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We analyse the asymptotic behaviour of solutions to the one dimensional fractional version of the porous medium equation introduced by Caffarelli and Vázquez [1,2] , where the pressure is obtained as a Riesz potential associated with the density. We take advantage of the displacement convexity of the Riesz potential in one dimension to show a functional inequality involving the entropy, entropy dissipation, and the Euclidean transport distance. An argument by approximation shows that this functional inequality is enough to deduce the exponential convergence of solutions in self-similar variables to the unique steady states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the effects of aerially applied glyphosate on cotton plants, a field was planted with replicated blocks of cotton. To quantify relative deposits of applied chemical, spray samplers were placed in the spray swath and in several downwind orientations. An Air Tractor 402B spray aircraft, equipped with fifty-four CP-09 nozzles, was flown down the centre of the field to apply a mixture of 1.54 kg ha−1 of glyphosate and rubidium chloride tracer at a 46.77 l ha−1 application rate. At one week intervals following treatment, aerial colour-infrared imagery was obtained from the field using a global positioning system-triggered multispectral camera system. The processed drift and image data were highly correlated with correlation coefficients (r) from −0.38 to −0.97 at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after treatment. The drift and image data were used as the indicators of visual injury in regressions with a strong ability to explain variability (R2 from 0.36 to 0.90 for drift data for the first week after treatment (WAT); from 0.20 to 0.90 for image data from 1, 2, to 3 WAT). The results illustrate that spray drift sampling can explain early cotton injury (1 WAT), and airborne remote sensing can explain late cotton injury (2 and 3 WAT). The results are helpful for determining the extent of required near-field drift sampling and demonstrate that airborne multispectral imaging can be a viable tool for determining the extent of damage relative to derived concentrations of glyphosate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Single-crystal and uniform aluminum borate (Al4B2O9)-coated aluminum oxide nanowires have been synthesized in high purity and in large yield via a reaction of metal aluminum with boron oxide in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The aluminum oxide nanowires exhibit a well-crystallized one-dimensional structure with diameters ranging from 50 to 70nm, and the Al4B2O9 have a coating thickness of about 1–5nm. CNTs play a crucial role in the formation of the important ceramic nanowires, by providing a platform to grow the composite structure. The growth mechanism was proposed by the detailed microscopy observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive ataxia and neuronal nuclear inclusions (NIs), similar to the inclusions found in expanded CAG repeat diseases. NIID may be familial or sporadic. The cause of familial NIID is poorly understood, as no CAG expansion has been detected. We examined three cases, from two unrelated families, who had autosomal dominant NIID but normal CAG repeats in genes involved in polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases. We found that NIs in all three cases were intensely immunopositive for SUMO-1, a protein which covalently conjugates to other proteins and targets them to the nuclear regions (nuclear bodies) responsible for nuclear proteasomal degradation. Electron microscopy demonstrated that SUMO-1 was located on the 10-nm fibrils of NIs. In cultured PC12 cells, we found that inhibition of proteasome function by specific inhibitors resulted in the appearance of SUMO-1-immunopositive nuclear inclusions. Our study suggests that recruitment of SUMO-1 modified proteins into insoluble nuclear inclusions and proteasomal dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of NIs in familial NIID cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper introduces a violation analysis approach for the planning of regional solid waste management systems under uncertainty, based on an interval-parameter fuzzy integer programming (IPFIP) model. In this approach, several given levels of tolerable violation for system constraints are permitted. This is realized through a relaxation of the critical constraints using violation variables, such that the model''s decision space can be expanded. Thus, solutions from the violation analysis will not necessarily satisfy all of the model''s original constraints. Application of the developed methodology to the planning of a waste management system indicates that reasonable solutions can be generated through this approach. Considerable information regarding decisions of facility expansion and waste flow allocation within the waste management system were generated. The modeling results help to generate a number of decision alternatives under various system conditions, allowing for more in-depth analyses of tradeoffs between environmental and economic objectives as well as those between system optimality and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration control of a flexible beam subjected to arbitrary, unmeasurable disturbance forces is investigated in this paper. The beam is analyzed by using modal expansion theorem. The independent modal space control is adopted for the active vibration control. Discrete sensors and actuators are used here. The modal filters are used as the state estimator to obtain the modal co-ordinates and modal velocities for the state feedback control. Because of the existence of the disturbance forces, the vibration control only with the state feedback control law cannot suppress the vibration well. The method of disturbance forces cancellation is then added in the feedback loop. In order to implement the disturbance forces cancellation, the unknown disturbance forces must be observed. The model error compensator is employed to observe the unknown disturbance modal forces for the direct cancellation. After the implementation of the disturbance modal forces cancellation, there are still some residual disturbance modal forces which excite the beam. The disturbance attenuation problem is of concern in the design of the state feedback control law. For ensuring that influence of the residual disturbance modal forces is reduced to an acceptable level, the robust static H∞ state feedback controller is designed. The vibration control performances of the feedback control with the H∞ controller and the disturbance forces cancellation are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper proposes a new matrix method for calculating critical flow velocity of curved pipes conveying fluid, which have arbitrary centerline shape and spring supports. Its main advantage over other methods is that the corresponding characteristic equation can be reduced to a third order one, no matter how many elements are discretized in calculation. This will lead to saving computer time and obtaining a solution with good precision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wild plant foods in the Sahel region of West Africa play an important role in the diets of local residents. During periods of grain shortage, people in rural Niger increase their reliance on wild plant foods to supplement their diets. We report the partial nutrient content of the pit of the seed Sclerocarya birrea, a snack food eaten by children in rural Niger. The pit contained relatively large amounts of copper (24.8 μg/g dry wt), magnesium (4210 μg/g dry wt), and zinc (62.4 μg/g dry wt). The protein content of the pit was high (36.4% of dry wt); however, the protein fraction contained relatively low proportions of leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and threonine. Fatty acids accounted for 47 mg/g dry wt of the pit, two-thirds of which was due to oleic acid. The essential fatty acid linoleic acid was present (24.5 mg/g dry wt), but the other essential fatty acid, α-linolenic acid, was absent. Such data are useful for health and nutrition program planning by governmental and non-governmental organizations in Niger. The consumption of daniya pits by just children highlights the need to better understand the cultural context of how wild plant foods are used in a particular local context. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An ammonium indium hydrogen phosphate, NH4In(OH)PO4, was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions, and the crystal structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The compound crystallizes with the RbIn(OH)PO4 type with the following data: Mr=244.84, tetragonal, tP104, P43212 (No.96), a=9.416(2) A˚, c=11.159(3) A˚, V=989.9(3) A˚3, Z=8, Dx=3.288 g cm−3, λ=0.71073 A˚, μ=50.34 cm−1, F(000)=928, T=293 K, R1=0.0606, wR2=0.1472 for 91 variables and 1813 contributing unique reflections. The structure is characterized by chiral InO4(OH)2 chains along the c axis formed by sharing OH corners. The chains are isolated by PO4 tetrahedra leading to a three-dimensional framework structure with channels occupied by NH4+ ions. The framework structure is similar to that of KIn(OH)PO4 and γ-NaTiOPO4. The hydrogen bonds formed by NH4+ with the polyhedral oxygen atoms play an important role in the anisotropic changes of the lattice with respect to its alkali metal analogues. The topological construction of the title structure can be considered as an augmented 4,6-net with larger porosity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Climate dictates wildfire activity around the world. But East and Southeast Asia are an apparent exception as fire-activity variation there is unrelated to climatic variables. In subtropical China, fire activity decreased by 80% between 2003 and 2020 amid increased fire risks globally. Here, we assessed the fire regime, vegetation structure, fuel flammability and their interactions across subtropical Hubei, China. We show that tree basal area (TBA) and fuel flammability explained 60% of fire-frequency variance. Fire frequency and fuel flammability, in turn, explained 90% of TBA variance. These results reveal a novel system of scrubland–forest stabilized by vegetation–fire feedbacks. Frequent fires promote the persistence of derelict scrubland through positive vegetation–fire feedbacks; in forest, vegetation–fire feedbacks are negative and suppress fire. Thus, we attribute the decrease in wildfire activity to reforestation programs that concurrently increase forest coverage and foster negative vegetation–fire feedbacks that suppress wildfire. Vegetation-fire feedbacks in Subtropical China. [Display omitted] • A novel system of scrubland–forest stabilized by vegetation–fire feedbacks. • The feedbacks are positive and promote frequent fire in scrubland. • The feedbacks are negative and suppress fire in forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand (−)-[ 18 F]flubatine is specific to α 4 β 2 ⁎ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and has promise for future investigation of the acetylcholine system in neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. The two goals of this work were to develop a simplified method for α 4 β 2 ⁎ nAChR quantification with bolus plus constant infusion (B/I) (−)-[ 18 F]flubatine administration, and to assess the radioligand's sensitivity to acetylcholine fluctuations in humans. Healthy human subjects were imaged following either bolus injection (n = 8) or B/I (n = 4) administration of (−)-[ 18 F]flubatine. The metabolite-corrected input function in arterial blood was measured. Free-fraction corrected distribution volumes ( V T / f P ) were estimated with modeling and graphical analysis techniques. Next, sensitivity to acetylcholine was assessed in two ways: 1. A bolus injection paradigm with two scans (n = 6), baseline (scan 1) and physostigmine challenge (scan 2; 1.5 mg over 60 min beginning 5 min prior to radiotracer injection); 2. A single scan B/I paradigm (n = 7) lasting up to 240 min with 1.5 mg physostigmine administered over 60 min beginning at 125 min of radiotracer infusion. Changes in V T / f P were measured. Baseline V T / f P values were 33.8 ± 3.3 mL/cm 3 in thalamus, 12.9 ± 1.6 mL/cm 3 in cerebellum, and ranged from 9.8 to 12.5 mL/cm 3 in other gray matter regions. The B/I paradigm with equilibrium analysis at 120 min yielded comparable V T / f P values with compartment modeling analysis of bolus data in extrathalamic gray matter regions (regional means < 4% different). Changes in V T / f P following physostigmine administration were small and most pronounced in cortical regions, ranging from 0.8 to 4.6% in the two-scan paradigm and 2.8 to 6.5% with the B/I paradigm. These results demonstrate the use of B/I administration for accurate quantification of (−)-[ 18 F]flubatine V T / f P in 120 min, and suggest possible sensitivity of (−)-[ 18 F]flubatine binding to physostigmine-induced changes in acetylcholine levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to investigate the association between intake of fatty acids, or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFAs), and cognitive functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty-one drug-naïve children diagnosed with DSM-IV ADHD, and 21 non-ADHD controls were enrolled in the study. The parents were asked to record the n3-PUFAs diet intake of their children by using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency severity of the children was defined by the EFA deficiency scale scores. The children were also assessed by cognitive tasks, including Go-No-Go Task, Delayed Reaction Time Task, and Finger Tapping Task for inhibitory control, delay aversion, and temporal processing. The findings showed that the ADHD group had a greater severity in EFA deficiency (7.24 + 4.56, p = .02), and poorer performance in delay aversion (−177.88 + 280.40, p = .02) and temporal processing (85.34 + 10.96, p < .001). Moreover, ADHD symptom severity was negatively correlated with EFA deficiency. EFA deficiency was also associated with a higher delay aversion ( p < .001) in this study. In conclusion, children with ADHD had a higher deficiency of EFA, and EFA deficiency had a positive association with ADHD severity and delay aversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Prospective, randomized data does not exist to guide treatment in primary vaginal cancer (PVC). We evaluated the impact of brachytherapy on survival in women with PVC. Methods and materials Women who received radiotherapy for PVC were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database. Two retrospective cohorts were created; women who received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone and those who received brachytherapy (alone or in combination of EBRT). Nearest-neighbor propensity score matching was used to balance the groups according to measured covariates. Cox proportional hazard regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of receipt of brachytherapy on survival. Results Two thousand five hundred seventeen vaginal cancer patients were identified. Squamous cell carcinoma made up 75% of tumors. Median overall survival (OS) for patients receiving EBRT alone was 3.6 years (95% CI, 3.0–4.2 years) versus 6.1 years (95% CI 5.2–7.2 years) for patients receiving brachytherapy (p = < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard model revealed decrease risk of death among patients that received brachytherapy in the matched cohort (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.68–0.86). Brachytherapy reduced risk of death among patients in all stage groups. No patient demographic or tumor variables favored the use of EBRT alone. Brachytherapy was associated with a decreased risk of death for all FIGO stages. Brachytherapy benefited patients with squamous cell carcinoma (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.70–0.92) and adenocarcinoma (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.49–0.95). Tumors larger than 5 cm had the greatest benefit from brachytherapy (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.50–0.91). Conclusions Brachytherapy should be encouraged for all suitable patients with PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish Streptococcus agalactiae ( S. agalactiae ) seriously harms the world's aquaculture industry and causes huge economic losses. This study aimed to develop a potential live attenuated vaccine of S. agalactiae . Pre-screened vaccine candidate strain S. agalactiae HN016 was used as starting material to generate an attenuated strain S. agalactiae YM001 by continuous passage in vitro . The biological characteristics, virulence, and stability of YM001 were detected, and the protective efficacy of YM001 immunization in tilapia was also determined. Our results indicated that the growth, staining, characteristics of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genotype, and virulence of YM001 were changed significantly as compared to the parental strain HN016. High doses of YM001 by intraperitoneal (IP) injection (1.0 × 10 9 CFU/fish) and oral gavage (1.0 × 10 10 CFU/fish) respectively did not cause any mortality and morbidity in tilapia. The relative percent survivals (RPSs) of fishes immunized with YM001 (1.0 × 10 8 CFU/fish, one time) via injection, immersion, and oral administration were 96.88, 67.22, and 71.81%, respectively, at 15 days, and 93.61, 60.56, and 53.16%, respectively, at 30 days. In all tests with 1–3 times of immunization in tilapia, the dosages at 1 × 10 8 and 1 × 10 9 CFU/fish displayed the similar best results, whereas the immunoprotection of the dosages at 1 × 10 6 and 1 × 10 7 CFU/fish declined significantly ( P < 0.01), and 1 × 10 5 CFU/fish hardly displayed any protective effect. In addition, the efficacy of 2–3 times of immunization was significantly higher than that of single immunization ( P < 0.01) while no significant difference in the efficacy between twice and thrice of immunization was seen ( P > 0.05). The level of protective antibody elicited by oral immunization was significantly higher compared to that of the control group ( P < 0.01), and the antibody reached their maximum levels 14–21 days after the immunization but decreased significantly after 28 days of vaccination. YM001 bacteria were isolated from the brain, liver, kidney, and spleen tissues of fish after oral immunization and the bacteria existed for the longest time in the spleen (up to 15 days). Taken together, this study obtained a safe, stable, and highly immunogenic attenuated S. agalactiae strain YM001; oral immunization of tilapia with this strain produced a good immune protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Parkinson's disease associated mutations in leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) impair mitochondrial function and increase the vulnerability of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cells from patients to oxidative stress. Since mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage can compromise mitochondrial function, we examined whether LRRK2 mutations can induce damage to the mitochondrial genome. We found greater levels of mtDNA damage in iPSC-derived neural cells from patients carrying homozygous or heterozygous LRRK2 G2019S mutations, or at-risk individuals carrying the heterozygous LRRK2 R1441C mutation, than in cells from unrelated healthy subjects who do not carry LRRK2 mutations. After zinc finger nuclease-mediated repair of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation in iPSCs, mtDNA damage was no longer detected in differentiated neuroprogenitor and neural cells. Our results unambiguously link LRRK2 mutations to mtDNA damage and validate a new cellular phenotype that can be used for examining pathogenic mechanisms and screening therapeutic strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Atomoxetine (ATX), a drug for treatment of depression and ADHD, has a high affinity for the norepinephrine transporter (NET); however, our previous study showed it had a blocking effect similar to fluoxetine on binding of [11C]DASB, a selective serotonin transporter (SERT) ligand. Whether the therapeutic effects of ATX are due to inhibition of either or both transporters is not known. Here we report our comparative PET imaging studies with [11C]MRB (a NET ligand) and [11C]AFM (a SERT ligand) to evaluate in vivo IC50 values of ATX in monkeys. Methods: Rhesus monkeys were scanned up to four times with each tracer with up to four doses of ATX. ATX or saline (placebo) infusion began 2h before each PET scan, lasting until the end of the 2-h scan. The final infusion rates were 0.01–0.12mg/kg/h and 0.045–1.054mg/kg/h for the NET and SERT studies, respectively. ATX plasma levels and metabolite-corrected arterial input functions were measured. Distribution volumes (VT) and IC50 values were estimated. Results: ATX displayed dose-dependent occupancy on both NET and SERT, with a higher occupancy on NET: IC50 of 31±10 and 99±21ng/mL plasma for NET and SERT, respectively. At a clinically relevant dose (1.0–1.8mg/kg, approx. 300–600ng/mL plasma), ATX would occupy >90% of NET and >85% of SERT. This extrapolation assumes comparable free fraction of ATX in humans and non-human primates. Conclusion: Our data suggests that ATX at clinically relevant doses greatly occupies both NET and SERT. Thus, therapeutic modes of ATX action for treatment of depression and ADHD may be more complex than selective blockade of NET. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Interleukin (IL)-4 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that promotes a repair phenotype (M2a) in macrophages/microglia. Our previous report indicates that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection increased IL-4 receptor (IL-4Rα) expression on activated microglia from adult, but not aged mice. The failure to increase IL-4Rα on microglia from the aged brain corresponded with an impaired ability of ex vivo IL-4 to re-redirect active microglia towards a M2 phenotype. To augment our understanding of the M2 promoting effects of IL-4 in vivo, adult mice were injected with saline or LPS (i.p.) and 1h later received an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of vehicle or IL-4. While LPS increased microglial IL-1β expression and promoted sickness behavior, these events were not influenced by IL-4. There was, however, an IL-4-dependent increase in locomotion and mobility in the tail suspension test. Furthermore, the LPS-IL-4 mice had marked increase of microglial-specific M2a genes including Arginase, IL-4Rα, and BDNF. Arginase protein was robustly increased only in parenchymal microglia (Iba-1+/Arg+) from LPS–IL-4 mice. In LPS-injected mice, central IL-4 increased CCL2 mRNA, a chemokine that recruits macrophages to the injured CNS. Indeed, the LPS injected mice that received central IL-4 had highest percentage of macrophages (CD11b+/CD45hi) associated with the brain. Collectively, these results suggest that the increase in IL-4Rα on microglia serves to enhance microglial sensitivity to IL-4, which in turn, helps to promote a neuroprotective CNS environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newborns surviving an early-life insult may have greater vulnerability to neuro-developmental complications including autism. We hypothesize that early-life infection (ELI) causes alterations in microglia and that a secondary immune challenge causes over-activation of these cells leading to prolonged cytokine production and behavioral complications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which a neonatal Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection in neonatal BALB/c mice causes locomotor and anxiety disorders and increases the inflammatory reactivity of microglia. To accomplish this goal, three day old mice were injected subcutaneously with either saline or E. coli. Brain inflammation was confirmed 24h after injection by RT-PCR. One and two months after neonatal injection, mice were tested in an open field behavior test. ELI mice traveled a greater distance and spent more time moving than their PBS-injected counterparts. To determine the level of inflammatory reactivity in microglia, adult mice were peripherally injected with saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to provide a secondary immune challenge. Microglia were isolated 4 or 24h after challenge, and mRNA analysis revealed that microglia from adult ELI mice had an amplified inflammatory profile following challenge compared to controls. Furthermore, there was increased Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the amygdala and hippocampal regions of ELI mice 48h following LPS. In conclusion, early-life infection led to hyperactive behavior and elevated microglial reactivity following a secondary immune challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organic matter from the Murchison meteorite shows pronounced spinning sidebands of the 1H MAS NMR spectrum and exhibits a large bulk magnetization of 0.75emu/g extrapolated to 94kOe at 300K. By comparison with data of diamagnetic polystyrene and laponite clay mixed with ferrimagnetic γ-Fe2O3 nano-particles, we show that the spinning sidebands arise from a combination of dipolar couplings of a given 1H to magnetic particles, seen in a backscattered-electron image, and to other protons. Signal loss and significant broadening of protonated-carbon peaks in 13C MAS NMR spectra of polystyrene with Fe2O3 nano-particles is demonstrated, and implications for 13C NMR spectroscopy of Murchison meteorite are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple and fast, controllable gas vaporization of alloy method for producing various micro- and nanostructures of ZnO in air atmosphere with a large yield was presented in this paper. The presence of Cu was proved to strongly affect the growth morphology of the synthesized ZnO through the control of the partial pressure of zinc, which could be fulfilled by changing the composition of Zn and Cu for the used reactants. Given the simplicity of the procedure, and the economic advantages, the method described here is likely to be of interest in industrial-scale applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

People in Niger and elsewhere in the western Sahel consume wild and cultivated edible plants to satisfy their nutritional requirements. In many parts of the Republic of Niger farmers in rural areas produce insufficient yields of millet, the staple grain of the region. During periods of grain shortage people in rural Niger increase their reliance on wild plant foods to supplement their diets. Having a database of the nutrient content of wild and cultivated edible plants available in the region would be of value to educators and public health officials positioned to provide dietary advice to the food-stressed populations. Herein we report the fatty acid, amino acid and mineral and trace element content of three leafy plant foods collected in July 2002 in the villages of Droum and Zongon Mallam in the Republic of Niger: cecego (Sesbania pachycarpa), godilo/gudai (Crataeva religiosa), and cabbage leaf (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). All three plants contained large amounts of protein (18.6–36.2%) whose proportions of essential amino acids compared favorably with the WHO standard. Godilo/gudai and cabbage leaf contained large amounts of calcium (23.5–27.4 mg/g dry weight). All three plants contained potentially useful amounts of copper, zinc, iron, and a number of other essential minerals and trace elements, but no detectable selenium. However, the levels of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, were low compared to other edible plant foods that are widely available in Niger. The data in this report underscore the potential value and utility of wild edible plants relative to the nutrition of people who live in rural Niger and elsewhere in the Sahel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes techniques used to leverage high-performance legacy codes as CORBA components to a distributed problem-solving environment. It first briefly introduces the software architecture adopted by the environment. Then it presents a CORBA oriented wrapper generator (COWG) which can be used to automatically wrap high-performance legacy codes as CORBA components. Two legacy codes have been wrapped with COWG. One is an MPI-based molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) code, the other is a finite element-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code for simulating incompressible Navier–Stokes flows. Performance comparisons between runs of the MDS CORBA component and the original MDS legacy code on a cluster of workstations and on a parallel computer are also presented. Wrapped as CORBA components, these legacy codes can be reused in a distributed computing environment. The first case shows that high-performance can be maintained with the wrapped MDS component. The second case shows that a Web user can submit a task to the wrapped CFD component through a Web page without knowing the exact implementation of the component. In this way, a user''s desktop computing environment can be extended to a high-performance computing environment using a cluster of workstations or a parallel computer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]