Electron-Impact Cross Sections for Dipole- and Spin-Allowed Excitations of Hydrogen,Helium, and Lithium

Electron-impact excitation cross sections are presented for the dipole- and spin allowed transitions from the ground states to the np ²P states for hydrogen and lithium, and to the 1snp ¹P states for helium, n = 2 through 10. Two scaling formulas developed earlier by Kim [Phys. Rev. A 64, 032713 (2001)] for plane-wave Born cross sections are used. The scaled Born cross sections are in excellent agreement with available theoretical and experimental data.     

Parallel implementation of large-scale structural optimization

Advances in computer technology and performance allow researchers to pose useful optimization problems that were previously too large for consideration. For example, NASA Langley Research Center is investigating the large structural optimization problems that arise in aircraft design. The total number of design variables and constraints for these nonlinear optimization problems is now an order of magnitude larger than anything previously reported. To find solutions in a reasonable amount of time, a coarse-grained parallel-processing algorithm is recommended. This paper studies the effects of problem size on sequential and parallel versions of this algorithm.For initial testing of this algorithm, a hub frame optimization problem is devised such that the size of the problem can be adjusted by adding members and load cases. Numerous convergence histories demonstrate that the algorithm performs correctly and in a robust manner. Timing profiles for a wide range of randomly generated problems highlight the changes in the subroutine timings that are caused by the increase in problem size. The potential benefits and drawbacks associated with the parallel approach are summarized.     

Using LADAR to characterize the 3-D shape of aggregates: Preliminary results

Previous publications have shown how a combination of X-ray computed tomography and spherical harmonic series could be used to characterize the 3-D shape of rocks used for aggregates in concrete. The X-ray computed tomography was used to obtain the raw 3-D numerical data for the coordinates of the aggregate surface. In this paper, we demonstrate how laser detection and ranging (LADAR) numerical data can replace X-ray computed tomography data and be used in conjunction with spherical harmonic series analysis to analyze the 3-D shape of aggregates.     

Activated partial thromboplastin time and outcome after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: results from the GUSTO-I trial

BACKGROUND: Although intravenous heparin is commonly used after thrombolytic therapy, few reports have addressed the relationship between the degree of anticoagulation and clinical outcomes. We examined the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in 29,656 patients in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial and analyzed the relationship between the aPTT and both baseline patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intravenous heparin was administered as a 5000-U bolus followed by an initial infusion of 1000 U/h, with dose adjustment to achieve a target aPTT of 60 to 85 seconds. aPTTs were collected 6, 12, and 24 hours after thrombolytic administration. Higher aPTT at 24 hours was strongly related to lower patient weight (P < .00001) as well as older age, female sex, and lack of cigarette smoking (all PT< .0001). At 12 hours, the aPTT associated with the lowest 30-day mortality, stroke, and bleeding rates was 50 to 70 seconds. There was an unexpected direct relationship between the aPTT and the risk of subsequent reinfarction. There was a clustering of reinfarction in the first 10 hours after discontinuation of intravenous heparin. CONCLUSIONS: Although the relationship between aPTT and clinical outcome was confounded to some degree by the influence of baseline prognostic characteristics, aPTTs higher than 70 seconds were found to be associated with higher likelihood of mortality, stroke, bleeding, and reinfarction. These findings suggest that until proven otherwise, we should consider the aPTT range of 50 to 70 seconds as optimal with intravenous heparin after thrombolytic therapy.     

Oxidation resistance and relative stability of some inter-4f alloys

Ten samarium-structure alloys have been oxidation tested in air to estimate the thermal oxidation parameter, T _p, and hence the ratio T _p/T_Sm, where T _Sm is the temperature of decomposition of the appropriate structure and the ratio is a measure of the strength and type of bonding. The ratio decreases with (a) increasing distance apart in the 4f series of the components, and (b) increasing average Group number.