Closed-form solutions of the Schroedinger equation for a class of smoothed Coulomb potentials

An infinite family of closed-form solutions is exhibited for the Schroedinger equation for the potential $V(r) = -Z/\sqrt{|r|^{2} + a^{2}}$. Evidence is presented for an approximate dynamical symmetry for large values of the angular momentum $l$.Comment: 13 pages LaTeX, uses included Institute of Physics style files, 3 PostScript figures. In press at J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. (1997

Molecular Marker-Facilitated Investigations of Quantitative Trait Loci in Maize. II. Factors Influencing Yield and Its Component Traits

Because traits such as grain yield are polygenically inherited and strongly influenced by environment, determination of genotypic values from phenotypic expression is not precise and improvement strategies are frequently based on low heritabilities. Increased knowledge of the genetic factors involved in the expression of yield should enhance the improvement of this trait. The objectives of this study were to identify and locate genetic factors (i.e., quantitative trait loci, QTL\u27s) associated with grain yield and 24 yield-related traits in two F2populations of maize (Zea mays L.) using isozyme marker loci. (The populations were generated by selfing the F1, hybrids CO159 ✕ Tx303 and T232 ✕ CM37.) In addition, assessments of the types and magnitudes of gene effects expressed by these QTL\u27s were made. About two-thirds of the associations among 17 to 20 marker loci and the 25 quantitative traits were significant with a large proportion of these at P \u3c 0.001. Proportions of variation accounted for by genetic factors associated with individual marker loci varied from less than 1% to more than 11%. Although individual marker loci accounted for relatively small proportions of the phenotypic variation for these yield-related traits, differences between mean phenotypic values of the two homozygous classes at certain loci were occasionally more than 16% of the population mean. Also, different genomic regions contributed to yield through different subsets of the yield-related traits. Predominant types of gene action varied among loci and among the 25 quantitative traits. For plant grain yield, top ear grain weight, and ear length, the gene action was primarily dominant or overdominant. However, mainly additive gene action was implicated for ear number, kernel row number, and second ear grain weight. Results from these studies should prove to be useful for manipulating QTL\u27s in marker-facilitated selection program

Comparing internal migration across the countries of Latin America: A multidimensional approach.

While considerable progress has been made in understanding the way particular aspects of internal migration, such as its intensity, age profile and spatial impact, vary between countries around the world, little attention to date has been given to establishing how these dimensions of migration interact in different national settings. We use recently developed measures of internal migration that are scale-independent to compare the overall intensity, age composition, spatial impact, and distance profile of internal migration in 19 Latin American countries. Comparisons reveal substantial cross-national variation but cluster analysis suggests the different dimensions of migration evolve systematically to form a broad sequence characterised by low intensities, young ages at migration, unbalanced flows and high friction of distance at lower levels of development, trending to high intensities, an older age profile of migration, more closely balanced flows and lower friction of distance at later stages of development. However, the transition is not linear and local contingencies, such as international migration and political control, often distort the migration-development nexus, leading to unique migration patterns in individual national contexts

Collective excitations of Bose-Einstein condensed gases at finite temperatures

We have applied the Popov version of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation to calculate the finite-temperature excitation spectrum of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of $^{87}$Rb atoms. For lower values of the temperature, we find excellent agreement with recently-published experimental data for the JILA TOP trap. In contrast to recent comparison of the results of HFB--Popov theory with experimental condensate fractions and specific heats, there is disagreement of the theoretical and recent experimental results near the BEC phase transition temperature.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, with 4 figures. More info at http://amo.phy.gasou.edu/bec.htm

Duplicated Chromosome Segments in Maize (Zea mays L.): Further Evidence from Hexokinase Isozymes

The genetic control of hexokinase isozymes (ATP: d-hexose-6-phosphotransferase, E.C. 2.7.7.1, HEX) in maize (Zea mays L.) was studied by starch gel electrophoresis. Genetic analysis of a large number of inbred lines and crosses indicates that the major isozymes observed are encoded by two nuclear loci, designated Hexl and Hex2. Five active allozymes and one null variant are associated with Hexl, while Hex2 has nine active alleles in addition to a null variant. Alleles at both loci govern the presence of single bands, with no intragenic or intergenic heteromers visible, suggesting that maize HEX\u27s are active as monomers. Organelle preparations demonstrate that the products of both loci are cytosolic. All alleles, including the nulls, segregate normally in crosses. Vigorous and fertile plants were synthesized that were homozygous for null alleles at both loci, suggesting that other hexosephosphorylating enzymes exist in maize that are undetected with our assay conditions. Linkage analyses and crosses with B-A translocation stocks place Hexl on the short arm of chromosome 3, 27 centimorgans from Pgd2 (phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) and Hex2 on the long arm of chromosome 6, approximately 45 centimorgans from Pgdl. It is suggested that the parallel linkages among these two pairs of duplicated genes reflects an evolutionary history involving chromosome segment duplication or polyploidy

A Hybrid Lagrangian Variation Method for Bose-Einstein Condensates in Optical Lattices

Solving the Gross--Pitaevskii (GP) equation describing a Bose--Einstein condensate (BEC) immersed in an optical lattice potential can be a numerically demanding task. We present a variational technique for providing fast, accurate solutions of the GP equation for systems where the external potential exhibits rapid varation along one spatial direction. Examples of such systems include a BEC subjected to a one--dimensional optical lattice or a Bragg pulse. This variational method is a hybrid form of the Lagrangian Variational Method for the GP equation in which a hybrid trial wavefunction assumes a gaussian form in two coordinates while being totally unspecified in the third coordinate. The resulting equations of motion consist of a quasi--one--dimensional GP equation coupled to ordinary differential equations for the widths of the transverse gaussians. We use this method to investigate how an optical lattice can be used to move a condensate non--adiabatically.Comment: 16 pages and 1 figur

Moderate hypothermia within 6 h of birth plus inhaled xenon versus moderate hypothermia alone after birth asphyxia (TOBY-Xe): a proof-of-concept, open-label, randomised controlled trial

Background Moderate cooling after birth asphyxia is associated with substantial reductions in death and disability, but additional therapies might provide further benefit. We assessed whether the addition of xenon gas, a promising novel therapy, after the initiation of hypothermia for birth asphyxia would result in further improvement. Methods Total Body hypothermia plus Xenon (TOBY-Xe) was a proof-of-concept, randomised, open-label, parallel-group trial done at four intensive-care neonatal units in the UK. Eligible infants were 36–43 weeks of gestational age, had signs of moderate to severe encephalopathy and moderately or severely abnormal background activity for at least 30 min or seizures as shown by amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), and had one of the following: Apgar score of 5 or less 10 min after birth, continued need for resuscitation 10 min after birth, or acidosis within 1 h of birth. Participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio by use of a secure web-based computer-generated randomisation sequence within 12 h of birth to cooling to a rectal temperature of 33·5°C for 72 h (standard treatment) or to cooling in combination with 30% inhaled xenon for 24 h started immediately after randomisation. The primary outcomes were reduction in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus and in preserved fractional anisotropy in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI, respectively, within 15 days of birth. The investigator assessing these outcomes was masked to allocation. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00934700, and with ISRCTN, as ISRCTN08886155. Findings The study was done from Jan 31, 2012, to Sept 30, 2014. We enrolled 92 infants, 46 of whom were randomly assigned to cooling only and 46 to xenon plus cooling. 37 infants in the cooling only group and 41 in the cooling plus xenon group underwent magnetic resonance assessments and were included in the analysis of the primary outcomes. We noted no significant differences in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus (geometric mean ratio 1·09, 95% CI 0·90 to 1·32) or fractional anisotropy (mean difference −0·01, 95% CI −0·03 to 0·02) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule between the two groups. Nine infants died in the cooling group and 11 in the xenon group. Two adverse events were reported in the xenon group: subcutaneous fat necrosis and transient desaturation during the MRI. No serious adverse events were recorded. Interpretation Administration of xenon within the delayed timeframe used in this trial is feasible and apparently safe, but is unlikely to enhance the neuroprotective effect of cooling after birth asphyxia