603 research outputs found
Elastic, strain-aware physical modeling interface
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-58).Senspectra is a computationally augmented physical modeling toolkit designed for sensing and visualization of structural strain. The system functions as a distributed sensor network consisting of nodes, embedded with computational capabilities and a full spectrum LED, which communicate to neighbor nodes to determine a network topology through a system of flexible joints. Each joint, while serving as a data and power bus between nodes, also integrates an omnidirectional bend sensing mechanism, which uses a simple optical occlusion technique to sense and communicate mechanical strain between neighboring nodes. Using Senspectra, a user incrementally assembles and refines a physical 3D model of discrete elements with a real-time visualization of structural strain. While the Senspectra infrastructure provides a flexible modular sensor network platform, its primary application derives from the need to couple physical modeling techniques utilized in the architecture and industrial design disciplines with systems for structural engineering analysis, offering an intuitive approach for physical real-time finite element analysis. Utilizing direct manipulation augmented with visual feedback, the system gives users valuable insights on the global behavior of a constructed system defined as a network of discrete elements.by Vincent Leclerc.S.M
The parasitoid fly ormia ochracea (Diptera: Tachinidae) can use juvenile crickets as hosts
The parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea uses the calling song of its host Gryllus spp. to locate an
area inhabited by potential hosts. Once a calling male has been located, O. ochracea deposits
live larvae on the host, and on substrates surrounding the host to enable the larvae to attach
to and enter individuals in the vicinity of the calling male. In Texas, where O. ochracea parasitizes
the Texas field cricket Gryllus texensis, we observed juvenile crickets in the mating
aggregations that form around calling males. Juvenile G. texensis crickets are, therefore, potentially
susceptible to parasitism by O. ochracea. Here we investigated whether laboratory
reared juvenile field crickets could successfully host O. ochracea larvae. We found that juvenile
crickets were appropriate hosts for O. ochracea
Out-of-equilibrium singlet-triplet Kondo effect in a single C_60 quantum dot
We have used an electromigration technique to fabricate a
single-molecule transistor (SMT). Besides describing our electromigration
procedure, we focus and present an experimental study of a single molecule
quantum dot containing an even number of electrons, revealing, for two
different samples, a clear out-of-equilibrium Kondo effect. Low temperature
magneto-transport studies are provided, which demonstrates a Zeeman splitting
of the finite bias anomaly.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Systematic evaluation of corticosteroid use in obese and non-obese individuals: A multi-cohort study
Background: Although the use of corticosteroids has been linked to high incidence of weight gain, no data are available concerning the differences in corticosteroid use between a diverse obese population and non-obese individuals. The main purpose of this study was to systematically explore t
Experimental evidence for 56Ni-core breaking from the low-spin structure of the N=Z nucleus 58Cu
Low-spin states in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 58Cu were investigated with the
58Ni(p,n gamma)58Cu fusion evaporation reaction at the FN-tandem accelerator in
Cologne. Seventeen low spin states below 3.6 MeV and 17 new transitions were
observed. Ten multipole mixing ratios and 17 gamma-branching ratios were
determined for the first time. New detailed spectroscopic information on the
2+,2 state, the Isobaric Analogue State (IAS) of the 2+,1,T=1 state of 58Ni,
makes 58Cu the heaviest odd-odd N=Z nucleus with known B(E2;2+,T=1 --> 0+,T=1)
value. The 4^+ state at 2.751 MeV, observed here for the first time, is
identified as the IAS of the 4+,1,T=1 state in 58Ni. The new data are compared
to full pf-shell model calculations with the novel GXPF1 residual interaction
and to calculations within a pf5/2 configurational space with a residual
surface delta interaction. The role of the 56Ni core excitations for the
low-spin structure in 58Cu is discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Energy and decay width of the pi-K atom
The energy and decay width of the pi-K atom are evaluated in the framework of
the quasipotential-constraint theory approach. The main electromagnetic and
isospin symmetry breaking corrections to the lowest-order formulas for the
energy shift from the Coulomb binding energy and for the decay width are
calculated. They are estimated to be of the order of a few per cent. We display
formulas to extract the strong interaction S-wave pi-K scattering lengths from
future experimental data concerning the pi-K atom.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, uses Axodra
A pervasive approach to a real-time intelligent decision support system in intensive medicine
The decision on the most appropriate procedure to provide to the
patients the best healthcare possible is a critical and complex task in Intensive
Care Units (ICU). Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) should deal with
huge amounts of data and online monitoring, analyzing numerous parameters
and providing outputs in a short real-time. Although the advances attained in
this area of knowledge new challenges should be taken into account in future
CDSS developments, principally in ICUs environments. The next generation of
CDSS will be pervasive and ubiquitous providing the doctors with the
appropriate services and information in order to support decisions regardless the
time or the local where they are. Consequently new requirements arise namely
the privacy of data and the security in data access. This paper will present a
pervasive perspective of the decision making process in the context of INTCare
system, an intelligent decision support system for intensive medicine. Three
scenarios are explored using data mining models continuously assessed and
optimized. Some preliminary results are depicted and discussed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
Neoadjuvant pazopanib and molecular analysis of tissue response in renal cell carcinoma
BACKGROUND. Surgery remains the frontline therapy for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); however, 20%–40% recur. Angiogenesis inhibitors have improved survival in metastatic patients and may result in responses in the neoadjuvant setting. The impact of these agents on the tumor genetic heterogeneity or the immune milieu is largely unknown. This phase II study was designed to evaluate safety, response, and effect on tumor tissue of neoadjuvant pazopanib. METHODS. ccRCC patients with localized disease received pazopanib (800 mg daily; median 8 weeks), followed by nephrectomy. Five tumors were examined for mutations by whole exome sequencing from samples collected before therapy and at nephrectomy. These samples underwent RNA sequencing; 17 samples were available for posttreatment assessment. RESULTS. Twenty-one patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 8 of 21 (38%). No patients with progressive disease. At 1-year, response-free survival and overall survival was 83% and 89%, respectively. The most frequent grade 3 toxicity was hypertension (33%, 7 of 21). Sequencing revealed strong concordance between pre- and posttreatment samples within individual tumors, suggesting tumors harbor stable core profiles. However, a reduction in private mutations followed treatment, suggesting a selective process favoring enrichment of driver mutations. CONCLUSION. Neoadjuvant pazopanib is safe and active in ccRCC. Future genomic analyses may enable the segregation of driver and passenger mutations. Furthermore, tumor infiltrating immune cells persist during therapy, suggesting that pazopanib can be combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors without dampening the immune response. FUNDING. Support was provided by Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline as part of an investigator-initiated study
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