Meteorological studies conducted by contract NONR 4071 (00) : final report

During April and August 1963 the Barbados Weather Modification Project made extensive use of whole-sky, time-lapse and conventional photography to investigate cloud and rain formation over tropical heat sources. These observations were made from land-based, ship-borne and aircraft stations. In July 1965 further photographic studies were carried out over the eastern Caribbean Sea to evaluate the effect of seeding cumulus clouds with silver iodide bombs.The Office of Naval Research under Contract Nonr-4071 (00

Supergroup - extended super Liouville correspondence

We derive a relation between correlation functions of supergroup WZNW models and conformal field theories with extended superconformal symmetry. The supergroups considered have a bosonic subgroup of the form SL(2) x A for some Lie group A. The corresponding conformal field theory is a super Liouville field theory coupled with the WZNW model on A. An example is a correspondence between the PSU(1,1|2) WZNW model and small N=4 super Liouville field theory. The OSP(n|2) WZNW model is related to a superconformal field theory with SO(n) extended superconformal symmetry of the Knizhnik-Bershadsky type. In the case n=4 this is simply the large N=(4,4) superconformal symmetry. Besides these two examples we make a general derivation encompassing the WZNW models on supergroups SL(2|n), D(2,1;\alpha), OSP(4|2n), F(4) and G(3) and their relation to models with extended superconformal algebras as symmetry.Comment: 30 page

Unitary W-algebras and three-dimensional higher spin gravities with spin one symmetry

We investigate whether there are unitary families of W-algebras with spin one fields in the natural example of the Feigin-Semikhatov W^(2)_n-algebra. This algebra is conjecturally a quantum Hamiltonian reduction corresponding to a non-principal nilpotent element. We conjecture that this algebra admits a unitary real form for even n. Our main result is that this conjecture is consistent with the known part of the operator product algebra, and especially it is true for n=2 and n=4. Moreover, we find certain ranges of allowed levels where a positive definite inner product is possible. We also find a unitary conformal field theory for every even n at the special level k+n=(n+1)/(n-1). At these points, the W^(2)_n-algebra is nothing but a compactified free boson. This family of W-algebras admits an 't Hooft limit that is similar to the original minimal model 't Hooft limit. Further, in the case of n=4, we reproduce the algebra from the higher spin gravity point of view. In general, gravity computations allow us to reproduce some leading coefficients of the operator product.Comment: 23 page

Entropy of Three-Charge Black Holes on a Circle

We study phases of five-dimensional three-charge black holes with a circle in their transverse space. In particular, when the black hole is localized on the circle we compute the corrections to the metric and corresponding thermodynamics in the limit of small mass. When taking the near-extremal limit, this gives the corrections to the finite entropy of the extremal three-charge black hole as a function of the energy above extremality. For the partial extremal limit with two charges sent to infinity and one finite we show that the first correction to the entropy is in agreement with the microscopic entropy by taking into account that the number of branes shift as a consequence of the interactions across the transverse circle.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. Talk presented by NO at the RTN workshop, Napoli, Oct. 9-13, 200

An extended constitutive correspondence formulation of peridynamics based on nonlinear bond-strain measures

An extension of the constitutive correspondence framework of peridynamics is proposed. The main motivation is to address unphysical deformation modes which are shown to be permitted in the original constitutive formulation. The specific problem of matter interpenetration observed in numerical discretizations of peridynamics has usually been treated by adding short-range forces between neighboring particles in the discretization. Here, we propose a solution that is rooted directly within the nonlocal theory. The basic approach is to introduce generalized nonlocal peridynamic strain tensors based on corresponding bond-level Seth–Hill strain measures which inherently avoid violations of the matter interpenetration constraint. Several analytic examples are used to show that the modified theory avoids issues of matter interpenetration in cases where the original theory fails. The resulting extended constitutive correspondence framework supports general classic constitutive laws as originally intended and is also shown to be ordinary.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies ( DAAD-19-02-D-0002)United States. Office of Naval Research (N00014-07-1-0764

Submerged goiter proven to be metastatic infiltration of a neuro-endocrine Merkel cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon neuroendocrine cutaneous carcinoma. Metastases to the thyroid gland are rare and may present diagnostic difficulties. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old woman presented with a hard mass in the adipose tissue of the right inguinal area. This mass was surgically excised and the histology examination showed the existence of a MCC. CT scans revealed a sizable lesion with imaging features of a submerged goiter, invasive to the upper mediastinum. The patient received chemotherapy following by locoregional radiotherapy at the bed of the excised lesion. During the next 10 months the patient was asymptomatic, serum markers values were normal and CT scans findings were stable. However, afterwards NSE and chromogranin values raised and CT scans revealed an enlargement of the submerged goiter. The patient became symptomatic, mainly experiencing respiratory inconvenience. Surgical excision of the right lobe of the thyroid gland was decided and performed without any complications. The histopathology examination showed infiltration of the thyroid gland by a neuroendocrine carcinoma with characteristics compatible with MCC. CONCLUSIONS: The rare case of metastatic infiltration of the thyroid gland by a MCC based on histological and immunohistochemical findings was described. This case report is of clinical significance indicating that by any abnormal finding in the thyroid gland in patients with a malignant disease, the diagnostic approach should always contain consideration of metastasis from the primary tumor

High Glucose Predisposes Gene Expression and ERK Phosphorylation to Apoptosis and Impaired Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion via the Cytoskeleton

10.1371/journal.pone.0044988PLoS ONE79

Use of Aperio Whole Slide Imaging System to Capture and Utilize Digital Virtual Slides for Pathology Education

poster abstractDigital whole slide imaging is the technique of digitizing an entire microscope slide at the highest resolution to produce a “digital virtual microscope slide” with high image quality. This digital image can be viewed in three to four fields, from low to high power, a feature commonly used by pathologists. This digital virtual slide can be used in conjunction with image processing software (both windows-based and browser-based) to view, manipulate, position, and specify the magnification of the image on a screen as if using a regular microscope to view the original glass slide. As the slide is captured in a virtual format, it is possible to use the image for archiving, copying, transferring over networks, distant consultation, as well as integration for educational use on the web and/or DVD. In this study, we captured all C603 and C604 sophomore pathology teaching slides in the general and systemic pathology course for viewing and learning through the Aperio ImageScope viewer. The resulting digital images possessed greater ease of use, were quicker to scan and allowed easier location of pathologic lesions in the slides. The ImageScope viewer allowed students to quickly zoom in and out of the slides at multiple fields of magnification. Instructors that have switched to the Aperio system from the old Bliss system found the Aperio system allowed the instructor to open up to 8 slides at one time, allowing side by side comparison to be completed on the same screen. The system also allows one to measure the size of the cells and to capture detailed images of tumor cells, inflammatory cells, and/or necrosis (cell death). This system is available for use on desktop, laptop, and most digital devices (such as smart phones or tablets). Compared to the old Bliss system, which is unable to perform these functions