Search

Biogeographic barriers can restrict gene flow, but variation in ecological drivers of dispersal influences the effectiveness of these barriers among different species. Detailed information about the genetic connectivity and movement of waterfowl across biogeographic barriers in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea is limited. We compared genetic connectivity for four species of Australasian waterfowl that vary in their capacity and predisposition for dispersal: Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah), Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata), Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus), and Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa). We obtained >3,700 loci from double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing for 15 to 40 individuals per species and found idiosyncratic patterns of population structure among the four species. The mostly sedentary Radjah Shelduck exhibited clear genetic differences between New Guinea and Australia as well as among locations within Australia. Although the population structure was consistent with isolation by distance, the Torres Strait and Carpentaria Barrier contributed more to genetic differences than geographic distance alone. In contrast, the presumed sedentary Green Pygmy Goose did not show obvious structure. Likewise, populations of the more dispersive Wandering Whistling Duck and Pacific Black Duck were unstructured and genetically indistinguishable between southern New Guinea and northern Australia. Our data suggest that some Australo-Papuan biogeographical barriers are insufficient to impede gene flow in waterfowl species capable of dispersing great distances. In sedentary species like the Radjah Shelduck, these barriers, perhaps coupled with its ecology and natural history, restrict gene flow. Our findings bring new insight into the population ecology of Australo-Papuan waterfowl.

A search has been performed for neutrinos from two sources, the $hep$ reaction in the solar $pp$ fusion chain and the $��_e$ component of the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB), using the full dataset of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory with a total exposure of 2.47 kton-years after fiducialization. The $hep$ search is performed using both a single-bin counting analysis and a likelihood fit. We find a best-fit flux that is compatible with solar model predictions while remaining consistent with zero flux, and set a one-sided upper limit of $��_{hep} < 30\times10^{3}~\mathrm{cm}^{-2}~\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ [90% credible interval (CI)]. No events are observed in the DSNB search region, and we set an improved upper bound on the $��_e$ component of the DSNB flux of $��^\mathrm{DSNB}_{��_e} < 19~\textrm{cm}^{-2}~\textrm{s}^{-1}$ (90% CI) in the energy range $22.9 < E_��< 36.9$~MeV., 11 pages, 6 figures

Population dynamics and ecological effects of invasive fishes are affected by offspring survival to sexual maturity (recruitment). Recruitment is oftentimes determined by conditions experienced during early life, and winter conditions become increasingly influential as species invade north in temperate regions. Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver Carp (H. molitrix) have invaded mid-latitudes of North America and threaten to invade farther north. We conducted pond experiments and bioenergetic simulations to: (1) assess the effects of mild winters on juvenile Bighead Carp and Silver Carp at mid-latitudes; (2) determine how conspecific density affects juveniles during mild winters; and, (3) determine effects of increased winter severity at increasing latitudes. Both species displayed high overwinter survival (85%) in pond experiments. Bighead Carp grew in length (mean 2 mm) and maintained initial body mass and percent dry mass (index of energy content). Silver Carp maintained initial length and mass and remained in high condition (dry mass). Conspecific densities tested did not affect growth, condition, or survival. Simulations suggest juvenile Bighead Carp could energetically survive the longest, coldest winter simulated (48° latitude); however, energy reserves at the start of winter became increasingly important for survival as latitude increased. Bighead Carp and Silver Carp recruitment success at mid-latitudes is likely driven by non-winter factors. If these species invade farther north, winter severity may play a stronger role in offspring survival, recruitment, and population dynamics. However, warmer and shorter winters at high latitudes caused by climate change will minimize this potential bottleneck and increase chances of successful recruitment.

Sauger Sander canadensis are a popular sport fish native to large turbid midwestern rivers and are in decline across much of their range due to habitat loss and exploitation. Specifically, within the lower Kaskaskia and Ohio rivers, Sauger are managed under different harvest regulations and a knowledge gap exists regarding the current status of both populations as well as the effects of the harvest regulations on the size and age structures of both populations. We collected Sauger by nighttime boat electrofishing during early winter 2014–2016 and used otoliths to age all fish. Sauger stocks in both rivers exhibited fast growth rates and high annual mortality rates. Yield-per-recruit modeling indicated that the current 356-mm minimum size limit for Sauger in the Kaskaskia River is sufficient to prevent growth overfishing and likely explains the consistently larger size structure (greater proportion of fish ≥356-mm total length) of Sauger sampled from the Kaskaskia River compared with the Ohio River. Modeling suggested that growth and recruitment overfishing of Sauger are likely occurring in the Ohio River with no minimum length limit based on available exploitation estimates for Sauger in the lower Ohio River. Implementing a 356-mm minimum length limit for Sauger in the lower Ohio River is predicted to prevent growth and recruitment overfishing based on available exploitation rate estimates and would be consistent with the statewide minimum length limit for Sauger in Illinois and minimum length limits on two major tributaries (Tennessee and Cumberland rivers downstream of Kentucky and Barkley lakes, respectively).

The demographics (e.g. hatch time, growth and mortality) and habitat (macrohabitat and mesohabitat) use of age-0 blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur) were evaluated in the un-impounded reach of the middle Mississippi River during 2003–2010. Each year, island complexes and adjacent main river habitats were trawled, and 7,373 age-0 blue catfish (10–144 mm total length) were collected. Blue catfish hatch timing varied slightly across years and generally began in June and ended in August. Age-0 blue catfish growth rates and instantaneous mortality rates differed among years. Catch rates of age-0 blue catfish were highest in side channels and around islands, whereas main channel habitats were infrequently occupied. Regarding mesohabitat use, age-0 blue catfish frequently occupied low velocity areas (i.e. 0.3–0.4 m/s) of shallow depth (i.e. 1–4 m) and sand substratum. This study has provided insight into age-0 blue catfish population dynamics and has highlighted the importance of specific habitat characteristics in large rivers that may aid in recruitment of this species.

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) and epoxy have been combined into a nanocomposite and evaluated for their thermal and dynamic mechanical properties. Samples of varying GQD mass loading were first examined with SEM in several images. Thermal conductivity was estimated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) with a step analysis technique and analysis program. Several dynamic mechanical properties were recorded using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and displayed in their raw and analyzed formats. For more insight please see Infusion of graphene quantum dots to modulate thermal conductivity and dynamic mechanical properties of polymers [1].

Management of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix has become a growing concern for multiple state and federal entities. Commercial fishing may have the greatest potential to control silver carp. However, for a management action to be successful, the level of exploitation required to reduce silver carp populations must be quantified. Therefore, silver carp were collected from Midwestern U.S. rivers (i.e., Upper, Middle, and Lower Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and Wabash rivers) to obtain population dynamics (i.e., recruitment, growth and mortality). Parameters obtained from population demographics were used to simulate exploitation levels using a spawning potential ratio (SPR) approach to determine target size and the amount of exploitation needed to recruitment overfish silver carp within each river system. Overall, we determined that silver carp populations (regardless of river) must be exploited at a small size (i.e., 27–33% of population exploited at ≥300 mm or 33–44% exploited at ≥400 mm), in order to reduce SPR to 0.2, which is identified as a threshold for recruitment overfishing. However, an understanding of the impacts of small mesh sizes on native species and an incentive program for commercial fisherman to promote catch of small fish is needed. This study provides federal and state agencies levels of exploitation and a target size required to effectively reduce silver carp populations in multiple rivers.

Many studies have shown that negative interactions exist between the invasive silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and the associated native fish community. The primary negative effect relates to the filter feeding capacity of Asian carp and thus dietary overlap and decreased fitness of native planktivorous fishes. However, from a nutrient transfer perspective, an alternative feedback loop may exist between invasive Asian carps and native fishes. We postulate that silver carp consuming small planktonic particles with low assimilation efficiency can subsequently egest larger, nutrient rich fecal pellets consumable by other fauna, which may have otherwise been unavailable. To evaluate this feedback loop, we extracted fecal pellets from the hindgut of silver carp. Fecal pellets were fed to age-0 channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus (i.e., < 130 mm) in a controlled laboratory setting. Both species of catfish consumed the fecal pellets and subsequently survived and increased in body mass (i.e., weight) over the 20-day trial period. These results suggest that a potential alternative feedback loop may exist between silver carp and members of the benthic community and therefore provide a pathway by which nutrients are translocated between habitats (i.e., pelagia to benthos). We suggest that undigested plankton consumed by silver carp can be converted into nutrient packed pellets and may provide an additional food source to benthic organisms such as age-0 channel catfish and age-0 blue catfish.

Graphene quantum dots are small fragments of graphene that may be advantageous to transferring properties to polymers because of their small size, molecular like interactions, surface chemistry and ability to overcome dispersibility challenges in composite formation. Here, we begin the first thermal conductivity study with graphene quantum dots by revealing the thermal and mechanical properties of composites made by infusing graphene quantum dots into epoxy. We found that graphene quantum dots that have the capability to improve the toughness of epoxy by 260%, increase the thermal conductivity by 144%, increase the glass transition temperature by 10%, increase the storage modulus by 9%, and decrease damping by 45%. We anticipate graphene quantum dots infusion to be a starting point for creating more sophisticated polymer composites.

To combat the potential deleterious effects that Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix have on native populations, management of this species is essential. Before developing population-level models, a determination of which aging structure for estimating the age of Silver Carp is needed. To our knowledge, no consensus has been reached on which structure should be used for estimating Silver Carp ages. We collected 120 Silver Carp from the Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers via electrofishing to evaluate aging structures. Removal time, processing time, and discernible annuli were evaluated for scales, opercles, vertebrae, pectoral fin rays, postcleithra, and asterisci and lapilli otoliths. Asteriscus otolith, opercle and scale annuli were difficult to discern and not evaluated further. Total processing times for postcleithra (246.1 s) and lapilli (251.2 s) were the most time-efficient; pectoral fin rays and vertebrae were more time intensive. Between-reader precision and agreement r...

The production and analysis of distributed sources of 24Na and 222Rn in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) are described. These unique sources provided accurate calibrations of the response to neutrons, produced through photodisintegration of the deuterons in the heavy water target, and to low energy betas and gammas. The application of these sources in determining the neutron detection efficiency and response of the 3He proportional counter array, and the characteristics of background Cherenkov light from trace amounts of natural radioactivity is described., Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures

We have performed three searches for high-frequency signals in the solar neutrino flux measured by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), motivated by the possibility that solar $g$-mode oscillations could affect the production or propagation of solar $^8$B neutrinos. The first search looked for any significant peak in the frequency range 1/day to 144/day, with a sensitivity to sinusoidal signals with amplitudes of 12% or greater. The second search focused on regions in which $g$-mode signals have been claimed by experiments aboard the SoHO satellite, and was sensitive to signals with amplitudes of 10% or greater. The third search looked for extra power across the entire frequency band. No statistically significant signal was detected in any of the three searches., 37 pages, 17 figures, submitted to ApJ

The oxidative electrochemistry of P(CH 2 Fc) 3 and three of its derivatives was examined. The electrochemistry of these compounds is sensitive to the functionality added to the phosphorus lone pair and the supporting electrolyte used.

Because the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population in the Middle Mississippi River (MMR) between Cairo, IL and St. Louis, MO (RKM 0–320) appears to be declining, we must understand dietary needs to help assess its conservation status. Diet is linked to growth, condition and reproduction and reflects population state. Thus, we quantified diets of adult shovelnose sturgeon monthly using gill nets (5.08-cm bar mesh) during Jan. 2005 through Nov. 2005 at three sites on the MMR (RKM: 201-198; 191-188, and RKM 127-124). Stomachs were removed from adult shovelnose sturgeon (winter n = 71; spring n = 163; summer n = 149; fall n = 179; fork length mean = 617 mm; standard deviation = 64.57). Overall, prey items occurred in less than 30% (n = 170) of shovelnose sturgeon stomachs. Dominant prey items throughout all seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) were Chironomidae, Hydropsychidae, Ephemeridae and Corophiidae respectively. Corophiidae is an exotic amphipod that ha...

New compounds containing the 1,1′-bis(dialkylaminophosphino)ferrocene ligands 1,1′-bis(dimethylaminophosphino)ferrocene (dmapf) and 1,1′-bis(diethylaminophosphino)ferrocene (deapf) were prepared and characterized by NMR. The oxidative electrochemistries of these compounds were examined in methylene chloride. The transition metal compounds M n Cl 2 (P–P) (M = Pd or Pt, n = 1, P–P = dmapf or deapf; M = Au, n = 2, P–P = dmapf) displayed one-electron, Nernstian waves. The corresponding selenides were prepared and the oxidative electrochemistries, along with those of the previously prepared 1,1′-bis(alkylaminophosphine sulfide)ferrocene, were examined. The sulfides displayed one-electron, Nernstian oxidations. The selenides displayed electrochemically irreversible two-electron waves. The X-ray structures of the sulfides and selenides as well as that of the transition metal compounds [(AuCl) 2 (dmapf)] and [PtCl 2 (dmapf)] were determined.

BACKGROUND Suboptimal immunosuppression after kidney transplantation contributes to toxicity and loss of efficacy. Little is known regarding the impact of intra-patient variability of tacrolimus (TAC) doses and troughs in the early post-transplant period or the influence of genetic variants on variability. METHODS Coefficients of variation (CV) of TAC troughs and doses of 1226 European American (EA) and 246 African American (AA) adult recipients enrolled in DeKAF Genomics were compared for association with acute rejection and graft failure. Additionally, the influence of recipients' number of CYP3A5 loss-of-function alleles was assessed. RESULTS Acute rejection was associated with greater CV of dose in AA (P

The anodic electrochemistry of 1-di-tert-butylphosphino-1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (dppdtbpf) was performed in methylene chloride with tetrabutlylammonium hexafluorophosphate as the supporting electrolyte. The electrochemistry is complicated by a chemical reaction after the oxidation. Three new transition metal complexes of dppdtbpf ([NiCl2(dppdtbpf)], [PtCl2(dppdtbpf)], and [Au2Cl2(dppdtbpf)]) were prepared and characterized. The electrochemistry of the three new compounds and one previously prepared compound ([PdCl2(dppdtbpf)]) was examined. In addition, the reaction of dppdtbpf with sulfur and/or selenium afforded a series of compounds containing a phosphine sulfide (dppSdtbpSf or dppdtbpSf), a phosphine selenide (dppSedtbpSef or dppdtbpSef), or both a phosphine sulfide and a phosphine selenide (dppSedtbpSf or dppSdtbpSef). These compounds were characterized by NMR, and the structures of three of the compounds were determined. Two of the structures are of the isomeric compounds, dppSdtbpSef and dppS...

Cheilectomy has long been the standard treatment in the orthopedic community for mild to moderate cases of hallux rigidus, with established long-term excellent results. Osteotomies of the proximal phalanx and first metatarsal have been described mainly in the podiatric literature; they have shown good outcomes in small patient groups with short-term follow-up. Proper patient selection is critical to obtaining favorable outcomes with any of the joint-sparing procedures. Patients with severe arthritic changes and pain in the midrange arc of motion have poorer outcomes with these procedures and are better served with joint-destructive procedures, such as arthroplasty or arthrodesis.

Helical tomotherapy is a treatment technique that is delivered from a 6 MV fan beam that traces a helical path while the couch moves linearly into the bore. In order to increase the treatment delivery dose rate, helical tomotherapy systems do not have a flattening filter. As such, the dose distributions near the surface of the patient may be considerably different from other forms of intensity-modulated delivery. The purpose of this study was to measure the dose distributions near the surface for helical tomotherapy plans with a varying separation between the target volume and the surface of an anthropomorphic phantom. A hypothetical planning target volume (PTV) was defined on an anthropomorphic head phantom to simulate a 2.0 Gy per fraction IMRT parotid-sparing head and neck treatment of the upper neck nodes. A total of six target volumes were created with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm of separation between the surface of the phantom and the outer edge of the PTV. Superficial doses were measured for each of the treatment deliveries using film placed in the head phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) placed on the phantom's surface underneath an immobilization mask. In the 0 mm test case where the PTV extends to the phantom surface, the mean TLD dose was 1.73 +/- 0.10 Gy (or 86.6 +/- 5.1% of the prescribed dose). The measured superficial dose decreases to 1.23 +/- 0.10 Gy (61.5 +/- 5.1% of the prescribed dose) for a PTV-surface separation of 5 mm. The doses measured by the TLDs indicated that the tomotherapy treatment planning system overestimates superficial doses by 8.9 +/- 3.2%. The radiographic film dose for the 0 mm test case was 1.73 +/- 0.07 Gy, as compared to the calculated dose of 1.78 +/- 0.05 Gy. Given the results of the TLD and film measurements, the superficial calculated doses are overestimated between 3% and 13%. Without the use of bolus, tumor volumes that extend to the surface may be underdosed. As such, it is recommended that bolus be added for these clinical cases. For cases where the target volume is located 1 to 5 mm below the surface, the tumor volume coverage can be achieved with surface doses ranging from 56% to 93% of the prescribed dose.

Quality assurance (QA) is a topic of major concern in the field of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The standard of practice for IMRT is to perform QA testing for individual patients to verify that the dose distribution will be delivered to the patient. The purpose of this study was to develop a new technique that could eventually be used to automatically evaluate helical tomotherapy treatments during delivery using exit detector data. This technique uses an autoassociative kernel regression (AAKR) model to detect errors in tomotherapy delivery. AAKR is a novel nonparametric model that is known to predict a group of correct sensor values when supplied a group of sensor values that is usually corrupted or contains faults such as machine failure. This modeling scheme is especially suited for the problem of monitoring the fluence values found in the exit detector data because it is able to learn the complex detector data relationships. This scheme still applies when detector data are summed over many frames with a low temporal resolution and a variable beam attenuation resulting from patient movement. Delivery sequences from three archived patients (prostate, lung, and head and neck) were used in this study. Each delivery sequence wasmore » modified by reducing the opening time for random individual multileaf collimator (MLC) leaves by random amounts. The error and error-free treatments were delivered with different phantoms in the path of the beam. Multiple autoassociative kernel regression (AAKR) models were developed and tested by the investigators using combinations of the stored exit detector data sets from each delivery. The models proved robust and were able to predict the correct or error-free values for a projection, which had a single MLC leaf decrease its opening time by less than 10 msec. The model also was able to determine machine output errors. The average uncertainty value for the unfaulted projections ranged from 0.4% to 1.8% of the detector signal. The low model uncertainty indicates that the AAKR model is extremely accurate in its predictions and also suggests that the model may be able to detect errors that cause the fluence to change by less than 2%. However, additional evaluation of the AAKR technique is needed to determine the minimum detectable error threshold from the compressed helical tomotherapy detector data. Further research also needs to explore applying this technique to electronic portal imaging detector data.« less

The use of empirical models for On-Line Monitoring (OLM) of safety critical instrumentation for calibration reduction has been investigated for over a decade. To help support the regulatory review of possible license amendments, a series of three NUREG/CRs are being developed, The first volume in this series, entitled NUREG/CR-6895 'Technical Review of On-line Monitoring Techniques for Performance Assessment Volume I: State-of-the-Art', offers a general overview of current sensor calibration monitoring technologies and their uncertainty analysis, a review of the supporting information necessary for assessing these techniques, and a cross reference between the literature and the requirements previously outlined by the NRC. Volume II, 'Theoretical Issues', presents an in-depth theoretical study and independent review of the most widely used OLM techniques. It includes a presentation of the theory and further explanation of the assumptions inherent in empirical models and uncertainty quantification techniques. The third and final volume; 'Limiting Case Studies', presents the results of applying OLM models to a wide variety of plant data. Specifically, Volume III summarizes six case studies investigating the effects of model development and assumptions on model performance and offers recommendations for identifying and handling these limiting cases. This paper discusses the six cases studies. Although thismore » study is not an exhaustive review of the many issues in OLM system development, it provides a base set of considerations which must be accounted for and a method for testing these considerations with other model architectures. (authors)« less

Purpose: Volumetric computed tomography (CT) images acquired by image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) systems can be used to measure tumor response over the course of treatment. Predictive adaptive therapy is a novel treatment technique that uses volumetric IGRT data to actively predict the future tumor response to therapy during the first few weeks of IGRT treatment. The goal of this study was to develop and test a model for predicting lung tumor response during IGRT treatment using serial megavoltage CT (MVCT). Methods and Materials: Tumor responses were measured for 20 lung cancer lesions in 17 patients that were imaged and treated with helical tomotherapy with doses ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 Gy per fraction. Five patients were treated with concurrent chemotherapy, and 1 patient was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor response to treatment was retrospectively measured by contouring 480 serial MVCT images acquired before treatment. A nonparametric, memory-based locally weight regression (LWR) model was developed for predicting tumor response using the retrospective tumor response data. This model predicts future tumor volumes and the associated confidence intervals based on limited observations during the first 2 weeks of treatment. The predictive accuracy of the model was tested using a leave-one-out cross-validation technique with the measured tumor responses. Results: The predictive algorithm was used to compare predicted verse-measured tumor volume response for all 20 lesions. The average error for the predictions of the final tumor volume was 12%, with the true volumes always bounded by the 95% confidence interval. The greatest model uncertainty occurred near the middle of the course of treatment, in which the tumor response relationships were more complex, the model has less information, and the predictors were more varied. The optimal days for measuring the tumor response on the MVCT images were on elapsed Days 1, 2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 17, and 18 during treatment. Conclusions: The LWR model accurately predicted final tumor volume for all 20 lung cancer lesions. These predictions were made using only 8 days’ worth of observations from early in the treatment. Because the predictions are accurate with quantified uncertainty, they could eventually be used to optimize treatment.

Helical tomotherapy is a rotational delivery technique that uses intensity‐modulated fan beams to deliver highly conformal intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The beam‐on time needed to deliver a given prescribed dose can be up to 15 times longer than that needed using conventional treatment delivery. As such, there is concern that this delivery technique has the potential to increase the whole body dose due to increased leakage. The purpose of this work is to directly measure out‐of‐field doses for a clinical tomotherapy system. Peripheral doses were measured in‐phantom using static fields and rotational intensity‐modulated delivery. In‐air scatter and leakage doses were also measured at multiple locations around the treatment room. At 20 cm, the tomotherapy peripheral dose dropped to 0.4% of the prescribed dose. Leakage accounted for 94% of the in‐air dose at distances greater than 60 cm from the machine's isocenter. The largest measured dose equivalent rate was 1×10−10 Sv/s in the plane of gantry rotation due to head leakage and primary beam transmission through the system's beam stopper. The dose equivalent rate dropped to 1×10−10 Sv/s at the end of the treatment couch. Even though helical tomotherapy treatment delivery requires beam‐on times that are 5 to 15 times longer than those used by conventional accelerators, the delivery system was designed to maximize shielding for radiation leakage. As such, the peripheral doses are equal to or less than the published peripheral doses for IMRT delivery on other linear accelerators. In addition, the shielding requirements are also similar to conventional linear accelerators. PACS number: 87.53.Dq

Purpose: The gross tumor volume (GTV) for many lung cancer patients can decrease during the course of radiation therapy. As the tumor reduces in size during treatment, the margin added around the GTV effectively becomes larger, which can result in the excessive irradiation of normal lung tissue. The specific goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using image-guided adaptive radiation therapy to adjust the planning target volume weekly based on the previous week's CT image sets that were used for image-guided patient setup. Methods and Materials: Megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images of the GTV were acquired daily on a helical tomotherapy system. These images were used to position the patient and to measure reduction in GTV volume. A planning study was conducted to determine the amount of lung-sparing that could have been achieved if adaptive therapy had been used. Treatment plans were created in which the target volumes were reduced after tumor reduction was measured. Results: A total of 158 MVCT imaging sessions were performed on 7 lung patients. The GTV was reduced by 60–80% during the course of treatment. The tumor reduction in the first 60 days of treatment can be modeled using the second-order polynomial R = 0.0002 t 2 − 0.0219 t + 1.0, where R is the percent reduction in GTV, and t is the number of elapsed days. Based on these treatment planning studies, the absolute volume of ipsilateral lung receiving 20 Gy can be reduced between 17% and 23% (21% mean) by adapting the treatment delivery. The benefits of adaptive therapy are the greatest for tumor volumes ≥25 cm 3 and are directly dependent on GTV reduction during treatment. Conclusions: Megavoltage CT-based image guidance can be used to position lung cancer patients daily. This has the potential to decrease margins associated with daily setup error. Furthermore, the adaptive therapy technique described in this article can decrease the volume of healthy lung tissue receiving above 20 Gy. However, further study is needed to determine whether adaptive therapy could result in the underdosing of microscopic extension.

Gastrocnemius recession has become a popular procedure to release isolated gastrocnemius tightness. Using visual anatomic landmarks alone to plan the incision can be deceiving. The use of ultrasound preoperatively has been highly reproducible in isolating the gastrocnemius-soleus junction in the authors' practice. This provides confidence for incision placement, a smaller incision, and isolated release of the gastrocnemius fascia while leaving the underlying soleus undisturbed.

A partial wave analysis is presented of two high-statistics data samples of protonium annihilation into π 0 π 0 η in liquid and 12 atm gaseous hydrogen. The contributions from the 1 S 0 , 3 P 1 and 3 P 2 initial atomic fine structure states to the two data sets are different. The change of their fractional contributions when going from liquid to gaseous H 2 as calculated in a cascade model is imposed in fitting the data. Thus the uncertainty in the fraction of S-state and P-state capture is minimized. Both data sets allow a description with a common set of resonances and resonance parameters. The inclusion of a π η P-wave in the fit gives supportive evidence for the ρ (1405) , with parameters compatible with previous findings.

We present a measurement and partial wave analysis of the final state ${K}_{L}{K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}$ of $\overline{p}p$ annihilation at rest in liquid hydrogen. This reaction is important for the study of the $\overline{K}K$ decay mode of scalar resonances, in particular, the isovectors ${a}_{0}(980)$ and ${a}_{0}(1450).$ The determination of the ${a}_{0}(1450)$ production also fixes the $\overline{K}K$ coupling of the isoscalar ${f}_{0}(1500)$ which is discussed as a glueball. We find $B(\overline{p}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}{a}_{0}(1450)\ensuremath{\pi}{;a}_{0}(1450)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{K}K)=(8.88\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.68)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ and hence $B(\overline{p}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}{f}_{0}(1500)\ensuremath{\pi}{;f}_{0}(1500)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{K}K)=(4.52\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.36)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}.$ The mass and width of ${a}_{0}(1450)$ are $m=1480\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30\mathrm{MeV}{/c}^{2}$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=265\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15\mathrm{MeV}{/c}^{2},$ respectively. For ${a}_{0}(980)$ we determine the relative ratio $B(\overline{p}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}{a}_{0}\ensuremath{\pi}{;a}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{K}K)/B(\overline{p}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}{a}_{0}\ensuremath{\pi}{;a}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta})$ =0.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 and its relative coupling, $\overline{K}K$ to \ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta}, is $1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14.$

With antiprotons stopped in liquid deuterium, the p n annihilation channel π−π0η was studied using a final sample of 52 576 events obtained for a spectator proton momentum q q quantum numbers IG=1−, JPC=1−+. The extracted Breit-Wigner resonance parameters are m=(1400±20±20) MeV/c2 and Γ=(310±50+50−30) MeV/c2.

Crystal Barrel data are presented on p−p → ηπ0π0π0 at rest in liquid hydrogen and also in gaseous hydrogen at 12 bar. Annihilation from the initial 3P0 state relative to 3P2 is stronger in liquid than in gas by a factor 2.46 ± 0.15, in fair agreement with a prediction by Batty. There is a definite peak due to η(1440). Liquid data determine its mass as M = 1413 MeV, Γ = 49 ± 8 MeV. The mass is, however, lower in gas than in liquid by 12 ± 3 MeV; we attribute this mass shift to interference with broad background amplitudes. The η (1440) decays dominantly to ησ: BR [a0(980)π,a0 → ηπ]/BR[ησ] = 0.4 ± 0.2. However, there is strong destructive interference between these two decay modes. There is also a strong, broad ηππ component with JPC = 0−+, consistent with an earlier analysis proposing a very wide η(1800) resonance; it contributes 31% of the ηπ0π0π0 branching ratio in liquid. At the highest ηππ masses, there are definite 2−+ and l++ signals, but we cannot establish precise resonance masses or widths. There is also evidence for the production of f2 (1565), decaying to a2 (1320)π.

The π 0 momentum dependence of the decay η → π + π − π 0 has been measured with the Crystal Barrel detector. The analysis is based on 3230 events. The results of this independent measurement are compared to new chiral perturbation theory calculations and previous measurements.

The decay p p ( at rest ) → K L o K ± π ∓ π o , studied on a sample of more than 14000 events, is found to proceed dominantly via two-body channels containing resonances with open strangeness. Contributions from K 1 (1270) K and K 1 (1400) K , branching into the successive K1-decay modes, and from K ∗ K ∗ , K ∗ ( K π) s and (Kπ) s ( K π) s are extracted by means of a partial-wave analysis which accounts well for the data and also allows a search for weak contributions from other (Kππ) and from ( K K π ) resonances. Striking asymmetries between the charged and the neutral kaonic resonances give evidence for interfering isospin 0 and 1 annihilation amplitudes.

The annihilation channel p p →K + K − π 0 in liquid hydrogen at rest has been studied with the Crystal Barrel detector at LEAR. The measured branching ratio is: BR ( p p → K + K − π 0 )=(2.37±0.15)×10 −3 . A partial wave analysis shows that this reaction is dominated by the π (K K ) S , K K ∗ (892) and π φ (1020) intermediate states. Weak signals are observed for π a 2 (1320), π f 2 (1270), π f 2 ′(1525) and K(Kπ) S . A satisfactory description of the Dalitz plot requires the introduction of π (K K ) P intermediate states with at least one pole.

We have measured the branching ratio for the radiative decay ω → ηγ with ω mesons produced in antiproton-proton annihilation at rest into π0ω and ηω. Taking into account ϱ - ω mixing we find a branching ratio B(ω → ηγ) = (6.6 ± 1.7) × 10−4, in accord with the constructive interference solution in other experiments. The upper-limit for the direct radiative decay ω → 3γ is 1.9 × 10−4 at 95% confidence level.

The π + π − invariant mass distribution produced in p p annihilation at rest and recoiling against η mesons exhibits large interference between the amplitudes for ϱη and ωη production. The interference can be quantitatively described within the framework of ϱ-ω interference. We find full coherence between the ϱω-ωη production amplitudes and a vanishing relative production phase. The implications of this result for p p annihilation dynamics are discussed.

A partial wave analysis of pp → π0π0η′ has been performed using the η′ → π0π0η and η′ → γγ decay modes. The data are dominated by an η′ recoiling against the (ππ) S-wave. In addition, α2 (1320) → η′π0 is needed. There is evidence for contributions from α0(1450) → η′π0. The branching ratio of α0(1450) → η′π0 with respect to ηπ0 is consistent with the prediction of SU(3).

The distribution of m ( π + π − ) in the decay η ′ → π + π − γ has been measured with the Crystal Barrel detector. The results are based on a total of 7392 observed η′ decays. The box anomaly constant is extracted from this and its value is found to agree well with theoretical expectations. The pseudoscalar nonet parameters ( f 1 , f 8 and θ PS ) are determined. Finally, we find that there is a problem of consistency between QCD and the standard VDM assumption.

A study of p -annihilation in liquid deuterium into π − π 0 π 0 and a spectator-proton is presented. A cut on the proton-momentum of ≤ 100 MeV/ c ensures that annihilation takes place on a quasi-free neutron. A partial wave analysis shows contributions from three vector mesons, with masses and widths of (763.7 ± 3.2; 152.8 ± 4.3), (1411 ± 14; 343 ± 20); (1780 −29 +37 ; 275 ± 45) MeV/ c 2 , respectively.

Crystal Barrel data on p p → 5π 0 at rest are presented. Mass spectra for 2π0 combinations, 3π0 and 4π0 and decay angular distributions all differ significantly from phase space. We present several ways of fitting the data. All agree on the definite presence of the f0(1500), observed in its 4π0 decay mode. It can decay into ππ(1300) and into σσ where σ stands for the full ππ S-wave amplitude.

Data on\(\bar pp \to \eta \pi ^0 \pi ^0 \pi ^0 \) taken at beam momenta of 1.2 and 1.94 GeV/c reveal evidence for twoI=0JPC=2−+ resonances inηππ. The first, at 1645±14(stat.)±15(syst.) MeV with width 180−21+40±25 MeV, decays toα2(1320)π withL=0. It may be interpreted as the\(q\bar q^1 \)D2 partner ofπ2(1670). A strong signal is also observed just above threshold inf2(1270)η withL=0. It is 11–22 times stronger than is expected for the high mass tail of the 1645 MeV resonance. It can be fitted as a second 2−+ resonance at 1875±20±35 MeV with width 200±25±45 MeV. A third resonance havingJPC=2++ is observed at 2135±20±45 MeV withΛ=250±25±45 MeV, decaying to botha2(1320)π andf2(1270)η withL=1. There is no evidence for resonances with decays toa0(980)π, ση orf0(980)η.

This paper details the solar neutrino analysis of the 385.17-day phase-III data set acquired by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). An array of He-3 proportional counters was installed in the heavy-water target to measure precisely the rate of neutrino-deuteron neutral-current interactions. This technique to determine the total active B-8 solar neutrino flux was largely independent of the methods employed in previous phases. The total flux of active neutrinos was measured to be 5.54(-0.31)(+0.33)(stat.)(-0.34)(+0.36)(syst.) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), consistent with previous measurements and standard solar models. A global analysis of solar and reactor neutrino mixing parameters yielded the best-fit values of Delta m(2) = 7.59(-0.21)(+0.19) x 10(-5) eV(2) and theta = 34.4(-1.2)(+1.3) degrees. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.015502

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has confirmed the standard solar model and neutrino oscillations through the observation of neutrinos from the solar core. In this paper we present a search for neutrinos associated with sources other than the solar core, such as gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. We present a new method for looking for temporal coincidences between neutrino events and astrophysical bursts of widely varying intensity. No correlations were found between neutrinos detected in SNO and such astrophysical sources., United States. Dept. of Energy, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (U.S.), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

We have observed the ηπ + π − and ηπ 0 π 0 decay modes of the E meson in p p annihilation at rest into π + π − π 0 π 0 η . The mass and width of the E meson are 1409 ± 3 and 86 ± 10 MeV. The production and decay branching ratio is B( p p → Eππ)B(E → ηππ) = (3.3 ± 1.0) × 10 −3 . With a spin-parity analysis we determine that J P = 0 − . The observation of the ηπ 0 π 0 decay mode establishes that E is isoscalar ( C = +1). We find that E decays to η ( ππ ) s (where ( ππ ) s is an S-wave dipion) and πa 0 (980)(→ πη ) with a relative branching ratio of (78 ± 16) %. Using the K K π production and decay branching ratio measured earlier we determine that B[E → K K π] B[E → ηππ] = 0.61 ± 0.19 . A comparison with observations in radiative J Ψ decays suggests that E and ι η (1416) are identical.

We confirm the existence of the two IG(JPC) = 0+(0++) resonances f0(1370) and f0(1500) reported by us in earlier analyses. The analysis presented here couples the final states π0π0π0, π0π0η and π0ηη of pp annihilation at rest. It is based on a 3 × 3 K-matrix. We find masses and widths of M = (1390±30) MeV, Γ = (380±80) MeV; and M = (1500±10) MeV, Γ = (154 ± 30) MeV, respectively. The product branching ratios for the production and decay into π0π0 and ηη of the f0(1500) are (1.27 ± 0.33) · 10−3 and (0.60 ± 0.17) · 10−3, respectively.