Variable Phases Research Articles

Thermal springs and active fault network of the central Colca River basin, Western Cordillera, Peru

Thermal waters and vapor discharges (hot springs, geysers, solfataras, and fumaroles) are common phenomena in volcanic regions at active plate boundaries, and the Central Andes are no exception. The Colca River basin in S Peru is a highly diversified and complex thermal region with unresolved questions on the origin of thermal fluids, reservoir temperature, and connections with tectonic and/or volcanic activity. To answer these, we used hydrogeochemical analysis of 35 water samples from springs and geysers, together with isotopic (δ18O and δD) analysis, chemical and mineral studies of precipitates collected in the field around these outflows, and field observations. We aimed (1) to recognize the geochemistry of thermal waters and precipitates in the central part of the Colca River basin, (2) to identify fluid sources and their origin, (3) to estimate the temperature of a potential geothermal reservoir, and (4) to discuss the regional active tectonic and volcanic framework of this geothermal region and mutual relationships.Our results corroborate a heterogeneous and complex geothermal system in the central part of the Colca River basin, with contrasting hydrogeochemical and physical properties, variable isotope composition, different reservoir temperatures, and associated precipitates around thermal springs. Processes controlling water chemistry are closely related to the Ampato-Sabancaya magmatic chamber's activity and tectonic structures that allow complex interactions of meteoric waters with magmatic fluids and gases. With a considerable gradient of pressure owing to local relief and deep incision in the Colca Canyon, these processes led to the differentiation of the thermal waters into three main groups. (1) Chloride-rich, mainly sodium chloride, thermal waters are of meteoric origin but mature within the geothermal reservoir possibly fed by magma degassing. These waters' chemical and isotopic composition results from water-rock interaction and mixing with magmatic waters within the reservoir. These waters discharge at the bottom of the Colca Canyon and Valley, presenting a broad hydrogeochemical spectrum and highly variable mineral phases precipitating at the outflows. The reservoir temperature estimated for these waters ranges from 180 to 200 °C. The group of hottest springs and geysers at the bottom of the Colca Canyon waters are fully equilibrated, with the reservoir temperature ~ 240 °C. (2) Sulfate-rich waters are shallow meteoric waters heated by ascending gases that form an independent group referring to the local water circulation, often controlled by tectonic barriers. (3) Bicarbonate-rich waters are the intermediate meteoric waters, divided into two hydrochemical groups: waters partially equilibrated with reservoir rocks and more similar to chloride-rich waters or additionally enriched with SO4 and more similar to sulfate-rich waters.Studied thermal springs show a clear spatial correlation with active and seismogenic crustal W- to NW-tracing normal and strike-slip faults. These act as barriers to infiltrating meteoric waters, provide pathways to hydrothermal solutions and gases assisting in meteoric water heating, and yield passages for pressured by lithostatic load and heated waters to ascend to the surface.

Circular Polarization-Agile and Continuous Beam-Steerable Array Antenna Using a Hybrid Design Approach

A circular polarization (CP)-agile and continuous beam-steerable array antenna is presented using a hybrid design approach. It is accomplished by combining digital reconfigurable antenna elements with analog continuously tunable phase shifters. To realize both polarization reconfiguration and initial phase generation for beam-scanning simultaneously, the designed antenna element enables eight states that corresponds to two CP modes with four quantized phases. The phase shifters further provide additional variable phases of -90° to 0° for antenna element excitation. Superposition of the initial and additional phases helps to satisfy a full and continuous 360° phase coverage for a beam-steerable array. Meanwhile, the phase decomposition also facilitates the design of phase shifters without complex or cascaded structures. By altering the bias states of the electronic components loaded in the array antenna, CP switching and beam scanning can be independently controlled. For verification, prototypes of the antenna element, phase shifter, and a four-element array are all fabricated and tested. Reasonable agreement is obtained between simulation and measurement. The resultant array could scan up to nearly ±40° off the boresight, along with stable radiation patterns and good CP performance.

Adaptive Non-linear Pattern Matching Automata

Efficient pattern matching is fundamental for practical term rewrite engines. By preprocessing the given patterns into a finite deterministic automaton the matching patterns can be decided in a single traversal of the relevant parts of the input term. Most automaton-based techniques are restricted to linear patterns, where each variable occurs at most once, and require an additional post-processing step to check so-called variable consistency. However, we can show that interleaving the variable consistency and pattern matching phases can reduce the number of required steps to find all matches. Therefore, we take the existing adaptive pattern matching automata as introduced by Sekar et al and extend these with consistency checks. We prove that the resulting deterministic pattern matching automaton is correct, and show several examples where some reduction can be achieved.

Synthesis and characterization of pure, two-qubit states encoded in path and polarization

We have designed and experimentally put to test a protocol to synthesize and characterize pure, two-qubit states encoded in polarization and momentum (path) of light beams. Because these degrees of freedom are common to both classical and quantum light, it was possible to implement our protocol with classical light, thereby offering an advantageous and versatile testing ground. The experimental setup is robust and does not require state-dependent scheme modifications. We exhibited the capabilities of our protocol by generating three types of two-qubit states: Bell states, states with variable phases, and states with variable amplitudes.

Secondary minerals in a calcareous environment: an example from Um Gheig Pb/Zn mine site, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Alteration of abandoned mine sites and wastes generates variable secondary mineral phases that incorporate different toxic trace elements with a prospective threat to the neighboring ecosystems. The main focus of this study was to investigate the mineralogical and geochemical changes at neutral pH where dry condition prevails around oxidation-primary contacts interface and the surface in Um Gheig Pb/Zn mine, Eastern Desert, Egypt. The secondary minerals were determined by M4 Tornado μ-EDXRF, Raman microscope and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive system. Two alteration zones were recognized depending on ion availability and the Eh/pH conditions. The first include anglesite as an initial phase that quickly transformed into a more stable cerussite and hydrocerussite. Mendipite formation was controlled by the availability of Cl− ions in the solution. Hemimorphite was formed after sphalerite in the pore spaces, depending on the accessibility of Si ions from silicates dissolution. Iron (oxy) hydroxides were formed in a later stage due to their restricted mobility in carbonates. The second zone includes gypsum and anhydrite formed at the surface of the mine wastes due to continuous evaporation in arid environments. These secondary mineral phases can undergo different mineral transformations depending on the prevailing conditions. The element release ratios in the mine surface zone compared to the capillary fringe zone reached 12.1, 2.8, 1.6, 0.17, 0.09 and 0.03 for Sr, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni in the mine surface zone compared to 5.86, 0.01, 0.05, 0.02, 0.07 and 0.01 in the capillary fringe zone. The findings from this investigation have important implications for the management and the control of elements mobility from secondary phases formed in mined areas.

Natural History, Phenotypic Spectrum, and Discriminative Features of Multisystemic RFC1 Disease.

ObjectiveTo delineate the full phenotypic spectrum, discriminative features, piloting longitudinal progression data, and sample size calculations of replication factor complex subunit 1 (RFC1) repeat expansions, recently identified as causing cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS).MethodsMultimodal RFC1 repeat screening (PCR, Southern blot, whole-exome/genome sequencing–based approaches) combined with cross-sectional and longitudinal deep phenotyping in (1) cross-European cohort A (70 families) with ≥2 features of CANVAS or ataxia with chronic cough (ACC) and (2) Turkish cohort B (105 families) with unselected late-onset ataxia.ResultsPrevalence of RFC1 disease was 67% in cohort A, 14% in unselected cohort B, 68% in clinical CANVAS, and 100% in ACC. RFC1 disease was also identified in Western and Eastern Asian individuals and even by whole-exome sequencing. Visual compensation, sensory symptoms, and cough were strong positive discriminative predictors (>90%) against RFC1-negative patients. The phenotype across 70 RFC1-positive patients was mostly multisystemic (69%), including dysautonomia (62%) and bradykinesia (28%) (overlap with cerebellar-type multiple system atrophy [MSA-C]), postural instability (49%), slow vertical saccades (17%), and chorea or dystonia (11%). Ataxia progression was ≈1.3 Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia points per year (32 cross-sectional, 17 longitudinal assessments, follow-up ≤9 years [mean 3.1 years]) but also included early falls, variable nonlinear phases of MSA-C–like progression (SARA points 2.5–5.5 per year), and premature death. Treatment trials require 330 (1-year trial) and 132 (2-year trial) patients in total to detect 50% reduced progression.ConclusionsRFC1 disease is frequent and occurs across continents, with CANVAS and ACC as highly diagnostic phenotypes yet as variable, overlapping clusters along a continuous multisystemic disease spectrum, including MSA-C-overlap. Our natural history data help to inform future RFC1 treatment trials.Classification of EvidenceThis study provides Class II evidence that RFC1 repeat expansions are associated with CANVAS and ACC.

Vector Modulator-Based Analog Beamforming Using the Least Euclidean Distance Criterion

In traditional multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receivers, radio frequency (RF) front-ends are exposed to interference as no analog spatial filtering is employed before the digital beamforming stage. Therefore the RF front-end is power-hungry, and analog to digital converters require a high dynamic range. In this paper, we consider an analog beamforming system in case of narrowband signals to cancel interference early in the analog domain, thus reducing the required ADC resolution. In contrast to existing analog beamformers with only phase shifts, our proposed design employs vector modulators where the coefficients can be selected from a set of weights with variable phases and amplitudes. We also propose an efficient and fast Euclidean distance algorithm to determine the analog beamformer coefficients while being suitable for realistic scenarios. Finally, an expression is introduced to estimate the interference rejection achieved by employing the proposed algorithm and a vector modulator in the RF domain. The introduced algorithm leads to considerable improvement in computational complexity by slightly sacrificing interference rejection.

Shape-preserving prediction for stationary functional time series

This article presents a novel method for prediction of stationary functional time series, in particular for trajectories that share a similar pattern but display variable phases. The limitation of most of the existing prediction methodologies for functional time series is that they only consider vertical variation (amplitude, scale, or vertical shift). To overcome this limitation, we develop a shape-preserving (SP) prediction method that incorporates both vertical and horizontal variation. One major advantage of our proposed method is the ability to preserve the shape of functions. Moreover, our proposed SP method does not involve unnatural transformations and can be easily implemented using existing software packages. The utility of the SP method is demonstrated in the analysis of non-metanic hydrocarbons (NMHC) concentration. The analysis demonstrates that the prediction by the SP method captures the common pattern better than the existing prediction methods and also provides competitive prediction accuracy.

High-Spin Paramagnetic Ions as Qubits and Qutrits for Quantum Computations

Paramagnetic ions having two electrons and spin S = 1 in zero magnetic field are proposed for new physical performance of elementary quantum computing operations by pulsed manipulations with electron spins. For this purpose, a new type of microwave pulses with variable phases and different polarizations are shown can be used. Such pulses are able to induce different transitions between ion spin states. Some of those transitions are described by operators similar to quantum computing operators. To describe the effects of such pulses on hig-spin ions, a new way to represent exponential operators as polynomials of the Pauli matrices is proposed.

Telecritical Care Clinical and Operational Strategies in Response to COVID-19

Background: The cororavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained intensive care unit (ICU) material and human resources to global crisis levels. The risks of staffing challenges and clinician exposure are of significant concern. One resource, telecritical care (TCC), has the potential to optimize efficiency, maximize safety, and improve quality of care provided amid large-scale disruptions, but its role in pandemic situations is only loosely defined. Planning and Preparation Phase: We propose strategic initiatives by which TCC may act as a force multiplier for pandemic preparedness in response to COVID-19, utilizing a tiered approach for increasing surge capacity needs. The goals involved usage of TCC to augment ICU capacity, optimize safety, minimize personal protective equipment (PPE) use, improve efficiencies, and enhance knowledge of managing pandemic response. Implementation Phase: A phased approach utilizing TCC would involve implementing remote capabilities across the enterprise to accomplish the goals outlined. The hardware and software needed for initial expansion to cover 275 beds included $956,670 for mobile carts and $173,106 for home workstations. Team role deployment and bedside clinical care centering around TCC as critical care capacity expand beyond 275 beds. Surge capacity was not reached during early phases of the pandemic in the region, allowing refinement of TCC during subsequent pandemic phases. Conclusions: Leveraging TCC facilitated pandemic surge planning but required redefinition of typical ICU staffing models. The design was meant to workforce efficiencies, reduce PPE use, and minimize health care worker exposure risk, all while maintaining quality care standards through an intensivist-led model. As health care operations resumed and states reopened, TCC is being used to support shifts in volume and critical care personnel during the pandemic evolution. The lessons applied may help health care systems through variable phases of the pandemic.

Characteristics and survival impact of polymorphonuclear leucocyte-predominant malignant pleural effusions secondary to lung cancer.

In comparison with mononuclear leucocyte (MNL)-predominant malignant pleural effusions (MPEs), polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL)-predominant MPEs have rarely been investigated and may be associated with a poorer prognosis. To investigate the characteristics and survival impact of PMNL-predominant MPEs secondary to lung cancer. This retrospective study included patients with MPE secondary to lung cancer, which were classified into the PMNL- and MNL-predominant groups according to cellular predominance in the pleural fluid. Clinical, hematological, radiological, and pleural fluid data were compared between the groups, and the survival impact of PMNL predominance in MPE was evaluated. Of the 193 MPEs included, 37 (19%) were characterised by PMNL predominance. Compared to the MNL-predominant group, the PMNL-predominant group showed significantly poorer patient performances (P=.001), higher white blood cell counts (P=.009), higher neutrophil counts, higher blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P=.046), higher serum C-reactive protein (P=.003), lower serum albumin (P<.001), lower pleural fluid pH (P=.002) and higher pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (P=.029) levels. In contrast, most clinical and radiological findings, including the duration of symptoms, showed no significant intergroup differences. A shift towards MNL predominance was observed in only 38% of the PMNL-predominant patients who underwent repeat thoracentesis. Overall survival of the PMNL-predominant group was significantly shorter than the MNL-predominant group (P=.003). PMNL predominance in MPEs secondary to lung cancer may be observed in variable phases with respect to the duration of symptoms and the time of thoracentesis. Overall, PMNL-predominant MPEs were associated with more advanced stages and poorer survival outcomes, compared to MNL-predominant MPEs.

Both Correlation and Morphological Methods of Detecting a Specified Acoustic Signal Propagating Through the Atmosphere

Two methods of detecting quasiperiodic signals—the well-known method of calculating correlation coefficients and the method of a morphological analysis that makes it possible to detect signals with variable phases, which is important in isolating signals at long distances from their sources—are compared. The efficiency of a morphological analysis is in solving the problems of isolating quasiperiodic signals against the background of noise that is comparable to or exceeds (in amplitude) the signal under study. These two methods are compared using subwoofer signals recorded in August 2009 at the Scientific Station of the A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The signal frequencies were chosen within a range of 45–130 Hz and the distance to the source was from 0 to 1255 m. Signals were recorded during night and morning hours, which made it possible to study the potentialities of these methods in isolating a desired signal under both disturbed and undisturbed states of the atmosphere (in the absence or presence of noise of different origins).

Two-Sided Contact Mesh Stiffness and Transmission Error for a Type of Backlash-Compensated Conical Involute Gear Pair

Both the drive- and back-side contact mesh stiffnesses (two-sided contact mesh stiffness) for a new type of conical involute gear (NTCIG) is developed analytically. Instead of the conventional spring preload anti-backlash method, an active control strategy to eliminate the time-varying backlash is presented by adjusting the axial displacement of the driven gear. The dynamic transmission error (DTE) of the gear pair is calculated under different load excitations to analyze the differences between the drive- and back-side meshes under a time-varying backlash with anti-backlash conditions based on the NTCIG model with an eccentricity error. Considering the additional rotational angle caused by the anti-backlash and the differences from the two-sided contact, the theory of no-load transmission error for the NTCIG is modified by agreeing considerably well with the low component of the DTE. Moreover, the DTE curve under varying load excitations showed that the dynamics of the NTCIG improved considerably after backlash compensation. The drive- and back-side tooth meshes were analyzed according to the DTE of NTCIG with backlash control under various external excitations at different speeds and variable initial phases, frequencies, and amplitudes of the sinusoidal load.

Features of the interfacial zone structure formation during thermal diffusion metallization of diamond by transition metals

The paper studies morphology, chemical, structural and phase composition of the diamond-metal interphase zone, formed in the process of thermal diffusion metallization of diamond with chromium, titanium, iron, nickel and cobalt powders with the same temperature-time mode that corresponds to the sintering of diamond-containing WC-Co-matrices with copper impregnation. In the process of thermal diffusion metallization of chromium and titanium, a metalized coating is formed on the surface of the diamond, consisting of a mixture of carbides, metals and graphite of variable composition phases. The insignificant content of graphite formations and their intermittent nature of the diamond-metal interfacial zone ensure a strong adhesion of the metalized coating to the diamond through the carbides of the corresponding metals. When thermal diffusion metallization of diamond with iron occurs at the diamond-metal interfacial zone, the formation of an intermediate layer strongly adhered to the diamond also takes place. The intermediate layer has a complex structural phase composition comprising a mixture of iron phases, a solid solution of carbon in iron and graphite of variable composition. An intermediate layer on the surface of diamond could be formed by solidification of the liquid phase with the eutectic composition resulting from the eutectic melting of the diamond-iron contact pairs. However, this assumption requires additional research to confirm it, and special experiments using highly sensitive research methods. Under the heating conditions specified in the experiment samples of nickel-diamond and cobaltdiamond cause intense catalytic graphitization of diamond with the formation of numerous traces of erosion on its surface. The observed weak adhesive interaction of these metals with diamond is probably due to the high melting temperatures of the Ni-C and Co-C eutectics, which does not allow the metals to react with diamond under given experimental conditions.

Analysis of Systematic Errors in Geocenter Coordinates Determined From GNSS, SLR, DORIS, and GRACE

The goal of this paper is to determine and analyze the common geocenter signal from the geocenter coordinates based on four independent techniques: Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment with the ocean bottom pressure model, and Satellite Laser Ranging, and to analyze the residuals as the differences between these geocenter coordinates and their common signal. Another objective of this paper is to compute variable amplitudes and phases of the annual and semi-annual oscillations in the geocenter coordinates of these techniques by the combination of the Fourier Transform Band Pass Filter (FTBPF) with the Hilbert Transform (FTBPF + HT) and to compare their mean values with those obtained by other authors. It was assumed that the geocenter time series of individual techniques consist of the common signal of geocenter motion, systematic errors resulting from orbital modeling and noise. Generally, the annual oscillation amplitudes in these techniques computed by the FTBPF + HT vary in time and their mean values are of the order of 2 mm for the X coordinate, 2.4–3.6 mm for the Y coordinate and 2.8–5.6 mm for the Z coordinate and the semi-annual oscillation amplitude is variable and about two times smaller than the annual one. The phases of these two oscillations are also variable, there are differences in their mean values for different techniques and the semi-annual oscillation phases changes throughout the entire phase range. To detect the common geocenter signal the wavelet-based semblance filtering (WBSF) method was applied. The weighted mean model was computed from all geocenter coordinate pairs from individual techniques assuming weights as inversely proportional to the variances of differences between the geocenter coordinates and their corresponding WBSF outputs. The average and median models computed from these outputs show a good agreement with the weighted mean model and generally, the average amplitudes of the annual signal in these models are of the order of 2 mm in each geocenter coordinate. The FTBPF amplitude spectra of these models reveals the retrograde annual oscillation in the XY equatorial plane. The FTBPF and FTBPF + HT amplitude spectra of geocenter time series and their residuals show mainly the maxima of different heights in the annual frequency band. The annual oscillations left in all residuals and oscillations with period less than ~ 120 days in DORIS and GNSS amplitude spectra may be caused by systematic errors of techniques resulting from mis-modeling of satellite orbits.

In vitro-in vivo correlation of parenteral PLGA microspheres: Effect of variable burst release

Development of IVIVCs is a very complicated process, especially for complex drug products such as parenteral PLGA microspheres with multiphasic drug release characteristics. Specifically, microspheres that exhibit an initial burst release phase are even more challenging since the in vitro and in vivo burst release phases may not be comparable if drug absorption is rate-limiting at this stage. Therefore, the objectives of the present work were: 1) to investigate the predictability of developed IVIVCs for the in vivo burst release phase based on the in vitro burst release phase of the formulations; and 2) to evaluate the impact of variable burst release on the predictability of the developed IVIVCs for two different types of microsphere-based drug products. Accordingly, Risperdal Consta® (Risperidone) and Lupron Depot® (Leuprolide acetate, LA) were selected as model products. Compositionally equivalent risperidone and LA formulations with variable burst release phases were prepared with manufacturing process changes (such as solvent systems and mixing methods). The prepared microspheres exhibited differences in critical physicochemical properties (such as particle size, porosity, average pore diameter, and drug distribution) and hence differences in their in vitro release characteristics (such as variable burst release and release rate). The in vitro and in vivo (rabbit model (intramuscular injection) burst release were similar for the risperidone microspheres but were significantly different for the LA microspheres. This had an impact on the complexity of the developed IVIVC models. Level A IVIVCs with the ability to predict various types of burst release were developed using time scaling and shifting factors. Moreover, it was observed that IVIVCs developed using formulations with less variation in burst release had better predictability and vice-versa. Thus, the present research has provided a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the burst release phase on the development, complexity, and predictability of IVIVCs for complex parenteral microspheres containing a variety of therapeutic molecules.

Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous granites and associated microgranular enclaves in the Xiabie Co area, central Tibet: Crust-derived magma mixing and melt extraction

Multiple petrogenesis models have been proposed for granitic rocks and the mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) hosted in them. The mantle and crust-derived magma mixing/mingling process was widely suggested for the formation of MMEs or the host granitoids. However, whether the mixing between magmas derived from different crustal sources may also form microgranular enclaves (MEs, not restricted to mafic) or the host granites remain unclear. Here, we report petrological, geochemical, and zircon in situ Hf-O isotopic data for MEs and their host granites in the northern Nyima area, southern Qiangtang terrane (SQT), central Tibet. The host granitic rocks consist of amphibole-bearing biotite granites and syenogranite, minor granodiorite and aplite veins, and MEs comprising diorite and granodiorite. Host rocks and MEs are contemporaneous and were generated in the Early Cretaceous (∼120 Ma). Host granitoid samples are high-K calc-alkaline rocks and have high SiO2 (66–78 wt%) and low MgO (<1.14 wt%). They have enriched whole-rock εNd(t) (−1.82 to −3.06), and variable zircon εHf(t) (+0.64 to +5.12) and δ18O (7.35 to 9.61‰) values. The host granodiorites contain some mafic mineral-rich clots and lower silica contents than the biotite granites. They exhibit distinctive geochemical patterns (such as high K2O > 5 wt%, high Zr >500 ppm with Zr/Hf ratios >45, and high Ba >400 ppm), implying biotite and zircon concentrations. Combining this information with embayed feldspars, curved biotites, and closely spaced feldspar grains, we suggest that liquid loss resulted from crystal compaction or filter pressing. Both the fine-grained syenogranites and aplite veins exhibit high SiO2 and Rb/Sr ratios in addition to low Zr/Hf ratios and Zr and Ba concentrations with remarkably negative Eu anomalies, indicating that they are highly differentiated melts extracted from felsic crystal mush. Such a crystal mush is possibly represented by the biotite granites. Gradual contact relationships between variable granitic phases indicate that melt extraction and crystal concentration were coeval. Residual melt extraction from the crystal mush was facilitated by mush remobilization resulting from magma replenishment. We suggest that for the host rocks, the biotite granites were mainly derived by partial melting of ancient crust, and the granodiorites most likely resulted from the magma mixing/mingling that might be accompanied with the loss of melts, the fine-grained syenogranites and aplites represent highly evolved residual melts. MEs are geochemically characterized by intermediate to felsic compositions (SiO2 = 56.3–67.8 wt%), with low MgO (<4 wt%) and Mg# (< 53) and low mantle compatible trace element (Cr and Ni) contents. They exhibit enriched whole-rock Nd (εNd(t) = −0.36 to −2.71), depleted zircon εHf(t) (+0.51 to +5.68) and high δ18O values (7.45 to 9.57‰), except for one sample with comparable whole-rock εNd(t) (−1.32), relatively high zircon εHf(t) (+5.05 to +7.11) and δ18O (6.09 to 7.10‰) values. MEs exhibit evidence for quenched magma crystallization, chemical exchange, mineral disequilibrium and mass transfer, indicating inefficient magma mixing/mingling. Mafic minerals from MEs were in equilibrium with evolved melts rather than mantle-derived primitive melts. Given the substantial absence of contemporaneous basaltic rocks from the SQT and the relatively high SiO2 and low MgO contents and crust-like zircon stable oxygen isotope of MEs, we propose that they most likely resulted from the mixing/mingling of diverse crust-derived magmas. Therefore, our study provides important evidence for crust-derived magma mixing and melt extraction from mush.

Comparing the effectiveness and efficiency of various gating approaches for PBS proton therapy of pancreatic cancer using 4D-MRI datasets

Abdominal organ motion may lead to considerable uncertainties in pencil-beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy of pancreatic cancer. Beam gating, where irradiation only occurs in certain breathing phases in which the gating conditions are fulfilled, may be an option to reduce the interplay effect between tumor motion and the scanning beam. This study aims to, first, determine suitable gating windows with respect to effectiveness (low interplay effect) and efficiency (high duty cycles). Second, it investigates whether beam gating allows for a better mitigation of the interplay effect along the treatment course than free-breathing irradiations.Based on synthetic 4D-CTs, generated by warping 3D-CTs with vector fields extracted from time-resolved magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI) for 8 pancreatic cancer patients, 4D dose calculations (4DDC) were performed to analyze the duty cycle and homogeneity index HI = d5/d95 for four different gating scenarios. These were based on either fixed threshold values of CTV (clinical target volume) mean or maximum motion amplitudes (5 mm), relative CTV motion amplitudes (30%) or CTV overlap criteria (95%), respectively. 4DDC for 28-fractions treatment courses were performed with fixed and variable initial breathing phases to investigate the fractionation-induced mitigation of the interplay effect.Gating criteria, based on patient-specific relative 30% CTV motion amplitudes, showed the significantly best HI values with sufficient duty cycles, in contrast to inferior results by either fixed gating thresholds or overlap criteria. For gated treatments with 28 fractions, less fractionation-induced mitigation of the interplay effect was observed for gating criteria with gating windows ⩾30%, compared to free-breathing treatments. The gating effectiveness for multiple fractions was improved by allowing a variable initial breathing phase.Gating with relative amplitude thresholds are effective for proton therapy of pancreatic cancer. By combining beam gating with variable initial breathing phases, a pronounced mitigation of the interplay effect by fractionation can be achieved.

Ultrafast X-ray Photoelectron Imaging of Attosecond Electron Dynamics in Molecular Coherent Excitation.

Ultrafast photoelectron imaging allows to measure information about coherent electron dynamic processes in materials or chemical compounds on femtosecond to attosecond time scales. We show that molecular time-resolved photoelectron diffraction produced by a time-delayed soft X-ray attosecond pulse can be used to monitor the ultrafast coherent excitation induced by a resonant UV pump pulse with variable carrier-envelope phases. Asymmetric diffraction angular patterns illustrate coherent electron dynamics of charge migration with spatiotemporal resolution on the attosecond and ångström scale. This allows the temporal reconstruction of phases and amplitudes of electronic states and geometry of molecules as a function of time delay of the probe pulse and carrier-envelope phases of the pump pulse. Results are obtained from solutions of time-dependent Schrödinger equations of the hydrogen molecular ion, and analyzed by ultrafast photoelectron diffraction models for coherent superposition of electronic states. The present demonstration provides a guiding principle for monitoring ultrafast spatiotemporal coherent electron dynamics and imaging molecular electronic structure in complex systems by ultrafast pump-probe experiments and their dependence on carrier-envelope phases and time delays.

DETERMINATION OF THE PHASE COMPOSITION OF INTERMEDIATE AND FINAL PRODUCTS OF SYNTHESIS OF SPINEL TYPE CATALYSTS Cu1Cr2O4 AND Cu1Fe2O4 BY DIFFERENTIATING DISSOLUTION METHOD

Traditionally, the X-ray analysis (XRD) method is used to study the phase composition of a solid. But phases with structural defects, poorly crystallized (with disordered structure and amorphous), microphases, phases of variable composition, surface phases and phases, distributed in various ways throughout the entire volume of the sample, often turn out to be X-ray amorphous. In these situations, the stochiographic DR method proves to be more effective, since it allows qualitatively and quantitatively to detect both the crystalline and X-ray amorphous phases listed above. The phase compositions of the spinel type catalysts Cu 1 Cr 2 O 4 and Cu 1 Fe 2 O 4 were studied by the stoichiographic method of differentiating dissolution (DR). It is established that the nature of the element and temperature influence the formation of the spinel structure, creating new shapes. The paper describes phase transformations occurring in the synthesis of catalysts, which was carried out by coprecipitation from a mixture of solutions of nitrate salts. It was found that the temperature of 85°C forms various stoichiometric formations, which are precursors of spinels. The 600°C temperature in the case of copper-chromium systems forms stoichiometric compounds of the spinel composition Cu 1 2+ Cr 2 3+ O 4 and structures with different degree of ordering. In the case of copper-iron systems at 600 °C, stoichiometric compounds of the Cu 1-x 2+ Fe 2 3+ O 4 spinel composition and structure are defective in copper. The 900°C temperature pro­vides the formation of compounds of a given spinel composition Me 1 2+ Me 2 3+ O 4 and structures in both systems. The results by the DR method were compared with the results of the XRD method. A comparative analysis has shown that the ordered or crystallized forms of spinels and oxides are detected by both methods, while disordered and defective forms of spinels, the shapes of disordered solid solutions, and also small amounts of oxides show only the DR method.