High Precision Determination of the β Decay Q(EC) Value of (11)C and Implications on the Tests of the Standard Model.

PubMed

Gulyuz, K; Bollen, G; Brodeur, M; Bryce, R A; Cooper, K; Eibach, M; Izzo, C; Kwan, E; Manukyan, K; Morrissey, D J; Naviliat-Cuncic, O; Redshaw, M; Ringle, R; Sandler, R; Schwarz, S; Sumithrarachchi, C S; Valverde, A A; Villari, A C C

2016-01-08

We report the determination of the Q(EC) value of the mirror transition of (11)C by measuring the atomic masses of (11)C and (11)B using Penning trap mass spectrometry. More than an order of magnitude improvement in precision is achieved as compared to the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation (Ame2012) [Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012)]. This leads to a factor of 3 improvement in the calculated Ft value. Using the new value, Q(EC)=1981.690(61)  keV, the uncertainty on Ft is no longer dominated by the uncertainty on the Q(EC) value. Based on this measurement, we provide an updated estimate of the Gamow-Teller to Fermi mixing ratio and standard model values of the correlation coefficients.

Rayleigh-Bénard convection with uniform vertical magnetic field.

PubMed

Basak, Arnab; Raveendran, Rohit; Kumar, Krishna

2014-09-01

We present the results of direct numerical simulations of Rayleigh-Bénard convection in the presence of a uniform vertical magnetic field near instability onset. We have done simulations in boxes with square as well as rectangular cross sections in the horizontal plane. We have considered the horizontal aspect ratio η=L(y)/L(x)=1 and 2. The onset of the primary and secondary instabilities are strongly suppressed in the presence of the vertical magnetic field for η=1. The Nusselt number Nu scales with the Rayleigh number Ra close to the primary instability as [{Ra-Ra(c)(Q)}/Ra(c)(Q)](0.91), where Ra(c)(Q) is the threshold for onset of stationary convection at a given value of the Chandrasekhar number Q. Nu also scales with Ra/Q as (Ra/Q)(μ). The exponent μ varies in the range 0.39≤μ≤0.57 for Ra/Q≥25. The primary instability is stationary as predicted by Chandrasekhar. The secondary instability is temporally periodic for Pr=0.1 but quasiperiodic for Pr=0.025 for moderate values of Q. Convective patterns for higher values of Ra consist of periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic wavy rolls above the onset of the secondary instability for η=1. In addition, stationary as well as time-dependent cross rolls are observed, as Ra is further raised. The ratio r(o)/Pr is independent of Q for smaller values of Q. The delay in the onset of the oscillatory instability is significantly reduced in a simulation box with η=2. We also observe inclined stationary rolls for smaller values of Q for η=2.

Effect of interaction range on phonon relaxation in Fermi-Pasta-Ulam beta chain.

PubMed

Santhosh, G; Kumar, Deepak

2007-08-01

We study the effect of increasing the range of interactions on phonon relaxation in a chain of atoms with quartic anharmonicity. The study is motivated by recent numerical studies, showing that the value of the exponent alpha characterizing the divergence of conductivity with system size apparently depends on the presence of second neighbor couplings. We perform a quantum calculation of the wave-vector (q) dependent relaxation rate gamma(q) in the second order perturbation theory. The nonanalytic dependence of gamma(q) arises due to small-q singularity of the collision integral. We find that gamma(q) proportional to Aq(5/3) + Bq2. This gives rise to an asymptotic value alpha = 0.4, but the q2 terms lead to a higher apparent value of alpha at small sizes of the chain.

Outer Analysis of Quality

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

which takes rational numbers, Q, in the domain to natural numbers, N, in the co-domain. For example, the ceiling of the absolute value of a rational, λ...So quality provides an ordering or preference by assigning each value d : D (pronounced d of type D) to value q : Q. The data, D, can be a complex...represented as mapping from data to either the underlying information, I , or a constant “no information” value , 1: info : D → I + 1. Given a piece

Autoregressive processes with exponentially decaying probability distribution functions: applications to daily variations of a stock market index.

PubMed

Porto, Markus; Roman, H Eduardo

2002-04-01

We consider autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) processes in which the variance sigma(2)(y) depends linearly on the absolute value of the random variable y as sigma(2)(y) = a+b absolute value of y. While for the standard model, where sigma(2)(y) = a + b y(2), the corresponding probability distribution function (PDF) P(y) decays as a power law for absolute value of y-->infinity, in the linear case it decays exponentially as P(y) approximately exp(-alpha absolute value of y), with alpha = 2/b. We extend these results to the more general case sigma(2)(y) = a+b absolute value of y(q), with 0 < q < 2. We find stretched exponential decay for 1 < q < 2 and stretched Gaussian behavior for 0 < q < 1. As an application, we consider the case q=1 as our starting scheme for modeling the PDF of daily (logarithmic) variations in the Dow Jones stock market index. When the history of the ARCH process is taken into account, the resulting PDF becomes a stretched exponential even for q = 1, with a stretched exponent beta = 2/3, in a much better agreement with the empirical data.

Internal friction Q factor measurements in lunar rocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tittmann, B. R.

1978-01-01

In order to better interpret recently reported values for the variation of seismic Q as a function of depth below the lunar surface, we have developed apparatus and made laboratory measurements of Q as a function of hydrostatic pressure, temperature and frequency. Our measurements of the Q associated with shear deformations have demonstrated that the large difference in Q between well outgassed and volatile rich rocks persists to pressures corresponding to a depth of at least 50 km. Here we report new measurements of Q as a function of temperature, on the development of techniques to measure the Q associated with extensional deformations under hydrostatic pressure, on the derivation of theoretical relations between our laboratory Q values and the attenuation coefficient of seismic waves, and on the development of a model for mechanism of adsorption.

Interpreting dual ELISA and qPCR data for bacterial kidney disease of salmonids.

PubMed

Nance, Shelly L; Riederer, Michael; Zubkowski, Tyler; Trudel, Marc; Rhodes, Linda D

2010-09-02

Although there are a variety of methods available for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease in salmon and trout, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is probably the most widely used method. However, ELISA measures bacterial antigen, which does not necessarily reflect the number of cells present. We hypothesized that dual analysis of kidney tissue by ELISA and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (qPCR) would provide complementary information about antigen level and the number of bacterial genomes. We found that DNA extracted from the insoluble fraction of the ELISA tissue preparation produced the same qPCR result as DNA extracted directly from frozen tissue, permitting true dual analysis of the same tissue sample. We examined kidney tissue in this manner from individual free-ranging juvenile Chinook salmon and antibiotic-treated captive subadult Chinook salmon and observed 3 different patterns of results. Among the majority of fish, there was a strong correlation between the ELISA value and the qPCR value. However, subsets of fish exhibited either low ELISA values with elevated qPCR values or higher ELISA values with very low qPCR values. These observations suggest a conceptual model that allows inferences about the state of infection of individual fish based on dual ELISA/qPCR results. Although this model requires further assessment through experimental infections and treatments, it may have utility in broodstock selection programs that currently apply egg-culling practices based on ELISA alone.

Laser Vision Correction with Q Factor Modification for Keratoconus Management.

PubMed

Pahuja, Natasha Kishore; Shetty, Rohit; Sinha Roy, Abhijit; Thakkar, Maithil Mukesh; Jayadev, Chaitra; Nuijts, Rudy Mma; Nagaraja, Harsha

2017-04-01

To evaluate the outcomes of corneal laser ablation with Q factor modification for vision correction in patients with progressive keratoconus. In this prospective study, 50 eyes of 50 patients were divided into two groups based on Q factor (>-1 in Group I and ≤-1 in Group II). All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), subjective acceptance and corneal topography using the Pentacam. The topolyzer was used to measure the corneal asphericity (Q). Ablation was performed based on the preoperative Q values and thinnest pachymetry to obtain a target of near normal Q. This was followed by corneal collagen crosslinking to stabilize the progression. Statistically significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) was noticed in refractive, topographic, and Q values posttreatment in both groups. The improvement in higher-order aberrations and total aberrations were statistically significant in both groups; however, the spherical aberration showed statistically significant improvement only in Group II. Ablation based on the preoperative Q and pachymetry for a near normal postoperative Q value appears to be an effective method to improve the visual acuity and quality in patients with keratoconus.

Density of states, Potts zeros, and Fisher zeros of the Q

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

Kim, Seung-Yeon; Creswick, Richard J.

2001-06-01

The Q-state Potts model can be extended to noninteger and even complex Q by expressing the partition function in the Fortuin-Kasteleyn (F-K) representation. In the F-K representation the partition function Z(Q,a) is a polynomial in Q and v=a{minus}1 (a=e{sup {beta}J}) and the coefficients of this polynomial, {Phi}(b,c), are the number of graphs on the lattice consisting of b bonds and c connected clusters. We introduce the random-cluster transfer matrix to compute {Phi}(b,c) exactly on finite square lattices with several types of boundary conditions. Given the F-K representation of the partition function we begin by studying the critical Potts model Z{submore » CP}=Z(Q,a{sub c}(Q)), where a{sub c}(Q)=1+{radical}Q. We find a set of zeros in the complex w={radical}Q plane that map to (or close to) the Beraha numbers for real positive Q. We also identify {tilde Q}{sub c}(L), the value of Q for a lattice of width L above which the locus of zeros in the complex p=v/{radical}Q plane lies on the unit circle. By finite-size scaling we find that 1/{tilde Q}{sub c}(L){r_arrow}0 as L{r_arrow}{infinity}. We then study zeros of the antiferromagnetic (AF) Potts model in the complex Q plane and determine Q{sub c}(a), the largest value of Q for a fixed value of a below which there is AF order. We find excellent agreement with Baxter{close_quote}s conjecture Q{sub c}{sup AF}(a)=(1{minus}a)(a+3). We also investigate the locus of zeros of the ferromagnetic Potts model in the complex Q plane and confirm that Q{sub c}{sup FM}(a)=(a{minus}1){sup 2}. We show that the edge singularity in the complex Q plane approaches Q{sub c} as Q{sub c}(L){similar_to}Q{sub c}+AL{sup {minus}y{sub q}}, and determine the scaling exponent y{sub q} for several values of Q. Finally, by finite-size scaling of the Fisher zeros near the antiferromagnetic critical point we determine the thermal exponent y{sub t} as a function of Q in the range 2{le}Q{le}3. Using data for lattices of size 3{le}L{le}8 we find that y{sub t} is a smooth function of Q and is well fitted by y{sub t}=(1+Au+Bu{sup 2})/(C+Du) where u={minus}(2/{pi})cos{sup {minus}1}({radical}Q/2). For Q=3 we find y{sub t}{approx_equal}0.6; however if we include lattices up to L=12 we find y{sub t}{approx_equal}0.50(8) in rough agreement with a recent result of Ferreira and Sokal [J. Stat. Phys. >96, 461 (1999)].« less

155Gd Mössbauer Spectroscopic Study of GdM(CN)6 · 4H2O (M = CrIII, FeIII and CoIII) and KGdM(CN)6 · 3H2O (M = FeII and RuII)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Junhu; Abe, Junko; Kitazawa, Takafumi; Takahashi, Masashi; Takeda, Masuo

2002-07-01

155Gd Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of the title complexes have been performed. Although the 155Gd isomer shifts (d) varied scarcely, the quadrupole coupling constants (e2qQ) changed in the range 4.07-4.81 mm s-1. The e2qQ values of KGdM(CN)6 · 3H2O (M = FeII and RuII) are larger than those of GdM(CN)6 · 4H2O (M = CrIII, FeIII, and CoIII), these values increasing with increasing orthorhombic distortion of the crystal structures. A relationship between the e2qQ values and the ionic radii of the transition metal ions has also been recognized

A common base method for analysis of qPCR data and the application of simple blocking in qPCR experiments.

PubMed

Ganger, Michael T; Dietz, Geoffrey D; Ewing, Sarah J

2017-12-01

qPCR has established itself as the technique of choice for the quantification of gene expression. Procedures for conducting qPCR have received significant attention; however, more rigorous approaches to the statistical analysis of qPCR data are needed. Here we develop a mathematical model, termed the Common Base Method, for analysis of qPCR data based on threshold cycle values (C q ) and efficiencies of reactions (E). The Common Base Method keeps all calculations in the logscale as long as possible by working with log 10 (E) ∙ C q , which we call the efficiency-weighted C q value; subsequent statistical analyses are then applied in the logscale. We show how efficiency-weighted C q values may be analyzed using a simple paired or unpaired experimental design and develop blocking methods to help reduce unexplained variation. The Common Base Method has several advantages. It allows for the incorporation of well-specific efficiencies and multiple reference genes. The method does not necessitate the pairing of samples that must be performed using traditional analysis methods in order to calculate relative expression ratios. Our method is also simple enough to be implemented in any spreadsheet or statistical software without additional scripts or proprietary components.

Attenuation Characteristics of High Frequency Seismic Waves in Southern India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaram, K.; Utpal, Saikia; Kanna, Nagaraju; Kumar, Dinesh

2017-07-01

We present a systematic study of seismic attenuation and its related Q structure derived from the spectral analysis of P-, S-waves in the southern India. The study region is separated into parts of EDC (Eastern Dharwar Craton), Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) and Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT). The study is carried out in the frequency range 1-20 Hz, using a single-station spectral ratio technique. We make use of about 45 earthquakes, recorded in a network of about 32 broadband 3-component seismograph-stations, having magnitudes ( M L) varying from 1.6 to 4.5, to estimate the average seismic body wave attenuation quality factors; Q P and Q S. Their estimated average values are observed to be fitting to the power law form of Q = Q 0 f n . The averaged power law relations for Southern Indian region (as a whole) are obtained as Q P = (95 ± 1.12) f (1.32±0.01); Q S = (128 ± 1.84) f (1.49±0.01). Based on the stations and recorded local earthquakes, for parts of EDC, WDC and SGT, the average power law estimates are obtained as: Q P = (97 ± 5) f (1.40±0.03), Q S = (116 ± 1.5) f (1.48±0.01) for EDC region; Q P = (130 ± 7) f (1.20±0.03), Q S = (103 ± 3) f (1.49±0.02) for WDC region; Q P = (68 ± 2) f (1.4±0.02), Q S = (152 ± 6) f (1.48±0.02) for SGT region. These estimates are weighed against coda Q ( Q C) estimates, using the coda decay technique, which is based on a weak backscattering of S-waves. A major observation in the study of body wave analysis is the low body wave Q ( Q 0 < 200), moderately high value of the frequency-exponent, ` n' (>0.5) and Q S/ Q P ≫ 1, suggesting lateral stretches of dominant scattering mode of seismic wave propagation. This primarily could be attributed to possible thermal anomalies and spread of partially fluid-saturated rock-masses in the crust and upper mantle of the southern Indian region, which, however, needs further laboratory studies. Such physical conditions might partly be correlated to the active seismicity and intraplate tectonism, especially in SGT and EDC regions, as per the observed low- Q P and Q S values. Additionally, the enrichment of coda waves and significance of scattering mechanisms is evidenced in our observation of Q C > Q S estimates. Lapse time study shows Q C values increasing with lapse time. High Q C values at 40 s lapse times in WDC indicate that it may be a relatively stable region. In the absence of detailed body wave attenuation studies in this region, the frequency dependent Q relationships developed here are useful for the estimation of earthquake source parameters of the region. Also, these relations may be used for the simulation of earthquake strong ground motions which are required for the estimation of seismic hazard, geotechnical and retrofitting analysis of critical structures in the region.

Space-Dependent Dynamics in 1,4-Polybutadiene Nanocomposite

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

Soxhlet extracted with cyclohexane to remove unattached polymer. The initial composition of 20.5% by volume carbon increased to 60% on extraction...spectroscopy the value of β(Q) for the nanocomposite; instead, we determine at each Q the β value yielding the expected τα ∼ Q−2/β behavior for small Q

Q-values and Attenuation of the Shallow Crust Under Uturuncu Volcano, Bolivia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mcfarlin, H. L.; McNutt, S. R.; Thompson, G.

2017-12-01

Uturuncu Volcano, located in the Altiplano-Puna region of the central Andes, near the border of Bolivia and Chile, has been shown to be inflating at a rate of 1-2 cm/yr over an area that is about 70 km wide. The PLUTONS project deployed 28 broadband seismometers around Uturuncu from April 2009 to October 2012. Several thousand shallow (depth < 20 km) local earthquakes were recorded. Attenuation of seismic waves along travel paths for these local crustal earthquakes can be measured by calculating Q-values, which we have performed using the method of single station spectral ratios by Frankel (1982). Large scatter in the Q-values for various distances and travel times appear to be a function of variations in source depth, focal mechanism, and back azimuth. Preliminary Q-values were calculated for azimuths in 30° increments in sectors around each station. Estimates for Q range from about 60 to 700, with many showing a low Q in the direction of the summit from each station. This suggests that the volcanic pile is more highly attenuating than the surrounding crust.

Skewness and kurtosis analysis for non-Gaussian distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celikoglu, Ahmet; Tirnakli, Ugur

2018-06-01

In this paper we address a number of pitfalls regarding the use of kurtosis as a measure of deviations from the Gaussian. We treat kurtosis in both its standard definition and that which arises in q-statistics, namely q-kurtosis. We have recently shown that the relation proposed by Cristelli et al. (2012) between skewness and kurtosis can only be verified for relatively small data sets, independently of the type of statistics chosen; however it fails for sufficiently large data sets, if the fourth moment of the distribution is finite. For infinite fourth moments, kurtosis is not defined as the size of the data set tends to infinity. For distributions with finite fourth moments, the size, N, of the data set for which the standard kurtosis saturates to a fixed value, depends on the deviation of the original distribution from the Gaussian. Nevertheless, using kurtosis as a criterion for deciding which distribution deviates further from the Gaussian can be misleading for small data sets, even for finite fourth moment distributions. Going over to q-statistics, we find that although the value of q-kurtosis is finite in the range of 0 < q < 3, this quantity is not useful for comparing different non-Gaussian distributed data sets, unless the appropriate q value, which truly characterizes the data set of interest, is chosen. Finally, we propose a method to determine the correct q value and thereby to compute the q-kurtosis of q-Gaussian distributed data sets.

Development of a Singlet Oxygen Absorption Capacity (SOAC) Assay Method. Measurements of the SOAC Values for Carotenoids and α-Tocopherol in an Aqueous Triton X-100 Micellar Solution.

PubMed

Mukai, Kazuo; Ouchi, Aya; Azuma, Nagao; Takahashi, Shingo; Aizawa, Koichi; Nagaoka, Shin-Ichi

2017-02-01

Recently, a new assay method for the quantification of the singlet oxygen absorption capacity (SOAC) of antioxidants (AOs) and food extracts in homogeneous organic solvents was proposed. In this study, second-order rate constants (k Q ) for the reaction of singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) with eight different carotenoids (Cars) and α-tocopherol (α-Toc) were measured in an aqueous Triton X-100 (5.0 wt %) micellar solution (pH 7.4, 35 °C), which was used as a simple model of biomembranes. The k Q and relative SOAC values were measured using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The UV-vis absorption spectra of Cars and α-Toc were measured in both a micellar solution and chloroform, to investigate the effect of solvent on the k Q and SOAC values. Furthermore, decay rates (k d ) of 1 O 2 were measured in 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 wt % micellar solutions (pH 7.4), using time-resolved near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopy, to determine the absolute k Q values of the AOs. The results obtained demonstrate that the k Q values of AOs in homogeneous and heterogeneous solutions vary notably depending on (i) the polarity [dielectric constant (ε)] of the reaction field between AOs and 1 O 2 , (ii) the local concentration of AOs, and (iii) the mobility of AOs in solution. In addition, the k Q and relative SOAC values obtained for the Cars in a heterogeneous micellar solution differ remarkably from those in homogeneous organic solvents. Measurements of k Q and SOAC values in a micellar solution may be useful for evaluating the 1 O 2 quenching activity of AOs in biological systems.

Localization and stationary phase approximation on supermanifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakharevich, Valentin

2017-08-01

Given an odd vector field Q on a supermanifold M and a Q-invariant density μ on M, under certain compactness conditions on Q, the value of the integral ∫Mμ is determined by the value of μ on any neighborhood of the vanishing locus N of Q. We present a formula for the integral in the case where N is a subsupermanifold which is appropriately non-degenerate with respect to Q. In the process, we discuss the linear algebra necessary to express our result in a coordinate independent way. We also extend the stationary phase approximation and the Morse-Bott lemma to supermanifolds.

On the interface between perturbative and nonperturbative QCD

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

Deur, Alexandre; Brodsky, Stanley J.; de Teramond, Guy F.

2016-04-04

The QCD running couplingmore » $$\\alpha_s(Q^2)$$ sets the strength of the interactions of quarks and gluons as a function of the momentum transfer $Q$. The $Q^2$ dependence of the coupling is required to describe hadronic interactions at both large and short distances. In this article we adopt the light-front holographic approach to strongly-coupled QCD, a formalism which incorporates confinement, predicts the spectroscopy of hadrons composed of light quarks, and describes the low-$Q^2$ analytic behavior of the strong coupling $$\\alpha_s(Q^2)$$. The high-$Q^2$ dependence of the coupling $$\\alpha_s(Q^2)$$ is specified by perturbative QCD and its renormalization group equation. The matching of the high and low $Q^2$ regimes of $$\\alpha_s(Q^2)$$ then determines the scale $$Q_0$$ which sets the interface between perturbative and nonperturbative hadron dynamics. The value of $$Q_0$$ can be used to set the factorization scale for DGLAP evolution of hadronic structure functions and the ERBL evolution of distribution amplitudes. We discuss the scheme-dependence of the value of $$Q_0$$ and the infrared fixed-point of the QCD coupling. Our analysis is carried out for the $$\\bar{MS}$$, $$g_1$$, $MOM$ and $V$ renormalization schemes. Our results show that the discrepancies on the value of $$\\alpha_s$$ at large distance seen in the literature can be explained by different choices of renormalization schemes. Lastly, we also provide the formulae to compute $$\\alpha_s(Q^2)$$ over the entire range of space-like momentum transfer for the different renormalization schemes discussed in this article.« less

Beyond low beta-decay Q values

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

Mustonen, M. T.; Suhonen, J.

Beta decays with low Q values can be utilized in the quest to determine the neutrino mass scale. This is being realized in two experiments, KATRIN and MARE, using tritium and {sup 187}Re, respectively. The beta-decay of {sup 187}Re had the lowest known Q value until 2005, when the beta decay of {sup 115}In to the first excited state of {sup 115}Sn was discovered in Gran Sasso underground laboratory. Last year two independent ion trap measurements confirmed that this decay breaks the former record by an order of magnitude.Our theoretical study on this tiny decay channel complemented the experimental effortmore » by the JYFLTRAP group in Finland and HADES underground laboratory in Belgium. A significant discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical results was found. This might be explained by various atomic contributions known to grow larger as the Q value decreases. However, the traditional recipes for taking these effects into account break down on this new ultra-low Q value regime, providing new challenges for theorists on the borderline between nuclear and atomic physics.« less

Study of the in-medium nucleon electromagnetic form factors using a light-front nucleon wave function combined with the quark-meson coupling model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Araújo, W. R. B.; de Melo, J. P. B. C.; Tsushima, K.

2018-02-01

We study the nucleon electromagnetic (EM) form factors in symmetric nuclear matter as well as in vacuum within a light-front approach using the in-medium inputs calculated by the quark-meson coupling model. The same in-medium quark properties are used as those used for the study of in-medium pion properties. The zero of the proton EM form factor ratio in vacuum, the electric to magnetic form factor ratio μpGEp (Q2) /GMp (Q2) (Q2 = -q2 > 0 with q being the four-momentum transfer), is determined including the latest experimental data by implementing a hard constituent quark component in the nucleon wave function. A reasonable fit is achieved for the ratio μpGEp (Q2) /GMp (Q2) in vacuum, and we predict that the Q02 value to cross the zero of the ratio to be about 15 GeV2. In addition the double ratio data of the proton EM form factors in 4He and H nuclei, [GEp4He (Q2) /G4HeMp (Q2) ] / [GEp1H (Q2) /GMp1H (Q2) ], extracted by the polarized (e → ,e‧ p →) scattering experiment on 4He at JLab, are well described. We also predict that the Q02 value satisfying μpGEp (Q02) /GMp (Q0 2) = 0 in symmetric nuclear matter, shifts to a smaller value as increasing nuclear matter density, which reflects the facts that the faster falloff of GEp (Q2) as increasing Q2 and the increase of the proton mean-square charge radius. Furthermore, we calculate the neutron EM form factor double ratio in symmetric nuclear matter for 0.1

Subtleties of Hidden Quantifiers in Implication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shipman, Barbara A.

2016-01-01

Mathematical conjectures and theorems are most often of the form P(x) ? Q(x), meaning ?x,P(x) ? Q(x). The hidden quantifier ?x is crucial in understanding the implication as a statement with a truth value. Here P(x) and Q(x) alone are only predicates, without truth values, since they contain unquantified variables. But standard textbook…

Optimization of terrestrial ecosystem model parameters using atmospheric CO2 concentration data with a global carbon assimilation system (GCAS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Z.; Chen, J.; Zhang, S.; Zheng, X.; Shangguan, W.

2016-12-01

A global carbon assimilation system (GCAS) that assimilates ground-based atmospheric CO2 data is used to estimate several key parameters in a terrestrial ecosystem model for the purpose of improving carbon cycle simulation. The optimized parameters are the leaf maximum carboxylation rate at 25° (Vmax25 ), the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem respiration (Q10), and the soil carbon pool size. The optimization is performed at the global scale at 1°resolution for the period from 2002 to 2008. Optimized multi-year average Vmax25 values range from 49 to 51 μmol m-2 s-1 over most regions of world. Vegetation from tropical zones has relatively lower values than vegetation in temperate regions. Optimized multi-year average Q10 values varied from 1.95 to 2.05 over most regions of the world. Relatively high values of Q10 are derived over high/mid latitude regions. Both Vmax25 and Q10 exhibit pronounced seasonal variations at mid-high latitudes. The maximum in occurs during the growing season, while the minima appear during non-growing seasons. Q10 values decreases with increasing temperature. The seasonal variabilities of and Q10 are larger at higher latitudes with tropical or low latitude regions showing little seasonal variabilities.

Penning trap mass spectrometry Q-value determinations for highly forbidden β-decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandler, Rachel; Bollen, Georg; Eibach, Martin; Gamage, Nadeesha; Gulyuz, Kerim; Hamaker, Alec; Izzo, Chris; Kandegedara, Rathnayake; Redshaw, Matt; Ringle, Ryan; Valverde, Adrian; Yandow, Isaac; Low Energy Beam Ion Trap Team

2017-09-01

Over the last several decades, extremely sensitive, ultra-low background beta and gamma detection techniques have been developed. These techniques have enabled the observation of very rare processes, such as highly forbidden beta decays e.g. of 113Cd, 50V and 138La. Half-life measurements of highly forbidden beta decays provide a testing ground for theoretical nuclear models, and the comparison of calculated and measured energy spectra could enable a determination of the values of the weak coupling constants. Precision Q-value measurements also allow for systematic tests of the beta-particle detection techniques. We will present the results and current status of Q value determinations for highly forbidden beta decays. The Q values, the mass difference between parent and daughter nuclides, are measured using the high precision Penning trap mass spectrometer LEBIT at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.

Optimal sensitivity for molecular recognition MAC-mode AFM

PubMed

Schindler; Badt; Hinterdorfer; Kienberger; Raab; Wielert-Badt; Pastushenko

2000-02-01

Molecular recognition force microscopy (MRFM) using the magnetic AC mode (MAC mode) atomic force microscope (AFM) was recently investigated to locate and probe recognition sites. A flexible crosslinker carrying a ligand is bound to the tip for the molecular recognition of receptors on the surface of a sample. In this report, the driving frequency is calculated which optimizes the sensitivity (S). The sensitivity of MRFM is defined as the relative change of the magnetically excited cantilever deflection amplitude arising from a crosslinker/antibody/antigen connection that is characterized by a very small force constant. The sensitivity is calculated in a damped oscillator model with a certain value of quality factor Q, which, together with load, defines the frequency response (unloaded oscillator shows resonance at Q > 0.707). If Q < 1, the greatest value of S corresponds to zero driving frequency omega (measured in units of eigenfrequency). Therefore, for Q < 1, MAC-mode has no advantage in comparison with DC-mode. Two additional extremes are found at omegaL = (1 - 1/Q)(1/2) and omegaR = (1 + 1/Q)(1/2), with corresponding sensitivities S(L) = Q2/(2Q - 1), S(R) = Q2/(2Q + 1). The L-extreme exists only for Q > 1, and then S(L) > S(R), i.e. the L-extreme is the main one. For Q > 1, S(L) > 1, and for Q > 2.41, S(R) > 1. These are the critical Q-values, above which selecting driving frequency equal to sigmaL or sigmaR brings advantage to MAC mode vs. DC mode. Satisfactory quality of the oscillator model is demonstrated by comparison of some results with those calculated within the classical description of cantilevers.

NIS/publications

Science.gov Websites

Viewer. Reaction Q-Values and Thresholds This tool computes reaction Q-values and thresholds using , uncertainties, and correlations using 30 energy ranges. Simple tables of reaction uncertainties are also

Q(n) species distribution in K2O.2SiO2 glass by 29Si magic angle flipping NMR.

PubMed

Davis, Michael C; Kaseman, Derrick C; Parvani, Sahar M; Sanders, Kevin J; Grandinetti, Philip J; Massiot, Dominique; Florian, Pierre

2010-05-06

Two-dimensional magic angle flipping (MAF) was employed to measure the Q((n)) distribution in a (29)Si-enriched potassium disilicate glass (K(2)O.2SiO(2)). Relative concentrations of [Q((4))] = 7.2 +/- 0.3%, [Q((3))] = 82.9 +/- 0.1%, and [Q((2))] = 9.8 +/- 0.6% were obtained. Using the thermodynamic model for Q((n)) species disproportionation, these relative concentrations yield an equilibrium constant k(3) = 0.0103 +/- 0.0008, indicating, as expected, that the Q((n)) species distribution is close to binary in the potassium disilicate glass. A Gaussian distribution of isotropic chemical shifts was observed for each Q((n)) species with mean values of -82.74 +/- 0.03, -91.32 +/- 0.01, and -101.67 +/- 0.02 ppm and standard deviations of 3.27 +/- 0.03, 4.19 +/- 0.01, and 5.09 +/- 0.03 ppm for Q((2)), Q((3)), and Q((4)), respectively. Additionally, nuclear shielding anisotropy values of zeta =-85.0 +/- 1.3 ppm, eta = 0.48 +/- 0.02 for Q((2)) and zeta = -74.9 +/- 0.2 ppm, eta = 0.03 +/- 0.01 for Q((3)) were observed in the potassium disilicate glass.

Early variation of quick sequential organ failure assessment score to predict in-hospital mortality in emergency department patients with suspected infection.

PubMed

Najla, Lemachatti; Mar, Ortega; Andrea, Penaloza; Le Borgne, Pierrick; Claret, Pierre-Géraud; Occelli, Céline; Truchot, Jennifer; Dumas, Florence; Feral-Pierssens, Anne-Laure; Andrianjafy, Héry; Beaune, Sebastien; Yordanov, Youri; Hausfater, Pierre; Riou, Bruno; Bloom, Ben; Krastinova, Evguenia; Freund, Yonathan

2018-05-15

The quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score showed good prognostic performance in patients with suspicion of infection in the emergency department (ED). However, previous studies only assessed the performance of individual values of qSOFA during the ED stay. As this score may vary over short timeframes, the optimal time of measurement, and the prognostic value of its variation are unclear. The objective of the present study was to prospectively assess the prognostic value of the change in qSOFA over the first 3 h (ΔqSOFA=qSOFA at 3 h-qSOFA at inclusion). This is an international prospective cohort study conducted in 17 EDs in France, Belgium, and Spain. From November 2016 to March 2017, patients with a suspected infection and a qSOFA score of 2 or higher were included and followed up until death or hospital discharge. qSOFA was measured at inclusion, 1 h and 3 h. Primary end point was in-hospital mortality, truncated at 28 days. Of 534 recruited patients, 512 were included in the analysis. The qSOFA was improved at 3 h (ΔqSOFA<0) in 287 (55%) patients. Overall in-hospital mortality was 27%: 44% when ΔqSOFA greater than 0, 36% when ΔqSOFA=0, and 18% when ΔqSOFA less than 0. A positive ΔqSOFA was independently associated with reduced in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio of 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.34-0.68). After modeling qSOFA kinetics in the first 3 h, there was a significant difference in adjusted slopes between patients who died and those who survived (0.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.09-0.22, P<0.001). In patients with suspected infection presenting to the ED with a qSOFA of 2 or higher, the early change in qSOFA is a strong independent predictor of mortality.

The Q Continuum: Encounter with the Cloud Mask

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackerman, S. A.; Frey, R.; Holz, R.; Philips, C.; Dutcher, S.

2017-12-01

We are developing a common cloud mask for MODIS and VIIRS observations, referred to as the MODIS VIIRS Continuity Mask (MVCM). Our focus is on extending the MODIS-heritage cloud detection approach in order to generate appropriate climate data records for clouds and climate studies. The MVCM is based on heritage from the MODIS cloud mask (MOD35 and MYD35) and employs a series of tests on MODIS reflectances and brightness temperatures. Cloud detection is based on contrasts (i.e., cloud versus background surface) at pixel resolution. The MVCM follows the same approach. These cloud masks use multiple cloud detection tests to indicate the confidence level that the observation is of a clear-sky scene. The outcome of a test ranges from 0 (cloudy) to 1 (clear-sky scene). Because of overlap in the sensitivities of the various spectral tests to the type of cloud, each test is considered in one of several groups. The final cloud mask is determined from the product of the minimum confidence of each group and is referred to as the Q value as defined in Ackerman et al (1998). In MOD35 and MYD35 processing, the Q value is not output, rather predetermined Q values determine the result: If Q ≥ .99 the scene is clear; .95 ≤ Q < .99 the pixel is probably a clear scene, .66 ≤ Q < .95 is probably cloudy and Q < .66 is cloudy. Thus representing Q discretely and not as a continuum. For the MVCM, the numerical value of the Q is output along with the classification of clear, probably clear, probably cloudy, and cloudy. Through comparisons with collocated CALIOP and MODIS observations, we will assess the categorization of the Q values as a function of scene type ). While validation studies have indicated the utility and statistical correctness of the cloud mask approach, the algorithm does not possess immeasurable power and perfection. This comparison will assess the time and space dependence of Q and assure that the laws of physics are followed, at least according to normal human notions. Using CALIOP as representing truth, a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) will be analyzed to determine the optimum Q for various scenes and seasons, thus providing a continuum of discriminating thresholds.

Child Mortality Estimation: A Global Overview of Infant and Child Mortality Age Patterns in Light of New Empirical Data

PubMed Central

Guillot, Michel; Gerland, Patrick; Pelletier, François; Saabneh, Ameed

2012-01-01

Background The under-five mortality rate (the probability of dying between birth and age 5 y, also denoted in the literature as U5MR and 5 q 0) is a key indicator of child health, but it conceals important information about how this mortality is distributed by age. One important distinction is what amount of the under-five mortality occurs below age 1 y (1 q 0) versus at age 1 y and above (4 q 1). However, in many country settings, this distinction is often difficult to establish because of various types of data errors. As a result, it is common practice to resort to model age patterns to estimate 1 q 0 and 4 q 1 on the basis of an observed value of 5 q 0. The most commonly used model age patterns for this purpose are the Coale and Demeny and the United Nations systems. Since the development of these models, many additional sources of data for under-five mortality have become available, making possible a general evaluation of age patterns of infant and child mortality. In this paper, we do a systematic comparison of empirical values of 1 q 0 and 4 q 1 against model age patterns, and discuss whether observed deviations are due to data errors, or whether they reflect true epidemiological patterns not addressed in existing model life tables. Methods and Findings We used vital registration data from the Human Mortality Database, sample survey data from the World Fertility Survey and Demographic and Health Surveys programs, and data from Demographic Surveillance Systems. For each of these data sources, we compared empirical combinations of 1 q 0 and 4 q 1 against combinations provided by Coale and Demeny and United Nations model age patterns. We found that, on the whole, empirical values fall relatively well within the range provided by these models, but we also found important exceptions. Sub-Saharan African countries have a tendency to exhibit high values of 4 q 1 relative to 1 q 0, a pattern that appears to arise for the most part from true epidemiological causes. While this pattern is well known in the case of western Africa, we observed that it is more widespread than commonly thought. We also found that the emergence of HIV/AIDS, while perhaps contributing to high relative values of 4 q 1, does not appear to have substantially modified preexisting patterns. We also identified a small number of countries scattered in different parts of the world that exhibit unusually low values of 4 q 1 relative to 1 q 0, a pattern that is not likely to arise merely from data errors. Finally, we illustrate that it is relatively common for populations to experience changes in age patterns of infant and child mortality as they experience a decline in mortality. Conclusions Existing models do not appear to cover the entire range of epidemiological situations and trajectories. Therefore, model life tables should be used with caution for estimating 1 q 0 and 4 q 1 on the basis of 5 q 0. Moreover, this model-based estimation procedure assumes that the input value of 5 q 0 is correct, which may not always be warranted, especially in the case of survey data. A systematic evaluation of data errors in sample surveys and their impact on age patterns of 1 q 0 and 4 q 1 is urgently needed, along with the development of model age patterns of under-five mortality that would cover a wider range of epidemiological situations and trajectories. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary. PMID:22952438

Comparison between fragmented QRS and Q waves in myocardial scar detection using myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography.

PubMed

Dabbagh Kakhki, Vahid Reza; Ayati, Narjess; Zakavi, Seyed Rasoul; Sadeghi, Ramin; Tayyebi, Mohammad; Shariati, Farzaneh

2015-01-01

Accurate diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) is of paramount importance in patient management, which necessitates the development of efficient and accurate diagnostic methods. Q wave is not present in all patients with MI, and its prevalence is declining. Recently, fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex has been introduced as a marker of prior MI. To investigate diagnostic value of fQRS compared to Q wave. We included 500 consecutive patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent two days of gated myocardial perfusion imaging using dipyridamole pharmacologic stress. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was evaluated to detect fQRS as well as Q-wave. Finally, subjects were compared in terms of ventricular perfusion and function indices. A total of 207 men and 269 women with mean age of 57.06 ± 12 years were studied. ECG analysis showed that 14.3% of the patients had both fQRS and Q waves, 30.7% had fQRS, and 3.8% had Q waves. Fixed myocardial perfusion defect was noted in 22.3% of patients according to MPIs. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for myocardial scar detection were 78%, 65%, 39%, and 91%, respectively, for fQRS and 61%, 94%, 76%, and 89%, respectively, for Q wave. Although fQRS had lower specificity compared to Q wave in the detection of myocardial scar, due to higher sensitivity and negative predictive value can be an invaluable diagnostic index. There is also an incremental value for fQRS in association with Q-wave in myocardial scar assessment.

Onset of oscillatory Rayleigh-Bénard magnetoconvection with rigid horizontal boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mondal, Hiya; Das, Alaka; Kumar, Krishna

2018-01-01

We present the results of linear stability analysis of oscillatory Rayleigh-Bénard magnetoconvection with rigid and thermally conducting boundaries. We have investigated two types of horizontal surfaces: (i) electrically conducting and (ii) boundaries which do not allow any outward current normal to the surface (magnetic vacuum conditions). For the case of electrically conducting boundaries, the critical Rayleigh number R ao(Q ,P r ,P m ) , the critical wave number ko(Q ,P r ,P m ) , and the frequency at the instability onset ω(Q ,P r ,P m ) increase as the Chandrasekhar number Q is raised for fixed non-zero values of thermal Prandtl Pr and magnetic Prandtl number Pm. For small values of Pr, the frequency of oscillation ω at the primary instability shows a rapid increase with Pm for very small values of Pm followed by a decrease at relatively larger values of Pm. In the limit of P r →0 , Rao and ko are found to be independent of Q. However, the frequency ω increases with Q, but decreases with Pm in this limit. The oscillatory instability is possible at the onset of magnetoconvection if and only if Chandrasekhar's criterion is valid (i.e., Pm > Pr) and Q is raised above a critical value Qc(P r ,P m ) such that the product P m *Qc≈91 for large Pm. For the stellar interior of an astrophysical body ( P m ≈10-4 and P r ≈10-8 ), the value of this product P m *Qc≈230 . The boundary conditions for magnetic vacuum change the critical values of Rayleigh number, wave number, and frequency of oscillation at the onset. The oscillatory magnetoconvection occurs in this case, if Q >Qc , where P m *Qc≈42 for large Pm. For steller interior, this value is approximately 64. A low-dimensional model is also constructed to study various patterns near the onset of oscillatory convection for rigid, thermally and electrically conducting boundaries. The model shows standing and drifting fluid patterns in addition to flow reversal close to the onset of magnetoconvection.

Assessing the photoprotective effectiveness of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching: a new approach.

PubMed

Ruban, Alexander V; Murchie, Erik H

2012-07-01

The photoprotective nature of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) has not been effectively quantified and the major reason is the inability to quantitatively separate NPQ that acts directly to prevent photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII). Here we describe a technique in which we use the values of the PSII yield and qP measured in the dark following illumination. We expressed the quantum yield of PSII (Φ(PSII)) via NPQ as: Φ(PSII)=qP×(Fv/Fo)/(1+Fv/Fo+NPQ). We then tested this theoretical relationship using Arabidopsis thaliana plants that had been exposed to gradually increasing irradiance. The values of qP in the dark immediately after the illumination period (here denoted qPd) were determined using a previously described technique for Fo' calculation: Fo'(calc.)=1/(1/Fo-1/Fm-1/Fm'). We found that in every case the actual Φ(PSII) deviated from theoretical values at the same point that qPd deviated from a value of 1.0. In an increasing series of irradiance levels, WT leaves tolerated 1000μmolm(-2)s(-1) of light before qP(d) declined. Leaves treated with the uncoupler nigericin, leaves of the mutant lacking PsbS protein and leaves overexpressing PsbS showed a qP(d) reduction at 100, 600 and 2000μmolm(-2)s(-1) respectively, each at an increasing value of NPQ. Therefore we suggest that this simple and timely technique will be instrumental for identifying photoprotective NPQ (pNPQ) and that it is more appropriate than the qE component. Its applications should be broad: for example it will be useful in physiology-based studies to define the optimal level of nonphotochemical quenching for plant protection and productivity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Momentum and energy dependent resolution function of the ARCS neutron chopper spectrometer at high momentum transfer: Comparing simulation and experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diallo, S. O.; Lin, J. Y. Y.; Abernathy, D. L.; Azuah, R. T.

2016-11-01

Inelastic neutron scattering at high momentum transfers (i.e. Q ≥ 20 A ˚), commonly known as deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS), provides direct observation of the momentum distribution of light atoms, making it a powerful probe for studying single-particle motions in liquids and solids. The quantitative analysis of DINS data requires an accurate knowledge of the instrument resolution function Ri(Q , E) at each momentum Q and energy transfer E, where the label i indicates whether the resolution was experimentally observed i = obs or simulated i=sim. Here, we describe two independent methods for determining the total resolution function Ri(Q , E) of the ARCS neutron instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The first method uses experimental data from an archetypical system (liquid 4He) studied with DINS, which are then numerically deconvoluted using its previously determined intrinsic scattering function to yield Robs(Q , E). The second approach uses accurate Monte Carlo simulations of the ARCS spectrometer, which account for all instrument contributions, coupled to a representative scattering kernel to reproduce the experimentally observed response S(Q , E). Using a delta function as scattering kernel, the simulation yields a resolution function Rsim(Q , E) with comparable lineshape and features as Robs(Q , E), but somewhat narrower due to the ideal nature of the model. Using each of these two Ri(Q , E) separately, we extract characteristic parameters of liquid 4He such as the intrinsic linewidth α2 (which sets the atomic kinetic energy 〈 K 〉 ∼α2) in the normal liquid and the Bose-Einstein condensate parameter n0 in the superfluid phase. The extracted α2 values agree well with previous measurements at saturated vapor pressure (SVP) as well as at elevated pressure (24 bars) within experimental precision, independent of which Ri(Q , y) is used to analyze the data. The actual observed n0 values at each Q vary little with the model Ri(Q , E), and the effective Q-averaged n0 values are consistent with each other, and with previously reported values.

26 CFR 1.132-9 - Qualified transportation fringes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... transportation in a commuter highway vehicle? Q-3. What are transit passes? Q-4. What is qualified parking? Q-5... requirements in addition to those described in this regulation? (5) Special rules for parking and vanpools. Q-20. How is the value of parking determined? Q-21. How do the qualified transportation fringe rules...

26 CFR 1.132-9 - Qualified transportation fringes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... transportation in a commuter highway vehicle? Q-3. What are transit passes? Q-4. What is qualified parking? Q-5... requirements in addition to those described in this regulation? (5) Special rules for parking and vanpools. Q-20. How is the value of parking determined? Q-21. How do the qualified transportation fringe rules...

Laboratory tests of catastrophic disruption of rotating bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, A. J. W.; Burchell, M. J.

2017-11-01

The results of catastrophic disruption experiments on static and rotating targets are reported. The experiments used cement spheres of diameter 10 cm as the targets. Impacts were by mm sized stainless steel spheres at speeds of between 1 and 7.75 km s-1. Energy densities (Q) in the targets ranged from 7 to 2613 J kg-1. The experiments covered both the cratering and catastrophic disruption regimes. For static, i.e. non-rotating targets the critical energy density for disruption (Q*, the value of Q when the largest surviving target fragment has a mass equal to one half of the pre-impact target mass) was Q* = 1447 ± 90 J kg-1. For rotating targets (median rotation frequency of 3.44 Hz) we found Q* = 987 ± 349 J kg-1, a reduction of 32% in the mean value. This lower value of Q* for rotating targets was also accompanied by a larger scatter on the data, hence the greater uncertainty. We suggest that in some cases the rotating targets behaved as static targets, i.e. broke up with the same catastrophic disruption threshold, but in other cases the rotation helped the break up causing a lower catastrophic disruption threshold, hence both the lower value of Q* and the larger scatter on the data. The fragment mass distributions after impact were similar in both the static and rotating target experiments with similar slopes.

Thin-Layering Effect On Estimating Seismic Attenuation In Methane Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, K.; Matsushima, J.

2012-12-01

Seismic attenuation is one of the important parameters that provide information concerning both the detection and quantitative assessment of gas-hydrates. We estimated seismic attenuation (1/Q) from surface seismic data acquired at Nankai Trough in Japan. We adapt the Q-versus offset (QVO) method to calculate robust and continuous interval attenuations from CMP gathers. We could observe high attenuation in methane hydrate bearing sediments over the BSR region. However some negative 1/Q values are also shown. This means that the amplitude of high frequency components is increasing with depth. Such results may be due to tuning effect. Here, we carried out numerical test to see how thin-layering effect influences on seismic attenuation results. The results showed that tuning considerably influences the attenuation results, and causes the lower 1/Q values (lower attenuation) and negative 1/Q values.

β -decay Q values among the A = 50 Ti-V-Cr isobaric triplet and atomic masses of Ti 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , V 50 , 51 , and Cr 50 , 52 – 54

DOE PAGES

Kandegedara, R. M. E. B.; Bollen, G.; Eibach, M.; ...

2017-10-20

This manuscript describes a measurement of the Q value for the highly forbidden beta-decays of 50V and the double electron capture decay of 50Cr. The Q value corresponds to the total energy released during the decay and is equivalent to the mass difference between parent and daughter atoms. This mass difference was measured using high precision Penning trap mass spectrometry with the Low Energy Beam and Ion Trap facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The Q value enters into theoretical calculations of the half-life and beta-decay spectrum for the decay, so improves these calculations. In addition the Q valuemore » corresponds to the end point energy of the beta-decay spectrum, which has been precisely measured for several highly-forbidden decays using modern low background detector techniques. Hence, our Q value measurements provide a test of systematics for these detectors. In addition, we have measured the absolute atomic masses of 46,47,49,50Ti, 50,51V, and 50,52-52Cr, providing improvements in precision by factors of up to 3. These atomic masses help to strengthen global evaluations of all atomic mass data, such as the Atomic Mass Evaluation.« less

β -decay Q values among the A = 50 Ti-V-Cr isobaric triplet and atomic masses of Ti 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , V 50 , 51 , and Cr 50 , 52 – 54

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

Kandegedara, R. M. E. B.; Bollen, G.; Eibach, M.

This manuscript describes a measurement of the Q value for the highly forbidden beta-decays of 50V and the double electron capture decay of 50Cr. The Q value corresponds to the total energy released during the decay and is equivalent to the mass difference between parent and daughter atoms. This mass difference was measured using high precision Penning trap mass spectrometry with the Low Energy Beam and Ion Trap facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The Q value enters into theoretical calculations of the half-life and beta-decay spectrum for the decay, so improves these calculations. In addition the Q valuemore » corresponds to the end point energy of the beta-decay spectrum, which has been precisely measured for several highly-forbidden decays using modern low background detector techniques. Hence, our Q value measurements provide a test of systematics for these detectors. In addition, we have measured the absolute atomic masses of 46,47,49,50Ti, 50,51V, and 50,52-52Cr, providing improvements in precision by factors of up to 3. These atomic masses help to strengthen global evaluations of all atomic mass data, such as the Atomic Mass Evaluation.« less

alpha-decay half-lives and Q{sub a}lpha values of superheavy nuclei

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

Dong Jianmin; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000

2010-06-15

The alpha-decay half-lives of recently synthesized superheavy nuclei (SHN) are investigated by employing a unified fission model (UFM) where a new method to calculate the assault frequency of alpha emission is used. The excellent agreement with the experimental data indicates the UFM is a useful tool to investigate these alpha decays. It is found that the alpha-decay half-lives become more and more insensitive to the Q{sub a}lpha values as the atomic number increases on the whole, which is favorable for us to predict the half-lives of SHN. In addition, a formula is proposed to compute the Q{sub a}lpha values formore » the nuclei with Z>=92 and N>=140 with a good accuracy, according to which the long-lived SHN should be neutron rich. Several weeks ago, two isotopes of a new element with atomic number Z=117 were synthesized and their alpha-decay chains have been observed. The Q{sub a}lpha formula is found to work well for these nuclei, confirming its predictive power. The experimental half-lives are well reproduced by employing the UFM with the experimental Q{sub a}lpha values. This fact that the experimental half-lives are compatible with experimental Q{sub a}lpha values supports the synthesis of a new element 117 and the experimental measurements to a certain extent.« less

High-precision Q EC values of superallowed 0 + → 0 + β-emitters 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni

DOE PAGES

Zhang, P.; Xu, X.; Shuai, P.; ...

2017-01-23

Short-lived 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni were studied by isochronous mass spectrometry at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou. The measured precision mass excesses (ME) of 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni are -29471(11) keV, -34477(6) keV and -39278(4) keV, respectively. The superallowed 0 +→0+β-decay Q values were derived to be Q EC( 46Cr) =7604(11) keV, Q EC( 50Fe) =8150(6) keV and Q EC( 54Ni) =8731(4) keV. The values for 50Fe and 54Ni are by one order of magnitude more precise than the adopted literature values. By combining the existing half-lives and branching ratios, we obtained the corrected ℱt values to be ℱt(more » 50Fe) =3103(70) s and ℱt( 54Ni) =3076(50) s. The main contribution to the ℱt uncertainties is now due to β-decay branching ratios, still, more high-precision measurements of the half-lives, the masses, and especially the branching ratios are needed in order to satisfy the requirements for a stringent CVC test.« less

High-precision Q EC values of superallowed 0 + → 0 + β-emitters 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni

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

Zhang, P.; Xu, X.; Shuai, P.

Short-lived 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni were studied by isochronous mass spectrometry at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou. The measured precision mass excesses (ME) of 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni are -29471(11) keV, -34477(6) keV and -39278(4) keV, respectively. The superallowed 0 +→0+β-decay Q values were derived to be Q EC( 46Cr) =7604(11) keV, Q EC( 50Fe) =8150(6) keV and Q EC( 54Ni) =8731(4) keV. The values for 50Fe and 54Ni are by one order of magnitude more precise than the adopted literature values. By combining the existing half-lives and branching ratios, we obtained the corrected ℱt values to be ℱt(more » 50Fe) =3103(70) s and ℱt( 54Ni) =3076(50) s. The main contribution to the ℱt uncertainties is now due to β-decay branching ratios, still, more high-precision measurements of the half-lives, the masses, and especially the branching ratios are needed in order to satisfy the requirements for a stringent CVC test.« less

Gene expression in thiazide diuretic or statin users in relation to incident type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Suchy-Dicey, Astrid; Heckbert, Susan R; Smith, Nicholas L; McKnight, Barbara; Rotter, Jerome I; Chen, Yd Ida; Psaty, Bruce M; Enquobahrie, Daniel A

2014-01-01

Thiazide diuretics and statins are used to improve cardiovascular outcomes, but may also cause type 2 diabetes (T2DM), although mechanisms are unknown. Gene expression studies may facilitate understanding of these associations. Participants from ongoing population-based studies were sampled for these longitudinal studies of peripheral blood microarray gene expression, and followed to incident diabetes. All sampled subjects were statin or thiazide users. Those who developed diabetes during follow-up comprised cases (44 thiazide users; 19 statin users), and were matched to drug-using controls who did not develop diabetes on several factors. Supervised normalization, surrogate variable analyses removed technical bias and confounding. Differentially-expressed genes were those with a false discovery rate Q-value<0.05. Among thiazide users, diabetes cases had significantly different expression of CCL14 (down-regulated 6%, Q-value=0.0257), compared with controls. Among statin users, diabetes cases had marginal but insignificantly different expression of ZNF532 (up-regulated 15%, Q-value=0.0584), CXORF21 (up-regulated 11%, Q-value=0.0584), and ZNHIT3 (up-regulated 19%, Q-value=0.0959), compared with controls. These genes comprise potential targets for future expression or mechanistic research on medication-related diabetes development.

Derivation of the spin-glass order parameter from stochastic thermodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crisanti, A.; Picco, M.; Ritort, F.

2018-05-01

A fluctuation relation is derived to extract the order parameter function q (x ) in weakly ergodic systems. The relation is based on measuring and classifying entropy production fluctuations according to the value of the overlap q between configurations. For a fixed value of q , entropy production fluctuations are Gaussian distributed allowing us to derive the quasi-FDT so characteristic of aging systems. The theory is validated by extracting the q (x ) in various types of glassy models. It might be generally applicable to other nonequilibrium systems and experimental small systems.

Feedback-assisted extension of the tokamak operating space to low safety factor

DOE PAGES

Hanson, Jeremy M.; Bialek, James M.; Baruzzo, M.; ...

2014-07-07

Recent DIII-D and RFX-mod experiments have demonstrated stable tokamak operation at very low values of the edge safety factor q( a) near and below 2. The onset of n = 1 resistive wall mode (RWM) kink instabilities leads to a disruptive stability limit, encountered at q( a) = 2 (limiter plasmas) and q 95 = 2 (divertor plasmas). However, passively stable operation can be attained for q( a) and q 95 values as low as 2.2. RWM damping in the q( a) = 2 regime was measured using active MHD spectroscopy. Although consistent with theoretical predictions, the amplitude of themore » damped response does not increase significantly as the q( a) = 2 limit is approached, in contrast with damping measurements made approaching the pressure-driven RWM limit. Applying proportional gain magnetic feedback control of the n = 1 modes has resulted in stabilized operation with q 95 values reaching as low as 1.9 in DIII-D and q( a) reaching 1.55 in RFX-mod. In addition to being consistent with the q( a) = 2 external kink mode stability limit, the unstable modes have growth rates on the order of the characteristic wall eddy-current decay timescale in both devices, and a dominant m = 2 poloidal structure that is consistent with ideal MHD predictions. As a result, the experiments contribute to validating MHD stability theory and demonstrate that a key tokamak stability limit can be overcome with feedback.« less

[Comparison of the anterior corneal asphericity after small incision lenticule extraction and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis].

PubMed

Su, X L; Wang, Y; Wu, W J; Wu, Z Q; Wu, Y N; Yu, C J

2016-09-11

To evaluate and compare the anterior corneal asphericity after small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK). In this case-control study, 45 subjects who underwent SMILE operation comprised the study group, and 33 subjects with FS-LASIK operation comprised the control group. The asphericity coefficient Q-value of the right eyes in both groups was measured at diameters of 6, 7, 8 and 9 mm, respectively, before surgery and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months following surgery. The correlation between the variation of Q-value and the central cutting depth was analyzed. The Q-value of anterior corneal surface was 0.85 ± 0.31, 0.80±0.28, 0.69±0.25 and 0.51±0.23 after SMILE, and 1.13±0.56, 1.01±0.47, 0.80±0.39 and 0.51±0.31 after FS-LASIK at 1 week. In both groups, the Q-value was significantly different before and after surgery(P< 0.05); there were interaction effects between the operation method and time; the difference between the two groups at 6-mm and 7-mm diameters was statistically significant(P<0.05). The variation of the Q-value before and after operation(ΔQ)showed significant difference(P6mm=0.004, P7mm=0.014)between the two groups at 6-mm and 7-mm diameters. The cap diameter of the SMILE group was smaller than that of the FS-LASIK group, but the cutting depth was larger. There was no correlation between ΔQ and the cap/disc diameter. It showed a linear relationship(P<0.05)between ΔQ and the central cutting depth at all examined diameters in the two groups, and the relation degree in the FS-LASIK group was superior to the SMILE group. Both SMILE and FS-LASIK operations can change the negative Q-value of the anterior corneal surface to the positive. The impact of SMILE on the asphericity is smaller than that of FS-LASIK. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2016, 52: 681-685).

Gyrotron cavity resonator with an improved value of Q

DOEpatents

Stone, David S.; Shively, James F.

1982-10-26

A gyrotron cavity resonator is connected smoothly and directly to an output waveguide with a very gradually tapered wall so that values of external Q lower than twice the diffraction limit are obtainable.

A detailed study of the proton structure functions in deep inelastic muon-proton scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aubert, J. J.; Bassompierre, G.; Becks, K. H.; Best, C.; Böhm, E.; de Bouard, X.; Brasse, F. W.; Broll, C.; Brown, S.; Carr, J.; Clifft, R. W.; Cobb, J. H.; Coignet, G.; Combley, F.; D'Agostini, G.; Dau, W. D.; Davies, J. K.; Déclais, Y.; Dobinson, R. W.; Dosselli, U.; Drees, J.; Edwards, A. W.; Edwards, M.; Favier, J.; Ferrero, M. I.; Flauger, W.; Gabathuler, E.; Gamet, R.; Gayler, J.; Gerhardt, V.; Gössling, C.; Haas, J.; Hamacher, K.; Hayman, P.; Henckes, M.; Korbel, V.; Landgraf, U.; Leenen, M.; Maire, M.; Mohr, W.; Montgomery, H. E.; Moser, K.; Mount, R. P.; Nassalski, J.; Norton, P. R.; McNicholas, J.; Osborne, A. M.; Payre, P.; Peroni, C.; Pessard, H.; Pietrzyk, U.; Rith, K.; Schneegans, M.; Sloan, T.; Stier, H. E.; Stockhausen, W.; Thénard, J. M.; Thompson, J. C.; Urban, L.; Wahlen, H.; Whalley, M.; Williams, W. S. C.; Williamson, J.; Wimpenny, S. J.; European Muon Collaboration

1985-09-01

The x and Q2 dependence of the single photon exchange cross section d 2σ/d Q2d x and the proton structure functions F2( x, Q2) and R( x, Q2) have been measured in deep inelastic muon proton scattering in the region 0.02 < x < 0.8 and 3 < Q2 < 190 GeV 2. By comparing data at different incident muon energies R was found to have little kinematic dependence and an average value of -0.010 ± 0.037 (stat.) ± 0.102 (stat.). The observed deviations from scaling gave the value of Λ overlineMS, the QCD mass scale parameter, to be 105 -45+55 (stat.) -45+85 (syst.) MeV. The fraction of the momentum of the nucleon carried by gluons was found to be ˜56% at Q2˜22.5 GeV 2. It is shown that to obtain a description of the data for F2( x, Q2) together with that measured in deep inelastic electron-proton scattering at lower Q2 it is necessary to include additional higher twist contributions. The value of Λ overlineMS remains unchanged with the inclusion of these contributions which were found to have an x-dependence of the form x3/(1 - x).

Phase transition for the system of finite volume in the ϕ4 theory in the Tsallis nonextensive statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishihara, Masamichi

2018-04-01

We studied the effects of nonextensivity on the phase transition for the system of finite volume V in the ϕ4 theory in the Tsallis nonextensive statistics of entropic parameter q and temperature T, when the deviation from the Boltzmann-Gibbs (BG) statistics, |q ‑ 1|, is small. We calculated the condensate and the effective mass to the order q ‑ 1 with the normalized q-expectation value under the free particle approximation with zero bare mass. The following facts were found. The condensate Φ divided by v, Φ/v, at q (v is the value of the condensate at T = 0) is smaller than that at q‧ for q > q‧ as a function of Tph/v which is the physical temperature Tph divided by v. The physical temperature Tph is related to the variation of the Tsallis entropy and the variation of the internal energies, and Tph at q = 1 coincides with T. The effective mass decreases, reaches minimum, and increases after that, as Tph increases. The effective mass at q > 1 is lighter than the effective mass at q = 1 at low physical temperature and heavier than the effective mass at q = 1 at high physical temperature. The effects of the nonextensivity on the physical quantity as a function of Tph become strong as |q ‑ 1| increases. The results indicate the significance of the definition of the expectation value, the definition of the physical temperature, and the constraints for the density operator, when the terms including the volume of the system are not negligible.

Lateral Variations of Lg Coda Q in Southern Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, J.; Quintanar, L.; Herrmann, R. B.; Fuentes, C.

Broad band digital three-component data recorded at UNM, a GEOSCOPE station, were used to estimate Lg coda Q for 34 medium size (3.9 <=mb<= 6.3) earthquakes with travel paths laying in different geological provinces of southern Mexico in an effort to establish the possible existence of geological structures acting as wave guides and/or travel paths of low attenuation between the Pacific coast and the Valley of Mexico. The stacked spectral ratio method proposed by XIE and NUTTLI (1988) was chosen for computing the coda Q. The variation range of Q0 (Q at 1Hz) and the frequency dependence parameter η estimates averaged on the frequency interval of 0.5 to 2Hz for the regions and the three components considered are: i) Guerrero region 173 <=Q0<= 182 and 0.6 <=Q0<= 0.7, ii) Oaxaca region 183 <=Q0<= 198 and 0.6 <=Q0<= 0.8, iii) Michoacan-Jalisco region 187 <=Q0<= 204 and 0.7 <=Q0<= 0.8 and iv) eastern portion of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) 313 <=Q0<= 335 and η = 0.9. The results show a very high coda Q for the TMVB as compared to other regions of southern Mexico. This unexpected result is difficult to reconcile with the geophysical characteristics of the TMVB, e.g., low seismicity, high volcanic activity and high heat flow typical of a highly attenuating (low Q) region. Visual inspection of seismograms indicates that for earthquakes with seismic waves traveling along the TMVB, the amplitude decay of Lg coda is anomalously slow as compared to other earthquakes in southern Mexico. Thus, it seems that the high Q value found does not entirely reflect the attenuation characteristics of the TMVB but it is probably contaminated by a wave-guide effect. This phenomenon produces an enhancement in the time duration of the Lg wave trains travelling along this geological structure. This result is important to establish the role played by the transmission medium in the extremely long duration of ground motion observed during the September 19, 1985 Michoacan earthquake. The overall spatial distribution of coda Q values indicates that events with focus in the Michoacan-Jalisco and Oaxaca regions yield slightly higher values than those from Guerrero. This feature is more pronounced for the horizontal component of coda Q. A slight dependence of average coda Q-1 on earthquake focal depth is observed in the frequency range of 0.2 to 1.0Hz approximately on the horizontal component. Deeper (h > 50km) events yield lower values of Q-1 than shallower events. For frequencies higher than 1.0Hz no clear dependence of Q-1 on focal depth is observed. However, due to the estimates uncertainties this result is not clearly established.

HMI Data Driven Magnetohydrodynamic Model Predicted Active Region Photospheric Heating Rates: Their Scale Invariant, Flare Like Power Law Distributions, and Their Possible Association With Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodman, Michael L.; Kwan, Chiman; Ayhan, Bulent; Shang, Eric L.

2017-01-01

A data driven, near photospheric, 3 D, non-force free magnetohydrodynamic model pre- dicts time series of the complete current density, and the resistive heating rate Q at the photosphere in neutral line regions (NLRs) of 14 active regions (ARs). The model is driven by time series of the magnetic field B observed by the Helioseismic & Magnetic Imager on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. Spurious Doppler periods due to SDO orbital motion are filtered out of the time series for B in every AR pixel. Errors in B due to these periods can be significant. The number of occurrences N(q) of values of Q > or = q for each AR time series is found to be a scale invariant power law distribution, N(Q) / Q-s, above an AR dependent threshold value of Q, where 0.3952 < or = s < or = 0.5298 with mean and standard deviation of 0.4678 and 0.0454, indicating little variation between ARs. Observations show that the number of occurrences N(E) of coronal flares with a total energy released > or = E obeys the same type of distribution, N(E) / E-S, above an AR dependent threshold value of E, with 0.38 < or approx. S < or approx. 0.60, also with little variation among ARs. Within error margins the ranges of s and S are nearly identical. This strong similarity between N(Q) and N(E) suggests a fundamental connection between the process that drives coronal flares and the process that drives photospheric NLR heating rates in ARs. In addition, results suggest it is plausible that spikes in Q, several orders of magnitude above background values, are correlated with times of the subsequent occurrence of M or X flares.

HMI Data Driven Magnetohydrodynamic Model Predicted Active Region Photospheric Heating Rates: Their Scale Invariant, Flare Like Power Law Distributions, and Their Possible Association With Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodman, Michael L.; Kwan, Chiman; Ayhan, Bulent; Shang, Eric L.

2017-01-01

A data driven, near photospheric, 3 D, non-force free magnetohydrodynamic model predicts time series of the complete current density, and the resistive heating rate Q at the photosphere in neutral line regions (NLRs) of 14 active regions (ARs). The model is driven by time series of the magnetic field B observed by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. Spurious Doppler periods due to SDO orbital motion are filtered out of the time series for B in every AR pixel. Errors in B due to these periods can be significant. The number of occurrences N(q) of values of Q > or = q for each AR time series is found to be a scale invariant power law distribution, N(Q) / Q-s, above an AR dependent threshold value of Q, where 0.3952 < or = s < or = 0.5298 with mean and standard deviation of 0.4678 and 0.0454, indicating little variation between ARs. Observations show that the number of occurrences N(E) of coronal flares with a total energy released > or = E obeys the same type of distribution, N(E) / E-S, above an AR dependent threshold value of E, with 0.38 < or approx. S < or approx. 0.60, also with little variation among ARs. Within error margins the ranges of s and S are nearly identical. This strong similarity between N(Q) and N(E) suggests a fundamental connection between the process that drives coronal flares and the process that drives photospheric NLR heating rates in ARs. In addition, results suggest it is plausible that spikes in Q, several orders of magnitude above background values, are correlated with times of the subsequent occurrence of M or X flares.

Coenzyme Q10 and Pyridoxal Phosphate Deficiency Is a Common Feature in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type III.

PubMed

Yubero, Dèlia; Montero, Raquel; O'Callaghan, Mar; Pineda, Mercè; Meavilla, Silvia; Delgadillo, Veronica; Sierra, Cristina; Altimira, Laura; Navas, Plácido; Pope, Simon; Oppenheim, Marcus; Neergheen, Viruna; Ghosh, Arunabha; Mills, Phillipa; Clayton, Peter; Footitt, Emma; Cleary, Maureen; Hargreaves, Iain; Jones, Simon A; Heales, Simon; Artuch, Rafael

2016-01-01

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage disorders caused by deficiencies of lysosomal enzymes catalyzing degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Previously, we reported a secondary plasma coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ) deficiency in MPS patients. For this study, nine MPS patients were recruited in the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (HSJD, Barcelona) and two patients in the Neurometabolic Unit, National Hospital (NMU, London), to explore the nutritional status of MPS type III patients by analyzing several vitamins and micronutrients in blood and in cerebrospinal fluid. Plasma CoQ and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) content were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical and fluorescence detection, respectively. We found that most MPS-III patients disclosed low plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) values (seven out of nine) and also low plasma CoQ concentrations (eight out of nine). We observed significantly lower median values of PLP, tocopherol, and CoQ (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.006, p = 0.004, and p = 0.001, respectively) in MPS patients when compared with age-matched controls. Chi-square test showed a significant association between the fact of having low plasma PLP and CoQ values in the whole cohort of patients. Cerebrospinal fluid PLP values were clearly deficient in the two patients studied. In conclusion, we report a combined CoQ and PLP deficiency in MPS-III patients. These observations could be related to the complexity of the physiopathology of the disease. If our results are confirmed in larger series of patients, CoQ and PLP therapy could be trialed as coadjuvant therapy with the current MPS treatments.

Imaging contrast and tip-sample interaction of non-contact amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy with Q-control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Shuai; Guo, Dan; Luo, Jianbin

2017-10-01

Active quality factor (Q) exhibits many promising properties in dynamic atomic force microscopy. Energy dissipation and image contrasts are investigated in the non-contact amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy (AM-AFM) with an active Q-control circuit in the ambient air environment. Dissipated power and virial were calculated to compare the highly nonlinear interaction of tip-sample and image contrasts with different Q gain values. Greater free amplitudes and lower effective Q values show better contrasts for the same setpoint ratio. Active quality factor also can be employed to change tip-sample interaction force in non-contact regime. It is meaningful that non-destructive and better contrast images can be realized in non-contact AM-AFM by applying an active Q-control to the dynamic system.

The Temperature Sensitivity (Q10) of Soil Respiration: Controlling Factors and Spatial Prediction at Regional Scale Based on Environmental Soil Classes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, N.; Welp, G.; Amelung, W.

2018-02-01

The temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic soil respiration is crucial for modeling carbon dynamics but it is variable. Presently, however, most models employ a fixed value of 1.5 or 2.0 for the increase of soil respiration per 10°C increase in temperature (Q10). Here we identified the variability of Q10 at a regional scale (Rur catchment, Germany/Belgium/Netherlands). We divided the study catchment into environmental soil classes (ESCs), which we define as unique combinations of land use, aggregated soil groups, and texture. We took nine soil samples from each ESC (108 samples) and incubated them at four soil moisture levels and five temperatures (5-25°C). We hypothesized that Q10 variability is controlled by soil organic carbon (SOC) degradability and soil moisture and that ESC can be used as a widely available proxy for Q10, owing to differences in SOC degradability. Measured Q10 values ranged from 1.2 to 2.8 and were correlated with indicators of SOC degradability (e.g., pH, r = -0.52). The effect of soil moisture on Q10 was variable: Q10 increased with moisture in croplands but decreased in forests. The ESC captured significant parts of Q10 variability under dry (R2 = 0.44) and intermediate (R2 = 0.36) moisture conditions, where Q10 increased in the order cropland

Normal Q-angle in an adult Nigerian population.

PubMed

Omololu, Bade B; Ogunlade, Olusegun S; Gopaldasani, Vinod K

2009-08-01

The Q-angle has been studied among the adult Caucasian population with the establishment of reference values. Scientists are beginning to accept the concept of different human races. Physical variability exists between various African ethnic groups and Caucasians as exemplified by differences in anatomic features such as a flat nose compared with a pointed nose, wide rather than narrow faces, and straight rather than curly hair. Therefore, we cannot assume the same Q-angle values will be applicable to Africans and Caucasians. We established a baseline reference value for normal Q-angles among asymptomatic Nigerian adults. The Q-angles of the left and right knees were measured using a goniometer in 477 Nigerian adults (354 males; 123 females) in the supine and standing positions. The mean Q-angles for men were 10.7 degrees +/- 2.2 degrees in the supine position and 12.3 degrees +/- 2.2 degrees in the standing position in the right knee. The left knee Q-angles in men were 10.5 degrees +/- 2.6 degrees in the supine position and 11.7 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees in the standing position. In women, the mean Q-angles for the right knee were 21 degrees +/- 4.8 degrees in the supine position and 22.8 degrees +/- 4.7 degrees in the standing position. The mean Q-angles for the left knee in women were 20.9 degrees +/- 4.6 degrees in the supine position and 22.7 degrees +/- 4.6 degrees in the standing position. We observed a difference in Q-angles in the supine and standing positions for all participants. The Q-angle in adult Nigerian men is comparable to that of adult Caucasian men, but the Q-angle of Nigerian women is greater than that of their Caucasian counterparts.

Ground state and magnetic phase transitions of the spin Lieb nanolattice: Monte Carlo simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masrour, R.; Jabar, A.

2018-02-01

We study the ground state and magnetic properties of the spin Lieb nanolattice with three lattice sites with spins (S = 2 , σ = 1 / 2 , q = 3 / 2) using Monte Carlo simulations. The ground state phase diagrams of the Lieb nanolattice have been studied. The phase diagrams show some key features: coexistence between regions, points where six, eight and ten states can coexist. The total and partial magnetization of each sublattice is given and the corresponding magnetic susceptibility is also found. The variation of total magnetization with the exchange interaction RSq and Rσq of the Lieb nanolattice with three lattice sites with spins (S , σ , q) has been studied. Moreover, the total magnetization versus the fields Δ /JSσ of the Lieb nanolattice with three lattice sites with spins (S , σ , q) are established for several values of Rσq and Rsq. Magnetic hysteresis cycles of the Lieb nanolattice with three lattice sites with spins (S , σ , q) are found for several values of Rsq and temperature. We show that the superparamagnetism behaviour appears for a weak coupling value between S and q thus around the transition temperature.

Structural Analysis of Cubane-Type Iron Clusters

PubMed Central

Tan, Lay Ling; Holm, R. H.; Lee, Sonny C.

2013-01-01

The generalized cluster type [M4(μ3-Q)4Ln]x contains the cubane-type [M4Q4]z core unit that can approach, but typically deviates from, perfect Td symmetry. The geometric properties of this structure have been analyzed with reference to Td symmetry by a new protocol. Using coordinates of M and Q atoms, expressions have been derived for interatomic separations, bond angles, and volumes of tetrahedral core units (M4, Q4) and the total [M4Q4] core (as a tetracapped M4 tetrahedron). Values for structural parameters have been calculated from observed average values for a given cluster type. Comparison of calculated and observed values measures the extent of deviation of a given parameter from that required in an exact tetrahedral structure. The procedure has been applied to the structures of over 130 clusters containing [Fe4Q4] (Q = S2−, Se2−, Te2−, [NPR3]−, [NR]2−) units, of which synthetic and biological sulfide-bridged clusters constitute the largest subset. General structural features and trends in structural parameters are identified and summarized. An extensive database of structural properties (distances, angles, volumes) has been compiled in Supporting Information. PMID:24072952

Structural Analysis of Cubane-Type Iron Clusters.

PubMed

Tan, Lay Ling; Holm, R H; Lee, Sonny C

2013-07-13

The generalized cluster type [M 4 (μ 3 -Q) 4 L n ] x contains the cubane-type [M 4 Q 4 ] z core unit that can approach, but typically deviates from, perfect T d symmetry. The geometric properties of this structure have been analyzed with reference to T d symmetry by a new protocol. Using coordinates of M and Q atoms, expressions have been derived for interatomic separations, bond angles, and volumes of tetrahedral core units (M 4 , Q 4 ) and the total [M 4 Q 4 ] core (as a tetracapped M 4 tetrahedron). Values for structural parameters have been calculated from observed average values for a given cluster type. Comparison of calculated and observed values measures the extent of deviation of a given parameter from that required in an exact tetrahedral structure. The procedure has been applied to the structures of over 130 clusters containing [Fe 4 Q 4 ] (Q = S 2- , Se 2- , Te 2- , [NPR 3 ] - , [NR] 2- ) units, of which synthetic and biological sulfide-bridged clusters constitute the largest subset. General structural features and trends in structural parameters are identified and summarized. An extensive database of structural properties (distances, angles, volumes) has been compiled in Supporting Information.

Radial q-space sampling for DSI

PubMed Central

Baete, Steven H.; Yutzy, Stephen; Boada, Fernando, E.

2015-01-01

Purpose Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) has been shown to be an effective tool for non-invasively depicting the anatomical details of brain microstructure. Existing implementations of DSI sample the diffusion encoding space using a rectangular grid. Here we present a different implementation of DSI whereby a radially symmetric q-space sampling scheme for DSI (RDSI) is used to improve the angular resolution and accuracy of the reconstructed Orientation Distribution Functions (ODF). Methods Q-space is sampled by acquiring several q-space samples along a number of radial lines. Each of these radial lines in q-space is analytically connected to a value of the ODF at the same angular location by the Fourier slice theorem. Results Computer simulations and in vivo brain results demonstrate that RDSI correctly estimates the ODF when moderately high b-values (4000 s/mm2) and number of q-space samples (236) are used. Conclusion The nominal angular resolution of RDSI depends on the number of radial lines used in the sampling scheme, and only weakly on the maximum b-value. In addition, the radial analytical reconstruction reduces truncation artifacts which affect Cartesian reconstructions. Hence, a radial acquisition of q-space can be favorable for DSI. PMID:26363002

Half-life, branching-ratio, and Q-value measurement for the superallowed 0{sup +}{yields}0{sup +}{beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 42}Ti

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

Nieto, T. Kurtukian; Souin, J.; Audirac, L.

2009-09-15

The half-life, the branching ratio, and the decay Q value of the superallowed {beta} emitter {sup 42}Ti were measured in an experiment performed at the JYFLTRAP facility of the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaeskylae. {sup 42}Ti is the heaviest T{sub z}=-1 nucleus for which high-precision measurements of these quantities have been tried. The half-life (T{sub 1/2}=208.14{+-}0.45 ms) and the Q value [Q{sub EC}=7016.83(25) keV] are close to or reach the required precision of about 0.1%. The branching ratio for the superallowed decay branch [BR=47.7(12)%], a by-product of the half-life measurement, does not reach the necessary precision yet. Nonetheless,more » these results allow one to determine the experimental ft value and the corrected Ft value to be 3114(79) and 3122(79) s, respectively.« less

Specific light uptake rates can enhance astaxanthin productivity in Haematococcus lacustris.

PubMed

Lee, Ho-Sang; Kim, Z-Hun; Park, Hanwool; Lee, Choul-Gyun

2016-05-01

Lumostatic operation was applied for efficient astaxanthin production in autotrophic Haematococcus lacustris cultures using 0.4-L bubble column photobioreactors. The lumostatic operation in this study was performed with three different specific light uptake rates (q(e)) based on cell concentration, cell projection area, and fresh weight as one-, two- and three-dimensional characteristics values, respectively. The q(e) value from the cell concentration (q(e1D)) obtained was 13.5 × 10⁻⁸ μE cell⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the maximum astaxanthin concentration was increased to 150 % compared to that of a control with constant light intensity. The other optimum q e values by cell projection area (q(e2D)) and fresh weight (q( e3D)) were determined to be 195 μE m⁻² s⁻¹ and 10.5 μE g⁻¹ s⁻¹ for astaxanthin production, respectively. The maximum astaxanthin production from the lumostatic cultures using the parameters controlled by cell projection area (2D) and fresh weight (3D) also increased by 36 and 22% over that of the controls, respectively. When comparing the optimal q e values among the three different types, the lumostatic cultures using q(e) based on fresh weight showed the highest astaxanthin productivity (22.8 mg L⁻¹ day⁻¹), which was a higher level than previously reported. The lumostatic operations reported here demonstrated that more efficient and effective astaxanthin production was obtained by H. lacustris than providing a constant light intensity, regardless of which parameter is used to calculate the specific light uptake rate.

Causes of systematic over- or underestimation of low streamflows by use of index-streamgage approaches in the United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eng, K.; Kiang, J.E.; Chen, Y.-Y.; Carlisle, D.M.; Granato, G.E.

2011-01-01

Low-flow characteristics can be estimated by multiple linear regressions or the index-streamgage approach. The latter transfers streamflow information from a hydrologically similar, continuously gaged basin ('index streamgage') to one with a very limited streamflow record, but often results in biased estimates. The application of the index-streamgage approach can be generalized into three steps: (1) selection of streamflow information of interest, (2) definition of hydrologic similarity and selection of index streamgage, and (3) application of an information-transfer approach. Here, we explore the effects of (1) the range of streamflow values, (2) the areal density of streamgages, and (3) index-streamgage selection criteria on the bias of three information-transfer approaches on estimates of the 7-day, 10-year minimum streamflow (Q7, 10). The three information-transfer approaches considered are maintenance of variance extension, base-flow correlation, and ratio of measured to concurrent gaged streamflow (Q-ratio invariance). Our results for 1120 streamgages throughout the United States suggest that only a small portion of the total bias in estimated streamflow values is explained by the areal density of the streamgages and the hydrologic similarity between the two basins. However, restricting the range of streamflow values used in the index-streamgage approach reduces the bias of estimated Q7, 10 values substantially. Importantly, estimated Q7, 10 values are heavily biased when the observed Q7, 10 values are near zero. Results of the analysis also showed that Q7, 10 estimates from two of the three index-streamgage approaches have lower root-mean-square error values than estimates derived from multiple regressions for the large regions considered in this study.

Seismic imaging of Q structures by a trans-dimensional coda-wave analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Tsutomu

2017-04-01

Wave scattering and intrinsic attenuation are important processes to describe incoherent and complex wave trains of high frequency seismic wave (>1Hz). The multiple lapse time window analysis (MLTWA) has been used to estimate scattering and intrinsic Q values by assuming constant Q in a study area (e.g., Hoshiba 1993). This study generalizes this MLTWA to estimate lateral variations of Q values under the Bayesian framework in dimension variable space. Study area is partitioned into small areas by means of the Voronoi tessellation. Scattering and intrinsic Q in each small area are constant. We define a misfit function for spatiotemporal variations of wave energy as with the original MLTWA, and maximize the posterior probability with changing not only Q values but the number and spatial layout of the Voronoi cells. This maximization is conducted by means of the reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (rjMCMC) (Green 1995) since the number of unknown parameters (i.e., dimension of posterior probability) is variable. After a convergence to the maximum posterior, we estimate Q structures from the ensemble averages of MCMC samples around the maximum posterior probability. Synthetic tests showed stable reconstructions of input structures with reasonable error distributions. We applied this method for seismic waveform data recorded by ocean bottom seismograms at the outer-rise area off Tohoku, and estimated Q values at 4-8Hz, 8-16Hz and 16-32Hz. Intrinsic Q are nearly constant at all frequency bands, and scattering Q shows two distinct strong scattering regions at petit spot area and high seismicity area. These strong scattering are probably related to magma inclusions and fractured structure, respectively. Difference between these two areas becomes clear at high frequencies. It means that scale dependences of inhomogeneities or smaller scale inhomogeneity is important to discuss medium property and origins of structural variations. While the generalized MLTWA is based on a classical waveform modeling in constant Q medium, this method can be a fundamental basis for Q structure imaging in the crust.

Measurements of the nucleon structure function in the range 0.002 < x < 0.17 and 00.2 < Q2 < 8 GeV2 in deuterium, carbon and calcium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

European Muon Collaboration; Arneodo, M.; Arvidson, A.; Aubert, J. J.; Badelek, B.; Beaufays, J.; Bee, C. P.; Benchouk, C.; Berghoff, G.; Bird, I. G.; Blum, D.; Böhm, E.; de Bouard, X.; Brasse, F. W.; Braun, H.; Broll, C.; Brown, S. C.; Brück, H.; Calén, H.; Chima, J. S.; Ciborowski, J.; Clifft, R.; Coignet, G.; Combley, F.; Coughlan, J.; d'Agostini, G.; Dahlgren, S.; Derado, I.; Dreyer, T.; Drees, J.; Düren, M.; Eckardt, V.; Edwards, A.; Edwards, M.; Ernst, T.; Eszes, G.; Favier, J.; Ferrero, M. I.; Figiel, J.; Flauger, W.; Foster, J.; Gabathuler, E.; Gajewski, J.; Gamet, R.; Geddes, N.; Grafström, P.; Gustafsson, L.; Haas, J.; Hagberg, E.; Hasert, F. J.; Hayman, P.; Heusse, P.; Jaffre, M.; Jacholkowska, A.; Janata, F.; Jancso, G.; Johnson, A. S.; Kabuss, E. M.; Kellner, G.; Krüger, A.; Krüger, J.; Kullander, S.; Landgraf, U.; Lanske, D.; Loken, J.; Long, K.; Maire, M.; Malecki, P.; Manz, A.; Maselli, S.; Mohr, W.; Montanet, F.; Montgomery, H. E.; Nagy, E.; Nassalski, J.; Norton, P. R.; Oakham, F. G.; Osborne, A. M.; Pascaud, C.; Pawlik, B.; Payre, P.; Peroni, C.; Peschel, H.; Pessard, H.; Pettingale, J.; Pietrzyk, B.; Poensgen, B.; Pötsch, M.; Renton, P.; Ribarics, P.; Rith, K.; Rondio, E.; Sandacz, A.; Scheer, M.; Schlagböhmer, A.; Schiemann, H.; Schmitz, N.; Schneegans, M.; Scholz, M.; Schouten, M.; Schröder, T.; Schultze, K.; Sloan, T.; Stier, H. E.; Studt, M.; Taylor, G. N.; Thenard, J. M.; Thompson, J. C.; de la Torre, A.; Toth, J.; Urban, L.; Urban, L.; Wallucks, W.; Whalley, M.; Wheeler, S.; Williams, W. S. C.; Wimpenny, S. J.; Windmolders, R.; Wolf, G.

1990-03-01

Small angle scattering of 280 GeV positive muons by deuterium, carbon and calcium has been measured at scattering angles down to 2 mrad. The nucleon structure function F2 extracted from deuterium does not show a significant x dependence in the measured range of Q2 and its Q2 dependence is linear in logQ2. For calcium, a depletion of F2 is observed at low x by 30% as compared with the values at x = 0.1 where F2(Ca) and F2 (D) are not significantly different. This depletion is attributed to shadowing. The carbon structure function exhibits a similar, but less pronounced, x dependence. Such behaviour is observed to be independent of Q2. The data are consistent with those obtained from other charged lepton experiments both at similar and higher values of x and Q2 and considerably extend the range of the measurements down to the low values of x to be measured in forthcoming experiments at HERA.

Tsallis non-extensive statistical mechanics in the ionospheric detrended total electron content during quiet and storm periods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogunsua, B. O.; Laoye, J. A.

2018-05-01

In this paper, the Tsallis non-extensive q-statistics in ionospheric dynamics was investigated using the total electron content (TEC) obtained from two Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver stations. This investigation was carried out considering the geomagnetically quiet and storm periods. The micro density variation of the ionospheric total electron content was extracted from the TEC data by method of detrending. The detrended total electron content, which represent the variation in the internal dynamics of the system was further analyzed using for non-extensive statistical mechanics using the q-Gaussian methods. Our results reveals that for all the analyzed data sets the Tsallis Gaussian probability distribution (q-Gaussian) with value q > 1 were obtained. It was observed that there is no distinct difference in pattern between the values of qquiet and qstorm. However the values of q varies with geophysical conditions and possibly with local dynamics for the two stations. Also observed are the asymmetric pattern of the q-Gaussian and a highly significant level of correlation for the q-index values obtained for the storm periods compared to the quiet periods between the two GPS receiver stations where the TEC was measured. The factors responsible for this variation can be mostly attributed to the varying mechanisms resulting in the self-reorganization of the system dynamics during the storm periods. The result shows the existence of long range correlation for both quiet and storm periods for the two stations.

Determination of the direct double- β -decay Q value of Zr 96 and atomic masses of Zr 90 - 92 , 94 , 96 and Mo 92 , 94 - 98 , 100

DOE PAGES

Gulyuz, K.; Ariche, J.; Bollen, G.; ...

2015-05-06

Experimental searches for neutrinoless double-β decay offer one of the best opportunities to look for physics beyond the standard model. Detecting this decay would confirm the Majorana nature of the neutrino, and a measurement of its half-life can be used to determine the absolute neutrino mass scale. Important to both tasks is an accurate knowledge of the Q value of the double-β decay. The LEBIT Penning trap mass spectrometer was used for the first direct experimental determination of the ⁹⁶Zr double-β decay Q value: Q ββ=3355.85(15) keV. This value is nearly 7 keV larger than the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluationmore » [M. Wang et al., Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012)] value and one order of magnitude more precise. The 3-σ shift is primarily due to a more accurate measurement of the ⁹⁶Zr atomic mass: m(⁹⁶Zr)=95.90827735(17) u. Using the new Q value, the 2νββ-decay matrix element, |M 2ν|, is calculated. Improved determinations of the atomic masses of all other zirconium ( 90-92,94,96Zr) and molybdenum ( 92,94-98,100Mo) isotopes using both ¹²C₈ and ⁸⁷Rb as references are also reported.« less

Is "end of life" a special case? Connecting Q with survey methods to measure societal support for views on the value of life-extending treatments.

PubMed

Mason, Helen; Collins, Marissa; McHugh, Neil; Godwin, Jon; Van Exel, Job; Donaldson, Cam; Baker, Rachel

2018-05-01

Preference elicitation studies reporting societal views on the relative value of end-of-life treatments have produced equivocal results. This paper presents an alternative method, combining Q methodology and survey techniques (Q2S) to determine the distribution of 3 viewpoints on the relative value of end-of-life treatments identified in a previous, published, phase of this work. These were Viewpoint 1, "A population perspective: value for money, no special cases"; Viewpoint 2, "Life is precious: valuing life-extension and patient choice"; and Viewpoint 3, "Valuing wider benefits and opportunity cost: the quality of life and death." A Q2S survey of 4,902 respondents across the United Kingdom measured agreement with these viewpoints; 37% most agreed with Viewpoint 1, 49% with Viewpoint 2, and 9% with Viewpoint 3. Regression analysis showed associations of viewpoints with gender, level of education, religion, voting preferences, and satisfaction with the NHS. The Q2S approach provides a promising means to investigate how in-depth views and opinions are represented in the wider population. As demonstrated in this study, there is often more than 1 viewpoint on a topic and methods that seek to estimate that averages may not provide the best guidance for societal decision-making. © 2018 The Authors. Health Economics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A locus problem solved by using a mechanism with three dyads and two leading elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popescu, I.; Sass, L.; Romanescu, A. E.

2016-11-01

In Geometry there are many types of loci, solved by means of classic geometrical considerations and yielding lines and arcs of circles or conics. Yet more complicated locus can be solved by means of the Theory of Mechanisms. Our research starts from a locus and provides a solution based on the Theory of Mechanisms, finding the equivalent mechanism. The structural and cinematic analysis of the mechanism is made, determining the trajectory of a point representing the locus which presents interest. The mechanism has three dyads and two leading elements, for which the movements were correlated by means of a coefficient q. For various values of q different loci were obtained, similar for close values of q but different for significantly different values of q.

Gene expression in thiazide diuretic or statin users in relation to incident type 2 diabetes

PubMed Central

Suchy-Dicey, Astrid; Heckbert, Susan R; Smith, Nicholas L; McKnight, Barbara; Rotter, Jerome I; Chen, YD Ida; Psaty, Bruce M; Enquobahrie, Daniel A

2014-01-01

Thiazide diuretics and statins are used to improve cardiovascular outcomes, but may also cause type 2 diabetes (T2DM), although mechanisms are unknown. Gene expression studies may facilitate understanding of these associations. Participants from ongoing population-based studies were sampled for these longitudinal studies of peripheral blood microarray gene expression, and followed to incident diabetes. All sampled subjects were statin or thiazide users. Those who developed diabetes during follow-up comprised cases (44 thiazide users; 19 statin users), and were matched to drug-using controls who did not develop diabetes on several factors. Supervised normalization, surrogate variable analyses removed technical bias and confounding. Differentially-expressed genes were those with a false discovery rate Q-value<0.05. Among thiazide users, diabetes cases had significantly different expression of CCL14 (down-regulated 6%, Q-value=0.0257), compared with controls. Among statin users, diabetes cases had marginal but insignificantly different expression of ZNF532 (up-regulated 15%, Q-value=0.0584), CXORF21 (up-regulated 11%, Q-value=0.0584), and ZNHIT3 (up-regulated 19%, Q-value=0.0959), compared with controls. These genes comprise potential targets for future expression or mechanistic research on medication-related diabetes development. PMID:24596594

Existence and asymptotic behavior of nontrivial solutions to the Swift-Hohenberg equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marino, G.; Mosconi, S.

2017-12-01

In this paper, we discuss several results regarding existence, non-existence and asymptotic properties of solutions to u⁗ + qu″ + f (u) = 0, under various hypotheses on the parameter q and on the potential F (t) = ∫0t f (s) ds, generally assumed to be bounded from below. We prove a non-existence result in the case q ≤ 0 and an existence result of periodic solution for: 1) almost every suitably small (depending on F), positive values of q; 2) all suitably large (depending on F) values of q. Finally, we describe some conditions on F which ensure that some (or all) solutions uq to the equation satisfy ‖uq‖∞ → 0, as q ↓ 0.

Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing chronic Q fever in patients with central vascular disease.

PubMed

Hagenaars, J C J P; Wever, P C; Vlake, A W; Renders, N H M; van Petersen, A S; Hilbink, M; de Jager-Leclercq, M G L; Moll, F L; Koning, O H J; Hoekstra, C J

2016-08-01

The aim of this study is to describe the value of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in diagnosing chronic Q fever in patients with central vascular disease and the added value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnostic combination strategy as described in the Dutch consensus guideline for diagnosing chronic Q fever. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm or aorto-iliac reconstruction and chronic Q fever, diagnosed by serology and positive PCR for Coxiella burnetii DNA in blood and/or tissue (PCR-positive study group). Patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm or aorto-iliac reconstruction without clinical and serological findings indicating Q fever infection served as a control group. Patients with a serological profile of chronic Q fever and a negative PCR in blood were included in additional analyses (PCR-negative study group). Thirteen patients were evaluated in the PCR-positive study group and 22 patients in the control group. 18F-FDG PET/CT indicated vascular infection in 6/13 patients in the PCR-positive study group and 2/22 patients in the control group. 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 46% (95% CI: 23-71%), specificity of 91% (95% CI: 71-99%), positive predictive value of 75% (95% CI:41-93%) and negative predictive value of 74% (95% CI: 55-87%). In the PCR-negative study group, 18F-FDG PET/CT was positive in 10/20 patients (50%). The combination of 18F-FDG PET/CT, as an imaging tool for identifying a focus of infection, and Q fever serology is a valid diagnostic strategy for diagnosing chronic Q fever in patients with central vascular disease.

First direct determination of the 48Ca double-β decay Q value

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bustabad, S.; Bollen, G.; Brodeur, M.; Lincoln, D. L.; Novario, S. J.; Redshaw, M.; Ringle, R.; Schwarz, S.; Valverde, A. A.

2013-08-01

The low-energy beam and ion trap Penning trap mass spectrometer was used for an improved determination of the 48Ca double-β decay Q value: Qββ=4268.121(79)keV. The new value is 1.2 keV greater than the value in the 2012 atomic mass evaluation [Chin. Phys. CCPCHCQ1674-113710.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003 36, 1603 (2012)], a shift of three σ, and is a factor of 5 more precise. Accurate knowledge of this Q value is important for experimental searches to observe neutrinoless double-β decay (0νββ) in 48Ca and is essential for extracting the effective mass of the electron neutrino if the 48Ca half-life of 0νββ was experimentally determined.

Compact Q-balls and Q-shells in a scalar electrodynamics

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

Arodz, H.; Lis, J.

2009-02-15

We investigate spherically symmetric nontopological solitons in electrodynamics with a scalar field self-interaction U{approx}|{psi}| taken from the complex signum-Gordon model. We find Q-balls for small absolute values of the total electric charge Q, and Q-shells when |Q| is large enough. In both cases the charge density exactly vanishes outside certain compact regions in the three-dimensional space. The dependence of the total energy E of small Q-balls on the total electric charge has the form E{approx}|Q|{sup 5/6}, while in the case of very large Q-shells, E{approx}|Q|{sup 7/6}.

Analysis of a quantitative PCR assay for CMV infection in liver transplant recipients: an intent to find the optimal cut-off value.

PubMed

Martín-Dávila, P; Fortún, J; Gutiérrez, C; Martí-Belda, P; Candelas, A; Honrubia, A; Barcena, R; Martínez, A; Puente, A; de Vicente, E; Moreno, S

2005-06-01

Preemptive therapy required highly predictive tests for CMV disease. CMV antigenemia assay (pp65 Ag) has been commonly used for rapid diagnosis of CMV infection. Amplification methods for early detection of CMV DNA are under analysis. To compare two diagnostic methods for CMV infection and disease in this population: quantitative PCR (qPCR) performed in two different samples, plasma and leukocytes (PMNs) and using a commercial diagnostic test (COBAS Amplicor Monitor Test) versus pp65 Ag. Prospective study conducted in liver transplant recipients from February 2000 to February 2001. Analyses were performed on 164 samples collected weekly during early post-transplant period from 33 patients. Agreements higher than 78% were observed between the three assays. Optimal qPCR cut-off values were calculated using ROC curves for two specific antigenemia values. For antigenemia >or=10 positive cells, the optimal cut-off value for qPCR in plasma was 1330 copies/ml, with a sensitivity (S) of 58% and a specificity (E) of 98% and the optimal cut-off value for qPCR-cells was 713 copies/5x10(6) cells (S:91.7% and E:86%). Using a threshold of antigenemia >or=20 positive cells, the optimal cut-off values were 1330 copies/ml for qPCR-plasma (S 87%; E 98%) and 4755 copies/5x10(6) cells for qPCR-cells (S 87.5%; E 98%). Prediction values for the three assays were calculated in patients with CMV disease (9 pts; 27%). Considering the assays in a qualitative way, the most sensitive was CMV PCR in cells (S: 100%, E: 54%, PPV: 40%; NPV: 100%). Using specific cut-off values for disease detection the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for antigenemia >or=10 positive cells were: 89%; 83%; 67%; 95%, respectively. For qPCR-cells >or=713 copies/5x10(6) cells: 100%; 54%; 33% and 100% and for plasma-qPCR>or=1330 copies/ml: 78%, 77%, 47%, 89% respectively. Optimal cut-off for viral load performed in plasma and cells can be obtained for the breakpoint antigenemia value recommended for initiating preemptive therapy with high specificities and sensitivities. Diagnostic assays like CMV pp65 Ag and quantitative PCR for CMV have similar efficiency and could be recommended as methods of choice for diagnosis and monitoring of active CMV infection after transplantation.

Dynamics and statistics of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam β-model with different ranges of particle interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christodoulidi, Helen; Bountis, Tassos; Tsallis, Constantino; Drossos, Lambros

2016-12-01

In the present work we study the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) β -model involving long-range interactions (LRI) in both the quadratic and quartic potentials, by introducing two independent exponents {α1} and {α2} respectively, which make the forces decay with distance r. Our results demonstrate that weak chaos, in the sense of decreasing Lyapunov exponents, and q-Gaussian probability density functions (pdfs) of sums of the momenta, occurs only when long-range interactions are included in the quartic part. More importantly, for 0≤slant {α2}<1 , we obtain extrapolated values for q\\equiv {{q}∞}>1 , as N\\to ∞ , suggesting that these pdfs persist in that limit. On the other hand, when long-range interactions are imposed only on the quadratic part, strong chaos and purely Gaussian pdfs are always obtained for the momenta. We have also focused on similar pdfs for the particle energies and have obtained q E -exponentials (with q E   >  1) when the quartic-term interactions are long-ranged, otherwise we get the standard Boltzmann-Gibbs weight, with q  =  1. The values of q E coincide, within small discrepancies, with the values of q obtained by the momentum distributions.

Radial q-space sampling for DSI.

PubMed

Baete, Steven H; Yutzy, Stephen; Boada, Fernando E

2016-09-01

Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) has been shown to be an effective tool for noninvasively depicting the anatomical details of brain microstructure. Existing implementations of DSI sample the diffusion encoding space using a rectangular grid. Here we present a different implementation of DSI whereby a radially symmetric q-space sampling scheme for DSI is used to improve the angular resolution and accuracy of the reconstructed orientation distribution functions. Q-space is sampled by acquiring several q-space samples along a number of radial lines. Each of these radial lines in q-space is analytically connected to a value of the orientation distribution functions at the same angular location by the Fourier slice theorem. Computer simulations and in vivo brain results demonstrate that radial diffusion spectrum imaging correctly estimates the orientation distribution functions when moderately high b-values (4000 s/mm2) and number of q-space samples (236) are used. The nominal angular resolution of radial diffusion spectrum imaging depends on the number of radial lines used in the sampling scheme, and only weakly on the maximum b-value. In addition, the radial analytical reconstruction reduces truncation artifacts which affect Cartesian reconstructions. Hence, a radial acquisition of q-space can be favorable for DSI. Magn Reson Med 76:769-780, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Q estimation of seismic data using the generalized S-transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Yaju; Wen, Xiaotao; Zhang, Bo; He, Zhenhua; Zhang, Rui; Zhang, Jinming

2016-12-01

Quality factor, Q, is a parameter that characterizes the energy dissipation during seismic wave propagation. The reservoir pore is one of the main factors that affect the value of Q. Especially, when pore space is filled with oil or gas, the rock usually exhibits a relative low Q value. Such a low Q value has been used as a direct hydrocarbon indicator by many researchers. The conventional Q estimation method based on spectral ratio suffers from the problem of waveform tuning; hence, many researchers have introduced time-frequency analysis techniques to tackle this problem. Unfortunately, the window functions adopted in time-frequency analysis algorithms such as continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and S-transform (ST) contaminate the amplitude spectra because the seismic signal is multiplied by the window functions during time-frequency decomposition. The basic assumption of the spectral ratio method is that there is a linear relationship between natural logarithmic spectral ratio and frequency. However, this assumption does not hold if we take the influence of window functions into consideration. In this paper, we first employ a recently developed two-parameter generalized S-transform (GST) to obtain the time-frequency spectra of seismic traces. We then deduce the non-linear relationship between natural logarithmic spectral ratio and frequency. Finally, we obtain a linear relationship between natural logarithmic spectral ratio and a newly defined parameter γ by ignoring the negligible second order term. The gradient of this linear relationship is 1/Q. Here, the parameter γ is a function of frequency and source wavelet. Numerical examples for VSP and post-stack reflection data confirm that our algorithm is capable of yielding accurate results. The Q-value results estimated from field data acquired in western China show reasonable comparison with oil-producing well location.

The generalized 20/80 law using probabilistic fractals applied to petroleum field size

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crovelli, R.A.

1995-01-01

Fractal properties of the Pareto probability distribution are used to generalize "the 20/80 law." The 20/80 law is a heuristic law that has evolved over the years into the following rule of thumb for many populations: 20 percent of the population accounts for 80 percent of the total value. The general p100/q100 law in probabilistic form is defined with q as a function of p, where p is the population proportion and q is the proportion of total value. Using the Pareto distribution, the p100/q100 law in fractal form is derived with the parameter q being a fractal, where q unexpectedly possesses the scale invariance property. The 20/80 law is a special case of the p100/q100 law in fractal form. The p100/q100 law in fractal form is applied to petroleum fieldsize data to obtain p and q such that p100% of the oil fields greater than any specified scale or size in a geologic play account for q100% of the total oil of the fields. The theoretical percentages of total resources of oil using the fractal q are extremely close to the empirical percentages from the data using the statistic q. Also, the empirical scale invariance property of the statistic q for the petroleum fieldsize data is in excellent agreement with the theoretical scale invariance property of the fractal q. ?? 1995 Oxford University Press.

[Clinical significance of Q-angle under different conditions in recurrent patellar dislocation].

PubMed

Wang, Zhijie; Chen, You; Li, Anping; Long, Yi

2014-01-01

To investigate the clinical significance of Q-angle measuring under different conditions in female recurrent patellar dislocation female patients. Between August 2012 and March 2013, 10 female patients (11 knees) with recurrent patellar dislocation were collected as trial group; 20 female patients (20 knees) with simple meniscus injury were collected as control group at the same time. Q-angle was measured in extension, 30 degrees flexion, 30 degrees flexion with manual correction, and surgical correction in the trial group, and only in extension and 30 degrees flexion in the control group. Then the difference value of Q-angle between extension and 30 degrees flexion (Q-angle in extension subtracts Q-angle in 30 flexion) were calculated. Independent sample t-test was used to analyze Q-angle degrees in extension, 30 degrees flexion, and the changed degrees of 2 groups. The Q-angle between manual correction and surgical correction of the trial group was analyzed by paired t-test. The Q-angle in extension, Q-angle in 30 degrees flexion, and difference value of Q-angle between extension and 30 degrees flexion were (17.2 +/- 3.6), (14.3 +/- 3.0), and (2.9 +/- 1.9) degrees in the trial group and were (15.2 +/- 3.4), (14.4 +/- 3.5), and (0.8 +/- 1.7) degrees in the control group. No significant difference was found in Q-angle of extension or Q-angle of 30 degrees flexion between 2 groups (P > 0.05), but the difference value of Q-angle between extension and 30 degrees flexion in the trial group was significantly larger than that in the control group (t = 3.253, P = 0.003). The Q-angle in 30 degrees flexion with manual correction and surgical correction in the trial group was (19.8 +/- 3.4) degrees and (18.9 +/- 3.8) degrees respectively, showing no significant difference (t = 2.193, P = 0.053). When a female patient's Q-angle in 30 degrees flexion knee changes obviously compared with Q-angle in extension position, recurrent patellar dislocation should be considered. For female patients with recurrent patellar dislocation, the preoperative Q-angle in 30 degrees flexion with manual correction should be measured, which can help increasing the accuracy of evaluation whether rearrangement should be performed.

[Genetic risk of families with t(1;2)(q42;q33) GTG, RHG, QFQ, FISH].

PubMed

Stasiewicz-Jarocka, B; Raczkiewicz, B; Kowalczyk, D; Zawada, M; Midro, A T

2000-10-01

A central concept in genetic counseling is the estimation of the probability of recurrence of unfavourable pregnancy outcomes (abortion, stillbirth and birth at malformed child). In case of chromosomal changes estimates are made on basis of segregation analyses in actual pedigree. If we have a few of pedigree members than risk estimate should be performed on basis combined our data and empiric data from literature. We present individual genetic risk for carriers of unique reciprocal translocation t(1;2)(q42;q33) detected through karyotyping of the patient with miscarriage. The pedigree consisted 5 families of t(1;2)(q42;q33) carriers with 15 members of progeny was evaluated according to Stene and Stengel-Rutkowski. Cytogenetic analysis of persons of these families (7 persons) was performed on blood samples using GTG, RHG, QFQ and FISH techniques. Additional RCT pedigree analysis of Stengel-Rutkowski et at Collection, Polish Collection, Lituanian Collection, Bielorussian Collection and an available literature cases were performed. The translocation was classified as translocation at risk for double segment imbalances for trisomy 1q42-->qter together with monosomy 2q33-->qter or monosomy 1q42-->qter together with trisomy 2q33-->qter after 2:2 disjunction after adjacent-1 segregation of the meiotic chromosomes. Two improved risk values for RCT with segments 1q42-->qter, 2q33-->qter were obtained i.e. 6/44 (13.6% +/- 5.2%) and 4/20 (20% +/- 8.9%). The probability of occurrence for this translocation carriers was estimated as 7% (medium risk). On basis of direct analysis at presented pedigree a risk for miscarriage was estimated as 2/9. 1. Carrierships of t(1;2)(q42;q33) increased population risk value for unbalanced progeny at birth by 7% (medium risk) and for miscarriage 2/9. 2. Causative relation between presence of t(1;2)(q42;q33) and miscarriages is suggested. 3. Updated, new genetic risk values for RCT at risk for single segment 1q42-->qter imbalance is 6/44 (13.6% +/- 5.2%) at birth and for single segment 2q33-->qter imbalance is 4/20 (20% +/- 8.9%).

Universal behaviour of interoccurrence times between losses in financial markets: An analytical description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ludescher, J.; Tsallis, C.; Bunde, A.

2011-09-01

We consider 16 representative financial records (stocks, indices, commodities, and exchange rates) and study the distribution PQ(r) of the interoccurrence times r between daily losses below negative thresholds -Q, for fixed mean interoccurrence time RQ. We find that in all cases, PQ(r) follows the form PQ(r)~1/[(1+(q- 1)βr]1/(q-1), where β and q are universal constants that depend only on RQ, but not on a specific asset. While β depends only slightly on RQ, the q-value increases logarithmically with RQ, q=1+q0 ln(RQ/2), such that for RQ→2, PQ(r) approaches a simple exponential, PQ(r)cong2-r. The fact that PQ does not scale with RQ is due to the multifractality of the financial markets. The analytic form of PQ allows also to estimate both the risk function and the Value-at-Risk, and thus to improve the estimation of the financial risk.

The long-term prognostic value of the Q wave criteria for prior myocardial infarction recommended in the universal definition of myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Perino, Alexander C; Soofi, Muhammad; Singh, Nikhil; Aggarwal, Sonya; Froelicher, Victor

2015-01-01

We sought to characterize the prognostic value of the third universal definition of myocardial infarction (UDMI) and ≥40msec Q wave criteria. We evaluated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cardiovascular (CV) death for computerized Q wave measurements from the electrocardiograms of 43,661 patients collected from 1987 to 1999 at the Palo Alto VA. There were 3929 (9.0%) CV deaths over a mean follow-up of 7.6 (±3.8) years. The risk of CV death for Q waves ≥40msec in any two contiguous leads in any lead group was equivalent to or higher than that for contiguous UDMI Q waves, with HR 2.44 (95% CI 2.15-4.11) and HR 2.42 (95% CI (2.18-3.42), respectively. The UDMI Q wave criteria do not provide an advantage over ≥40msec Q waves at predicting CV death. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Changes in the yield of chlorophyll a from dissolved available inorganic nitrogen after an enrichment event—applications for predicting eutrophication in coastal waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, V. R.; Tett, P.; Jones, K. J.

2003-11-01

An understanding of the dynamic relationship between nitrogen supply and the formation of phytoplankton biomass is important in predicting and avoiding marine eutrophication. This relationship can be expressed as the short-term yield q of chlorophyll from dissolved available inorganic nitrogen (DAIN), the sum of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium. This paper communicates the results of a continuous culture nitrate enrichment experiment undertaken to investigate the cumulative yield of chlorophyll from DAIN ( q). The purposes of the study were: to acquire a better understanding of the relationship between chlorophyll formation and DAIN; to obtain values that could be used in models for predicting eutrophication. The results of a time series experiment carried out using microplankton (all organisms <200 μm in size) indicate that the parameter q does not have a single value but is affected by the ecophysiological response of phytoplankton to changing nutrient status after an enrichment event. It is also dependent on changes in the allocation of nitrogen between autotrophs and heterotrophs. The value of yield obtained at the height of the bloom can be represented by q (max) (2.35 μg chl (μmol N) -1). The post-bloom, steady state value of q can be represented by qeq (0.95 μg chl (μmol N) -1). The microcosm steady state yield was not significantly different from the median value obtained from synoptic studies of Scottish west coast waters. It is proposed that qeq is the most appropriate value for assessing the general potential for eutrophication resulting from continuous nutrient enrichment into coastal waters. It is further proposed that q (max) be used for cases of sporadic enrichment and where a short burst of unrestricted growth may be detrimental.

Q Value of the Superallowed Decay of {sup 46}V and Its Influence on V{sub ud} and the Unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa Matrix

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

Savard, G.; Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637; Buchinger, F.

2005-09-02

The masses of the radioactive nuclei {sup 46}V and its decay daughter {sup 46}Ti have been measured with the Canadian Penning Trap on-line Penning trap mass spectrometer to a precision of 1x10{sup -8}. A Q{sub EC} value of 7052.90(40) keV for the superallowed beta decay of {sup 46}V is obtained from the difference of these two masses. With this precise Q value, the Ft value for this decay is determined with improved precision. An investigation of an earlier Q-value measurement for {sup 46}V uncovers a set of 7 measurements that cannot be reconciled with modern data and affects previous evaluationsmore » of V{sub ud} from superallowed Fermi decays. A new evaluation, adding our new data and removing the discredited subset, yields new values for G{sub V} and V{sub ud}. When combined with recent results for V{sub us}, this yields modified constraints for the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix and other extensions of the standard model.« less

Statistical characterization of discrete conservative systems: The web map

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz, Guiomar; Tirnakli, Ugur; Borges, Ernesto P.; Tsallis, Constantino

2017-10-01

We numerically study the two-dimensional, area preserving, web map. When the map is governed by ergodic behavior, it is, as expected, correctly described by Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics, based on the additive entropic functional SB G[p (x ) ] =-k ∫d x p (x ) lnp (x ) . In contrast, possible ergodicity breakdown and transitory sticky dynamical behavior drag the map into the realm of generalized q statistics, based on the nonadditive entropic functional Sq[p (x ) ] =k 1/-∫d x [p(x ) ] q q -1 (q ∈R ;S1=SB G ). We statistically describe the system (probability distribution of the sum of successive iterates, sensitivity to the initial condition, and entropy production per unit time) for typical values of the parameter that controls the ergodicity of the map. For small (large) values of the external parameter K , we observe q -Gaussian distributions with q =1.935 ⋯ (Gaussian distributions), like for the standard map. In contrast, for intermediate values of K , we observe a different scenario, due to the fractal structure of the trajectories embedded in the chaotic sea. Long-standing non-Gaussian distributions are characterized in terms of the kurtosis and the box-counting dimension of chaotic sea.

Analytical expression for the exit probability of the q -voter model in one dimension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timpanaro, André M.; Galam, Serge

2015-07-01

We present in this paper an approximation that is able to give an analytical expression for the exit probability of the q -voter model in one dimension. This expression gives a better fit for the more recent data about simulations in large networks [A. M. Timpanaro and C. P. C. do Prado, Phys. Rev. E 89, 052808 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevE.89.052808] and as such departs from the expression ρ/qρq+(1-ρ ) q found in papers that investigated small networks only [R. Lambiotte and S. Redner, Europhys. Lett. 82, 18007 (2008), 10.1209/0295-5075/82/18007; P. Przybyła et al., Phys. Rev. E 84, 031117 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevE.84.031117; F. Slanina et al., Europhys. Lett. 82, 18006 (2008), 10.1209/0295-5075/82/18006]. The approximation consists in assuming a large separation on the time scales at which active groups of agents convince inactive ones and the time taken in the competition between active groups. Some interesting findings are that for q =2 we still have ρ/2ρ2+(1-ρ ) 2 as the exit probability and for q >2 we can obtain a lower-order approximation of the form ρ/sρs+(1-ρ ) s with s varying from q for low values of q to q -1/2 for large values of q . As such, this work can also be seen as a deduction for why the exit probability ρ/qρq+(1-ρ ) q gives a good fit, without relying on mean-field arguments or on the assumption that only the first step is nondeterministic, as q and q -1/2 will give very similar results when q →∞ .

Estimation of seismic quality factor: Artificial neural networks and current approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yıldırım, Eray; Saatçılar, Ruhi; Ergintav, Semih

2017-01-01

The aims of this study are to estimate soil attenuation using alternatives to traditional methods, to compare results of using these methods, and to examine soil properties using the estimated results. The performances of all methods, amplitude decay, spectral ratio, Wiener filter, and artificial neural network (ANN) methods, are examined on field and synthetic data with noise and without noise. High-resolution seismic reflection field data from Yeniköy (Arnavutköy, İstanbul) was used as field data, and 424 estimations of Q values were made for each method (1,696 total). While statistical tests on synthetic and field data are quite close to the Q value estimation results of ANN, Wiener filter, and spectral ratio methods, the amplitude decay methods showed a higher estimation error. According to previous geological and geophysical studies in this area, the soil is water-saturated, quite weak, consisting of clay and sandy units, and, because of current and past landslides in the study area and its vicinity, researchers reported heterogeneity in the soil. Under the same physical conditions, Q value calculated on field data can be expected to be 7.9 and 13.6. ANN models with various structures, training algorithm, input, and number of neurons are investigated. A total of 480 ANN models were generated consisting of 60 models for noise-free synthetic data, 360 models for different noise content synthetic data and 60 models to apply to the data collected in the field. The models were tested to determine the most appropriate structure and training algorithm. In the final ANN, the input vectors consisted of the difference of the width, energy, and distance of seismic traces, and the output was Q value. Success rate of both ANN methods with noise-free and noisy synthetic data were higher than the other three methods. Also according to the statistical tests on estimated Q value from field data, the method showed results that are more suitable. The Q value can be estimated practically and quickly by processing the traces with the recommended ANN model. Consequently, the ANN method could be used for estimating Q value from seismic data.

Derivation of Hamaker Dispersion Energy of Amorphous Carbon Surfaces in Contact with Liquids Using Photoelectron Energy-Loss Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Godet, Christian; David, Denis

2017-12-01

Hamaker interaction energies and cutoff distances have been calculated for disordered carbon films, in contact with purely dispersive (diiodomethane) or polar (water) liquids, using their experimental dielectric functions ɛ ( q, ω) obtained over a broad energy range. In contrast with previous works, a q-averaged < ɛ ( q, ω) > q is derived from photoelectron energy-loss spectroscopy (XPS-PEELS) where the energy loss function (ELF) < Im[-1/ ɛ ( q, ω)] > q is a weighted average over allowed transferred wave vector values, q, given by the physics of bulk plasmon excitation. For microcrystalline diamond and amorphous carbon films with a wide range of (sp3/sp2 + sp3) hybridization, non-retarded Hamaker energies, A 132 ( L < 1 nm), were calculated in several configurations, and distance and wavenumber cutoff values were then calculated based on A 132 and the dispersive work of adhesion obtained from contact angles. A geometric average approximation, H 0 CVL = ( H 0 CVC H 0 LVL )1/2, holds for the cutoff separation distances obtained for carbon-vacuum-liquid (CVL), carbon-vacuum-carbon (CVC) and liquid-vacuum-liquid (LVL) equilibrium configurations. The linear dependence found for A CVL, A CLC and A CLV values as a function of A CVC, for each liquid, allows predictive relationships for Hamaker energies (in any configuration) using experimental determination of the dispersive component of the surface tension, {γ}_{CV}^d , and a guess value of the cutoff distance H 0 CVC of the solid. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

A Millimeter Wave BPF using WG Mode High Permittivity Dielectric Resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Yosuke; Kogami, Yoshinori; Tomabechi, Yoshiro; Matsumura, Kazuhito

In this paper, a design technique of whispering gallery mode high Q value dielectric disk resonators for a millimeter-wave bandpass filter is described. To minimize the resonator size, some high permittivity materials are used. In this resonator design, unloaded Q value of an interested mode and the higher order modes are calculated and then optimum resonator size for the WG mode dielectric filter is determined. For a designed resonator, the higher order modes are hardly excited while the Q value of the fundamental mode can be maximized. Finally, some 3stage BPFs are constructed at 60GHz by using these designed resonators.

Use of instantaneous streamflow measurements to improve regression estimates of index flow for the summer month of lowest streamflow in Michigan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holtschlag, David J.

2011-01-01

In Michigan, index flow Q50 is a streamflow characteristic defined as the minimum of median flows for July, August, and September. The state of Michigan uses index flow estimates to help regulate large (greater than 100,000 gallons per day) water withdrawals to prevent adverse effects on characteristic fish populations. At sites where long-term streamgages are located, index flows are computed directly from continuous streamflow records as GageQ50. In an earlier study, a multiple-regression equation was developed to estimate index flows IndxQ50 at ungaged sites. The index equation explains about 94 percent of the variability of index flows at 147 (index) streamgages by use of six explanatory variables describing soil type, aquifer transmissivity, land cover, and precipitation characteristics. This report extends the results of the previous study, by use of Monte Carlo simulations, to evaluate alternative flow estimators, DiscQ50, IntgQ50, SiteQ50, and AugmQ50. The Monte Carlo simulations treated each of the available index streamgages, in turn, as a miscellaneous site where streamflow conditions are described by one or more instantaneous measurements of flow. In the simulations, instantaneous flows were approximated by daily mean flows at the corresponding site. All estimators use information that can be obtained from instantaneous flow measurements and contemporaneous daily mean flow data from nearby long-term streamgages. The efficacy of these estimators was evaluated over a set of measurement intensities in which the number of simulated instantaneous flow measurements ranged from 1 to 100 at a site. The discrete measurement estimator DiscQ50 is based on a simple linear regression developed between information on daily mean flows at five or more streamgages near the miscellaneous site and their corresponding GageQ50 index flows. The regression relation then was used to compute a DiscQ50 estimate at the miscellaneous site by use of the simulated instantaneous flow measurement. This process was repeated to develop a set of DiscQ50 estimates for all simulated instantaneous measurements, a weighted DiscQ50 estimate was formed from this set. Results indicated that the expected value of this weighted estimate was more precise than the IndxQ50 estimate for all measurement intensities evaluated. The integrated index-flow estimator, IntgQ50, was formed by computing a weighted average of the index estimate IndxQ50 and the DiscQ50 estimate. Results indicated that the IntgQ50 estimator was more precise than the DiscQ50 estimator at low measurement intensities of one to two measurements. At greater measurement intensities, the precision of the IntgQ50 estimator converges to the DiscQ50 estimator. Neither the DiscQ50 nor the IntgQ50 estimators provided site-specific estimates. In particular, although expected values of DiscQ50 and IntgQ50 estimates converge with increasing measurement intensity, they do not necessarily converge to the site-specific value of Q50. The site estimator of flow, SiteQ50, was developed to facilitate this convergence at higher measurement intensities. This is accomplished by use of the median of simulated instantaneous flow values for each measurement intensity level. A weighted estimate of the median and information associated with the IntgQ50 estimate was used to form the SiteQ50 estimate. Initial simulations indicate that the SiteQ50 estimator generally has greater precision than the IntgQ50 estimator at measurement intensities greater than 3, however, additional analysis is needed to identify streamflow conditions under which instantaneous measurements will produce estimates that generally converge to the index flows. A preliminary augmented index regression equation was developed, which contains the index regression estimate and two additional variables associated with base-flow recession characteristics. When these recession variables were estimated as the medians of recession parameters compute

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

Novales-Sanchez, H.; Toscano, J. J.; Rosado, A.

In this paper, we review the search of possible physics effects beyond the standard model on the electromagnetic charge and anapole form factors, f{sub Q}(q{sup 2}) and f{sub A}(q{sup 2}), for a no massive Dirac neutrino, when these quantities are calculated in the frame of an effective electroweak Yang-Mills theory, which induces the most general SU{sub L}(2)-invariant Lorentz tensor structure of nonrenormalizable type for the WW{gamma} vertex. We found that in this frame, besides the standard model contribution, the additional contribution to f{sub Q}(q{sup 2}) and f{sub A}(q{sup 2}) (f{sub Q}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2}) and f{sub A}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2}),more » respectively) are gauge independent and finite functions of q{sup 2} after adopting a renormalization scheme. These form factors, f{sub Q}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2}) and f{sub A}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2}), get contribution at the one loop level only from the proper neutrino electromagnetic vertex. Besides, the relation f{sub Q}{sup eff}(q{sup 2}) = q{sup 2}f{sub A}{sup eff}(q{sup 2})(f{sub Q}{sup eff}(q{sup 2}) = f{sub Q}{sup SM}(q{sup 2})+f{sub Q}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2}),f{sub A}{sup eff}(q{sup 2}) = f{sub A}{sup SM}(q{sup 2})+f{sub A}{sup O{sub W}}(q{sup 2})) is still fulfilled and hence the relation a{sub v}{sup eff} = {sup eff}/6(a{sub v}{sup eff} = a{sub v}{sup SM}+a{sub v}{sup O{sub W}},{sup eff} = {sup SM}+{sup O{sub W}}) is obtained, just as in the SM. Using the experimental constraint on the anomalous WW{gamma} vertex, a value for the additional contribution to the charge radius of Double-Vertical-Line {sup O{sub W}} Double-Vertical-Line Less-Than-Or-Equivalent-To 10{sup -34} cm{sup 2} is gotten, which is one order of magnitude lower than the SM value.« less

Differential DNA methylation at birth associated with mental disorder in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

PubMed Central

Starnawska, A; Hansen, C S; Sparsø, T; Mazin, W; Olsen, L; Bertalan, M; Buil, A; Bybjerg-Grauholm, J; Bækvad-Hansen, M; Hougaard, D M; Mortensen, P B; Pedersen, C B; Nyegaard, M; Werge, T; Weinsheimer, S

2017-01-01

Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of comorbid mental disorders including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, as well as intellectual disability. Although most 22q11.2 deletion carriers have the long 3-Mb form of the hemizygous deletion, there remains a large variation in the development and progression of psychiatric disorders, which suggests that alternative factors contribute to the pathogenesis. In this study we investigated whether neonatal DNA methylation signatures in individuals with the 22q11.2 deletion associate with mental disorder later in life. DNA methylation was measured genome-wide from neonatal dried blood spots in a cohort of 164 individuals with 22q11.2DS, including 48 individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Among several CpG sites with P-value<10−6, we identified cg23546855 (P-value=2.15 × 10−7) mapping to STK32C to be associated with a later psychiatric diagnosis. Pathway analysis of the top findings resulted in the identification of several Gene Ontology pathways to be significantly enriched (P-value<0.05 after Benjamini–Hochberg correction); among them are the following: neurogenesis, neuron development, neuron projection development, astrocyte development, axonogenesis and axon guidance. In addition, we identified differentially methylated CpG sites in LRP2BP (P-value=5.37 × 10−8) to be associated with intellectual disability (F70–79), in TOP1 (P-value=1.86 × 10−7) with behavioral disorders (F90–98), in NOSIP (P-value=5.12 × 10−8) with disorders of psychological development (F80–89) and in SEMA4B (P-value=4.02 × 10−7) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (F20–29). In conclusion, our study suggests an association of DNA methylation differences at birth with development of mental disorder later in life in 22q11.2DS individuals. PMID:28850114

Crustal attenuation characteristics in western Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurtulmuş, Tevfik Özgür; Akyol, Nihal

2013-11-01

We analysed 1764 records produced by 322 micro- and moderate-size local earthquakes in western Turkey to estimate crustal attenuation characteristics in the frequency range of 1.0 ≤ f ≤ 10 Hz. In the first step, we obtained non-parametric attenuation functions and they show that seismic recordings of transverse and radial S waves exhibit different characteristics at short and long hypocentral distances. Applying a two-step inversion, we parametrized Q( f ) and geometrical spreading exponent b( f ) for the entire distance range between 10 and 200 km and then we estimated separately Q and b values for short (10-70 km) and large (120-200 km) distance ranges. We could not observe significant frequency dependencies of b for short distance range, whereas the significant frequency dependence of b was observed for large distances. Low Q0 values (˜60) with strong frequency dependence of Q (˜1.4) for short distances suggest that scattering might be an important factor contributing to the attenuation of body waves in the region, which could be associated to a high degree of fracturing, fluid filled cracks, young volcanism and geothermal activity in the crust. Weak Q frequency dependence and higher Q0 values for large distances manifest more homogenous medium because of increasing pressure and enhanced healing of cracks with increasing temperature and depth. Q anisotropy was also observed for large hypocentral distance ranges.

Extraction of the neutron magnetic form factor from quasielastic 3He→(e→,e') at Q2=0.1-0.6(GeV/c)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, B.; Auberbach, L.; Averett, T.; Bertozzi, W.; Black, T.; Calarco, J.; Cardman, L.; Cates, G. D.; Chai, Z. W.; Chen, J. P.; Choi, Seonho; Chudakov, E.; Churchwell, S.; Corrado, G. S.; Crawford, C.; Dale, D.; Deur, A.; Djawotho, P.; Dutta, D.; Finn, J. M.; Gao, H.; Gilman, R.; Glamazdin, A. V.; Glashausser, C.; Glöckle, W.; Golak, J.; Gomez, J.; Gorbenko, V. G.; Hansen, J.-O.; Hersman, F. W.; Higinbotham, D. W.; Holmes, R.; Howell, C. R.; Hughes, E.; Humensky, B.; Incerti, S.; Jager, C. W. De; Jensen, J. S.; Jiang, X.; Jones, C. E.; Jones, M.; Kahl, R.; Kamada, H.; Kievsky, A.; Kominis, I.; Korsch, W.; Kramer, K.; Kumbartzki, G.; Kuss, M.; Lakuriqi, E.; Liang, M.; Liyanage, N.; Lerose, J.; Malov, S.; Margaziotis, D. J.; Martin, J. W.; McCormick, K.; McKeown, R. D.; McIlhany, K.; Meziani, Z.-E.; Michaels, R.; Miller, G. W.; Mitchell, J.; Nanda, S.; Pace, E.; Pavlin, T.; Petratos, G. G.; Pomatsalyuk, R. I.; Pripstein, D.; Prout, D.; Ransome, R. D.; Roblin, Y.; Rvachev, M.; Saha, A.; Salmè, G.; Schnee, M.; Seely, J.; Shin, T.; Slifer, K.; Souder, P. A.; Strauch, S.; Suleiman, R.; Sutter, M.; Tipton, B.; Todor, L.; Viviani, M.; Vlahovic, B.; Watson, J.; Williamson, C. F.; Witała, H.; Wojtsekhowski, B.; Xiong, F.; Xu, W.; Yeh, J.; Żołnierczuk, P.

2007-03-01

We have measured the transverse asymmetry AT' in the quasielastic 3He→(e→,e') process with high precision at Q2 values from 0.1 to 0.6(GeV/c)2. The neutron magnetic form factor GMn was extracted at Q2 values of 0.1 and 0.2(GeV/c)2 using a nonrelativistic Faddeev calculation which includes both final-state interactions (FSI) and meson-exchange currents (MEC). Theoretical uncertainties due to the FSI and MEC effects were constrained with a precision measurement of the spin-dependent asymmetry in the threshold region of 3He→(e→,e'). We also extracted the neutron magnetic form factor GMn at Q2 values of 0.3 to 0.6(GeV/c)2 based on plane wave impulse approximation calculations.

Monte Carlo simulation of elongating metallic nanowires in the presence of surfactants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gimenez, M. Cecilia; Reinaudi, Luis; Leiva, Ezequiel P. M.

2015-12-01

Nanowires of different metals undergoing elongation were studied by means of canonical Monte Carlo simulations and the embedded atom method representing the interatomic potentials. The presence of a surfactant medium was emulated by the introduction of an additional stabilization energy, represented by a parameter Q. Several values of the parameter Q and temperatures were analyzed. In general, it was observed for all studied metals that, as Q increases, there is a greater elongation before the nanowire breaks. In the case of silver, linear monatomic chains several atoms long formed at intermediate values of Q and low temperatures. Similar observations were made for the case of silver-gold alloys when the medium interacted selectively with Ag.

The argon nuclear quadrupole moments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundholm, Dage; Pyykkö, Pekka

2018-07-01

New standard values -116(2) mb and 76(3) mb are suggested for the nuclear quadrupole moments (Q) of the 39Ar and 37Ar nuclei, respectively. The Q values were obtained by combining optical measurements of the quadrupole coupling constant (B or eqQ/h) of the 3s23p54s[3/2]2 (3Po) and 3s23p54p[5/2]3 (3De) states of argon with large scale numerical complete active space self-consistent field and restricted active space self-consistent field calculations of the electric field gradient at the nucleus (q) using the LUCAS code, which is a finite-element based multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock program for atomic structure calculations.

The Value of Coenzyme Q10 Determination in Mitochondrial Patients

PubMed Central

Yubero, Delia; Allen, George; Artuch, Rafael; Montero, Raquel

2017-01-01

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) is a lipid that is ubiquitously synthesized in tissues and has a key role in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Its biochemical determination provides insight into the CoQ status of tissues and may detect CoQ deficiency that can result from either an inherited primary deficiency of CoQ metabolism or may be secondary to different genetic and environmental conditions. Rapid identification of CoQ deficiency can also allow potentially beneficial treatment to be initiated as early as possible. CoQ may be measured in different specimens, including plasma, blood mononuclear cells, platelets, urine, muscle, and cultured skin fibroblasts. Blood and urinary CoQ also have good utility for CoQ treatment monitoring. PMID:28338638

The use of 1H-NMR spectroscopy and refractometry for investigation of the distribution of nonelectrolytes of N-alcohol series between human red blood cells and extracellular medium.

PubMed

Kucherenko, Y U; Moiseev, V A

2000-01-01

Comparative analysis of 1H NMR spectroscopy and refractometry with respect to their application for investigating the distribution of nonelectrolytes of n-alcohol series (ethanol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with molecular masses of 400, 600, 1500 between human erythrocytes and extracellular medium was performed. The distribution coefficients (Q) for solutions of ethanol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol, PEG-400, PEG-600 and PEG-1500 were obtained. The Q values decreased with the increase in the nonelectrolyte molecular mass from 1.23+/-0.12 for ethanol to 0.40+/-0.08 for PEG-1500 (1H NMR spectroscopy) and from 2.6+/-0.12 for ethanol to 0.23+/-0.03 for PEG-1500 (refractometry). It was shown that 1H-NMR high-resolution spectroscopy ensures more precise determination of Q values for nonelectrolytes with low molecular masses; for PEGs with high molecular masses, the accuracy of Q value calculation by this method was about 20%. On the contrary, refractometry can be used for investigating substances with high molecular masses; the error of Q value determination for solution of low-refractive substances, such as ethanol, may be more than 50%.

Effects of b-value and number of gradient directions on diffusion MRI measures obtained with Q-ball imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schilling, Kurt G.; Nath, Vishwesh; Blaber, Justin; Harrigan, Robert L.; Ding, Zhaohua; Anderson, Adam W.; Landman, Bennett A.

2017-02-01

High-angular-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging (HARDI) MRI acquisitions have become common for use with higher order models of diffusion. Despite successes in resolving complex fiber configurations and probing microstructural properties of brain tissue, there is no common consensus on the optimal b-value and number of diffusion directions to use for these HARDI methods. While this question has been addressed by analysis of the diffusion-weighted signal directly, it is unclear how this translates to the information and metrics derived from the HARDI models themselves. Using a high angular resolution data set acquired at a range of b-values, and repeated 11 times on a single subject, we study how the b-value and number of diffusion directions impacts the reproducibility and precision of metrics derived from Q-ball imaging, a popular HARDI technique. We find that Q-ball metrics associated with tissue microstructure and white matter fiber orientation are sensitive to both the number of diffusion directions and the spherical harmonic representation of the Q-ball, and often are biased when under sampled. These results can advise researchers on appropriate acquisition and processing schemes, particularly when it comes to optimizing the number of diffusion directions needed for metrics derived from Q-ball imaging.

Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.

PubMed

Makita, Naoki; Kawamura, Ayumi

2015-01-01

The microbial decomposition respiration of plant litter generates a major CO2 efflux from terrestrial ecosystems that plays a critical role in the regulation of carbon cycling on regional and global scales. However, the respiration from root litter decomposition and its sensitivity to temperature changes are unclear in current models of carbon turnover in forest soils. Thus, we examined seasonal changes in the temperature sensitivity and decomposition rates of fine root litter of two diameter classes (0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm) of Quercus serrata and Ilex pedunculosa in a deciduous broad-leaved forest. During the study period, fine root litter of both diameter classes and species decreased approximately exponentially over time. The Q10 values of microbial respiration rates of root litter for the two classes were 1.59-3.31 and 1.28-6.27 for Q. serrata and 1.36-6.31 and 1.65-5.86 for I. pedunculosa. A significant difference in Q10 was observed between the diameter classes, indicating that root diameter represents the initial substrate quality, which may determine the magnitude of Q10 value of microbial respiration. Changes in these Q10 values were related to seasonal soil temperature patterns; the values were higher in winter than in summer. Moreover, seasonal variations in Q10 were larger during the 2-year decomposition period than the 1-year period. These results showed that the Q10 values of fine root litter of 0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm have been shown to increase with lower temperatures and with the higher recalcitrance pool of the decomposed substrate during 2 years of decomposition. Thus, the temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration in root litter showed distinct patterns according to the decay period and season because of the temperature acclimation and adaptation of the microbial decomposer communities in root litter.

Precise determination of the 113Cd fourth-forbidden non-unique β -decay Q value

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gamage, N. D.; Bollen, G.; Eibach, M.; Gulyuz, K.; Izzo, C.; Kandegedara, R. M. E. B.; Redshaw, M.; Ringle, R.; Sandler, R.; Valverde, A. A.

2016-08-01

Using Penning trap mass spectrometry, we have performed a precise determination of the Q value for the highly forbidden β decay of 113Cd. An independent measurement of the Q value fixes the end-point energy in a fit to the 113Cdβ -decay spectrum. This provides a strong test of systematics for detectors that have observed this decay, such as those developed for β β -decay searches in cadmium and other isotopes. It will also aid in the theoretical description of the β -decay spectrum. The result, Qβ=323.89 (27 ) keV , agrees at the 1.3 σ level with the value obtained from the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation [Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012), 10.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003], but is a factor of almost four more precise. We also report improved values for the atomic masses of 113Cd,113In, and 112Cd.

Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou problems: Passage from Boltzmann to q-statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagchi, Debarshee; Tsallis, Constantino

2018-02-01

The Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) one-dimensional Hamiltonian includes a quartic term which guarantees ergodicity of the system in the thermodynamic limit. Consistently, the Boltzmann factor P(ε) ∼e-βε describes its equilibrium distribution of one-body energies, and its velocity distribution is Maxwellian, i.e., P(v) ∼e - βv2 /2. We consider here a generalized system where the quartic coupling constant between sites decays as 1 / dijα (α ≥ 0 ;dij = 1 , 2 , …) . Through first-principle molecular dynamics we demonstrate that, for large α (above α ≃ 1), i.e., short-range interactions, Boltzmann statistics (based on the additive entropic functional SB [ P(z) ] = - k ∫ dzP(z) ln P(z)) is verified. However, for small values of α (below α ≃ 1), i.e., long-range interactions, Boltzmann statistics dramatically fails and is replaced by q-statistics (based on the nonadditive entropic functional Sq [ P(z) ] = k(1 - ∫ dz[ P(z) ]q) /(q - 1) , with S1 =SB). Indeed, the one-body energy distribution is q-exponential, P(ε) ∼ eqε-βε ε ≡[ 1 +(qε - 1) βε ε ]-1 /(qε - 1) with qε > 1, and its velocity distribution is given by P(v) ∼ eqv-βvv2 / 2 with qv > 1. Moreover, within small error bars, we verify qε =qv = q, which decreases from an extrapolated value q ≃ 5 / 3 to q = 1 when α increases from zero to α ≃ 1, and remains q = 1 thereafter.

Noble magnetic barriers in the ASDEX UG tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Halima; Punjabi, Alkesh; Vazquez, Justin

2010-02-01

The second-order perturbation method of creating invariant tori inside chaos in Hamiltonian systems (Ali, H.; Punjabi, A. Plasma Phys. Contr. F. 2007, 49, 1565-1582) is applied to the axially symmetric divertor experiment upgrade (ASDEX UG) tokamak to build noble irrational magnetic barriers inside chaos created by resonant magnetic perturbations (m, n)=(3, 2)+(4, 3), with m and n the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers of the Fourier expansion of the magnetic perturbation. The radial dependence of the Fourier modes is ignored. The modes are considered to be locked and have the same amplitude δ. A symplectic mathematical mapping in magnetic coordinates is used to integrate magnetic field line trajectories in the ASDEX UG. Tori with noble irrational rotational transform are the last ones to be destroyed by perturbation in Hamiltonian systems. For this reason, noble irrational magnetic barriers are built inside chaos, and the strongest noble irrational barrier is identified. Three candidate locations for the strongest noble barrier in ASDEX UG are selected. All three candidate locations are chosen to be roughly midway between the resonant rational surfaces ψ32 and ψ43. ψ is the magnetic coordinate of the flux surface. The three candidate surfaces are the noble irrational surfaces close to the surface with q value that is a mediant of q=3/2 and 4/3, q value of the physical midpoint of the two resonant surfaces, and the q value of the surface where the islands of the two perturbing modes just overlap. These q values of the candidate surfaces are denoted by q MED, q MID, and q OVERLAP. The strongest noble barrier close to q MED has the continued fraction representation (CFR) [1;2,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤2.6599×10-4; the strongest noble barrier close to q MID has CFR [1;2,2,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤4.6311×10-4; and the strongest noble barrier close to q OVERLAP has CFR [1;2,2,6,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤1.367770×10-4. From these results, the strongest noble barrier is found to be close to the surface that is located physically exactly in the middle of the two resonant surfaces.

Complementation of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and CESI-Q-TOF-MS on identification and determination of peptides from bovine lactoferrin.

PubMed

Chen, Hui; Shi, Pujie; Fan, Fengjiao; Tu, Maolin; Xu, Zhe; Xu, Xianbing; Du, Ming

2018-05-01

Digested peptides of bovine lactoferrin as the functional hydrolysates were identified by the Q-TOF tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS) coupled with ultra performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The former (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) identified 106 peptides while the latter (CE-Q-TOF-MS) characterized 102 peptides after comparison of peptides in terms of their molecular weight (MW), mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), and isoelectric point (pI). In addition, the hydrophilic value, net charge (q), and molecular radius (r) of the peptides were calculated, and a correlation analysis of the two methods was conducted between the retention time (RT) and r/q ratio of the peptides in order to elucidate the different separation principles of the unique peptides. It was shown that the peptides with larger hydrophilic value were beneficial to be separated by UPLC, while the peptides with larger r/q ratio were beneficial to be separated by CE. Combination of the above mentioned two complementary techniques have confidently improved the sequence coverage of lactoferrin and enhanced the identification of peptides, which makes it up to 65.8% in this study. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Meta-metallic coils and resonators: Methods for high Q-value resonant geometries

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

Mett, R. R.; Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202; Sidabras, J. W.

A novel method of decreasing ohmic losses and increasing Q-value in metallic resonators at high frequencies is presented. The method overcomes the skin-depth limitation of rf current flow cross section. The method uses layers of conductive foil of thickness less than a skin depth and capacitive gaps between layers. The capacitive gaps can substantially equalize the rf current flowing in each layer, resulting in a total cross-sectional dimension for rf current flow many times larger than a skin depth. Analytic theory and finite-element simulations indicate that, for a variety of structures, the Q-value enhancement over a single thick conductor approachesmore » the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth if the total number of layers is greater than one-third the square of the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth. The layer number requirement is due to counter-currents in each foil layer caused by the surrounding rf magnetic fields. We call structures that exhibit this type of Q-enhancement “meta-metallic.” In addition, end effects due to rf magnetic fields wrapping around the ends of the foils can substantially reduce the Q-value for some classes of structures. Foil structures with Q-values that are substantially influenced by such end effects are discussed as are five classes of structures that are not. We focus particularly on 400 MHz, which is the resonant frequency of protons at 9.4 T. Simulations at 400 MHz are shown with comparison to measurements on fabricated structures. The methods and geometries described here are general for magnetic resonance and can be used at frequencies much higher than 400 MHz.« less

Meta-metallic coils and resonators: Methods for high Q-value resonant geometries

PubMed Central

Mett, R. R.; Hyde, J. S.

2016-01-01

A novel method of decreasing ohmic losses and increasing Q-value in metallic resonators at high frequencies is presented. The method overcomes the skin-depth limitation of rf current flow cross section. The method uses layers of conductive foil of thickness less than a skin depth and capacitive gaps between layers. The capacitive gaps can substantially equalize the rf current flowing in each layer, resulting in a total cross-sectional dimension for rf current flow many times larger than a skin depth. Analytic theory and finite-element simulations indicate that, for a variety of structures, the Q-value enhancement over a single thick conductor approaches the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth if the total number of layers is greater than one-third the square of the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth. The layer number requirement is due to counter-currents in each foil layer caused by the surrounding rf magnetic fields. We call structures that exhibit this type of Q-enhancement “meta-metallic.” In addition, end effects due to rf magnetic fields wrapping around the ends of the foils can substantially reduce the Q-value for some classes of structures. Foil structures with Q-values that are substantially influenced by such end effects are discussed as are five classes of structures that are not. We focus particularly on 400 MHz, which is the resonant frequency of protons at 9.4 T. Simulations at 400 MHz are shown with comparison to measurements on fabricated structures. The methods and geometries described here are general for magnetic resonance and can be used at frequencies much higher than 400 MHz. PMID:27587143

Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pj) quantitative PCR to differentiate Pj pneumonia from Pj colonization in immunocompromised patients.

PubMed

Maillet, M; Maubon, D; Brion, J P; François, P; Molina, L; Stahl, J P; Epaulard, O; Bosseray, A; Pavese, P

2014-03-01

Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in respiratory samples does not differentiate between Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pj) colonization. We used Pj real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) with the objective to discriminate PCP from Pj colonization in immunocompromised patients. All positive Pj qPCR [targeting the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) gene] obtained in respiratory samples from immunocompromised patients presenting pneumonia at the Grenoble University Hospital, France, were collected between August 2009 and April 2011. Diagnoses were retrospectively determined by a multidisciplinary group of experts blinded to the Pj qPCR results. Thirty-one bronchoalveolar lavages and four broncho aspirations positive for the Pj qPCR were obtained from 35 immunocompromised patients. Diagnoses of definite, probable, and possible PCP, and pneumonia from another etiology were retrospectively made for 7, 4, 5, and 19 patients, respectively. Copy numbers were significantly higher in the "definite group" (median 465,000 copies/ml) than in the "probable group" (median 38,600 copies/ml), the "possible group" (median 1,032 copies/ml), and the "other diagnosis group" (median 390 copies/ml). With the value of 3,160 copies/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of qPCR for the diagnosis of PCP were 100 % and 70 %, respectively. With the value of 31,600 copies/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 80 % and 100 %, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100 % for results with more than 31,600 copies/ml and the negative predictive value was 100 % for results with fewer than 3,160 copies/ml. qPCR targeting the MSG gene can be helpful to discriminate PCP from Pj colonization in immunocompromised patients, using two cut-off values, with a gray zone between them.

[Elaboration and evaluation of infant food based on Andean crops].

PubMed

Repo-Carrasco, R; Hoyos, N L

1993-06-01

The Andes mountain range of South America is one of the most important centres for crop domestication, potato, corn, and lesser known grains such as quinua, cañihua, kiwicha and tarwi are indigenous of these highlands. These Andean grains have adapted perfectly to the climatic and geographical conditions present, whereas other grains have not been able to survive. In addition to their hardiness, they also have a high nutritional value. Bearing in mind on one hand, the high nutritional value of these indegenous products, and on the other hand the high rate of child malnutrition prevalent in the population, it was considered important to look for new variations in their processing which would facilitate their consumption by the poor working classes, especially the children. Accordingly three different flour mixtures were developed based on these Andean grains, the mixtures were then subjected to bromatological and biological analysis. The three new flour mixtures were: Quinua-Cañihua-Broad Bean (Q-C-B), Quinua-Kiwicha-Bean (Q-K-B) and Kiwicha-Rice (K-R). The protein content of these mixtures varied between 11.35-15.46 g/100g, the mixture K-R having the lowest protein level and the Q-C-B having the highest. The Q-K-B mixture had the highest chemical score, PER and NPU value. This PER value of 2.59 was higher than the value of casein which was 2.50. In addition this mixture had a chemical score of 0.94 and a NPU value of 59.38. The Q-C-B mixture had a chemical score of 0.88 and its PER, NPU and Digestibility values were 2.36, 47.24 and 79.2 respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synergistic effect of apple extracts and quercetin 3-beta-d-glucoside combination on antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro.

PubMed

Yang, Jun; Liu, Rui Hai

2009-09-23

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. An alternative strategy to reduce the risk of cancer is through dietary modification. Although phytochemicals naturally occur as complex mixtures, little information is available regarding possible additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions among compounds. The antiproliferative activity of apple extracts and quercetin 3-beta-d-glucoside (Q3G) was assessed by measurement of the inhibition of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell proliferation. Cell cytotoxicity was determined by the methylene blue assay. The two-way combination of apple plus Q3G was conducted. In this two-way combination, the EC(50) values of apple extracts and Q3G were 2- and 4-fold lower, respectively, than those of apple extracts and Q3G alone. The combination index (CI) values at 50 and 95% inhibition rates were 0.76 +/- 0.16 and 0.42 +/- 0.10, respectively. The dose-reduction index (DRI) values of the apple extracts and Q3G to achieve a 50% inhibition effect were reduced by 2.03 +/- 0.55 and 4.28 +/- 0.39-fold, respectively. The results suggest that the apple extracts plus Q3G combination possesses a synergistic effect in MCF-7 cell proliferation.

Precipitation-Frequency and Discharge-Frequency Relations for Basins Less than 32 Square Miles in Kansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perry, Charles A.

2008-01-01

Precipitation-frequency and discharge-frequency relations for small drainage basins with areas less than 32 square miles in Kansas were evaluated to reduce the uncertainty of discharge-frequency estimates. Gaged-discharge records were used to develop discharge-frequency equations for the ratio of discharge to drainage area (Q/A) values using data from basins with variable soil permeability, channel slope, and mean annual precipitation. Soil permeability and mean annual precipitation are the dominant basin characteristics in the multiple linear regression analyses. In addition, 28 discharge measurements at ungaged sites by indirect surveying methods and by velocity meters also were used in this analysis to relate precipitation-recurrence interval to discharge-recurrence interval. Precipitation-recurrence interval for each of these discharge measurements were estimated from weather-radar estimates of precipitation and from nearby raingages. Time of concentration for each basin for each of the ungaged sites was computed and used to determine the precipitation-recurrence interval based on precipitation depth and duration. The ratio of discharge/drainage area (Q/A) value for each event was then assigned to that precipitation-recurrence interval. The relation between the ratio of discharge/drainage area (Q/A) and precipitation-recurrence interval for all 28 measured events resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.79. Using basins less than 5.4 mi2 only, the correlation decreases to 0.74. However, when basins greater than 5.4 and less than 32 mi2 are examined the relation improves to a correlation coefficient of 0.95. There were a sufficient number of discharge and radar-measured precipitation events for both the 5-year (8 events) and the 100-year (11 events) recurrence intervals to examine the effect of basin characteristics on the Q/A values for basins less than 32 mi2. At the 5-year precipitation-/discharge-recurrence interval, channel slope was a significant predictor (r=0.99) of Q/A. Permeability (r=0.68) also had a significant effect on Q/A values for the 5-year recurrence interval. At the 100-year recurrence interval, permeability, channel slope, and mean annual precipitation did not have a significant effect on Q/A; however, time of concentration was a significant factor in determining Q/A for the 100-year events with greater times of concentration resulting in lower Q/A values. Additional high-recurrence interval (5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year) precipitation/discharge data are needed to confirm these relations suggested above. Discharge data with attendant basin-wide precipitation data from precipitation-radar estimates provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of basin characteristics on the relation between precipitation recurrence interval and discharge-recurrence interval. Discharge-frequency values from the Q/A equations, the rational method, and the Kansas discharge-frequency equations (KFFE) were compared to 28 measured weather-radar precipitation-/discharge-frequency values. The association between precipitation frequency from weather-radar estimates and the frequency of the resulting discharge was shown in these comparisons. The measured and Q/A equation computed discharges displayed the best equality from low to high discharges of the three methods. Here the slope of the line was nearly 1:1 (y=0.9844x0.9677). Comparisons with the rational method produced a slope greater than 1:1 (y=0.0722x1.235), and the KFFE equations produced a slope less than 1:1 (y=5.9103x0.7475). The Q/A equation standard error of prediction averaged 0.1346 log units for the 5.4-to 32-square-mile group and 0.0944 log units for the less than 5.4-square mile group. The KFFE standard error averaged 0.2107 log units for the less-than-30-square-mile equations. Using the Q/A equations for determining discharge frequency values for ungaged sites thus appears to be a good alternative to the other two methods because of this s

Transport and metabolism of MitoQ10, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Fawcett, J Paul; Zhang, Hu; Tucker, Ian G

2007-04-01

Mitoquinone (MitoQ(10) mesylate) is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant formulated for oral administration in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We have investigated the absorption and metabolism of MitoQ(10) in Caco-2 cell monolayers. The intracellular accumulation of MitoQ(10) was 18-41% of the total amount of MitoQ(10) added. Some of the intracellular MitoQ(10) was reduced to mitoquinol and subsequently metabolized to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Transport of MitoQ(10) was polarized with the apparent permeability (P(app)) from basolateral (BL) to apical (AP) (P(appBL-->AP)) being >2.5-fold the P(app) from apical to basolateral (P(appAP-->BL)). In the presence of 4% bovine serum albumin on the basolateral side, the P(appAP-->BL) value increased 7-fold compared with control. The P(appBL-->AP) value decreased by 26, 31 and 61% in the presence of verapamil 100 microM, ciclosporin 10 and 30 microM, respectively, whereas the P(appAP-->BL) value increased 71% in the presence of ciclosporin 30 microM. Apical efflux of mitoquinol sulfate and mitoquinol glucuronide conjugates was significantly decreased by ciclosporin 30 microM and the breast cancer receptor protein (BCRP) inhibitor, reserpine 25 microM, respectively. These results suggested that the bioavailability of MitoQ(10) may be limited by intracellular metabolism and the action of P-glycoprotein and BCRP. However, the dramatic increase in absorptive P(app) in the presence of bovine serum albumin on the receiver side suggests these barrier functions may be less significant in-vivo.

Technical note: False low turbidity readings from optical probes during high suspended-sediment concentrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voichick, Nicholas; Topping, David J.; Griffiths, Ronald E.

2018-03-01

Turbidity, a measure of water clarity, is monitored for a variety of purposes including (1) to help determine whether water is safe to drink, (2) to establish background conditions of lakes and rivers and detect pollution caused by construction projects and stormwater discharge, (3) to study sediment transport in rivers and erosion in catchments, (4) to manage siltation of water reservoirs, and (5) to establish connections with aquatic biological properties, such as primary production and predator-prey interactions. Turbidity is typically measured with an optical probe that detects light scattered from particles in the water. Probes have defined upper limits of the range of turbidity that they can measure. The general assumption is that when turbidity exceeds this upper limit, the values of turbidity will be constant, i.e., the probe is pegged; however, this assumption is not necessarily valid. In rivers with limited variation in the physical properties of the suspended sediment, at lower suspended-sediment concentrations, an increase in suspended-sediment concentration will cause a linear increase in turbidity. When the suspended-sediment concentration in these rivers is high, turbidity levels can exceed the upper measurement limit of an optical probe and record a constant pegged value. However, at extremely high suspended-sediment concentrations, optical turbidity probes do not necessarily stay pegged at a constant value. Data from the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, and a laboratory experiment both demonstrate that when turbidity exceeds instrument-pegged conditions, increasing suspended-sediment concentration (and thus increasing turbidity) may cause optical probes to record decreasing false turbidity values that appear to be within the valid measurement range of the probe. Therefore, under high-turbidity conditions, other surrogate measurements of turbidity (e.g., acoustic-attenuation measurements or suspended-sediment samples) are necessary to correct these low false turbidity measurements and accurately measure turbidity.

Q Workshop: An Application of Q Methodology for Visualizing, Deliberating and Learning Contrasting Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoshizawa, Go; Iwase, Mineyo; Okumoto, Motoko; Tahara, Keiichiro; Takahashi, Shingo

2016-01-01

A value-centered approach to science, technology and society (STS) education illuminates the need of reflexive and relational learning through communication and public engagement. Visualization is a key to represent and compare mental models such as assumptions, background theories and value systems that tacitly shape our own understanding,…

Avoid cruising on the uroflowmeter: evaluation of cruising artifact on spinning disc flowmeters in an experimental setup.

PubMed

Addla, Sanjai Kumar; Marri, Rajender Reddy; Daayana, Sai Lakshmi; Irwin, Paul

2010-09-01

The aim of our study was to access the variability of maximum flow rate (Q(max)), average flow rate (Q(av)) and flow pattern while varying the point of impact of flow on the flowmeter. Water was delivered through a motorised tube holder in a standardised experimental set up. Flow was directed in 4 different directions on the funnel; 1) Periphery, 2) Base, 3) Centre and, 4) in a cruising motion from the periphery of the funnel to the centre and back again. The variation in the Q(max), Q(av) and the flow pattern were studied at 4 different flow rates. The variables recorded when the flow was directed at the centre of the funnel was taken as baseline. There was a significant difference in the Q(max) and Q(av)when the point of impact was at the periphery or in a cruising motion compared to the centre. The difference was more marked with cruising motion with a characteristic flow pattern. The maximum percentage difference in Q(av) was 4.1%, whereas the difference in Q(max) was higher at 16.6% on comparing crusing motion with the values from the centre. We have demonstrated a significant variation in Q(max), Q(av) and flow pattern with change in the point of impact on the flowmeter. Though the changes in Q(av) were statistically significant, the alteration in the recorded Q(max) values was more striking. Our study emphasizes the importance of combining Q(av) and flow pattern along with Q(max) in interpretation of results of uroflowmetry. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Reduced Order Modeling For High Speed Flows with Moving Shocks

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-12-03

critical values of Q are the values of U and λ such that G(y) = dQ(y) dy =   F (U) + λ dC(U) dU C(U)   = [0]. (2.28) As long as the constraints ...by adding each linear constraint as shown in equation (5.6) (the n + 1 superscript on US is dropped for convenience). This new functional Q , called...Institute of Technology, School of Engineering and Man- agement, 2001. 49. Naylor, Arch W. and Sell, George R. Linear Operator Theory in Engineering and

M. Riesz-Schur-type inequalities for entire functions of exponential type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganzburg, M. I.; Nevai, P.; Erdélyi, T.

2015-01-01

We prove a general M. Riesz-Schur-type inequality for entire functions of exponential type. If f and Q are two functions of exponential types σ > 0 and τ ≥ 0, respectively, and if Q is real-valued and the real zeros of Q, not counting multiplicities, are bounded away from each other, then \\displaystyle \\vert f(x)\\vert≤ (σ+τ) (Aσ+τ(Q))-1/2\\Vert Q f\\Vert C( R),\\qquad x\\in R, where \\displaystyle A_s(Q) \\stackrel{{def}}{=}\\infx\\in R \\bigl( \\lbrack Q'(x) \\rbrack ^2+s2 [Q(x)]^2\\bigr). We apply this inequality to the weights Q(x)\\stackrel{{def}}{=} \\sin (τ x) and Q(x) \\stackrel{{def}}{=} x and describe the extremal functions in the corresponding inequalities. Bibliography: 7 titles.

Tricriticality in the q-neighbor Ising model on a partially duplex clique.

PubMed

Chmiel, Anna; Sienkiewicz, Julian; Sznajd-Weron, Katarzyna

2017-12-01

We analyze a modified kinetic Ising model, a so-called q-neighbor Ising model, with Metropolis dynamics [Phys. Rev. E 92, 052105 (2015)PLEEE81539-375510.1103/PhysRevE.92.052105] on a duplex clique and a partially duplex clique. In the q-neighbor Ising model each spin interacts only with q spins randomly chosen from its whole neighborhood. In the case of a duplex clique the change of a spin is allowed only if both levels simultaneously induce this change. Due to the mean-field-like nature of the model we are able to derive the analytic form of transition probabilities and solve the corresponding master equation. The existence of the second level changes dramatically the character of the phase transition. In the case of the monoplex clique, the q-neighbor Ising model exhibits a continuous phase transition for q=3, discontinuous phase transition for q≥4, and for q=1 and q=2 the phase transition is not observed. On the other hand, in the case of the duplex clique continuous phase transitions are observed for all values of q, even for q=1 and q=2. Subsequently we introduce a partially duplex clique, parametrized by r∈[0,1], which allows us to tune the network from monoplex (r=0) to duplex (r=1). Such a generalized topology, in which a fraction r of all nodes appear on both levels, allows us to obtain the critical value of r=r^{*}(q) at which a tricriticality (switch from continuous to discontinuous phase transition) appears.

Sensitivity of Bemisia Tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to Several New Insecticides in China: Effects of Insecticide Type and Whitefly Species, Strain, and Stage

PubMed Central

Xie, Wen; Liu, Yang; Wang, Shaoli; Wu, Qingjun; Pan, Huipeng; Yang, Xin; Guo, Litao; Zhang, Youjun

2014-01-01

Abstract Whitefly biotypes B and Q are the two most damaging members of the Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) species complex. Control of B. tabaci (and especially of Q) has been impaired by resistance to commonly used insecticides. To find new insecticides for B. tabaci management in China, we investigated the sensitivity of eggs, larvae, and adults of laboratory strains of B and Q (named Lab-B and Lab-Q) and field strains of Q to several insecticides. For eggs, larvae, and adults of B. tabaci and for six insecticides (cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, pyriproxyfen, buprofezin, acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam), LC 50 values were higher for Lab-Q than for Lab-B; avermectin LC 50 values, however, were low for adults of both Lab-Q and Lab-B. Based on the laboratory results, insecticides were selected to test against eggs, larvae, and adults of four field strains of B. tabaci Q. Although the field strains differed in their sensitivity to the insecticides, the eggs and larvae of all strains were highly sensitive to cyantraniliprole, and the adults of all strains were highly sensitive to avermectin. The eggs, larvae, and adults of B. tabaci Q were generally more resistant than those of B. tabaci B to the tested insecticides. B. tabaci Q eggs and larvae were sensitive to cyantraniliprole and pyriproxyfen, whereas B. tabaci Q adults were sensitive to avermectin. Field trials should be conducted with cyantraniliprole, pyriproxyfen, and avermectin for control of B. tabaci Q and B in China. PMID:25434040

Maximum Renyi entropy principle for systems with power-law Hamiltonians.

PubMed

Bashkirov, A G

2004-09-24

The Renyi distribution ensuring the maximum of Renyi entropy is investigated for a particular case of a power-law Hamiltonian. Both Lagrange parameters alpha and beta can be eliminated. It is found that beta does not depend on a Renyi parameter q and can be expressed in terms of an exponent kappa of the power-law Hamiltonian and an average energy U. The Renyi entropy for the resulting Renyi distribution reaches its maximal value at q=1/(1+kappa) that can be considered as the most probable value of q when we have no additional information on the behavior of the stochastic process. The Renyi distribution for such q becomes a power-law distribution with the exponent -(kappa+1). When q=1/(1+kappa)+epsilon (0

On generalisations of the log-Normal distribution by means of a new product definition in the Kapteyn process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duarte Queirós, Sílvio M.

2012-07-01

We discuss the modification of the Kapteyn multiplicative process using the q-product of Borges [E.P. Borges, A possible deformed algebra and calculus inspired in nonextensive thermostatistics, Physica A 340 (2004) 95]. Depending on the value of the index q a generalisation of the log-Normal distribution is yielded. Namely, the distribution increases the tail for small (when q<1) or large (when q>1) values of the variable upon analysis. The usual log-Normal distribution is retrieved when q=1, which corresponds to the traditional Kapteyn multiplicative process. The main statistical features of this distribution as well as related random number generators and tables of quantiles of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov distance are presented. Finally, we illustrate the validity of this scenario by describing a set of variables of biological and financial origin.

Redox potentials of primary electron acceptor quinone molecule (QA)- and conserved energetics of photosystem II in cyanobacteria with chlorophyll a and chlorophyll d.

PubMed

Allakhverdiev, Suleyman I; Tsuchiya, Tohru; Watabe, Kazuyuki; Kojima, Akane; Los, Dmitry A; Tomo, Tatsuya; Klimov, Vyacheslav V; Mimuro, Mamoru

2011-05-10

In a previous study, we measured the redox potential of the primary electron acceptor pheophytin (Phe) a of photosystem (PS) II in the chlorophyll d-dominated cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina and a chlorophyll a-containing cyanobacterium, Synechocystis. We obtained the midpoint redox potential (E(m)) values of -478 mV for A. marina and -536 mV for Synechocystis. In this study, we measured the redox potentials of the primary electron acceptor quinone molecule (Q(A)), i.e., E(m)(Q(A)/Q(A)(-)), of PS II and the energy difference between [P680·Phe a(-)·Q(A)] and [P680·Phe a·Q(A)(-)], i.e., ΔG(PhQ). The E(m)(Q(A)/Q(A)(-)) of A. marina was determined to be +64 mV without the Mn cluster and was estimated to be -66 to -86 mV with a Mn-depletion shift (130-150 mV), as observed with other organisms. The E(m)(Phe a/Phe a(-)) in Synechocystis was measured to be -525 mV with the Mn cluster, which is consistent with our previous report. The Mn-depleted downshift of the potential was measured to be approximately -77 mV in Synechocystis, and this value was applied to A. marina (-478 mV); the E(m)(Phe a/Phe a(-)) was estimated to be approximately -401 mV. These values gave rise to a ΔG(PhQ) of -325 mV for A. marina and -383 mV for Synechocystis. In the two cyanobacteria, the energetics in PS II were conserved, even though the potentials of Q(A)(-) and Phe a(-) were relatively shifted depending on the special pair, indicating a common strategy for electron transfer in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.

Lateral variation of seismic attenuation in Sikkim Himalaya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thirunavukarasu, Ajaay; Kumar, Ajay; Mitra, Supriyo

2017-01-01

We use data from local earthquakes (mb ≥ 3.0) recorded by the Sikkim broad-band seismograph network to study the frequency-dependent attenuation of the crust and uppermost mantle. These events have been relocated using body wave phase data from local and regional seismograms. The decay of coda amplitudes at a range of central frequencies (1 to 12 Hz) has been measured for 74 earthquake-receiver pairs. These measurements are combined to estimate the frequency-dependent coda Q of the form Q( f) = Q0 f η. The estimated Q0 values range from 80 to 200, with an average of 123 ± 29; and η ranges from 0.92 to 1.04, with an average of 0.98 ± 0.04. To study the lateral variation of Q0 and η, we regionalized the measured Q values by combining all the earthquake-receiver path measurements through a back projection algorithm. We consider a single back-scatter model for the coda waves with elliptical sampling and parametrize the sampled area using 0.2° square grids. A nine-point spatial smoothening (similar to spatial Gaussian filter) is applied to stabilize the inversion. This is done at every frequency to observe the spatial variation of Q( f) and subsequently combined to obtain η variations. Results of our study reveal that the Sikkim Himalaya is characterized by low Q0 (80-100) compared to the foreland basin to its south (150-200) and the Nepal Himalaya to its west (140-160). The low Q and high η in Sikkim Himalaya is attributed to extrinsic scattering attenuation from structural heterogeneity and active faults within the crust, and intrinsic attenuation due to anelasticity in the hotter lithosphere beneath the actively deforming mountain belt. Similar low Q and high η values had also been observed in northwest and Garhwal-Kumaun Himalaya.

Monte Carlo simulation of elongating metallic nanowires in the presence of surfactants

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

Gimenez, M. Cecilia; Reinaudi, Luis, E-mail: luis.reinaudi@unc.edu.ar; Leiva, Ezequiel P. M.

2015-12-28

Nanowires of different metals undergoing elongation were studied by means of canonical Monte Carlo simulations and the embedded atom method representing the interatomic potentials. The presence of a surfactant medium was emulated by the introduction of an additional stabilization energy, represented by a parameter Q. Several values of the parameter Q and temperatures were analyzed. In general, it was observed for all studied metals that, as Q increases, there is a greater elongation before the nanowire breaks. In the case of silver, linear monatomic chains several atoms long formed at intermediate values of Q and low temperatures. Similar observations weremore » made for the case of silver-gold alloys when the medium interacted selectively with Ag.« less

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous levofloxacin at 750 milligrams and various doses of metronidazole in healthy adult subjects.

PubMed

Sprandel, Kelly A; Schriever, Christopher A; Pendland, Susan L; Quinn, John P; Gotfried, Mark H; Hackett, Suzanne; Graham, Mary Beth; Danziger, Larry H; Rodvold, Keith A

2004-12-01

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the steady-state pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of intravenous levofloxacin at 750 mg administered once daily combined with three different dosages of intravenous metronidazole (500 mg every 8 h [q8h], 1,000 mg q24h, and 1,500 mg q24h). Eighteen healthy adult subjects received all three combinations in a randomized, crossover fashion. Serial blood and urine samples were collected on the third day of each study period. The 24-h areas under the inhibitory (AUIC(0-24)) and bactericidal (AUBC(0-24)) curves of these three combination regimens were determined against clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, and Escherichia coli. The mean concentrations of levofloxacin were not different between study periods and were similar to those previously published. The mean (+/- standard deviation) areas under the metronidazole plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-24)) for 1,500-mg q24h (338 +/- 105 mg.h/liter) and 500-mg q8h (356 +/- 68 mg.h/liter) regimens were not different (P > 0.05), but both were significantly higher than the 1,000-mg q24h AUC(0-24) (P < 0.05, 227 +/- 57 mg.h/liter). Mean (+/- standard deviation) total body clearance and renal clearance values were similar among the 500-mg q8h, 1,000-mg q24, and 1,500-mg q24h regimens (62 +/- 7, 67 +/- 13, and 67 +/- 14 and 11 +/- 3, 12 +/- 2, and 12 +/- 5 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively). Levofloxacin at 750 mg q24h plus metronidazole at 500 mg q8h or 1,500 mg q24h resulted in similar AUIC(0-24) and AUBC(0-24) values with one exception: the AUIC(0-24) for the 1,500-mg q24h regimen against B. thetaiotamicron was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the other regimens. Overall, the combination of levofloxacin at 750 mg once daily and metronidazole at 500 mg q8h or 1,500 mg q24h appeared to have greater AUIC(0-24) and AUBC(0-24) values than did the 1,000-mg q24h regimen. All combination regimens of levofloxacin and metronidazole were well tolerated, and no serious drug-related adverse effects were reported. The pharmacokinetic, safety, and pharmacodynamic data from our study suggest that a once-daily regimen of intravenous levofloxacin at 750 mg and metronidazole at 1,500 mg warrants further clinical investigation.

The existence of solutions of q-difference-differential equations.

PubMed

Wang, Xin-Li; Wang, Hua; Xu, Hong-Yan

2016-01-01

By using the Nevanlinna theory of value distribution, we investigate the existence of solutions of some types of non-linear q-difference differential equations. In particular, we generalize the Rellich-Wittich-type theorem and Malmquist-type theorem about differential equations to the case of q-difference differential equations (system).

Stepwise kinetic equilibrium models of quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

PubMed

Cobbs, Gary

2012-08-16

Numerous models for use in interpreting quantitative PCR (qPCR) data are present in recent literature. The most commonly used models assume the amplification in qPCR is exponential and fit an exponential model with a constant rate of increase to a select part of the curve. Kinetic theory may be used to model the annealing phase and does not assume constant efficiency of amplification. Mechanistic models describing the annealing phase with kinetic theory offer the most potential for accurate interpretation of qPCR data. Even so, they have not been thoroughly investigated and are rarely used for interpretation of qPCR data. New results for kinetic modeling of qPCR are presented. Two models are presented in which the efficiency of amplification is based on equilibrium solutions for the annealing phase of the qPCR process. Model 1 assumes annealing of complementary targets strands and annealing of target and primers are both reversible reactions and reach a dynamic equilibrium. Model 2 assumes all annealing reactions are nonreversible and equilibrium is static. Both models include the effect of primer concentration during the annealing phase. Analytic formulae are given for the equilibrium values of all single and double stranded molecules at the end of the annealing step. The equilibrium values are then used in a stepwise method to describe the whole qPCR process. Rate constants of kinetic models are the same for solutions that are identical except for possibly having different initial target concentrations. Analysis of qPCR curves from such solutions are thus analyzed by simultaneous non-linear curve fitting with the same rate constant values applying to all curves and each curve having a unique value for initial target concentration. The models were fit to two data sets for which the true initial target concentrations are known. Both models give better fit to observed qPCR data than other kinetic models present in the literature. They also give better estimates of initial target concentration. Model 1 was found to be slightly more robust than model 2 giving better estimates of initial target concentration when estimation of parameters was done for qPCR curves with very different initial target concentration. Both models may be used to estimate the initial absolute concentration of target sequence when a standard curve is not available. It is argued that the kinetic approach to modeling and interpreting quantitative PCR data has the potential to give more precise estimates of the true initial target concentrations than other methods currently used for analysis of qPCR data. The two models presented here give a unified model of the qPCR process in that they explain the shape of the qPCR curve for a wide variety of initial target concentrations.

Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Respiration to Nitrogen Fertilization: Varying Effects between Growing and Non-Growing Seasons

PubMed Central

Liu, Qingfang; Wang, Rui; Li, Rujian; Hu, Yaxian; Guo, Shengli

2016-01-01

Nitrogen (N) fertilization has a considerable effect on food production and carbon cycling in agro-ecosystems. However, the impacts of N fertilization rates on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration (Q10) were controversial. Five N rates (N0, N45, N90, N135, and N180) were applied to a continuous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop on the semi-arid Loess Plateau, and the in situ soil respiration was monitored during five consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. During the growing season, the mean soil respiration rates increased with increasing N fertilization rates, peaking at 1.53 μmol m−2s−1 in the N135 treatment. A similar dynamic pattern was observed during the non-growing season, yet on average with 7.3% greater soil respiration rates than the growing season. In general for all the N fertilization treatments, the mean Q10 value during the non-growing season was significantly greater than that during the growing season. As N fertilization rates increased, the Q10 values did not change significantly in the growing season but significantly decreased in the non-growing season. Overall, N fertilization markedly influenced soil respirations and Q10 values, in particular posing distinct effects on the Q10 values between the growing and non-growing seasons. PMID:27992576

Total cross sections for positrons scattered elastically from helium based on new measurements of total ionization cross sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diana, L. M.; Chaplin, R. L.; Brooks, D. L.; Adams, J. T.; Reyna, L. K.

1990-01-01

An improved technique is presented for employing the 2.3m spectrometer to measure total ionization cross sections, Q sub ion, for positrons incident on He. The new ionization cross section agree with the values reported earlier. Estimates are also presented of total elastic scattering cross section, Q sub el, obtained by subtracting from total scattering cross sections, Q sub tot, reported in the literature, the Q sub ion and Q sub Ps (total positronium formation cross sections) and total excitation cross sections, Q sub ex, published by another researcher. The Q sub ion and Q sub el measured with the 3m high resolution time-of-flight spectrometer for 54.9eV positrons are in accord with the results from the 2.3m spectrometer. The ionization cross sections are in fair agreement with theory tending for the most part to be higher, especially at 76.3 and 88.5eV. The elastic cross section agree quite well with theory to the vicinity of 50eV, but at 60eV and above the experimental elastic cross sections climb to and remain at about 0.30 pi a sub o sq while the theoretical values steadily decrease.

Superuniversal transport near a (2 +1 ) -dimensional quantum critical point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rose, F.; Dupuis, N.

2017-09-01

We compute the zero-temperature conductivity in the two-dimensional quantum O (N ) model using a nonperturbative functional renormalization-group approach. At the quantum critical point we find a universal conductivity σ*/σQ (with σQ=q2/h the quantum of conductance and q the charge) in reasonable quantitative agreement with quantum Monte Carlo simulations and conformal bootstrap results. In the ordered phase the conductivity tensor is defined, when N ≥3 , by two independent elements, σA(ω ) and σB(ω ) , respectively associated with SO (N ) rotations which do and do not change the direction of the order parameter. Whereas σA(ω →0 ) corresponds to the response of a superfluid (or perfect inductance), the numerical solution of the flow equations shows that limω→0σB(ω ) /σQ=σB*/σQ is a superuniversal (i.e., N -independent) constant. These numerical results, as well as the known exact value σB*/σQ=π /8 in the large-N limit, allow us to conjecture that σB*/σQ=π /8 holds for all values of N , a result that can be understood as a consequence of gauge invariance and asymptotic freedom of the Goldstone bosons in the low-energy limit.

Genetic Algorithm Optimizes Q-LAW Control Parameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Seungwon; von Allmen, Paul; Petropoulos, Anastassios; Terrile, Richard

2008-01-01

A document discusses a multi-objective, genetic algorithm designed to optimize Lyapunov feedback control law (Q-law) parameters in order to efficiently find Pareto-optimal solutions for low-thrust trajectories for electronic propulsion systems. These would be propellant-optimal solutions for a given flight time, or flight time optimal solutions for a given propellant requirement. The approximate solutions are used as good initial solutions for high-fidelity optimization tools. When the good initial solutions are used, the high-fidelity optimization tools quickly converge to a locally optimal solution near the initial solution. Q-law control parameters are represented as real-valued genes in the genetic algorithm. The performances of the Q-law control parameters are evaluated in the multi-objective space (flight time vs. propellant mass) and sorted by the non-dominated sorting method that assigns a better fitness value to the solutions that are dominated by a fewer number of other solutions. With the ranking result, the genetic algorithm encourages the solutions with higher fitness values to participate in the reproduction process, improving the solutions in the evolution process. The population of solutions converges to the Pareto front that is permitted within the Q-law control parameter space.

Chromosomal aberrations and their prognostic value in a series of 174 untreated patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

PubMed

Nguyen-Khac, Florence; Lambert, Jerome; Chapiro, Elise; Grelier, Aurore; Mould, Sarah; Barin, Carole; Daudignon, Agnes; Gachard, Nathalie; Struski, Stéphanie; Henry, Catherine; Penther, Dominique; Mossafa, Hossein; Andrieux, Joris; Eclache, Virginie; Bilhou-Nabera, Chrystèle; Luquet, Isabelle; Terre, Christine; Baranger, Laurence; Mugneret, Francine; Chiesa, Jean; Mozziconacci, Marie-Joelle; Callet-Bauchu, Evelyne; Veronese, Lauren; Blons, Hélène; Owen, Roger; Lejeune, Julie; Chevret, Sylvie; Merle-Beral, Hélène; Leblondon, Véronique

2013-04-01

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a disease of mature B cells, the genetic basis of which is poorly understood. Few recurrent chromosomal abnormalities have been reported, and their prognostic value is not known. We conducted a prospective cytogenetic study of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and examined the prognostic value of chromosomal aberrations in an international randomized trial. The main aberrations were 6q deletions (30%), trisomy 18 (15%), 13q deletions (13%), 17p (TP53) deletions (8%), trisomy 4 (8%), and 11q (ATM) deletions (7%). There was a significant association between trisomy of chromosome 4 and trisomy of chromosome 18. Translocations involving the IGH genes were rare (<5%). Deletion of 6q and 11q, and trisomy 4, were significantly associated with adverse clinical and biological parameters. Patients with TP53 deletion had short progression-free survival and short disease-free survival. Although rare (<5%), trisomy 12 was associated with short progression-free survival. In conclusion, the cytogenetic profile of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia appears to differ from that of other B-cell lymphomas. Chromosomal abnormalities may help with diagnosis and prognostication, in conjunction with other clinical and biological characteristics.

Sci-Sat AM: Radiation Dosimetry and Practical Therapy Solutions - 06: Investigation of an absorbed dose to water formalism for a miniature low-energy x-ray source

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

Watson, Peter; Seuntjens, Jan

Purpose: We present a formalism for calculating the absorbed dose to water from a miniature x-ray source (The INTRABEAM system, Carl Zeiss), using a parallel-plate ionization chamber calibrated in terms of air-kerma. Monte Carlo calculations were performed to derive a chamber conversion factor (C{sub Q}) from reference air-kerma to dose to water for the INTRABEAM. C{sub Q} was investigated as a function of depth in water, and compared with the manufacturer’s reported value. The effect of chamber air cavity dimension tolerance was also investigated. Methods: Air-kerma (A{sub k}) from a reference beam was calculated using the EGSnrc user code cavity.more » Using egs-chamber, a model of a PTW 34013 parallel-plate ionization chamber was created according to manufacturer specifications. The dose to the chamber air cavity (D{sub gas}) was simulated both in-air (with reference beam) and in-water (with INTRABEAM source). Dose to a small water voxel (D{sub w}) was also calculated. C{sub Q} was derived from these quantities. Results: C{sub Q} was found to vary by up to 15% (1.30 vs 1.11) between chamber dimension extremes. The agreement between chamber C{sub Q} was found to improve with increasing depth in water. However, in all cases investigated, C{sub Q} was larger than the manufacturer reported value of 1.054. Conclusions: Our results show that cavity dimension tolerance has a significant effect on C{sub Q}, with differences as large as 15%. In all cases considered, C{sub Q} was found to be larger than the reported value of 1.054. This suggests that the recommended calculation underestimates the dose to water.« less

Optimization of Diamond Nucleic Acid Dye for quantitative PCR.

PubMed

Haines, Alicia M; Tobe, Shanan S; Linacre, Adrian

2016-10-01

Here, we evaluate Diamond Nucleic Acid Dye (DD) for use in quantitative PCR (qPCR) applications. Although DD is a commercially available stain for detection of DNA separated by gel electrophoresis, its use as a detection dye in qPCR has yet to be described. To determine if DD can be used in qPCR, we investigated its inhibitory effects on qPCR at concentrations ranging 0.1-2.5×. Serial dilution of DNA was used to determine the efficiency, sensitivity, and linearity of DD-generated qPCR data in comparison to other commonly used fluorescent dyes such as SYBR Green (SG), EvaGreen (EG), and BRYT Green (BG). DD was found to be comparable with other dyes for qPCR applications, with an R2 value >0.9 and an efficiency of 0.83. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) target signals were successfully produced by DD over a DNA dilution range of ~28 ng- 0.28 pg, demonstrating comparable sensitivity to the other dyes investigated. Cq values obtained using DD were lower than those using EG by almost 7 cycles. We conclude that Diamond Nucleic Acid Dye is a cheaper, less toxic alternative for qPCR applications.

A study of ground motion attenuation in the Southern Great Basin, Nevada-California, using several techniques for estimates of Qs , log A 0, and coda Q

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, A. M.; Harmsen, S. C.; Herrmann, R. B.; Meremonte, M. E.

1987-04-01

As a first step in the assessment of the earthquake hazard in the southern Great Basin of Nevada-California, this study evaluates the attenuation of peak vertical ground motions using a number of different regression models applied to unfiltered and band-pass-filtered ground motion data. These data are concentrated in the distance range 10-250 km. The regression models include parameters to account for geometric spreading, anelastic attenuation with a power law frequency dependence, source size, and station site effects. We find that the data are most consistent with an essentially frequency-independent Q and a geometric spreading coefficient less than 1.0. Regressions are also performed on vertical component peak amplitudes reexpressed as pseudo-Wood-Anderson peak amplitude estimates (PWA), permitting comparison with earlier work that used Wood-Anderson (WA) data from California. Both of these results show that Q values in this region are high relative to California, having values in the range 700-900 over the frequency band 1-10 Hz. Comparison of ML magnitudes from stations BRK and PAS for earthquakes in the southern Great Basin shows that these two stations report magnitudes with differences that are distance dependent. This bias suggests that the Richter log A0 curve appropriate to California is too steep for earthquakes occurring in southern Nevada, a result implicitly supporting our finding that Q values are higher than those in California. The PWA attenuation functions derived from our data also indicate that local magnitudes reported by California observatories for earthquakes in this region may be overestimated by as much as 0.8 magnitude units in some cases. Both of these results will have an effect on the assessment of the earthquake hazard in this region. The robustness of our regression technique to extract the correct geometric spreading coefficient n and anelastic attenuation Q is tested by applying the technique to simulated data computed with given n and Q values. Using a stochastic modeling technique, we generate suites of seismograms for the distance range 10-200 km and for both WA and short-period vertical component seismometers. Regressions on the peak amplitudes from these records show that our regression model extracts values of n and Q approximately equal to the input values for either low-Q California attenuation or high-Q southern Nevada attenuation. Regressions on stochastically modeled WA and PWA amplitudes also provides a method of evaluating differences in magnitudes from WA and PWA amplitudes due to recording instrument response characteristics alone. These results indicate a difference between MLWA and MLPWA equal to 0.15 magnitude units, which we term the residual instrument correction. In contrast to the peak amplitude results, coda Q determinations using the single scatterer theory indicate that Qc values are dependent on source type and are proportional to ƒp, where p = 0.8 to 1.0. This result suggests that a difference exists between attenuation mechanisms for direct waves and backscattered waves in this region.

The fracture of boron fibre-reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, M. A.; Welch, D.; Jollay, J.

1979-01-01

The fracture of 6061 aluminium alloy reinforced with unidirectional and cross-plied 0/90 deg, 0/90/+ or - 45 deg boron fibres has been investigated. The results have been described in terms of a critical stress intensity, K(Q). Critical stress intensity factors were obtained by substituting the failure stress and the initial crack length into the appropriate expression for K(Q). Values were obtained that depended on the dimensions of the specimens. It was therefore concluded that, for the size of specimen tested, the values of K(Q) did not reflect any basic materials property.

Examination of the possible enhancement of neutrinoless double-electron capture in 78Kr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bustabad, S.; Bollen, G.; Brodeur, M.; Lincoln, D. L.; Novario, S. J.; Redshaw, M.; Ringle, R.; Schwarz, S.

2013-09-01

Penning-trap mass spectrometry was used at the Low-Energy Beam and Ion Trap (LEBIT) facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) to investigate 78Kr, a candidate for resonantly enhanced neutrinoless double-electron capture (0νECEC). The newly determined Q value of 2847.75 (27) keV is 1.4 keV greater than the value from the most recent atomic mass evaluation [Chin. Phys. C1674-113710.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003 36, 1603 (2012)], a change of two sigma, and the uncertainty has been reduced by a factor of three. The change in the Q value shifts allowed 0νECEC in 78Kr further from resonant enhancement. With the improved determination of the Q value, all known excited states can now be confidently excluded from possible 78Se candidates that could lead to resonantly enhanced 0νECEC.

Sensitivity of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to several new insecticides in China: effects of insecticide type and whitefly species, strain, and stage.

PubMed

Xie, Wen; Liu, Yang; Wang, Shaoli; Wu, Qingjun; Pan, Huipeng; Yang, Xin; Guo, Litao; Zhang, Youjun

2014-01-01

Whitefly biotypes B and Q are the two most damaging members of the Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) species complex. Control of B. tabaci (and especially of Q) has been impaired by resistance to commonly used insecticides. To find new insecticides for B. tabaci management in China, we investigated the sensitivity of eggs, larvae, and adults of laboratory strains of B and Q (named Lab-B and Lab-Q) and field strains of Q to several insecticides. For eggs, larvae, and adults of B. tabaci and for six insecticides (cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, pyriproxyfen, buprofezin, acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam), LC50 values were higher for Lab-Q than for Lab-B; avermectin LC50 values, however, were low for adults of both Lab-Q and Lab-B. Based on the laboratory results, insecticides were selected to test against eggs, larvae, and adults of four field strains of B. tabaci Q. Although the field strains differed in their sensitivity to the insecticides, the eggs and larvae of all strains were highly sensitive to cyantraniliprole, and the adults of all strains were highly sensitive to avermectin. The eggs, larvae, and adults of B. tabaci Q were generally more resistant than those of B. tabaci B to the tested insecticides. B. tabaci Q eggs and larvae were sensitive to cyantraniliprole and pyriproxyfen, whereas B. tabaci Q adults were sensitive to avermectin. Field trials should be conducted with cyantraniliprole, pyriproxyfen, and avermectin for control of B. tabaci Q and B in China. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.

Q Values of the Superallowed {beta} Emitters {sup 26}Al{sup m}, {sup 42}Sc, and {sup 46}V and Their Impact on V{sub ud} and the Unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa Matrix

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

Eronen, T.; Elomaa, V.; Hager, U.

2006-12-08

The {beta}-decay Q{sub EC} values of the superallowed beta emitters {sup 26}Al{sup m}, {sup 42}Sc, and {sup 46}V have been measured with a Penning trap to a relative precision of better than 8x10{sup -9}. Our result for {sup 46}V, 7052.72(31) keV, confirms a recent measurement that differed from the previously accepted reaction-based Q{sub EC} value. However, our results for {sup 26}Al{sup m} and {sup 42}Sc, 4232.83(13) keV and 6426.13(21) keV, are consistent with previous reaction-based values. By eliminating the possibility of a systematic difference between the two techniques, this result demonstrates that no significant shift in the deduced value ofmore » V{sub ud} should be anticipated.« less

Effect of the initial configuration for user-object reputation systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ying-Ying; Guo, Qiang; Liu, Jian-Guo; Zhang, Yi-Cheng

2018-07-01

Identifying the user reputation accurately is significant for the online social systems. For different fair rating parameter q, by changing the parameter values α and β of the beta probability distribution (RBPD) for ranking online user reputation, we investigate the effect of the initial configuration of the RBPD method for the online user ranking performance. Experimental results for the Netflix and MovieLens data sets show that when the parameter q equals to 0.8 and 0.9, the accuracy value AUC would increase about 4.5% and 3.5% for the Netflix data set, while the AUC value increases about 1.5% for the MovieLens data set when the parameter q is 0.9. Furthermore, we investigate the evolution characteristics of the AUC value for different α and β, and find that as the rating records increase, the AUC value increases about 0.2 and 0.16 for the Netflix and MovieLens data sets, indicating that online users' reputations will increase as they rate more and more objects.

Uncertainty in action-value estimation affects both action choice and learning rate of the choice behaviors of rats

PubMed Central

Funamizu, Akihiro; Ito, Makoto; Doya, Kenji; Kanzaki, Ryohei; Takahashi, Hirokazu

2012-01-01

The estimation of reward outcomes for action candidates is essential for decision making. In this study, we examined whether and how the uncertainty in reward outcome estimation affects the action choice and learning rate. We designed a choice task in which rats selected either the left-poking or right-poking hole and received a reward of a food pellet stochastically. The reward probabilities of the left and right holes were chosen from six settings (high, 100% vs. 66%; mid, 66% vs. 33%; low, 33% vs. 0% for the left vs. right holes, and the opposites) in every 20–549 trials. We used Bayesian Q-learning models to estimate the time course of the probability distribution of action values and tested if they better explain the behaviors of rats than standard Q-learning models that estimate only the mean of action values. Model comparison by cross-validation revealed that a Bayesian Q-learning model with an asymmetric update for reward and non-reward outcomes fit the choice time course of the rats best. In the action-choice equation of the Bayesian Q-learning model, the estimated coefficient for the variance of action value was positive, meaning that rats were uncertainty seeking. Further analysis of the Bayesian Q-learning model suggested that the uncertainty facilitated the effective learning rate. These results suggest that the rats consider uncertainty in action-value estimation and that they have an uncertainty-seeking action policy and uncertainty-dependent modulation of the effective learning rate. PMID:22487046

Integrating qPLM and biomechanical test data with an anisotropic fiber distribution model and predictions of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 regulation of articular cartilage fiber modulus

PubMed Central

Stender, Michael E.; Raub, Christopher B.; Yamauchi, Kevin A.; Shirazi, Reza; Vena, Pasquale; Sah, Robert L.; Hazelwood, Scott J.; Klisch, Stephen M.

2013-01-01

A continuum mixture model with distinct collagen (COL) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) elastic constituents was developed for the solid matrix of immature bovine articular cartilage. A continuous COL fiber volume fraction distribution function and a true COL fiber elastic modulus (Ef) were used. Quantitative polarized light microscopy (qPLM) methods were developed to account for the relatively high cell density of immature articular cartilage and used with a novel algorithm that constructs a 3D distribution function from 2D qPLM data. For specimens untreated and cultured in vitro, most model parameters were specified from qPLM analysis and biochemical assay results; consequently, Ef was predicted using an optimization to measured mechanical properties in uniaxial tension and unconfined compression. Analysis of qPLM data revealed a highly anisotropic fiber distribution, with principal fiber orientation parallel to the surface layer. For untreated samples, predicted Ef values were 175 and 422 MPa for superficial (S) and middle (M) zone layers, respectively. TGF-β1 treatment was predicted to increase and decrease Ef values for the S and M layers to 281 and 309 MPa, respectively. IGF-1 treatment was predicted to decrease Ef values for the S and M layers to 22 and 26 MPa, respectively. A novel finding was that distinct native depth-dependent fiber modulus properties were modulated to nearly homogeneous values by TGF-β1 and IGF-1 treatments, with modulated values strongly dependent on treatment. PMID:23266906

Hybrid Defect Phase Transition: Renormalization Group and Monte Carlo Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaufman, Miron; Diep, H. T.

2010-03-01

For the q-state Potts model with 2 < q <= 4 on the square lattice with a defect line, the order parameter on the defect line jumps discontinuously from zero to a nonzero value while the defect energy varies continuously with the temperature at the critical temperature. Monte-Carlo simulations (H. T. Diep, M. Kaufman, Phys Rev E 2009) of the q-state Potts model on a square lattice with a line of defects verify the renormalization group prediction (M. Kaufman, R. B. Griffiths, Phys Rev B 1982) on the occurrence of the hybrid transition on the defect line. This is interesting since for those q values the bulk transition is continuous. This hybrid (continuous - discontinuous) defect transition is induced by the infinite range correlations at the bulk critical point.

Context transfer in reinforcement learning using action-value functions.

PubMed

Mousavi, Amin; Nadjar Araabi, Babak; Nili Ahmadabadi, Majid

2014-01-01

This paper discusses the notion of context transfer in reinforcement learning tasks. Context transfer, as defined in this paper, implies knowledge transfer between source and target tasks that share the same environment dynamics and reward function but have different states or action spaces. In other words, the agents learn the same task while using different sensors and actuators. This requires the existence of an underlying common Markov decision process (MDP) to which all the agents' MDPs can be mapped. This is formulated in terms of the notion of MDP homomorphism. The learning framework is Q-learning. To transfer the knowledge between these tasks, the feature space is used as a translator and is expressed as a partial mapping between the state-action spaces of different tasks. The Q-values learned during the learning process of the source tasks are mapped to the sets of Q-values for the target task. These transferred Q-values are merged together and used to initialize the learning process of the target task. An interval-based approach is used to represent and merge the knowledge of the source tasks. Empirical results show that the transferred initialization can be beneficial to the learning process of the target task.

Context Transfer in Reinforcement Learning Using Action-Value Functions

PubMed Central

Mousavi, Amin; Nadjar Araabi, Babak; Nili Ahmadabadi, Majid

2014-01-01

This paper discusses the notion of context transfer in reinforcement learning tasks. Context transfer, as defined in this paper, implies knowledge transfer between source and target tasks that share the same environment dynamics and reward function but have different states or action spaces. In other words, the agents learn the same task while using different sensors and actuators. This requires the existence of an underlying common Markov decision process (MDP) to which all the agents' MDPs can be mapped. This is formulated in terms of the notion of MDP homomorphism. The learning framework is Q-learning. To transfer the knowledge between these tasks, the feature space is used as a translator and is expressed as a partial mapping between the state-action spaces of different tasks. The Q-values learned during the learning process of the source tasks are mapped to the sets of Q-values for the target task. These transferred Q-values are merged together and used to initialize the learning process of the target task. An interval-based approach is used to represent and merge the knowledge of the source tasks. Empirical results show that the transferred initialization can be beneficial to the learning process of the target task. PMID:25610457

β-hairpin-mediated nucleation of polyglutamine amyloid formation

PubMed Central

Kar, Karunakar; Hoop, Cody L.; Drombosky, Kenneth W.; Baker, Matthew A.; Kodali, Ravindra; Arduini, Irene; van der Wel, Patrick C. A.; Horne, W. Seth; Wetzel, Ronald

2013-01-01

The conformational preferences of polyglutamine (polyQ) sequences are of major interest because of their central importance in the expanded CAG repeat diseases that include Huntington’s disease (HD). Here we explore the response of various biophysical parameters to the introduction of β-hairpin motifs within polyQ sequences. These motifs (trpzip, disulfide, D-Pro-Gly, Coulombic attraction, L-Pro-Gly) enhance formation rates and stabilities of amyloid fibrils with degrees of effectiveness well-correlated with their known abilities to enhance β-hairpin formation in other peptides. These changes led to decreases in the critical nucleus for amyloid formation from a value of n* = 4 for a simple, unbroken Q23 sequence to approximate unitary n* values for similar length polyQs containing β-hairpin motifs. At the same time, the morphologies, secondary structures, and bioactivities of the resulting fibrils were essentially unchanged from simple polyQ aggregates. In particular, the signature pattern of SSNMR 13C Gln resonances that appears to be unique to polyQ amyloid is replicated exactly in fibrils from a β-hairpin polyQ. Importantly, while β-hairpin motifs do produce enhancements in the equilibrium constant for nucleation in aggregation reactions, these Kn* values remain quite low (~ 10−10) and there is no evidence for significant embellishment of β-structure within the monomer ensemble. The results indicate an important role for β-turns in the nucleation mechanism and structure of polyQ amyloid and have implications for the nature of the toxic species in expanded CAG repeat diseases. PMID:23353826

Critical weight statistics of the random energy model and of the directed polymer on the Cayley tree

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monthus, Cécile; Garel, Thomas

2007-05-01

We consider the critical point of two mean-field disordered models: (i) the random energy model (REM), introduced by Derrida as a mean-field spin-glass model of N spins and (ii) the directed polymer of length N on a Cayley Tree (DPCT) with random bond energies. Both models are known to exhibit a freezing transition between a high-temperature phase where the entropy is extensive and a low-temperature phase of finite entropy, where the weight statistics coincides with the weight statistics of Lévy sums with index μ=T/Tc<1 . In this paper, we study the weight statistics at criticality via the entropy S=-∑wilnwi and the generalized moments Yk=∑wik , where the wi are the Boltzmann weights of the 2N configurations. In the REM, we find that the critical weight statistics is governed by the finite-size exponent ν=2 : the entropy scales as Smacr N(Tc)˜N1/2 , the typical values elnYk¯ decay as N-k/2 , and the disorder-averaged values Yk¯ are governed by rare events and decay as N-1/2 for any k>1 . For the DPCT, we find that the entropy scales similarly as Smacr N(Tc)˜N1/2 , whereas another exponent ν'=1 governs the Yk statistics: the typical values elnYk¯ decay as N-k , and the disorder-averaged values Yk¯ decay as N-1 for any k>1 . As a consequence, the asymptotic probability distribution π¯N=∞(q) of the overlap q , in addition to the delta function δ(q) , which bears the whole normalization, contains an isolated point at q=1 , as a memory of the delta peak (1-T/Tc)δ(q-1) of the low-temperature phase T

Multi Objective Controller Design for Linear System via Optimal Interpolation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ozbay, Hitay

1996-01-01

We propose a methodology for the design of a controller which satisfies a set of closed-loop objectives simultaneously. The set of objectives consists of: (1) pole placement, (2) decoupled command tracking of step inputs at steady-state, and (3) minimization of step response transients with respect to envelope specifications. We first obtain a characterization of all controllers placing the closed-loop poles in a prescribed region of the complex plane. In this characterization, the free parameter matrix Q(s) is to be determined to attain objectives (2) and (3). Objective (2) is expressed as determining a Pareto optimal solution to a vector valued optimization problem. The solution of this problem is obtained by transforming it to a scalar convex optimization problem. This solution determines Q(O) and the remaining freedom in choosing Q(s) is used to satisfy objective (3). We write Q(s) = (l/v(s))bar-Q(s) for a prescribed polynomial v(s). Bar-Q(s) is a polynomial matrix which is arbitrary except that Q(O) and the order of bar-Q(s) are fixed. Obeying these constraints bar-Q(s) is now to be 'shaped' to minimize the step response characteristics of specific input/output pairs according to the maximum envelope violations. This problem is expressed as a vector valued optimization problem using the concept of Pareto optimality. We then investigate a scalar optimization problem associated with this vector valued problem and show that it is convex. The organization of the report is as follows. The next section includes some definitions and preliminary lemmas. We then give the problem statement which is followed by a section including a detailed development of the design procedure. We then consider an aircraft control example. The last section gives some concluding remarks. The Appendix includes the proofs of technical lemmas, printouts of computer programs, and figures.

Monte Carlo calculations of k{sub Q}, the beam quality conversion factor

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

Muir, B. R.; Rogers, D. W. O.

2010-11-15

Purpose: To use EGSnrc Monte Carlo simulations to directly calculate beam quality conversion factors, k{sub Q}, for 32 cylindrical ionization chambers over a range of beam qualities and to quantify the effect of systematic uncertainties on Monte Carlo calculations of k{sub Q}. These factors are required to use the TG-51 or TRS-398 clinical dosimetry protocols for calibrating external radiotherapy beams. Methods: Ionization chambers are modeled either from blueprints or manufacturers' user's manuals. The dose-to-air in the chamber is calculated using the EGSnrc user-code egs{sub c}hamber using 11 different tabulated clinical photon spectra for the incident beams. The dose to amore » small volume of water is also calculated in the absence of the chamber at the midpoint of the chamber on its central axis. Using a simple equation, k{sub Q} is calculated from these quantities under the assumption that W/e is constant with energy and compared to TG-51 protocol and measured values. Results: Polynomial fits to the Monte Carlo calculated k{sub Q} factors as a function of beam quality expressed as %dd(10){sub x} and TPR{sub 10}{sup 20} are given for each ionization chamber. Differences are explained between Monte Carlo calculated values and values from the TG-51 protocol or calculated using the computer program used for TG-51 calculations. Systematic uncertainties in calculated k{sub Q} values are analyzed and amount to a maximum of one standard deviation uncertainty of 0.99% if one assumes that photon cross-section uncertainties are uncorrelated and 0.63% if they are assumed correlated. The largest components of the uncertainty are the constancy of W/e and the uncertainty in the cross-section for photons in water. Conclusions: It is now possible to calculate k{sub Q} directly using Monte Carlo simulations. Monte Carlo calculations for most ionization chambers give results which are comparable to TG-51 values. Discrepancies can be explained using individual Monte Carlo calculations of various correction factors which are more accurate than previously used values. For small ionization chambers with central electrodes composed of high-Z materials, the effect of the central electrode is much larger than that for the aluminum electrodes in Farmer chambers.« less

NUCLEAR AND HEAVY ION PHYSICS: α-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei and general predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Jian-Min; Zhang, Hong-Fei; Wang, Yan-Zhao; Zuo, Wei; Su, Xin-Ning; Li, Jun-Qing

2009-08-01

The generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) and the cluster model have been employed to calculate the α-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei (SHN) using the experimental α-decay Q values. The results of the cluster model are slightly poorer than those from the GLDM if experimental Q values are used. The prediction powers of these two models with theoretical Q values from Audi et al. (QAudi) and Muntian et al. (QM) have been tested to find that the cluster model with QAudi and QM could provide reliable results for Z > 112 but the GLDM with QAudi for Z <= 112. The half-lives of some still unknown nuclei are predicted by these two models and these results may be useful for future experimental assignment and identification.

Atomic mass and double-β-decay Q value of 48Ca

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redshaw, Matthew; Bollen, Georg; Brodeur, Maxime; Bustabad, Scott; Lincoln, David L.; Novario, Samuel J.; Ringle, Ryan; Schwarz, Stefan

2012-10-01

The possibility of detecting neutrinoless double-β-decay (0νββ-decay) in experiments that are currently in operation or under development provides the exciting opportunity to determine the Dirac or Majorana nature of the neutrino and its absolute mass scale. An important datum for interpreting 0νββ-decay experimental results is the Q value of the decay. Using Penning trap mass spectrometry we have measured the atomic mass of 48Ca to be M[48Ca] = 47.952 522 76(21) u which, combined with the mass of 48Ti evaluated by Audi [Nucl. Phys. ANUPABL0375-947410.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.003 729, 337 (2003)], provides a new determination of the 48Ca ββ-decay Q value: Qββ = 4262.96(84) keV.

Nuclear half-lives for {alpha}-radioactivity of elements with 100 {<=} Z {<=} 130

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

Chowdhury, P. Roy; Samanta, C.; Physics Department, Gottwald Science Center, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173

2008-11-15

Theoretical estimates for the half-lives of about 1700 isotopes of heavy elements with 100 {<=} Z {<=} 130 are tabulated using theoretical Q-values. The quantum mechanical tunneling probabilities are calculated within a WKB framework using microscopic nuclear potentials. The microscopic nucleus-nucleus potentials are obtained by folding the densities of interacting nuclei with a density-dependent M3Y effective nucleon-nucleon interaction. The {alpha}-decay half-lives calculated in this formalism using the experimental Q-values were found to be in good agreement over a wide range of experimental data spanning about 20 orders of magnitude. The theoretical Q-values used for the present calculations are extracted frommore » three different mass estimates viz. Myers-Swiatecki, Muntian-Hofmann-Patyk-Sobiczewski, and Koura-Tachibana-Uno-Yamada.« less

Application of FISH 7q in MDS patients without monosomy 7 or 7q deletion by conventional G-banding cytogenetics: does -7/7q- detection by FISH have prognostic value?

PubMed

Ademà, Vera; Hernández, Jesús María; Abáigar, María; Lumbreras, Eva; Such, Esperanza; Calull, Anna; Dominguez, Esther; Arenillas, Leonor; Mallo, Mar; Cervera, José; Marugán, Isabel; Tormo, Mar; García, Francisca; González, Teresa; Luño, Elisa; Sanzo, Carmen; Martín, María Luisa; Fernández, Manuela; Costa, Dolors; Blázquez, Beatriz; Barreña, Beatriz; Marco, Fernando; Batlle, Ana; Buño, Ismael; Martínez-Laperche, Carolina; Noriega, Víctor; Collado, Rosa; Ivars, David; Carbonell, Félix; Vallcorba, Isabel; Melero, Josefa; Delgado, Elena; Vargas, María Teresa; Grau, Javier; Salido, Marta; Espinet, Blanca; Melero, Carme; Florensa, Lourdes; Pedro, Carmen; Solé, Francesc

2013-04-01

Chromosomal abnormalities are detected in 40-60% of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). This study used the FISH technique in 773 patients with de novo MDS without evidence of monosomy 7 (-7) or 7q deletion (7q-) by conventional G-banding cytogenetics (CC) to analyze their prognostic impact by FISH alone. FISH detected -7/7q- in 5.2% of patients. Presence of -7/7q- was associated with shorter overall survival than absence of such aberrations. Our results suggest that FISH 7q could be beneficial in patients with intermediate WHO morphologic risk stratification and no evidence of -7/7q- by CC. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BJUT at TREC 2014 Temporal Summarization Track

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

information retrieval, indexing and relevancy rankings. In VSM, sentences and queries are represented as vectors: 1, 2, ,( , ,..., ) j j j t jd w w w...di = (w1, j , w2, j , · · · , wt, j ) (1) Each dimension corresponds to a separate term. If a t - m occurs in the sentence, its value in the vector is non...by the cost function Σi|I(Xi)− ∑ j WijI(Xi;Xj)|2 (5) Table 1: Experimental Result. EG C F Q0 Q1 AVG Q0 Q1 AVG Q0 Q1 AVG Topic 11 0.0504 0.0396 0.0358

S-wave attenuation of the shallow sediments in the North China basin based on borehole seismograms of local earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Sheng; Li, Zhiwei

2018-06-01

S-wave velocity and attenuation structures of shallow sediments play important roles in accurate prediction of strong ground motion. However, it is more difficult to investigate the attenuation than velocity structures. In this study, we developed a new approach for estimating frequency-dependent S-wave attenuation (Q_S^{ - 1}) structures of shallow sediments based on multiple time window analysis of borehole seismograms from local earthquakes. Multiple time windows for separating direct and surface-reflected S-waves in local earthquake waveforms at borehole stations are selected with a global optimization scheme. With respect to different time windows, the transfer functions between direct and surface-reflected S-waves are achieved with a weighted averaging scheme, based on which frequency dependent Q_S^{ - 1} values are obtained. Synthetic tests suggest that the proposed method can restore robust and reliableQ_S^{ - 1} values, especially when the dataset of local earthquakes is not abundant. We utilize this method for local earthquake waveforms at 14 borehole seismic stations in the North China basin, and obtain Q_S^{ - 1} values in 2 ˜ 10 Hz frequency band, as well as average {V_P}, {V_S} and {V_P}/{{}}{V_S} ratio for shallow sediments deep to a few hundred meters. Results suggest that Q_S^{ - 1} values are to 0.01˜0.06, and generally decrease with frequency. The average attenuation structure of shallow sediments within the depth of a few hundred meters beneath 14 borehole stations in the North China basin can be modeled as Q_S^{ - 1} = 0.056{f^{ - 0.61}}. It is generally consistent with the attenuation structure of sedimentary basins in other areas, such as Mississippi Embayment sediments in the United States and Sendai basin in Japan.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Intravenous Levofloxacin at 750 Milligrams and Various Doses of Metronidazole in Healthy Adult Subjects

PubMed Central

Sprandel, Kelly A.; Schriever, Christopher A.; Pendland, Susan L.; Quinn, John P.; Gotfried, Mark H.; Hackett, Suzanne; Graham, Mary Beth; Danziger, Larry H.; Rodvold, Keith A.

2004-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the steady-state pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of intravenous levofloxacin at 750 mg administered once daily combined with three different dosages of intravenous metronidazole (500 mg every 8 h [q8h], 1,000 mg q24h, and 1,500 mg q24h). Eighteen healthy adult subjects received all three combinations in a randomized, crossover fashion. Serial blood and urine samples were collected on the third day of each study period. The 24-h areas under the inhibitory (AUIC0-24) and bactericidal (AUBC0-24) curves of these three combination regimens were determined against clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, and Escherichia coli. The mean concentrations of levofloxacin were not different between study periods and were similar to those previously published. The mean (± standard deviation) areas under the metronidazole plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) for 1,500-mg q24h (338 ± 105 mg · h/liter) and 500-mg q8h (356 ± 68 mg · h/liter) regimens were not different (P > 0.05), but both were significantly higher than the 1,000-mg q24h AUC0-24 (P < 0.05, 227 ± 57 mg · h/liter). Mean (± standard deviation) total body clearance and renal clearance values were similar among the 500-mg q8h, 1,000-mg q24, and 1,500-mg q24h regimens (62 ± 7, 67 ± 13, and 67 ± 14 and 11 ± 3, 12 ± 2, and 12 ± 5 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively). Levofloxacin at 750 mg q24h plus metronidazole at 500 mg q8h or 1,500 mg q24h resulted in similar AUIC0-24 and AUBC0-24 values with one exception: the AUIC0-24 for the 1,500-mg q24h regimen against B. thetaiotamicron was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the other regimens. Overall, the combination of levofloxacin at 750 mg once daily and metronidazole at 500 mg q8h or 1,500 mg q24h appeared to have greater AUIC0-24 and AUBC0-24 values than did the 1,000-mg q24h regimen. All combination regimens of levofloxacin and metronidazole were well tolerated, and no serious drug-related adverse effects were reported. The pharmacokinetic, safety, and pharmacodynamic data from our study suggest that a once-daily regimen of intravenous levofloxacin at 750 mg and metronidazole at 1,500 mg warrants further clinical investigation. PMID:15561831

Quantifying biodegradable organic matter in polluted water on the basis of coulombic yield.

PubMed

Liu, Yuan; Tuo, Ai-Xue; Jin, Xiao-Jun; Li, Xiang-Zhong; Liu, Hong

2018-01-01

Biodegradable organic matter (BOM) in polluted water plays a key role in various biological purification technologies. The five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ) index is often used to determine the amount of BOM. However, standard BOD 5 assays, centering on dissolved oxygen detection, have long testing times and often show severe deviation (error ≥ 15%). In the present study, the coulombic yield (Q) of a bio-electrochemical degradation process was determined, and a new index for BOM quantification was proposed. The Q value represents the quantity of transferred electrons from BOM to oxygen, and the corresponding index was defined as BOM Q . By revealing Q-BOM stoichiometric relationship, we were able to perform a BOM Q assay in a microbial fuel cell involved technical platform. Experimental results verified that 5-500mgL -1 of BOM Q toward artificial wastewater samples could be directly obtained without calibration in several to dozens of hours, leaving less than 5% error. Moreover, the BOM Q assay remained accurate and precise in a wide range of optimized operational conditions. A ratio of approximately 1.0 between the values of BOM Q and BOD 5 toward artificial and real wastewater samples was observed. The rapidity, accuracy, and precision of the measurement results are supported by a solid theoretical foundation. Thus, BOM Q is a promising water quality index for quantifying BOM in polluted water. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-varying q-deformed dark energy interacts with dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dil, Emre; Kolay, Erdinç

We propose a new model for studying the dark constituents of the universe by regarding the dark energy as a q-deformed scalar field interacting with the dark matter, in the framework of standard general relativity. Here we assume that the number of particles in each mode of the q-deformed scalar field varies in time by the particle creation and annihilation. We first describe the q-deformed scalar field dark energy quantum-field theoretically, then construct the action and the dynamical structure of these interacting dark sectors, in order to study the dynamics of the model. We perform the phase space analysis of the model to confirm and interpret our proposal by searching the stable attractor solutions implying the late-time accelerating phase of the universe. We then obtain the result that when interaction and equation-of-state parameter of the dark matter evolve from the present day values into a particular value, the dark energy turns out to be a q-deformed scalar field.

Estimation of influential points in any data set from coefficient of determination and its leave-one-out cross-validated counterpart.

PubMed

Tóth, Gergely; Bodai, Zsolt; Héberger, Károly

2013-10-01

Coefficient of determination (R (2)) and its leave-one-out cross-validated analogue (denoted by Q (2) or R cv (2) ) are the most frequantly published values to characterize the predictive performance of models. In this article we use R (2) and Q (2) in a reversed aspect to determine uncommon points, i.e. influential points in any data sets. The term (1 - Q (2))/(1 - R (2)) corresponds to the ratio of predictive residual sum of squares and the residual sum of squares. The ratio correlates to the number of influential points in experimental and random data sets. We propose an (approximate) F test on (1 - Q (2))/(1 - R (2)) term to quickly pre-estimate the presence of influential points in training sets of models. The test is founded upon the routinely calculated Q (2) and R (2) values and warns the model builders to verify the training set, to perform influence analysis or even to change to robust modeling.

Mid-infrared ultra-high-Q resonators based on fluoride crystalline materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecaplain, C.; Javerzac-Galy, C.; Gorodetsky, M. L.; Kippenberg, T. J.

2016-11-01

The unavailability of highly transparent materials in the mid-infrared has been the main limitation in the development of ultra-sensitive molecular sensors or cavity-based spectroscopy applications. Whispering gallery mode microresonators have attained ultra-high-quality (Q) factor resonances in the near-infrared and visible. Here we report ultra-high Q factors in the mid-infrared using polished alkaline earth metal fluoride crystals. Using an uncoated chalcogenide tapered fibre as a high-ideality coupler in the mid-infrared, we study via cavity ringdown technique the losses of BaF2, CaF2, MgF2 and SrF2 microresonators. We show that MgF2 is limited by multiphonon absorption by studying the temperature dependence of the Q factor. In contrast, in SrF2 and BaF2 the lower multiphonon absorption leads to ultra-high Q factors at 4.5 μm. These values correspond to an optical finesse of , the highest value achieved for any type of mid-infrared resonator to date.

Mid-infrared ultra-high-Q resonators based on fluoride crystalline materials

PubMed Central

Lecaplain, C.; Javerzac-Galy, C.; Gorodetsky, M. L.; Kippenberg, T. J.

2016-01-01

The unavailability of highly transparent materials in the mid-infrared has been the main limitation in the development of ultra-sensitive molecular sensors or cavity-based spectroscopy applications. Whispering gallery mode microresonators have attained ultra-high-quality (Q) factor resonances in the near-infrared and visible. Here we report ultra-high Q factors in the mid-infrared using polished alkaline earth metal fluoride crystals. Using an uncoated chalcogenide tapered fibre as a high-ideality coupler in the mid-infrared, we study via cavity ringdown technique the losses of BaF2, CaF2, MgF2 and SrF2 microresonators. We show that MgF2 is limited by multiphonon absorption by studying the temperature dependence of the Q factor. In contrast, in SrF2 and BaF2 the lower multiphonon absorption leads to ultra-high Q factors at 4.5 μm. These values correspond to an optical finesse of , the highest value achieved for any type of mid-infrared resonator to date. PMID:27869119

Mid-infrared ultra-high-Q resonators based on fluoride crystalline materials.

PubMed

Lecaplain, C; Javerzac-Galy, C; Gorodetsky, M L; Kippenberg, T J

2016-11-21

The unavailability of highly transparent materials in the mid-infrared has been the main limitation in the development of ultra-sensitive molecular sensors or cavity-based spectroscopy applications. Whispering gallery mode microresonators have attained ultra-high-quality (Q) factor resonances in the near-infrared and visible. Here we report ultra-high Q factors in the mid-infrared using polished alkaline earth metal fluoride crystals. Using an uncoated chalcogenide tapered fibre as a high-ideality coupler in the mid-infrared, we study via cavity ringdown technique the losses of BaF 2 , CaF 2 , MgF 2 and SrF 2 microresonators. We show that MgF 2 is limited by multiphonon absorption by studying the temperature dependence of the Q factor. In contrast, in SrF 2 and BaF 2 the lower multiphonon absorption leads to ultra-high Q factors at 4.5 μm. These values correspond to an optical finesse of , the highest value achieved for any type of mid-infrared resonator to date.

Phenomenological extraction of two-photon exchange amplitudes from elastic electron-proton scattering cross section data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qattan, I. A.

2017-05-01

Background: The inconsistency in the results obtained from the Rosenbluth separation method and the high-Q2 recoil polarization results on the ratio μpGEp/GMp implies a systematic difference between the two techniques. Several studies suggest that missing higher-order radiative corrections to elastic electron-proton scattering cross section σR(ɛ ,Q2) and in particular hard two-photon-exchange (TPE) contributions could account for the discrepancy. Purpose: In this work, I improve on and extend to low and high Q2 values the extractions of the ɛ dependence of the real parts of the TPE amplitudes relative to the magnetic form factor, as well as the ratio Pl/PlBorn(ɛ ,Q2) by using world data on σR(ɛ ,Q2) with an emphasis on precise new data covering the low-momentum region which is sensitive to the large-scale structure of the nucleon. Method: I combine cross section and polarization measurements of elastic electron-proton scattering to extract the TPE amplitudes. Because the recoil polarization data were confirmed "experimentally" to be essentially independent of ɛ , I constrain the ratio Pt/Pl(ɛ ,Q2) to its ɛ -independent term (Born value) by setting the TPE contributions to zero. This allows for the amplitude YM(ɛ ,Q2) and σR(ɛ ,Q2) to be expressed in terms of the remaining two amplitudes YE(ɛ ,Q2) and Y3(ɛ ,Q2) which in turn are parametrized as second-order polynomials in ɛ and Q2 to reserve as possible the linearity of σR(ɛ ,Q2) as well as to account for possible nonlinearities in the TPE amplitudes. Furthermore, I impose the Regge limit which ensures the vanishing of the TPE contributions to σR(ɛ ,Q2) and the TPE amplitudes in the limit ɛ →1 . Results: I provide simple parametrizations of the TPE amplitudes, along with an estimate of the fit uncertainties. The extracted TPE amplitudes are compared with previous phenomenological extractions and TPE calculations. The Pl/PlBorn ratio is extracted by using the new parametrizations of the TPE amplitudes and compared to previous extractions, TPE calculations, and direct measurements at Q2=2.50(GeV /c ) 2 . Conclusions: The extracted TPE amplitudes are on the few-percentage-points level and behave roughly linearly with increasing Q2 where they become nonlinear at high Q2. Contrary to YM, which is influenced mainly by elastic contributions, I find YE to be influenced by inelastic contributions at large Q2 values. While YE and Y3 differ in magnitude, they have opposite sign and tend to partially cancel each other. This suggests that the TPE correction to σR(ɛ ,Q2) is driven mainly by YM and to a lesser extent by Y3 in agreement with previous phenomenological extractions and hadronic TPE calculations.

Temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon mineralization along an elevation gradient in the Wuyi Mountains, China.

PubMed

Wang, Guobing; Zhou, Yan; Xu, Xia; Ruan, Honghua; Wang, Jiashe

2013-01-01

Soil organic carbon (SOC) actively participates in the global carbon (C) cycle. Despite much research, however, our understanding of the temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization is still very limited. To investigate the responses of SOC mineralization to temperature, we sampled surface soils (0-10 cm) from evergreen broad-leaf forest (EBF), coniferous forest (CF), sub-alpine dwarf forest (SDF), and alpine meadow (AM) along an elevational gradient in the Wuyi Mountains, China. The soil samples were incubated at 5, 15, 25, and 35°C with constant soil moisture for 360 days. The temperature sensitivity of SOC mineralization (Q(10)) was calculated by comparing the time needed to mineralize the same amount of C at any two adjacent incubation temperatures. Results showed that the rates of SOC mineralization and the cumulative SOC mineralized during the entire incubation significantly increased with increasing incubation temperatures across the four sites. With the increasing extent of SOC being mineralized (increasing incubation time), the Q(10) values increased. Moreover, we found that both the elevational gradient and incubation temperature intervals significantly impacted Q(10) values. Q(10) values of the labile and recalcitrant organic C linearly increased with elevation. For the 5-15, 15-25, and 25-35°C intervals, surprisingly, the overall Q(10) values for the labile C did not decrease as the recalcitrant C did. Generally, our results suggest that subtropical forest soils may release more carbon than expected in a warmer climate.

Defining normal apical vaginal support: a relook at the POSST study.

PubMed

Patnam, Radhika; Edenfield, Autumn; Swift, Steven

2018-06-16

The purpose of this study is to reanalyze data from the original 2005 Pelvic Organ Support Study (POSST) data set to define normal values for apical Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) points C and D and total vaginal length (TVL) in an asymptomatic population of women. In this retrospective observational data-set review, patient were >18 years presenting for annual gynecologic exams to six centers in the United States. Data included demographics, questions about prolapse symptoms, and POP-Q points. Means and standard deviations were determined for each POP-Q point in the total population. The data set comprised 1011 women; 59 were excluded because they met criteria for having POP or were missing data. This left 948 for study. Mean age of our study population was 42 ± 14 years, and 45.6% were white, 25.1% black, and 25.2% Hispanic. One hundred fifty-six had a prior hysterectomy. Mean values with standard deviations (SD) for POP-Q values are as following: point C (vaginal cuff) -7.3 ± 1.5 cm, point C (cervix) -5.9 ± 1.5, point D -8.7 cm ± 1.5 cm, TVL (no hysterectomy) 9.8 cm ± 1.3 cm, and TVL (hysterectomy) 8.9 cm ± 1.5 cm. This data suggests normal values for POP-Q apical points in a population of patient with annual gynecological exams.

Asymptotic 3-loop heavy flavor corrections to the charged current structure functions FLW+-W-(x ,Q2) and F2W+-W-(x ,Q2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behring, A.; Blümlein, J.; Falcioni, G.; De Freitas, A.; von Manteuffel, A.; Schneider, C.

2016-12-01

We derive the massive Wilson coefficients for the heavy flavor contributions to the nonsinglet charged current deep-inelastic scattering structure functions FLW+(x ,Q2)-FLW-(x ,Q2) and F2W+(x ,Q2)-F2W-(x ,Q2) in the asymptotic region Q2≫m2 to 3-loop order in quantum chromodynamics at general values of the Mellin variable N and the momentum fraction x . Besides the heavy quark pair production, also the single heavy flavor excitation s →c contributes. Numerical results are presented for the charm quark contributions, and consequences on the unpolarized Bjorken sum rule and Adler sum rule are discussed.

A Note on a Sampling Theorem for Functions over GF(q)n Domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ukita, Yoshifumi; Saito, Tomohiko; Matsushima, Toshiyasu; Hirasawa, Shigeichi

In digital signal processing, the sampling theorem states that any real valued function ƒ can be reconstructed from a sequence of values of ƒ that are discretely sampled with a frequency at least twice as high as the maximum frequency of the spectrum of ƒ. This theorem can also be applied to functions over finite domain. Then, the range of frequencies of ƒ can be expressed in more detail by using a bounded set instead of the maximum frequency. A function whose range of frequencies is confined to a bounded set is referred to as bandlimited function. And a sampling theorem for bandlimited functions over Boolean domain has been obtained. Here, it is important to obtain a sampling theorem for bandlimited functions not only over Boolean domain (GF(q)n domain) but also over GF(q)n domain, where q is a prime power and GF(q) is Galois field of order q. For example, in experimental designs, although the model can be expressed as a linear combination of the Fourier basis functions and the levels of each factor can be represented by GF(q)n, the number of levels often take a value greater than two. However, the sampling theorem for bandlimited functions over GF(q)n domain has not been obtained. On the other hand, the sampling points are closely related to the codewords of a linear code. However, the relation between the parity check matrix of a linear code and any distinct error vectors has not been obtained, although it is necessary for understanding the meaning of the sampling theorem for bandlimited functions. In this paper, we generalize the sampling theorem for bandlimited functions over Boolean domain to a sampling theorem for bandlimited functions over GF(q)n domain. We also present a theorem for the relation between the parity check matrix of a linear code and any distinct error vectors. Lastly, we clarify the relation between the sampling theorem for functions over GF(q)n domain and linear codes.

Determination of small-field correction factors for cylindrical ionization chambers using a semiempirical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kwangwoo; Bak, Jino; Park, Sungho; Choi, Wonhoon; Park, Suk Won

2016-02-01

A semiempirical method based on the averaging effect of the sensitive volumes of different air-filled ionization chambers (ICs) was employed to approximate the correction factors for beam quality produced from the difference in the sizes of the reference field and small fields. We measured the output factors using several cylindrical ICs and calculated the correction factors using a mathematical method similar to deconvolution; in the method, we modeled the variable and inhomogeneous energy fluence function within the chamber cavity. The parameters of the modeled function and the correction factors were determined by solving a developed system of equations as well as on the basis of the measurement data and the geometry of the chambers. Further, Monte Carlo (MC) computations were performed using the Monaco® treatment planning system to validate the proposed method. The determined correction factors (k{{Q\\text{msr}},Q}{{f\\text{smf}}, {{f}\\text{ref}}} ) were comparable to the values derived from the MC computations performed using Monaco®. For example, for a 6 MV photon beam and a field size of 1  ×  1 cm2, k{{Q\\text{msr}},Q}{{f\\text{smf}}, {{f}\\text{ref}}} was calculated to be 1.125 for a PTW 31010 chamber and 1.022 for a PTW 31016 chamber. On the other hand, the k{{Q\\text{msr}},Q}{{f\\text{smf}}, {{f}\\text{ref}}} values determined from the MC computations were 1.121 and 1.031, respectively; the difference between the proposed method and the MC computation is less than 2%. In addition, we determined the k{{Q\\text{msr}},Q}{{f\\text{smf}}, {{f}\\text{ref}}} values for PTW 30013, PTW 31010, PTW 31016, IBA FC23-C, and IBA CC13 chambers as well. We devised a method for determining k{{Q\\text{msr}},Q}{{f\\text{smf}}, {{f}\\text{ref}}} from both the measurement of the output factors and model-based mathematical computation. The proposed method can be useful in case the MC simulation would not be applicable for the clinical settings.

An improved peak frequency shift method for Q estimation based on generalized seismic wavelet function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qian; Gao, Jinghuai

2018-02-01

As a powerful tool for hydrocarbon detection and reservoir characterization, the quality factor, Q, provides useful information in seismic data processing and interpretation. In this paper, we propose a novel method for Q estimation. The generalized seismic wavelet (GSW) function was introduced to fit the amplitude spectrum of seismic waveforms with two parameters: fractional value and reference frequency. Then we derive an analytical relation between the GSW function and the Q factor of the medium. When a seismic wave propagates through a viscoelastic medium, the GSW function can be employed to fit the amplitude spectrum of the source and attenuated wavelets, then the fractional values and reference frequencies can be evaluated numerically from the discrete Fourier spectrum. After calculating the peak frequency based on the obtained fractional value and reference frequency, the relationship between the GSW function and the Q factor can be built by the conventional peak frequency shift method. Synthetic tests indicate that our method can achieve higher accuracy and be more robust to random noise compared with existing methods. Furthermore, the proposed method is applicable to different types of source wavelet. Field data application also demonstrates the effectiveness of our method in seismic attenuation and the potential in the reservoir characteristic.

Chromosomal aberrations and their prognostic value in a series of 174 untreated patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

PubMed Central

Nguyen-Khac, Florence; Lambert, Jerome; Chapiro, Elise; Grelier, Aurore; Mould, Sarah; Barin, Carole; Daudignon, Agnes; Gachard, Nathalie; Struski, Stéphanie; Henry, Catherine; Penther, Dominique; Mossafa, Hossein; Andrieux, Joris; Eclache, Virginie; Bilhou-Nabera, Chrystèle; Luquet, Isabelle; Terre, Christine; Baranger, Laurence; Mugneret, Francine; Chiesa, Jean; Mozziconacci, Marie-Joelle; Callet-Bauchu, Evelyne; Veronese, Lauren; Blons, Hélène; Owen, Roger; Lejeune, Julie; Chevret, Sylvie; Merle-Beral, Hélène; Leblondon, Véronique

2013-01-01

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a disease of mature B cells, the genetic basis of which is poorly understood. Few recurrent chromosomal abnormalities have been reported, and their prognostic value is not known. We conducted a prospective cytogenetic study of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and examined the prognostic value of chromosomal aberrations in an international randomized trial. The main aberrations were 6q deletions (30%), trisomy 18 (15%), 13q deletions (13%), 17p (TP53) deletions (8%), trisomy 4 (8%), and 11q (ATM) deletions (7%). There was a significant association between trisomy of chromosome 4 and trisomy of chromosome 18. Translocations involving the IGH genes were rare (<5%). Deletion of 6q and 11q, and trisomy 4, were significantly associated with adverse clinical and biological parameters. Patients with TP53 deletion had short progression-free survival and short disease-free survival. Although rare (<5%), trisomy 12 was associated with short progression-free survival. In conclusion, the cytogenetic profile of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia appears to differ from that of other B-cell lymphomas. Chromosomal abnormalities may help with diagnosis and prognostication, in conjunction with other clinical and biological characteristics. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, numbers NCT00566332 and NCT00608374. PMID:23065509

Determination of the direct double-β -decay Q value of 96Zr and atomic masses of Zr 90 -92 ,94 ,96 and Mo 92 ,94 -98 ,100

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulyuz, K.; Ariche, J.; Bollen, G.; Bustabad, S.; Eibach, M.; Izzo, C.; Novario, S. J.; Redshaw, M.; Ringle, R.; Sandler, R.; Schwarz, S.; Valverde, A. A.

2015-05-01

Experimental searches for neutrinoless double-β decay offer one of the best opportunities to look for physics beyond the standard model. Detecting this decay would confirm the Majorana nature of the neutrino, and a measurement of its half-life can be used to determine the absolute neutrino mass scale. Important to both tasks is an accurate knowledge of the Q value of the double-β decay. The LEBIT Penning trap mass spectrometer was used for the first direct experimental determination of the 96Zr double-β decay Q value: Qβ β=3355.85 (15 ) keV. This value is nearly 7 keV larger than the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation [M. Wang et al., Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012), 10.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003] value and one order of magnitude more precise. The 3-σ shift is primarily due to a more accurate measurement of the 96Zr atomic mass: m (96Zr ) =95.908 277 35 (17 ) u. Using the new Q value, the 2 ν β β -decay matrix element, | M2 ν| , is calculated. Improved determinations of the atomic masses of all other zirconium (Zr 90 -92 ,94 ,96 ) and molybdenum (92 ,94 -98 ,100Mo ) isotopes using both 12C8 and 87Rb as references are also reported.

Leishmania Infection: Laboratory Diagnosing in the Absence of a “Gold Standard”

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Cortés, Alhelí; Ojeda, Ana; Francino, Olga; López-Fuertes, Laura; Timón, Marcos; Alberola, Jordi

2010-01-01

There is no gold standard for diagnosing leishmaniases. Our aim was to assess the operative validity of tests used in detecting Leishmania infection using samples from experimental infections, a reliable equivalent to the classic definition of gold standard. Without statistical differences, the highest sensitivity was achieved by protein A (ProtA), immunoglobulin (Ig)G2, indirect fluorescenece antibody test (IFAT), lymphocyte proliferation assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of bone marrow (qPCR-BM), qPCR-Blood, and IgG; and the highest specificity by IgG1, IgM, IgA, qPCR-Blood, IgG, IgG2, and qPCR-BM. Maximum positive predictive value was obtained simultaneously by IgG2, qPCR-Blood, and IgG; and maximum negative predictive value by qPCR-BM. Best positive and negative likelihood ratios were obtained by IgG2. The test having the greatest, statistically significant, area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was IgG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thus, according to the gold standard used, IFAT and qPCR are far from fulfilling the requirements to be considered gold standards, and the test showing the highest potential to detect Leishmania infection is Leishmania-specific ELISA IgG2. PMID:20134001

Leishmania infection: laboratory diagnosing in the absence of a "gold standard".

PubMed

Rodríguez-Cortés, Alhelí; Ojeda, Ana; Francino, Olga; López-Fuertes, Laura; Timón, Marcos; Alberola, Jordi

2010-02-01

There is no gold standard for diagnosing leishmaniases. Our aim was to assess the operative validity of tests used in detecting Leishmania infection using samples from experimental infections, a reliable equivalent to the classic definition of gold standard. Without statistical differences, the highest sensitivity was achieved by protein A (ProtA), immunoglobulin (Ig)G2, indirect fluorescenece antibody test (IFAT), lymphocyte proliferation assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of bone marrow (qPCR-BM), qPCR-Blood, and IgG; and the highest specificity by IgG1, IgM, IgA, qPCR-Blood, IgG, IgG2, and qPCR-BM. Maximum positive predictive value was obtained simultaneously by IgG2, qPCR-Blood, and IgG; and maximum negative predictive value by qPCR-BM. Best positive and negative likelihood ratios were obtained by IgG2. The test having the greatest, statistically significant, area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was IgG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thus, according to the gold standard used, IFAT and qPCR are far from fulfilling the requirements to be considered gold standards, and the test showing the highest potential to detect Leishmania infection is Leishmania-specific ELISA IgG2.

The Spirit of OMERACT: Q Methodology Analysis of Conference Characteristics Valued by Delegates.

PubMed

Flurey, Caroline A; Kirwan, John R; Hadridge, Phillip; Richards, Pamela; Grosskleg, Shawna; Tugwell, Peter S

2015-10-01

To identify the major features of OMERACT meetings as valued by frequent participants and to explore whether there are groups of participants with different opinions. Using Q methodology (a qualitative and quantitative approach to grouping people according to subjective opinion), participants (who attended more than 1 OMERACT conference) sorted 66 statements relating to the "spirit of OMERACT" according to level of agreement across a normal distribution grid. Data were examined using Q factor analysis. Of 226 potential participants, 105 responded (46%). All participants highly ranked the focus on global standardization of methods, outcome measures, data-driven research, methodological discussion, and international collaboration. Four factors describing the "spirit of OMERACT" were identified: "Evidence not eminence" (n = 31) valued the data- and evidence-driven research above personality and status; "Collaboration and collegiality" (n = 19) valued the international and cross-stakeholder collaboration, interaction, and collegiality; "Equal voices, equal votes, common goals" (n = 12) valued equality in discussion and voting, with everyone striving toward the same goal; "principles and product, not process" (n = 8) valued the principles of focusing on outcome measures and the product of guiding clinical trials, but were unsure whether the process is necessary to reach this. The factors did not segregate different stakeholder groups. Delegates value different elements of OMERACT, and thus the "spirit of OMERACT" encompasses evidence-based research, collaboration, and equality, although a small group are unsure whether the process is necessary to achieve the end result. Q methodology may prove useful for conference organizers to identify their delegates' different needs to tailor conference content.

The advantages of absorbed-dose calibration factors.

PubMed

Rogers, D W

1992-01-01

A formalism for clinical external beam dosimetry based on use of ion chamber absorbed-dose calibration factors is outlined in the context and notation of the AAPM TG-21 protocol. It is shown that basing clinical dosimetry on absorbed-dose calibration factors ND leads to considerable simplification and reduced uncertainty in dose measurement. In keeping with a protocol which is used in Germany, a quantity kQ is defined which relates an absorbed-dose calibration factor in a beam of quality Q0 to that in a beam of quality Q. For 38 cylindrical ion chambers, two sets of values are presented for ND/NX and Ngas/ND and for kQ for photon beams with beam quality specified by the TPR20(10) ratio. One set is based on TG-21's protocol to allow the new formalism to be used while maintaining equivalence to the TG-21 protocol. To demonstrate the magnitude of the overall error in the TG-21 protocol, the other set uses corrected versions of the TG-21 equations and the more consistent physical data of the IAEA Code of Practice. Comparisons are made to procedures based on air-kerma or exposure calibration factors and it is shown that accuracy and simplicity are gained by avoiding the determination of Ngas from NX. It is also shown that the kQ approach simplifies the use of plastic phantoms in photon beams since kQ values change by less than 0.6% compared to those in water although an overall correction factor of 0.973 is needed to go from absorbed dose in water calibration factors to those in PMMA or polystyrene. Values of kQ calculated using the IAEA Code of Practice are presented but are shown to be anomalous because of the way the effective point of measurement changes for 60Co beams. In photon beams the major difference between the IAEA Code of Practice and the corrected AAPM TG-21 protocol is shown to be the Prepl correction factor. Calculated kQ curves and three parameter equations for them are presented for each wall material and are shown to represent accurately the kQ curve for all ion chambers in this study with a wall of that specified material and a thickness less than 0.25 g/cm2. Values of kQ can be measured using the primary standards for absorbed dose in photon beams.

Assessment of mortality by qSOFA in patients with sepsis outside ICU: A post hoc subgroup analysis by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Sepsis Registry Study Group.

PubMed

Umemura, Yutaka; Ogura, Hiroshi; Gando, Satoshi; Kushimoto, Shigeki; Saitoh, Daizoh; Mayumi, Toshihiko; Fujishima, Seitaro; Abe, Toshikazu; Ikeda, Hiroto; Kotani, Joji; Miki, Yasuo; Shiraishi, Shin-Ichiro; Shiraishi, Atsushi; Suzuki, Koichiro; Suzuki, Yasushi; Takeyama, Naoshi; Takuma, Kiyotsugu; Tsuruta, Ryosuke; Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro; Yamashita, Norio; Aikawa, Naoki

2017-11-01

Quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) was proposed in the new sepsis definition (Sepsis-3). Although qSOFA was created to identify patients with suspected infection and likely to have poor outcomes, the clinical utility of qSOFA to screen sepsis has not been fully evaluated. We investigated the number of patients diagnosed as having severe sepsis who could not be identified by the qSOFA criteria and what clinical signs could complement the qSOFA score. This retrospective analysis of a multicenter prospective registry included adult patients with severe sepsis diagnosed outside the intensive care unit (ICU) by conventional criteria proposed in 2003. We conducted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to assess the predictive value for in-hospital mortality and compared clinical characteristics between survivors and non-survivors with qSOFA score ≤ 1 point (qSOFA-negative). Among 387 eligible patients, 63 (16.3%) patients were categorized as qSOFA-negative, and 10 (15.9%) of these patients died. The area under the ROC curve for the qSOFA score was 0.615, which was superior to that for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome score (0.531, P = 0.019) but inferior to that for the SOFA score (0.702, P = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypothermia might be associated with poor outcome independently of qSOFA criteria. Our findings suggested that qSOFA had a suboptimal level of predictive value outside the ICU and could not identify 16.3% of patients who were once actually diagnosed with sepsis. Hypothermia might be associated with an increased risk of death that cannot be identified by qSOFA. Copyright © 2017 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Uncertainty in action-value estimation affects both action choice and learning rate of the choice behaviors of rats.

PubMed

Funamizu, Akihiro; Ito, Makoto; Doya, Kenji; Kanzaki, Ryohei; Takahashi, Hirokazu

2012-04-01

The estimation of reward outcomes for action candidates is essential for decision making. In this study, we examined whether and how the uncertainty in reward outcome estimation affects the action choice and learning rate. We designed a choice task in which rats selected either the left-poking or right-poking hole and received a reward of a food pellet stochastically. The reward probabilities of the left and right holes were chosen from six settings (high, 100% vs. 66%; mid, 66% vs. 33%; low, 33% vs. 0% for the left vs. right holes, and the opposites) in every 20-549 trials. We used Bayesian Q-learning models to estimate the time course of the probability distribution of action values and tested if they better explain the behaviors of rats than standard Q-learning models that estimate only the mean of action values. Model comparison by cross-validation revealed that a Bayesian Q-learning model with an asymmetric update for reward and non-reward outcomes fit the choice time course of the rats best. In the action-choice equation of the Bayesian Q-learning model, the estimated coefficient for the variance of action value was positive, meaning that rats were uncertainty seeking. Further analysis of the Bayesian Q-learning model suggested that the uncertainty facilitated the effective learning rate. These results suggest that the rats consider uncertainty in action-value estimation and that they have an uncertainty-seeking action policy and uncertainty-dependent modulation of the effective learning rate. © 2012 The Authors. European Journal of Neuroscience © 2012 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Value of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) in predicting the proton pump inhibitor response in coronary artery disease patients with gastroesophageal reflux-related chest pain.

PubMed

He, S; Liu, Y; Chen, Y; Tang, Y; Xu, J; Tang, C

2016-05-01

Chest pain experienced by patients with coronary artery disease can be partly due to gastroesophageal reflux-induced chest pain (GERP). Empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy has been recommended as an initial clinical approach for treating GERP. However, PPI use may lead to some health problems. The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) may represent a noninvasive and cost-effective approach for avoiding PPI misuse and for identifying the appropriate patients for the PPI trial test. The aim of this pilot study was to prospectively evaluate the association between GerdQ scores and PPI response in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and GERP to determine whether the GerdQ predicts the PPI response in patients with CAD and GERP and to further validate the clinical application value of the GerdQ. A total of 154 consecutive patients with potential GERP were recruited to complete a GerdQ with subsequent PPI therapy. Based on the PPI trial result, patients were divided into a PPI-positive response group and a PPI-negative response group. The difference in the GerdQ scores between the two groups was assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of GerdQ score was drawn according to the PPI response as the gold standard. The ability of GerdQ to predict the PPI response was assessed. A total of 96 patients completed the entire study; 62 patients (64.6%) were assigned to the PPI-positive response group, and 34 patients (35.4%) to the PPI-negative response group. The GerdQ score of the PPI-positive response group (8.11 ± 3.315) was significantly higher than that of the PPI-negative response group (4.41 ± 2.743), and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.863, P = 0.000). The ROC curve was drawn according to a PPI response assessment result with a score above 2 as the gold standard. The area under curve was 0.806. When the critical value of GerdQ score was 7.5, Youden index was up to 0.514, the diagnostic sensitivity was 0.661, and the diagnostic specificity was 0.853. A GerdQ score greater than 7.5 better predicts the response to the PPI trial therapy. There is a strong association between the GerdQ score and the response to PPI therapy. Higher GerdQ scores were predictive of a positive PPI response in CAD patients with GERP. The GerdQ may be a reasonable screening tool for GERP in patients with CAD who are prepared to accept PPI therapy. © 2015 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.

Using Microsoft Excel to compute the 5% overall site X/Q value and the 95th percentile of the distribution of doses to the nearest maximally exposed offsite individual (MEOI).

PubMed

Vickers, Linda D

2010-05-01

This paper describes the method using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399) to compute the 5% overall site X/Q value and the 95th percentile of the distribution of doses to the nearest maximally exposed offsite individual (MEOI) in accordance with guidance from DOE-STD-3009-1994 and U.S. NRC Regulatory Guide 1.145-1982. The accurate determination of the 5% overall site X/Q value is the most important factor in the computation of the 95th percentile of the distribution of doses to the nearest MEOI. This method should be used to validate software codes that compute the X/Q. The 95th percentile of the distribution of doses to the nearest MEOI must be compared to the U.S. DOE Evaluation Guide of 25 rem to determine the relative severity of hazard to the public from a postulated, unmitigated design basis accident that involves an offsite release of radioactive material.

Scaling violations of the proton structure function F2 at small x

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abt, I.; Ahmed, T.; Andreev, V.; Andrieu, B.; Appuhn, R.-D.; Arpagaus, M.; Babaev, A.; Bärwolff, H.; Bán, J.; Baranov, P.; Barrelet, E.; Bartel, W.; Bassler, U.; Beck, H. P.; Behrend, H.-J.; Belousov, A.; Berger, Ch.; Bergstein, H.; Bernardi, G.; Bernet, R.; Bertrand-Coremans, G.; Besançon, M.; Biddulph, P.; Binder, E.; Bischoff, A.; Bizot, J. C.; Blobel, V.; Borras, K.; Bosetti, P. C.; Boudry, V.; Bourdarios, C.; Brasse, F.; Braun, U.; Braunschweig, W.; Bruncko, D.; Büngener, L.; Bürger, J.; Büsser, F. W.; Buniatian, A.; Burke, S.; Buschhorn, G.; Campbell, A. J.; Carli, T.; Charles, F.; Clarke, D.; Clegg, A. B.; Colombo, M.; Coughlan, J. A.; Courau, A.; Coutures, Ch.; Cozzika, G.; Criegee, L.; Cvach, J.; Dagoret, S.; Dainton, J. B.; Danilov, M.; Dann, A. W. E.; Dau, W. D.; David, M.; Deffur, E.; Delcourt, B.; Del Buono, L.; Devel, M.; De Roeck, A.; Dingus, P.; Dollfus, C.; Dowell, J. D.; Dreis, H. B.; Drescher, A.; Duboc, J.; Düllmann, D.; Dünger, O.; Duhm, H.; Ebbinghaus, R.; Eberle, M.; Ebert, J.; Ebert, T. R.; Eckerlin, G.; Efremenko, V.; Egli, S.; Eichenberger, S.; Eichler, R.; Eisele, F.; Eisenhandler, E.; Ellis, N. N.; Ellison, R. J.; Elsen, E.; Erdmann, M.; Evrard, E.; Favart, L.; Fedotov, A.; Feeken, D.; Felst, R.; Feltesse, J.; Fensome, I. F.; Ferencei, J.; Ferrarotto, F.; Flamm, K.; Flauger, W.; Fleischer, M.; Flieser, M.; Flügge, G.; Fomenko, A.; Fominykh, B.; Forbush, M.; Formánek, J.; Foster, J. M.; Franke, G.; Fretwurst, E.; Fuhrmann, P.; Gabathuler, E.; Gamerdinger, K.; Garvey, J.; Gayler, J.; Gellrich, A.; Gennis, M.; Genzel, H.; Gerhards, R.; Godfrey, L.; Goerlach, U.; Goerlich, L.; Gogitidze, N.; Goldberg, M.; Goodall, A. M.; Gorelov, I.; Goritchev, P.; Grab, C.; Grässler, H.; Grässler, R.; Greenshaw, T.; Greif, H.; Grindhammer, G.; Gruber, C.; Haack, J.; Hajduk, L.; Hamon, O.; Handschuh, D.; Hanlon, E. M.; Hapke, M.; Harjes, J.; Haydar, R.; Haynes, W. J.; Heatherington, J.; Hedberg, V.; Heinzelmann, G.; Henderson, R. C. W.; Henschel, H.; Herma, R.; Herynek, I.; Hildesheim, W.; Hill, P.; Hilton, C. D.; Hladký, J.; Hoeger, K. C.; Huet, Ph.; Hufnagel, H.; Huot, N.; Ibbotson, M.; Itterbeck, H.; Jabiol, M.-A.; Jacholkowska, A.; Jacobsson, C.; Jaffre, M.; Jansen, T.; Jönsson, L.; Johannsen, K.; Johnson, D. P.; Johnson, L.; Jung, H.; Kalmus, P. I. P.; Kasarian, S.; Kaschowitz, R.; Kasselmann, P.; Kathage, U.; Kaufmann, H. H.; Kenyon, I. R.; Kermiche, S.; Keuker, C.; Kiesling, C.; Klein, M.; Kleinwort, C.; Knies, G.; Ko, W.; Köhler, T.; Kolanoski, H.; Kole, F.; Kolya, S. D.; Korbel, V.; Korn, M.; Kostka, P.; Kotelnikov, S. K.; Krasny, M. W.; Krehbiel, H.; Krücker, D.; Krüger, U.; Kubenka, J. P.; Küster, H.; Kuhlen, M.; Kurča, T.; Kurzhöfer, J.; Kuznik, B.; Lacour, D.; Lamarche, F.; Lander, R.; Landon, M. P. J.; Lange, W.; Langkau, R.; Lanius, P.; Laporte, J. F.; Lebedev, A.; Leuschner, A.; Leverenz, C.; Levonian, S.; Lewin, D.; Ley, Ch.; Lindner, A.; Lindström, G.; Linsel, F.; Lipinski, J.; Loch, P.; Lohmander, H.; Lopez, G. C.; Lüers, D.; Magnussen, N.; Malinovski, E.; Mani, S.; Marage, P.; Marks, J.; Marshall, R.; Martens, J.; Martin, R.; Martyn, H.-U.; Martyniak, J.; Masson, S.; Mavroidis, A.; Maxfield, S. J.; McMahon, S. J.; Mehta, A.; Meier, K.; Mercer, D.; Merz, T.; Meyer, C. A.; Meyer, H.; Meyer, J.; Mikocki, S.; Milone, V.; Monnier, E.; Moreau, F.; Moreels, J.; Morris, J. V.; Müller, K.; Murín, P.; Murray, S. A.; Nagovizin, V.; Naroska, B.; Naumann, Th.; Newman, P. R.; Newton, D.; Neyret, D.; Nguyen, H. K.; Niebergall, F.; Niebuhr, C.; Nisius, R.; Nowak, G.; Noyes, G. W.; Nyberg, M.; Oberlack, H.; Obrock, U.; Olsson, J. E.; Orenstein, S.; Ould-Saada, F.; Pascaud, C.; Patel, G. D.; Peppel, E.; Peters, S.; Phillips, H. T.; Phillips, J. P.; Pichler, Ch.; Pilgram, W.; Pitzl, D.; Prell, S.; Prosi, R.; Rädel, G.; Raupach, F.; Rauschnabel, K.; Reimer, P.; Reinshagen, S.; Ribarics, P.; Riech, V.; Riedlberger, J.; Riess, S.; Rietz, M.; Robertson, S. M.; Robmann, P.; Roosen, R.; Rostovtsev, A.; Royon, C.; Rudowicz, M.; Ruffer, M.; Rusakov, S.; Rybicki, K.; Sahlmann, N.; Sanchez, E.; Sankey, D. P. C.; Savitsky, M.; Schacht, P.; Schleper, P.; von Schlippe, W.; Schmidt, C.; Schmidt, D.; Schmitz, W.; Schöning, A.; Schröder, V.; Schulz, M.; Schwab, B.; Schwind, A.; Scobel, W.; Seehausen, U.; Sell, R.; Semenov, A.; Shekelyan, V.; Sheviakov, I.; Shooshtari, H.; Shtarkov, L. N.; Siegmon, G.; Siewert, U.; Sirois, Y.; Skillicorn, I. O.; Smirnov, P.; Smith, J. R.; Smolik, L.; Soloviev, Y.; Spitzer, H.; Staroba, P.; Steenbock, M.; Steffen, P.; Steinberg, R.; Stella, B.; Stephens, K.; Stier, J.; Stösslein, U.; Strachota, J.; Straumann, U.; Struczinski, W.; Sutton, J. P.; Taylor, R. E.; Tchernyshov, V.; Thiebaux, C.; Thompson, G.; Tichomirov, I.; Truöl, P.; Turnau, J.; Tutas, J.; Urban, L.; Usik, A.; Valkar, S.; Valkarova, A.; Vallée, C.; Van Esch, P.; Vartapetian, A.; Vazdik, Y.; Vecko, M.; Verrecchia, P.; Vick, R.; Villet, G.; Vogel, E.; Wacker, K.; Walker, I. W.; Walther, A.; Weber, G.; Wegener, D.; Wegner, A.; Wellisch, H. P.; West, L. R.; Willard, S.; Winde, M.; Winter, G.-G.; Wolff, Th.; Womersley, L. A.; Wright, A. E.; Wulff, N.; Yiou, T. P.; Žáček, J.; Závada, P.; Zeitnitz, C.; Ziaeepour, H.; Zimmer, M.; Zimmermann, W.; Zomer, F.; H1 Collaboration

1994-01-01

An analysis is presented of scaling violations of the proton structure function F2( x, Q2) measured with the H1 detector at HERA in the range of Bjorken x values between x = 3 × 10 -4 and 10 -2 for four-momentum transfers Q> 2 larger than 8.7 GeV 2. The structure function F2( x, Q2) is observed to rise linearly with ln Q2. Under the assumption that the observed scaling violations at small x ⩽ 0.01 are described correctly by perturbative QCD, an estimate is obtained of the gluon distribution function G( x, Q02) at Q22 = 20 GeV 2.

High-Q microwave photonic filter with a tuned modulator.

PubMed

Capmany, J; Mora, J; Ortega, B; Pastor, D

2005-09-01

We propose the use of tuned electro-optic or electroabsorption external modulators to implement high-quality (high-Q) factor, single-bandpass photonic filters for microwave signals. Using this approach, we experimentally demonstrate a transversal finite impulse response with a Q factor of 237. This is to our knowledge the highest value ever reported for a passive finite impulse-response microwave photonic filter.

Remote Measurement of Heat Flux from Power Plant Cooling Lakes

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

Garrett, Alfred J.; Kurzeja, Robert J.; Villa-Aleman, Eliel

2013-06-01

Laboratory experiments have demonstrated a correlation between the rate of heat loss q" from an experimental fluid to the air above and the standard deviation σ of the thermal variability in images of the fluid surface. These experimental results imply that q" can be derived directly from thermal imagery by computing σ. This paper analyses thermal imagery collected over two power plant cooling lakes to determine if the same relationship exists. Turbulent boundary layer theory predicts a linear relationship between q" and σ when both forced (wind driven) and free (buoyancy driven) convection are present. Datasets derived from ground- andmore » helicopter-based imagery collections had correlation coefficients between σ and q" of 0.45 and 0.76, respectively. Values of q" computed from a function of σ and friction velocity u* derived from turbulent boundary layer theory had higher correlations with measured values of q" (0.84 and 0.89). Finally, this research may be applicable to the problem of calculating losses of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere during high-latitude cold-air outbreaks because it does not require the information typically needed to compute sensible, evaporative, and thermal radiation energy losses to the atmosphere.« less

Momentum broadening in unstable quark-gluon plasma

DOE PAGES

Carrington, M. E.; Mrówczyński, St.; Schenke, B.

2017-02-01

We present that quark-gluon plasma produced at the early stage of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions is unstable, if weakly coupled, due to the anisotropy of its momentum distribution. Chromomagnetic fields are spontaneously generated and can reach magnitudes much exceeding typical values of the fields in equilibrated plasma. We consider a high-energy test parton traversing an unstable plasma that is populated with strong fields. We study the momentum broadening parametermore » $$ˆ\\atop{q}$$ which determines the radiative energy loss of the test parton. We develop a formalism which gives $$ˆ\\atop{q}$$ as the solution of an initial value problem, and we focus on extremely oblate plasmas which are physically relevant for relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The parameter $$ˆ\\atop{q}$$ is found to be strongly dependent on time. For short times it is of the order of the equilibrium value, but at later times $$ˆ\\atop{q}$$ grows exponentially due to the interaction of the test parton with unstable modes and becomes much bigger than the value in equilibrium. The momentum broadening is also strongly directionally dependent and is largest when the test parton velocity is transverse to the beam axis. Lastly, consequences of our findings for the phenomenology of jet quenching in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are briefly discussed.« less

Changes in Liver Steatosis After Switching From Efavirenz to Raltegravir Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PubMed

Macías, Juan; Mancebo, María; Merino, Dolores; Téllez, Francisco; Montes-Ramírez, M Luisa; Pulido, Federico; Rivero-Juárez, Antonio; Raffo, Miguel; Pérez-Pérez, Montserrat; Merchante, Nicolás; Cotarelo, Manuel; Pineda, Juan A

2017-09-15

Antiretroviral drugs with a lower potential to induce hepatic steatosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection need to be identified. We compared the effect of switching efavirenz (EFV) to raltegravir (RAL) on hepatic steatosis among HIV-infected patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) receiving EFV plus 2 nucleoside analogues. HIV-infected patients on EFV plus tenofovir/emtricitabine or abacavir/lamivudine with NAFLD were randomized 1:1 to switch from EFV to RAL (400 mg twice daily), maintaining nucleoside analogues unchanged, or to continue with EFV plus 2 nucleoside analogues. At baseline, eligible patients should show controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values ≥238 dB/m. Changes in hepatic steatosis at 48 weeks of follow-up over baseline levels were measured by CAP. Overall, 39 patients were included, and 19 of them were randomized to switch to RAL. At week 48, median CAP for the RAL group was 250 (Q1-Q3, 221-277) dB/m and 286 (Q1-Q3, 269-314) dB/m for the EFV group (P = .035). The median decrease in CAP values was -20 (Q1-Q3, -67 to 15) dB/m for the RAL arm and 30 (Q1-Q3, -17 to 49) dB/m for the EFV group (P = .011). CAP values <238 dB/m at week 48 were observed in 9 (47%) patients on RAL and 3 (15%) individuals on EFV (P = .029). After 48 weeks, HIV-infected individuals switching EFV to RAL showed decreases in the degree of hepatic steatosis, as measured by CAP, compared with those continuing with EFV. In addition, the proportion of patients without significant hepatic steatosis after 48 weeks was greater for those who switched to RAL. NCT01900015. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation of Legionella real-time PCR against traditional culture for routine and public health testing of water samples.

PubMed

Collins, S; Stevenson, D; Walker, J; Bennett, A

2017-06-01

To evaluate the usefulness of Legionella qPCR alongside traditional culture for enumeration of Legionella from water samples as part of both routine and public health investigation testing. Routine water samples (n = 2002) and samples from public health investigations (n = 215) were analysed by culture and qPCR for Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila and L. pneumophila sg-1. A negative qPCR result was highly predictive of a negative culture result for all water systems (negative predictive values, NPV from 97·4 to 100%). Positive predictive values (PPV) were lower (0-50%). Results for qPCR were generally larger than culture with average log 10 differences of 1·1 for Legionella spp. and 1·2 for L. pneumophila. Alert and action levels of 1000 and 10 000 GU per litre, respectively, are proposed for Legionella qPCR for hot and cold water systems (HCWS). The use of qPCR significantly reduced the time to results for public health investigations by rapidly identifying potential sources and ruling out others, thus enabling a more rapid and efficient response. The high NPV of qPCR supports its use to rapidly screen out negative samples without culture. Alert and action levels for Legionella qPCR for HCWS are proposed. Quantitative PCR will be a valuable tool for both routine and public health testing. This study generated comparative data of >2000 water samples by qPCR and culture. Action and alert levels have been recommended that could enable duty holders to interpret qPCR results to facilitate timely Legionella control and public health protection. © 2017 Crown copyright. Journal of Applied Microbiology © 2017 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Decreases Statin-Related Mild-to-Moderate Muscle Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Study

PubMed Central

Skarlovnik, Ajda; Janić, Miodrag; Lunder, Mojca; Turk, Martina; Šabovič, Mišo

2014-01-01

Background Statin use is frequently associated with muscle-related symptoms. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation has yielded conflicting results in decreasing statin myopathy. Herein, we tested whether coenzyme Q10 supplementation could decrease statin-associated muscular pain in a specific group of patients with mild-to-moderate muscle symptoms. Material/Methods Fifty patients treated with statins and reporting muscle pain were recruited. The Q10 group (n=25) received coenzyme Q10 supplementation over a period of 30 days (50 mg twice daily), and the control group (n=25) received placebo. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire was used and blood testing was performed at inclusion in the study and after 30 days of supplementation. Results The intensity of muscle pain, measured as the Pain Severity Score (PSS), in the Q10 group was reduced from 3.9±0.4 to 2.9±0.4 (P<0.001). The Pain Interference Score (PIS) after Q10 supplementation was reduced from 4.0±0.4 to 2.6±0.4 (P<0.001). In the placebo group, PSS and PIS did not change. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation decreased statin-related muscle symptoms in 75% of patients. The relative values of PSS and PIS significantly decreased (−33.1% and −40.3%, respectively) in the Q10 group compared to placebo group (both P<0.05). From baseline, no differences in liver and muscle enzymes or cholesterol values were found. Conclusions The present results show that coenzyme Q10 supplementation (50 mg twice daily) effectively reduced statin-related mild-to-moderate muscular symptoms, causing lower interference of statin-related muscular symptoms with daily activities. PMID:25375075

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation decreases statin-related mild-to-moderate muscle symptoms: a randomized clinical study.

PubMed

Skarlovnik, Ajda; Janić, Miodrag; Lunder, Mojca; Turk, Martina; Šabovič, Mišo

2014-11-06

Statin use is frequently associated with muscle-related symptoms. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation has yielded conflicting results in decreasing statin myopathy. Herein, we tested whether coenzyme Q10 supplementation could decrease statin-associated muscular pain in a specific group of patients with mild-to-moderate muscle symptoms. Fifty patients treated with statins and reporting muscle pain were recruited. The Q10 group (n=25) received coenzyme Q10 supplementation over a period of 30 days (50 mg twice daily), and the control group (n=25) received placebo. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire was used and blood testing was performed at inclusion in the study and after 30 days of supplementation. The intensity of muscle pain, measured as the Pain Severity Score (PSS), in the Q10 group was reduced from 3.9±0.4 to 2.9±0.4 (P<0.001). The Pain Interference Score (PIS) after Q10 supplementation was reduced from 4.0±0.4 to 2.6±0.4 (P<0.001). In the placebo group, PSS and PIS did not change. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation decreased statin-related muscle symptoms in 75% of patients. The relative values of PSS and PIS significantly decreased (-33.1% and -40.3%, respectively) in the Q10 group compared to placebo group (both P<0.05). From baseline, no differences in liver and muscle enzymes or cholesterol values were found. The present results show that coenzyme Q10 supplementation (50 mg twice daily) effectively reduced statin-related mild-to-moderate muscular symptoms, causing lower interference of statin-related muscular symptoms with daily activities.

Dependence of the L-Mode scrape-off layer power fall-off length on the upper triangularity in TCV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faitsch, M.; Maurizio, R.; Gallo, A.; Coda, S.; Eich, T.; Labit, B.; Merle, A.; Reimerdes, H.; Sieglin, B.; Theiler, C.; the Eurofusion MST1 Team; the TCV Team

2018-04-01

This paper reports on experimental observations on TCV with a scan in upper triangularity {δ }up}, including negative triangularity, focusing on the power fall-off length {λ }{{q}} in L-Mode. The upper triangularity is scanned from -0.28 to 0.47. Smaller {λ }{{q}}out} is measured at the outer divertor target for decreasing {δ }up} together with higher edge temperature {T}{{e},{edge}} leading to increased confinement. This effect is observed for both magnetic drift directions for discharges in deuterium and helium. In helium larger {λ }{{q}} values are observed compared to deuterium. The power fall-off length at the inner divertor target {λ }{{q}}in} has a non-monotonic behaviour with changing triangularity. The largest values are around {δ }up}=0. The ratio {λ }{{q}}in}/{λ }{{q}}out} increases for decreasing {δ }up} for positive triangularity and is approximately constant for negative triangularity. {λ }{{q}}out} is compared to available scaling laws. Partial agreement is only observed for a scaling law containing a proxy for {T}{{e},{edge}} at ASDEX Upgrade (Sieglin 2016 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 58 055015). Extending this scaling to TCV and using {T}{{e},{edge}} at {ρ }pol}=0.95 suggests that {λ }{{q}}out} is independent of machine size {λ }{{q}}{{L} - {Mode}} ({mm}) = 165\\cdot {B}pol}{({{T}})}-0.66\\cdot A{({{u}})}-0.15\\cdot {T}{{e},{edge}}{({eV})}-0.93\\cdot R{({{m}})}-0.03. Possible explanations for smaller {λ }{{q}}out} for decreasing {δ }up} is a reduction in turbulence or a direct effect of increasing {T}{{e},{edge}}.

Predicting fracture of mortar beams under three-point bending using non-extensive statistical modeling of electric emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stergiopoulos, Ch.; Stavrakas, I.; Triantis, D.; Vallianatos, F.; Stonham, J.

2015-02-01

Weak electric signals termed as 'Pressure Stimulated Currents, PSC' are generated and detected while cement based materials are found under mechanical load, related to the creation of cracks and the consequent evolution of cracks' network in the bulk of the specimen. During the experiment a set of cement mortar beams of rectangular cross-section were subjected to Three-Point Bending (3PB). For each one of the specimens an abrupt mechanical load step was applied, increased from the low load level (Lo) to a high final value (Lh) , where Lh was different for each specimen and it was maintained constant for long time. The temporal behavior of the recorded PSC show that during the load increase a spike-like PSC emission was recorded and consequently a relaxation of the PSC, after reaching its final value, follows. The relaxation process of the PSC was studied using non-extensive statistical physics (NESP) based on Tsallis entropy equation. The behavior of the Tsallis q parameter was studied in relaxation PSCs in order to investigate its potential use as an index for monitoring the crack evolution process with a potential use in non-destructive laboratory testing of cement-based specimens of unknown internal damage level. The dependence of the q-parameter on the Lh (when Lh <0.8Lf), where Lf represents the 3PB strength of the specimen, shows an increase on the q value when the specimens are subjected to gradually higher bending loadings and reaches a maximum value close to 1.4 when the applied Lh becomes higher than 0.8Lf. While the applied Lh becomes higher than 0.9Lf the value of the q-parameter gradually decreases. This analysis of the experimental data manifests that the value of the entropic index q obtains a characteristic decrease while reaching the ultimate strength of the specimen, and thus could be used as a forerunner of the expected failure.

Interstellar Pickup Ion Acceleration in the Turbulent Magnetic Field at the Solar Wind Termination Shock Using a Focused Transport Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Junye; le Roux, Jakobus A.; Arthur, Aaron D.

2016-08-01

We study the physics of locally born interstellar pickup proton acceleration at the nearly perpendicular solar wind termination shock (SWTS) in the presence of a random magnetic field spiral angle using a focused transport model. Guided by Voyager 2 observations, the spiral angle is modeled with a q-Gaussian distribution. The spiral angle fluctuations, which are used to generate the perpendicular diffusion of pickup protons across the SWTS, play a key role in enabling efficient injection and rapid diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) when these particles follow field lines. Our simulations suggest that variation of both the shape (q-value) and the standard deviation (σ-value) of the q-Gaussian distribution significantly affect the injection speed, pitch-angle anisotropy, radial distribution, and the efficiency of the DSA of pickup protons at the SWTS. For example, increasing q and especially reducing σ enhances the DSA rate.

Solid-state (55)Mn NMR spectroscopy of bis(μ-oxo)dimanganese(IV) [Mn(2)O(2)(salpn)(2)], a model for the oxygen evolving complex in photosystem II.

PubMed

Ellis, Paul D; Sears, Jesse A; Yang, Ping; Dupuis, Michel; Boron, Thaddeus T; Pecoraro, Vincent L; Stich, Troy A; Britt, R David; Lipton, Andrew S

2010-12-01

We have examined the antiferromagneticly coupled bis(μ-oxo)dimanganese(IV) complex [Mn(2)O(2)(salpn)(2)] (1) with (55)Mn solid-state NMR at cryogenic temperatures and first-principle theory. The extracted values of the (55)Mn quadrupole coupling constant, C(Q), and its asymmetry parameter, η(Q), for 1 are 24.7 MHz and 0.43, respectively. Further, there was a large anisotropic contribution to the shielding of each Mn(4+), i.e. a Δσ of 3375 ppm. Utilizing broken symmetry density functional theory, the predicted values of the electric field gradient (EFG) or equivalently the C(Q) and η(Q) at ZORA, PBE QZ4P all electron level of theory are 23.4 MHz and 0.68, respectively, in good agreement with experimental observations.

Estimation of Coda Wave Attenuation in Northern Morocco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boulanouar, Abderrahim; Moudnib, Lahcen El; Padhy, Simanchal; Harnafi, Mimoun; Villaseñor, Antonio; Gallart, Josep; Pazos, Antonio; Rahmouni, Abdelaali; Boukalouch, Mohamed; Sebbani, Jamal

2018-03-01

We studied the attenuation of coda waves and its frequency and lapse-time dependence in northern Morocco. We analysed coda waves of 66 earthquakes recorded in this region during 2008 for four lapse time windows of length 30, 40, 50, and 60 s, and at five frequency bands with central frequency in the range of 0.75-12 Hz. We determined the frequency dependent Q c relation for the horizontal (NS and EW) and vertical (Z) component seismograms. We analyzed three-component broadband seismograms of 66 local earthquakes for determining coda-Q based on the single back-scattering model. The Q c values show strong frequency dependence in 1.5-12 Hz that is related to high degree of heterogeneity of the medium. The lapse time dependence of Q c shows that Q 0 ( Q c at 1 Hz) significantly increases with lapse time that is related to the depth dependence of attenuation and hence of the level of heterogeneity of the medium. The average frequency-dependent Q c( f) values are Qc = (143.75 ± 1.09)f^{(0.864 ± 0.006)}, Qc = (149.12 ± 1.08)f^{(0.85 ± 0.005)} and Qc = (140.42 ± 1.81)f^{(0.902 ± 0.004)} for the vertical, north-south and east-west components of motion, respectively. The frequency-dependent Q c(f) relations are useful for evaluating source parameters (Singh et al. 2001), which are the key inputs for seismic hazard assessment of the region.

Field-driven quantum phase transitions in S =1/2 spin chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iaizzi, Adam; Damle, Kedar; Sandvik, Anders W.

2017-05-01

We study the magnetization process of a one-dimensional extended Heisenberg model, the J -Q model, as a function of an external magnetic field h . In this model, J represents the traditional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange and Q is the strength of a competing four-spin interaction. Without external field, this system hosts a twofold-degenerate dimerized (valence-bond solid) state above a critical value qc≈0.85 where q ≡Q /J . The dimer order is destroyed and replaced by a partially polarized translationally invariant state at a critical field value. We find magnetization jumps (metamagnetism) between the partially polarized and fully polarized state for q >qmin , where we have calculated qmin=2/9 exactly. For q >qmin , two magnons (flipped spins on a fully polarized background) attract and form a bound state. Quantum Monte Carlo studies confirm that the bound state corresponds to the first step of an instability leading to a finite magnetization jump for q >qmin . Our results show that neither geometric frustration nor spin anisotropy are necessary conditions for metamagnetism. Working in the two-magnon subspace, we also find evidence pointing to the existence of metamagnetism in the unfrustrated J1-J2 chain (J1>0 ,J2<0 ), but only if J2 is spin anisotropic. In addition to the studies at zero temperature, we also investigate quantum-critical scaling near the transition into the fully polarized state for q ≤qmin at T >0 . While the expected "zero-scale-factor" universality is clearly seen for q =0 and q ≪qmin , for q closer to qmin we find that extremely low temperatures are required to observe the asymptotic behavior, due to the influence of the tricritical point at qmin. In the low-energy theory, one can expect the quartic nonlinearity to vanish at qmin and a marginal sixth-order term should govern the scaling, which leads to a crossover at a temperature T*(q ) between logarithmic tricritical scaling and zero-scale-factor universality, with T*(q ) →0 when q →qmin .

Q2-EVOLUTION of ΔNγ Form Factors up to 4 (GEV/C)2 from Jlab Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aznauryan, I. G.

2002-12-01

We present the results on the ratios E(3/2)1+/M(3/2)1+ and S(3/2)1+/M(3/2)1+ for the γ*N → Δ(1232) transition at Q2 ≤ 4 (GeV/c)2 extracted from the p(e,e'p)π0 cross section using two approaches: dispersion relations and modified version of unitary isobar model. The obtained results are in good agreement with the results of other analyses obtained using truncated multipole expansion at Q2 = 0.4, 0.525, 0.65, 0.75, 0.9, 1.15, 1.45, 1.8 (GeV/c)2 and within dynamical and unitary isobar models at Q2 = 2.8, 4 (GeV/c)2. According to obtained results the ratio E(3/2)1+/M(3/2)1+ remains small in all investigated region of Q2 with very unclear tendency to cross zero above 2 (GeV/c)2. The absolute value of the ratio S(3/2)1+/M(3/2)1+ is clearly increasing with increasing Q2, while it should be a constant value in the pQCD asymptotics. So, at Q2 ≤ 4 (GeV/c)2 there is no evidence of approaching pQCD regime for these ratios. None of the soft approaches gives satisfactory description of the obtained results.

A Diffraction Method of Study of Thermal Quasiorder in a Finite Two-Dimensional Harmonic Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aranda, P.; Croset, B.

1995-09-01

Due to the non-existence of long-range order, the diffraction peaks of 2D-solids are considered to have a power-law shape g_p^{η-2}. Taking into account the finite size effects and calculating the powder average, we show that this power-law behaviour appears only for high q_p and then for very small intensities. It is therefore quite difficult and hazardous to characterise the quasiorder by using this asymptotic behaviour. Although the shape of the central part of the peak cannot be used to characterise the quasiorder, we show that, for a fairly good resolution, it is possible to determine η using this central part. This determination can be done irrespectively with the other details of the system by comparing the peak width to its value at low temperature, i.e., at low value of η. By using two diffraction peaks, we propose the simple relation: η(Q_{B_1})/Q_{B_1}^2=η(Q_{B_2})/Q_{B_2}^2 as a check of the two-dimensional quasiorder.

Polarization transfer in the H2(e→,e'p→)n reaction up to Q2=1.61(GeV/c)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, B.; Jones, M. K.; Ulmer, P. E.; Arenhövel, H.; Baker, O. K.; Bertozzi, W.; Brash, E. J.; Calarco, J.; Chen, J.-P.; Chudakov, E.; Cochran, A.; Dumalski, S.; Ent, R.; M. Finn, J.; Garibaldi, F.; Gilad, S.; Gilman, R.; Glashausser, C.; Gomez, J.; Gorbenko, V.; Hansen, J.-O.; Hovebo, J.; Jager, C. W. De; Jeschonnek, S.; Jiang, X.; Keppel, C.; Klein, A.; Kozlov, A.; Kuhn, S.; Kumbartzki, G.; Kuss, M.; Lerose, J. J.; Liang, M.; Liyanage, N.; Lolos, G. J.; Markowitz, P. E. C.; Meekins, D.; Michaels, R.; Mitchell, J.; Papandreou, Z.; Perdrisat, C. F.; Punjabi, V.; Roche, R.; Rowntree, D.; Saha, A.; Strauch, S.; Todor, L.; Urciuoli, G.; Weinstein, L. B.; Wijesooriya, K.; Wojtsekhowski, B. B.; Woo, R.

2006-06-01

The recoil proton polarization was measured in the H2(e→,e'p→)n reaction in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The electron kinematics were centered on the quasielastic peak (xBj≈1) and included three values of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q2=0.43,1.00 and 1.61 (GeV/c)2. For Q2=0.43 and 1.61 (GeV/c)2, the missing momentum, pm, was centered at zero, whereas for Q2=1.00(GeV/c)2 two values of pm were chosen: 0 and 174MeV/c. At low pm, the Q2 dependence of the longitudinal polarization, Pz', is not well described by a state-of-the-art calculation. Further, at higher pm, a 3.5σ discrepancy was observed in the transverse polarization, Px'. Understanding the origin of these discrepancies is important to confidently extract the neutron electric form factor from the analogous H2(e→,e'n→)p experiment.

Fast Turn-Off Times Observed in Experimental 4H SiC Thyristors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niedra, Janis M.

2006-01-01

Room temperature measurements of the turn-off time (t(sub q)) are reported for several packaged, npnp developmental power thyristors based on 4H-type SiC and rated 400 V, 2 A. Turn-off is effected by a 50 V pulse of applied reverse voltage, from a state of a steady 1 A forward current. Plots of t(sub q) against the ramp rate (dV(sub AK)/dt) of reapplied forward voltage are presented for preset values of limiting anode-to-cathode voltage (V(sub AK,max)). The lowest t(sub q) measured was about 180 ns. A rapid rise of these t(sub q) curves was observed for values of V(sub AK,max) that are only about a fifth of the rated voltage, whereas comparative t(sub q) plots for a commercial, fast turn-off, Si-based thyristor at a proportionately reduced V(sub AK,max) showed no such behavior. Hence these SiC thyristors may have problems arising from material defects or surface passivation. The influence the R-C-D gate bypass circuit that was used is briefly discussed.

The causal structure of utility conditionals.

PubMed

Bonnefon, Jean-François; Sloman, Steven A

2013-01-01

The psychology of reasoning is increasingly considering agents' values and preferences, achieving greater integration with judgment and decision making, social cognition, and moral reasoning. Some of this research investigates utility conditionals, ''if p then q'' statements where the realization of p or q or both is valued by some agents. Various approaches to utility conditionals share the assumption that reasoners make inferences from utility conditionals based on the comparison between the utility of p and the expected utility of q. This article introduces a new parameter in this analysis, the underlying causal structure of the conditional. Four experiments showed that causal structure moderated utility-informed conditional reasoning. These inferences were strongly invited when the underlying structure of the conditional was causal, and significantly less so when the underlying structure of the conditional was diagnostic. This asymmetry was only observed for conditionals in which the utility of q was clear, and disappeared when the utility of q was unclear. Thus, an adequate account of utility-informed inferences conditional reasoning requires three components: utility, probability, and causal structure. Copyright © 2012 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Internal friction Q factor measurements in lunar rocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tittmann, B. R.

1977-01-01

Investigations to aid in the interpretation of seismic data obtained below the lunar surface are reported. Fine grained basalt with about 1.0% open core porosity was encapsulated under hard vacuum and measured. A Q value just under 2,000 at 0.5 kbar was achieved for a terrestrial analog of lunar basalt. In contrast to the modulus which increases by as much as 10%, the quality factor Q shows little or no change with pressure (a well outgassed sample maintains a high Q, whereas one exposed to laboratory atmosphere maintains a low Q). This result suggests that the absence of volatiles plays an important role in determining the q factor even at a depth of 10 km below the lunar surface.

Transfer Reactions and the Structure of Neutron-rich Nuclei

DOE PAGES

Kay, B. P.; Alcorta, M.; Back, B. B.; ...

2013-01-01

The study of transfer reactions in inverse kinematics is a major focus of existing and future radioactive-ion-beam facilities. One of the obstacles in such measurements is poor Q-value resolution, often several hundred keV, which can prevent the extraction of useful information. At Argonne National Laboratory, it has recently been demonstrated that good Q-value resolution can be achieved by transporting the outgoing ions through a high-field solenoid, measuring their position as a function of energy. Furthermore, this provides several advantages over conventional Si arrays, such as large acceptance, good particle identification, and most importantly a Q-value resolution of better than 100more » keV in most cases, including reactions with moderately heavy beams. In this paper, the concept of the solenoidal spectrometer, called HELIOS, will be discussed along with highlights of recent results.« less

Gravitational wave production from preheating: parameter dependence

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

Figueroa, Daniel G.; Torrentí, Francisco, E-mail: daniel.figueroa@cern.ch, E-mail: f.torrenti@csic.es

Parametric resonance is among the most efficient phenomena generating gravitational waves (GWs) in the early Universe. The dynamics of parametric resonance, and hence of the GWs, depend exclusively on the resonance parameter q . The latter is determined by the properties of each scenario: the initial amplitude and potential curvature of the oscillating field, and its coupling to other species. Previous works have only studied the GW production for fixed value(s) of q . We present an analytical derivation of the GW amplitude dependence on q , valid for any scenario, which we confront against numerical results. By running latticemore » simulations in an expanding grid, we study for a wide range of q values, the production of GWs in post-inflationary preheating scenarios driven by parametric resonance. We present simple fits for the final amplitude and position of the local maxima in the GW spectrum. Our parametrization allows to predict the location and amplitude of the GW background today, for an arbitrary q . The GW signal can be rather large, as h {sup 2Ω}{sub GW}( f {sub p} ) ∼< 10{sup −11}, but it is always peaked at high frequencies f {sub p} ∼> 10{sup 7} Hz. We also discuss the case of spectator-field scenarios, where the oscillatory field can be e.g. a curvaton, or the Standard Model Higgs.« less

Seasonal metabolic acclimatization in the herbivorous desert lizard Uromastyx philbyi (Reptilia: Agamidea) from western Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Zari, Talal A

2016-08-01

Many ectotherms adjust their metabolic rate seasonally in association with variations in environmental temperatures. The range and direction of these seasonal changes in reptilian metabolic rates are thought to be linked to the seasonality of activity and energy requirements. The present study was conducted to measure the standard metabolic rate (SMR) of seasonally-acclimatized Uromastyx philbyi with different body masses at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C using open-flow respirometry during the four seasons. SMR was mass-dependent. The mean exponent of mass, "b", in the metabolism-body mass relation was 0.76 (variance=0.0007). Likewise, SMR increased as temperature increased with low Q10 values at high temperatures and high Q10 values at low temperatures. The lowest and highest Q10 values were achieved for temperature ranges of 30-35°C for summer-acclimatized dhabbs (Q10=1.6) and 20-25°C for winter-acclimatized dhabbs (Q10=3.9). Seasonal acclimatization effects were obvious at all temperatures (20-40°C). Winter-acclimatized dhabbs had the lowest metabolic rates at all temperatures. The seasonal acclimatization patterns displayed by U. philbyi may represent a valuable adaptation for herbivorous desert lizards that inhabit subtropical deserts to facilitate activity during their active seasons and to conserve energy during inactivity at low temperatures. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the Proton Spin Structure Function g1(x,Q2) for Q2 from 0.15 to 1.6 GeV2 with CLAS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatemi, R.; Skabelin, A. V.; Burkert, V. D.; Crabb, D.; Vita, R. De; Kuhn, S. E.; Minehart, R.; Adams, G.; Anciant, E.; Anghinolfi, M.; Asavapibhop, B.; Audit, G.; Auger, T.; Avakian, H.; Bagdasaryan, H.; Ball, J. P.; Barrow, S.; Battaglieri, M.; Beard, K.; Bektasoglu, M.; Bellis, M.; Bertozzi, W.; Bianchi, N.; Biselli, A. S.; Boiarinov, S.; Bonner, B. E.; Bosted, P. E.; Bouchigny, S.; Bradford, R.; Branford, D.; Brooks, W. K.; Butuceanu, C.; Calarco, J. R.; Carman, D. S.; Carnahan, B.; Cetina, C.; Ciciani, L.; Clark, R.; Cole, P. L.; Coleman, A.; Connelly, J.; Cords, D.; Corvisiero, P.; Crannell, H.; Cummings, J. P.; de Sanctis, E.; Degtyarenko, P. V.; Denizli, H.; Dennis, L.; Dharmawardane, K. V.; Dhuga, K. S.; Djalali, C.; Dodge, G. E.; Doughty, D.; Dragovitsch, P.; Dugger, M.; Dytman, S.; Eckhause, M.; Egiyan, H.; Egiyan, K. S.; Elouadrhiri, L.; Empl, A.; Eugenio, P.; Farhi, L.; Feuerbach, R. J.; Freyberger, A.; Ficenec, J.; Forest, T. A.; Frolov, V.; Funsten, H.; Gaff, S. J.; Garçon, M.; Gavalian, G.; Gilad, S.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girard, P.; Gordon, C. I.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guidal, M.; Guillo, M.; Guo, L.; Gyurjyan, V.; Hadjidakis, C.; Hancock, D.; Hardie, J.; Heddle, D.; Heimberg, P.; Hersman, F. W.; Hicks, K.; Hicks, R. S.; Holtrop, M.; Hu, J.; Hyde-Wright, C. E.; Ilieva, Y.; Ito, M. M.; Jenkins, D.; Joo, K.; Keith, C.; Kelley, J. H.; Kellie, J. D.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, K. Y.; Kim, K.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Klein, F. J.; Klimenko, A. V.; Klusman, M.; Kossov, M.; Koubarovski, V.; Kramer, L. H.; Kuang, Y.; Kuhn, J.; Lachniet, J.; Laget, J. M.; Lawrence, D.; Li, Ji; Livingston, K.; Longhi, A.; Lukashin, K.; Major, W.; Manak, J. J.; Marchand, C.; McAleer, S.; McNabb, J. W.; Mecking, B. A.; Mehrabyan, S.; Mestayer, M. D.; Meyer, C. A.; Mikhailov, K.; Mirazita, M.; Miskimen, R.; Morand, L.; Morrow, S. A.; Muccifora, V.; Mueller, J.; Mutchler, G. S.; Napolitano, J.; Nasseripour, R.; Nelson, S. O.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Niculescu, I.; Niczyporuk, B. B.; Niyazov, R. A.; Nozar, M.; O'Brien, J. T.; O'Rielly, G. V.; Osipenko, M.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Peterson, G.; Pivnyuk, N.; Pocanic, D.; Pogorelko, O.; Polli, E.; Pozdniakov, S.; Preedom, B. M.; Price, J. W.; Prok, Y.; Protopopescu, D.; Qin, L. M.; Raue, B. A.; Riccardi, G.; Ricco, G.; Ripani, M.; Ritchie, B. G.; Rock, S. E.; Ronchetti, F.; Rossi, P.; Rowntree, D.; Rubin, P. D.; Sabatié, F.; Sabourov, K.; Salgado, C.; Santoro, J. P.; Sapunenko, V.; Sargsyan, M.; Schumacher, R. A.; Seely, M.; Serov, V. S.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Shaw, J.; Simionatto, S.; Smith, E. S.; Smith, T.; Smith, L. C.; Sober, D. I.; Sorrel, L.; Spraker, M.; Stavinsky, A.; Stepanyan, S.; Stoler, P.; Strauch, S.; Taiuti, M.; Taylor, S.; Tedeschi, D. J.; Thoma, U.; Thompson, R.; Todor, L.; Tur, C.; Ungaro, M.; Vineyard, M. F.; Vlassov, A. V.; Wang, K.; Weinstein, L. B.; Weller, H.; Weygand, D. P.; Whisnant, C. S.; Wolin, E.; Wood, M. H.; Yegneswaran, A.; Yun, J.; Zhang, B.; Zhao, J.; Zhou, Z.

2003-11-01

Double-polarization asymmetries for inclusive ep scattering were measured at Jefferson Lab using 2.6 and 4.3GeV longitudinally polarized electrons incident on a longitudinally polarized NH3 target in the CLAS detector. The polarized structure function g1(x,Q2) was extracted throughout the nucleon resonance region and into the deep inelastic regime, for Q2=0.15 1.64 GeV2. The contributions to the first moment Γ1(Q2)=∫g1(x,Q2) dx were determined up to Q2=1.2 GeV2. Using a parametrization for g1 in the unmeasured low x regions, the complete first moment was estimated over this Q2 region. A rapid change in Γ1 is observed for Q2<1 GeV2, with a sign change near Q2=0.3 GeV2, indicating dominant contributions from the resonance region. At Q2=1.2 GeV2 our data are below the perturbative QCD evolved scaling value.

Fluid and solute transfer characteristics in a dialyzer with a high-performance membrane.

PubMed

Mineshima, Michio

2011-01-01

To date, many types of high-flux dialyzers with high-performance membranes have been developed. They seem to have a higher internal filtration flow rate (Q(IF)) because of a higher ultrafiltration coefficient. In the health reimbursement system in Japan, commercially available dialyzers are categorized into five types based on their β(2)-microglobulin clearance (K(BMG)) values. Although the K(BMG) value was not correlated strongly with the Q(IF) value for 26 types of commercially available dialyzers, almost all the dialyzers with a higher Q(IF) value had a higher KBMG value. These dialyzers seem to have a higher convective transport because of internal filtration in addition to diffusive transport. We measured the blood flow velocity in a cross-sectional plane of the dialyzer using pulse Doppler ultra-sonography to evaluate QIF. It is a useful method for the bedside monitoring because it is noninvasive to the patient and produces reliable data with a higher reproducibility. On the other hand, membrane fouling occurs more easily in higher Q(IF) dialyzers, compared with conventional dialyzers, because of the higher degree of membrane fouling. Internal filtration-enhanced hemodialysis (IFEHD) using these dialyzers, therefore, has the advantage of increasing solute removal efficiency by enhancing convective transport and the simultaneous disadvantage of decreasing solute removal efficiency by causing membrane fouling. Thus, IFEHD treatment should be performed using a dialyzer with a high-performance membrane to ensure that the advantage is superior to the disadvantage. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

An immunocapture/scintillation proximity analysis of G alpha q/11 activation by native serotonin (5-HT)2A receptors in rat cortex: blockade by clozapine and mirtazapine.

PubMed

Mannoury La Cour, C; Chaput, C; Touzard, M; Millan, M J

2009-02-01

Though transduction mechanisms recruited by heterologously expressed 5-HT(2A) receptors have been extensively studied, their interaction with specific subtypes of G-protein remains to be directly evaluated in cerebral tissue. Herein, as shown by an immunocapture/scintillation proximity analysis, 5-HT, the prototypical 5-HT(2A) agonist, DOI, and Ro60,0175 all enhanced [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to G alpha q/11 in rat cortex with pEC(50) values of 6.22, 7.24 and 6.35, respectively. No activation of G o or G s/olf was seen at equivalent concentrations of DOI. Stimulation of G alpha q/11 by 5-HT (30 microM) and DOI (30 microM) was abolished by the selective 5-HT(2A) vs. 5-HT(2C)/5-HT(2B) antagonists, ketanserin (pK(B) values of 9.11 and 8.88, respectively) and MDL100,907 (9.82 and 9.68). By contrast, 5-HT-induced [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to G alpha q/11 was only weakly inhibited by the preferential 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonists, RS102,221 (6.94) and SB242,084 (7.39), and the preferential 5-HT(2B) receptor antagonist, LY266,097 (6.66). The antipsychotic, clozapine, which had marked affinity for 5-HT(2A) receptors, blocked the recruitment of G alpha q/11 by 5-HT and DOI with pK(B) values of 8.54 and 8.14, respectively. Its actions were mimicked by the "atypical" antidepressant and 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist, mirtazapine, which likewise blocked 5-HT and DOI-induced G alpha q/11 protein activation with pK(B) values of 7.90 and 7.76, respectively. In conclusion, by use of an immunocapture/scintillation proximity strategy, this study shows that native 5-HT(2A) receptors in rat frontal cortex specifically recruit G alpha q/11 and that this action is blocked by clozapine and mirtazapine. Quantification of 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated G alpha q/11 activation in frontal cortex should prove instructive in characterizing the actions of diverse classes of psychotropic agent. 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Supersymmetric Q-balls: A numerical study

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

Campanelli, L.; INFN--Sezione di Ferrara, I-44100 Ferrara; Ruggieri, M.

2008-02-15

We study numerically a class of nontopological solitons, the Q-balls, arising in a supersymmetric extension of the standard model with low-energy, gauge-mediated symmetry breaking. Taking into account the exact form of the supersymmetric potential giving rise to Q-balls, we find that there is a lower limit on the value of the charge Q in order to make them classically stable: Q > or approx. 5x10{sup 2}Q{sub cr}, where Q{sub cr} is constant depending on the parameters defining the potential and can be in the range 1 < or approx. Q{sub cr} < or approx. 10{sup 8} {sup divide} {sup 16}.more » If Q is the baryon number, stability with respect to the decay into protons requires Q > or approx. 10{sup 17}Q{sub cr}, while if the gravitino mass is greater then m{sub 3/2} > or approx. 61 MeV, no stable gauge-mediation supersymmetric Q-balls exist. Finally, we find that energy and radius of Q-balls can be parametrized as E{approx}{xi}{sub E}Q{sup 3/4} and R{approx}{xi}{sub R}Q{sup 1/4}, where {xi}{sub E} and {xi}{sub R} are slowly varying functions of the charge.« less

Constraining the cosmic deceleration-acceleration transition with type Ia supernova, BAO/CMB and H(z) data

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

Santos, M. Vargas dos; Reis, R.R.R.; Waga, I., E-mail: vargas@if.ufrj.br, E-mail: ribamar@if.ufrj.br, E-mail: ioav@if.ufrj.br

2016-02-01

We revisit the kink-like parametrization of the deceleration parameter q(z) [1], which considers a transition, at redshift z{sub t}, from cosmic deceleration to acceleration. In this parametrization the initial, at z >> z{sub t}, value of the q-parameter is q{sub i}, its final, z=−1, value is q{sub f} and the duration of the transition is parametrized by τ. By assuming a flat space geometry we obtain constraints on the free parameters of the model using recent data from type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the Hubble parameter H(z). The use of H(z) data introducesmore » an explicit dependence of the combined likelihood on the present value of the Hubble parameter H{sub 0}, allowing us to explore the influence of different priors when marginalizing over this parameter. We also study the importance of the CMB information in the results by considering data from WMAP7, WMAP9 (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe—7 and 9 years) and Planck 2015. We show that the contours and best fit do not depend much on the different CMB data used and that the considered new BAO data is responsible for most of the improvement in the results. Assuming a flat space geometry, q{sub i}=1/2 and expressing the present value of the deceleration parameter q{sub 0} as a function of the other three free parameters, we obtain z{sub t}=0.67{sup +0.10}{sub −0.08}, τ=0.26{sup +0.14}{sub −0.10} and q{sub 0}=−0.48{sup +0.11}{sub −0.13}, at 68% of confidence level, with an uniform prior over H{sub 0}. If in addition we fix q{sub f}=−1, as in flat ΛCDM, DGP and Chaplygin quartessence that are special models described by our parametrization, we get z{sub t}=0.66{sup +0.03}{sub −0.04}, τ=0.33{sup +0.04}{sub −0.04} and q{sub 0}=−0.54{sup +0.05}{sub −0.07}, in excellent agreement with flat ΛCDM for which τ=1/3. We also obtain for flat wCDM, another dark energy model described by our parametrization, the constraint on the equation of state parameter −1.22 < w < −0.78 at more than 99% confidence level.« less

The use of kDNA minicircle subclass relative abundance to differentiate between Leishmania (L.) infantum and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

PubMed

Ceccarelli, Marcello; Galluzzi, Luca; Diotallevi, Aurora; Andreoni, Francesca; Fowler, Hailie; Petersen, Christine; Vitale, Fabrizio; Magnani, Mauro

2017-05-16

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by many Leishmania species, belonging to subgenera Leishmania (Leishmania) and Leishmania (Viannia). Several qPCR-based molecular diagnostic approaches have been reported for detection and quantification of Leishmania species. Many of these approaches use the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) minicircles as the target sequence. These assays had potential cross-species amplification, due to sequence similarity between Leishmania species. Previous works demonstrated discrimination between L. (Leishmania) and L. (Viannia) by SYBR green-based qPCR assays designed on kDNA, followed by melting or high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis. Importantly, these approaches cannot fully distinguish L. (L.) infantum from L. (L.) amazonensis, which can coexist in the same geographical area. DNA from 18 strains/isolates of L. (L.) infantum, L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) panamensis, L. (V.) guyanensis, and 62 clinical samples from L. (L.) infantum-infected dogs were amplified by a previously developed qPCR (qPCR-ML) and subjected to HRM analysis; selected PCR products were sequenced using an ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer. Based on the obtained sequences, a new SYBR-green qPCR assay (qPCR-ama) intended to amplify a minicircle subclass more abundant in L. (L.) amazonensis was designed. The qPCR-ML followed by HRM analysis did not allow discrimination between L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) infantum in 53.4% of cases. Hence, the novel SYBR green-based qPCR (qPCR-ama) has been tested. This assay achieved a detection limit of 0.1 pg of parasite DNA in samples spiked with host DNA and did not show cross amplification with Trypanosoma cruzi or host DNA. Although the qPCR-ama also amplified L. (L.) infantum strains, the C q values were dramatically increased compared to qPCR-ML. Therefore, the combined analysis of C q values from qPCR-ML and qPCR-ama allowed to distinguish L. (L.) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis in 100% of tested samples. A new and affordable SYBR-green qPCR-based approach to distinguish between L. (L.) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis was developed exploiting the major abundance of a minicircle sequence rather than targeting a hypothetical species-specific sequence. The fast and accurate discrimination between these species can be useful to provide adequate prognosis and treatment.

Q selection for an electro-optical earth imaging system: theoretical and experimental results.

PubMed

Cochrane, Andy; Schulz, Kevin; Kendrick, Rick; Bell, Ray

2013-09-23

This paper explores practical design considerations for selecting Q for an electro-optical earth imaging system, where Q is defined as (λ FN) / pixel pitch. Analytical methods are used to show that, under imaging conditions with high SNR, increasing Q with fixed aperture cannot lead to degradation of image quality regardless of the angular smear rate of the system. The potential for degradation of image quality under low SNR is bounded by an increase of the detector noise scaling as Q. An imaging test bed is used to collect representative imagery for various Q configurations. The test bed includes real world errors such as image smear and haze. The value of Q is varied by changing the focal length of the imaging system. Imagery is presented over a broad range of parameters.

On the robustness of the q-Gaussian family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sicuro, Gabriele; Tempesta, Piergiulio; Rodríguez, Antonio; Tsallis, Constantino

2015-12-01

We introduce three deformations, called α-, β- and γ-deformation respectively, of a N-body probabilistic model, first proposed by Rodríguez et al. (2008), having q-Gaussians as N → ∞ limiting probability distributions. The proposed α- and β-deformations are asymptotically scale-invariant, whereas the γ-deformation is not. We prove that, for both α- and β-deformations, the resulting deformed triangles still have q-Gaussians as limiting distributions, with a value of q independent (dependent) on the deformation parameter in the α-case (β-case). In contrast, the γ-case, where we have used the celebrated Q-numbers and the Gauss binomial coefficients, yields other limiting probability distribution functions, outside the q-Gaussian family. These results suggest that scale-invariance might play an important role regarding the robustness of the q-Gaussian family.

A double-blinded, prospective study to define antigenemia and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction cutoffs to start preemptive therapy in low-risk, seropositive, renal transplanted recipients.

PubMed

David-Neto, Elias; Triboni, Ana H K; Paula, Flavio J; Vilas Boas, Lucy S; Machado, Clarisse M; Agena, Fabiana; Latif, Acram Z A; Alencar, Cecília S; Pierrotti, Ligia C; Nahas, William C; Caiaffa-Filho, Helio H; Pannuti, Claudio S

2014-11-27

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease occurs in 16% to 20% of low-risk, CMV-positive renal transplant recipients. The cutoffs for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or phosphoprotein (pp65) antigenemia (pp65emia) for starting preemptive therapy have not been well established. We measured qPCR and pp65emia weekly from day 7 to day 120 after transplantation, in anti-CMV immunoglobulin G–positive donor and recipient pairs. Patients and physicians were blinded to the test results. Suspicion of CMV disease led to the order of new tests. In asymptomatic viremic patients, the highest pp65emia and qPCR values were used, whereas we considered the last value before diagnosis in those with CMV disease. We collected a total of 1,481 blood samples from 102 adult patients. Seventeen patients developed CMV disease, 54 presented at least one episode of viremia that cleared spontaneously, and 31 never presented viremia. Five patients developed CMV disease after the end of the study period. The median (95% confidence interval) pp65emia and qPCR values were higher before CMV disease than during asymptomatic viremia (6 [9–82] vs. 3 [1–14] cells/10(6) cells; P<0.001 and 3,080 [1,263–15,605] vs. 258 [258–1,679] copies/mL; P=0.008, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that pp65emia 4 cells/10(6) cells or greater showed a sensitivity and specificity to predict CMV disease of 69% and 81%, respectively (area, 0.769; P=0.001), with a positive predictive value of 37% and a negative predictive value of 93%. For qPCR 2,000 copies/mL or higher, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 57% and 91%, respectively (receiver operating characteristic area, 0.782; P=0.000). With these cutoffs, both methods are appropriate for detecting CMV disease.

Impact experiments onto heterogeneous targets and their interpretation in relation with formation of the asteroid families

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leliwa-Kopystynski, J.; Arakawa, M.

2014-07-01

Results of laboratory impact experiments, when extrapolated to the planetary scale of events, are aimed for better understanding of cratering and/or disruption of asteroids, satellites, and cometary nuclei. There is absolutely no reason to assume that these bodies are uniform rocky or icy monoliths. So, we studied reactions of the heterogeneous targets on the impacts. A series of impact experiments onto solid decimeter-sized cylinders made of porous gypsum mixed with approximately one-centimeter-sized pebbles have been performed. The mean density of the material of the targets was 1867 kg m^{-3}, the mean mass ratio (pebbles / gypsum) = 0.856 / 0.144, and the mean volume ratio (pebbles / gypsum / pores) = 0.585 / 0.116 / 0.299. The target densities and their heterogeneous structures could be representative of those of the asteroids Ida, Eros, and many others, because asteroid sub-surface volumes could be composed of consolidated boulders formed by self-compaction and/or by impact compaction. Impact velocities in the experiments ranged from 2.0 km/s to 6.7 km/s (collision velocity in the asteroid main belt is approximately 5 km/s). By means of weighting and counting the post-impact fragments, their distribution function was found. Let Q [J/kg] be the specific energy of impact per unit of the target mass. Of particular interest is the value of impact strength, that is, the specific energy of disruption Q^*, corresponding to the ratio (mass of the largest fragment) / (mass of the target) = m_l/M = 0.5, which is, by convention, the value separating the cratering events from the catastrophic disruption impacts. Mass or size distribution of the post-impact fragments is expressed by the power law N ∝ m^{-p} ∝ r^{-3p}, p=p(Q/Q^{*}) A parameter that can be measured in the laboratory is the exponent p. For the case of a swarm of asteroids forming an asteroid family, the observationally estimated value is not the exponent p but rather the exponent q = 3p, since the sizes r of the family members are better known than their masses m (because then the asteroids' densities should be known). We have found that, for the gypsum/pebbles targets, there is Q^* ≈ 270 J/kg and the exponent q varies linearly with rather high slope: q = (0.705 ± 0.093)(Q/Q^{*}) + (2.7 ± 1.2) for 1 < Q/Q^* < 40, approximately. For comparison, this result differs considerably from that for porous water ice targets with porosity equal to 0.37 and specific energy of disruption Q^* ≈ 39 J/kg (based on the data presented in Fig. 9 of Arakawa et al., 2002). In that case, q has only a slight slope: q = (0.092 ± 0.020)(Q/Q^*) + (1.30 ± 0.22) for 1 < Q/Q^* < 20, approximately. The presence of pebbles strongly influences the impact strength of the target as well as the size distribution of the post-impact fragments. Formulae (2) and (3) indicate that the increase of specific impact energy delivered to the target leads to more efficient comminuting. Comparison with the experimental size distribution within families of asteroids is in progress.

Quantitative evaluation of the stretch reflex before and after hydro kinesy therapy in patients affected by spastic paresis.

PubMed

Pagliaro, P; Zamparo, P

1999-04-01

The aim of this study was the quantitative evaluation of the myotatic reflex in a group of 26 patients affected by stationary spastic paresis (6: hemiparesis; 5: paraparesis; 8: tetraparesis; 7: multiple sclerosis) before and after a treatment of hydro-kinesy therapy. The treatment was carried out in an indoor pool containing warm (32 degrees C) sea water and consisted of active and passive motion exercises, coordination exercises and immersion walking. The measured parameters were: (i) the peak input force (FpH) measured by means of an instrumented hammer with which the patellar tendon was hit; and (ii) the peak value of the corresponding reflex force of the quadriceps femoris (FpQ) measured by means of a load cell connected to the subject's ankle. The peak values of the reflex response (FpQ) were found to increase as a function of the intensity of the imposed stimulus and to reach a plateau between 15 and 30 N of FpH. A Student's t test applied to the paired values of FpQ (as measured at plateau conditions) on both the lower limbs, before and after therapy, showed no significant changes due to the treatment in the four groups of subjects. However, if all subjects were grouped regardless the type of illness: 1) the average reflex response of the affected limb (the one characterized before therapy by the higher FpQ values) was found to decrease following the treatment (75.1+/-26.7 N pre therapy and 69.1+/-29.3 N post therapy, p = 0.07, n = 26); and 2) the effect of the treatment was found to be significantly larger (p = 0.04, n = 26) on the affected limb (delta FpQ = 6.07+/-16.5 N) as respect with the contra lateral one (delta FpQ = -0.16+/-12.1 N).

Techniques for estimating 7-day, 10-year low-flow characteristics for ungaged sites on streams in Mississippi

USGS Publications Warehouse

Telis, Pamela A.

1992-01-01

Mississippi State water laws require that the 7-day, 10-year low-flow characteristic (7Q10) of streams be used as a criterion for issuing wastedischarge permits to dischargers to streams and for limiting withdrawals of water from streams. This report presents techniques for estimating the 7Q10 for ungaged sites on streams in Mississippi based on the availability of baseflow discharge measurements at the site, location of nearby gaged sites on the same stream, and drainage area of the ungaged site. These techniques may be used to estimate the 7Q10 at sites on natural, unregulated or partially regulated, and non-tidal streams. Low-flow characteristics for streams in the Mississippi River alluvial plain were not estimated because the annual lowflow data exhibit decreasing trends with time. Also presented are estimates of the 7Q10 for 493 gaged sites on Mississippi streams.Techniques for estimating the 7Q10 have been developed for ungaged sites with base-flow discharge measurements, for ungaged sites on gaged streams, and for ungaged sites on ungaged streams. For an ungaged site with one or more base-flow discharge measurements, base-flow discharge data at the ungaged site are related to concurrent discharge data at a nearby gaged site. For ungaged sites on gaged streams, several methods of transferring the 7Q10 from a gaged site to an ungaged site were developed; the resulting 7Q10 values are based on drainage area prorations for the sites. For ungaged sites on ungaged streams, the 7Q10 is estimated from a map developed for. this study that shows the unit 7Q10 (7Q10 per square mile of drainage area) for ungaged basins in the State. The mapped values were estimated from the unit 7Q10 determined for nearby gaged basins, adjusted on the basis of the geology and topography of the ungaged basins.

Prognostic implications of Q waves at presentation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: An analysis of the HORIZONS-AMI study.

PubMed

Kosmidou, Ioanna; Redfors, Björn; Crowley, Aaron; Gersh, Bernard; Chen, Shmuel; Dizon, José M; Embacher, Monica; Mehran, Roxana; Ben-Yehuda, Ori; Mintz, Gary S; Stone, Gregg W

2017-11-01

Presence of Q waves on the presenting electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been associated with worse prognosis; however, whether the prognostic value of Q waves is influenced by baseline characteristics and/or rapidity of revascularization based on the guideline-based metric of door-to-balloon time remains unknown. We hypothesized that Q waves in the presenting ECG will be predictive of long term mortality regardless of time to reperfusion. The Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial enrolled 3602 patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. We stratified patients without prior history of myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization according to presence or absence of pathological Q waves on their presenting ECG. Associations between Q waves, death, and cardiovascular outcomes within 3 years were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Among 2723 patients with evaluable ECGs, 1084 (39.8%) had Q waves on their presenting ECG. Male sex and time from symptom onset to balloon inflation were independent predictors of presence of Q waves. Patients with Q waves had higher adjusted risks of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.05, P = 0.04) and cardiac death (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.72, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-2.72, P = 0.02). The association between Q waves and cardiac death was consistent regardless of sex, diabetes status, target vessel, or door-to-balloon time (P interaction > 0.4 for all). Presence of Q waves on the presenting ECG in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention due to STEMI is an independent predictor of mortality and adds prognostic value, regardless of sex or rapidity of revascularization. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparative of Quercus spp. and Salix spp. for phytoremediation of Pb/Zn mine tailings.

PubMed

Shi, Xiang; Wang, Shufeng; Sun, Haijing; Chen, Yitai; Wang, Dongxue; Pan, Hongwei; Zou, Yazhu; Liu, Jianfeng; Zheng, Linyu; Zhao, Xiulian; Jiang, Zeping

2017-02-01

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using tree seedlings for the phytoremediation of lead/zinc (Pb/Zn) mine tailings. Seedlings of three Quercus spp. (Q. shumardii, Q. phellos, and Q. virginiana) and rooted cuttings of two Salix spp. (S. matsudana and S. integra) were transplanted into pots containing 50 and 100 % Pb/Zn mine tailings to evaluate their tolerance of heavy metals. The five species showed different tolerance levels to the Pb/Zn tailings treatments. Q. virginiana was highly tolerant to heavy metals and grew normally in the Pb/Zn tailings. The root systems showed marked differences between the Quercus spp. and Salix spp., indicating that different mechanisms operated to confer tolerance of heavy metals. The maximum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry value of the five species showed no differences among the treatments, except for Q. shumardii. All species showed low metal translocation factors (TFs). However, S. integra had significantly higher TF values for Zn (1.42-2.18) and cadmium (1.03-1.45) than did the other species. In this respect, Q. virginiana showed the highest tolerance and a low TF, implying that it is a candidate for phytostabilization of mine tailings in southern China. S. integra may be useful for phytoextraction of tailings in temperate regions.

Insight into the adsorption of PPCPs by porous adsorbents: Effect of the properties of adsorbents and adsorbates.

PubMed

Zhu, Zengyin; Xie, Jiawen; Zhang, Mancheng; Zhou, Qing; Liu, Fuqiang

2016-07-01

Adsorption is an efficient method for removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Magnetic resins are efficient adsorbents for water treatment and exhibit potential for PPCP removal. In this study, the magnetic hypercrosslinked resin Q100 was used for adsorption of PPCPs. The adsorption behavior of this resin was compared with those of two activated carbons, namely, Norit and F400D. Norit exhibited the fastest adsorption kinetics, followed by Q100. Norit featured a honeycomb shape and long-range ordered pore channels, which facilitated the diffusion of PPCPs. Moreover, the large average pore size of Q100 reduced diffusion resistance. The adsorbed amounts of 11 PPCPs on the three adsorbents increased with increasing adsorbate hydrophobicity. For Q100, a significant linear correlation was observed between the adsorption performance for PPCPs and hydrophobicity (logD value) of adsorbates (R(2) = 0.8951); as such, PPCPs with high logD values (>1.69) could be efficiently removed. Compared with those of Norit and F400D, the adsorption performance of Q100 was less affected by humic acid because of the dominant hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, Q100 showed improved regeneration performance, which renders it promising for PPCP removal in practical applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coda Wave Analysis in Central-Western North America Using Earthscope Transportable Array Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Escudero, C. R.; Doser, D. I.

2011-12-01

We determined seismic wave attenuation in the western and central United States (e.g. Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas) using coda waves. We selected approximately twenty moderate earthquakes (magnitude between 5.5 and 6.5) located along the Mexican subduction zone, Gulf of California, southern and northern California, and off the coast of Oregon for the analysis. These events were recorded by the EarthScope transportable array (TA) network from 2008 to 2011. In this study we implemented a method based on the assumption that coda waves are single backscattered waves from randomly distributed heterogeneities to calculate the coda Q. The frequencies studied lie between 1 and 15 Hz. The scattering attenuation is calculated for frequency bands centered at 1.5, 3, 5, 7.5, 10.5, and 13.5 Hz. In this work, we present coda Q resolution maps along with a correlation analysis between coda Q and seismicity, tectonic and geology setting. We observed higher attenuation (low coda Q values) in regions of sedimentary cover, and lower attenuation (high coda Q values) in hard rock regions. Using the 4-6 Hz frequency band, we found the best general correlation between coda Q and central-western North America bedrock geology.

Reinforcement interval type-2 fuzzy controller design by online rule generation and q-value-aided ant colony optimization.

PubMed

Juang, Chia-Feng; Hsu, Chia-Hung

2009-12-01

This paper proposes a new reinforcement-learning method using online rule generation and Q-value-aided ant colony optimization (ORGQACO) for fuzzy controller design. The fuzzy controller is based on an interval type-2 fuzzy system (IT2FS). The antecedent part in the designed IT2FS uses interval type-2 fuzzy sets to improve controller robustness to noise. There are initially no fuzzy rules in the IT2FS. The ORGQACO concurrently designs both the structure and parameters of an IT2FS. We propose an online interval type-2 rule generation method for the evolution of system structure and flexible partitioning of the input space. Consequent part parameters in an IT2FS are designed using Q -values and the reinforcement local-global ant colony optimization algorithm. This algorithm selects the consequent part from a set of candidate actions according to ant pheromone trails and Q-values, both of which are updated using reinforcement signals. The ORGQACO design method is applied to the following three control problems: 1) truck-backing control; 2) magnetic-levitation control; and 3) chaotic-system control. The ORGQACO is compared with other reinforcement-learning methods to verify its efficiency and effectiveness. Comparisons with type-1 fuzzy systems verify the noise robustness property of using an IT2FS.

Aniline-containing guests recognized by α,α',δ,δ'-tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril host.

PubMed

Lin, Rui-Lian; Fang, Guo-Sheng; Sun, Wen-Qi; Liu, Jing-Xin

2016-12-13

The host-guest complexation of symmetrical α,α',δ,δ'-tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) and cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) with a series of aniline-containing guests has been investigated by various experimental techniques including NMR, ITC, and X-ray crystallography. Experimental results indicate that both TMeQ[6] and Q[7] hosts can encapsulate aniline-containing guests to form stable inclusion complexes. However, the oval cavity of TMeQ[6] is more complementary in size and shape to the aromatic ring of the guests than the spherical cavity of Q[7]. Shielding and deshielding effects of the aromatic ring on guests lead to the remarkable chemical shifts of the TMeQ[6] host protons. The rotational restriction of the guests in the oval cavity of TMeQ[6] results in the large negative values of entropy. The X-ray crystal structure of the 1:1 inclusion complex between TMeQ[6] and N,N'-diethyl-benzene-1,4-diamine unambiguously reveals that the aromatic ring of the guest resides in the oval cavity of TMeQ[6].

Sensitivity of Downward Longwave Surface Radiation to Moisture and Cloud Changes in a High-elevation Region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naud, Catherine M.; Chen, Yonghua; Rangwala, Imtiaz; Miller, James R.

2013-01-01

Several studies have suggested enhanced rates of warming in high-elevation regions since the latter half of the twentieth century. One of the potential reasons why enhanced rates of warming might occur at high elevations is the nonlinear relationship between downward longwave radiation (DLR) and specific humidity (q). Using ground-based observations at a high-elevation site in southwestern Colorado and coincident satellite-borne cloud retrievals, the sensitivity of DLR to changes in q and cloud properties is examined and quantified using a neural network method. It is also used to explore how the sensitivity of DLR to q (dDLR/dq) is affected by cloud properties. When binned by season, dDLR/dq is maximum in winter and minimum in summer for both clear and cloudy skies. However, the cloudy-sky sensitivities are smaller, primarily because (1) for both clear and cloudy skies dDLR/dq is proportional to 1/q, for q>0.5 g/kg, and (2) the seasonal values of q are on average larger in the cloudy-sky cases than in clear-sky cases. For a given value of q, dDLR/dq is slightly reduced in the presence of clouds and this reduction increases as q increases. In addition, DLR is found to be more sensitive to changes in cloud fraction when cloud fraction is large. In the limit of overcast skies, DLR sensitivity to optical thickness decreases as clouds become more opaque. These results are based on only one high-elevation site, so the conclusions here need to be tested at other high-elevation locations.

Genome-wide association study of serum coenzyme Q10 levels identifies susceptibility loci linked to neuronal diseases.

PubMed

Degenhardt, Frauke; Niklowitz, Petra; Szymczak, Silke; Jacobs, Gunnar; Lieb, Wolfgang; Menke, Thomas; Laudes, Matthias; Esko, Tõnu; Weidinger, Stephan; Franke, Andre; Döring, Frank; Onur, Simone

2016-07-01

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) is a lipophilic redox molecule that is present in membranes of almost all cells in human tissues. CoQ 10 is, amongst other functions, essential for the respiratory transport chain and is a modulator of inflammatory processes and gene expression. Rare monogenetic CoQ 10 deficiencies show noticeable symptoms in tissues (e.g. kidney) and cell types (e.g. neurons) with a high energy demand. To identify common genetic variants influencing serum CoQ 10 levels, we performed a fixed effects meta-analysis in two independent cross-sectional Northern German cohorts comprising 1300 individuals in total. We identified two genome-wide significant susceptibility loci. The best associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was rs9952641 (P value = 1.31 × 10 - 8 , β = 0.063, CI 0.95 [0.041, 0.085]) within the COLEC12 gene on chromosome 18. The SNP rs933585 within the NRXN-1 gene on chromosome 2 also showed genome wide significance (P value = 3.64 × 10 - 8 , β = -0.034, CI 0.95 [-0.046, -0.022]). Both genes have been previously linked to neuronal diseases like Alzheimer's disease, autism and schizophrenia. Among our 'top-10' associated variants, four additional loci with known neuronal connections showed suggestive associations with CoQ 10 levels. In summary, this study demonstrates that serum CoQ 10 levels are associated with common genetic loci that are linked to neuronal diseases. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Design flow duration curves for environmental flows estimation in Damodar River Basin, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Ravindra Kumar; Murthy, Shankar; Verma, Sangeeta; Mishra, Surendra Kumar

2017-06-01

In this study, environmental flows (EFs) are estimated for six watersheds of Damodar River Basin (DRB) using flow duration curve (FDC) derived using two approaches: (a) period of record and (b) stochastic approaches for daily, 7-, 30-, 60-day moving averages, and 7-daily mean annual flows observed at Tenughat dam, Konar dam, Maithon dam, Panchet dam, Damodar bridge, Burnpur during 1981-2010 and at Phusro during 1988-2010. For stochastic FDCs, 7-day FDCs for 10, 20-, 50- and 100-year return periods were derived for extraction of discharge values at every 5% probability of exceedance. FDCs derived using the first approach show high probability of exceedance (5-75%) for the same discharge values. Furthermore, discharge values of 60-day mean are higher than those derived using daily, 7-, and 30-day mean values. The discharge values of 95% probability of exceedance (Q95) derived from 7Q10 (ranges from 2.04 to 5.56 cumec) and 7Q100 (ranges from 3.4 to 31.48 cumec) FDCs using the second approach are found more appropriate as EFs during drought/low flow and normal precipitation years.

A procedure for the reliability improvement of the oblique ionograms automatic scaling algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ippolito, Alessandro; Scotto, Carlo; Sabbagh, Dario; Sgrigna, Vittorio; Maher, Phillip

2016-05-01

A procedure made by the combined use of the Oblique Ionogram Automatic Scaling Algorithm (OIASA) and Autoscala program is presented. Using Martyn's equivalent path theorem, 384 oblique soundings from a high-quality data set have been converted into vertical ionograms and analyzed by Autoscala program. The ionograms pertain to the radio link between Curtin W.A. (CUR) and Alice Springs N.T. (MTE), Australia, geographical coordinates (17.60°S; 123.82°E) and (23.52°S; 133.68°E), respectively. The critical frequency foF2 values extracted from the converted vertical ionograms by Autoscala were then compared with the foF2 values derived from the maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) provided by OIASA. A quality factor Q for the MUF values autoscaled by OIASA has been identified. Q represents the difference between the foF2 value scaled by Autoscala from the converted vertical ionogram and the foF2 value obtained applying the secant law to the MUF provided by OIASA. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, an appropriate threshold level Qt was chosen for Q to improve the performance of OIASA.

Epistemic Uncertainty and Limitations of the Kappa0 model for Near-surface Attenuation at Hard Rock Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Benjamin

2016-04-01

The determination of near-surface attenuation for hard rock sites is an important issue in a wide range of seismological applications, particularly seismic hazard analysis. In this article we choose six hard to very-hard rock sites (Vs30 1030 to 3000 m/s) and apply a range of analysis methods to measure the observed attenuation at distance based on a simple exponential decay model with whole-path attenuation operator κ. The κ values are subsequently decoupled from path attenuation (Q) so as to obtain estimates of near-surface attenuation (κ0). Five methods are employed to measure κ which can be split into two groups: broadband methods and high-frequency methods. Each of the applied methods has advantages and disadvantages, which are explored and discussed through the comparison of results from common datasets. In our first step we examine the variability of the individual measured κ values. Some variation between methods is expected due to simplifications of source, path, and site effects. However, we find that significant differences arise between attenuation measured on individual recordings, depending on the method employed or the modelling decisions made during a particular approach. Some of the differences can be explained through site amplification effects: although usually weak at rock sites, amplification may still lead to bias of the measured κ due to the chosen fitting frequency bandwidth, which often varies between methods. At some sites the observed high-frequency spectral shape was clearly different to the typical κ attenuation model, with curved or bi-linear rather than linear decay at high frequencies. In addition to amplification effects this could be related to frequency-dependent attenuation effects (e.g., Q(f)): since the κ model is implicitly frequency independent, κ will in this case be dependent on the selected analysis bandwidth. In our second step, using the whole-path κ datasets from the five approaches, we investigate the robustness of the near-surface attenuation parameter κ0 and the influence of constraints, such as assuming a value for the regional crustal attenuation (Q). We do this by using a variety of fitting methods: least-squares, absolute amplitude, and regressions with and without fixing Q to an a priori value. We find that the value to which we fix Q strongly influences the near-surface attenuation term κ0. Differences in Q derived from the data at the six sites under investigation could not be reconciled with the average values found previously over the wider Swiss region. This led to starkly different κ0 values, depending on whether we allowed for a data-driven Q, or whether we forced Q to be consistent with existing simulation models or GMPEs valid for the wider region. Considering all the possible approaches we found that the contribution to epistemic uncertainty for κ0 determination at the six hard-rock sites in Switzerland could be represented by a normal distribution with standard deviation σκ0=0.0083±0.0014 s.

Masses of {sup 130}Te and {sup 130}Xe and Double-{beta}-Decay Q Value of {sup 130}Te

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

Redshaw, Matthew; Mount, Brianna J.; Myers, Edmund G.

The atomic masses of {sup 130}Te and {sup 130}Xe have been obtained by measuring cyclotron frequency ratios of pairs of triply charged ions simultaneously trapped in a Penning trap. The results, with 1 standard deviation uncertainty, are M({sup 130}Te)=129.906 222 744(16) u and M({sup 130}Xe)=129.903 509 351(15) u. From the mass difference the double-{beta}-decay Q value of {sup 130}Te is determined to be Q{sub {beta}}{sub {beta}}({sup 130}Te)=2527.518(13) keV. This is a factor of 150 more precise than the result of the AME2003 [G. Audi et al., Nucl. Phys. A729, 337 (2003)].

Reduction of timing jitter in a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser by direct bleaching of a Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber.

PubMed

Cole, Brian; Goldberg, Lew; Trussell, C Ward; Hays, Alan; Schilling, Bradley W; McIntosh, Chris

2009-02-02

A method for optical triggering of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser by direct bleaching of a Cr:YAG saturable absorber is described. This method involves the bleaching of a thin sheet of the saturable absorber from a direction orthogonal to the lasing axis using a single laser diode bar, where the Cr:YAG transmission increased from a non-bleached value of 47% to a bleached value of 63%. For steady state operation of a passively Q-switched laser (PRF=10 Hz), the pulse-to-pulse timing jitter showed approximately 12X reduction in standard deviation, from 241 nsec for free running operation to 20 nsec with optical triggering.

Miami International Airport Data Package Number 7. Airport Improvement Task Force Delay Studies.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

scenario indica- td the aircraft separation values to be used for the experiments for either VFR or IFR weather conditions. Persent day VFR separation...5. . 2 1q%3 L- VFf.-W None- To CO s /.a Irr. 44, /.4t#37 \\q~ VFf~l-V’ Iq~3 e,4 __I_3 a,3 4,5-" /, @,’ 35A F -3, Iq, a19 a,%.1 39 )92i34* FIW Iee.. Td ...DELAY AVERAGE DELAY (MINUTES) (MINUTES) EXP DEMAND WEATHER IMPROVEMENTS ATC ARR DEP ARR DEP I2 i995" 4FPZ-w 13 3 P q3 . i q. 7 3. 7 11. 1q3 ,, vfepz?-w

Technology for the production of Zero Q.I pitch from coal tar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karthik, K.; Kumar, K. Rajesh; Rao, C. V. Nageswara; Kumar, B. Vinod; Murty, J. V. S.

2013-06-01

Zero Quinoline Insolubles (Q.I) pitch is a special type of pitch obtained from pre-treatment of coal tar, which is converted into pitch. This is used for impregnation of electrodes for improving the strength, electrical properties and also used as a pre-cursor for Mesophase pitch for producing Mesophase pitch based carbon fibers, carbon foam, and Meso carbon micro beads. This paper discusses the technology of Q.I separation from Coal Tar by using decantation of Coal Tar mixed with Heavy Creosote Oil (HC Oil) at different temperatures. By this method we were able to produce the Zero Q.I pitch with a Q.I value of 0.1%.

Comparison of TVT and TOT on urethral mobility and surgical outcomes in stress urinary incontinence with hypermobile urethra.

PubMed

Cavkaytar, Sabri; Kokanalı, Mahmut Kuntay; Guzel, Ali Irfan; Ozer, Irfan; Aksakal, Orhan Seyfi; Doganay, Melike

2015-07-01

To compare the change of urethral mobility after midurethral sling procedures in stress urinary incontinence with hypermobile urethra and assess these findings with surgical outcomes. 141 women who agreed to undergo midurethral sling operations due to stress urinary incontinence with hypermobile urethra were enrolled in this non-randomized prospective observational study. Preoperatively, urethral mobility was measured by Q tip test. All women were asked to complete Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (IIQ-7) to assess the quality of life. Six months postoperatively, Q tip test and quality of life assessment were repeated. The primary surgical outcomes were classified as cure, improvement and failure. Transient urinary obstruction, de novo urgency, voiding dysfunction were secondary surgical outcomes. Of 141 women, 50 (35. 5%) women underwent TOT, 91 (64.5%) underwent TVT. In both TOT and TVT groups, postoperative Q tip test values, IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores were statistically reduced when compared with preoperative values. Postoperative Q tip test value in TVT group was significantly smaller than in TOT group [25°(15-45°) and 20° (15-45°), respectively]. When we compared the Q-tip test value, IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores changes, there were no statistically significant changes between the groups. Postoperative urethral mobility was more frequent in TOT group than in TVT group (40% vs 23.1%, respectively). Postoperative primary and secondary outcomes were similar in both groups. Although midurethral slings decrease the urethtal hypermobility, postoperative mobility status of urethra does not effect surgical outcomes of midurethral slings in women with preoperative urethral hypermobility. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reduction of Human Norovirus GI, GII, and Surrogates by Peracetic Acid and Monochloramine in Municipal Secondary Wastewater Effluent.

PubMed

Dunkin, Nathan; Weng, ShihChi; Coulter, Caroline G; Jacangelo, Joseph G; Schwab, Kellogg J

2017-10-17

The objective of this study was to characterize human norovirus (hNoV) GI and GII reductions during disinfection by peracetic acid (PAA) and monochloramine in secondary wastewater (WW) and phosphate buffer (PB) as assessed by reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR). Infectivity and RT-qPCR reductions are also presented for surrogate viruses murine norovirus (MNV) and bacteriophage MS2 under identical experimental conditions to aid in interpretation of hNoV molecular data. In WW, RT-qPCR reductions were less than 0.5 log 10 for all viruses at concentration-time (CT) values up to 450 mg-min/L except for hNoV GI, where 1 log 10 reduction was observed at CT values of less than 50 mg-min/L for monochloramine and 200 mg-min/L for PAA. In PB, hNoV GI and MNV exhibited comparable resistance to PAA and monochloramine with CT values for 2 log 10 RT-qPCR reduction between 300 and 360 mg-min/L. Less than 1 log 10 reduction was observed for MS2 and hNoV GII in PB at CT values for both disinfectants up to 450 mg-min/L. Our results indicate that hNoVs exhibit genogroup dependent resistance and that disinfection practices targeting hNoV GII will result in equivalent or greater reductions for hNoV GI. These data provide valuable comparisons between hNoV and surrogate molecular signals that can begin the process of informing regulators and engineers on WW treatment plant design and operational practices necessary to inactivate hNoVs.

[Phrenic nerve stimulation protects against mechanical ventilation-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction through myogenic regulatory factors].

PubMed

An, G H; Chen, M; Zhan, W F; Hu, B; Zhang, H X

2018-02-12

Objective: To explore the protective effect of electrical stimulation of phrenic nerve on diaphragmatic function during mechanical ventilation. Methods: Forty healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group (BC), spontaneous breathing group (SB), electrical stimulation group (ES), mechanical ventilation group (MV), and electrical stimulation and mechanical ventilation group (MS). The rats in each group were treated for 18 h except for the BC group. After treatment, the diaphragm muscle tissue was obtained and the diaphragm contractility including peak-to-peak value(Vpp) and maximum rate of contraction(+ dT/dt max) were measured. Expression of MyoD and myogenin were detected. Results: Except for the ES and the MS groups, there was a significant difference for peak-to-peak value (Vpp) between each 2 groups ( P <0.05). Expression levels of MyoD in treatment groups were also significantly different ( P <0.05). Expressions of MS(Q-PCR 2(-ΔΔCt) value: 11.66±2.80) and MV(Q-PCR 2(-ΔΔCt) value: 40.89±24.71) in the treatment group were significantly different ( P <0.05). The expression of myogenin in the MS and the MV groups were significantly different from those of the BC group( P <0.05), however there was no significant difference between the MS(Q-PCR 2(-ΔΔCt) value: 2.58±2.75) and the MV group(Q-PCR 2(-ΔΔCt) value: 1.63±0.71). Conclusions: Electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve can change the expression level of MyoD and myogenin to offset mechanical ventilation induced diaphragmatic function damage, and therefore plays a protective effect on the diaphragm.

Combined quantification of pulmonary Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA and serum (1->3)-β-D-glucan for differential diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia and Pneumocystis colonization.

PubMed

Damiani, Céline; Le Gal, Solène; Da Costa, Cécilia; Virmaux, Michèle; Nevez, Gilles; Totet, Anne

2013-10-01

This study assessed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for Pneumocystis jirovecii quantification in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples combined with serum (1→3)-β-d-glucan (BG) level detection to distinguish Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) from pulmonary colonization with P. jirovecii. Forty-six patients for whom P. jirovecii was initially detected in BAL fluid samples were retrospectively enrolled. Based on clinical data and results of P. jirovecii detection, 17 and 29 patients were diagnosed with PCP and colonization, respectively. BAL fluid samples were reassayed using a qPCR assay targeting the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene. qPCR results and serum BG levels (from a Fungitell kit) were analyzed conjointly. P. jirovecii DNA copy numbers were significantly higher in the PCP group than in the colonization group (1.3 × 10(7) versus 3.4 × 10(3) copies/μl, P < 0.05). A lower cutoff value (1.6 × 10(3) copies/μl) achieving 100% sensitivity for PCP diagnosis and an upper cutoff value (2 × 10(4) copies/μl) achieving 100% specificity were determined. Applying these two values, 13/17 PCP patients and 19/29 colonized patients were correctly assigned to their patient groups. For the remaining 14 patients with P. jirovecii DNA copy numbers between the cutoff values, PCP and colonization could not be distinguished on the basis of qPCR results. Four of these patients who were initially assigned to the PCP group presented BG levels of ≥100 pg/ml. The other 10 patients, who were initially assigned to the colonization group, presented BG levels of <100 pg/ml. These results suggest that the combination of the qPCR assay, applying cutoff values of 1.6 × 10(3) and 2 × 10(4) copies/μl, and serum BG detection, applying a 100 pg/ml threshold, can differentiate PCP and colonization diagnoses.

Combined Quantification of Pulmonary Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA and Serum (1→3)-β-d-Glucan for Differential Diagnosis of Pneumocystis Pneumonia and Pneumocystis Colonization

PubMed Central

Le Gal, Solène; Da Costa, Cécilia; Virmaux, Michèle; Nevez, Gilles; Totet, Anne

2013-01-01

This study assessed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for Pneumocystis jirovecii quantification in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples combined with serum (1→3)-β-d-glucan (BG) level detection to distinguish Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) from pulmonary colonization with P. jirovecii. Forty-six patients for whom P. jirovecii was initially detected in BAL fluid samples were retrospectively enrolled. Based on clinical data and results of P. jirovecii detection, 17 and 29 patients were diagnosed with PCP and colonization, respectively. BAL fluid samples were reassayed using a qPCR assay targeting the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene. qPCR results and serum BG levels (from a Fungitell kit) were analyzed conjointly. P. jirovecii DNA copy numbers were significantly higher in the PCP group than in the colonization group (1.3 × 107 versus 3.4 × 103 copies/μl, P < 0.05). A lower cutoff value (1.6 × 103 copies/μl) achieving 100% sensitivity for PCP diagnosis and an upper cutoff value (2 × 104 copies/μl) achieving 100% specificity were determined. Applying these two values, 13/17 PCP patients and 19/29 colonized patients were correctly assigned to their patient groups. For the remaining 14 patients with P. jirovecii DNA copy numbers between the cutoff values, PCP and colonization could not be distinguished on the basis of qPCR results. Four of these patients who were initially assigned to the PCP group presented BG levels of ≥100 pg/ml. The other 10 patients, who were initially assigned to the colonization group, presented BG levels of <100 pg/ml. These results suggest that the combination of the qPCR assay, applying cutoff values of 1.6 × 103 and 2 × 104 copies/μl, and serum BG detection, applying a 100 pg/ml threshold, can differentiate PCP and colonization diagnoses. PMID:23903553

Optimization of Terrestrial Ecosystem Model Parameters Using Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Data With the Global Carbon Assimilation System (GCAS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhuoqi; Chen, Jing M.; Zhang, Shupeng; Zheng, Xiaogu; Ju, Weiming; Mo, Gang; Lu, Xiaoliang

2017-12-01

The Global Carbon Assimilation System that assimilates ground-based atmospheric CO2 data is used to estimate several key parameters in a terrestrial ecosystem model for the purpose of improving carbon cycle simulation. The optimized parameters are the leaf maximum carboxylation rate at 25°C (Vmax25), the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem respiration (Q10), and the soil carbon pool size. The optimization is performed at the global scale at 1° resolution for the period from 2002 to 2008. The results indicate that vegetation from tropical zones has lower Vmax25 values than vegetation in temperate regions. Relatively high values of Q10 are derived over high/midlatitude regions. Both Vmax25 and Q10 exhibit pronounced seasonal variations at middle-high latitudes. The maxima in Vmax25 occur during growing seasons, while the minima appear during nongrowing seasons. Q10 values decrease with increasing temperature. The seasonal variabilities of Vmax25 and Q10 are larger at higher latitudes. Optimized Vmax25 and Q10 show little seasonal variabilities at tropical regions. The seasonal variabilities of Vmax25 are consistent with the variabilities of LAI for evergreen conifers and broadleaf evergreen forests. Variations in leaf nitrogen and leaf chlorophyll contents may partly explain the variations in Vmax25. The spatial distribution of the total soil carbon pool size after optimization is compared favorably with the gridded Global Soil Data Set for Earth System. The results also suggest that atmospheric CO2 data are a source of information that can be tapped to gain spatially and temporally meaningful information for key ecosystem parameters that are representative at the regional and global scales.

Integrating Tenascin-C protein expression and 1q25 copy number status in pediatric intracranial ependymoma prognostication: A new model for risk stratification.

PubMed

Andreiuolo, Felipe; Le Teuff, Gwénaël; Bayar, Mohamed Amine; Kilday, John-Paul; Pietsch, Torsten; von Bueren, André O; Witt, Hendrik; Korshunov, Andrey; Modena, Piergiorgio; Pfister, Stefan M; Pagès, Mélanie; Castel, David; Giangaspero, Felice; Chimelli, Leila; Varlet, Pascale; Rutkowski, Stefan; Frappaz, Didier; Massimino, Maura; Grundy, Richard; Grill, Jacques

2017-01-01

Despite multimodal therapy, prognosis of pediatric intracranial ependymomas remains poor with a 5-year survival rate below 70% and frequent late deaths. This multicentric European study evaluated putative prognostic biomarkers. Tenascin-C (TNC) immunohistochemical expression and copy number status of 1q25 were retained for a pooled analysis of 5 independent cohorts. The prognostic value of TNC and 1q25 on the overall survival (OS) was assessed using a Cox model adjusted to age at diagnosis, tumor location, WHO grade, extent of resection, radiotherapy and stratified by cohort. Stratification on a predictor that did not satisfy the proportional hazards assumption was considered. Model performance was evaluated and an internal-external cross validation was performed. Among complete cases with 5-year median follow-up (n = 470; 131 deaths), TNC and 1q25 gain were significantly associated with age at diagnosis and posterior fossa tumor location. 1q25 status added independent prognostic value for death beyond the classical variables with a hazard ratio (HR) = 2.19 95%CI = [1.29; 3.76] (p = 0.004), while TNC prognostic relation was tumor location-dependent with HR = 2.19 95%CI = [1.29; 3.76] (p = 0.004) in posterior fossa and HR = 0.64 [0.28; 1.48] (p = 0.295) in supratentorial (interaction p value = 0.015). The derived prognostic score identified 3 different robust risk groups. The omission of upfront RT was not associated with OS for good and intermediate prognostic groups while the absence of upfront RT was negatively associated with OS in the poor risk group. Integrated TNC expression and 1q25 status are useful to better stratify patients and to eventually adapt treatment regimens in pediatric intracranial ependymoma.

Correlation among extinction efficiency and other parameters in an aggregate dust model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhar, Tanuj Kumar; Sekhar Das, Himadri

2017-10-01

We study the extinction properties of highly porous Ballistic Cluster-Cluster Aggregate dust aggregates in a wide range of complex refractive indices (1.4≤ n≤ 2.0, 0.001≤ k≤ 1.0) and wavelengths (0.11 {{μ }}{{m}}≤ {{λ }}≤ 3.4 {{μ }} m). An attempt has been made for the first time to investigate the correlation among extinction efficiency ({Q}{ext}), composition of dust aggregates (n,k), wavelength of radiation (λ) and size parameter of the monomers (x). If k is fixed at any value between 0.001 and 1.0, {Q}{ext} increases with increase of n from 1.4 to 2.0. {Q}{ext} and n are correlated via linear regression when the cluster size is small, whereas the correlation is quadratic at moderate and higher sizes of the cluster. This feature is observed at all wavelengths (ultraviolet to optical to infrared). We also find that the variation of {Q}{ext} with n is very small when λ is high. When n is fixed at any value between 1.4 and 2.0, it is observed that {Q}{ext} and k are correlated via a polynomial regression equation (of degree 1, 2, 3 or 4), where the degree of the equation depends on the cluster size, n and λ. The correlation is linear for small size and quadratic/cubic/quartic for moderate and higher sizes. We have also found that {Q}{ext} and x are correlated via a polynomial regression (of degree 3, 4 or 5) for all values of n. The degree of regression is found to be n and k-dependent. The set of relations obtained from our work can be used to model interstellar extinction for dust aggregates in a wide range of wavelengths and complex refractive indices.

Nucleon form factors from quenched lattice QCD with domain wall fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Shoichi; Yamazaki, Takeshi

2008-07-01

We present a quenched lattice calculation of the weak nucleon form factors: vector [FV(q2)], induced tensor [FT(q2)], axial vector [FA(q2)] and induced pseudoscalar [FP(q2)] form factors. Our simulations are performed on three different lattice sizes L3×T=243×32, 163×32, and 123×32 with a lattice cutoff of a-1≈1.3GeV and light quark masses down to about 1/4 the strange quark mass (mπ≈390MeV) using a combination of the DBW2 gauge action and domain wall fermions. The physical volume of our largest lattice is about (3.6fm)3, where the finite volume effects on form factors become negligible and the lower momentum transfers (q2≈0.1GeV2) are accessible. The q2 dependences of form factors in the low q2 region are examined. It is found that the vector, induced tensor, and axial-vector form factors are well described by the dipole form, while the induced pseudoscalar form factor is consistent with pion-pole dominance. We obtain the ratio of axial to vector coupling gA/gV=FA(0)/FV(0)=1.219(38) and the pseudoscalar coupling gP=mμFP(0.88mμ2)=8.15(54), where the errors are statistical errors only. These values agree with experimental values from neutron β decay and muon capture on the proton. However, the root mean-squared radii of the vector, induced tensor, and axial vector underestimate the known experimental values by about 20%. We also calculate the pseudoscalar nucleon matrix element in order to verify the axial Ward-Takahashi identity in terms of the nucleon matrix elements, which may be called as the generalized Goldberger-Treiman relation.

Dynamic behaviors of water contained in calcium-silicate-hydrate gel at different temperatures studied by quasi-elastic neutron scattering spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Zhou; Deng, Pei-Na; Zhang, Li-Li; Li, Hua

2016-10-01

The dynamic behaviors of water contained in calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gel with different water content values from 10% to 30% (by weight), are studied by using an empirical diffusion model (EDM) to analyze the experimental data of quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) spectra at measured temperatures ranging from 230 K to 280 K. In the study, the experimental QENS spectra with the whole Q-range are considered. Several important parameters including the bound/immobile water elastic coefficient A, the bound water index BWI, the Lorentzian with a half-width at half-maximum (HWHM) Γ 1(Q) and Γ 2(Q), the self-diffusion coefficients D t1 and D t2 of water molecules, the average residence times τ 01 and τ 02, and the proton mean squared displacement (MSD) are obtained. The results show that the QENS spectra can be fitted very well not only for small Q (≤ 1 Å-1) but also for large Q. The bound/immobile water fraction in a C-S-H gel sample can be shown by the fitted BWI. The distinction between bound/immobile and mobile water, which includes confined water and ultra-confined water, can be seen by the fitted MSD. All the MSD tend to be the smallest value below 0.25 Å2 (the MSD of bound/immobile water) as the Q increases to 1.9 Å-1, no matter what the temperature and water content are. Furthermore, by the abrupt changes of the fitted values of D t1, τ 01, and Γ 1(Q), a crossover temperature at 250 K, namely the liquid-to-crystal-like transition temperature, can be identified for confined water in large gel pores (LGPs) and/or small gel pores (SGPs) contained in the C-S-H gel sample with 30% water content.