Integrated Flush Air Data Sensing System Modeling for Planetary Entry Guidance with Direct Force Control

Flush air data sensing (FADS) systems have been previously used at both Earth and Mars to provide onboard estimates of angle of attack, sideslip angle, and dynamic pressure. However, these FADS data were often not used in an in-the-loop sense to inform the onboard guidance and control systems. A method to integrate FADS-derived density and wind estimates with a numerical predictor-corrector guidance algorithm is presented. The method is demonstrated in a high-fidelity simulation of a human-scale Mars entry vehicle that utilizes a hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (HIAD) with direct force control. Effects on guidance commands and state uncertainties both with and without FADS system modeling are presented and discussed

Inhibition of endothelial activation: a new way to treat cerebral malaria?

BACKGROUND: Malaria is still a major public health problem, partly because the pathogenesis of its major complication, cerebral malaria (CM), remains incompletely understood. However tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is thought to play a key role in the development of this neurological syndrome, as well as lymphotoxin alpha (LT). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using an in vitro model of CM based on human brain-derived endothelial cells (HBEC-5i), we demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of LMP-420, a 2-NH2-6-Cl-9-[(5-dihydroxyboryl)-pentyl] purine that is a transcriptional inhibitor of TNF. When added before or concomitantly to TNF, LMP-420 inhibits endothelial cell (EC) activation, i.e., the up-regulation of both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on HBEC-5i surfaces. Subsequently, LMP-420 abolishes the cytoadherence of ICAM-1-specific Plasmodium falciparum-parasitized red blood cells on these EC. Identical but weaker effects are observed when LMP-420 is added with LT. LMP-420 also causes a dramatic reduction of HBEC-5i vesiculation induced by TNF or LT stimulation, as assessed by microparticle release. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence for a strong in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of LMP-420 and suggest that targeting host cell pathogenic mechanisms might provide a new therapeutic approach to improving the outcome of CM patients

Correlated defects, metal-insulator transition, and magnetic order in ferromagnetic semiconductors

The effect of disorder on transport and magnetization in ferromagnetic III-V semiconductors, in particular (Ga,Mn)As, is studied theoretically. We show that Coulomb-induced correlations of the defect positions are crucial for the transport and magnetic properties of these highly compensated materials. We employ Monte Carlo simulations to obtain the correlated defect distributions. Exact diagonalization gives reasonable results for the spectrum of valence-band holes and the metal-insulator transition only for correlated disorder. Finally, we show that the mean-field magnetization also depends crucially on defect correlations.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX4, 5 figures include

Search for Free Decay of Negative Pions in Water and Light Materials

We report on a search for the free decay component of pi- stopped in water and light materials. A non-zero value of this would be an indication of anomalous nu_e contamination to the nu_e and nu_mu_bar production at stopped-pion neutrino facilities. No free decay component of pi- was observed in water, Beryllium, and Aluminum, for which upper limits were established at 8.2E-4, 3.2E-3, and 7.7E-3, respectively

A Summary of Experiments in Converting Copper Oxide Process Regenerator Off-Gases to Elemental Sulfur, CRADA 97-F006, Final Report

Sorbent Technologies Corporation (Sorbtech) of Twinsburg, Ohio has developed a new technology for converting SO{sub 2}-rich gas streams directly to elemental sulfur. Key to the technology is a special catalyst that promotes the reaction of SO{sub 2} with reformed natural gas. The technology evolved from earlier flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) work that Sorbtech engineers performed in the late 1980's. In 1995, with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) support, Sorbtech designed and constructed a larger, skid-mounted pilot-test unit suitable for demonstrating the new technology in field tests. This Report summarizes months of preparation work and eight days of testing that were performed at FETC'S facilities during late September and early October, 1997. On the basis of the results of this phase of the project, the following conclusions were made: (1) The chemistry of the new technology was well proven and demonstrated at FETC. The overall S0{sub 2}-to-elemental sulfur yields were typically in the range of 93 to 98 percent. (The project goal was 95 percent, so the goal was exceeded). (2) Sulfur selectivity values, indicating the tendency of S0{sub 2} to be converted to elemental sulfur in preference to H{sub 2}S or COS, were typically in the range of 98 to 100 percent. (3) Bright yellow sulfur of high quality was produced at FETC. (4) The FETC regenerator exhaust gas presented no processing difficulties. Swings in the level of methane in the exhaust gas were handled with relative ease. (5) With the exception of the water condenser, all system components performed well. (6) Condensing of the sulfur after its production was a serious problem at FETC. Solid sulfur deposits built up in the process-gas lines at several locations in the system. Clogging of the lines necessitated terminating runs typically after 2 to 4 hours of operation. Clogging problems were most severe in the water condenser. Many planned parametric tests were not run because of the sulfur plugging problems. (7) Several suggestions were made by BP Oil Company for solving the sulfur pl ugging problems. Among the suggestions were to never allow the temperature of the process gas to fall below 118{degree}C, to increase the temperature of the sulfur condenser to 148{degree}C, and to eliminate the water condenser from the system entirely

Vitamin B supplementation and nutritional intake of methyl donors in patients with chronic kidney disease: A critical review of the impact on epigenetic machinery

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are several-fold higher in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than in the general population. Hyperhomocysteinemia has undoubtedly a central role in such a prominent cardiovascular burden. The levels of homocysteine are regulated by methyl donors (folate, methionine, choline, betaine), and cofactors (vitamin B6, vitamin B12,). Uremia-induced hyperhomocysteinemia has as its main targets DNA methyltransferases, and this leads to an altered epigenetic control of genes regulated through methylation. In renal patients, the epigenetic landscape is strictly correlated with the uremic phenotype and dependent on dietary intake of micronutrients, inflammation, gut microbiome, inflammatory status, oxidative stress, and lifestyle habits. All these factors are key contributors in methylome maintenance and in the modulation of gene transcription through DNA hypo-or hypermethylation in CKD. This is an overview of the epigenetic changes related to DNA methylation in patients with advanced CKD and ESRD. We explored the currently available data on the molecular dysregulations resulting from altered gene expression in uremia. Special attention was paid to the efficacy of B-vitamins supplementation and dietary intake of methyl donors on homocysteine lowering and cardiovascular protection