3,550 research outputs found

    Exchange-correlation orbital functionals in current-density-functional theory: Application to a quantum dot in magnetic fields

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    The description of interacting many-electron systems in external magnetic fields is considered in the framework of the optimized effective potential method extended to current-spin-density functional theory. As a case study, a two-dimensional quantum dot in external magnetic fields is investigated. Excellent agreement with quantum Monte Carlo results is obtained when self-interaction corrected correlation energies from the standard local spin-density approximation are added to exact-exchange results. Full self-consistency within the complete current-spin-density-functional framework is found to be of minor importance.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR

    Don’t bug me…I’m taking a bath! A Case Study on Hot Tub Lung

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    Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a unique form of interstitial lung disease that is diverse in its presentation and etiology. • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is mediated by an inflammatory reaction to inhalation of an environmental antigen. It is described as a mixed III/IV hypersensitivity reaction that is characterized by lymphocyte predominance and high CD4:CD8 ratio. • Hot tub lung is one etiology of hypersensitivity pneumonitis which can occur from exposure to mycobacterium antigens in water-related contamination, most notably hot tubs. • It most commonly presents with patients who have underlying lung disease or are immunocompromised. However, there has recently been an increase in hot tub lung in otherwise healthy individuals. 58-year old African American female with a history of hypertension and stage 3 breast cancer status post 3 cycles of cyclophosphamide/docetaxel presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with persistent dyspnea, dry cough, and fever. She was discharged earlier that day with a diagnosis of dyspnea with suspicion of pneumonitis after 2 day admission and extensive work-up. Upon discharge, she reported worsening dyspnea with exertion, dry cough, and fever, and returned. While the patient’s vague symptoms of dyspnea and fever did not point to a specific diagnosis, the additional history revealed possible exposure to mycobacterium antigen through “hot tub like” contamination. • Repeating the history to dig deeper into the patient\u27s daily activities revealed an essential piece of information that led to the diagnosis. • This case is one of the first cases to document hot tub lung in a bathtub

    Relativistic nucleon optical potentials with isospin dependence in Dirac Brueckner Hartree-Fock approach

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    The relativistic optical model potential (OMP) for nucleon-nucleus scattering is investigated in the framework of Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (DBHF) approach using the Bonn-B One-Boson- Exchange potential for the bare nucleon-nucleon interaction. Both real and imaginary parts of isospin-dependent nucleon self-energies in nuclear medium are derived from the DBHF approach based on the projection techniques within the subtracted T -matrix representation. The Dirac potentials as well as the corresponding Schrodinger equivalent potentials are evaluated. An improved local density approximation is employed in this analysis, where a range parameter is included to account for a finite-range correction of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. As an example the total cross sections, differential elastic scattering cross sections, analyzing powers for n, p + 27Al at incident energy 100 keV < E < 250 MeV are calculated. The results derived from this microscopic approach of the OMP are compared to the experimental data, as well as the results obtained with a phenomenological OMP. A good agreement between the theoretical results and the measurements can be achieved for all incident energies using a constant value for the range parameter.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figure

    Treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder—SCDA members’ attitudes and behavior

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    The goal of this study was to explore (a) the attitudes and behavior of members of the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) who self-identified as treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and (b) the relationship between their professional attitudes and behaviors concerning these patients.Data were collected from 75 SCDA members who responded to an anonymous web-based survey on the SCDA website. The majority of respondents liked to treat children and adults with ASD (57%/56.9%). They treated approximately nine patients with ASD in an average week. The more they liked to treat children with ASD, the more patients with ASD they treated (r = .313; p = .018), and the more accommodations to overcome problems with communication, social interactions and aversion to change they made (r = .404; p < .001).Providers’ attitudes concerning patients with ASD were quite positive and correlated with professional behavior concerning these patients. Future research should explore whether improving attitudes towards providing care for special needs patients could increase professional behavior and thus contribute to reducing the access to care problems these patients face.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79116/1/j.1754-4505.2010.00173.x.pd

    Ion and polymer dynamics in polymer electrolytes PPO-LiClO4: II. 2H and 7Li NMR stimulated-echo experiment

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    We use 2H NMR stimulated-echo spectroscopy to measure two-time correlation functions characterizing the polymer segmental motion in polymer electrolytes PPO-LiClO4 near the glass transition temperature Tg. To investigate effects of the salt on the polymer dynamics, we compare results for different ether oxygen to lithium ratios, namely, 6:1, 15:1, 30:1 and infinity. For all compositions, we find nonexponential correlation functions, which can be described by a Kohlrausch function. The mean correlation times show quantitatively that an increase of the salt concentration results in a strong slowing down of the segmental motion. Consistently, for the high 6:1 salt concentration, a high apparent activation energy E_a=4.1eV characterizes the temperature dependence of the mean correlation times at Tg < T< 1.1T_g, while smaller values E_a=2.5eV are observed for moderate salt contents. The correlation functions are most nonexponential for 15:1 PPO-LiClO4, whereas the stretching is reduced for higher and lower salt concentrations. A similar dependence of the correlation functions on the evolution time in the presence and in the absence of ions indicates that addition of salt hardly affects the reorientational mechanism. For all compositions, mean jump angles of about 15 degree characterize the segmental reorientation. In addition, comparison of results from 2H and 7Li NMR stimulated-echo experiments suggests a coupling of ion and polymer dynamics in 15:1 PPO-LiClO4.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figure

    Effect of contact lens surface properties on comfort, tear stability and ocular physiology

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    Aim: Retrospective analysis of different contact lens wearing groups suggests lens surface lubricity is the main factor influencing contact lens comfort. However, the examined commercially available contact lenses differ in material and design as well as surface properties. Hence this study isolates the contribution of lens surface properties using an ultra-thin coating technology. Methods: Nineteen habitual contact lens wearers (21.6. ±. 1.7years) wore formofilcon B soft monthly disposable contact lenses with and without coating technology modified surface properties for a month each in a randomised double-masked cross-over study. Objective non-invasive: breakup time (NIKBUT), NIKBUT average and ocular redness (Jenvis grading scale) were evaluated (Keratograph 5M) after 1 week and 1 month of wear. Symptoms were assessed using the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ-8); perceived vision quality and subjective lens comfort at insertion, mid-day and end of the day were rated with four Visual Analog Scales. Results: Perceived visual quality (F = 5.049,p = 0.037), contact lens dry eye symptoms (F = 14.408,p = 0.001) and subjective lens comfort (F = 28.447,p. . 0.05). Lens surface wettability and ocular redness were not correlated to changes in symptoms (p. >. 0.05). Conclusion: As previously hypothesised, enhancing the physical surface properties of a soft contact lens improves subjectively rated wearer comfort, which, in turn, should result in reduced contact lens discontinuation

    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Issues in Dental School Environments: Dental Student Leaders’ Perceptions

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    The objectives of the study reported in this article were to assess dental student leaders’ perceptions of educational efforts concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) topics and the cultural climate concerning LGBT issues in dental schools in the United States and Canada. In addition, the perceptions of student leaders who self‐identified as belonging to the LGBT community and of students with a heterosexual orientation were compared. Data were collected from 113 dental student leaders from twenty‐seven dental schools in the United States and three in Canada. Fifty student leaders were females, and sixty‐two were males. Only 13.3 percent of the respondents agreed that their dental education prepared them well to treat patients from LGBT backgrounds. The more the student leaders believed that their university has an honest interest in diversity, the better they felt prepared by their dental school program to treat patients from LGBT backgrounds (r=.327; p<.001). The better they felt prepared, the more they perceived the clinic environment as sensitive and affirming for patients with different sexual orientations (r=.464; p<.001). The more they reported that dental schools’ administrations create a positive environment for students with LGBT orientations, the more they agreed that persons can feel comfortable regardless of their sexual orientation (r=.585; p<.001). In conclusion, the findings indicate that dental school administrators play an important role in ensuring that future care providers are well prepared to treat patients from LGBT backgrounds and that staff, faculty, students, and patients from these backgrounds are not discriminated against.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153661/1/jddj002203372009731tb04643x.pd
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