IFE Final Optics and Chamber Dynamics Modeling and Experiments Final Technical Report

Our OFES-sponsored research on IFE technology originally focused on studies of grazing-incidence metal mirrors (GIMM's). After the addition of GIMM research to the High Average Power Laser (HAPL) program, our OFES-sponsored research evolved to include laser propagation studies, surface material evolution in IFE wetted-wall chambers, and magnetic intervention. In 2003, the OFES IFE Technology program was terminated. We continued to expend resources on a no-cost extension in order to complete student research projects in an orderly way and to help us explore new research directions. Those explorations led to funding in the field of extreme ultraviolet lithography, which shares many issues in common with inertial fusion chambers, and the field of radiative properties of laser-produced plasma

R A P I D C O M M U N I C AT I O N Nonclassical hydrodynamic behavior of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO 2 laser pulse

Abstract It was found that the electron density scale length of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO 2 laser pulse is much shorter than that predicted by the classical isothermal model. The experimentally observed small dominant region of in-band (2% bandwidth) 13.5-nm extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission coincides with this constrained hydrodynamic behavior. The lower hydrodynamic efficiency may come from the strongly inhibited ablation mass and makes a CO 2 -laser-produced Sn plasma suitable as an EUV radiation source. When an intense laser pulse arrives at the surface of a solid material placed in a vacuum, a thin layer of the material is ablated, heated, and expands into vacuum due to the thermal gradient. Such hydrodynamic expansion of a laser-produced plasma has been studied for more than 40 years motivated by a wide range of applications, such as efficient compression of a pellet in laser fusion, X-ray lasers, laser ion acceleration, and short wavelength radiation sources For the application of laser fusion, a lot of effort has been expended to enhance hydrodynamic efficiency in order to achieve efficient compression of the fusion pellet. It has been shown that short wavelength lasers could provide higher hydrodynamic efficiency as compared with long wavelength lasers Experiments are carried out using a home-built master oscillator and power amplifier (MOPA) CO 2 laser system as the pumping laser puls

R A P I D C O M M U N I C AT I O N Nonclassical hydrodynamic behavior of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO 2 laser pulse

Abstract It was found that the electron density scale length of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO 2 laser pulse is much shorter than that predicted by the classical isothermal model. The experimentally observed small dominant region of in-band (2% bandwidth) 13.5-nm extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission coincides with this constrained hydrodynamic behavior. The lower hydrodynamic efficiency may come from the strongly inhibited ablation mass and makes a CO 2 -laser-produced Sn plasma suitable as an EUV radiation source. When an intense laser pulse arrives at the surface of a solid material placed in a vacuum, a thin layer of the material is ablated, heated, and expands into vacuum due to the thermal gradient. Such hydrodynamic expansion of a laser-produced plasma has been studied for more than 40 years motivated by a wide range of applications, such as efficient compression of a pellet in laser fusion, X-ray lasers, laser ion acceleration, and short wavelength radiation sources For the application of laser fusion, a lot of effort has been expended to enhance hydrodynamic efficiency in order to achieve efficient compression of the fusion pellet. It has been shown that short wavelength lasers could provide higher hydrodynamic efficiency as compared with long wavelength lasers Experiments are carried out using a home-built master oscillator and power amplifier (MOPA) CO 2 laser system as the pumping laser puls

Developing a Questionnaire for Iranian Women's Attitude on Medical Ethics in Vaginal Childbirth

Background: Vaginal delivery is one of the challenging issues in medical ethics. It is important to use an appropriate instrument to assess medical ethics attitudes in normal delivery, but the lack of tool for this purpose is clear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire for the assessment of women’s attitude on medical ethics application in normal vaginal delivery. Patients and Methods: This methodological study was carried out in Iran in 2013 - 2014. Medical ethics attitude in vaginal delivery questionnaire (MEAVDQ) was developed using the findings of a qualitative data obtained from a grounded theory research conducted on 20 women who had vaginal childbirth, in the first phase. Then, the validation criteria of this tool were tested by content and face validity in the second phase. Exploratory factor analysis was used for construct validity and reliability was also tested by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in the third phase of this study. SPSS version 13 was used in this study. The sample size for construct validity was 250 females who had normal vaginal childbirth. Results: In the first phase of this study (tool development), by the use of four obtained categories and nine subcategories from grounded theory and literature review, three parts (98-items) of this tool were obtained (A, B and J). Part A explained the first principle of medical ethics, part B pointed to the second and third principles of medical ethics, and part J explained the fourth principle of medical ethics. After evaluating and confirming its face and content validity, 75 items remained in the questionnaire. In construct validity, by the employment of exploratory factor analysis, in parts A, B and J, 3, 7 and 3 factors were formed, respectively; and 62.8%, 64% and 51% of the total variances were explained by the obtained factors in parts A, B and J, respectively. The names of these factors in the three parts were achieved by consideration of the loading factor and medical ethics principles. The subscales of MEAVDQ showed significant reliability. In parts A, B and J, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were 0.76, 0.72 and 0.68, respectively and for the total questionnaire, it was 0.72. The results of the test–retest were satisfactory for all the items (ICC = 0.60 - 0.95). Conclusions: The present study showed that the 59-item MEAVDQ was a valid and reliable questionnaire for the assessment of women’s attitudes toward medical ethics application in vaginal childbirth. This tool might assist specialists in making a judgment and plan appropriate for women in vaginal delivery management

Whole genome sequencing identifies a duplicated region encompassing Xq13.2q13.3 in a large Iranian family with intellectual disability

Background The X chromosome has historically been one of the most thoroughly investigated chromosomes regarding intellectual disability (ID), whose etiology is attributed to many factors including copy number variations (CNVs). Duplications of the long arm of the X chromosome have been reported in patients with ID, short stature, facial anomalies, and in many cases hypoplastic genitalia and/or behavioral abnormalities. Methods Here, we report on a large Iranian family with X‐linked ID caused by a duplication on the X chromosome identified by whole genome sequencing in combination with linkage analysis. Results Seven affected males in different branches of the family presented with ID, short stature, seizures, facial anomalies, behavioral abnormalities (aggressiveness, self‐injury, anxiety, impaired social interactions, and shyness), speech impairment, and micropenis. The duplication of the region Xq13.2q13.3, which is ~1.8 Mb in size, includes seven protein‐coding OMIM genes. Three of these genes, namely SLC16A2, RLIM, and NEXMIF, if impaired, can lead to syndromes presenting with ID. Of note, this duplicated region was located within a linkage interval with a LOD score >3. Conclusion Our report indicates that CNVs should be considered in multi‐affected families where no candidate gene defect has been identified in sequencing data analysis

Ethnic-specific distribution of mutations in 716 patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) occurs worldwide. The most common mutations in the CYP21A2 gene in 716 unrelated patients were analyzed and the mutations were grouped by ethnicity, as defined through self-declaration corroborated by review of pedigrees extending to two or three generations. Prevalent allelic mutations and genotypes were found to vary significantly among ethnic groups, and the predominance of the prevalent mutations and genotypes in several of these populations was significant. There are ethnic-specific mutations in the CYP21A2 gene. A large deletion is prevalent in the Anglo-Saxons; a V281L (1685 G to T) mutation is prevalent in Ashkenazi Jews; an R356W (2109 G to A) mutation is prevalent in the Croatians; an IVS2 AS -13 (A/C to G) mutation is prevalent in the Iranians and Yupik-speaking Eskimos of Western Alaska; and a Q318X (1994 C to T) mutation is prevalent in East Indians. Genotype/phenotype non-correlation was seen when at least one IVS2 AS -13 (A/C to G) mutation in the CYP21A2 gene was present. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Sensorineural deafness and male infertility: A contiguous gene deletion syndrome

Background: Syndromic hearing loss that results from contiguous gene deletions is uncommon. Deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) is caused by large contiguous gene deletions at 15q15.3. Methods: Three families with a novel syndrome characterised by deafness and infertility are described. These three families do not share a common ancestor and do not share identical deletions. Linkage was established by completing a genome-wide scan and candidate genes in the linked region were screened by direct sequencing. Results: The deleted region is about 100 kb long and involves four genes (KIAA0377, CKMT1B, STRC and CATSPER2), each of which has a telomeric duplicate. This genomic architecture underlies the mechanism by which these deletions occur. CATSPER2 and STRC are expressed in the sperm and inner ear, respectively, consistent with the phenotype in persons homozygous for this deletion. A deletion of this region has been reported in one other family segregating male infertility and sensorineural deafness, although congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type I (CDAI) was also present, presumably due to a second deletion in another genomic region. Conclusion: We have identified three families segregating an autosomal recessive contiguous gene deletion syndrome characterised by deafness and sperm dysmotility. This new syndrome is caused by the deletion of contiguous genes at 15q15.3