text:
Prism Dance Club reckons with the shadow of Plan B
The new club works to prove that it can provide a better space for the queer community, as it deals with the past and a new incident of harassment.
By Henry Solo & Hunter Reed ● Music ● May 20, 2019 June 14, 2022
The new club works to prove that it can provide a better space for the queer community, as it deals with the past and a new incident of harassment. (Photo by Emily Mills.) | By Henry Solo and Hunter Reed
Walking into the new Willy Street club Prism during its opening celebration on March 1, one could've been forgiven for having deja vu.
That first night, the new management group of Rico Sabatini, Lili Luxe, and Apollo Marquez, introduced some changes that made it clear they wanted to leave behind the club's previous incarnation as Plan B. The drinks were cheaper, the paint was fresh, and anything with the name "Plan B" on it was gone.
But in other ways, it still felt like the old Plan B. The familiar Top 40 remixes spun by DJ Nick Nice radiated across the dance floor and throughout the club. Endlessly entertaining drag queens and burlesque dancers performed their equally hilarious and sexy numbers. The euphoric laughs and dancing from patrons echoed through the night.
At the very least, the scene evoked what Plan B was like on a good night, when the club's deep-seated problems weren't readily apparent. Those problems, as Our Lives' Emily Mills reported in December 2018, included allegations of harassment, staff barring drag performers from a dressing room, and a growing sense that Plan B wasn't really a safe space for the queer community. Mills, who is also a Tone Madison contributor, said she had been preparing that story for a year before the dressing-room issue had even happened.
In January, Sabatini, who co-founded Plan B but sold his stake in the club in 2014, announced that he would buy it back, and formed a partnership with Marquez, best known as owner of the now-closed north-side club Inferno. They renamed the club Prism, promised a fresh start, and brought on Luxe as events coordinator. Luxe has a long track record of booking music, burlesque, and fetish events at venues including including the Inferno, Tavernakaya, North Street Cabaret, and Nomad World Pub, and is an outspoken advocate for inclusivity, accountability, and consent in the arts community. The team at Prism has promised and implemented sweeping changes, ranging from the club's added emphasis on dancing to a planned staff-wide training in June with the Rape Crisis Center on consent and club culture.
"I know what the steps are, at least in my mind, as a queer woman, of what I would like to see the space do to be better," Luxe says. "[It needs] having the support of actually active management with Rico and Apollo, working with the staff and honestly supporting the staff with talking about safe spaces, harassment, and how we deal with things when an issue arises—how we have standards and want you to do XYZ when this happens.
"There's always going to be that risk when you open the door," Luxe adds, "but it's about how you deal with the situations when they arise and how you're proactive versus just being reactive."
Attempting to move forward
When Sabatini bought out Plan B's owners—one of whom, Albert Borokhim, had been accused of sexual misconduct and plying underaged attendees with drinks—many patrons were enthused at the potential of a return to the club's better days.
Others, like Jake Posateri, who performs under the drag name Baby Bear, remained skeptical. In a January Facebook post, he expressed concern that though Sabatini had addressed issues like access to dressing rooms and adequate payment for performers, larger issues could still loom over the club and prevent the space from being safe—especially if staff mishandled problems with sexual misconduct, or if security officers engaged in racist behavior. (One Plan B patron told Our Lives that security guards punched him, arbitrarily threw him out of the club, and used a racial slur.)
But on Saturday, March 30, Posateri performed at Prism. He attributes his change of heart to Sabatini's decision to bring Marquez and Luxe aboard.
"That for me is really what gave me faith," Posateri says. "Right now the model is you have [Sabatini], who was an owner of Plan B when it first opened, and was an owner when it was the heyday of Plan B. You have [Marquez] who I've known since 2012. I used to perform at the Inferno regularly, attend their events. They curated this wonderful environment for a very diverse crowd. And there's [Luxe], who is this powerhouse businessperson that is an advocate for consent, for diversity, for equality. "
Mills too was "thrilled" when that news broke, but also cautious, given the challenge of undoing the toxicity of Plan B.
Luxe, who now helms Prism's programming, has changed things on many levels. The performances, for example, are now more interspersed throughout the evening and dancing is the priority. Luxe has added events like Hot Flash, an earlier dance event geared toward people who want to go out dancing but not beyond 10 p.m. Luxe has also sought to diversify the programming, in terms of the both types of art represented and the people who are performing.
Mills added that this kind of representation, in addition to staff and security, can help people whose identities are being reflected feel more welcome in any given space.
One recent residency addition to Prism is Tempestt Ballenger, who spins under the name DJ Femme Noir every Thursday for the club's 18+ nights.
"I think representation is important. It's one thing to be willing to say, 'Oh yeah we're here for everybody' or, 'Oh, we represent everyone,' but it's another to actually be it," Ballenger says. "There are different performers of all genders, sexual orientations, and races."
Old problems die hard
Many of the performers who spoke with Tone Madison for this piece say the club's atmosphere has changed for the better, and had no qualms about the progress made by Prism's new management team. One had an experience that indicates Prism still has work to do.
When Micah Dombroe (stage name DJ Kalycho) DJed at Prism on March 22, they experienced a form of harassment that would've seemed right at home at Plan B. During their set a presumably cisgender male began to repeatedly harass Dombroe to play music they did not have, and used targeted slurs when met with denial.
Throughout this, Dombroe says, none of Prism's security staff did anything to intervene. After their performance, Dombroe yelled at the harasser within earshot of at least one security officer. In response, the security officer briefly made his presence known, but took no further action against the harasser.
Later, while packing up their equipment, Dombroe was stared down by the harasser and then asked a security officer to accompany them to their car. Dombroe also noted that all of what happened that night was completely unexpected, due to the promises they felt had been made about how different Prism was supposed to be.
A week later, Dombroe reported the incident to Prism through the club's Facebook page. Luxe responded with concern and implemented changes to the club's DJ booth, adding a door, a flashlight and a radio, and updated security policies so that staff checks in with artists more frequently.
"I think all of those are great ideas for protecting performers, but it's one thing to protect your performers when on any given night your performers are a few individuals in what could be a room of hundreds," Dombroe says. "My concern is not just for performers, not just for myself, not just for whoever is on stage or who is in the DJ booth. Certainly, those people deserve to be protected or treated well just like anybody else, but if you're not fundamentally changing the culture that allows harassment to occur to anyone—performer or patron—then you're not actually improving the venue itself."
Luxe says this is the first and only such incident she's heard of since Prism opened, and shared with Tone Madison the same list of measures about the DJ booth that she shared with Dombroe. Luxe also says that she took the initiative to contact 30 other queer, femme, and trans customers and, aside from a few issues with people having their pictures taken without consent, received glowing reviews. If incidents do happen again, she hopes that people will give feedback so that herself, Sabatini and Marquez can continue to make changes.
Luxe also said that the staff had an all-staff training recently where she led a lengthy discussion on harassment policies, understanding privilege, and microaggressions, and went through some role-play scenarios of how to recognize and deal with situations, and is still planning a training session with the Rape Crisis Center in Madison for all staff and anyone else who is interested.
The root of the issue
For Dombroe, these are steps in the right direction, but they wonder whether these changes will really address the issue that ultimately led to their harassment that night—the fact that the harasser was in the club in the first place. Making people feel comfortable is important, Dombroe says, but what about making sure people like the harasser feel unwelcome?
"What sent a mental flag into the situation for me is the experience I had during the performance is very reflective of every other very shitty experience I've ever had at Plan B," Dombroe says. "It's a very similar situation. It also reflects the experience of a lot of other queer-identifying people who had gone to Plan B, had a shitty experience and then never went back. It's part of a reason there is an informal boycott of Prism, because of those experiences of going [to Plan B], getting shouted down, or having some middle-aged white man get in your face because he doesn't like you."
Dombroe also thing added that steps like the training with the Rape Crisis Center should be prerequisite to opening up a club geared to marginalized folks, rather than something that happens after the club opens.
"One might argue it's morally irresponsible to welcome LGBTQ+ folks through your door unless what's inside is informed by genuine efforts to develop an authentically safer space," Dombroe says. "I still have questions about what's inside this particular box, Prism, not just about what's written on the label."
When asked what measures the club was taking to get rid of problem patrons and whatever problem culture lingers from Plan B, Luxe responded: "I guess my response is that everybody is welcome, bad behavior is not. Only time and training will make the necessary changes to the vibe and atmosphere of the place. Change doesn't happen overnight but it is happening. Patrons feel it and so does our staff. We are truly committed to creating an inclusive space and are taking the needed steps to do that."
When a reporter asked Sabatini if he would include measures like shaming or banning patrons who were found to have assaulted or harassed other patrons, he said, "That's been happening since when I ran Plan B…If it's determined that this person is not acting in accordance with our values, then yeah, they're going to be asked to leave and not come back." He noted that the club has previously taken advantage of the City of Madison's "Unruly Patron" ordinance, which allows bars to formally ban someone for six months, with help from police, if they have "engaged in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct."
Mills says that to create a safer space, Prism needs to not just get rid of the problem patrons from the Plan B days, but also empower patrons to look after each other and hold others accountable. She says Marquez succeeded in doing that during the Inferno years.
"It takes a community," Mills says. "[Relying on security or staff only] is like relying on cops to solve all our problems. That's not tenable. It'is just a much better, more holistic approach to have everybody be a part of this…I want people to just want it to be a nice experience for everyone so that we can go out and make community, make connections and feel welcome and supported."
Sabatini also says he doesn't want to discount Dombroe's experience, but insists that it was just one incident in what he sees as an otherwise successful turnaround. He argues that people who were previously turned off by their experiences at Plan B have started coming back in the Prism era. He adds that Prism has taken steps to improve security and educate staff, and to have owners be an active presence in the club's day-to-day operations. But he acknowledges that there's still work to be done.
"I know that it's going to take time to regain trust," Sabatini says.
Henry Solo
Hunter Reed


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The Rupe Helmer Group office space, Remington Tower, was hit by a tornado in August 2017. The event happened during non-working hours and all Rupe Helmer Group employees and other building tenants were unharmed. The company is continuing to work through the ongoing building studies and determine the next steps for the future of the building. Note our current physical address is now 6846 S. Canton Ave. Suite 250 Tulsa, OK 74136.


text:
Tottenham Hotspur Match Reports
Sunderland vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Final score 2-2, football is dumb
By Kim McCauley@lgbtqfc Sep 13, 2014, 5:15pm BST
Share All sharing options for: Sunderland vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Final score 2-2, football is dumb
Stu Forster
Tottenham Hotspur turned on the style and played their best football of the season against Sunderland on Saturday. They also made two hilarious errors, drawing 2-2 in a match that just about anyone who is not Spurs would have won.
The start was frantic, with Spurs scoring just three minutes in. Nacer Chadli turned in a rebound after Vito Mannone saved a long-range shot by Emmanuel Adebayor, getting Spurs off to a dream start.
It only took a minute for their lead to be erased. Adam Johnson torched Eric Dier in the 4th minute, then hit a shot that took a nasty deflection, giving Hugo Lloris little chance to make a save.
Spurs didn't flinch and were on the front foot instantly afterwards, and throughout the first half. They were brilliant and should have scored two or three more goals. They didn't.
A goal eventually did come, though, with Christian Eriksen putting Spurs in front just after the halftime break. An attempted cross to the back post by Chadli was blocked, but Eriksen was in perfect position to clean up in front of net and smash in the rebound.
Mauricio Pochettino made an odd decision in the 70th minute, bringing on Benjamin Stambouli for his debut, replacing Chadli. It moved Mousa Dembele into an attacking midfield role, and it didn't work at all. Sunderland were aggressive and had a much easier time attacking from then on.
Eventually, their persistence paid off, but not because of anything they did. A routine corner kick fell to another Spurs substitute -- Harry Kane -- and he found a way to chest it into the back of his own net. The game ended 2-2. Everyone groaned.
I'm not going to tell you not to be upset about this game, because this is the kind of game that gets fans very upset. It sucked a lot. Tottenham should have won and did not due to a combination of bad luck and errors that are unlikely to be repeated. It was the kind of game that allows other fans to make fun of us for "being Spurs", and that seems to happen regularly whether or manager is a buffoon or model professional; whether we're crap or sensational.
But at the same time, most fans knew that top four was unlikely going into the season. The last two matches haven't changed anything. We are between the fifth and seventh best team in this league, and this game did nothing to make me feel we're better or worse than that. We played extremely well outside of the two silly conceded goals, and we'll get better. We'll do less of this, even if it does happen again. That's sports ... and that's very, very Spurs.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
\section{Introduction}

The Mahler measure of  a polynomial $f(x)=c \prod_{i=1}^d (x-\alpha_i)\in \ensuremath{\mathbb{C}}[x]$ is
\[
M(f) = |c| \prod_{ |\alpha_i|\geq 1} |\alpha_i|
\]
and for an algebraic number we define $M(\alpha)$ to be the Mahler measure of a minimal polynomial for $\alpha$ over $\ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}$ (with content 1).
By work of Kronecker, an algebraic number $\alpha$ has Mahler measure equal to 1 exactly when it is 0 or a root of unity.  As such, we define the Mahler measure of a number field $K$ to be the minimal Mahler measure of a non-torsion generator,
\[
M(K) = \min\{ M(\alpha): \ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}(\alpha) = K, M(\alpha) \neq 1 \}
\]
and we write $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ for the minimal Mahler measure of a non-torsion integral generator.

Silverman \cite{MR747871}  showed that if  the degree of $K$, $d\geq 2$ then
 \[
d^{-\frac{d}{2(d-1)}}|D_K|^{\frac1{2(d-1)}}\leq  M(K).
 \]
 where $D_K$ is the absolute discriminant of $K$.
Ruppert \cite{MR1624340}(page 17) and Masser \cite{MR1363143} (Proposition 1) showed that this lower bound  cannot be improved by a larger exponent. They considered the Kummerian fields $K$ of degree $d$ obtained by adjoining a root of $px^d-q$ for $p$ and $q$ (well-chosen) primes.  They showed that $M(K)\leq \tfrac1{2^{2d}} |D_K|^{\frac1{2(d-1)}}$, demonstrating that the exponent in the lower bound is sharp for these fields.  Conversely, there are fields whose minimal Mahler measure grows faster than the lower bound.  Specifically, Vaaler and Widmer show that \cite{MR3074815} for composite $d$ there are number fields $K$ so that  no constant $c_d$ satisfies
\[
M(K)  \leq c_d |D_K|^{\frac1{2(d-1)}}.
\]

Ruppert \cite{MR1624340}(Proposition 3)  proved
 that if $K$ is totally real of prime degree then there is an integral primitive element $\alpha\in \ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$ such that
\[
 M(\alpha)\leq 2^{2d} |D_K|^{\frac12}.
\]
His argument  can be extended to all number fields of prime degree.
Vaaler and Widmer  \cite{MR3413883}  proved that if $K$ is not totally complex, and $s$ denotes the number of complex places of $K$,  then there is a primitive element $\alpha$ such that
\[
M(\alpha) \leq \Big(\frac{2}{\pi}\Big)^{s} |D_K|^{\frac1{2}}.
\]
For general fields they show that an upper bound with the same dependence on $D_K$ exists under the assumption of the truth of the generalized Riemann hypothesis.

For quadratic number fields, the upper and lower bounds have the same exponent on the  discriminant.  Cochrane et al \cite{MR3463562}  showed that $\tfrac12 \sqrt{|D_K|} \leq M(K) \leq \sqrt{|D_K|}$, and further that
\[ \liminf_{d \rightarrow \infty} \frac{M(\ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}(\sqrt{d}))}{\sqrt{|D_K|}} =\frac12.\]

We consider the integral Mahler measure in the  cubic case.  The aforementioned bounds specialize to
\[ 3^{-\frac{3}{4}}|D_K|^{\frac1{4}}\leq  M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K) \leq 2^{6} |D_K|^{\frac12} \]
in the cubic case.
The question we address is whether these bounds are sharp.  Specifically, we look at Galois cubics, totally real non-Galois cubics, and non-real cubics.

We show the following, in relation to the lower bound.
\begin{thm}\label{thm:lowerbound}
There are infinitely many Galois cubics, totally real non-Galois cubics, and non-totally real cubics $K$ such that
\[  M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K) \leq 2^{\frac12} |D_K|^{\frac14}. \]
\end{thm}

We also demonstrate a family of cubics whose minimal integral Mahler measure is related to the discriminant to the power of $\tfrac13$.
\begin{thm}\label{thm:exponent1/3}
There are infinitely many  non-Galois (Kummerian) number fields $K$ such that
\[ \tfrac1{30} |D_K|^{\frac13}<  M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)<  \tfrac{4}{3} |D_K|^{\frac13}.  \]
\end{thm}

In Section~\ref{section:algorithm} we describe an algorithm that given a discriminant bound, $N$ computes $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ for all number fields $K$ with absolute value of their discriminant less than $N$, and show  the resulting data.  Our results  leave open the question if the upper bound is achieved.
\begin{question}Is there a family of cubic fields $K_n$ and a constant $c>0$ so that $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_{K_n})>c|D_{K_n}|^{\tfrac12}$? \end{question}

\section{Lower Bound Examples}

In this section we prove Theorem~\ref{thm:lowerbound} by demonstrating  infinitely many number fields $K$ in each of the three categories of Galois cubics, totally real non-Galois cubics, and non-totally real cubics, which have $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ equal to a constant times $|D_K|^{\frac14}$.

\begin{prop}
There are infinitely many cyclic cubic fields $K$ such that \[ M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)< 2^{\frac12} |D_K|^{\frac14}.\]
\end{prop}

\begin{proof}

Let $K_{n}$ be the splitting field of $f_{n}(x)=x^3+nx^2-(n+3)x+1$.  These fields have been extensively studied (see \cite{MR352049}, \cite{MR1415795}) and are often referred to as ``the simplest cubic fields''.
The field  $K_n$ is a Galois cubic for $n\geq 0$ and
\[ |D_{K_n}|=d(f_n)=(9+3n+n^2)^2. \]
An elementary computation using the intermediate value theorem shows that for $n$ sufficiently large
 the roots $r_1<r_2<r_3$ of $f_n$ satisfy
\[ -(1+n+\tfrac1n)  <r_1< -(1+n), \quad 0<r_2<\tfrac{1}{n}, \quad 1<r_3<1+\tfrac{1}n.\]
Therefore,
\[
M(f_n)< (1+n+\tfrac{1}n)(1+\tfrac{1}{n}) =n+2+\tfrac2n+\tfrac{1}{n^2}.
\]
For $n$ sufficiently large,
\[
M(f_n)^2 <  n^2+ 4n + 8    + \tfrac{10}n + \tfrac8{n^2} + \tfrac4{n^3}+ \tfrac{1}{n^4}
<
2 (n^2+3n+9) = 2 |D_K|^{\tfrac12}.
\]
\end{proof}

Next we consider totally real, non-Galois cubics.
\begin{prop}
There are infinitely many totally real non-Galois cubic number fields $K$ such that
\[ M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K) < |D_K|^{\frac14}.\]
\end{prop}

\begin{proof}
Let $g_n(x) = x^3-nx^2+n$ and $K_n=\ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}(\alpha_n)$ for a (preferred) root $\alpha_n$ of $g_n$.  The discriminant of $g_n$ is $dg_n = n^2(4n^2-27)$. For $n>2$ the discriminant is positive and therefore $D_{K_n}$ is positive and $K_n$ is totally real.  If $n$ is prime, then $g_n$ is Eisenstein and therefore $n^2$ divides $D_{K_n}$.  By Estermann \cite{MR1512732},  there are infinitely many prime values of $n$ such that $4n^2-27$ is square-free.  For these $n$ the discriminant $dg_n$ must equal $D_{K_n}$ as $dg_n$ equals a square times $D_{K_n}$.   The resulting field $K_n$ is a non-Galois totally real field with discriminant $n^2(4n^2-27)$.

By the intermediate value theorem,  for $n>6$ then $g_n$ has real roots $r_1<r_2<r_3$ satisfying
\[
-1<r_1<-1+\tfrac1n, \quad 1<r_2<1+\tfrac1n, \quad n-\tfrac2n<r_3<n.
\]
We conclude that
\[ M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_{K_n}) < (1+\tfrac1n) n =n+1.  \]
A simple calculation shows that for $n$ sufficiently large
\[
M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)^4 < (n+1)^4 = n^4+4n^3+6n^2+4n + 1 <  4n^4-27n^2 = D_{K_n}.
\]

\end{proof}

Finally, we consider    cubics with a complex place.

\begin{prop}
There are infinitely many non-totally real   cubic number fields $K$ such that
\[ M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K) < 2^{-\frac12} |D_K|^{\frac14}.\]
\end{prop}

\begin{proof}
Let $h_n(x) = x^3+nx^2+n$ and $K_n=\ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}(\alpha_n)$ for a (preferred) root $\alpha_n$ of $h_n$.  The discriminant of $h_n$ is $dh_n = -n^2(4n^2+27)$ and therefore $K_n$ has negative discriminant and  is not totally real.  If $n$ is prime, then $h_n$ is Eisenstein and therefore $n^2$ divides $D_{K_n}$.  By  \cite{MR1512732} there are infinitely many prime values of $n$ such that $4n^2+27$ is square-free.  For these $n$ the discriminant $dh_n$ must equal $D_{K_n}$.  The resulting field $K_n$ is a non-Galois non-totally real field with discriminant $ -n^2(4n^2+27)$.

By the intermediate value theorem, the real root $r$ of $h_n$ satisfies
\[
-n-\tfrac1{n} < r< -n.
\]
Let $\tau$ and $\bar{\tau}$ be the non-real roots of $h_n$.  Using elementary symmetric functions, $r+\tau +\bar{\tau} = -n$, $r \tau\bar{\tau} = -n$ and $ r \tau + r\bar{\tau} + \tau \bar{\tau} = n$. We conclude that with $\tau = a+ib$ we have
\[
-n-\tfrac1n <  r= -n -(\tau + \bar{\tau}) =  -n-2a < -n
\]
so that $0< a< \tfrac1{2n}.$
Similarly,  $r|\tau|^2=-n$ so that using the bounds for $r$ we have
\[
(-n-\tfrac{1}{n})|\tau|^2  < r|\tau|^2 =-n < -n |\tau|^2
\]
implying
\[
 n|\tau|^2< n<   (n+\tfrac{1}{n})|\tau|^2
\]
so that $|\tau|^2< 1$.

Therefore $M(h_n)=|r|$ since $\tau$ and $\bar{\tau}$ have modulus less than one.  We have $M(h_n) = |r| < n $ and
\[
M(h_n)^4 <n^4 < \tfrac14n^2(4n^2+27)= \tfrac14 |D_{K_n}|.
\]

\end{proof}

In the above proofs, one can also make a similar deductions, with a worse constant by considering the naive height of the minimal polynomial.

\section{Exponent of $1/3$ Example}

In this section we prove Theorem~\ref{thm:exponent1/3}.  First we collect some information about Minkowski embeddings.

\subsection{Minkowski Embedding}

Let $K$ be a number field of degree $d=r_1+2r_2$ where $r_1$ is the number of real places and $r_2$ is the number of complex places.   Let $\phi_1,\dots, \phi_{r_1}$ be the real embeddings of $K$ and $\tau_1,\dots, \tau_{r_2}$ be representatives of the complex places of $K$.
We define the Minkowski embedding of  $\varphi:  K\rightarrow \ensuremath{\mathbb{R}}^{r_1+r_2}$  by
\[
\varphi(\alpha) = \langle \phi_1(\alpha), \Re(\tau_1(\alpha)), \Im(\tau_1(\alpha)), \dots,\Re(\tau_{r_2}(\alpha)), \Im(\tau_{r_2}(\alpha))    \rangle.
\]

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma:mmlength}
Let $K$ be a number field
\[
M(\alpha)^{1/d} \leq \|  \varphi(\alpha) \| \leq \sqrt{r_1+r_2} \: M(\alpha).
\]
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
Let $\alpha_1, \dots, \alpha_d$ be the conjugates of $\alpha$.
We have that
\begin{align*}
 \| \varphi(\alpha)\|^2
 & =  \sum_{i=1}^{r_1} | \phi_i(\alpha) |^2 + \sum_{i=1}^{r_2} \Big( |\Re(\tau_i(\alpha))|^2 +  | \Im(\tau_i(\alpha))|^2 \Big)  \\
& = \sum_{i=1}^{r_1} | \phi_i(\alpha) |^2 + \sum_{i=1}^{r_2}   | \tau_i(\alpha) |^2  = \sum_{i=1}^d|\alpha_i|^2.
\end{align*}
Therefore,
\begin{align*}
 \| \varphi(\alpha)\|^2
&  \leq (r_1+r_2) \max \{  | \phi_i(\alpha) |^2 , | \tau_j(\alpha) |^2 \}  \\
& \leq  (r_1+r_2) ( \max_{i} |\alpha_i|)^2  \leq (r_1+r_2) M(\alpha)^2.
\end{align*}
This proves the right inequality.
To prove the left inequality,
\[
M(\alpha)^d    \leq  \max_{i} |\alpha_i|^d   \leq   \Big(\sum_{i=1}^d|\alpha_i|^2 \Big)^{\frac12}=  \| \varphi(\alpha)\|. \]

\end{proof}

\subsection{}

 Let $f_p(x)=x^3-p$ for $p$ prime with roots $\theta$, $\omega \theta$ and $\omega^2 \theta$ for $\theta\in \ensuremath{\mathbb{R}}$ and $\omega = \tfrac12(-1+\sqrt{-3})$ be a primitive third root of unity.  Let $K=\ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}(\theta)$.
We assume that $p \not \equiv \pm 1 \pmod 9$ so that $D_K=-27p^2$ and $\{1,\theta,\theta^2\}$ is an integral basis for $\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$.  Let $k$ be an integer so that for $\alpha = \theta-k$ we have $-\tfrac12 < \alpha <\tfrac12$.

\begin{lemma}
The Mahler measure of $\alpha$ is at most $\tfrac43 |D_K|^{\frac13}$.
\end{lemma}
\begin{proof}
The conjugates of $\alpha$ are $\theta-k$, $\theta \omega-k$ and $\theta \omega^2-k=\theta \bar{\omega}-k$. Since $|\alpha|<1$ the Mahler measure of $\alpha$  is
\[
| \theta \omega-k|^2 =(\theta \omega-k)(\theta \bar{\omega}-k) = \theta^2 \omega^3 -k\theta(\omega+\bar{\omega})+k^2 =
\theta^2+k^2+k\theta. \]
Since $k<\theta+\tfrac12$ this is bounded above by $3\theta^2+\tfrac32\theta+\tfrac14$ which is less that $4\theta^2$ for $p$ large enough. Therefore,
\[| \theta \omega-k|^2 <4\theta^2 =4 p^{\frac23}< \tfrac43 |D_K|^{\frac13}.
\]
\end{proof}

With the following lemma, we conclude that
\[
\tfrac1{30} |D_K|^{\frac13}<  M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)<  \tfrac{4}{3} |D_K|^{\frac13}
\]
 proving Theorem~\ref{thm:exponent1/3}.

\begin{lemma}
There is no $\beta \in \ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K-\ensuremath{\mathbb{Z}}$ with   $M(\beta) <  \tfrac1{10}\theta^2= \tfrac1{10} p^{\frac23}  $.
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}

Assume that $\beta$ satisfies  $M(\beta)<  \tfrac1{10} p^{\frac23}$.
We consider the Minkowski embedding, $\varphi$, of $\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$ induced by sending
\begin{align*}
1 & \rightarrow {\mathbf v_1}=\langle 1, 1,0 \rangle \\
\theta  & \rightarrow {\mathbf v_2}=\langle \theta, \Re(\omega \theta), \Im(\omega \theta) \rangle  = \langle \theta, -\tfrac12 \theta,  \tfrac{\sqrt{3}}2 \theta \rangle =\theta \langle 1, -\tfrac12 ,  \tfrac{\sqrt{3}}2  \rangle  \\
\theta^2 & \rightarrow {\mathbf v_3}=\langle \theta^2, \Re(\omega^2 \theta^2), \Im(\omega^2 \theta^2) \rangle= \theta^2 \langle 1, -\tfrac12 ,  -\tfrac{\sqrt{3}}2  \rangle.
\end{align*}
By Lemma~\ref{lemma:mmlength} the length of the Minkowski embedding is related to Mahler measure by  \[ M(\beta)^{\frac13}\leq \| \varphi(\beta) \| \leq \sqrt{2} M(\beta).\]
By assumption,  $\| \varphi(\beta)\|^2 \leq 2 M(\beta)^2<  \tfrac{2}{100}p^{\frac43}=\tfrac{1}{50} \theta^4$.

We perform the Gram-Schmidt algorithm to determine an orthogonal basis consisting of ${\mathbf v_1^*}= \mathbf{ v_1}$, $\mathbf{v_2^*}$ and $\mathbf{v_3^*}$ for $K$.  We  have
\[ \mathbf{v_2^*} = \mathbf{v_2 } - \frac{\mathbf{v_2} \cdot\mathbf{ v_1^*}}{\| \mathbf{v_1^*} \|^2}\mathbf{v_1^*}, \quad \mathbf{v_3^*} = \mathbf{v_3}-\frac{\mathbf{v_3} \cdot \mathbf{v_1^*}}{\| \mathbf{ v_1^*} \|^2}\mathbf{v_1^*} -\frac{ \mathbf{v_3}\cdot \mathbf{v_2^*}}{\|\mathbf{v_2^*}\|^2} \mathbf{v_2^*}. \]
An elementary calculation shows that
\[ \mathbf{v_2^*}= \mathbf{v_2}- \tfrac14 \theta \mathbf{v_1}   = \tfrac14 \theta \langle3, -3  ,   2\sqrt{3} \rangle  \]
where $\| \mathbf{v_2^*}\|^2 = \tfrac{15}{8}\theta^2 $ and
\[
\mathbf{v_3^*}  =  \mathbf{v_3}- \tfrac14 \theta^2 \mathbf{v_1} - \tfrac15 \theta \mathbf{ v_2^*}    = \tfrac35\theta^2 \langle  1,-1,-\sqrt{3}  \rangle.
\]
The lengths are
\[
\| \mathbf{ v_1^*} \|^2 = 3, \| \mathbf{ v_2^*} \|^2 = \tfrac{15}8 \theta^2, \| \mathbf{v_3^*}\|^2 =   \tfrac{9}{5}\theta^4.
\]

If $\varphi(\beta) = A \mathbf{v_1}+B \mathbf{v_2^*}+C\mathbf{v_3^*}$ then
\[
\| \varphi(\beta) \|^2 = A^2 \| \mathbf{v_1} \|^2 + B^2 \| \mathbf{v_2^*}\|^2 + C^2 \| \mathbf{v_2^*}\|^2 = 3A^2 + \tfrac{15}8 \theta^2 B^2+ \tfrac{9}5 \theta^4 C^2.
\]
We conclude that  since $\|\varphi(\beta)\|^2 <  \tfrac{9}5 \theta^4$ then $C=0$.

We  write $\beta$ in terms of the integral basis as $\beta = a+b\theta + c \theta^2$ with $a,b,c\in \ensuremath{\mathbb{Z}}$ and so that both $b$ and $c$ are not zero.  Then
\begin{align*}
\varphi(\beta) & = a\varphi(1) + b \varphi(\theta) + c\varphi(\theta^2)  \\
& = a \mathbf{v_1}+ b \mathbf{v_2}+c \mathbf{v_3}  \\
& = a \mathbf{v_1} + b( \mathbf{v_2^*}+\tfrac14\theta  \mathbf{v_1}) + c ( \mathbf{v_3^*}+\tfrac14 \theta^2  \mathbf{v_1 }+ \tfrac15 \theta \mathbf{v_2^*}) \\
& = (a+\tfrac{b}4\theta +\tfrac{c}4 \theta^2  ) \mathbf{v_1} + (b+\tfrac{c}5\theta   ) \mathbf{v_2^*}+c\mathbf{v_3^*}.
\end{align*}
It follows that $c=0$ so that $\beta = a+b\theta$.

It suffices to consider the case where $\beta = a+b\theta$ with  $a>0$ and $b\neq 0$.
If $a=0$ then $\beta=b\theta$ and $M(\beta)= |b^3\theta^3 |= |b|^3 p.$ Therefore we assume that $a$ and $b$ are non-zero.
The   minimal polynomial of $\beta$  is $x^3-3ax^2+3a^2x-(a^3+b^3p)$.
 The conjugates of $a+b\theta$ are
\[
a+b\theta, a+\omega b \theta,  \overline{a+ \omega  b \theta}= a+\bar{\omega}b\theta
\]
so that the Mahler measure is $|a+b\theta|$, $\|a+\omega b\theta\|^2$ or $|a+b\theta | \|a+\omega b\theta\|^2$. Note that
\[
\|a+\omega b\theta\|^2 = a^2-ab\theta+b^2\theta^2.
\]

The Mahler measure is $|a+b\theta|$ when  $\| a+\omega b\theta\|^2<1$. This is  \[ \| a-\tfrac12bp^{\frac13} +\tfrac{\sqrt{-3}}2 bp^{\frac13}\|^2<1.\]
Therefore the imaginary part, $\tfrac{\sqrt{3}}2 bp^{\frac13}$  is between $-1$ and $1$ so that $b=0$ implying that $\beta \in \ensuremath{\mathbb{Z}}$.

In the last two cases, as we are assuming $a>0$ and $M(\beta)<\tfrac1{10} \theta^2$, we must have $b>0$.  Otherwise,
$M(\beta)\geq \|a+\omega b\theta\|^2 = a^2-ab\theta+b^2\theta^2 > b^2\theta^2> \tfrac1{10} \theta^2$.   As such $a+b\theta>1$ and the Mahler measure is the absolute value of the constant term in the minimal polynomial for $a+b\theta$, which is $a^3+b^3p= a^3+b^3\theta^3>\tfrac1{10}\theta^2.$

\end{proof}

\section{Algorithm}\label{section:algorithm}

In this section we demonstrate our algorithm to compute $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ for a all cubic fields $K$ with bounded $|D_K|$. The data is presented in Figure~\ref{figure:data}. First we present some lemmas that help establish finite search bounds.

\begin{figure}[h!]\label{figure:data}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[scale=0.37]{G_Output_all.pdf}
\includegraphics[scale=0.37]{G_lower_all.pdf} \\

\

\includegraphics[scale=0.37]{G_upper_all.pdf}
\caption{For $K$ cubic, the figures are  $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$, $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)/|D_K|^{\frac14}$  and $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)/|D_K|^{\frac12}$ (respectively) for $K$ with $|D_K|\leq 10,000$.
Blue indicates non-real fields, orange is non-cyclic totally real fields, and red is cyclic fields.   }

\end{center}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Lemmas}
Let $K$ be a cubic number field with Minkowski embedding $\varphi$.  Let $\mathbf{1} = \langle 1,1,1\rangle$ when $K$ is totally real and $\mathbf{1}=\langle 1,1,0\rangle$ when $K$ has a complex place so that $\mathbf{1} = \varphi(1)$, the Minkowski embedding of 1.  Then $\varphi(K)$ is dense in $\ensuremath{\mathbb{R}}^3$ and $\varphi(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ is a lattice in $\ensuremath{\mathbb{R}}^3$.

Let $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}= \{ \bm{\beta}_1, \bm{\beta}_2, \bm{\beta}_3\}$  be an LLL basis for this lattice and let  $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}^*= \{ \bm{\beta}_1^*, \bm{\beta}_2^*, \bm{\beta}_3^*\}$ be the basis obtained by performing Gram-Schmidt reduction on $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}$.

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma:searchbounds}
Let $\bm{\alpha}$ be an element of the lattice $\varphi(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ and $a,b,c\in \ensuremath{\mathbb{Z}}$ so that $\bm{\alpha} = a \bm{\beta}_1+b \bm{\beta}_2+c \bm{\beta}_3$.
If  $\| \bm{\alpha} \|^2 \leq C$ then
\[
|c| \leq  \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|},  \ \ \
|b| \leq  \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_2^*\|} +  \tfrac12  \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|},  \ \ \
|a| \leq  \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_1^*\|} + \tfrac12 \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_2^*\|} +  \tfrac34 \frac{C^{\frac12}}{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|}.
\]
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
We write $\bm{\alpha} = a_* \bm{\beta}_1^* + b_* \bm{\beta}_2^* + c_* \bm{\beta}_3^*$ for $a_*, b_*, c_* \in \ensuremath{\mathbb{Q}}$ and since $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}^*$ is orthogonal we have
\[
\| \bm{\alpha} \|^2 = a_*^2 \| \bm{\beta}_1^*\|^2 + b_*^2 \| \bm{\beta}_2^*\|^2+ c_*^2 \| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|^2.
\]
Since $\| \bm{\alpha} \|^2 \leq C$ we have
\[
|a_*| \leq \frac{C^{\frac12}}{ \| \bm{\beta}_1^*\|},  \ \ \ |b_*| \leq \frac{C^{\frac12}}{ \| \bm{\beta}_2^*\|}, \ \ \ |c_*| \leq \frac{C^{\frac12}}{ \| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|}.
\]

The Gram-Schmidt algorithm determines $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}^*$ from $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}$ as follows, where   $\mu_{i,j} = (\bm{\beta}_i\cdot \bm{\beta}_j^*)/\| \bm{\beta}_j^*\|^2$,
\[
\bm{\beta}_i^* = \bm{\beta}_i-\sum_{j=1}^{i-1} \mu_{i,j} \bm{\beta}_j^*
\]
with
\[
\bm{\beta}_1^* = \bm{\beta}_1, \ \
\bm{\beta}_2^* = \bm{\beta}_2-\mu_{2,1}\bm{\beta}_1,  \ \
\bm{\beta}_3^* = \bm{\beta}_3-\mu_{3,1}\bm{\beta}_1-\mu_{3,2}\mu_{2,1}\bm{\beta}_1.
\]
Therefore, we have
\[
\bm{\alpha} = (a_*-b_*\mu_{2,1} -c_*\mu_{3,2}+c_*\mu_{3,2}\mu_{2,1})\bm{\beta}_1
+(b_*-c_*\mu_{3,2})\bm{\beta}_2
+(c_*)\bm{\beta}_3
\]
and
\[
a= a_*-b_*\mu_{2,1} -c_*\mu_{3,2}+c_*\mu_{3,2}\mu_{2,1},
b=b_*-c_*\mu_{3,2},
c=c_*.
\]
This immediately implies the bound for $|c|$.

Since $\ensuremath{\mathcal{B}}$ is an LLL basis, we have that $|\mu_{i,j}| < \tfrac12$.  Therefore,
\[
|b| = |b_*-c_*\mu_{3,2}| \leq |b_*|+|c_*||\mu_{3,2}| \leq |b_*|+\tfrac12|c_*|
\]
and
\begin{align*}
|c| & = |a_*-b_*\mu_{2,1} -c_*\mu_{3,2}+c_*\mu_{3,2}\mu_{2,1}| \\
& \leq |a_*|+|b_*||\mu_{2,1}| +|c_*| |\mu_{3,2}| +|c_*||\mu_{3,2}\mu_{2,1}| \\
& \leq |a_*|+\tfrac12 |b_*|+\tfrac12|c_*| +\tfrac14 |c_*|.
\end{align*}
The result follows.

\end{proof}

By Lemma~\ref{lemma:mmlength} we have the following corollary.
\begin{cor}\label{cor:searchbounds}
Let $K$ be a cubic field with basis $\{1, b_2, b_3\}$ and $\alpha = a+ b b_2+cb_3$. Let  $b_1=1$ and $\bm{\beta}_i = \varphi(b_i)$.
If  $M(\alpha)<C$
\[
|c|  \leq  \frac{ f^{\frac12} C}{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\| }, |b|  \leq  \frac{f^{\frac12} C }{\| \bm{\beta}_2^*\| } +  \tfrac12  \frac{f^{\frac12} C }{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\|},  |a|  \leq  \frac{f^{\frac12}C }{\| \bm{\beta}_1^*\| }\ + \tfrac12 \frac{f^{\frac12} C }{\| \bm{\beta}_2^*\| }  +  \tfrac34  \frac{f^{\frac12} C }{\| \bm{\beta}_3^*\| }
\]
where $f=3$ if $K$ is totally real and $f=2$ otherwise.
\end{cor}

\subsection{Overview}

\begin{algorithm}
\caption{Determine $M(\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K)$ for all cubic number fields with $|D_K|\leq N$}
\begin{algorithmic}
\STATE Run Belabas' algorithm on  $N$
\STATE This returns polynomials in the form $p(x)=ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$.
\STATE Determine roots $x_1, x_2, x_3$ of $p(x)$
\STATE Use the  integral basis $\{1, ax_1, ax_1^2 + bx_1\}$ for $\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$.
\STATE Compute Minkowski embeddings of $1, ax_1, ax_1^2+ bx_1$ to create integral basis $B$.
\STATE Multiply the elements of $B$ by $10^{10}$ and take their floor, creating $B'$.
\STATE Run the LLL algorithm on $B'$ to find an LLL  basis $\mathcal{B}'$ for the lattice.
\STATE Multiply the elements of  $\mathcal{B}'$ by $10^{-10}$ to create $\mathcal{B}$.
\STATE Determine Mahler measure of elements of $\mathcal{B}$.
\STATE Implement Gram-Schmidt on $\mathcal{B}$ to produce orthogonal basis $\mathcal{B}^*$.
\STATE Determine bounds for coefficients (of elements in $\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$ written in terms of LLL basis) from Corollary~\ref{cor:searchbounds}, using $\mathcal{B}^*$, and $M(\mathcal{B})$.
\STATE Compute Mahler measure of the (finite) list of candidate elements.
\STATE Return the smallest Mahler measure.
\end{algorithmic}
\end{algorithm}

We use  Belabas' algorithm, which  outputs a list of all cubic fields with (absolute value of the) discriminant between 0 and $N$ along with a polynomial $p(x)=ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$ that both generates the field and has the same discriminant as the field.  An integral basis $\{1, ax_1, ax_1^2 + bx_1\}$ can be read off of this data, where $x_1$ is a real root of $p(x)$.  The algorithm then checks the sign of the $N$, which is also the sign the all of the field discriminants.

If $N$ is positive then the  field is  totally real and has 3 real places. If $N$ is negative then the  field is not totally real,  and has one real place and one complex place.

SageMath \cite{sage} computes the roots of each polynomial. Using the integral basis, a basis for a Minkowski embedding of $\ensuremath{\mathcal{O}}_K$ has the form
\[
\langle 1, 1, 1 \rangle, \langle a x_1, ax_2, a x_3 \rangle, \langle a x_1^2+b x_1, a x_2^2+b x_2, a x_3^2+b x_3 \rangle
\]
when $K$ is totally real and
\[
\langle 1, 1, 0 \rangle, \langle a x_1,  \Re (a x_2), \Im (a x_2) \rangle,
\langle a x_1^2+b x_1, \Re (a x_2^2+b x_2), \Im (a x_2^2+b x_2) \rangle
\]
when $K$ is not totally real. In the latter case, $x_2$ is the complex root which has  a negative
 imaginary part.

We run the LLL algorithm as implemented in SageMath \cite{sage}.  This algorithm accepts only integer vectors.  As a result, we multiply our entries by $10^M$ and then truncate them.  After LLL is run, we reverse this process, by multiplying entries by $10^{-M}$.  We also compute the  Gram-Schmidt matrix normalization of this LLL basis.

We employ a check to verify that the first vector is  $\bm{1}$, which is the case for all fields we calculated.  This simplifies out implementation as $\|\bm{1}\|=\sqrt{2}$ or $\sqrt{3}$.
The algorithm computes the Mahler measure of the other two basis elements, picks the smaller one and then uses that with Corollary~\ref{cor:searchbounds}  to determine search bounds for the coefficients of the LLL basis which   elements with potentially small Mahler measure must satisfy.  Since the coefficients are in $\ensuremath{\mathbb{Z}}$ there is  a finite search for the element with  Mahler measure less than this value.

The algorithm  makes a list of Minkowski embeddings with length bounded by Corollary~\ref{cor:searchbounds},
and computes the Mahler measure for each element.

\bibliographystyle{amsplain}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Bananas Foster – amerykański bananowy deser pochodzący z Nowego Orleanu.

Historia
Nowy Orlean był na początku lat 50. XX wieku głównym portem, do którego trafiały banany importowane z Ameryki Południowej i Środkowej do Stanów Zjednoczonych. Właściciel restauracji w Nowym Orleanie, Owen Brennan zlecił zatrudnionemu przez siebie kucharzowi Paulowi Blange'owi przygotowanie deseru na bazie bananów. Blange nazwał deser na cześć swego szefa.

Receptura
Banany smaży się na maśle z dodatkiem cukru trzcinowego, cynamonu i likieru bananowego. Następnie są flambirowane w rumie. Banany podaje się z lodami o smaku waniliowym.

Przypisy

Desery
Kuchnia amerykańska

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their cattle.
34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.
39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expences of the sanctuary.
40 Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king's accounts from the places appertaining.
44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king's accounts.
45 Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expences shall be given out of the king's accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.
72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to to flight in their own land.
The Books of Maccabees were obviously writen from a historical perspective which concludes the long held misconception that 500 years laps between the Old Testament and the New before God again communitated to men.


Apologies for being a little inexperienced in quantum computational chemistry, but I need a little guidance to make sure I'm not just fumbling my way into any random computation and getting exactly what I need.
I want to calculate the hyperfine structure constants for the LiK molecule in its first excited singlet state (the A singlet sigma +). This includes getting the electric field gradients for both atoms as well as everything required for the constants defined as c1-c4 (spin-spin, spin-rotation etc.) I would also like the electronic g-factor if possible.
I understand enough to run these calculations for the ground-state (although perhaps not the output for the electric field gradient) but I am stumped as to how to re-define the calculation to do it for the A-singlet-sigma+.
The hyperfine structure constants and the electronic g-factor are all zero for singlet (S=0) states.
Anyway, you can calculate properties of excited states with MCSCF by specifying the desired state in the wave function input.
Thanks! Though I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing in this case. I'm interested in finding the coupling constants as in the Hamiltonian I've attached below.
Just for the sake of time and simplicity, what is the best way of defining the necessary wavefunctions in MCSCF with dalton? Say for the A-singlet-sigma or the b-triplet-pi.
Aha (wrt what you want to calculate).
For PI states one must select either PI_x or PI_y of the degenerate pair under .SYMMETRY, typically symmetry 2 or 3. If you do not want a symmetry broken solution (with pi_x orbitals different from pi_y orbitals) you must also specify .SUPSYM, which will force the pi_x and pi_y orbitals to be not symmetry broken.
Alright brilliant! Although I wonder if MCSCF calculations are any good in terms of accuracy or calculating the properties I need. Say I wanted electric field gradients, nuclear shielding constants and the rotational g-factor. From what I've read previously, most of these are best determined using DFT rather than ab initio approaches? Or are they both equally valid?
I can't find much on TDDFT in the manual, is that an option in Dalton? If so, how would I approach excited states using TDDFT instead?
I'm sorry for the barrage of questions, feel free to point me to any example files that might help, I'm just having trouble navigating the myriad of options and non-options to extract what might be best.
As your problem is essentially a two-electron problem I think you should be able to do quite OK with MCSCF, maybe a RASSCF with 2 electrons in the 8 valence orbitals in RAS2, some subvalence orbitals in RAS1 and correlating orbitals for those in RAS3. Some testing would be a good idea to find a suitable MCSCF model.
Yes, TDDFT is implemented in the **RESPONS module (called linear response) and quadratic and cubic response is also implemented for some functionals. However, even though quadratic and cubic response in principle can give you excited state properties, it will definitely not work for all your desired properties.
That is amazing help, thank you again!
And after that lovely thank you, I have one final question as a complete newbie: how would you recommend me specifying the INACTIVE ORBITALS and the CAS SPACE for the LiK molecule? I've tried a number of combinations but I'm completely unsure as to which one is best. Again, we're considering some of the lower excited states.
What is the general approach to these variables?
I would first run a Hartree-Fock plus MP2 and look at the MP2 natural orbital occupation numbers to see how important it is to correlate some of the subvalence orbitals. The Hartree-Fock output also shows you how the occupied orbitals are distributed over symmetries, a little easier that doing the analysis yourself.
You also need to be aware that there are very considerable "core polarization" and core correlation effects in alkali-metal dimers, especially with heavier alkali metals. I am less optimistic that MCSCF will do well for these properties because such effects must be important near the nuclei. This is not an argument against trying, of course! But accounting for these effects is not easy and places heavy demands on the basis sets as well as the many-electron treatment.
By the way, I am of the opinion that any agreement between observation and (TD)DFT for these properties is simply sheer luck. The functionals are not parametrized for this sort of thing.


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Chris Smith	October 26, 2021
Books on Ferns, Lichens and a Pioneering Woman Botanist among BRIT Press New Releases
New titles from BRIT Press introduce readers to plants of the Baja Peninsula, sort through the complexities of fern classification and tell the story of Mary Strong Clemens, an intrepid explorer and botanist of the early 20th century.
Fall Plant Sale: Brighten Your Flower Beds
The annual Fall Plant Sale returns to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG|BRIT) campus Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a member's-only presale Oct. 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Stock up on fall plants while taking advantage of Garden professional consultations if needed.
Chris Smith	September 20, 2021
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Texas Plant Conservation Conference 2018


Q: In the past three days my husband's breath has smelled strongly acidic. Is this related to his diabetes?
A: If his glucose levels have been elevated, he could be breaking down fat for fuel at a rapid rate. This produces ketones, which can produce fruity or acidic breath. You can purchased ketone strips at the pharmacy to test urine for the presence of ketones. If this persists and if his glucose stays elevated in spite of any efforts on his part for correction, have him see his physician.
Q: I read that people with diabetes should not use heating pads. Why not?
A: This recommendation is more of a caution for those who have neuropathy and may not feel if the pad gets too hot and could be burned as a result.
Q: Do I need to fast before having an A1C test?
A: No, fasting is not required for an A1C because the test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past three months.
Q: What is ketoacidosis and what are the symptoms?
A: Ketoacidosis is the build-up of ketones (a by-product of rapid fat breakdown in the body) and can be life-threatening if left untreated. This would generally not occur unless glucose levels were very elevated over a longer period where the cells, needing fuel, rapidly break down fat to help keep you alive. At that point, one may be in a diabetic coma. In pregnancy, it is important for good control to prevent ketoacidosis so ketone bodies do not form, as they can cross the placenta and be toxic to the fetus. Symptoms may include fruity smelling breath, high blood sugar, excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting. If concerned, you can buy strips at the pharmacy to test urine for the presence of ketones.
Q: Why do I need to fast for 10 hours before a fasting glucose blood test?
A: This time frame gives your body a chance to digest all food in your system to more readily determine what your true fasting blood sugar is. Carbs, proteins and fats all digest at a different rate and a larger meal will take longer to digest. A fasting blood sugar of 126 repeated twice is a diagnosis of diabetes.
Q: Does drinking black coffee impact a fasting test?
A: Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulator, and may have a short term effect on blood sugars. Only water should be consumed prior to testing.
Q: How would I know if I am diabetic? What are the signs?
A: Frequent urination, rapid weight loss, dizziness, and excessive thirst are just some of the symptoms associated with, but not exclusive to diabetes. This is certainly truer of those on the path to type 1 diabetes. Many others will only know by getting a blood test to see if their fasting levels are elevated. 100-125 is generally considered pre-diabetes, 126 and greater with 2 tests is a diagnosis of diabetes. I suggest you request a fasting glucose test for starters.
Q: If I have some of the risk factors for diabetes, how often should I be tested to find out if I do have it or not?
A: If you are not experiencing any symptoms, an annual physical should be enough. Your glucose levels should be under 100; ideally between 80-90. If you are experiencing any symptoms such as weakness, frequent urination, increased hunger or thirst, or frequent infections, then get a fasting test now.
Q: Is it possible to stop being diabetic?
A: Once you have diabetes, you will always have it, but you can manage it to the point that it appears as if you don't have it. What this means is that you can get your blood sugars under control and within normal ranges, and maintain the healthy lifestyle required to stay within range. Learn all you can at this time on how to manage diabetes and live with it. You will find, for the most part, that an active lifestyle with healthy foods in moderate amounts will allow you a "normal" quality life.
Q: My fingertips hurt from testing. Does it matter if I get my blood sample from somewhere else on my body?
A: Fingertips (on the sides of tips) offer a more reliable capillary flow and reading because changes in glucose levels are detected here more rapidly. This is especially important when treating hypoglycemia. If you wish to use an alternative site such as your forearm or thigh where the blood flow is less, make sure you are using a meter that requires a smaller blood sample. You may want to discuss this with your physician.
Q: I am new to diabetes and am having trouble sticking myself for testing my blood sugar.
A: The first step in pricking your finger is to wash your hands with soap and water when at home. Make sure your hands are warm, and have your hand pointing down so the blood can flow to the tips. Pick any finger, using another finger to support it or lay it on its side so that you can stick the side of the tip, not directly on the tip of the finger. There are many nerve endings in your tips, and this area can be very sensitive. The good news is that the meters today require very little blood. You need to either ask your pharmacist or your physician's office to help get you started. Once you are shown, then you can practice and more assured of the readings you are getting.
Q: Does obesity cause type 2 diabetes?
A: Obesity is not the cause of type 2 diabetes, but is a strong contributor if one is genetically disposed. In my many years of counseling, I have seen very few folks with a BMI over 30 - in the obese classification - that don't have elevated or elevating glucose. Increased body fat appears to interfere at the cellular level with the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into the cell: the job of insulin. This creates a condition called insulin resistance. Unless lifestyle changes are made towards better eating habits and activity, pre-diabetes will usually blossom into diabetes.
Q: If a 13 year old is diagnosed with diabetes, is it always type 1 and necessary to be on insulin or can it be controlled by diet?
A: No, the diagnosis of a child is not always type 1 diabetes. With childhood obesity so common now, we are seeing type 2 diabetes at much younger ages. Those who are truly type 1 require insulin to live. If your child is not requiring insulin at this time, it may be true that he/she may need it in the future if the pancreas is on a path to no longer being able to produce insulin. There are tests that can help determine this. Discuss this with your physician. Following a healthy lifestyle and eating whole foods is most important with or without medication.
Q: How can I help my young adult son with type 1 diabetes get a good night sleep? He has trouble falling and staying asleep.
A: Many people have this problem and there is no one answer. The first goal would be to maintain stable glucose levels, as fluctuating levels can certainly affect good sleep. A cup of hot herbal sleep tea 1/2 before bed may help him relax and be able to fall asleep easier. Supplementing with Melatonin, a sleep hormone produced by the body, can often help. Quieting his mind is key; some people benefit by listening to relaxation tapes at night. Exercise during the day can also make for better sleep at night. The most important factor is that he wants to take steps to sleep better and overall maintain a better quality of life.
Q: I read that with type 2 diabetes, the production of insulin goes down with age. Does it ever go down to nothing? Is it possible to test how much insulin my body still produces?
A: It is possible to have your production of insulin cease over time, but usually this is not the case for type 2 diabetes. It is even less likely if you live a healthy lifestyle for both diet and activity. You can have your insulin output measured with a C-Peptide test. If your body truly no longer makes insulin, as the case with type 1 diabetes, and you are not injecting insulin, you will die. There are those with type 2 diabetes who do require insulin to have any semblance of good levels, but can survive without insulin for some period of time, but with high levels.
Q: While being treated for pancreatitis in the ICU for the second time, I was told that my blood sugar was 422 and that I am diabetic. I have not gained any weight, I am on a pretty strict diet and yet my sugar doesn't run under 200 for more than a day even though I am taking 75 units of Lantus. My doctor has told me to hold off on increasing the units until our next visit. I have not been diagnosed with type 1 or 2! Are there any other tests that could help diagnose the type of diabetes I have?
A: If you were truly type 1, you would require insulin for survival. At the moment, you appear to be type 2, requiring insulin to help lower your numbers. Each bout of pancreatitis may be affecting the insulin producing cells a bit more, resulting in a reduced ability of your body to produce sufficient insulin to keep your levels in a better range. At this time, your physician is probably trying to see if you stabilize at 200 or less and perhaps begin to lower on your own as your cells possibly start producing more insulin again. The C peptide test can give an indication of how much insulin your cells are producing. It does appear you need further discussions of this with your physician.
Q: My boyfriend is diabetic. He is a bit of a rebel and doesn't test his levels. At least once a month he turns into what I call a "zombie". He starts to get sweaty/clammy, he tends to be forgetful, he repeats himself, and this last time he was totally out of his right mind and became violent. When I confronted him about it afterwards, he had no recollection of doing it. How do I help him?
A: Erratic glucose levels can mimic bipolar behavior and potentially be harmful to you both. He is obviously experiencing high/low glucose level swings. He does need to take this seriously, see his physician assuming he has one, and follow with a diabetes eating/lifestyle plan. He should be testing his levels. He may need medication to help get his levels under control. Being a rebel is fine about some things, but not about a condition that can be life threatening if left unmanaged. If he refuses to do anything to better control himself, you may have to take a tough love stand for your own well-being and possible protection.
A: No, the diagnosis is not always type 1 diabetes at a young age, as was typically more so in past years. With childhood obesity so common now, we are seeing type 2 diabetes at much younger ages. Those who are truly type 1 require insulin to live. If your child is not requiring insulin at this time, it may be true that he/she may need it in the future if the pancreas is on a path to no longer being able to produce insulin. There are tests that can help determine this. Discuss this with your physician. Following a healthy lifestyle and eating whole foods is most important with or without medication.
Q: Does having lows blood sugar readings of 60 or 70 affect my A1C level?
A: A1C is a 1.5 to three month average of your glucose levels. It does not specify highs vs. lows. The goal of good control is not to have erratic swings in sugars, as this creates wear and tear on the neuropathic system. Being in the 70's is very normal (symptom free) for many people and better overall than levels over 100. Just continue to follow a very healthy lifestyle with attention to eating unrefined foods as much as possible, as blood sugars are always subject to change over the life cycle.
Q: Can I drink water during the two hour period before testing my blood sugar?
A: Of course! Water is a major nutrient, as we are composed of at least 60% water. It is calorie free, so it will not raise your blood sugar. It is most important that you stay well hydrated, as elevated glucose can be most dehydrating, leading to headaches and dizziness. The textbook recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water throughout the day.
Q: Can a diabetic use a hot tub?
A: This has been a controversial issue for some time, but should really be treated on an individual basis. The first consideration is that the hot tub should be very clean, which would probably rule out many commercial tubs that accommodate lots of people in a day. Don't go in with any open sores, cuts, etc. Poor circulation in hands/feet may also be cause for avoidance if one has reduced ability to sense high heat. If your physician doesn't see an obstacle, start with a few minutes, working up to a maximum of about ten. Be mindful of chlorine which may be irritating.
Q: Do people with diabetes need to use special toothpaste?
A: Generally speaking, no, because you are not ingesting toothpaste. However, you do want to pay attention to the ingredients in things like cough syrup and other medicaitons over the counter that may have sugar in them. Many products have sugar free versions. Always ask your pharmacist when you aren't clear about the best product to buy for diabetes.
Q: It has been just a few weeks since my diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes and I am a bit freaked out because I've yet to see anybody mention their A1c being anywhere in the same ball park as mine, which is 11. Am I in huge trouble or what?
A: That is very high and needs to come down somewhat gradually so as not to experience feelings of low blood sugars. Taking charge of your food and lifestyle is the path to stay on. Insulin at this time may help to detoxify your beta cells, giving your pancreas a rest while you move into a more normal range. Be patient with yourself, but diligent. You didn't develop diabetes over night; you may have been pre-diabetic for some time. The closer you get to more normal weight, the better your chances for better control with less medication.
Q: Why are people with diabetes supposed to be so careful about treating cuts and other injuries?
A: A person who has poorly controlled diabetes may find it takes longer to stop the bleeding or to heal the cut. This the same caution for any wound, especially on the feet, which is why people with diabetes are encouraged to check feet daily for even a small splinter. If you maintain good levels that have been established with your physician, then healing times should be similar to anyone else who is basically healthy.
Q: Can diabetes cause a person's feet to have a bad odor?
A: Diabetes left unchecked may be involved in a foot infection, which can certainly cause an odor. Any build up of bacteria or fungus can do the same. Be sure your feet are thoroughly washed with soap before bed, inspect your feet for any cuts, splinters, etc, and when wearing socks, they should be cotton. A yearly visit to a podiatrist is recommended for persons with diabetes. I suggest you at least pose this question to your physician.
Q: Can the low blood sugar that I experience from time to time be a sign that I could be heading down the road to diabetes?
A: Right now, it is most important that you learn to eat correctly for hypoglycemia (i.e. low blood sugar). This would mean to eat a small meal or snack every few hours. Food should be unrefined: no sugary starchy white stuff. Instead, eat lots of veggies, legumes and fish if you eat it. A handful of dry roasted nuts can curb a low blood sugar episode. What's needed are small doses of protein. Left unchecked over time, it is possible for hypoglycemia to advance into hyperglycemia, and then on to diabetes.
Q: Why do I get extremely tired and fall asleep after eating a meal? This is true when I eat any food with greater simple sugars, desserts especially. I am sleepy within an hour of eating.
A: You are most likely "carb sensitive", which means that those refined carbohydrates will quickly turn into sugar in your body, and release a good dose of serotonin to the brain. This is a hormone that has a very calming effect and, for someone like yourself, will help to put you to sleep! I would suggest you now experiment with eating only complex carbs and shifting more into veggies, fish, and legumes for awhile to see if that helps you become more alert. This will also help your blood sugar numbers come down.
Q: What is "Brittle Diabetes"?
A: "Brittle" is a term used when one has had diabetes for a long time, and in spite of a solid focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good medication management, it becomes harder to control blood sugars. This is more often the case with insulin dependent diabetes. Some folks do better with an insulin pump in such cases.
Q: Can very low blood sugars cause depression and cause someone to act like a different person, ex. extreme anger and hostility?
A: Erratic blood sugars can cause mood swings, such as one would expect with untreated bipolar disorder. If you have ever gone for long periods without food and experienced a feeling of irritability as a result, magnify that many times for blood sugars dropping suddenly too low, or blood sugars that roller coaster day to day. I hope that this person is willing to do what is suggested to get glucoses into a more normal range.
Q: I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and now I have my first bought of cold/ bronchitis since my diagnosis. How do I know when I should see my doctor vs. let the illness run its course?
A: When you have diabetes and are ill enough to where your blood sugars go too high and/or your illness doesn't come under control in a normal course, you should certainly seek medical attention. Stay well hydrated. With diabetes, you may find you now respond to illness differently so do not hesitate to talk to your health care team if you have any questions.
Q: How can I prevent diabetes? I am 14 and overweight and diabetes runs in my family.
A: Be very active, and learn as much as you can about healthy eating. Learn to love anything from the veggie world, and make fruits your choice when you crave something sweet. Drink plenty of water and cut out sodas, chips and other snack "junk" foods. Just because there is diabetes in your family, it doesn't mean you have to get it if you start now with lifestyle changes. Learn as much as you can.
Q: Can eating before a gestational diabetes glucose test cause the results to be inaccurate? Before the one hour glucose test, I ate a whole bagel with cream cheese, and whole banana and about 12 oz. of apple juice before I drank the liquid for the test. No one told me not to eat or drink before the test. My reading came back as 157 and now after being on the diet for 3 days, my blood sugar levels have not gone over 80 and have gone as low as 52. My question is could the test have been wrong and should I ask to be retested?
A: Oh my! I do hope you informed them of that high carb breakfast for what should have been a fasting test. However, you are still higher than you should be; 110-120 one hour post meal is what is followed by some of the more "tight control" oriented practitioners. You would do well to watch your carbohydrate intake, especially in the morning, but you should not have blood sugars this low during the day. A fasting reading of 80-90 is good; under 120 two hours post meal is acceptable by some standards. Testing for ketones is also important if you truly have gestational diabetes. Revisit this with your health care team and ask them what their blood sugar criteria is.
Q: How does smoking affect diabetes?
A: Diabetes is considered a cardiovascular disease and smoking negatively affects the cardiovascular system. Smoking also depletes the body of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), a major antioxidant - a cell protector - and can deposit lead and other unwanted chemicals into the fatty tissues of the body. This can definitely interfere with metabolism and good blood sugar control.
Q: What impact would my husband's diabetes have on our future child if we decide to have a baby?
A: It is not a given that you would give birth to a child with diabetes though the genes may be present. The most important focus would be for him to first get blood sugars under control and be in good health. (Yes, this is important for the father as well as the mother). Then, follow a healthy lifestyle as the child grows, to avoid some of the triggers that might manifest later in life. This applies to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Q: Does fasting make diabetes symptoms worse? My doctor also told me that if I lose all the weight I need to, the condition would disappear. Is this true?
A: In general blood sugars are far better managed with a controlled, regular eating pattern. Erratic eating, such as fasting and then eating large amounts, is perceived by the body as "binge" eating. Your doctor is right in that diabetes is very well managed when one is living a healthy lifestyle. Weight loss is secondary to consistently good habits.
A: With most strips now, you can touch them with the first drop. It takes far less blood than it used to in order to get a good sample. One drop is all that is needed.
Q: Is it OK for my 14 year old daughter with type 1 diabetes to get her belly button pierced or a small tattoo?
A: This is touchy. As a general rule, we say piercings/tattoos are not good ideas because they can be an invitation to infection. I suggest you consult with the nurse in her physician's practice. The conditions would have to be most sterile for any piercings - or pedicures for that matter. If your daughter's blood sugars are in exquisite control, and your medical team knows of a place that has met some standard, then something small may work, particularly if your daughter is rebellious, and would go out and do this on her own, but in poor conditions. Weigh and balance your decision after some detective work.
Q: What is the best way to test for type 1 diabetes? Is there a chance that a blood test is wrong?
A: Type 1 diabetes means that without taking insulin, you cannot live. There are those who still produce some insulin, but not at sufficient amounts so to control their blood sugars without taking insulin. This is referred to as type 1.5 diabetes. Your physician can order a C-Peptide test which can give you some idea of how much insulin your pancreas is producing. Type 1 diabetes often comes on fast and strong, with rapid weight loss, thirst, frequent urination, then stabilizes for a period until the cells stop insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1.
Q: Is it normal for someone to go from healthy to insulin diabetic very quickly? I have been overweight for years and have been having my blood sugar checked at bi-annual doctor's appointments, always to be told it was "fine". All of a sudden my A1c is 10.1 with a fasting blood sugar of 329 and I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic and placed on insulin immediately.
A: With blood sugars over 300, it is now the thought of many endocrinologists to start a person on insulin to detoxify the beta cells of the pancreas. This may only be for a short period if lifestyle changes are diligently made. Sometimes, it is a shift to oral medication, or none at all. Over the years, one may need a return to insulin and/or other medications. Take charge of your lifestyle habits and get all the education you can on managing this disease.
Q: How does diabetes affect your mood and thinking process?
A: With or without diabetes, when blood sugars are not in balance, fatigue, dizziness, "fuzzy" thinking, mood swings, and other symptoms may result. With insulin-requiring diabetes, this can be an even greater challenge to maintain stable blood sugars, but is very achievable with the right monitoring and support. Having a disease like diabetes does provide greater challenges for stable health and moods, but does not negate the ability to attain and maintain them.
Q: Is it possible that weight gain and morphine use caused me to develop type 2 diabetes? I had a morphine pump that leaked into my bloodstream and all through my body when it wasn't supposed to for about a month and, as a result, I gained in excess of 50 pounds.
A: The stress that caused you to be placed on the pump in the first place, plus the probability that you have a genetic disposition to diabetes, triggered further by weight gain, is now surfacing as diabetes. If you are now returning to your normal weight and following a healthy lifestyle, you may very well get back under 100 fasting and hopefully not much over 90. Many people have had blood sugars over 100 but under 126 for years - known as pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is just now being more aggressively focused upon for diabetes prevention. A good plan right now is to align yourself with someone who understands healthy eating for diabetes, and become as active as you can.
Q: Will losing a large amount of weight help me to avoid the diabetes that runs in my family? I am 19 years old and very overweight. I recently took my blood sugar a few times and the results scared me: 170 when I woke up.
A: Changing your lifestyle which will ultimately result in body composition changes and weight reduction can certainly keep diabetes in check. You surely have a wake-up call, and now is the time to get guidance in eating and begin a regular exercise program. Be most dedicated to yourself now, as 170 fasting would indicate diabetes. With perseverance, you can stay in control.
Q: Can diabetes prevent someone from losing weight? I know I am at high risk of getting diabetes but when I diet, it doesn't make a difference and I can't lose weight. I play lots of sports and am not lazy.
Q: Can a type 2 diabetic become a type 1 diabetic after several years and how can I find out? My recent blood test showed that my pancreas is 1.5 and I understand this is very low.
A: Yes, you can become type 1 after years of being type 2. What this would mean is that you cannot live without taking insulin. It sounds as though you had a C-Peptide test, and discovered that your insulin reserves are low. If you have a practitioner in your area who understands nutritional therapies, this may help preserve and improve what insulin production you have. Eat whole, unrefined, organic foods as much as possible. Stay active, and work on the "tough" one: stress reduction.
Q: Since I have been a "bad" diabetic by not eating what I'm supposed to, can I reverse the damage I assume I have already done to my body? I have been type 2 for about eight years and am taking Avandia, Glucophage, Lipitor, Lizinopril.
A: I don't have a crystal ball, but getting a handle on things now can certainly slow down and possibly arrest further damage. It sounds like you may need to start from square one with nutrition and overall management. Appropriate vitamin/mineral supplementation can also be helpful. It is better late than never; it's time to find out!
Q: I have type 1 diabetes. What are the chances that my child will develop type 1 as well?
A: While there is a genetic component to type 1 diabetes, environmental factors play a role as well. Research suggests that genes account for less than halfthe risk for developing type 1 diabetes. 90% of children who develop type 1 diabetes do not have a relative with this disease and it is reported that only 15% of people with type 1 diabetes have a first-degree relative, such as a parent, with diabetes. There are certain genes called HLA markers associated with diabetes risk which can be identified at birth. Research is ongoing and very active in the field of diabetes and genetic markers soupdated information could be available in the near future.
Q: I am not diabetic according to medical tests. However, I can have a normal blood sugar reading of about 90 before breakfast and then after a moderate cereal-toast breakfast, my blood sugar will go over 200. Why does this happen?
A: Have you had an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test? Newer research is placing more emphasis on the after meal glucose elevations as opposed to just monitoring fasting glucose. You are experiencing hyperglycemia, which as an initial diagnosis, generally manifests as slowly elevating fasting glucose. Ideally, your fasting glucose should be closer to 80. 100 is pre-diabetes.
I would suggest that your breakfasts now consist of more protein and less carbs. Good choices include egg, yogurt, nut butter, cheese, meat, oatmeal, etc. Target for 20-30 grams of protein at each meal. Any carbs you eat should have fiber: whole grain toast toast, fresh fruit, etc. Breakfast cereals generally don't fit these criteria unless you search for a type with higher fiber. I suggest an overabundance of plant foods now, to clean out your system a bit, giving your liver a work break. This should help to fine tune your metabolism. Make sure you have essential fatty acids in your intake: fish/plant foods are main sources.
Q: What is normal glucose levels with the finger prick method (meter) on both one and two hour tests for non-diabetics? I only have seen fasting and two hour levels. I began testing one and two hours after beginning a meal. I have had the following elevations on one hour (174,139,155,161 and 196.) On the two hour test I have had (79,157,190,109,101,152 and 128.) My fasting levels are between 89 and 94, and the control shows the meter works fine. So it seems my fast is always ok; my one hour is always pretty high, and my 2 hour is a mix of high and normal. I have had really severe neuropathy for several years, and no other test results (like MRI's) show any problems.
A: Your readings are high and I would consult an endocrinologist, especially if you already have undefined neuropathy. In fact, more emphasis is now being placed on 2 hour levels than on fasting levels. 94 for a fasting also reflects an upward trend.
Severe neuropathy would reflects years of hyperglycemia, and would generally manifest first as peripheral neuropathy. "Severe" implies that you already have loss of sensation, compromised sight, etc. If this describes you, and you have not been referred to specialists before now, referral is long overdue. Have you been taking any nutritional supplements, or working a practitioner who understands this application? B vitamins and magnesium are compromised with neuropathy, and should be taken together with a nutrient dense diet. All diabetic diets are not equal in terms of balance and nutrient quality. Choose your practitioners now carefully; seek second opinions as necessary.


Shakeout: RF Brands For Sale - Stock Photography News, Analysis and Opinion.
Two or three years ago, there was a big push by the major portals to expand the number and variety of images on their sites. In addition, the big three started producing more wholly owned images. Production companies were asked to produce more and in several cases, groups of photographers, both in Europe and the U.S., banded together to start new production companies.
The number of images on the major sites grew at a very rapid pace. So did the number of brands represented by the major portals. Virtually all the new production was aimed at expanding the people, lifestyle and travel categories. Sales increased somewhat, but not nearly as fast as new content was being added.
No sooner had they added all these new images, than they changed strategies again. The major portals decided they had an oversupply. They concluded that some customers were turned off because there were too many images to wade through. (It's interesting that Alamy, the portal with the greatest 2007 revenue growth, also added, by far, the greatest number of new images during that year.) The major portals began editing many of the third-party collections, dropping images and limiting what they could add. They also refused to accept some of the brands they had previously encouraged to produce.
Because of production time lags, images didn't come available until after the portals had decided to start cutting back. As a result, a number of production companies now find it difficult to place images, produced by very experienced photographers, on enough portals to generate enough income to offset costs.
1. Many companies, even ones with established positions on the major portals, have stopped producing new images.
2. Several RF companies are trying to sell their collections.
3. Those trying to sell are finding they must lower their asking price below last year's. And even then, it is very tough to find a buyer.
We have heard that some brands with 10,000 to 12,000 images in their collections are being offered for prices as low as $20 to $25 per image.
At this price point, it seems likely that many good images are going to end up in microstock. Â This is not to say that there aren't already some very high quality images available at microstock prices. But the infusion of more, professionally shot, will make microstock collections even more attractive to commercial buyers. And the images will be available to hundreds of thousands of customers who would never have considered buying an image from a traditional agency at traditional RF prices.
One thing needs to happen before we see a rush in this direction. Traditional distributors must to turn a blind eye to the fact that some images available on their sites are also available on microstock sites at much lower prices. A few are.
In particular, traditional RF sellers are encouraging microstock photographers to allow them to sell the same images the photographers are marketing as microstock on their traditional portals at much higher prices. The microstock photographers are not being forced to choose between microstock and traditional, but are being allowed to sell the same images in both places at both price points. Getty, Corbis and Jupiter are unlikely to ever agree to this, but others probably will. I predict this trend will grow quickly.
Thus, in their effort to limit the number of images and make searching easier for customers, the traditional sellers may be strengthening the competition that is cannibalizing their business.


Versatrode+ Snap 'n Tab electrodes are our most versatile electrode. Can be used with both a snap or a clip cable. This electrode provides the most flexibility and can be used in all departments of the hospital.
SimplySnap Offset electrodes allow clinicians to place the electrode on the patient first and then attach the cables. Because the snap is off to the side the gel is not pushed out of the gel well compromising the function of the electrode.


text:
CAST10 July 2014
Faculty Position at McMaster University
Chris Swartz <[log in to unmask]>
Wed, 30 Jul 2014 13:07:09 -0400
The Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University is seeking an
outstanding individual for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or
Associate Professor level in the area of process systems engineering.  The
position is available from January 1, 2015.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, or closely related
discipline, and have research interests in areas related to process systems
engineering.  In special cases, outstanding candidates in other engineering
areas will also be considered.
The Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University has a reputation for
innovative programs, cutting-edge research, leading faculty, and aspiring
students. It has earned a strong reputation as a centre for academic
excellence and innovation. The Faculty has approximately 150 faculty
members, along with close to 4,000 undergraduate and 750 graduate students.
The Department has a high reputation in both research and teaching, as one
of the top schools for Chemical Engineering in Canada.  There are a total
of eighteen faculty members mainly in the three focus research areas:
process systems engineering, polymer science & engineering, and
biomaterials & bioprocessing engineering.  We are establishing a fourth
focus on wastewater related to energy and health issues.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in the
McMaster Advanced Control Consortium with existing faculty and its numerous
multinational corporate collaborators.  The successful candidate will be
expected to contribute to teaching in both our graduate and undergraduate
programs and to develop a strong research program.
Applicants should send a letter of application, full CV including a list of
publications, statement of teaching and research interests, a selection of
research publications, and the names of at least three references (with
postal and email addresses).  Registration or eligibility for registration,
by Professional Engineers of Ontario, will be considered an asset.  Please
send the application materials to the attention of:
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text:
Does mammography save lives? Not according to the latest study.
By Dr John Briffa on 14 February 2014 in Food and Medical Politics, Women's Health
The common perception of mammography is that, by detecting breast cancer earlier than it would otherwise be, it saves women's lives. However, there is quite some evidence to suggest that many women need to be screen for one life to be saved, and on top of this we have adverse effects such as over-diagnosis (the detection and treatment of breast cancers that would never have bothered a women during the natural course of her life if left undetected).
A new study casts fresh doubt on the effectiveness of mammography as a 'life-saver'. It involved long-term follow-up of a group of about 90,000 women in Canada, half of whom had been selected for mammography (five mammograms over five years) or no mammography (but did receive at least one breast examination).
During the entire 25-year study, 3,250 women in the mammography group and 3,133 in the non-mammography group were diagnosed with breast cancer. Basically, in this setting, mammography did not improve breast cancer detection. But more importantly, deaths from breast cancer were virtually identical across the two groups. In other words, screening about 45,000 women for 5 years did not reduce their risk of breast cancer compared to breast examination.
This study also assessed over-diagnosis. According to the data, for every 424 women screened, one woman had a breast cancer detected that would not have bothered her if left undetected and untreated.
All-in-all not a great advert for mammography, and another piece of evidence that demonstrates that this practice has been vigorously promoted by some even though the evidence for it is not strong at all.
1. Miller AB, et al. Twenty five year follow-up for breast cancer incidence and mortality of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study: randomised screening trial. BMJ 2014; 348:g366
It's about time some people were straight with the statistics on statins
My interview and phone-in on BBC WM
16 Responses to Does mammography save lives? Not according to the latest study.
Vanessa Schaffeler 14 February 2014 at 7:10 pm #
….not to mention the fact that bombarding living tissue with ionising radiation can contribute to cancer in any case……(I used to be a radiographer so was taught about cumulative effects of x-radiation)
Esther Lemmens 14 February 2014 at 9:52 pm #
That's my belief too Vanessa, good to see it confirmed by someone who knows the ins and outs. Hence, I'm not taking part!
Liz Smith 14 February 2014 at 9:18 pm #
Many moons ago, it could be 20 years, Danish scientists said this about mammograms and so my friends and I stopped having the horrendous procedure that felt like slamming your breast in the fridge door. Coupled with the radiographers attitude – usually went something like – 'good job you have large breasts, think about those with small ones.'
My sister in Australia was lucky enough to have scans which were according to her were gentle and certainly not painful. We read that mammograms could damage tissue in the breast and they had operative procedure that was unnecessary, and as you said would not have troubled them,
Hope more women read this article – it may make them ask their doctor what is the effect of having mammograms and write down their answer, I find doctors answers are carefully worded when you write them down, as they know you can read and re-read their words.
Sylvia 15 February 2014 at 7:38 am #
I always did wonder why there was so much interest in breasts as opposed to, say, prostrates…
greensleeves 15 February 2014 at 10:23 am #
Never had one, after reading a study 15 years ago that showed how common false positives were, something like 45%. Repeating the test actually increased the false positive rate!
Probably 35% of women treated for "breast cancer" in the US never had it, period. It's shocking how poor this test is.
wiseuptohealth 15 February 2014 at 6:31 pm #
This is why I had thermographic imaging instead, and then made sure I wrote to my GP to inform her not to pester me anymore for mammograms, and to let her know why I reject them in favour of thermographic imaging. I sent a copy of my results and asked for them to be kept with my medical records.
Tony Kerstein 15 February 2014 at 7:44 pm #
My 74 year old wife found what she thought was a pimple but turned out to be a tumor which needed a lumpectomy followed by radio-therapy, which we are in the middle of now. The point being that neither the mammogram nor the scan detected it, but only the biopsy. Thank God the doctors didn't rely on the first two.
Liz 18 February 2014 at 11:24 am #
I had a routine mammogram last year and was found to have a deep stage 3 invasive cancer. No lumps or bumps. Had surgery followed by radiotherapy. This would have not been detected without the mammogram. Your comments please
Dr John Briffa 20 February 2014 at 4:44 pm #
Do you believe that mammography saved your life?
Liz 21 February 2014 at 12:05 pm #
Without the mammogram I would have been completely unaware of the invasive ductal cancer (invasive stage 3) so I not saying it saved my life at present but could have a future impact and hopefully removed before it became too late and more aggressive treatment was necessary.
William L. Wilson, M.D. 24 February 2014 at 2:38 pm #
Dr. Peter Gotzsche showed this to be true over 10 years ago:
http://www.cochrane.org/news/blog/mammography-screening-ten-years-reflections-decade-2001-review
It's sad that despite this evidence, little has changed. Many people have their mind made up about the benefits of mammography, so it's an uphill battle to change their perspective.
Imero 26 February 2014 at 1:47 am #
This is true. But even many years prior to that there were convincing voices and good evidence dissuading the mammogram industry to go forward with the systematic use of screening (see The Mammogram Myth by Rolf Hefti). It's difficult to change someone with a closed mind…
Liz 7 March 2014 at 9:04 am #
I turned 50 last autumn and have now been called for 'routine breast screening' here in Malta. Which all sounds so efficient. In fact, visiting the gynaecologist last week (after years of not), she advised me in strong terms to book a mammogram. I've always been sceptical and am set on not going. But let's face it, the mantra is so strong to 'go' or 'else' that it's hard for a woman to resist (esp if the service is free and billed as for our own good). We are considered poor uninformed and stupid not to take the service up. I am perfectly fine, no lumps or bumps so should I or should I not go? Or should I opt for a private ultrasound instead? I like the idea of taking health into my own hands, not be dictated to.
Dr John Briffa 7 March 2014 at 9:17 am #
This is perhaps one example of where a patient may be in a position to inform and even 'educate' a doctor.
As information gets more widely available and disseminated (principally via the internet), we doctors are going to have to get used to the idea that sometimes we don't know best, but our patients do.
Suzanne 13 March 2014 at 7:15 pm #
I for one am grateful for my mammogram. I have large breasts that are quite difficult to selfexamine and my tumour was discovered very early. Now "all" I have to suffer through are 3-5 weeks of radiation and 5 years of "antihormones". Not much fun, but preferable to chemo, losing my breast, radiation and antihormones and an economy shot to pieces.
Zoe Sayer 20 March 2014 at 9:34 am #
What about the 117 women who had a mammogram and were diagnosed who wouldn't otherwise have been? How were the non-mammogrammed women diagnosed? As a younger woman with breast cancer, if I'd been ultrasounded/mammogrammed when I initially found my lump instead of 2 1/2 years later I could have caught it before it spread to my lymph nodes and potentially have avoided chemotherapy. I presume you've not been treated for cancer? In my opinion ANYTHING that helps people avoid what I have gone through is worthwhile. And I'm sure the 117 families are glad their mothers/sisters/wives/daughters didn't die a horrible death from invasive cancer.