Measurements of short-pulse propagation through concrete walls

The authors recently performed a series of experimental measurements of transient electromagnetic (EM) propagation through two different concrete walls. Several different short-duration pulses were used for the incident radiation, with frequency content from VHF to 20 GHz. Both walls were 30 cm thick, with three internal layers of reinforcing steel bars. For this particular set of data, the incident wave polarization was vertical linear only. Corroborating swept-frequency measurements were made with a vector network analyzer. This paper describes the propagation measurements through the two walls, and the propagation model of a lossy dielectric layer. They also examine the transfer function, dielectric constant, loss tangent, attenuation constant, and time-domain impulse response of these walls. The attenuation increases steadily with frequency, and is a strong function of the moisture content of the concrete. The time-domain pulse attenuation and dispersion are consistent with the lowpass-filtering effect of this attenuation loss vs. frequency. The time domain behavior will be very useful in time-domain radar studies of ground-penetrating radar, free-space layered measurement systems, etc

Measurements of transient electromagnetic propagation through concrete and sand

This is the final report of a one-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). If a beam-chopping system could be developed for the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility low-energy beam line, there would be potential to operate the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center (LANSCE) at much higher power and duty factor and enable such operation with a radio-frequency quadrapole (RFQ) injector. This would greatly extend the capability of the facility. To accommodate LANSCE operation in the new configuration, a chopped beam must be created in the low-energy transport line before the RFQ. Chopping in this region has never been demonstrated and constitutes the major uncertainty of the proposal and determines the critical path for project completion. This study produces a better understanding of the physics involved in chopping an H-beam in a dilute plasma background, and in transporting a chopped H-beam through a neutralized or partially neutralized plasma channel, as well as an estimate for the optimum neutralization strategy for the beam chopping and transport between the ion source and the RFQ

Foetal neural progenitors contribute to postnatal circuits formation ex vivo: an electrophysiological investigation

Neuronal progenitor cells (NPC) play an essential role in homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Considering their ability to differentiate into specific lineages, their manipulation and control could have a major therapeutic impact for those CNS injuries or degenerative diseases characterized by neuronal cell loss. In this work, we established an in vitro co-culture and tested the ability of foetal NPC (fNPC) to integrate among post-mitotic hippocampal neurons and contribute to the electrical activity of the resulting networks. We performed extracellular electrophysiological recordings of the activity of neuronal networks and compared the properties of spontaneous spiking in hippocampal control cultures (HCC), fNPC, and mixed circuitries ex vivo. We further employed patch-clamp intracellular recordings to examine single-cell excitability. We report of the capability of fNPC to mature when combined to hippocampal neurons, shaping the profile of network activity, a result suggestive of newly formed connectivity ex vivo

High-intensity laser-accelerated ion beam produced from cryogenic micro-jet target

We report on the successful operation of a newly developed cryogenic jet target at high intensity laser-irradiation. Using the frequency-doubled Titan short pulse laser system at Jupiter Laser Fa- cility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we demonstrate the generation of a pure proton beam a with maximum energy of 2 MeV. Furthermore, we record a quasi-monoenergetic peak at 1.1 MeV in the proton spectrum emitted in the laser forward direction suggesting an alternative acceleration mechanism. Using a solid-density mixed hydrogen-deuterium target, we are also able to produce pure proton-deuteron ion beams. With its high purity, limited size, near-critical density, and high-repetition rate capability, this target is promising for future applications

Guiding Ethical Principles in Engineering Biology Research

Engineering biology is being applied toward solving or mitigating some of the greatest challenges facing society. As with many other rapidly advancing technologies, the development of these powerful tools must be considered in the context of ethical uses for personal, societal, and/or environmental advancement. Researchers have a responsibility to consider the diverse outcomes that may result from the knowledge and innovation they contribute to the field. Together, we developed a Statement of Ethics in Engineering Biology Research to guide researchers as they incorporate the consideration of long-term ethical implications of their work into every phase of the research lifecycle. Herein, we present and contextualize this Statement of Ethics and its six guiding principles. Our goal is to facilitate ongoing reflection and collaboration among technical researchers, social scientists, policy makers, and other stakeholders to support best outcomes in engineering biology innovation and development

Phenological growth stages of pepino (Solanum muricatum) according to the BBCH scale

[EN] The pepino (Soianum muricatum) is a solanaceous vegetatively propagated fruit crop of Andean origin. We provide a detailed description of phenological stages because it is of interest for pepino crop management and research. Given the increasing prominence of this crop, and the fact that it morphologically and developmentally variable, and different from other major solanaceous crops, we have developed a pepino specific BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemische Industrie) numerical scale. Nine principal stages are described for germination/rooting, leaf development, formation of side shoots, main shoot elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, development of fruit, ripening of fruit and seed, and senescence. Secondary stages (two-digit scale) have been identified for all principal stages. Complementary descriptions using mesostages (three-digit scale) have been developed for leaf development, formation of side shoots, inflorescence emergence, and flowering phenological stages. A description of all phenological stages combined with illustrations is provided. The utility of the BBCH scale has been validated by comparing several traits of agronomic interest at specific developmental stages in a collection of pepino local varieties, modern cultivars and wild relatives. The BBCH scale developed provides uniform criteria for the description, identification and selection of phenological stages of the pepino and will facilitate the management, breeding and conservation of genetic resources of this crop. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Herraiz García, FJ.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Plazas Ávila, MDLO.; Gramazio, P.; Andújar, I.; Rodríguez Burruezo, A.; Fita, A.... (2015). Phenological growth stages of pepino (Solanum muricatum) according to the BBCH scale. Scientia Horticulturae. 183:1-7. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2014.12.008S1718

Contamination of Chalk groundwater by chlorinated solvents : a case study of deep penetration by non-aqueous phase liquids

The transport behaviour of chlorinated solvents, both in the aqueous phase and as a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), in fissured microporous aquifers is reviewed. The presence of DNAPL in aquifers is especially serious as it is likely to be the main subsurface source of contamination and, given the slow rates of dissolution in groundwater, may persist for decades. However, the identification and quantification of DNAPLs in fractured aquifers present many practical problems and are often not achievable. A case study of a Chalk site which had been contaminated by chlorinated solvents demonstrated that the use of a range of techniques, including depth profiling of solvent porewater concentrations in cored boreholes, can provide clear evidence for the presence of DNAPL at depth, although DNAPL was not itself observed. Theoretical considerations and field observations confirmed that DNAPL movement is via fractures rather than through the microporous matrix

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab in insulin-treated patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk:Rationale and design of the ODYSSEY DM-INSULIN trial

Aims: The coadministration of alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia, and insulin in diabetes mellitus (DM) requires further study. Described here is the rationale behind a phase-IIIb study designed to characterize the efficacy and safety of alirocumab in insulin-treated patients with type 1 (T1) or type 2 (T2) DM with hypercholesterolaemia and high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methods: ODYSSEY DM-INSULIN (NCT02585778) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study that planned to enrol around 400 T2 and up to 100 T1 insulin-treated DM patients. Participants had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at screening. ≥. 70. mg/dL (1.81. mmol/L) with stable maximum tolerated statin therapy or were statin-intolerant, and taking (or not) other lipid-lowering therapy; they also had established CV disease or at least one additional CV risk factor. Eligible patients were randomized 2:1 to 24. weeks of alirocumab 75. mg every 2. weeks (Q2W) or a placebo. Alirocumab-treated patients with LDL-C. ≥. 70. mg/dL at week 8 underwent a blinded dose increase to 150. mg Q2W at week 12. Primary endpoints were the difference between treatment arms in percentage change of calculated LDL-C from baseline to week 24, and alirocumab safety. Results: This is an ongoing clinical trial, with 76 T1 and 441 T2 DM patients enrolled; results are expected in mid-2017. Conclusion: The ODYSSEY DM-INSULIN study will provide information on the efficacy and safety of alirocumab in insulin-treated individuals with T1 or T2 DM who are at high CV risk and have hypercholesterolaemia not adequately controlled by the maximum tolerated statin therapy