Thomas-Fermi theory for atomic nuclei revisited

The recently developed semiclassical variational Wigner-Kirkwood (VWK) approach is applied to finite nuclei using external potentials and self-consistent mean fields derived from Skyrme inter-actions and from relativistic mean field theory. VWK consist s of the Thomas-Fermi part plus a pure, perturbative h 2 correction. In external potentials, VWK passes through the average of the quantal values of the accumulated level density and total en energy as a function of the Fermi energy. However, there is a problem of overbinding when the energy per particle is displayed as a function of the particle number. The situation is analyzed comparing spherical and deformed harmonic oscillator potentials. In the self-consistent case, we show for Skyrme forces that VWK binding energies are very close to those obtained from extended Thomas-Fermi functionals of h 4 order, pointing to the rapid convergence of the VWK theory. This satisfying result, however, does not cure the overbinding problem, i.e., the semiclassical energies show more binding than they should. This feature is more pronounced in the case of Skyrme forces than with the relativistic mean field approach. However, even in the latter case the shell correction energy for e.g.208 Pb turns out to be only ∼ −6 MeV what is about a factor two or three off the generally accepted value. As an adhoc remedy, increasing the kinetic energy by 2.5%, leads to shell correction energies well acceptable throughout the periodic table. The general importance of the present studies for other finite Fermi systems, self-bound or in external potentials, is pointed out.

Cooperative games with size-truncated information

[Eng] We study the marginal worth vectors and their convex hull, the socalled Weber set, from the original coalitional game and the transformed one, which is called the Weber set of level k. We prove that the core of the original game is included in each of the Weber set of level k, for any k, and that the Weber sets of consecutive levels form a chain if and only if the original game is 0-monotone. Even if the game is not 0-monotone, the intersection of the Weber sets for consecutive levels is always not empty, what is not the case for non-consecutive ones. Spanish education system.

Cooperative games with size-truncated information

[Eng] We study the marginal worth vectors and their convex hull, the socalled Weber set, from the original coalitional game and the transformed one, which is called the Weber set of level k. We prove that the core of the original game is included in each of the Weber set of level k, for any k, and that the Weber sets of consecutive levels form a chain if and only if the original game is 0-monotone. Even if the game is not 0-monotone, the intersection of the Weber sets for consecutive levels is always not empty, what is not the case for non-consecutive ones. Spanish education system.

Multisensory stimulation can induce an illusion of larger belly size in immersive virtual reality

Body change illusions have been of great interest in recent years for the understanding of how the brain represents the body. Appropriate multisensory stimulation can induce an illusion of ownership over a rubber or virtual arm, simple types of out-of-the-body experiences, and even ownership with respect to an alternate whole body. Here we use immersive virtual reality to investigate whether the illusion of a dramatic increase in belly size can be induced in males through (a) first person perspective position (b) synchronous visual-motor correlation between real and virtual arm movements, and (c) self-induced synchronous visual-tactile stimulation in the stomach area.

Segmentation model for small and medium size business sector: Case Oy Compaq Computer Ab

Markkinasegmentointi nousi esiin ensi kerran jo 50-luvulla ja se on ollut siitä lähtien yksi markkinoinnin peruskäsitteistä. Suuri osa segmentointia käsittelevästä tutkimuksesta on kuitenkin keskittynyt kuluttajamarkkinoiden segmentointiin yritys- ja teollisuusmarkkinoiden segmentoinnin jäädessä vähemmälle huomiolle. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on luoda segmentointimalli teollismarkkinoille tietotekniikan tuotteiden ja palveluiden tarjoajan näkökulmasta. Tarkoituksena on selvittää mahdollistavatko case-yrityksen nykyiset asiakastietokannat tehokkaan segmentoinnin, selvittää sopivat segmentointikriteerit sekä arvioida tulisiko tietokantoja kehittää ja kuinka niitä tulisi kehittää tehokkaamman segmentoinnin mahdollistamiseksi. Tarkoitus on luoda yksi malli eri liiketoimintayksiköille yhteisesti. Näin ollen eri yksiköiden tavoitteet tulee ottaa huomioon eturistiriitojen välttämiseksi. Tutkimusmetodologia on tapaustutkimus. Lähteinä tutkimuksessa käytettiin sekundäärisiä lähteitä sekä primäärejä lähteitä kuten case-yrityksen omia tietokantoja sekä haastatteluita. Tutkimuksen lähtökohtana oli tutkimusongelma: Voiko tietokantoihin perustuvaa segmentointia käyttää kannattavaan asiakassuhdejohtamiseen PK-yritys sektorilla? Tavoitteena on luoda segmentointimalli, joka hyödyntää tietokannoissa olevia tietoja tinkimättä kuitenkaan tehokkaan ja kannattavan segmentoinnin ehdoista. Teoriaosa tutkii segmentointia yleensä painottuen kuitenkin teolliseen markkinasegmentointiin. Tarkoituksena on luoda selkeä kuva erilaisista lähestymistavoista aiheeseen ja syventää näkemystä tärkeimpien teorioiden osalta. Tietokantojen analysointi osoitti selviä puutteita asiakastiedoissa. Peruskontaktitiedot löytyvät mutta segmentointia varten tietoa on erittäin rajoitetusti. Tietojen saantia jälleenmyyjiltä ja tukkureilta tulisi parantaa loppuasiakastietojen saannin takia. Segmentointi nykyisten tietojen varassa perustuu lähinnä sekundäärisiin tietoihin kuten toimialaan ja yrityskokoon. Näitäkään tietoja ei ole saatavilla kaikkien tietokannassa olevien yritysten kohdalta.

Comparing N = 1 effect size indices in presence of autocorrelation

Generalization from single-case designs can be achieved by means of replicating individual studies across different experimental units and settings. When replications are available, their findings can be summarized using effect size measurements and integrated through meta-analyses. Several procedures are available for quantifying the magnitude of treatment"s effect in N = 1 designs and some of them are studied in the current paper. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to generate different data patterns (trend, level change, slope change). The experimental conditions simulated were defined by the degrees of serial dependence and phases" length. Out of all the effect size indices studied, the Percent of nonoverlapping data and standardized mean difference proved to be less affected by autocorrelation and perform better for shorter data series. The regression-based procedures proposed specifically for single-case designs did not differentiate between data patterns as well as simpler indices.

Particle shape and orientation in laser diffraction and static image analysis size distribution analysis of micrometer sized rectangular particles

Laser diffraction (LD) and static image analysis (SIA) of rectangular particles [United States Pharmacopeia, USP30-NF25, General Chapter <776>, Optical Miroscopy.] have been systematically studied. To rule out sample dispersion and particle orientation as the root cause of differences in size distribution profiles, we immobilize powder samples on a glass plate by means of a dry disperser. For a defined region of the glass plate, we measure the diffraction pattern as induced by the dispersed particles, and the 2D dimensions of the individual particles using LD and optical microscopy, respectively. We demonstrate a correlation between LD and SIA, with the scattering intensity of the individual particles as the dominant factor. In theory, the scattering intensity is related to the square of the projected area of both spherical and rectangular particles. In traditional LD the size distribution profile is dominated by the maximum projected area of the particles (A). The diffraction diameters of a rectangular particle with length L and breadth B as measured by the LD instrument approximately correspond to spheres of diameter ØL and ØB respectively. Differences in the scattering intensity between spherical and rectangular particles suggest that the contribution made to the overall LD volume probability distribution by each rectangular particle is proportional to A2/L and A2/B. Accordingly, for rectangular particles the scattering intensity weighted diffraction diameter (SIWDD) explains an overestimation of their shortest dimension and an underestimation of their longest dimension. This study analyzes various samples of particles whose length ranges from approximately 10 to 1000 μm. The correlation we demonstrate between LD and SIA can be used to improve validation of LD methods based on SIA data for a variety of pharmaceutical powders all with a different rectangular particle size and shape.

Small-size pines suitability for glueboards

The aim of the research was to evaluate the suitability of small-size pine as a raw material for glueboard. A further aim was to investigate claims that dead knots and the twisting of the heartwood cause, quality problems in the but of the small-size pine. The theoretical framework of the study details the whole manufacturing process from raw material to the finished article; the description of the qualities of raw material, the sawing and drying processes as well as the making of the glueboard. The solve the research problem the following figures were calculated: amount of small-size pines, the yield and quality of sawn timber which can be used for making glueboard as well as the variables which affect the various stages of the process. The results show that about half of the timber from the thinning process was suitable material for sawing. The most common problem with the unsuitable timber was form defects of the stem. The average usage ratio of sawing was 2,31 k-m3/m3. 87,97 % of the sawn timber could be used for the production of glueboard. The unsuitability of sawn timber for making glueboard was mainly caused by breakage and the twisting of the heartwood. Dead knots were small and did not effect the quality of the but of the small-size pine. It can therefore be concluded that small-size pine is suitable raw material for glueboard.

The Influence of Age and Sex on Genetic Associations with Adult Body Size and Shape: A Large-Scale Genome-Wide Interaction Study.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 100 genetic variants contributing to BMI, a measure of body size, or waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), a measure of body shape. Body size and shape change as people grow older and these changes differ substantially between men and women. To systematically screen for age- and/or sex-specific effects of genetic variants on BMI and WHRadjBMI, we performed meta-analyses of 114 studies (up to 320,485 individuals of European descent) with genome-wide chip and/or Metabochip data by the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium. Each study tested the association of up to ~2.8M SNPs with BMI and WHRadjBMI in four strata (men ≤50y, men >50y, women ≤50y, women >50y) and summary statistics were combined in stratum-specific meta-analyses. We then screened for variants that showed age-specific effects (G x AGE), sex-specific effects (G x SEX) or age-specific effects that differed between men and women (G x AGE x SEX). For BMI, we identified 15 loci (11 previously established for main effects, four novel) that showed significant (FDR<5%) age-specific effects, of which 11 had larger effects in younger (<50y) than in older adults (≥50y). No sex-dependent effects were identified for BMI. For WHRadjBMI, we identified 44 loci (27 previously established for main effects, 17 novel) with sex-specific effects, of which 28 showed larger effects in women than in men, five showed larger effects in men than in women, and 11 showed opposite effects between sexes. No age-dependent effects were identified for WHRadjBMI. This is the first genome-wide interaction meta-analysis to report convincing evidence of age-dependent genetic effects on BMI. In addition, we confirm the sex-specificity of genetic effects on WHRadjBMI. These results may provide further insights into the biology that underlies weight change with age or the sexually dimorphism of body shape.

Physician behavioral adaptability: A model to outstrip a "one size fits all" approach

Objective: Based on a literature review, we propose a model of physician behavioral adaptability (PBA) with the goal of inspiring new research. PBA means that the physician adapts his or her behavior according to patients' different preferences. The PBA model shows how physicians infer patients' preferences and adapt their interaction behavior from one patient to the other. We claim that patients will benefit from better outcomes if their physicians show behavioral adaptability rather than a "one size fits all" approach. Method: This literature review is based on a literature search of the PsycINFO1 and MEDLINE1 databases. Results: The literature review and first results stemming from the authors' research support the validity and viability of parts of the PBA model. There is evidence suggesting that physicians are able to show behavioral flexibility when interacting with their different patients, that a match between patients' preferences and physician behavior is related to better consultation outcomes, and that physician behavioral adaptability is related to better consultation outcomes. Practice implications: Training of physicians' behavioral flexibility and their ability to infer patients' preferences can facilitate physician behavioral adaptability and positive patient outcomes.