Article proposes a novel Bayesian method, named BAM, for simultaneously partitioning Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) into Linkage Disequilibrium(LD)-blocks and detecting genome-wide multi-locus epistatic interactions that are associated with multiple diseases. Experimental results on the simulated datasets demonstrate that BAM is powerful and efficient.

The following switches are briefly discussed: (1) high pressure and vacuum spark gaps, (2) liquid dielectric gaps, (3) solid dielectrics, (4) nonlinear ferromagnetic materials, (5) semiconductors, superconductors, (6) ferroelectric switches, (7) exploding wires, and (8) plasma instabilities. (MOW)

The long-term mechanical stability of strongly positive gravity anomalies (mascons) on the moon is evaluated from relevant physical characteristics of these bodies, from paleoselenotherms, and from the flow behavior of the lunar mantle. (auth)

The X-ray Spectrometer (XRS) instrument is a revolutionary non-dispersive spectrometer that will form the basis for the Astro-E2 observatory to be launched in 2005. We have recently installed a flight spare XRS microcalorimeter spectrometer at the EBIT-I and SuperEBIT facility at LLNL replacing the XRS from the earlier Astro-E mission and providing twice the resolving power. The XRS microcalorimeter is an x-ray detector that senses the heat deposited by the incident photon. It achieves a high energy resolution by operating at 0.06K and by carefully engineering the heat capacity and thermal conductance. The XRS/EBIT instrument has 32 pixels in a square geometry and achieves an energy resolution of 6 eV at 6 keV, with a bandpass from 0.1 to 12 keV (or more at higher operating temperature). The instrument allows detailed studies of the x-ray line emission of laboratory plasmas. The XRS/EBIT also provides an extensive calibration 'library' for the Astro-E2 observatory.

We are developing a petawatt laser for use as a high energy backlighter source in the 20{approx} 100 keV range. High energy x-ray backlighters will be essential for radiographing High-Energy- Density Experimental Science (HEDES) targets for NIF projects especially to probe implosions and high areal density planar samples. For these experiments we are employing two types of detectors: a columnar grown CsI scintillator coupled to a 2K x 2K CCD camera and a CdTe crystal with a special ASIC readout electronics in a 508 x 512 format array. We have characterized these sensors using radioactive sources. In addition, we utilized them to measure the Sm K{alpha} source size generated by the short pulse laser, JanUSP, at LLNL. This paper will present the results of our characterizations of these detectors.

Free electron lasers operating in the 0.1 to 1.5 nm wavelength range have been proposed for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (USA) and DESY (Germany). The unprecedented brightness and associated fluence predicted for pulses <300 fs pose new challenges for optical components. A criterion for optical component design is required, implying an understanding of x-ray - matter interactions at these extreme conditions. In our experimental effort, the extreme conditions are simulated by currently available sources ranging from optical lasers, through x-ray lasers (at 14.7 nm) down to K-alpha sources (-0.15 nm). In this paper we present an overview of our research program, including (a) Results from the experimental campaign at a short pulse (100 fs - 5 ps) power laser at 800 nm, (b) K-{alpha} experiments, and (c) Computer modeling and experimental project using a tabletop high brightness ps x-ray laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

We present a progressive compression technique for volumetric subdivision meshes based on the slow growing refinement algorithm. The system is comprised of a wavelet transform followed by a progressive encoding of the resulting wavelet coefficients. We compare the efficiency of two wavelet transforms. The first transform is based on the smoothing rules used in the slow growing subdivision technique. The second transform is a generalization of lifted linear B-spline wavelets to the same multi-tier refinement structure. Direct coupling with a hierarchical coder produces progressive bit streams. Rate distortion metrics are evaluated for both wavelet transforms. We tested the practical performance of the scheme on synthetic data as well as data from laser indirect-drive fusion simulations with multiple fields per vertex. Both wavelet transforms result in high quality trade off curves and produce qualitatively good coarse representations.

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X-ray spectrometers using elliptically bent crystals have desirable properties for applications requiring broad spectral coverage, good spectral resolution, and minimized source broadening. Previous work used custom-positioned film or microchannel plate detectors. They find it is also useful and cost-effective to field elliptical crystals in existing snouts on the face-on gated microchannel plate framing cameras commonly used at many facilities. they numerically explored the full design space (spectral range and resolution) of elliptical crystals compatible with the new MSPEC multipurpose spectrometer snout. They have tested at the Omega laser an elliptical RAP crystal with 174 mm focal length, 0.9885 eccentricity, and 4.6 degree inclination, viewing from 1.0 to at least 1.7 keV with E/dE of 300-500. A slit (2x mag) images 3 mm sources with 70 um spatial resolution.

As scientific data sets grow exponentially in size, the need for scalable algorithms that heuristically partition the data increases. In this paper, we describe the three-step evolution of a hierarchical partitioning algorithm for large-scale spatio-temporal scientific data sets generated by massive simulations. The first version of our algorithm uses a simple top-down partitioning technique, which divides the data by using a four-way bisection of the spatio-temporal space. The shortcomings of this algorithm lead to the second version of our partitioning algorithm, which uses a bottom-up approach. In this version, a partition hierarchy is constructed by systematically agglomerating the underlying Cartesian grid that is placed on the data. Finally, the third version of our algorithm utilizes the intrinsic topology of the data given in the original scientific problem to build the partition hierarchy in a bottom-up fashion. Specifically, the topology is used to heuristically agglomerate the data at each level of the partition hierarchy. Despite the growing complexity in our algorithms, the third version of our algorithm builds partition hierarchies in less time and is able to build trees for larger size data sets as compared to the previous two versions.

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Tests of non-local interference effects in the two-kaon system are proposed. The first kind of tests consists of measuring the amount of destructive interference between K{sub S} {yields} K{sub L} regeneration processes of two distant kaons. The second kind deals with constructive interference. These tests could be performed at an asymmetric {phi}-factory. Estimates are given of the number of events predicted by orthodox quantum mechanics and kaon regeneration theory in various suitable experimental conditions. The impact on local theories if the predictions of quantum mechanics hold is discussed.

A clipping from an article titled 'Getty Center grants $3.75 million to Art Education' in the National Art Education Association's naea news publication. The piece covers the grants given to consortiums in Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas as well as the DBAE learning programs that it funds through them.

We discuss the formal basis for the theoretical treatment of nuclear multifragmentation within a microcanonical framework. The important role played by highly excited nuclear states and the interfragment forces is illustrated. The requirement of detailed balance is especially discussed and illustrated for the fission-fusion Metropolis moves in configuration space. 13 refs., 2 figs.

This article describes the crystal structure of a platinum(II) supramolecular building block, [Pt-(dbbpy)NNCCH₃)₂](BF₄)₂ (dbbpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, C₁₈H₂₄N₂).

A specific problem developed during the design of an on-line sampling system for the Sodium Loop Safety Facility fast breeder reactor experiments. Rapid fluctuations in the sodium temperature, caused by reactor operation and shutdown, exposed the system components to conditions that could result in fatigue failure. A component test loop was designed and built at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory to allow experimental qualification of component integrity. This paper outlines test system requirements, describes the design and special features, presents test procedures ad relates significant operating experience.

Unanticipated functional failures occurred in valves undergoing containment integrity testing for liquid sodium service. The failures resulted from diffusion bonding of the Stellite 6B valve plug to the Type 316 stainless steel (SS) seat. As a result of these failures, a valve development program was undertaken. A modified valve incorporating a Tribaloy 800 plug showed significant improvement in resistance to diffusion bonding but still failed after long term exposure in a closed position. A second modified valve using Tribaloy 800 in both the valve plug and seat successfully resisted diffusion bonding failure. This paper reports the details of the testing and posttest valve examinations. The results of scanning electron microscopy, dispersive x-ray spectrometry, and metallography provide the characteristics of the valve failures. Limitations of the various valve designs are also discussed.

The cw laser RIMS approach has been demonstrated to accurately measure large Lu isotope ratios and detect small levels of minor isotopes even in the presence of isobaric interferences. The same approach can also be used to obtain high resolution optical spectra of rare isotopes. For elements with higher ionization potentials (e.g., Tc), multicolor ionization schemes are necessary for cw RIMS measurements. Two-color RIMS spectra of Tc using pulsed lasers illustrate the feasibility of this approach. For any element, the sensitivity and selectivity of RIMS can be limited by the efficiency of ground state atom production in the sample volatilization step.

Nearly all applications of gamma-ray spectrometry in the quanitative assay of special nuclear materials can be grouped into five general categories. They are as follows: (1) Quanitative passive assay, of which transmission-corrected passive assay methods for measuring isotopic masses/concentrations are an important subset; (2) Enrichment measurements on infinitely thick'' samples for absolute determination of isotopic fractions/concentrations; (3) Measurements of isotopic ratios using relative detection efficiency principles resulting in absolute isotopic distributions without recourse to standards; (4) Absorption-edge densitometry measurements of elemental concentrations; and (5) X-ray fluorescence measurements of elemental concentrations. Careful and correct practice of these techniques can yield measurement accuracies in the range of 0.1% to 1.0% in favorable situations with measurement times generally in the range of 15 minutes to 1 hour. We present examples of these general categories with emphasis on those measurements and techniques exhibiting the best accuracy, as well as those which are not routinely practiced in many other applications of gamma-ray spectrometry. 20 refs., 6 fig.

This article explores the role of various geometrical and structural (length, diameter, chirality) as well as external (deformation and strain) carbon nanotube (CNT) parameters to estimate total as well as area-normalized thermal conductance across cross-contact interconnects.

Tests of non-local interference effects in the two-kaon system are proposed. The first kind of tests consists of measuring the amount of destructive interference between K[sub S] [yields] K[sub L] regeneration processes of two distant kaons. The second kind deals with constructive interference. These tests could be performed at an asymmetric [phi]-factory. Estimates are given of the number of events predicted by orthodox quantum mechanics and kaon regeneration theory in various suitable experimental conditions. The impact on local theories if the predictions of quantum mechanics hold is discussed.

In our laser fusion microsphere production, large, thin gel-microspheres are formed before the chemicals are fused into glass. In this transient stage,, the gel-microspheres are found to be highly permeable to argon and many other inert gases. When the gel transforms to glass, the argon gas, for example, is trapped within to form argon filled, fusion target quality, glass microspheres. On the average, the partial pressure of the argon fills attained in this process is around 2 x 10/sup 4/ Pa at room temperature.

A system for measuring argon contents in individual laser fusion targets using a getter pumped closed volume quadrupole mass spectrometer has been developed. Accuracy of 10% can be obtained, limited by the calibration standard and electron multiplier drift. Measurements are simple, unambiguous and can be performed at up to one per hour with a sensitivity equivalent to 1 x 10/sup 3/ Pa (.01 atm) argon in a 140 ..mu..m internal diameter sphere.

A new concept for a dump for the ion and neutral beams used in the controlled nuclear fusion program uses thin sheets of a refractory metal such as tungsten formed into troughs having semi-circular cross sections. High-velocity water flowing circumferentially removes heat by subcooled nucleate boiling. Possible advantages are modular construction, lower water-pumping power, and a lower pressure drop than in conventional beam dumps. An example design calculation is shown for a dump capable of absorbing an incident flux of 10 kW/cm/sup 2/.