Slender-body hypervelocity boundary-layer instability

With novel application of optical techniques, the slender-body hypervelocity boundary-layer instability is characterized in the previously unexplored regime where thermo-chemical effects are important. Narrowband disturbances (500-3000~kHz) are measured in boundary layers with edge velocities of up to 5~km/s at two points along the generator of a 5 degree half angle cone. Experimental amplification factor spectra are presented. Linear stability and PSE analysis is performed, with fair prediction of the frequency content of the disturbances; however, the analysis over-predicts the amplification of disturbances. The results of this work have two key implications: 1) the acoustic instability is present and may be studied in a large-scale hypervelocity reflected-shock tunnel, and 2) the new data set provides a new basis on which the instability can be studied.

A genetic and biochemical analysis of pre-mRNA splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Pre-mRNA splicing requires interaction of cis- acting intron sequences with trans -acting factors: proteins and small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). The assembly of these factors into a large complex, the spliceosome, is essential for the subsequent two step splicing reaction. First, the 5' splice site is cleaved and free exon 1 and a lariat intermediate (intron- exon2) form. In the second reaction the 3' splice site is cleaved the exons ligated and lariat intron released. A combination of genetic and biochemical techniques have been used here to study pre-mRNA splicing in yeast.

Yeast introns have three highly conserved elements. We made point mutations within these elements and found that most of them affect splicing efficiency in vivo and in vitro, usually by inhibiting spliceosome assembly.

To study trans -acting splicing factors we generated and screened a bank of temperature- sensitive (ts) mutants. Eleven new complementation groups (prp17 to prp27) were isolated. The four phenotypic classes obtained affect different steps in splicing and accumulate either: 1) pre-mRNA, 2) lariat intermediate, 3) excised intron or 4) both pre-mRNA and intron. The latter three classes represent novel phenotypes. The excised intron observed in one mutant: prp26 is stabilized due to protection in a snRNP containing particle. Extracts from another mutant: prpl8 are heat labile and accumulate lariat intermediate and exon 1. This is especially interesting as it allows analysis of the second splicing reaction. In vitro complementation of inactivated prp18 extracts does not require intact snRNPs. These studies have also shown the mutation to be in a previously unknown splicing protein. A specific requirement for A TP is also observed for the second step of splicing. The PRP 18 gene has been cloned and its polyadenylated transcript identified.

Optimization of single attosecond x-ray pulses by genetic algorithm control of the chirp and initial phase of 5 fs laser pulses

We show that the peak intensity of single attosecond x-ray pulses is enhanced by 1 or 2 orders of magnitude, the pulse duration is greatly compressed, and the optimal propagation distance is shortened by genetic algorithm optimization of the chirp and initial phase of 5 fs laser pulses. However, as the laser intensity increases, more efficient nonadiabatic self-phase matching can lead to a dramatically enhanced harmonic yield, and the efficiency of optimization decreases in the enhancement and compression of the generated attosecond pulses. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Self-focusing, Raman, and modulation instability of shaped relativistic laser pulse in plasmas

The interaction of shaped laser pulses with plasmas is studied in a strict theoretical framework without adopting the slow-varying envelope approximation (SVEA). Any physical quantities involved in the interaction are denoted as a summation of different real quantities of respective phases. The relationships among the phases of those real quantities and their moduli are strictly analyzed. Such strict analyses lead to a more exact equation set for the three-dimensional envelope of the laser pulse, which is not based on SVEA. Based on this equation set, self-focusing, Raman, and modulation instabilities could be discussed in a unified framework. The solutions of this equation set for the laser envelope reveal many possible multicolor laser modes in plasmas. The energy and the shape of a pulse determine its propagation through plasmas in a multicolor mode or in a monochromic mode. A global growth rate is introduced to measure the speed of the transition from the monochromic mode in vacuum to a possible mode in plasmas. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Optimal design of building structures using genetic algorithms

A general framework for multi-criteria optimal design is presented which is well-suited for automated design of structural systems. A systematic computer-aided optimal design decision process is developed which allows the designer to rapidly evaluate and improve a proposed design by taking into account the major factors of interest related to different aspects such as design, construction, and operation.

The proposed optimal design process requires the selection of the most promising choice of design parameters taken from a large design space, based on an evaluation using specified criteria. The design parameters specify a particular design, and so they relate to member sizes, structural configuration, etc. The evaluation of the design uses performance parameters which may include structural response parameters, risks due to uncertain loads and modeling errors, construction and operating costs, etc. Preference functions are used to implement the design criteria in a "soft" form. These preference functions give a measure of the degree of satisfaction of each design criterion. The overall evaluation measure for a design is built up from the individual measures for each criterion through a preference combination rule. The goal of the optimal design process is to obtain a design that has the highest overall evaluation measure - an optimization problem.

Genetic algorithms are stochastic optimization methods that are based on evolutionary theory. They provide the exploration power necessary to explore high-dimensional search spaces to seek these optimal solutions. Two special genetic algorithms, hGA and vGA, are presented here for continuous and discrete optimization problems, respectively.

The methodology is demonstrated with several examples involving the design of truss and frame systems. These examples are solved by using the proposed hGA and vGA.

Optimization of high-order harmonic by genetic algorithm for the chirp and phase of few-cycle pulses

The brightness of a particular harmonic order is optimized for the chirp and initial phase of the laser pulse by genetic algorithm. The influences of the chirp and initial phase of the excitation pulse on the harmonic spectra are discussed in terms of the semi-classical model including the propagation effects. The results indicate that the harmonic intensity and cutoff have strong dependence on the chirp of the laser pulse, but slightly on its initial phase. The high-order harmonics can be enhanced by the optimal laser pulse and its cutoff can be tuned by optimization of the chirp and initial phase of the laser pulse.

Optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence based on genetic algorithm

An optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in the ethanol solution of 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-p-dimethyl-amiiiostryryl-4H-pyran (DCM) using pulse-shaping technique based on genetic algorithm is demonstrated experimentally. The two-photon fluorescence of the DCM ethanol solution is enhanced in intensity of about 23%. The second harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) trace indicates that the effective population transfer arises from the positively chirped pulse. The experimental results appear the potential applications of coherent control to the complicated molecular system.

Optimization of positions and currents of tokamak poloidal field coils using genetic algorithms

Plasma equilibrium geometry has a great influence on the confinement and magnetohydrodynamic stability in tokamaks. The poloidal field (PF) system of a tokamak should be optimized to support the prescribed plasma equilibrium geometry. In this paper, a genetic algorithm-based method is applied to solve the optimization of the positions and currents of tokamak PF coils. To achieve this goal, we first describe the free-boundary code EQT Based on the EQT code, a genetic algorithm-based method is introduced to the optimization. We apply this new method to the PF system design of the fusion-driven subcritical system and plasma equilibrium geometry optimization of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The results indicate that the optimization of the plasma equilibrium geometry can be improved by using this method.

Optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in Coumarin 515 based on genetic algorithm

An optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in the Coumarin 515 ethanol solution excited by shaping femtosecond laser pulses based on genetic algorithm is demonstrated experimentally. The two-photon fluorescence intensity can be enhanced by similar to 20%. Second harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating traces indicate that the optimal laser pulses are positive chirp, which are in favor of the effective population transfer of two-photon transitions. The dependence of the two-photon fluorescence signal on the laser pulse chirp is investigated to validate the theoretical model for the effective population transfer of two-photon transitions. The experimental results appear the potential applications in nonlinear spectroscopy and molecular physics. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular genetic studies on voltage-gated ion channels

Several different methods have been employed in the study of voltage-gated ion channels. Electrophysiological studies on excitable cells in vertebrates and molluscs have shown that many different voltage-gated potassium (K⁺) channels and sodium channels may coexist in the same organism. Parallel genetic studies in Drosophila have identified mutations in several genes that alter the properties of specific subsets of physiologically identified ion channels. Chapter 2 describes molecular studies that identify two Drosophila homologs of vertebrate sodium-channel genes. Mutations in one of these Drosophila sodium-channel genes are shown to be responsible for the temperature-dependent paralysis of a behavioural mutant para^ts. Evolutionary arguments, based on the partial sequences of the two Drosophila genes, suggest that subfamilies of voltage-gated sodium channels in vertebrates remain to be identified.

In Drosophila, diverse voltage-gated K⁺ channels arise from alternatively spliced mRNAs generated at the Shaker locus. Chapter 3 and the Appendices describe the isolation and characterization of several human K⁺-channel genes, similar in sequence to Shaker. Each of these human genes has a highly conserved homolog in rodents; thus, this K⁺-channel gene family probably diversified prior to the mammalian radiation. Functional K⁺ channels encoded by these genes have been expressed in Xenopus oocytes and their properties have been analyzed by electrophysiological methods. These studies demonstrate that both transient and noninactivating voltage-gated K⁺ channels may be encoded by mammalian genes closely related to Shaker. In addition, results presented in Appendix 3 clearly demonstrate that independent gene products from two K⁺-channel genes may efficiently co-assemble into heterooligomeric K⁺ channels with properties distinct from either homomultimeric channel. This finding suggests yet another molecular mechanism for the generation of K⁺-channel diversity.

Instability of solution of phase retrieval in direct diffraction phase-contrast imaging with partially coherent X-ray source

The theoretical model of direct diffraction phase-contrast imaging with partially coherent x-ray source is expressed by an operator of multiple integral. It is presented that the integral operator is linear. The problem of its phase retrieval is described by solving an operator equation of multiple integral. It is demonstrated that the solution of the phase retrieval is unstable. The numerical simulation is performed and the result validates that the solution of the phase retrieval is unstable.