221 research outputs found
Functional approach to the electromagnetic response function: the Longitudinal Channel
In this paper we address the (charge) longitudinal electromagnetic response
for a homogeneous system of nucleons interacting via meson exchanges in the
functional framework. This approach warrants consistency if the calculation is
carried on order-by-order in the mesonic loop expansion with RPA-dressed
mesonic propagators. At the 1-loop order and considering pion, rho and omega
exchanges we obtain a quenching of the response, in line with the experimental
results.Comment: RevTeX, 18 figures available upon request - to be published in
Physical Review
Longitudinal and Transverse Quasi-Elastic Response Functions of Light Nuclei
The He and He longitudinal and transverse response functions are
determined from an analysis of the world data on quasi-elastic inclusive
electron scattering. The corresponding Euclidean response functions are derived
and compared to those calculated with Green's function Monte Carlo methods,
using realistic interactions and currents. Large contributions associated with
two-body currents are found, particularly in the He transverse response, in
agreement with data. The contributions of two-body charge and current operators
in the He, He, and Li response functions are also studied via
sum-rule techniques. A semi-quantitative explanation for the observed
systematics in the excess of transverse quasi-elastic strength, as function of
mass number and momentum transfer, is provided. Finally, a number of model
studies with simplified interactions, currents, and wave functions is carried
out to elucidate the role played, in the full calculation, by tensor
interactions and correlations.Comment: 40 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Superscaling of Inclusive Electron Scattering from Nuclei
We investigate the degree to which the concept of superscaling, initially
developed within the framework of the relativistic Fermi gas model, applies to
inclusive electron scattering from nuclei. We find that data obtained from the
low energy loss side of the quasielastic peak exhibit the superscaling
property, i.e., the scaling functions f(\psi') are not only independent of
momentum transfer (the usual type of scaling: scaling of the first kind), but
coincide for A \geq 4 when plotted versus a dimensionless scaling variable
\psi' (scaling of the second kind). We use this behavior to study as yet poorly
understood properties of the inclusive response at large electron energy loss.Comment: 33 pages, 12 color EPS figures, LaTeX2e using BoxedEPSF macros; email
to [email protected]
Quasielastic 12C(e,e'p) Reaction at High Momentum Transfer
We measured the 12C(e,e'p) cross section as a function of missing energy in
parallel kinematics for (q,w) = (970 MeV/c, 330 MeV) and (990 MeV/c, 475 MeV).
At w=475 MeV, at the maximum of the quasielastic peak, there is a large
continuum (E_m > 50 MeV) cross section extending out to the deepest missing
energy measured, amounting to almost 50% of the measured cross section. The
ratio of data to DWIA calculation is 0.4 for both the p- and s-shells. At w=330
MeV, well below the maximum of the quasielastic peak, the continuum cross
section is much smaller and the ratio of data to DWIA calculation is 0.85 for
the p-shell and 1.0 for the s-shell. We infer that one or more mechanisms that
increase with transform some of the single-nucleon-knockout into
multinucleon knockout, decreasing the valence knockout cross section and
increasing the continuum cross section.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, Revtex (multicol, prc and aps styles), to appear
in Phys Rev
D-cycloserine augmentation of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data
Importance: Whether and under which conditions D-cycloserine (DCS) augments the effects of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders is unclear. Objective: To clarify whether DCS is superior to placebo in augmenting the effects of cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders and to evaluate whether antidepressants interact with DCS and the effect of potential moderating variables. Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to February 10, 2016. Reference lists of previous reviews and meta-analyses and reports of randomized clinical trials were also checked. Study Selection: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were (1) double-blind randomized clinical trials of DCS as an augmentation strategy for exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy and (2) conducted in humans diagnosed as having specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Raw data were obtained from the authors and quality controlled. Data were ranked to ensure a consistent metric across studies (score range, 0-100). We used a 3-level multilevel model nesting repeated measures of outcomes within participants, who were nested within studies. Results: Individual participant data were obtained for 21 of 22 eligible trials, representing 1047 of 1073 eligible participants. When controlling for antidepressant use, participants receiving DCS showed greater improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment (mean difference, -3.62; 95% CI, -0.81 to -6.43; P = .01; d = -0.25) but not from pretreatment to midtreatment (mean difference, -1.66; 95% CI, -4.92 to 1.60; P = .32; d = -0.14) or from pretreatment to follow-up (mean difference, -2.98, 95% CI, -5.99 to 0.03; P = .05; d = -0.19). Additional analyses showed that participants assigned to DCS were associated with lower symptom severity than those assigned to placebo at posttreatment and at follow-up. Antidepressants did not moderate the effects of DCS. None of the prespecified patient-level or study-level moderators was associated with outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: D-cycloserine is associated with a small augmentation effect on exposure-based therapy. This effect is not moderated by the concurrent use of antidepressants. Further research is needed to identify patient and/or therapy characteristics associated with DCS response.2018-05-0
Deploying the NASA Valkyrie Humanoid for IED Response: An Initial Approach and Evaluation Summary
As part of a feasibility study, this paper shows the NASA Valkyrie humanoid
robot performing an end-to-end improvised explosive device (IED) response task.
To demonstrate and evaluate robot capabilities, sub-tasks highlight different
locomotion, manipulation, and perception requirements: traversing uneven
terrain, passing through a narrow passageway, opening a car door, retrieving a
suspected IED, and securing the IED in a total containment vessel (TCV). For
each sub-task, a description of the technical approach and the hidden
challenges that were overcome during development are presented. The discussion
of results, which explicitly includes existing limitations, is aimed at
motivating continued research and development to enable practical deployment of
humanoid robots for IED response. For instance, the data shows that operator
pauses contribute to 50\% of the total completion time, which implies that
further work is needed on user interfaces for increasing task completion
efficiency.Comment: 2019 IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robot
A simple model for the estimation of congenital malformation frequency in racially mixed populations
Oral Pirfenidone in patients with chronic fibrosis resulting from radiotherapy: a pilot study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fibrosis is a common side effect after treatment with ionizing radiation. Several methods to ameliorate debilitating fibrosis have been employed but without consistent results. The goal of this pilot study is to determine if Pirfenidone, a novel regulator of cytokine gene expression, has the potential to ameliorate established radiation-induced fibrosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Open label, prospective pilot study of 800 mg three times/day, orally administered Pirfenidone was administered to enrolled patients who were had completed radiation therapy and who had established radiation-induced fibrosis. Range of motion (ROM) was assessed using standard measures, and subjective measures of pain, fatigue, disability and global health were measured every three months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven patients were enrolled of whom 3 had ROM assessments of 1 site and 2 had ROM assessments of 2 sites. Of these assessments, 6 revealed increased ROM during drug intervention while 1 revealed a decreased ROM. There was an overall improvement in the mental composite score of the SF36 while physical composite score was decreased and the vitality score was unchanged. Two patients were removed from the study because of syncopal episodes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Several patients experienced improved function of at least 25% and reported subjective improvement. Pirfenidone may benefit patients with radiation-induced fibrosis and is worthy of a larger well controlled trial.</p
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