Microstructure and high cycle fatigue fracture surface of a Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe titanium alloy

Because of the requirements for the damage tolerance and fatigue life of commercial aircraft components, the high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties of Ti–5Al–5Mo–5V–1Cr–1Fe titanium alloy forgings are important. The effects of microstructure types of the α+β titanium alloy on fatigue properties need to be understood. In this paper, by analysing the fracture surfaces of the titanium alloy having four types of microstructure, the effects of microstructure are investigated. The differences of initiation areas and crack propagation among different microstructures were studied. It was found that the area of the initiation region decreases in the order of coarse basketweave, fine basketweave, Widmanstätten, and bimodal microstructure.

Atmospheric Pressure DC Plasma Processing of TIO2/PEDOT:PSS Nanocomposites

In this work we demonstrate the synthesis of a TiO2/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite material in aqueous solution through atmospheric pressure direct current (DC) plasma processing at room temperature. The dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles is enhanced after microplasma processing, and TiO2/polymer hybrid nanoparticles with a distinct core shell structure have been obtained. We have observed increased TiO2/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite electrical conductivity due to microplasma processing. The improvement in nanocomposite properties is due to the enhanced dispersion and stability in liquid polymer of microplasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles. Both plasma induced surface charge and nanoparticle surface termination with specific plasma chemical species are thought to provide an enhanced barrier to nanoparticle agglomeration and promote nanoparticle-polymer bonding, which is expected to have a significant benefit in materials processing with inorganic nanoparticles for wide range of applications.

SOPS: A System for Efficient Processing of Spatial-Keyword Publish/Subscribe

Massive amount of data that are geo-tagged and associated with text information are being generated at an unprecedented scale. These geo-textual data cover a wide range of topics. Users are interested in receiving up-to-date geo-textual objects (e.g., geo-tagged Tweets) such that their locations meet users’ need and their texts are interesting to users. For example, a user may want to be updated with tweets near her home on the topic “dengue fever headache.” In this demonstration, we present SOPS, the Spatial-Keyword Publish/Subscribe System, that is capable of efficiently processing spatial keyword continuous queries. SOPS supports two types of queries: (1) Boolean Range Continuous (BRC) query that can be used to subscribe the geo-textual objects satisfying a boolean keyword expression and falling in a specified spatial region; (2) Temporal Spatial-Keyword Top-k Continuous (TaSK) query that continuously maintains up-to-date top-k most relevant results over a stream of geo-textual objects. SOPS enables users to formulate their queries and view the real-time results over a stream of geotextual objects by browser-based user interfaces. On the server side, we propose solutions to efficiently processing a large number of BRC queries (tens of millions) and TaSK queries over a stream of geo-textual objects.

Logic Brightens My Day: Evidence for Implicit Sensitivity to Logical Validity.

A key assumption of dual process theory is that reasoning is an explicit, effortful, deliberative process. The present study offers evidence for an implicit, possibly intuitive component of reasoning. Participants were shown sentences embedded in logically valid or invalid arguments. Participants were not asked to reason but instead rated the sentences for liking (Experiment 1) and physical brightness (Experiments 2-3). Sentences that followed logically from preceding sentences were judged to be more likable and brighter. Two other factors thought to be linked to implicit processing-sentence believability and facial expression-had similar effects on liking and brightness ratings. The authors conclude that sensitivity to logical structure was implicit, occurring potentially automatically and outside of awareness. They discuss the results within a fluency misattribution framework and make reference to the literature on discourse comprehension. 

Melt processing and properties of linear low density polyethylene-graphene nanoplatelet composites

Composites of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) were processed using a twin screw extruder under different extrusion conditions. The effects of screw speed, feeder speed and GNP content on the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of composites were investigated. The inclusion of GNPs in the matrix improved the thermal stability and conductivity by 2.7% and 43%, respectively. The electrical conductivity improved from 10−11 to 10−5 S/m at 150 rpm due to the high thermal stability of the GNPs and the formation of phonon and charge carrier networks in the polymer matrix. Higher extruder speeds result in a better distribution of the GNPs in the matrix and a significant increase in thermal stability and thermal conductivity. However, this effect is not significant for the electrical conductivity and tensile strength. The addition of GNPs increased the viscosity of the polymer, which will lead to higher processing power requirements. Increasing the extruder speed led to a reduction in viscosity, which is due to thermal degradation and/or chain scission. Thus, while high speeds result in better dispersions, the speed needs to be optimized to prevent detrimental impacts on the properties.

The use of morphological characteristics and texture analysis in the identification of tissue composition in prostatic neoplasia

Quantitative examination of prostate histology offers clues in the diagnostic classification of lesions and in the prediction of response to treatment and prognosis. To facilitate the collection of quantitative data, the development of machine vision systems is necessary. This study explored the use of imaging for identifying tissue abnormalities in prostate histology. Medium-power histological scenes were recorded from whole-mount radical prostatectomy sections at × 40 objective magnification and assessed by a pathologist as exhibiting stroma, normal tissue (nonneoplastic epithelial component), or prostatic carcinoma (PCa). A machine vision system was developed that divided the scenes into subregions of 100 × 100 pixels and subjected each to image-processing techniques. Analysis of morphological characteristics allowed the identification of normal tissue. Analysis of image texture demonstrated that Haralick feature 4 was the most suitable for discriminating stroma from PCa. Using these morphological and texture measurements, it was possible to define a classification scheme for each subregion. The machine vision system is designed to integrate these classification rules and generate digital maps of tissue composition from the classification of subregions; 79.3% of subregions were correctly classified. Established classification rates have demonstrated the validity of the methodology on small scenes; a logical extension was to apply the methodology to whole slide images via scanning technology. The machine vision system is capable of classifying these images. The machine vision system developed in this project facilitates the exploration of morphological and texture characteristics in quantifying tissue composition. It also illustrates the potential of quantitative methods to provide highly discriminatory information in the automated identification of prostatic lesions using computer vision.

Fully differential cross sections for transfer ionization - a sensitive probe of high level correlation effects in atoms

The transfer ionization process offers a unique opportunity to study radial and angular electron correlations in the helium atom. We report calculations for the multiple differential cross sections of the transfer ionization process p + He --> H + He++ + e(-). The results of these calculations demonstrate the strong sensitivity of the fully differential cross sections to fine details of electron correlation in the target atom. Specifically, angular electron correlation in the ground state of helium results in a broad peak in the electron emission spectra in the backward direction, relative to the incoming beam. Our model explains some of the key effects observed in measurements of multiple differential cross sections using the COLTRIMS technique.

Characterisation of fluidised bed granulation processes using in situ Raman spectroscopy

Previous work by the authors Walker et al. [2007b. Fluidised bed characterisation using Raman spectroscopy: applications to pharmaceutical processing. Chemical Engineering Science 62, 3832–3838] illustrated that Raman spectroscopy could be used to provide 3-D maps of the concentration and chemical structure of particles in motion in a fluidised bed, within a relatively short (120 s) time window. Moreover, we reported that the technique, as outlined, has the potential to give detailed in-situ information on how the structure and composition of granules/powders within the fluidised bed (dryer or granulator) vary with the position and evolve with time. In this study we extended the original work by shortening the time window of the Raman spectroscopic analysis to 10 s, which has allowed the in-situ real-time characterisation of a fluidised bed granulation process. Here we show an important new use of the technique which allows in-situ measurement of the composition of the material within the fluidised bed in three spatial dimensions and as a function of time. This is achieved by recording Raman spectra using a probe positioned within the fluidised bed on a long-travel x–y–z stage. In these experiments the absolute Raman intensity is used to provide a direct measure of the amount of any given material in the probed volume, i.e. a particle density. Particle density profiles have been calculated over the granulation time and show how the volume of the fluidised bed decreases with an increase mean granule size. The Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated that nucleation/coalescence in this co-melt fluidised hot melt granulation system occurred over a relatively short time frame (t<30 s). The Raman spectroscopic technique demonstrated accurate correlation with independent granulation experiments which provided particle size distribution analysis. The similarity of the data indicates that the Raman spectra accurately represent solids ratios within the bed, and thus the techniques quantitative capabilities for future use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Association of Genetic Variants at 3q22 with Nephropathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and affects about 30% of these patients. We have previously localized a DN locus on chromosome 3q with suggestive linkage in Finnish individuals. Linkage to this region has also been reported earlier by several other groups. To fine map this locus, we conducted a multistage case-control association study in T1DM patients, comprising 1822 cases with nephropathy and 1874 T1DM patients free of nephropathy, from Finland, Iceland, and the British Isles. At the screening stage, we genotyped 3072 tag SNPs, spanning a 28 Mb region, in 234 patients and 215 controls from Finland. SNPs that met the significance threshold of p

Electrical, Thermal and Optical Diagnostics of an Atmospheric Plasma Jet System

Plasma diagnostics of atmospheric plasmas is a key tool in helping to understand processing performance issues. This paper presents an electrical, optical and thermographic imaging study of the PlasmaStream atmospheric plasma jet system. The system was found to exhibit three operating modes; one constricted/localized plasma and two extended volume plasmas. At low power and helium flows the plasma is localized at the electrodes and has the electrical properties of a corona/filamentary discharge with electrical chaotic temporal structure. With increasing discharge power and helium flow the plasma expands into the volume of the tube, becoming regular and homogeneous in appearance. Emission spectra show evidence of atomic oxygen, nitric oxide and the hydroxyl radical production. Plasma activated gas temperature deduced from the rotational temperature of nitrogen molecules was found to be of order of 400 K: whereas thermographic imaging of the quartz tube yielded surface temperatures between 319 and 347 K.

Conceptual and Perceptual Priming and Dissociation in Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assert that memory processes play a significant role in PTSD (see e.g., Ehlers & Clark, 2000). Intrusive reexperiencing in PTSD has been linked to perceptual processing of trauma-related material with a corresponding hypothesized lack of conceptual processing. In an experimental study that included clinical participants with and without PTSD (N = 50), perceptual priming and conceptual priming for trauma-related, general threat, and neutral words were investigated in a population with chronic trauma-induced complaints as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The study used a new version of the word-stem completion task (Michael, Ehlers, & Halligan, 2005) and a word-cue association task. It also assessed the role of dissociation in threat processing. Further evidence of enhanced perceptual priming in PTSD for trauma stimuli was found, along with evidence of lack of conceptual priming for such stimuli. Furthermore, this pattern of priming for trauma-related words was associated with PTSD severity, and state dissociation and PTSD group made significant contributions to predicting perceptual priming for trauma words. The findings shed light on the importance of state dissociation in trauma-related information processing and posttraumatic symptoms.

Arsenic-speciation in arsenate-resistant and non-resistant populations of the earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus

Arsenic speciation was determined in Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister from arsenic-contaminated mine spoil sites and an uncontaminated site using HPLC-MS, HPLC-ICP-MS and XAS. It was previously demonstrated that L. rubellus from mine soils were more arsenate resistant than from the uncontaminated site and we wished to investigate if arsenic speciation had a role in this resistance. Earthworms from contaminated sites had considerably higher arsenic body burdens (maximum 1,358 mg As kg-1) compared to the uncontaminated site (maximum 13 mg As kg-1). The only organo-arsenic species found in methanol/water extracts for all earthworm populations was arsenobetaine, quantified using both HPLC-MS and HPLC-ICP-MS. Arsenobetaine concentrations were high in L. rubellus from the uncontaminated site when concentrations were expressed as a percentage of the total arsenic burden (23% mean), but earthworms from the contaminated sites with relatively low arsenic burdens also had these high levels of arsenobetaine (17% mean). As arsenic body burden increased, the percentage of arsenobetaine present decreased in a dose dependent manner, although its absolute concentration rose with increasing arsenic burden. The origin of this arsenobetaine is discussed. XAS analysis of arsenic mine L. rubellus showed that arsenic was primarily present as As(III) co-ordinated with sulfur (30% approx.), with some As(v) with oxygen (5%). Spectra for As(III) complexed with glutathione gave a very good fit to the spectra obtained for the earthworms, suggesting a role for sulfur co-ordination in arsenic metabolism at higher earthworm arsenic burdens. It is also possible that the disintegration of As(III)-S complexes may have taken place due to (a) processing of the sample, (b) storage of the extract or (c) HPLC anion exchange. HPLC-ICP-MS analysis of methanol extracts showed the presence of arsenite and arsenate, suggesting that these sulfur complexes disintegrate on extraction. The role of arsenic speciation in the resistance of L. rubellus to arsenate is considered.

Genome-wide linkage analysis for human longevity: Genetics of healthy aging study

Clear evidence exists for heritability of humanlongevity, and much interest is focused on identifying genes associated with longer lives. To identify such longevity alleles, we performed the largest genome-wide linkage scan thus far reported. Linkage analyses included 2118nonagenarian Caucasian sibling pairs that have been enrolled in 15 study centers of 11 European countries as part of the Genetics of Healthy Aging (GEHA) project. In the joint linkage analyses, we observed four regions that show linkage with longevity; chromosome 14q11.2 (LOD = 3.47), chromosome 17q12-q22 (LOD = 2.95), chromosome 19p13.3-p13.11 (LOD = 3.76), and chromosome 19q13.11-q13.32 (LOD = 3.57). To fine map these regions linked to longevity, we performed association analysis using GWAS data in a subgroup of 1228 unrelated nonagenarian and 1907 geographically matched controls. Using a fixed-effect meta-analysis approach, rs4420638 at the TOMM40/ APOE/APOC1 gene locus showed significant association with longevity (P-value = 9.6 × 10). By combined modeling of linkage and association, we showed that association of longevity with APOEe4 and APOEe2 alleles explain the linkage at 19q13.11-q13.32 with P-value = 0.02 and P-value = 1.0 × 10, respectively. In the largest linkage scan thus far performed for human familial longevity, we confirm that the APOE locus is a longevity gene and that additional longevity loci may be identified at 14q11.2, 17q12-q22, and 19p13.3-p13.11. As the latter linkage results are not explained by common variants, we suggest that rare variants play an important role in human familial longevity.

Shortening design time through multiplatform simulations with a portable OpenCL golden-model: the LDPC decoder case

Hardware designers and engineers typically need to explore a multi-parametric design space in order to find the best configuration for their designs using simulations that can take weeks to months to complete. For example, designers of special purpose chips need to explore parameters such as the optimal bitwidth and data representation. This is the case for the development of complex algorithms such as Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) decoders used in modern communication systems. Currently, high-performance computing offers a wide set of acceleration options, that range from multicore CPUs to graphics processing units (GPUs) and FPGAs. Depending on the simulation requirements, the ideal architecture to use can vary. In this paper we propose a new design flow based on OpenCL, a unified multiplatform programming model, which accelerates LDPC decoding simulations, thereby significantly reducing architectural exploration and design time. OpenCL-based parallel kernels are used without modifications or code tuning on multicore CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs. We use SOpenCL (Silicon to OpenCL), a tool that automatically converts OpenCL kernels to RTL for mapping the simulations into FPGAs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a single, unmodified OpenCL code is used to target those three different platforms. We show that, depending on the design parameters to be explored in the simulation, on the dimension and phase of the design, the GPU or the FPGA may suit different purposes more conveniently, providing different acceleration factors. For example, although simulations can typically execute more than 3x faster on FPGAs than on GPUs, the overhead of circuit synthesis often outweighs the benefits of FPGA-accelerated execution.

A role of autophagy in PTP4A3-driven cancer progression

Autophagy, a "self-eating" cellular process, has dual roles in promoting and suppressing tumor growth, depending on cellular context. PTP4A3/PRL-3, a plasma membrane and endosomal phosphatase, promotes multiple oncogenic processes including cell proliferation, invasion, and cancer metastasis. In this study, we demonstrate that PTP4A3 accumulates in autophagosomes upon inhibition of autophagic degradation. Expression of PTP4A3 enhances PIK3C3-BECN1-dependent autophagosome formation and accelerates LC3-I to LC3-II conversion in an ATG5-dependent manner. PTP4A3 overexpression also enhances the degradation of SQSTM1, a key autophagy substrate. These functions of PTP4A3 are dependent on its catalytic activity and prenylation-dependent membrane association. These results suggest that PTP4A3 functions to promote canonical autophagy flux. Unexpectedly, following autophagy activation, PTP4A3 serves as a novel autophagic substrate, thereby establishing a negative feedback-loop that may be required to fine-tune autophagy activity. Functionally, PTP4A3 utilizes the autophagy pathway to promote cell growth, concomitant with the activation of AKT. Clinically, from the largest ovarian cancer data set (GSE 9899, n = 285) available in GEO, high levels of expression of both PTP4A3 and autophagy genes significantly predict poor prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. These studies reveal a critical role of autophagy in PTP4A3-driven cancer progression, suggesting that autophagy could be a potential Achilles heel to block PTP4A3-mediated tumor progression in stratified patients with high expression of both PTP4A3 and autophagy genes.