Pre-qualification of brazed plasma facing components of divertor target elements for ITER like tokamak application

Qualification of tungsten (W) and graphite (C) based brazed plasma facing components (PFCs) is an important R&D area in fusion research. Pre-qualification tests for brazed joints between W–CuCrZr and C–CuCrZr using NDT (IR thermography and ultrasonic test) and thermal fatigue test are attempted. Mockups having good quality brazed joints of W and C based PFCs were identified using NDT. Subsequently, thermal fatigue test was performed on the identified mockups. All brazed tiles of W based PFC mockups could withstand thermal fatigue test, however, few tiles of C based PFC mockup were found detached. Thermal analyses of mockups are performed using finite element analysis (ANSYS) software to simulate the thermal hydraulic condition with 10 MW/m² uniform heat flux. Details about experimental and computational work are presented here.     

Plasma c-erbB-2 levels in breast cancer patients: prognostic significance in predicting response to chemotherapy

PURPOSE: To determine the significance of plasma c-erbB-2 levels to assess the extent of disease spread and to predict the response to chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer patients. METHODS: We determined plasma levels of c-erbB-2 in 79 stages II and III breast cancer patients who received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and flourouracil (CMF)/cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil, vincristine, and prednisone (CMFVP) chemotherapy. All patients had a minimum follow-up of greater than 60 months or until disease recurrence. Plasma samples were obtained before and after chemotherapy. Plasma c-erbB-2 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunoassay. c-erbB-2 levels were analyzed in relation to the patients' axillary lymph node status, menopausal status, disease status, disease-free survival (DFS), and steroid receptor status of tumor. RESULTS: Plasma c-erbB-2 levels varied widely in breast cancer patients. In general, when all patients were included in the analyses, plasma c-erbB-2 levels before chemotherapy correlated significantly with the number of positive axillary lymph nodes and with postchemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels. No association was observed between pre- or postchemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels and other variables (patients' age at diagnosis, receptor status of the tumor, or disease status). The prognostic significance of different factors (ie, nodal status [one to three v > three positive nodes], menopausal status [pre- v postmenopausal women], estrogen receptor [ER] status [ER+ v ER-], and pre- and postchemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels) in predicting DFS was determined in all study patients. Among the variables examined, nodal status was the strongest predictor of DFS in these patients. The second most significant prognostic marker was postchemotherapy c-erbB-2 level. Prechemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels showed prognostic significance for DFS in a subset of breast cancer patients (ie, patients with > three positive nodes). Patients with greater than three positive lymph nodes and those with greater than 100 fmol/mL of plasma c-erbB-2 levels before therapy had significantly shorter DFS than did those patients with 100 fmol/mL or less c-erbB-2 levels. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer patients, determination of c-erbB-2 levels before therapy is an important biomarker to assess the extent of disease spread in the lymph nodes. Postchemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels are also a prognostic indicator for DFS in patients who receive chemotherapy. Finally, in a subgroup of patients with greater than three positive nodes, prechemotherapy c-erbB-2 levels are a prognostic marker for response of patients to standard chemotherapy.     

Hardware-Based Profiling: An Effective Technique for Profile-Driven Optimization

Profile-based optimization can be used for instruction scheduling, loop scheduling, data preloading, function in-lining, and instruction cache performance enhancement. However, these techniques have not been embraced by software vendors because programs instrumented for profiling run significantly slower, an awkward compile-run-recompile sequence is required, and a test input suite must be collected and validated for each program. This paper introduces hardware-based profiling that uses traditional branch handling hardware to generate profile information in real time. Techniques are presented for both one-level and two-level branch hardware organizations. The approach produces high accuracy with small slowdown in execution (0.4%–4.6%). This allows a program to be profiled while it is used, eliminating the need for a test input suite. With contemporary processors driven increasingly by compiler support, hardware-based profiling is important for high-performance systems.     

Methyldichloroborane evidenced as an intermediate in the chemical vapour deposition synthesis of boron carbide

The most recent ceramic-matrix composites (CMC) considered for long-life applications as thermostructural parts in aerospace propulsion contain, among others, boron-rich phases like boron carbide. This compound is prepared by thermal Chemical Vapour Infiltration (CVI), starting from precursors like boron halides and hydrocarbons. We present a study aiming at a precise knowledge of the gas-phase composition in a hot-zone LPCVD reactor fed with BCl3, CH4 and H2, which combines experimental and theoretical approaches. This work has brought strong evidences of the presence of Methydichloroborane (MDB, BCl2CH3) in the process. It is demonstrated that this intermediate, the presence of which had never been formally proved before, appears for processing temperatures slightly lower than the deposition temperature of boron carbide. The study features quantum chemical computations, which provide several pieces of information like thermochemical and kinetic data, as well as vibration and rotation frequencies, reaction kinetics computations, and experimental gas-phase characterization of several species by FTIR, for several processing parameter sets. The main results are presented, and the place of MDB in the reaction scheme is discussed.     

Collaborative Virtual Environment to Facilitate Game Design Evaluation with Children with ASC

ABSTRACT

Involvement of children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) in the design of new educational technology is becoming more prevalent. Despite potential barriers due to communication and ideation difficulties for children with ASC, adapted participatory design methods can successfully facilitate their direct involvement. Nonetheless, methods requiring face-to-face communication can still be difficult for children with ASC and research suggests that technology mediation could facilitate their contribution. This study explores the use of collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) as a medium through which students evaluated existing computer games and offered suggestions for game development. CVEs in which the users were represented by (a) avatars and (b) video-pods were compared to a face-to-face condition. Twelve typically developing (aged 8–9 years), 12 higher ability ASC (12–14) and 4 lower ability ASC children (12–14) participated. All student groups preferred the video-pod CVE and students with ASC were generally better able to contribute effectively through this medium than face-to-face.     

Melt Conditioning Twin Roll Casting with Thermo-Mechanical Treatment of Recycled AA6111 Alloy

JOM - A high shear melt conditioning twin roll casting process with thermo-mechanical treatment was tested to increase the tolerance to high impurity levels in recycled aluminium alloy. Applying...     

Inhaled Nanoformulated mRNA Polyplexes for Protein Production in Lung Epithelium

Noninvasive aerosol inhalation is an established method of drug delivery to the lung, and remains a desirable route for nucleic‐acid‐based therapeutics. In vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA has broad therapeutic applicability as it permits temporal and dose‐dependent control of encoded protein expression. Inhaled delivery of IVT‐mRNA has not yet been demonstrated and requires development of safe and effective materials. To meet this need, hyperbranched poly(beta amino esters) (hPBAEs) are synthesized to enable nanoformulation of stable and concentrated polyplexes suitable for inhalation. This strategy achieves uniform distribution of luciferase mRNA throughout all five lobes of the lung and produces 101.2 ng g^?1 of luciferase protein 24 h after inhalation of hPBAE polyplexes. Importantly, delivery is localized to the lung, and no luminescence is observed in other tissues. Furthermore, using an Ai14 reporter mouse model it is identified that 24.6% of the total lung epithelial cell population is transfected after a single dose. Repeat dosing of inhaled hPBAE‐mRNA generates consistent protein production in the lung, without local or systemic toxicity. The results indicate that nebulized delivery of IVT‐mRNA facilitated by hPBAE vectors may provide a clinically relevant delivery system to lung epithelium.