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Energy and visual comfort performance of electrochromic windowswith overhangs (open access)

Energy and visual comfort performance of electrochromic windowswith overhangs

DOE-2 building energy simulations were conducted to determine if there were practical architectural and control strategy solutions that would enable electrochromic (EC) windows to significantly improve visual comfort without eroding energy-efficiency benefits. EC windows were combined with overhangs since opaque overhangs provide protection from direct sun which EC windows are unable to do alone. The window wall was divided into an upper and lower aperture so that various combinations of overhang position and control strategies could be considered. The overhang was positioned either at the top of the upper window aperture or between the upper and lower apertures. Overhang depth was varied. EC control strategies were fully bleached at all times, modulated based on incident vertical solar radiation limits, or modulated to meet the design work plane illuminance with daylight. The EC performance was compared to a state-of-the-art spectrally selective low-e window with the same divided window wall, window size, and overhang as the EC configuration. The reference window was also combined with an interior shade which was manually deployed to control glare and direct sun. Both systems had the same daylighting control system to dim the electric lighting. Results were given for south-facing private offices in a typical commercial …
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Lee, E.S. & Tavil, A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Probing the Structure-Function Relationships of Microbial Systems (open access)

Probing the Structure-Function Relationships of Microbial Systems

The elucidation of microbial surface architecture and function is critical to determining mechanisms of pathogenesis, immune response, physicochemical properties, environmental resistance and development of countermeasures against bioterrorist agents. We have utilized high-resolution in vitro AFM for studies of structure, assembly, function and environmental dynamics of several microbial systems including bacteria and bacterial spores. Lateral resolutions of {approx}2.0 nm were achieved on pathogens, in vitro. We have demonstrated, using various species of Bacillus and Clostridium bacterial spores, that in vitro AFM can address spatially explicit spore coat protein interactions, structural dynamics in response to environmental changes, and the life cycle of pathogens at near-molecular resolution under physiological conditions. We found that strikingly different species-dependent crystalline structures of the spore coat appear to be a consequence of nucleation and crystallization mechanisms that regulate the assembly of the outer spore coat, and we proposed a unifying mechanism for outer spore coat self-assembly. Furthermore, we revealed molecular-scale transformations of the spore coat during the germination process, which include profound, previously unrecognized changes of the spore coat. We will present data on the direct visualization of stress-induced environmental response of metal-resistant Arthrobacter oxydans bacteria to Cr (VI) exposure, resulting in the formation of a supramolecular …
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Plomp, M; Leighton, T J; Holman, H & Malkin, A J
System: The UNT Digital Library
Scaled Accelerator Test for the DARHT-II Downstream Transport System (open access)

Scaled Accelerator Test for the DARHT-II Downstream Transport System

The second axis of the Dual Axial radiography Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT-II) facility at LANL is currently in the commissioning phase[1]. The beam parameters for the DARHT-II machine will be nominally 18 MeV, 2 kA and 1.6 {micro}s. This makes the DARHT-II downstream system the first system ever designed to transport a high current, high energy and long pulse beam [2]. We will test these physics issues of the downstream transport system on a scaled DARHT-II accelerator with a 7.8-MeV and 660-A beam at LANL before commissioning the machine at its full energy and current. The scaling laws for various physics concerns and the beam parameters selection is discussed in this paper.
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: Chen, Y.; Blackfield, D. T.; Caporaso, G. J.; Guethlein, G.; McCarrick, J. F.; Paul, A. C. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electrospray mass spectrometry of NeuAc oligomers associated with the C fragment of the tetanus toxin (open access)

Electrospray mass spectrometry of NeuAc oligomers associated with the C fragment of the tetanus toxin

The Clostridial neurotoxins, botulinum and tetanus, gain entry into neuronal cells by protein recognition involving cell specific binding sites. The sialic or N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) residues of gangliosides attached to the surface of motor neurons are the suspected recognition and interaction points with Clostridial neurotoxins, although not necessarily the only ones. We have used electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) to examine formation of complexes between the tetanus toxin C fragment, or targeting domain, and carbohydrates containing NeuAc groups to determine how NeuAc residues contribute to ganglioside binding. ESI-MS was used to rapidly and efficiently measure dissociation constants for a number of related NeuAc-containing carbohydrates and NeuAc oligomers, information that has helped identify the structural features of gangliosides that determine their binding to tetanus toxin. The strength of the interactions between the C fragment and (NeuAc){sub n}, are consistent with the topography of the targeting domain of tetanus toxin and the nature of its carbohydrate binding sites. The results suggest that the targeting domain of tetanus toxin contains two binding sites that can accommodate NeuAc (or a dimer). This study also shows that NeuAc must play an important role in ganglioside binding and molecular recognition, a process critical for normal cell …
Date: April 3, 2005
Creator: Prieto, M C; Whittal, R M; Baldwin, M A; Burlingame, A L & Balhorn, R
System: The UNT Digital Library
Event Reconstruction for Atmospheric Releases Employing Urban Puff Model UDM with Stochastic Inversion Methodology (open access)

Event Reconstruction for Atmospheric Releases Employing Urban Puff Model UDM with Stochastic Inversion Methodology

The rapid identification of contaminant plume sources and their characteristics in urban environments can greatly enhance emergency response efforts. Source identification based on downwind concentration measurements is complicated by the presence of building obstacles that can cause flow diversion and entrainment. While high-resolution computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are available for predicting plume evolution in complex urban geometries, such simulations require large computational effort. We make use of an urban puff model, the Defence Science Technology Laboratory's (Dstl) Urban Dispersion Model (UDM), which employs empirically based puff splitting techniques. UDM enables rapid urban dispersion simulations by combining traditional Gaussian puff modeling with empirically deduced mixing and entrainment approximations. Here we demonstrate the preliminary reconstruction of an atmospheric release event using stochastic sampling algorithms and Bayesian inference together with the rapid UDM urban puff model based on point measurements of concentration. We consider source inversions for both a prototype isolated building and for observations and flow conditions taken during the Joint URBAN 2003 field campaign at Oklahoma City. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) stochastic sampling method is used to determine likely source term parameters and considers both measurement and forward model errors. It should be noted that the stochastic methodology …
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Neuman, S; Glascoe, L; Kosovic, B; Dyer, K; Hanley, W; Nitao, J et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Using Laser Entrance Hole Shields to Increase Coupling Efficiency in Indirect Drive Ignition Targets for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) (open access)

Using Laser Entrance Hole Shields to Increase Coupling Efficiency in Indirect Drive Ignition Targets for the National Ignition Facility (NIF)

Coupling efficiency, the ratio of the capsule absorbed energy to the driver energy, is a key parameter in ignition targets. The hohlraum originally proposed for NIF coupled {approx}11% of the absorbed laser energy to the capsule as x-rays. We describe here a second generation of hohlraum target which has higher coupling efficiency, {approx}16%. Because the ignition capsule's ability to withstand 3D effects increases rapidly with absorbed energy, the additional energy can significantly increase the likelihood of ignition. The new target includes laser entrance hole (LEH) shields as a principal method for increasing coupling efficiency while controlling symmetry in indirect-drive ICF. The LEH shields are high Z disks placed inside the hohlraum to block the capsule's view of the cold LEHs. The LEH shields can reduce the amount of laser energy required to drive a target to a given temperature via two mechanisms: (1) keeping the temperature high near the capsule pole by putting a barrier between the capsule and the pole, (2) because the capsule pole does not have a view of the cold LEHs, good symmetry requires a shorter hohlraum with less wall area. Current integrated simulations of this class of target couple 140 kJ of x-rays to a …
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Callahan, D. A.; Amendt, P. A.; Dewald, E. L.; Haan, S. W.; Hinkel, D. E.; Izumi, N. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Methane Hydrate Formation and Dissociation in a PartiallySaturated Core-Scale Sand Sample (open access)

Methane Hydrate Formation and Dissociation in a PartiallySaturated Core-Scale Sand Sample

We performed a sequence of tests on a partiallywater-saturated sand sample contained in an x-ray transparent aluminumpressure vessel that is conducive to x-ray computed tomography (CT)observation. These tests were performed to gather data for estimation ofthermal properties of the sand/water/gas system and thesand/hydrate/water/gas systems, as well as data to evaluate the kineticnature of hydrate dissociation. The tests included mild thermalperturbations for the estimation of the thermal properties of thesand/water/gas system, hydrate formation, thermal perturbations withhydrate in the stability zone, hydrate dissociation through thermalstimulation, additional hydrate formation, and hydrate dissociationthrough depressurization with thermal stimulation. Density changesthroughout the sample were observed as a result of hydrate formation anddissociation, and these processes induced capillary pressure changes thataltered local water saturation.
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Kneafsey, Timothy J.; Tomutsa, Liviu; Moridis, George J.; Seol,Yongkoo; Freifeld, Barry M.; Taylor, Charles E. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Revisiting the U-238 thermal capture cross section and gamma-raymission probabilities from Np-239 decay (open access)

Revisiting the U-238 thermal capture cross section and gamma-raymission probabilities from Np-239 decay

The precise value of the thermal capture cross section of238U is uncertain, and evaluated cross sections from various sourcesdiffer by more than their assigned uncertainties. A number of theoriginal publications have been reviewed to assess the discrepant data,corrections were made for more recent standard cross sections andotherconstants, and one new measurement was analyzed. Due to the strongcorrelations in activation measurements, the gamma-ray emissionprobabilities from the beta decay of 239Np were also analyzed. As aresult of the analysis, a value of 2.683 +- 0.012 barns was derived forthe thermal capture cross section of 238U. A new evaluation of thegamma-ray emission probabilities from 239Np decay was alsoundertaken.
Date: March 3, 2005
Creator: Trkov, A.; Molnar, G. L.; Revay, Z. S.; Mughabghab, S. F.; Firestone, R. B.; Pronyaev, V. G. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Atomic Structure of Pyramidal Defects in GaN:Mg; Influence ofAnnealing (open access)

Atomic Structure of Pyramidal Defects in GaN:Mg; Influence ofAnnealing

The atomic structure of the characteristic defects (Mg-rich hexagonal pyramids) in p-doped bulk and MOCVD GaN:Mg thin films grown with Ga polarity was determined at atomic resolution by direct reconstruction of the scattered electron wave in a transmission electron microscope. Small cavities were present inside the defects, confirmed also with positron annihilation. The inside walls of the cavities were covered by GaN of reverse polarity compared to the matrix. Defects in bulk GaN:Mg were almost one order of magnitude larger than in thin films. An exchange of Ga and N sublattices within the defect compared to the matrix lead to a 0.6 {+-} 0.2 {angstrom} displacement between the Ga sublattices of these two areas. A [1100]/3 shift with change from AB stacking in the matrix to BC within the entire pyramid was observed. Annealing of the MOCVD layers lead to slight increase of the defect size and an increase of the photoluminescence intensity. Positron annihilation confirms presence of vacancies of different sizes triggered by the Mg doping in as-grown samples and decrease of their concentration upon annealing at 900 and 1000 C.
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: Liliental-Weber, Z.; Tomaszewicz, T.; Zakharov, D.; O'Keefe, M.; Hautakangas, S.; Saarinen, K. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of problem perturbations on nonlinear dynamical systems and their reduced order models (open access)

The effect of problem perturbations on nonlinear dynamical systems and their reduced order models

Reduced order models are used extensively in many areas of science and engineering for simulation, design, and control. Reduction techniques for nonlinear dynamical systems produce models that depend strongly on the nominal set of parameters for which the reduction is carried out. In this paper we address the following two questions: 'What is the effect of perturbations in the problem parameters on the output functional of a nonlinear dynamical system?' and 'To what extent does the reduced order model capture this effect?'
Date: March 3, 2005
Creator: Serban, R; Homescu, C & Petzold, L
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nanoparticle Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (open access)

Nanoparticle Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering is a powerful tool for the investigation of biological samples. Following a brief introduction to Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering, several examples of biophotonic applications of SERS are discussed. The concept of nanoparticle based sensors using SERS is introduced and the development of these sensors is discussed.
Date: January 3, 2005
Creator: Talley, Chad E.; Huser, Thomas R.; Hollars, Christopher W.; Jusinski, Leonard; Laurence, Ted & Lane, Stephen M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reviewers Comments on the 5th Symposium and the Status of Fusion Research 2003 (open access)

Reviewers Comments on the 5th Symposium and the Status of Fusion Research 2003

Better to understand the status of fusion research in the year 2003 we will first put the research in its historical context. Fusion power research, now beginning its sixth decade of continuous effort, is unique in the field of scientific research. Unique in its mixture of pure and applied research, unique in its long-term goal and its promise for the future, and unique in the degree that it has been guided and constrained by national and international governmental policy. Though fusion research's goal has from the start been precisely defined, namely, to obtain a net release of energy from controlled nuclear fusion reactions between light isotopes (in particular those of hydrogen and helium) the difficulty of the problem has spawned in the past a very wide variety of approaches to the problem. Some of these approaches have had massive international support for decades, some have been pursued only at a ''shoestring'' level by dedicated groups in small research laboratories or universities. In discussing the historical and present status of fusion research the implications of there being two distinctly different approaches to achieving net fusion power should be pointed out. The first, and oldest, approach is the use of strong magnetic …
Date: February 3, 2005
Creator: Post, R F
System: The UNT Digital Library
Facile Synthesis of a Crystalline, High-Surface Area SnO2 Aerogel (open access)

Facile Synthesis of a Crystalline, High-Surface Area SnO2 Aerogel

We report the preparation of a novel monolithic SnO{sub 2} aerogel using a straightforward sol-gel technique. TEM and XRD analysis show that the as-prepared material is comprised of interconnected, randomly oriented crystalline (rutile) SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles {approx}3-5 nm in size. As a result, the low-density SnO{sub 2} monolith ({approx}97% porous) exhibits a very high surface area of 383 m{sup 2}/g. /XANES spectroscopy at the Sn M{sub 4,5} edge reveals that the electronic structure of the SnO{sub 2} aerogel is similar to that of tetragonal SnO rather than SnO{sub 2} or {beta}-Sn, and that the undercoordinated surface atoms in the material introduce additional Sn-related electronic states close to the conduction band minimum.
Date: January 3, 2005
Creator: Baumann, T. F.; Kucheyev, S. O.; Gash, A. E. & Satcher, J. H. Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Vehicular Storage of Hydrogen in Insulated Pressure Vessels (open access)

Vehicular Storage of Hydrogen in Insulated Pressure Vessels

This paper describes the development of an alternative technology for storing hydrogen fuel onboard automobiles. Insulated pressure vessels are cryogenic-capable pressure vessels that can accept cryogenic liquid fuel, cryogenic compressed gas or compressed gas at ambient temperature. Insulated pressure vessels offer advantages over conventional H{sub 2} storage approaches. Insulated pressure vessels are more compact and require less carbon fiber than GH{sub 2} vessels. They have lower evaporative losses than LH{sub 2} tanks, and are much lighter than metal hydrides. After outlining the advantages of hydrogen fuel and insulated pressure vessels, the paper describes the experimental and analytical work conducted to verify that insulated pressure vessels can be used safely for vehicular H{sub 2} storage. The paper describes tests that have been conducted to evaluate the safety of insulated pressure vessels. Insulated pressure vessels have successfully completed a series of DOT, ISO and SAE certification tests. A draft procedure for insulated pressure vessel certification has been generated to assist in a future commercialization of this technology. An insulated pressure vessel has been installed in a hydrogen fueled truck and it is currently being subjected to extensive testing.
Date: January 3, 2005
Creator: Aceves, S. M.; Berry, G. D.; Martinez-Frias, J. & Espinosa-Loza, F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Stable CSR in storage rings: A model (open access)

Stable CSR in storage rings: A model

A comprehensive historical view of the work done on coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) in storage rings is given in reference [1]. Here we want just to point out that even if the issue of CSR in storage rings was already discussed over 50 years ago, it is only recently that a considerable number of observations have been reported. In fact, intense bursts of coherent synchrotron radiation with a stochastic character were measured in the terahertz frequency range, at several synchrotron light source storage rings [2-8]. It has been shown [8-11], that this bursting emission of CSR is associated with a single bunch instability, usually referred as microbunching instability (MBI), driven by the fields of the synchrotron radiation emitted by the bunch itself. Of remarkably different characteristics was the CSR emission observed at BESSY II in Berlin, when the storage ring was tuned into a special low momentum compaction mode [12, 13]. In fact, the emitted radiation was not the quasi-random bursting observed in the other machines, but a powerful and stable flux of broadband CSR in the terahertz range. This was an important result, because it experimentally demonstrated the concrete possibility of constructing a stable broadband source with extremely high …
Date: January 3, 2005
Creator: Sannibale, Fernando; Byrd, John M.; Loftsdottir, Agusta; Venturini, Marco; Abo-Bakr, Michael; Feikes, Jorge et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The ArcSDE GIS Dynamic Population Model Tool for Savannah River Site Emergency Response (open access)

The ArcSDE GIS Dynamic Population Model Tool for Savannah River Site Emergency Response

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a 310-square-mile Department of Energy site located near Aiken, South Carolina. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees and subcontractors, SRS emergency personnel must be able to respond to an emergency event in a timely and effective manner, in order to ensure the safety and security of the Site. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides the technology needed to give managers and emergency personnel the information they need to make quick and effective decisions. In the event of a site evacuation, knowing the number of on-site personnel to evacuate from a given area is an essential piece of information for emergency staff. SRS has developed a GIS Dynamic Population Model Tool to quickly communicate real-time information that summarizes employee populations by facility area and building and then generates dynamic maps that illustrate output statistics.
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: MCLANE, TRACY & JONES, DWIGHT
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ultra-high accuracy optical testing: creating diffraction-limitedshort-wavelength optical systems (open access)

Ultra-high accuracy optical testing: creating diffraction-limitedshort-wavelength optical systems

Since 1993, research in the fabrication of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical imaging systems, conducted at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), has produced the highest resolution optical systems ever made. We have pioneered the development of ultra-high-accuracy optical testing and alignment methods, working at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, and pushing wavefront-measuring interferometry into the 2-20-nm wavelength range (60-600 eV). These coherent measurement techniques, including lateral shearing interferometry and phase-shifting point-diffraction interferometry (PS/PDI) have achieved RMS wavefront measurement accuracies of 0.5-1-{angstrom} and better for primary aberration terms, enabling the creation of diffraction-limited EUV optics. The measurement accuracy is established using careful null-testing procedures, and has been verified repeatedly through high-resolution imaging. We believe these methods are broadly applicable to the advancement of short-wavelength optical systems including space telescopes, microscope objectives, projection lenses, synchrotron beamline optics, diffractive and holographic optics, and more. Measurements have been performed on a tunable undulator beamline at LBNL's Advanced Light Source (ALS), optimized for high coherent flux; although many of these techniques should be adaptable to alternative ultraviolet, EUV, and soft x-ray light sources. To date, we have measured nine prototype all-reflective EUV optical systems with NA values between 0.08 and 0.30 (f/6.25 …
Date: August 3, 2005
Creator: Goldberg, Kenneth A.; Naulleau, Patrick P.; Rekawa, Senajith B.; Denham, Paul E.; Liddle, J. Alexander; Gullikson, Eric M. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Genome-wide de Novo Prediction of Proximal and Distal Tissue-Specific Enhancers (open access)

Genome-wide de Novo Prediction of Proximal and Distal Tissue-Specific Enhancers

Determining how transcriptional regulatory networks are encoded in the human genome is essential for understanding how cellular processes are directed. Here, we present a novel approach for systematically predicting tissue specific regulatory elements (REs) that blends genome-wide expression profiling, vertebrate genome comparisons, and pattern analysis of transcription factor binding sites. This analysis yields 4,670 candidate REs in the human genome with distinct tissue specificities, the majority of which reside far away from transcription start sites. We identify key transcription factors (TFs) for 34 distinct tissues and demonstrate that tissue-specific gene expression relies on multiple regulatory pathways employing similar, but different cohorts of interacting TFs. The methods and results we describe provide a global view of tissue specific gene regulation in humans, and propose a strategy for deciphering the transcriptional regulatory code in eukaryotes.
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Loots, G G & Ovcharenko, I V
System: The UNT Digital Library
Science Day 2005 Abstracts (open access)

Science Day 2005 Abstracts

A number of different abstracts dealing with light and matter, astrophysics, simulations, biophysics, and nuclear physics.
Date: May 3, 2005
Creator: Kline, K
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dynamic Response of the Suspension Spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (open access)

Dynamic Response of the Suspension Spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The dynamic response of the suspension spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFOBB) have been numerically modeled in a case-study to investigate the effects of long-period, near-field ground motions on flexible suspension bridges. The structural simulation model used in the study was developed as a special purpose computer program tailored to efficiently simulate the nonlinear response of cable supported bridges. The simulation model includes a number of special element technologies and solution algorithms that enable efficient nonlinear analysis of suspension bridges. The ground motions used in the study were site specific synthetic records for a Mw=7.25 earthquake along the Hayward fault at 12-15 km distant, and actual measured near-field records from the Izmit Turkey (1999) and Chi-Chi Taiwan (1999) earthquakes. These records include near- and far-field broad-band motions for three components. The results of the numerical simulations indicate that low frequency waveforms associated with near-field motions can place a significant demand on the structural systems of suspension bridges, and must be accounted for in suspension bridge analysis and design.
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: McCallen, D.; Astaneh-Asl, A.; Larsen, S. & Hutchings, L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Grazing Incidence Pumping for High Efficiency X-ray Lasers (open access)

Grazing Incidence Pumping for High Efficiency X-ray Lasers

Over the last decade, most laser-driven collisional excitation x-ray lasers have relied on the absorption of the pump energy incident at normal incidence to a pre-formed plasma. The main advantage is that the inversion can be created at various plasma regions in space and time where the amplification and ray propagation processes are best served. The main disadvantage is that different plasma regions regardless of the contribution to the inversion have to be pumped simultaneously in order to make the laser work. This leads to a loss of efficiency. The new scheme of grazing incidence pumping (GRIP) addresses this issue. In essence, a chosen electron density region of a pre-formed plasma column, produced by a longer pulse at normal incidence onto a slab target, is selectively pumped by focusing a short pulse of 100 fs-10 ps duration laser at a determined grazing incidence angle to the target surface. The exact angle is dependent on the pump wavelength and relates to refraction of the drive beam in the plasma. The controlled use of refraction of the pumping laser in the plasma results in several benefits: The pump laser path length is longer and there is an increase in the laser absorption …
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: Dunn, J; Keenan, R & Shlyaptsev, V N
System: The UNT Digital Library
Simulations of carbon sputtering in fusion reactor divertor plates (open access)

Simulations of carbon sputtering in fusion reactor divertor plates

The interaction of edge plasma with material surfaces raises key issues for the viability of the International Thermonuclear Reactor (ITER) and future fusion reactors, including heat-flux limits, net material erosion, and impurity production. After exposure of the graphite divertor plate to the plasma in a fusion device, an amorphous C/H layer forms. This layer contains 20-30 atomic percent D/T bonded to C. Subsequent D/T impingement on this layer produces a variety of hydrocarbons that are sputtered back into the sheath region. We present molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of D/T impacts on amorphous carbon layer as a function of ion energy and orientation, using the AIREBO potential. In particular, energies are varied between 10 and 150 eV to transition from chemical to physical sputtering. These results are used to quantify yield, hydrocarbon composition and eventual plasma contamination.
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: Marian, J.; Zepeda-Ruiz, L. A.; Gilmer, G. H.; Bringa, E. M. & Rognlien, T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proliferation of Estrogen Receptor alpha Positive Mammary Epithelial Cells is Restrained by TGFbeta1 in Adult Mice (open access)

Proliferation of Estrogen Receptor alpha Positive Mammary Epithelial Cells is Restrained by TGFbeta1 in Adult Mice

Transforming growth factor {beta}1 (TGF{beta}1) is a potent inhibitor of mammary epithelial proliferation. In human breast, estrogen receptor {alpha} (ER{alpha}) cells rarely co-localize with markers of proliferation, but their increased frequency correlates with breast cancer risk. To determine whether TGF{beta}1 is necessary for the quiescence of ER{alpha}-positive population, we examined mouse mammary epithelial gland at estrus. Approximately 35% of cells showed TGF{beta}1 activation, which co-localized with nuclear receptor-phosphorylated Smad 2/3, indicating that TGF{beta} signaling is autocrine. Furthermore, nuclear Smad co-localized with nuclear ER{alpha}. To test whether TGF{beta} was functional, we examined genetically engineered mice with different levels of TGF{beta}1. ER{alpha} co-localization with markers of proliferation (i.e. Ki-67 or BrdU) at estrus was significantly increased in the mammary glands of Tgf{beta}1 C57/bl/129SV heterozygote mice. This relationship was maintained following pregnancy, but was absent at puberty. Conversely, mammary epithelial expression of constitutively active TGF{beta}1 via the MMTV promoter suppressed proliferation of ER{alpha} positive cells. Thus, TGF{beta}1 activation functionally restrains ER{alpha} positive cells from proliferating in adult mammary gland. Accordingly, we propose that TGF{beta}1 dysregulation may promote proliferation of ER{alpha} positive cells associated with breast cancer risk in humans.
Date: March 3, 2005
Creator: Ewan, Kenneth B.R.; Oketch-Rabah, Hellen A.; Ravani, Shraddha A.; Shyamala, G.; Moses, Harold L. & Barcellos-Hoff, Mary Helen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Glomus intraradices: Initial Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing and Assembly Results (open access)

Glomus intraradices: Initial Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing and Assembly Results

None
Date: June 3, 2005
Creator: Shapiro, Harris
System: The UNT Digital Library