792 research outputs found
Analysis of combined static load and low temperature hot corrosion induced cracking in CMSX-4 at 550°C
A CMSX-4 3-point bend specimen was statically loaded under hot corrosion conditions and SEM, (S)TEM and EDX techniques were used to analyse the cracking generated. Sulphur, chlorine, sodium and oxygen were found at the crack tip, and an influence of loading on the corrosion mechanism’s preference to interact with either the γ or γʹ was observed. The microscopy analysis is in support of the corrosive mechanism being a combined stress and electrochemical corrosion linked with low temperature hot corrosion, where crack propagation occurs as a result of localised corrosion enhanced material degradation. High magnification EDX mapping identified W as segregating to the γʹ at room temperature
Site investigation for the effects of vegetation on ground stability
The procedure for geotechnical site investigation is well established but little attention is currently given to investigating the potential of vegetation to assist with ground stability. This paper describes how routine investigation procedures may be adapted to consider the effects of the vegetation. It is recommended that the major part of the vegetation investigation is carried out, at relatively low cost, during the preliminary (desk) study phase of the investigation when there is maximum flexibility to take account of findings in the proposed design and construction. The techniques available for investigation of the effects of vegetation are reviewed and references provided for further consideration. As for general geotechnical investigation work, it is important that a balance of effort is maintained in the vegetation investigation between (a) site characterisation (defining and identifying the existing and proposed vegetation to suit the site and ground conditions), (b) testing (in-situ and laboratory testing of the vegetation and root systems to provide design parameters) and (c) modelling (to analyse the vegetation effects)
A pre-post study of behavioural determinants and practice change in Ugandan clinical officers
Background. Understanding the drivers of ‘provider behaviour’ has been highlighted as one of the six domains of behaviour change in strengthening healthcare systems.Objectives. To assess changes in healthcare provider behaviour, i.e. use of the Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE) approach in acute illness management, after participating in a 1-day course on the assessment and management of acutely ill patients. We aimed to assess whether changes in psychological determinants of the ABCDE approach were associated with changes in the use of the approach.Methods. We used a pre-post design to study self-reported change in behaviour after a 1-day training course from pre-course to follow-up 1 month later. We also measured psychological determinants of behaviour immediately before and after and at 1-month follow-up. We explored if changes in psychological determinants were associated with change in practice 1 month later.Results. We found the following: firstly, use of the ABCDE approach increased at 1 month post-course from a median use of 50 - 90%. Secondly, the increase in the ABCDE approach was associated with a positive change in only one of the determinants of practice from pre- to post-course: perception of environmental determinants (r=0.323; p<0.05). Finally, there were no other significant associations with practice change or practice at follow-up.Conclusions. Change in perceptions of availability of resources was associated with increased use of an ABCDE approach, but evidence was limited owing to the pre-post design
Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer
Cancers arise owing to the accumulation of mutations in critical genes that alter normal programmes of cell proliferation, differentiation and death. As the first stage of a systematic genome-wide screen for these genes, we have prioritized for analysis signalling pathways in which at least one gene is mutated in human cancer. The RAS RAF MEK ERK MAP kinase pathway mediates cellular responses to growth signals. RAS is mutated to an oncogenic form in about 15% of human cancer. The three RAF genes code for cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases that are regulated by binding RAS. Here we report BRAF somatic missense mutations in 66% of malignant melanomas and at lower frequency in a wide range of human cancers. All mutations are within the kinase domain, with a single substitution (V599E) accounting for 80%. Mutated BRAF proteins have elevated kinase activity and are transforming in NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, RAS function is not required for the growth of cancer cell lines with the V599E mutation. As BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that is commonly activated by somatic point mutation in human cancer, it may provide new therapeutic opportunities in malignant melanoma
A framework for the local information dynamics of distributed computation in complex systems
The nature of distributed computation has often been described in terms of
the component operations of universal computation: information storage,
transfer and modification. We review the first complete framework that
quantifies each of these individual information dynamics on a local scale
within a system, and describes the manner in which they interact to create
non-trivial computation where "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts".
We describe the application of the framework to cellular automata, a simple yet
powerful model of distributed computation. This is an important application,
because the framework is the first to provide quantitative evidence for several
important conjectures about distributed computation in cellular automata: that
blinkers embody information storage, particles are information transfer agents,
and particle collisions are information modification events. The framework is
also shown to contrast the computations conducted by several well-known
cellular automata, highlighting the importance of information coherence in
complex computation. The results reviewed here provide important quantitative
insights into the fundamental nature of distributed computation and the
dynamics of complex systems, as well as impetus for the framework to be applied
to the analysis and design of other systems.Comment: 44 pages, 8 figure
Novel Approach to Confront Electroweak Data and Theory
A novel approach to study electroweak physics at one-loop level in generic
theories is introduced. It separates the 1-loop
corrections into two pieces: process specific ones from vertex and box
contributions, and universal ones from contributions to the gauge boson
propagators. The latter are parametrized in terms of four effective form
factors , , and corresponding to the , , and
propagators. Under the assumption that only the Standard Model contributes to
the process specific corrections, the magnitudes of the four form factors are
determined at and at q^2=\mmz by fitting to all available precision
experiments. These values are then compared systematically with predictions of
theories. In all fits \alpha_s(\mz) and
\bar{\alpha}(\mmz) are treated as external parameters in order to keep the
interpretation as flexible as possible. The treatment of the electroweak data
is presented in detail together with the relevant theoretical formulae used to
interpret the data. No deviation from the Standard Model has been identified.
Ranges of the top quark and Higgs boson masses are derived as functions of
\alpha_s(\mz) and \bar{\alpha}(\mmz). Also discussed are consequences of
the recent precision measurement of the left-right asymmetry at SLC as well as
the impact of a top quark mass and an improved mass measurement.Comment: 123 pages, LaTeX (33 figures available via anonymous ftp),
KEK-TH-375, KEK preprint 93-159, KANAZAWA-94-19, DESY 94-002, YUMS 94-22,
SNUTP 94-82, to be published in Z.Phys.
Short-lived Nuclei in the Early Solar System: Possible AGB Sources
(Abridged) We review abundances of short-lived nuclides in the early solar
system (ESS) and the methods used to determine them. We compare them to the
inventory for a uniform galactic production model. Within a factor of two,
observed abundances of several isotopes are compatible with this model. I-129
is an exception, with an ESS inventory much lower than expected. The isotopes
Pd-107, Fe-60, Ca-41, Cl-36, Al-26, and Be-10 require late addition to the
solar nebula. Be-10 is the product of particle irradiation of the solar system
as probably is Cl-36. Late injection by a supernova (SN) cannot be responsible
for most short-lived nuclei without excessively producing Mn-53; it can be the
source of Mn-53 and maybe Fe-60. If a late SN is responsible for these two
nuclei, it still cannot make Pd-107 and other isotopes. We emphasize an AGB
star as a source of nuclei, including Fe-60 and explore this possibility with
new stellar models. A dilution factor of about 4e-3 gives reasonable amounts of
many nuclei. We discuss the role of irradiation for Al-26, Cl-36 and Ca-41.
Conflict between scenarios is emphasized as well as the absence of a global
interpretation for the existing data. Abundances of actinides indicate a
quiescent interval of about 1e8 years for actinide group production in order to
explain the data on Pu-244 and new bounds on Cm-247. This interval is not
compatible with Hf-182 data, so a separate type of r-process is needed for at
least the actinides, distinct from the two types previously identified. The
apparent coincidence of the I-129 and trans-actinide time scales suggests that
the last actinide contribution was from an r-process that produced actinides
without fission recycling so that the yields at Ba and below were governed by
fission.Comment: 92 pages, 14 figure files, in press at Nuclear Physics
Further Experimental Studies of Two-Body Radiative \Upsilon Decays
Continuing our studies of radiative Upsilon(1S) decays, we report on a search
for Upsilon to gamma eta and Upsilon to gamma f_{J}(2220) in 61.3 pb^{-1} of
e^{+}e^{-} data taken with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage
Ring. For the gamma eta search the three decays of the eta meson to
pi^{+}pi^{-}pi^{0}, pi^{0}pi^{0}pi^{0}, and gamma gamma were investigated. We
found no candidate events in the two (3\pi)^{0} modes and no significant excess
over expected backgrounds in the gamma gamma mode to set a limit on the
branching fraction of B(Upsilon to gamma eta) < 2.1 x 10^{-5} at 90% C.L. The
three charged two-body final states h h-bar (h = pi^{+}, K^{+}, p) were
investigated for f_{J}(2220) production, with one, one, and two events found,
respectively. Limits at 90% C.L. of B(\Upsilon to gamma f_{J}) x B(f_{J} to h
h-bar) ~ 1.5 x 10^{-5} have been set for each of these modes. We compare our
results to measurements of other radiative Upsilon decays, to measurements of
radiative J/psi decays, and to theoretical predictions.Comment: 19 pages postscript, also available through
http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS, submitted to Physical Review
Update of the Search for the Neutrinoless Decay
We present an update of the search for the lepton family number violating
decay using a complete CLEO II data sample of 12.6 million
pairs. No evidence of a signal has been found and the
corresponding upper limit is \BR(\tau \to \mu\gamma) < 1.0 \times 10^{-6}
at 90% CL, significantly smaller than previous limits. All quoted results are
preliminary.Comment: 9 pages postscript, also available through
http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN
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