A meshless treatment of three-dimensional penetrator targets for parallel computation

 A meshless modeling procedure of three-dimensional targets for penetration analysis on parallel computing systems is described. Buried structures are modeled by arbitrary layers of concrete and geologic materials, and the projectile is modeled by standard finite elements. Penetration resistance of the buried structure is provided by functions derived from principles of dynamic cavity expansion. The resistance functions are influenced by the target material properties and projectile kinematics. Additional capabilities accommodate the varying structural and geometrical characteristics of the target. Coupling between the finite elements and the meshless target model is made by applying resistance loads to elements on the outer surface of the projectile mesh. Penetration experiments verify the approach. In this manner, the target is effectively modeled and the strategy is well suited for parallel processing. The procedure is incorporated into an explicit transient dynamics code, using mesh partitioning for a coarse grain parallel processing paradigm. Message Passing Interface (MPI) is used for all interprocessor communication. Large detailed finite element analyses of projectiles are performed on up to several hundred processors with excellent scalability. The efficiency of the strategy is demonstrated by analyses executed on several types of scalable computing platforms.     

IFN-gamma is a prerequisite for optimal antigen processing of viral peptides in vivo

The immediate early protein pp89 of mouse CMV is processed into the nonapeptide YPHFMPTNL, which is presented to CD8+ T lymphocytes by the H-2 Ld molecule. The tissue distribution of this peptide was determined during the course of mouse CMV infection. In tissues, there was no general correlation between peptide processing and infectious virus productivity. Immunosuppression by sublethal irradiation resulted in enhanced MCMV replication but did not increase the peptide yield and drastically reduced the peptide to plaque-forming unit rate in infected organs. IFN-gamma administration restored efficient peptide processing in the immunocompromised host, and neutralization of IFN-gamma in the immunocompetent host decreased peptide processing. This suggests that the efficiency of peptide processing after CMV infection in vivo is governed by IFN-gamma rather than by the productivity of virus infection.     

Dynamically multiplexed ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Ion mobility spectrometry-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IMS-TOFMS) has been increasingly used in analysis of complex biological samples. A major challenge is to transform IMS-TOFMS to a high-sensitivity, high-throughput platform, for example, for proteomics applications. In this work, we have developed and integrated three advanced technologies, including efficient ion accumulation in an ion funnel trap prior to IMS separation, multiplexing (MP) of ion packet introduction into the IMS drift tube, and signal detection with an analog-to-digital converter, into the IMS-TOFMS system for the high-throughput analysis of highly complex proteolytic digests of, for example, blood plasma. To better address variable sample complexity, we have developed and rigorously evaluated a novel dynamic MP approach that ensures correlation of the analyzer performance with an ion source function and provides the improved dynamic range and sensitivity throughout the experiment. The MP IMS-TOFMS instrument has been shown to reliably detect peptides at a concentration of 1 nM in the presence of a highly complex matrix, as well as to provide a 3 orders of magnitude dynamic range and a mass measurement accuracy of better than 5 ppm. When matched against human blood plasma database, the detected IMS-TOF features were found to yield approximately 700 unique peptide identifications at a false discovery rate (FDR) of approximately 7.5%. Accounting for IMS information gave rise to a projected FDR of approximately 4%. Signal reproducibility was found to be greater than 80%, while the variations in the number of unique peptide identifications were <15%. A single sample analysis was completed in 15 min that constitutes almost 1 order of magnitude improvement compared to a more conventional LC-MS approach.     

Immunohistochemical and histochemical findings favoring the occurrence of autocrine/paracrine as well as nerve-related cholinergic effects in chronic painful patellar tendon tendinosis

The pathogenesis of the pain in patellar tendon tendinosis ("jumper's knee") is unclear. We have recently presented new information about the sensory nervous system in the human patellar tendon, but there is very little information regarding the possible occurrence of a cholinergic system in this tendon. In the present study, specimens of pain-free normal tendons and chronically painful tendinosis tendons were examined by different immunohistochemical and histochemical methods. Antibodies against the M(2) receptor, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) were applied, and staining for demonstration of activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was also utilized. It was found that immunoreactions for the M(2) receptor could be detected intracellularly in both blood vessel cells and tenocytes, especially in tendinosis specimens. Furthermore, in the tendinosis specimens, some tenocytes were seen to exhibit immunoreaction for ChAT and VAChT. AChE reactions were seen in fine nerve fibers associated with small blood vessels in both the normal control tendons and the tendinosis tendons. The observations suggest that there is both a nerve related and a local cholinergic system in the human patellar tendon. As ChAT and VAChT immunoreactions were detected in tenocytes of tendinosis tendons, these cells might be a source of local acetylcholine (Ach) production. As both tenocytes and blood vessel cells were found to exhibit immunoreactions for the M(2) receptor, it is likely that both of these tissue cells may be influenced by ACh. Thus, in conclusion, there appears to be an upregulation of the cholinergic system, and an occurrence of autocrine/paracrine effects in this system, in the tendinosis patellar tendon.     

Electrical characteristics of lateral organic bulk heterojunction device structures

Lateral structures have been used to characterize charge transport phenomena in organic bulk heterojunctions. Through the analysis of the current vs. voltage relationships and their light intensity dependence, space charge limited extraction currents and injection currents have been observed and characterized. Additionally, the drift length of charge carriers has been estimated by characterizing devices of varying lengths. These studies show that lateral structures are a promising way to study the basic physics of organic bulk heterojunction materials as they offer degrees of freedom unavailable in sandwich structures and such studies complement what can be learned from conventional sandwich structures.