Threshold concentration for H blistering in defect free W

Lattice distortion induced by high concentration of H is believed to be precursor of H blistering in single crystalline W (SCW) during H isotope irradiation. However, the critical H concentration needed to trigger bond-breaking of metal atoms presents a challenge to measure. Using density functional theory, we have calculated the formation energy of a vacancy and a self-interstitial atom (SIA) in supersaturated defect-free SCW with various H concentrations. When the ratio of H:W exceeds 1:2, the formation of both vacancies and self-interstitials becomes exothermic, meaning that spontaneous formation of micro-voids which can accommodate molecular H2 will occur. Molecular H2 is not allowed to form, and it is not needed either at the very initial stage of H blistering in SCW. With supersaturated H, the free volume at the vacancy or SIA is greatly smeared out with severe lattice distortion and more H can be trapped than in the dilute H case.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Highly accurate model for prediction of lung nodule malignancy with CT scans

Computed tomography (CT) examinations are commonly used to predict lung nodule malignancy in patients, which are shown to improve noninvasive early diagnosis of lung cancer. It remains challenging for computational approaches to achieve performance comparable to experienced radiologists. Here we present NoduleX, a systematic approach to predict lung nodule malignancy from CT data, based on deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNN). For training and validation, we analyze >1000 lung nodules in images from the LIDC/IDRI cohort. All nodules were identified and classified by four experienced thoracic radiologists who participated in the LIDC project. NoduleX achieves high accuracy for nodule malignancy classification, with an AUC of ~0.99. This is commensurate with the analysis of the dataset by experienced radiologists. Our approach, NoduleX, provides an effective framework for highly accurate nodule malignancy prediction with the model trained on a large patient population. Our results are replicable with software available at http://bioinformatics.astate.edu/NoduleX

Incubation Energetics of the Laysan Albatross

The energy expenditure of incubating and foraging Laysan Albatross (Diomedea immutabilis, mean body weight 3.07 kg) was estimated by means of the doubly-la- belled water technique. During incubation, the energy expenditure was similar to that of resting birds that were not incubating an egg. The energy expenditure of foraging albatross (2072 kJ/day) was 2.6 times that of resting birds. It was concluded that the energy expenditure of the tropical Laysan Albatross was not less than that of species foraging over cold, high-latitude oceans. An energy budget compiled for an incubating pair of albatross revealed that the energy expenditure of the female was greater than that of the male bird, during the incubation perio

Development of thermoregulation in Hawaiian brown noddies (Anous stolidus pileatus)

1. 1.|Oxygen consumption () and body temperture (Tb) of Hawaiian brown noddies (Anous stolidus pileatus [Aves: Laridae]) during late incubation and in the first 24 h after hatching were measured at ambient temperatures (Ta) between 28 and 38[deg]C and between 15 and 43[deg]C, respectively. Evaporative cooling by hatchings at Ta of 36-43[deg]C was also measured.2. 2.|Throughout the late incubation stages studied, and Tb both varied directly with Ta in an ectothermic pattern.3. 3.|The hatchlings successfully regulated Tb at Ta between ca. 29 and 43[deg]C.4. 4.|The functional basis of the abrupt increase in thermoregulatory capacity with hatching is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29056/1/0000089.pd

Assessment of erosion and surface tritium inventory issues for the ITER divertor

The authors analyzed sputtering erosion and tritium codeposition for the ITER vertical target divertor design using erosion and plasma codes (WBC/REDEP/DEGAS+) coupled to available materials data. Computations were made for a beryllium, carbon, and tungsten coated divertor plate, and for three edged plasma regimes. New data on tritium codeposition in beryllium was obtained with the TPE facility. This shows codeposited H/Be ratios of the order of 10% for surface temperatures {le} 300 C, beryllium thereby being similar to carbon in this respect. Hydrocarbon transport calculations show significant loss (10--20%) of chemically sputtered carbon for detached conditions (T{sub e} {approx} 1 eV at the divertor), compared to essentially no loss (100% redeposition) for higher temperature plasmas. Calculations also show a high, non-thermal, D-T molecular flux for detached conditions. Tritium codeposition rates for carbon are very high for detached conditions ({approximately} 20g-T/1000 s discharge), due to buildup of chemically sputtered carbon on relatively cold surfaces of the divertor cassette. Codeposition is lower ({approximately} 10X) for higher edge temperatures ({approximately} 8--30 eV) and is primarily due to divertor plate buildup of physically sputtered carbon. Peak net erosion rates for carbon are of order 30 cm/burn-yr. Erosion and codeposition rates for beryllium are much lower than for carbon at detached conditions, but are similar to carbon for the higher temperatures. Both erosion and tritium codeposition are essentially nil for tungsten for the regimes studied