measured at NTSU. For these measurements the energy of incident /sup 1/H/sup +/ and /sup 4/He/sup +/ ions ranged from 0.25 tomore » 2.5 MeV. The experimental data are compared to the M-shell ionization cross section predictions of first Born approximation, i.e. the PWBA for direct ionization plus the OBK of Nikolaev for electron capture. Comparison is also made with the theory by Brandt and Lapicki that goes beyond the first Born approximation, i.e. the ECPSSR approach which accounts for the Energy loss, Coulomb deflection and Relativistic effects in the Perturbed Stationary State theory.« less

πN scattering and γN → Nπ photoproduction within the unitary improved Born approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariano, A.

2007-07-01

Following the programme of describing consistently several processes where the isobar Δ(1232 MeV) nucleon resonance appears as an intermediate state, in this work we propose to unitarize our old improved Born approximation already used to describe successfully π+p elastic and radiative scattering, to treat pion photoproduction. First we add the effect of final state interactions and make a new determination of the mass, width and the coupling constant to the pion-nucleon state of the Δ resonance. Then extending the model for pion photoproduction and using the resonance parameters determined previously, we are able to define effective form factors (at k2γ = 0) for the γN → Δ vertex with values GM = 2.97 ± 0.08 and GE = 0.055 ± 0.010, by fitting the data for the M3/21+ and E3/21+ multipoles. These values are fully consistent with recent chiral effective field theory calculations, and using them we can predict satisfactorily the data for other multipoles and the photoproduction cross section. Finally, we intend a model-independent determination of the bare form factors making a dynamical dressing of the vertex, getting G0M = 1.69 ± 0.02, G0E = 0.028 ± 0.008 and R0EM = -1.67 ± 0.45%, which are compared with different quark models.

Immigrant children's reliance on public health insurance in the wake of immigration reform.

PubMed

Pati, Susmita; Danagoulian, Shooshan

2008-11-01

We sought to determine whether the reversal of the public charge rule of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which may have required families to pay for benefits previously received at no cost, led to immigrant children becoming increasingly reliant on public health insurance programs. We conducted a secondary data analysis focusing on low-income children sampled in the 1997 through 2004 versions of the National Health Interview Survey. Between 1997 and 2004, public health insurance enrollments and the numbers of uninsured foreign-born children in the United States increased by 3.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Using multinomial logistic regression models to account for the substantial differences in socioeconomic status between foreign-born and US-born children, we found that low-income US-born children were just as likely as foreign-born children to have public health insurance coverage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89, 1.52) and that, after 2000, foreign-born children were 1.59 times (95% CI = 1.24, 2.05) more likely than were US-born children to be uninsured (vs publicly insured). In the wake of the reversal of the public charge rule, immigrant children are increasingly likely to be uninsured as opposed to relying on public health insurance.

Immigrant Children's Reliance on Public Health Insurance in the Wake of Immigration Reform

PubMed Central

Danagoulian, Shooshan

2008-01-01

Objectives. We sought to determine whether the reversal of the public charge rule of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which may have required families to pay for benefits previously received at no cost, led to immigrant children becoming increasingly reliant on public health insurance programs. Methods. We conducted a secondary data analysis focusing on low-income children sampled in the 1997 through 2004 versions of the National Health Interview Survey. Results. Between 1997 and 2004, public health insurance enrollments and the numbers of uninsured foreign-born children in the United States increased by 3.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Using multinomial logistic regression models to account for the substantial differences in socioeconomic status between foreign-born and US-born children, we found that low-income US-born children were just as likely as foreign-born children to have public health insurance coverage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89, 1.52) and that, after 2000, foreign-born children were 1.59 times (95% CI = 1.24, 2.05) more likely than were US-born children to be uninsured (vs publicly insured). Conclusions. In the wake of the reversal of the public charge rule, immigrant children are increasingly likely to be uninsured as opposed to relying on public health insurance. PMID:18799772

Acculturation and Sleep among a Multiethnic Sample of Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

PubMed Central

Hale, Lauren; Troxel, Wendy M.; Kravitz, Howard M.; Hall, Martica H.; Matthews, Karen A.

2014-01-01

Study Objectives: Mexican immigrants to the United States report longer sleep duration and fewer sleep complaints than their US-born counterparts. To investigate whether this effect extends to other immigrant groups, we examined whether the prevalence of self-reported sleep complaints is higher among US-born Hispanic/Latina, Chinese, and Japanese immigrant women compared to their first-generation immigrant ethnic counterparts as well as to US-born whites. We examined whether these associations persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics and whether acculturation mediated the effects. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Multisite study in Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Newark, NJ. Participants: Hispanic/Latina (n = 196), Chinese (n = 228), Japanese (n = 271) and non-Hispanic white (n = 485) women (mean age = 46 y, range 42-52 y) participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN); 410 or 59.0% of the nonwhites were first-generation immigrants. Interventions: None. Measurements and Results: Questionnaires were used to assess sleep complaints, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, language acculturation (use of English language), and sociodemographic and health variables. Approximately 25% of first-generation immigrant women reported sleep complaints compared to 37% of those who were US-born nonwhites and 42% of US-born whites. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that US-born nonwhites had higher odds of reporting any sleep complaints (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-3.0), compared to first-generation immigrants. Women with higher levels of language acculturation had greater odds of reporting any sleep complaint compared to those with less language acculturation. Adjustment for language acculturation mediated 40.4% (95% CI 28.5-69.8) of the association between immigrant status and any sleep complaint. When results were stratified by race/ethnicity, significant mediation effects of acculturation were only found for Hispanic/Latina and Japanese women, but not for Chinese women. Conclusion: US-born Hispanic/Latina, Chinese, and Japanese immigrants were more likely to report sleep complaints than their first-generation ethnic counterparts, a finding largely explained by language acculturation and unmeasured factors associated with language acculturation. Citation: Hale L; Troxel WM; Kravitz HM; Hall MH; Matthews KA. Acculturation and sleep among a multiethnic sample of women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). SLEEP 2014;37(2):309-317. PMID:24497659

Mitigating nonlinearity in full waveform inversion using scaled-Sobolev pre-conditioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuberi, M. AH; Pratt, R. G.

2018-04-01

The Born approximation successfully linearizes seismic full waveform inversion if the background velocity is sufficiently accurate. When the background velocity is not known it can be estimated by using model scale separation methods. A frequently used technique is to separate the spatial scales of the model according to the scattering angles present in the data, by using either first- or second-order terms in the Born series. For example, the well-known `banana-donut' and the `rabbit ear' shaped kernels are, respectively, the first- and second-order Born terms in which at least one of the scattering events is associated with a large angle. Whichever term of the Born series is used, all such methods suffer from errors in the starting velocity model because all terms in the Born series assume that the background Green's function is known. An alternative approach to Born-based scale separation is to work in the model domain, for example, by Gaussian smoothing of the update vectors, or some other approach for separation by model wavenumbers. However such model domain methods are usually based on a strict separation in which only the low-wavenumber updates are retained. This implies that the scattered information in the data is not taken into account. This can lead to the inversion being trapped in a false (local) minimum when sharp features are updated incorrectly. In this study we propose a scaled-Sobolev pre-conditioning (SSP) of the updates to achieve a constrained scale separation in the model domain. The SSP is obtained by introducing a scaled Sobolev inner product (SSIP) into the measure of the gradient of the objective function with respect to the model parameters. This modified measure seeks reductions in the L2 norm of the spatial derivatives of the gradient without changing the objective function. The SSP does not rely on the Born prediction of scale based on scattering angles, and requires negligible extra computational cost per iteration. Synthetic examples from the Marmousi model show that the constrained scale separation using SSP is able to keep the background updates in the zone of attraction of the global minimum, in spite of using a poor starting model in which conventional methods fail.

Sickness presenteeism in Spanish-born and immigrant workers in Spain

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Previous studies have shown that immigrant workers face relatively worse working and employment conditions, as well as lower rates of sickness absence than native-born workers. This study aims to assess rates of sickness presenteeism in a sample of Spanish-born and foreign-born workers according to different characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst a convenience sample of workers (Spanish-born and foreign-born), living in four Spanish cities: Barcelona, Huelva, Madrid and Valencia (2008-2009). Sickness presenteeism information was collected through two items in the questionnaire ("Have you had health problems in the last year?" and "Have you ever had to miss work for any health problem?") and was defined as worker who had a health problem (answered yes, first item) and had not missed work (answered no, second item). For the analysis, the sample of 2,059 workers (1,617 foreign-born) who answered yes to health problems was included. After descriptives, logistic regressions were used to establish the association between origin country and sickness presenteeism (adjusted odds ratios aOR; 95% confidence interval 95%CI). Analyses were stratified per time spent in Spain among foreign-born workers. Results All of the results refer to the comparison between foreign-born and Spanish-born workers as a whole, and in some categories relating to personal and occupational conditions. Foreign-born workers were more likely to report sickness presenteeism compared with their Spanish-born counterparts, especially those living in Spain for under 2 years [Prevalence: 42% in Spanish-born and 56.3% in Foreign-born; aOR 1.77 95%CI 1.24-2.53]. In case of foreign-born workers (with time in Spain < 2 years), men [aOR 2.31 95%CI 1.40-3.80], those with university studies [aOR 3.01 95%CI 1.04-8.69], temporary contracts [aOR 2.26 95%CI 1.29-3.98] and salaries between 751-1,200€ per month [aOR 1.74 95% CI 1.04-2.92] were more likely to report sickness presenteeism. Also, recent immigrants with good self-perceived health and good mental health were more likely to report presenteeism than Spanish-born workers with the same good health indicators. Conclusions Immigrant workers report more sickness presenteeism than their Spanish-born counterparts. These results could be related to precarious work and employment conditions of immigrants. Immigrant workers should benefit from the same standards of social security, and of health and safety in the workplace that are enjoyed by Spanish workers. PMID:21190564

High cancer mortality for US-born Latinos: evidence from California and Texas.

PubMed

Pinheiro, Paulo S; Callahan, Karen E; Gomez, Scarlett Lin; Marcos-Gragera, Rafael; Cobb, Taylor R; Roca-Barcelo, Aina; Ramirez, Amelie G

2017-07-11

Latinos born in the US, 36 million, comprise 65% of all US Latinos. Yet their cancer experience is nearly always analyzed together with their foreign-born counterparts, 19 million, who constitute a steady influx of truly lower-risk populations from abroad. To highlight specific cancer vulnerabilities for US-born Latinos, we compare their cancer mortality to the majority non-Latino white (NLW) population, foreign-born Latinos, and non-Latino blacks. We analyzed 465,751 cancer deaths from 2008 to 2012 occurring among residents of California and Texas, the two most populous states, accounting for 47% of US Latinos. This cross-sectional analysis, based on granular data obtained from death certificates on cause of death, age, race, ethnicity and birthplace, makes use of normal standardization techniques and negative binomial regression models. While Latinos overall have lower all-cancers-combined mortality rates than NLWs, these numbers were largely driven by low rates among the foreign born while mortality rates for US-born Latinos approach those of NLWs. Among Texas males, rates were 210 per 100,000 for NLWs and 166 for Latinos combined, but 201 per 100,000 for US-born Latinos and 125 for foreign-born Latinos. Compared to NLWs, US-born Latino males in California had mortality rate ratios of 2.83 (95% CI: 2.52-3.18) for liver cancer, 1.44 (95% CI: 1.30-1.61) for kidney cancer, and 1.25 (95% CI: 1.17-1.34) for colorectal cancer (CRC). Texas results showed a similar site-specific pattern. Specific cancer patterns for US-born Latinos, who have relatively high cancer mortality, similar overall to NLWs, are masked by aggregation of all Latinos, US-born and foreign-born. While NLWs had high mortality for lung cancer, US-born Latinos had high mortality for liver, kidney and male colorectal cancers. HCV testing and reinforcement of the need for CRC screening should be a priority in this specific and understudied population. The unprecedented proximity of overall rates between NLWs and US-born Latino populations runs counter to the prevailing narrative of Latinos having significantly lower cancer risk and mortality. Birthplace data are critical in detecting meaningful differences among Latinos; these findings merit not only clinical but also public health attention.

Psychological growth and well-being in individuals born with cleft: An application of self-determination theory.

PubMed

Searle, Aidan; Neville, Patricia; Waylen, Andrea

2017-04-01

Many studies of individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) address the psychological impact of CLP in terms of stigma and/or 'resilience'. The present study challenges the usefulness of resilience in CLP research with the application of self-determination theory (SDT). It is proposed that SDT can serve to better understand how individuals born with CLP can achieve psychological growth and well-being. Interviews were conducted with 15 individuals born with CLP in the UK. A thematic analysis was conducted and four main themes emerged: (1) personal challenges, (2) support and strategies for social interaction, (3) experience of treatment and outcomes, and (4) personal development. The thematic analysis and the interpretation in the context of SDT leads to a greater understanding of the development of psychological growth and well-being in individuals born with CLP. Interpreting the life experiences of individuals with CLP through the theoretical lens of SDT allows the conceptualisation of individuals with CLP as a positive psychological resource when faced with the exclusionary practice of stigma. This resourcefulness is primarily nurtured by a supportive family and social environment that leads to the development of positive psychological growth and well-being. A new direction in CLP research is proposed that seeks to inform and implement change in professional practice to support individuals with CLP and their families.

Born in another country: women's experience of labour and birth in Queensland, Australia.

PubMed

Hennegan, Julie; Redshaw, Maggie; Miller, Yvette

2014-06-01

Women born outside Australia make up more than a fifth of the Queensland birthing population and like migrants in other parts of the world face the challenges of cultural dislocation and possible language barriers. Recognising that labour and birth are major life events the aim was to investigate the experiences of these women in comparison to native-born English speaking women. Secondary analysis of data from a population based survey of women who had recently birthed in Queensland. Self-reported clinical outcomes and quality of interpersonal care of 481 women born outside Australia who spoke a language other than English at home were compared with those of 5569 Australian born women speaking only English. After adjustment for demographic factors and type of birthing facility, women born in another country were less likely to be induced, but more likely to have constant electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), to give birth lying on their back or side, and to have an episiotomy. Most women felt that they were treated as an individual and with kindness and respect. However, women born outside Australia were less likely to report being looked after 'very well' during labour and birth and to be more critical of some aspects of care. In comparing the labour and birth experiences of women born outside the country who spoke another language with native-born English speaking women, the present study presents a largely positive picture. However, there were some marked differences in both clinical and interpersonal aspects of care. Copyright © 2014 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language functions in preterm-born children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

van Noort-van der Spek, Inge L; Franken, Marie-Christine J P; Weisglas-Kuperus, Nynke

2012-04-01

Preterm-born children (<37 weeks' gestation) have higher rates of language function problems compared with term-born children. It is unknown whether these problems decrease, deteriorate, or remain stable over time. The goal of this research was to determine the developmental course of language functions in preterm-born children from 3 to 12 years of age. Computerized databases Embase, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and PsycInfo were searched for studies published between January 1995 and March 2011 reporting language functions in preterm-born children. Outcome measures were simple language function assessed by using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and complex language function assessed by using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals. Pooled effect sizes (in terms of Cohen's d) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for simple and complex language functions were calculated by using random-effects models. Meta-regression was conducted with mean difference of effect size as the outcome variable and assessment age as the explanatory variable. Preterm-born children scored significantly lower compared with term-born children on simple (d = -0.45 [95% CI: -0.59 to -0.30]; P < .001) and on complex (d = -0.62 [95% CI: -0.82 to -0.43]; P < .001) language function tests, even in the absence of major disabilities and independent of social economic status. For complex language function (but not for simple language function), group differences between preterm- and term-born children increased significantly from 3 to 12 years of age (slope = -0.05; P = .03). While growing up, preterm-born children have increasing difficulties with complex language function.

The Spatial Concentration of Southern Whites and Argument-Based Lethal Violence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Matthew R.; Shihadeh, Edward S.

2009-01-01

This analysis examines how the spatial concentration of Southern whites is associated with white argument-based lethal violence. Using a well-known measure of spatial segregation (V, the adjusted P* index) among Southern-born whites in U.S. counties in 2000, the results reveal that the spatial concentration of Southern-born whites is only…

Clinical outcome and cerebrospinal fluid profiles in patients with tick-borne encephalitis and prior vaccination history.

PubMed

Lenhard, Thorsten; Ott, Daniela; Jakob, Nurith J; Martinez-Torres, Francisco; Grond-Ginsbach, Caspar; Meyding-Lamadé, Uta

2018-05-01

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is endemic in southern and eastern districts of Germany. Approximately 10-14% of the infected individuals suffer from long-term disability and in 1.5-3.6% the course is fatal. Two well-tolerated vaccines are available, which provide high protection and which have been confirmed in several field studies. Here we investigate clinical course, long-term outcome and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics of TBE cases with a prior history of any vaccination as well as real vaccination breakthrough (VBT). A case series of 11 patients with a prior history of vaccination, part of a recently published lager cohort of 111 TBE cases. Evaluation included clinical data, degree of disability (modified RANKIN scale, mRS) and analysis of CSF and serum samples. Furthermore, metadata for extended analysis on clinical outcome of TBE with VBT were analysed. One patient had a clear VBT and ten of them had irregular vaccinations schedules (IVS). Infection severity did not differ in patients with IVS as compared to a non-vaccinated control cohort (median mRS: both 3.0) but these patients showed a stronger cellular immune response as measured by CSF pleocytosis (IVS, 205 cells/μL versus non-vaccinated control, 114 cell/μL, P < 0.05) and by differential pattern of CSF (intrathecal) immunoglobulin synthesis. However, shift analysis of VBT metadata using linear-by-linear association revealed a more serious course of TBE in patients with VBT than in a non-vaccinated control cohort (χ 2  = 9.95, P = 0.002). Furthermore, ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that VBT patients had an age-corrected, 2.65 fold (CI: 1.110-6.328; χ 2  = 4.813; p = 0.028) significant higher risk to suffer from moderate or severe infections, respectively. A history of IVS surprisingly seems to have no impact on the clinical course of TBE but may leave marks in the specific brain immune response. VBT patients, however, carry an age-independent, significant risk to experience a severe infection. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.

Climate change, vector-borne diseases and working population.

PubMed

Vonesch, Nicoletta; D'Ovidio, Maria Concetta; Melis, Paola; Remoli, Maria Elena; Ciufolini, Maria Grazia; Tomao, Paola

2016-01-01

Risks associated with climate change are increasing worldwide and the global effects include altered weather and precipitation patterns, rising temperatures and others; human health can be affected directly and indirectly. This paper is an overview of literature regarding climate changes, their interaction with vector-borne diseases and impact on working population. Articles regarding climate changes as drivers of vector-borne diseases and evidences of occupational cases have been picked up by public databank. Technical documents were also included in the study. Evidences regarding the impact of climate changes on vector-borne diseases in Europe, provided by the analysis of the literature, are presented. Climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases are likely to be emerging due to climate modifications, with impacts on public and occupational health. However, other environmental and anthropogenic drivers such as increasing travelling and trade, deforestation and reforestation, altered land use and urbanization can influence their spread. Further studies are necessary to better understand the phenomenon and implementation of adaptation strategies to protect human health should be accelerated and strengthened.

Earth Observation and Indicators Pertaining to Determinants of Health- An Approach to Support Local Scale Characterization of Environmental Determinants of Vector-Borne Diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotchi, Serge Olivier; Brazeau, Stephanie; Ludwig, Antoinette; Aube, Guy; Berthiaume, Pilippe

2016-08-01

Environmental determinants (EVDs) were identified as key determinant of health (DoH) for the emergence and re-emergence of several vector-borne diseases. Maintaining ongoing acquisition of data related to EVDs at local scale and for large regions constitutes a significant challenge. Earth observation (EO) satellites offer a framework to overcome this challenge. However, EO image analysis methods commonly used to estimate EVDs are time and resource consuming. Moreover, variations of microclimatic conditions combined with high landscape heterogeneity limit the effectiveness of climatic variables derived from EO. In this study, we present what are DoH and EVDs, the impacts of EVDs on vector-borne diseases in the context of global environmental change, the need to characterize EVDs of vector-borne diseases at local scale and its challenges, and finally we propose an approach based on EO images to estimate at local scale indicators pertaining to EVDs of vector-borne diseases.

Susceptibility to Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes Is Not Affected in Mice Coinfected with Nematodes.

PubMed

Maaz, Denny; Rausch, Sebastian; Richter, Dania; Krücken, Jürgen; Kühl, Anja A; Demeler, Janina; Blümke, Julia; Matuschka, Franz-Rainer; von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg; Hartmann, Susanne

2016-05-01

Small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, such as the spirochetes causing Lyme disease. Whether natural coinfections with other macroparasites alter the success of tick feeding, antitick immunity, and the host's reservoir competence for tick-borne pathogens remains to be determined. In a parasitological survey of wild mice in Berlin, Germany, approximately 40% of Ixodes ricinus-infested animals simultaneously harbored a nematode of the genus Heligmosomoides We therefore aimed to analyze the immunological impact of the nematode/tick coinfection as well as its effect on the tick-borne pathogen Borrelia afzelii Hosts experimentally coinfected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus and larval/nymphal I. ricinus ticks developed substantially stronger systemic type 2 T helper cell (Th2) responses, on the basis of the levels of GATA-3 and interleukin-13 expression, than mice infected with a single pathogen. During repeated larval infestations, however, anti-tick Th2 reactivity and an observed partial immunity to tick feeding were unaffected by concurrent nematode infections. Importantly, the strong systemic Th2 immune response in coinfected mice did not affect susceptibility to tick-borne B. afzelii An observed trend for decreased local and systemic Th1 reactivity against B. afzelii in coinfected mice did not result in a higher spirochete burden, nor did it facilitate bacterial dissemination or induce signs of immunopathology. Hence, this study indicates that strong systemic Th2 responses in nematode/tick-coinfected house mice do not affect the success of tick feeding and the control of the causative agent of Lyme disease. Copyright © 2016 Maaz et al.

Tick-borne encephalitis among U.S. travelers to Europe and Asia - 2000-2009.

PubMed

2010-03-26

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most common arbovirus transmitted by ticks in Europe. Approximately 10,000 cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are reported annually in Europe and Russia. Although TBE is endemic in parts of China, information regarding its incidence is limited. TBEV is closely related to Powassan virus (POWV), another tick-borne flavivirus that is a rare cause of encephalitis in North America and Russia; TBEV and POWV can cross-react in serologic tests. Before 2000, two cases of TBE in North American travelers to Europe were reported. State health officials or clinicians send specimens from patients with unexplained encephalitis to CDC as part of routine surveillance and diagnostic testing. CDC recently reviewed all 2000-2009 laboratory records to identify cases of TBE among U.S. travelers; the five cases identified are summarized in this report. All five cases had TBEV or POWV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in serum and were confirmed as acute TBE cases by plaque-reduction neutralization tests against both viruses. All four patients who had traveled to Europe or Russia had biphasic illnesses (a common feature of TBE) and made nearly complete recoveries. The fifth patient, the first reported case of TBE in a U.S. traveler to China, had a monophasic illness with severe encephalitis and neurologic sequelae. Health-care providers should be aware of TBE, should counsel travelers about measures to reduce exposure to tick bites, and should consider the diagnosis of TBE in travelers returning from TBE-endemic countries with meningitis or encephalitis.

Effects of working memory training on children born preterm.

PubMed

Lee, Clara S C; Pei, Jacqueline; Andrew, Gail; A Kerns, Kimberly; Rasmussen, Carmen

2017-01-01

Researchers have reported benefits of working memory training in various populations, however, the training gains in preterm population is still inadequately studied. This study aimed to investigate the transfer and lasting effects of an online working memory training program on a group of preterm children aged between 4 and 6 years (mean gestational age = 28.3 weeks; mean birth weight = 1153 grams). Children were asked to perform the Cogmed JM at home for approximately 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Their nontrained working memory and attention were assessed pre-training, post-training, and at 5-week follow-up. Parent ratings on children's executive functions were obtained at the three time points. Results revealed that significant improvements in verbal working memory was emerging in preterm children at 5-week follow-up, while significant gains in visuospatial working memory was found post-training and at 5-week follow-up in age-matched term-born children. These results indicated that working memory training has benefits on preterm children; however, the gains are different from those observed in term-born children. No significant differences in attention and parent-rated EF were found in either group across time. The possible explanations for the training benefits observed in preterm children were discussed.

Effects on reproduction in female offspring from Sprague-Dawley rats fed 10% snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) throughout pregnancy and concurrent treatment with safflower oil.

PubMed

Staley, E C; Smith, G S; Greenberg, J A

1995-10-01

Previous studies determined that safflower oil administration provided protection against the embryotoxicity seen following ingestion of 10% snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) throughout pregnancy. Sixty-two young primiparous female rats born in those studies were paired with adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. After 4 d they were removed and carried their litters to term. Observations were made of the presence and extent of reproductive effects attributable to the 10% snakeweed exposure and differences in fecundity that were attributable to dosing with safflower oil or normal saline during the snakeweed exposure. Of the 62 rats, 50 carried litters to term and approximated the reproductive efficiency of normal primiparous Sprague-Dawley rats. There was no significant difference between the fecundity of females born to rats fed the 10% snakeweed and dosed with safflower oil, those born of rats fed snakeweed dosed with normal saline, or those fed a snakeweed-free diet and dosed with normal saline. Regardless of the diet or treatment administered, dams carrying their litters to parturition gave birth to healthy, normo-reproductive offspring. While the toxic principles in Gutierrezia species plants may act as estrogenic or anti-estrogenic compounds, they did not impair fertility in the female offspring of dosed rats.

Being a bridge: Swedish antenatal care midwives' encounters with Somali-born women and questions of violence; a qualitative study.

PubMed

Byrskog, Ulrika; Olsson, Pia; Essén, Birgitta; Allvin, Marie-Klingberg

2015-01-16

Violence against women is associated with serious health problems, including adverse maternal and child health. Antenatal care (ANC) midwives are increasingly expected to implement the routine of identifying exposure to violence. An increase of Somali born refugee women in Sweden, their reported adverse childbearing health and possible links to violence pose a challenge to the Swedish maternity health care system. Thus, the aim was to explore ways ANC midwives in Sweden work with Somali born women and the questions of exposure to violence. Qualitative individual interviews with 17 midwives working with Somali-born women in nine ANC clinics in Sweden were analyzed using thematic analysis. The midwives strived to focus on the individual woman beyond ethnicity and cultural differences. In relation to the Somali born women, they navigated between different definitions of violence, ways of handling adversities in life and social contexts, guided by experience based knowledge and collegial support. Seldom was ongoing violence encountered. The Somali-born women's' strengths and contentment were highlighted, however, language skills were considered central for a Somali-born woman's access to rights and support in the Swedish society. Shared language, trustful relationships, patience, and networking were important aspects in the work with violence among Somali-born women. Focus on the individual woman and skills in inter-cultural communication increases possibilities of overcoming social distances. This enhances midwives' ability to identify Somali born woman's resources and needs regarding violence disclosure and support. Although routine use of professional interpretation is implemented, it might not fully provide nuances and social safety needed for violence disclosure. Thus, patience and trusting relationships are fundamental in work with violence among Somali born women. In collaboration with social networks and other health care and social work professions, the midwife can be a bridge and contribute to increased awareness of rights and support for Somali-born women in a new society.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Vector-Borne Disease Prevention during the Emergence of a New Arbovirus: Implications for the Control of Chikungunya Virus in French Guiana.

PubMed

Fritzell, Camille; Raude, Jocelyn; Adde, Antoine; Dusfour, Isabelle; Quenel, Philippe; Flamand, Claude

2016-11-01

During the last decade, French Guiana has been affected by major dengue fever outbreaks. Although this arbovirus has been a focus of many awareness campaigns, very little information is available about beliefs, attitudes and behaviors regarding vector-borne diseases among the population of French Guiana. During the first outbreak of the chikungunya virus, a quantitative survey was conducted among high school students to study experiences, practices and perceptions related to mosquito-borne diseases and to identify socio-demographic, cognitive and environmental factors that could be associated with the engagement in protective behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was administered in May 2014, with a total of 1462 students interviewed. Classrooms were randomly selected using a two-stage selection procedure with cluster samples. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) associated with a hierarchical cluster analysis and with an ordinal logistic regression was performed. Chikungunya was less understood and perceived as a more dreadful disease than dengue fever. The analysis identified three groups of individual protection levels against mosquito-borne diseases: "low" (30%), "moderate" (42%) and "high" (28%)". Protective health behaviors were found to be performed more frequently among students who were female, had a parent with a higher educational status, lived in an individual house, and had a better understanding of the disease. This study allowed us to estimate the level of protective practices against vector-borne diseases among students after the emergence of a new arbovirus. These results revealed that the adoption of protective behaviors is a multi-factorial process that depends on both sociocultural and cognitive factors. These findings may help public health authorities to strengthen communication and outreach strategies, thereby increasing the adoption of protective health behaviors, particularly in high-risk populations.

From Weyl to Born-Jordan quantization: The Schrödinger representation revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Gosson, Maurice A.

2016-03-01

The ordering problem has been one of the long standing and much discussed questions in quantum mechanics from its very beginning. Nowadays, there is more or less a consensus among physicists that the right prescription is Weyl's rule, which is closely related to the Moyal-Wigner phase space formalism. We propose in this report an alternative approach by replacing Weyl quantization with the less well-known Born-Jordan quantization. This choice is actually natural if we want the Heisenberg and Schrödinger pictures of quantum mechanics to be mathematically equivalent. It turns out that, in addition, Born-Jordan quantization can be recovered from Feynman's path integral approach provided that one used short-time propagators arising from correct formulas for the short-time action, as observed by Makri and Miller. These observations lead to a slightly different quantum mechanics, exhibiting some unexpected features, and this without affecting the main existing theory; for instance quantizations of physical Hamiltonian functions are the same as in the Weyl correspondence. The differences are in fact of a more subtle nature; for instance, the quantum observables will not correspond in a one-to-one fashion to classical ones, and the dequantization of a Born-Jordan quantum operator is less straightforward than that of the corresponding Weyl operator. The use of Born-Jordan quantization moreover solves the "angular momentum dilemma", which already puzzled L. Pauling. Born-Jordan quantization has been known for some time (but not fully exploited) by mathematicians working in time-frequency analysis and signal analysis, but ignored by physicists. One of the aims of this report is to collect and synthesize these sporadic discussions, while analyzing the conceptual differences with Weyl quantization, which is also reviewed in detail. Another striking feature is that the Born-Jordan formalism leads to a redefinition of phase space quantum mechanics, where the usual Wigner distribution has to be replaced with a new quasi-distribution reducing interference effects.

Spatial distribution of a population at risk: an important factor for understanding the recent rise in tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis in the Czech Republic).

PubMed

Zeman, Petr; Benes, Cestmir

2013-12-01

Recent rise in tick-borne diseases in many parts of Europe is a phenomenon in need of an explanation. We analyzed temporal trends in spatial distribution of a population at risk of Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and as a control, also of a 'non-tick-borne disease' in the Czech Republic in 1997-2010. Analysis revealed that the population's exposure had been increasingly confined to the nearest surroundings of residences or in totally residential locations and that the incidence of the diseases depended in some causal way on how close to residences people exposed themselves to the risk. The rise in Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis was solely due to infections acquired at or near patients' homes (<5 km), while the number of cases acquired further away was decreasing. The detected patterns in the data question some of the hypotheses which may be applicable in explaining the rise in disease incidences in the Czech Republic including the effect of climate change. Potentially causal factors are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Maternal nationality and developmental delays in young children: Analysis of the data from the national registry in Taiwan.

PubMed

Tseng, Yen-Cheng; Guo, How-Ran; Lai, Der-Chung

2016-01-01

With globalization, transnational marriages become more and more common around the world. Children born to immigrant mothers might be more likely to have developmental delays, but studies on this topic are limited and with inconsistent results. To determine whether children born to immigrant mothers are more likely to have developmental delays. We analyzed the data from the national registry of children with developmental delays from 2009 to 2013 and compared the incidence of developmental delays between children born to immigrant mothers and native mothers. We also performed stratified analyses by age, sex, and geographic area. From 2009 to 2013, 78,946 new cases of developmental delays under 6 years of age were registered, including 5619 (7.1%) born to immigrant mothers. The incidence was higher in children born to native mothers in every year with rate ratios ranging from 1.32 to 1.48, and the differences reached statistical significance even after stratification by age, sex, and geographic area. Children born to immigrant mothers had lower incidence of developmental delays in Taiwan. The result may help reduce the discrimination of foreign spouses and their children. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The association between fluoride in drinking water and dental caries in Danish children. Linking data from health registers, environmental registers and administrative registers.

PubMed

Kirkeskov, Lilli; Kristiansen, Eva; Bøggild, Henrik; von Platen-Hallermund, Frants; Sckerl, Halfdan; Carlsen, Anders; Larsen, M Joost; Poulsen, Sven

2010-06-01

To study the association between fluoride concentration in drinking water and dental caries in Danish children. The study linked registry data on fluoride concentration in drinking water over a 10-year period with data on dental caries from the Danish National Board of Health database on child dental health for 5-year-old children born in 1989 and 1999, and for 15-year-old children born in 1979 and 1989. The number of children included in the cohorts varied between 41.000 and 48.000. Logistic regression was used to assess the correlations, adjusting for gender and taxable family income as a proxy variable for socioeconomic status.   Fluoride concentration in drinking water varied considerably within the country from very low (<0.10 mg/l) to more than 1.5 mg/l. Only little variation was found over the 10-year study period. Dental caries in both 5-year-olds and 15-year-olds decreased over the study period. An inverse relation between the risk of dental caries and fluoride concentration in drinking water was found in both primary and permanent teeth. The risk was reduced by approximately 20% already at the lowest level of fluoride exposure (0.125-0.25mg/l). At the highest level of fluoride exposure (>1 mg/l), a reduction of approximately 50% was found. Similar findings were found if analysis was limited to children residing in the same place during the entire study period. The study confirmed previous findings of an inverse relation between fluoride concentration in the drinking water and dental caries in children. This correlation was found in spite of the extensive use of fluoridated toothpaste and caries-preventive programs implemented by the municipal dental services in Denmark. Linking Danish health registers with environmental and administrative registers offers an opportunity for obtaining sample sizes large enough to identify health effect, which otherwise could not be identified. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Performance of Djallonké sheep under an extensive system of production in Faranah, Guinea.

PubMed

Mourad, M; Gbanamou, G; Balde, I B

2001-10-01

A total of 147 ewes, 4 rams and 188 lambs of their progeny of the Djallonké breed of sheep were used to study the factors affecting reproductive and growth traits and the causes of lamb mortality. Data on ewes were collected during a 12-month period, while those on the lambs born to 123 of the ewes were collected until they were 12 months of age. The average fertility and abortion rates were 0.84 and 0.09. The fertility rate increased and the abortion rate decreased with increasing age of the ewes (p<0.05). The number of lambs born per ewe joined, litter weight at birth per ewe joined and litter weight at weaning per ewe joined were 1.28, 3.5 kg and 17 kg, respectively. The average numbers of lambs born per ewe, lambs born alive per ewe, lambs born dead per ewe and lambs per ewe that died between birth and weaning were 1.53, 1.43, 0.03 and 0.3, respectively. The age of the ewes significantly (p<0.05) affected all these traits except the number of dead lambs and the index of fertility (94%). The age of the ewes significantly (p<0.05) affected the birth weight and the weight at 6 and 12 months of age, whereas the lambing season significantly (p<0.05) affected all the growth traits studied. The type of birth was the most important source of variation in body weights of lambs. Sex had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the growth traits studied. The complex 'starvation-bad management-light body weight at birth' caused 48% of the lamb mortality between birth and weaning, while diarrhoea, pneumonia and internal and external parasites caused approximately 52% of the lamb mortality over the same period. The seasonal raw mortality rate of the lambs before weaning was highest in the humid season.