Analysis of Parametric Oscillatory Instability in Power Recycled LIGO Interferometer

We present the analysis of a nonlinear effect of parametric oscillatory instability in power recycled LIGO interferometer with the Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities in the arms. The basis for this effect is the excitation of the additional (Stokes) optical mode and the mirror elastic mode, when the optical energy stored in the main FP cavity main mode exceeds the certain threshold and the frequencies are related so that sum of frequencies of Stokes and elastic modes are approximately equal to frequencyof main mode. The presence of anti-Stokes modes (with frequency approximately equal to sum of frequencies of main and elastic modes) can depress parametric instability. However, it is very likely that the anti-Stokes modes will not compensate the parametric instability completely.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. submitted to Physics Letters

Status of Safeguards and Separations Model Development at Plant and Molecular Levels

A primary goal of the Safeguards and Separations IPSC effort is the development of process modeling tools that allow dynamic simulations of separations plant operations under various configurations and conditions, and integration of relevant safeguards analyses. A requirement of the effort is to develop codes on modern, expandable architectures, with flexibility to explore and evaluate a wide range of process options. During FY09, efforts at ORNL have been focused on two priority tasks toward achieving the IPSC goal: (1) a top-down exploration of architecture - Subtask 1: Explore framework for code development and integration for plant-level simulation; and (2) a bottom-up fundamental modeling effort - Subtask 2: Development of molecular-level agent design code. Subtask 1 is important because definition and development of architecture is a key issue for the overall effort, as selection of an overall approach and code/data requirements is a necessary first step in the organization, design and development of separations and safeguards codes that will be incorporated. The agent design effort of Subtask 2 is a molecular-level modeling effort that has a direct impact on a near-term issue of the Separations and Waste Forms Campaign. A current focus of experimental efforts is the development of robust agents and processes for separation of Am/Cm. Development of enhanced agent-design codes will greatly accelerate discovery and experimental testing

Blood Pressure and Vascular Effects of Leptin in Humans

Background: Leptin may play a role in mediating obesity-related hypertension. However, its effects on the vasculature and blood pressure (BP) remain poorly defined in humans. Methods: In the first study, we performed a short-term, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, cross-over experiment investigating the actions of recombinant human leptin (r-metHuLeptin) in 15 nonobese adults. To compliment the acute study, we retrospectively analyzed available BP results from a previously performed 85–day, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel weight-loss study using r-metHuLeptin in 284 obese adults. Results: In the acute study, conduit artery endothelial function determined by brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) increased 2 hours following 0.2 mg · Kg−1 subcutaneously (SC) of r-metHuLeptin versus placebo (+3.3% versus −2.8%, P = .02). BP remained unchanged 4 hours after injections. In the retrospective analysis of the weight loss study data, 10 mg every day before noon (QAM), 10 mg every day after noon (QPM), or 10 mg twice a day (BID) SC of r-metHuLeptin was found to not alter the degree of weight loss (−3.2 ± 3.7 versus −2.9 ± 3.2 Kg, P = .54), change in systolic (−1.6 + 12.9 versus −2.0 ± 13.9 mmHg, P = .85) and diastolic BP (−0.2 ± 8.7 versus −1.5 ± 8.6, P = .30), as well as heart rate (−1.4 ± 10.7 versus −1.4 ± 10.4 beats/min, P = .98) compared to placebo. Conclusions: In our acute study, marked hyperleptinemia rapidly enhanced endothelial function and did not alter BP. The available data from a longer-term study in healthy obese adults did not demonstrate a significant effect of hyperleptinemia upon BP. These combined findings do not support a direct role for leptin in linking obesity to hypertension, however more studies are required to corroborate these observations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63121/1/met.2006.0023.pd

Genetic diversity among Colletotrichum sublineolum pathotypes isolated from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).

Sorghum anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum is a serious disease in Brazil. The fungus is highly variable pathogenically with many physiological races. The present study was made to evaluate the usefulness of molecular methods (SDS-PAGE, RAPD, ARDRA and rDNA sequencing) for identifying C. sublineolum pathotypes isolated from sorghum. Although protein profile (SDS-PAGE) showed a relative low level of polymorphism, differences could be observed due to presence/absence of some polypeptides as well as to intensity of some bands among pathotypes. DNA profile of arbitrarily amplified sequences (RAPD) using sixteen random primers revealed a high degree of polymorphism while amplified rDNA (ITS region and 18S gene) digested with six different restriction enzymes (ARDRA) showed similar patterns. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the complete ITS region and partial sequencing of 18S rRNA gene were useful for revealing genetic differences among the five pathotypes. In the present study, RAPD and rDNA sequencing were the most profitable methods for identifying C. sublineolum pathotypes. A antracnose do sorgo, causada por Colletotrichum sublineolum, é séria doença, no Brasil. O fungo é altamente variável do ponto de vista patogênico e várias raças têm sido noticiadas. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a utilidade de métodos moleculares (SDS-PAGE, RAPD, ARDRA e seqüenciamento de rDNA) para identificar patótipos de C. sublineolum isolados do sorgo. Embora o perfil protéico (SDS-PAGE) tenha mostrado baixo grau de polimorfismo, foi possível observar diferenças devido à presença/ausência de alguns polipeptídios, bem como diferenças quanto à intensidade de algumas bandas. O perfil de DNA amplificado arbitrariamente (RAPD), usando dezeseis primers aleatórios, revelou elevado grau de polimorfismo entre os patótipos, enquanto que o produto da amplificação de rDNA (região ITS e gene 18S), digerido com seis enzimas de restrição diferentes (ARDRA), apresentou padrão similar. Análise de nucleotídeos da seqüência completa da região ITS e do seqüenciamento parcial do gene 18S rRNA revelaram diferenças genéticas entre os cinco patótipos. Entre os métodos testados no presente estudo, RAPD e seqüenciamento de rDNA foram mais efetivos para identificar patótipos de C. sublineolum