10 15 20 25 30 35 40 [MeV] -20 -15 -10 -5 0 E n ( ) [MeV] p = 6 p = 8 p = 10 p = 12 p = 14 W-K FIG. 1: Neutron shell correction δE$_{n}$ ( γ, p ) for the nucleus $^{146}$Gd as a function of the smoothing range γ calculated for p = 6 , .., 14 by using the Gaussian weight function for the smoothing functions f$_{p}$ . Filled circles on the different curves denote the ( γ$_{p}$, δE$_{n}$ ( γ$_{p}$ )) points, where γ$_{p}$ values belong to the minima of the function in Eq.(21) and the δE$_{n}$ ( γ$_{p}$, p ) values are the results of the generalized Strutinski procedure. Dotted horizontal line shows the value of the semi-classical value δE$_{sc}$ = E$_{sc}$ − E n $_{sp}$. 20