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Liposarcomas of the spermatic cord are rare and often clinically and histologically misdiagnosed, leading to ineffective management and poor outcomes. We present a case of metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord, which recurred after excision of a misdiagnosed well-differentiated liposarcoma 3 years prior. Due to its size and high-grade metastasis, the tumor was unresectable, leading to treatment with systemic chemotherapy. Complications arose including partial compression of the testicular artery and urethral obstruction secondary to local mass effect. Tumor biopsy was characterized by a unique immunohistochemical profile which helped to explain the unique processes leading to mass effect, vascular and urethral compression, and bilateral scrotal swelling. The patient’s family history of malignancy and 22/22q trisomy identified in the tumor biopsy were also interesting contributors. In conclusion, accurate diagnosis of spermatic cord tumors is essential for effective treatment, and further data collection is required to improve management of advanced metastatic disease.

Background Scrotal abscesses are common skin abscesses seen in the general population; however, intraperitoneal abscesses tracking into the scrotum are rare. Intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal abscesses contiguous with the scrotum have been reported in the literature in specific populations. Wound cultures can aid in differentiating the source of the infections. Recurrent abscesses have been observed in high-risk populations, such as those with malignancy or who are immunocompromised. Case presentation We present a 71-year-old male with pericolonic abscess following perforated diverticulitis. The abscess was drained with interventional radiology and was complicated by an extraperitoneal abscess that tracked to the scrotum. Incision and drainage of the extraperitoneal abscess and the scrotal abscess were required with intravenous antibiotic therapy. The abscess tracking into the scrotum is reported without evidence of patent processus vaginalis. Conclusion We conclude that an intraperitoneal abscess can track to the scrotum through extraperitoneal fascial planes in the absence of a patent processus vaginalis. We show that extraperitoneal abscess spread to the scrotum is possible, with wound cultures helping to differentiate the source of the infection. High-risk patients with recurrent abscesses can also be susceptible to contiguous spread.

Introduction: This study expands results from recent prostatic urethral lift (PUL) clinical trials by examining outcomes within a large unconstrained multicenter data set. Methods: Retrosp...

Brain metastasis from prostate cancer is rare, occurring in less than 1% of metastatic prostate cancer patients. Brain metastasis can cause edema, neurologic symptoms, and may be misdiagnosed as primary brain tumors on imaging. A 68-year-old male presented to the emergency department complaining of headaches, right-sided weakness, multiple falls, and a 45 pounds of unintentional weight loss. Computerized tomography (CT) scan without contrast of the head showed a 3.2 cm right frontal mass with edema suspicious for meningioma. Associated nonspecific bony lesions were found on CT of the abdomen and pelvis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed a 2.8 cm right frontal mass with an enhanced dural tail. Preoperative labs were noteworthy for a hemoglobin of 9.7 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 66.7 ng/ml. Craniotomy with resection of tumor was performed with a frozen sample diagnosed as meningioma. Permanent pathology with stains were positive for PSA and prostatic-specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), making the diagnosis of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. Postoperatively, nuclear bone scan showed uptake in the axial skeleton consistent with metastasis. After the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer was made, bicalutamide was administered followed by degarelix with plans to transition to leuprorelin one month later. This is to be followed up by whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). PSA was 118.53 ng/ml three weeks after craniotomy, but prior to androgen deprivation therapy. Metastatic prostate cancer can present with neurological symptoms most commonly following spread to the axial skeleton and impingement of the spinal cord. Metastasis to the brain is rare and is usually associated with vague symptomatology depending on extent and location of the lesion. While brain metastasis can occur in known prostate cancer patients, this case shows that metastasis can occur prior to any formal prostate cancer diagnosis and can be mistaken for meningioma on imaging and frozen sectioning. Practitioners must be vigilant, and precautions should be taken to rule in metastatic prostate cancer as a possible cause for a brain lesion in patients of the appropriate demographics.

The tris(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) complexes, (C5Me5)3Ln (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er), have been synthesized to determine if structural trends observed with the larger rare-earth metals, La–Gd, extend to the smaller metals and to determine the level of steric crowding associated with C–H bond activation of benzene and toluene as found for the (C5Me5)3Y complex of the smaller rare-earth metal, yttrium. Three different synthetic methods were used. (C5Me5)3Tb was synthesized in benzene from (C5Me5)2Tb(μ-Ph)2BPh2 and KC5Me5, which established that it does not activate benzene. In contrast, complexes of Dy, Ho, and Er were not isolable in benzene or toluene. (C5Me5)3Dy was synthesized in pentane from [(C5Me5)2DyH]2 and 1,2,3,4-tetramethylfulvene. Solvent-free mechanochemistry was utilized to synthesize the Ho and Er complexes by ball-milling (C5Me5)2Ln(μ-Ph)2BPh2 and KC5Me5 as solids. This route also provided the Tb, Dy, and Y complexes. Crystallographic analysis of these complexes of the smaller metals has al...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Recent clinical trials reveal significant advantages Prostatic Urethra Lift (PUL) provides patients suffering from LUTS/BPH, however few studies have evaluated outcomes ...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) has a significant impact on quality of life. Multi-institutional projects have dem...

Phototrophic organisms such as cyanobacteria utilize the sun’s energy to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon, resulting in diurnal variations in the cell’s metabolism. Flux balance analysis is a widely accepted constraint-based optimization tool for analyzing growth and metabolism, but it is generally used in a time-invariant manner with no provisions for sequestering different biomass components at different time periods. Here we present CycleSyn, a periodic model of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 metabolism that spans a 12-hr light/12-hr dark cycle by segmenting it into 12 Time Point Models (TPMs) with a uniform duration of two hours. The developed framework allows for the flow of metabolites across TPMs while inventorying metabolite levels and only allowing for the utilization of currently or previously produced compounds. The 12 TPMs allow for the incorporation of time-dependent constraints that capture the cyclic nature of cellular processes. Imposing bounds on reactions informed by temporally-segmented transcriptomic data enables simulation of phototrophic growth as a single linear programming (LP) problem. The solution provides the time varying reaction fluxes over a 24-hour cycle and the accumulation/consumption of metabolites. The diurnal rhythm of metabolic gene expression driven by the circadian clock and its metabolic consequences is explored. Predicted flux and metabolite pools are in line with published studies regarding the temporal organization of phototrophic growth in Synechocystis PCC 6803 paving the way for constructing time-resolved genome-scale models (GSMs) for organisms with a circadian clock. In addition, the metabolic reorganization that would be required to enable Synechocystis PCC 6803 to temporally separate photosynthesis from oxygen-sensitive nitrogen fixation is also explored using the developed model formalism., Author summary Phototrophic organisms such as cyanobacteria harvest the sun’s energy to convert atmospheric CO2 into organic carbon, due to which their metabolism is heavily influenced by light availability. The strongly diurnal nature of their metabolism is reflected in the presence of two distinct metabolic phases–a light-dependent anabolic phase tailored around the synthesis of storage compounds and metabolic precursors and a light-absent catabolic period that metabolizes the previously manufactured compounds to release energy in the absence of an external energy source. Due to these considerations, the analysis of phototrophic growth using constraint-based optimization methods is insufficient and needs to be extended beyond time-invariant descriptions. Here, we introduce CycleSyn which models the periodic nature of metabolism in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Our approach enables us to account for temporal metabolic shifts tailored around light availability while still allowing for the use of the pseudo steady-state assumption used in conventional flux balance analysis. This is achieved by exploiting the large difference in time-scales between metabolic reactions and cell growth. We first validate the biological fidelity of CycleSyn predictions by comparing them to experimental observations for a diurnally cultured Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and to identify the major temporal variations in its metabolic processes. Next, we demonstrate the ability of CycleSyn to describe a temporally-varying metabolism by introducing diazotrophy in Synechocystis and evaluating the genes that need to be upregulated/downregulated to enable nitrogen fixation in a photosynthetic organism. Our study lays the foundation for subsequent analysis of systems with temporal variations in metabolism using a constraint-based optimization approach.

Thermal decomposition studies on a chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant was performed using a custom built pyrolyzer. The goals of this study were to design, build and evaluate a simple pyrolyzer to meet the safety and security requirements necessary to obtain consistent CWA and CWA simulant pyrolysis data from multiple laboratories around the world. A custom made tubular flow reactor was built, the pyrolysis effluent was collected on solid sorbent tubes, and was analyzed by thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Experiments were conducted with triethyl phosphate (TEP), a well-studied CWA simulant, to determine the activation energy (Ea) and rate constant (k) for the unimolecular decomposition of TEP under the designed experimental conditions and to validate pyrolyzer performance. Experiments with TEP were conducted at five different temperatures (375–440 °C) with samples collected at five flow rates. The activation energy for TEP decomposition was determined to be 32.0 ± 7.6 kcal/mol which is consistent with previous reported literature data.

The incorporation of biological nitrogen fixation into a nondiazotrophic photosynthetic organism provides a promising solution to the increasing fixed nitrogen demand, but is accompanied by a number of challenges for accommodating two incompatible processes within the same organism. Here we present regulatory influence networks for two cyanobacteria, Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Cyanothece ATCC 51142, and evaluate them to co-opt native transcription factors that may be used to control the nif gene cluster once it is transferred to Synechocystis. These networks were further examined to identify candidate transcription factors for other metabolic processes necessary for temporal separation of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, glycogen catabolism and cyanophycin synthesis. Two transcription factors native to Synechocystis, LexA and Rcp1, were identified as promising candidates for the control of the nif gene cluster and other pertinent metabolic processes, respectively. Lessons learned in the incorporation of nitrogen fixation into a nondiazotrophic prokaryote may be leveraged to further progress the incorporation of nitrogen fixation in plants.

Given the recent increases in natural gas reserves and associated drawbacks of current gas-to-liquids technologies, the development of a bioconversion process to directly convert methane to liquid fuels would generate considerable industrial interest. Several clades of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) are capable of performing anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). AOM carried out by ANME offers carbon efficiency advantages over aerobic oxidation by conserving the entire carbon flux without losing one out of three carbon atoms to carbon dioxide. This review highlights the recent advances in understanding the key enzymes involved in AOM (i.e., methyl-coenzyme M reductase), the ecological niches of a number of ANME, the putative metabolic pathways for AOM, and the syntrophic consortia that they typically form.

Prostate cancer encompasses a complex heterogeneous disease spectrum. Physicians and patients are faced with the ambiguity of who should be screened, biopsied, rebiopsied, treated, or provided with adjuvant therapy. Personalized outcomes and treatments are especially important given the varied nature of the disease, plethora of treatment options, risks of morbidity, and quality of life. Today’s practicing urologist has a multitude of tests from which to choose, creating the difficult task of appropriate use. This review focuses on two blood-, one urine-, and five genomic-based tests, which, when used in the appropriate clinical setting, can facilitate the patient-physician decision-making process.

The photosynthetic capabilities of cyanobacteria make them interesting candidates for industrial bioproduction. One obstacle to large-scale implementation of cyanobacteria is their limited growth rates as compared to industrial mainstays. Synechococcus UTEX 2973, a strain closely related to Synechococcus PCC 7942, was recently identified as having the fastest measured growth rate among cyanobacteria. To facilitate the development of 2973 as a model organism we developed in this study the genome-scale metabolic model iSyu683. Experimental data were used to define CO2 uptake rates as well as the biomass compositions for each strain. The inclusion of constraints based on experimental measurements of CO2 uptake resulted in a ratio of the growth rates of Synechococcus 2973 to Synechococcus 7942 of 2.03, which nearly recapitulates the in vivo growth rate ratio of 2.13. This identified the difference in carbon uptake rate as the main factor contributing to the divergent growth rates. Additionally four SNPs were identified as possible contributors to modified kinetic parameters of metabolic enzymes and candidates for further study. Comparisons against more established cyanobacterial strains identified a number of differences between the strains along with a correlation between the number of cytochrome c oxidase operons and heterotrophic or diazotrophic capabilities.

The polarized Raman spectra of an oriented La(η(5)-C5Me5)3 (1) single crystal (where the principal axes of the two molecules per unit cell are uniformly oriented) as well as the mid (ca. 90K) and far infrared spectra of pellets have been recorded. Applying the selection rules of C3h symmetry to the spectra obtained, the irreducible representations (irreps) of numerous lines/bands of intra-ligand character were derived. In the range400cm(-1), where 28 Raman-allowed lines and 20 FIR-allowed bands of both skeletal and intra-ligand character are expected, only few assignments based on symmetry considerations were possible. In order to increase the number of identifications, model calculations on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) were performed. In the intra-ligand range400cm(-1), the obtained results agree well with the experimental findings. Because of the strong mixing at lower wavenumbers, even the separation of calculated skeletal and intra-ligand modes and the identification of the former was only successful by comparing the calculated FIR and averaged Raman spectra of compound 1 with those of La(η(5)-C5Me4H)3 (2). Making use of both the calculated frequencies of normal modes and their polarizability tensors, the polarized Raman spectra of an oriented single crystal of 1 in the range400cm(-1) were calculated and compared to the experimental ones. Because of an overestimation of the mixing of normal vibrations of A' symmetry, the experimental intensities of the lines of the symmetric stretch ν1(A') were not reproduced by the calculation for compound 1 but by that for Sm(η(5)-C5Me5)3 (3). Skeletal and intra-ligand modes were separated and designated. Neglecting νC-H modes, the DFT calculation for 1 achieved an r.m.s. deviation of 17.9cm(-1) for 72 assignments.

The challenge of differentiating the chemistry of two closely related Lewis acidic metals in heterobimetallic complexes was addressed by studying hydrogenolysis and C–H bond activation reactions of bimetallic rare-earth hydride complexes. Hydrogenolysis of equimolar amounts of Cp*2Lu(η3-C3H5) (1-Lu) and Cp*2Y(η3-C3H5) (1-Y) (Cp* = C5Me5) forms a mixture of hydride complexes, the heterobimetallic compound Cp*2Lu(H)2YCp*2 (2-Lu/Y) and the homobimetallic compounds (Cp*2LuH)2 (2-Lu/Lu) and (Cp*2YH)2 (2-Y/Y). This mixture can be analyzed and differentiated by 1H NMR spectroscopy due to the I = 1/2 89Y nucleus to reveal these three products in a ratio of approximately 86:10:4, respectively. Heating this mixture leads to C–H bond activation and formation of tuckover hydride complexes, the heterobimetallic compounds Cp*2Y(μ-H)(μ-η1:η5-CH2C5Me4)LuCp* (3-Y/Lu) and Cp*2Lu(μ-H)(μ-η1:η5-CH2C5Me4)YCp* (3-Lu/Y) and the homobimetallic compounds Cp*2Lu(μ-H)(μ-η1:η5-CH2C5Me4)LuCp* (3-Lu/Lu) and Cp*2Y(μ-H)(μ-η1:η5-CH2C5Me4)...

Raman spectra have been collected on single crystals of over 20 different rare earth complexes containing reduced dinitrogen ligands to determine if these data will correlate with periodic properties or relative stability. Four types of complexes were examined: [(C5Me5)2Ln]2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2), 1-Ln, [(C5Me4H)2(THF)Ln]2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2), 2-Ln, [(C5H4Me)2Ln]2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2), 3-Ln, and {[(Me3Si)2N]2(THF)Ln}2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2), 4-Ln. Although each of the complexes contains a side-on bound dinitrogen ligand that is formally (N2)(2-), the N-N bond distances determined by X-ray crystallography range from 1.088(12) to 1.305(6) Å. In the 4-Ln series (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm), the 1.26-1.31 Å N-N distances do not follow any periodic trends, but the Raman stretching frequencies for Gd-Tm were found to decrease regularly with decreasing atomic number and increasing Lewis acidity of the metal. Similar correlations can be seen with the late metals in complexes of the other series, 1-Ln, 2-Ln and 3-Ln, but exceptions exist, particularly for the larger metals. Comparisons between the several types of complexes as a function of ligand were more complicated and variations in stretching frequency as a function of L in the {[(Me3Si)2N]2Y(L)}2(μ-η(2):η(2)-N2) substituted versions of 4-Y did not give trends consistent with bond distances or Gutmann donor numbers.

By comparing the FIR, MIR, NIR and vis spectra (pellets) of NdCp ∗ 3 (Cp ∗ = η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ) ( 1 ) with those of Nd(C 5 Me 4 H) 3 ( 2 ) and LaCp ∗ 3 ( 3 ) the energies of a number of crystal field (CF) levels of 1 could be determined. The levels of the ground multiplet 4 I 9/2 could be assigned on the basis of the polarized luminescence transition 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 9/2 of an oriented single crystal of 1 , and the CF levels of the excited multiplets by assuming equal sequences of CF levels for 1 and those of 2 assigned previously on the basis of linear dichroism, luminescence anisotropy and electronic Raman measurements of oriented single crystals. In order to prove some uncertain assignments, the expected polarizations were checked against the observed ones in the σ and π absorption spectra of an oriented single crystal of 1 recorded by making use of the “inner filter effect”. The free parameters of a phenomenological Hamiltonian were fitted to the thus derived truncated CF splitting pattern of 1 , leading to a reduced r.m.s. deviation of 14.0 cm −1 for 36 assignments. On the basis of the phenomenological CF parameters, the global CF strength experienced by the Nd 3+ central ion was estimated, and seems to be the fourth largest one ever encountered in Nd III chemistry. The obtained Slater parameter F 2 and the spin-orbit coupling parameter ζ 4 f allow the insertion of compound 1 into empirical nephelauxetic and relativistic nephelauxetic series, respectively, of Nd III compounds. The experimentally based nonrelativistic molecular orbital scheme (in the f range) of complex 1 was determined and compared with the results of a previous nonrelativistic Xα-SW calculation on the pseudo-trigonal-planar model compound Nd(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 3 . The vibronic sidebands of the hypersensitive absorption transition 4 I 9/2 → 4 G 5/2 of 1 were correlated with inner-ligand vibrations. The temperature dependence of μ 2 eff of 1 was calculated and compared to the experimental data of the likewise pseudo-trigonal-planar complex Nd(C 5 H 4 t Bu) 3 .

The σ bond metathesis reactivity of (C5Me4H)3Sc, which has a (η5-C5Me4H)2Sc(η1-C5Me4H) structure in the solid state, has been investigated and compared with that of a conventional (C5Me4H)− metallocene complex, (C5Me4H)2Sc(η3-C3H5), 1. Complex 1 reacts with PhEEPh (E = S, Se, Te) in toluene to form the σ bond metathesis products (C3H5)EPh and [(C5Me4H)2Sc(SPh)]2, (C5Me4H)2Sc(SePh), and (C5Me4H)2Sc(TePh), respectively. Analogous reactions in toluene/THF generate the THF solvates (C5Me4H)2Sc(EPh)(THF). The monometallic sulfur derivative (C5Me4H)2Sc(Spy-κ2-S,N) forms from the reaction of 1 with 2,2′-dipyridyl disulfide, pySSpy. (C5Me4H)3Sc reacts similarly, showing that the (η1-C5Me4H)− solid-state structure yields Sc–C bond reactivity in solution.

Reactions between (η5-C5Me5)3M and (η5-C5Me5)2M′(μ-Ph)2BPh2 (M, M′ = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and U; M radius < M′ radius) were examined to evaluate the relative steric crowding in the (C5Me5)3M series ...

By comparing the far infrared (polyethylene pellets, room temperature) and mid-infrared spectra (KBr pellets, room temperature and ca. 90 K) of pseudo trigonal planar Ce(η5-C5Me5)3 (1) with the corresponding ones of La(η5-C5Me5)3 (2) and considering the low temperature paramagnetic susceptibility data of 1 the crystal field (CF) splitting pattern of 1 could be derived. The free parameters of a phenomenological Hamiltonian were fitted to this pattern achieving an r.m.s. deviation of 8.9 cm−1 for seven assignments. The fact that the difference of the experimental energies of the barycenters of CF levels of the multiplets 2F7/2 and 2F5/2 is larger than in the gaseous free Ce3+ ion (experimental “anti”-relativistic nephelauxetic effect) could be explained by coupling effects of these multiplets via the CF, resulting in a lower spin–orbit coupling parameter than in the case of the free gaseous Ce3+ ion. The experimental CF splitting pattern of 1 is compared to the results of a relativistic DV-Xα calculation on the pseudo trigonal planar model compound Ce(η5-C5H5)3. In addition, the prediction of the energies of f → d and charge transfer transitions of Ce(η5-C5H5)3 are compared to the absorption and luminescence spectra of complex 1.

By comparing the FIR, MIR, NIR, and vis spectra (pellets) of PrCp*3 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) (1) with those of LaCp*3 (2) the energies of a number of crystal field (CF) levels of 1 could be determined. The...

OBJECTIVES To describe a novel technique to block the distal ureter, thus preventing spillage of tumor cell bearing urine during laparoscopic pluck nephroureterectomy. Currently, there is no consensus on the appropriate management of distal ureter during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. METHODS A review was performed of patients who underwent modified laparoscopic pluck nephroureterectomy for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma from July 2007 to December 2008. After confirming an absence of bladder tumors, an 8F olive-tipped ureteral catheter was introduced into the ureteral orifice. Five milliliters of Tisseel was injected into the ureter. Five milliliters of indigo carmine was injected intravenously to confirm the presence of ureteral blockage. Using a Collins knife, the ureteral orifice was dissected until the extravesical fat was visualized. A Foley catheter was placed and a laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was then completed. The drain was removed on the 3rd postoperative day and Foley was removed on the 10th postoperative day after a normal cystogram. RESULTS We performed 8 procedures using the above-described technique. The median age was 62 years, all were males; 2 were operated on the right side and 6 on the left. The average operative time and estimated blood loss was 308 minutes and 150 mL, respectively. The average length of stay was 6 days. One major and 2 minor complications (ileus) were noted. Mean cancer follow-up is 11 months. All specimen margins free of tumor. No extravesical or intravesical recurrences were noted. CONCLUSIONS Ureteral fibrin sealant injection produces dependable ureteral obstruction during laparoscopic pluck nephroureterectomy and may prevent tumor spillage in the extravesical tissues.

The history of micro air vehicles really began with the development of model airplanes in the 19th century and the development of radio controlled model airplanes in the 20th century. The improvement in propulsion systems from rubber bands to liquid fuel internal combustions engines and later battery powered electric motors made it possible to produce longer and longer flights. The development of miniature radio receivers and control components in the 1990s also had a large impact on the ability to design a very small flying vehicle. Once the aerodynamics and control of small aircraft models with a mass less that 100 grams were better understood, the micro-air-vehicle was born. This paper traces the history of these events.

Expressions to describe the correlation length scales of turbulent inflow to an aerodynamic body are derived as functions of the classic integral length scale and anisotropy correction factors. These one-point parameters are significantly easier to determine experimentally than traditional correlation-scale measurement techniques, which involve multiple probes at multiple locations. As such correlation scales are necessary to properly estimate the aeroacoustic response of the body, such a technique could have substantial benefit in a wide variety of applications. The approach is applied to a recent experimental study examining the response of a stator downstream of a propeller that is itself ingesting broadband turbulence. Results suggest that the derived expressions not only accurately represent correlation length scales, but also enable the accurate prediction of the acoustic output of the stator.

To examine the aeroacoustic response of the downstream blade row of a rotor/stator pair, the turbulent flowfield between the two components must be accurately represented. To that end, a recent experimental study sought to examine this complex flowfield, establishing a causal relationship between the flowfield influences and their relative contributions to the total turbulence. Although these influences and their relative impact might depend on specific geometry, two will play a dominant role in almost every rotor/stator application: wake turbulence from the upstream blade row (the topic of Part 1) and turbulence ingested by the system and modified by the upstream blade row (the topic of Part 2). The extensive scope of decomposing these influences necessitates their discussion in separate publications. Part 1 begins with an overview as to the relevence and utility of separating these influences, providing motivation for the study. The paper then examines the contribution of the broadband and tonal contributions associated with wake turbulence. A model is proposed that infers broadband turbulence levels from a single, appropriately chosen length scale. This length scale is determined through reconstruction of the temporal mean wake profile shape utilizing the tonal component of the ensemble-averaged, measured wake spectra. Results show that simple models can be used effectively to isolate the wake turbulence contribution, forwarding the concept of a globally applicable theory for use in modeling efforts involving similar flowfields. Part 2 (the topic of this paper) examines turbulence ingested by the system and modified by the upstream upstream blade row. A theoretical model is adapted to predict the level of ingested turbulence suppression using easily quantified geometric arguments. With an appropriate choice of coordinate system, this model accurately predicts broadband suppression of ingested turbulence, showing that simple models can be used to isolate contributions and forwarding the concept of a globally applicable theory for extracting such information from other similar flowfields.

The 11th International Symposium on Flow Visualization (ISFV) was held at Notre Dame, IN, USA, August 8-12, 2004. The Symposium attracted 236 participants from around the world. The 52 Technical Sessions and two Poster Sessions covered a wide range of topics as indicated in the Keywords. Of the 182 submitted papers, 162 were presented. The presented papers included 8 invited lectures. Each morning and afternoon began with an invited lecture by an outstanding, recognized leader in the field. Toshio Kobayashi received the Leonardo da Vinci Award, an engraved plate, and presented the Leonardo da Vinci Memorial Lecture on "High-performance Computing and Visualization of Unsteady Turbulent Flows." Toshio Kobayashi is very well known for his outstanding contributions in computational science and flow visualization as well as his leadership in organizing conferences, workshops, and symposia on flow visualization. Ronald J. Adrian discussed "Visualization in Extreme Environments," Rolf H. Engler described "Pressure-sensitive Paints and Temperature-sensitive Paints in Quantitative Wind Tunnel Studies," William K. Blake explained "Cavitation as Flow Visualization Seeding," Giovanni M. Carlomagno discussed "The Use of Colors in Thermo-fluid Dynamic Studies," Ajit Yoganathan presented "A Gallery of Cardiovascular Fluid Flow Fields: From Heart Valves to Congenital Heart Disease," Richard B. Miles described "Flow Visualization by Filtered Molecular and Particular Scattering," and Thomas C. Gruber Jr., displayed a technique for "Visualization of Foreign Gases in Atmospheric Air." At the end of the last day, Jurgen Kompenhaus from DLR discussed the 12th ISFV to be held in Germany in 2006. After this presentation there was a tour of the Hessert Laboratory for Aerospace Research.

To examine the aeroacoustic response of the downstream blade row of a rotor/stator pair, the turbulent flowfield between the two components must be accurately represented. To that end, a recent experimental study sought to examine this complex flowfield, establishing a causal relationship between the flowfield influences and their relative contributions to the total turbulence. Although these influences and their relative impact might depend on specific geometry, two will play a dominant role in almost every rotor/stator application: wake turbulence from the upstream blade row (the topic of Part 1) and turbulence ingested by the system and modified by the upstream blade row (the topic of Part 2). The extensive scope of decomposing these influences necessitates their discussion in seperate publications. Part 1 begins with an overview as to the relevence and utility of separating these influences, providing motivation for the study. The paper then examines the contribution of the broadband and tonal contributions associated with wake turbulence. A model is proposed that infers broadband turbulence levels from a single, appropriately chosen length scale. This length scale is determined through reconstruction of the temporal mean wake profile shape utilizing the tonal component of the ensemble-averaged, measured wake spectra. Results show that simple models can be used effectively to isolate the wake turbulence contribution, forwarding the concept of a globally applicable theory for use in modeling efforts involving similar flowfields. Part 2 examines turbulence ingested by the system and modified by the upstream upstream blade row. A theoretical model is adapted to predict the level of ingested turbulence suppression using easily quantified geometric arguments. With an appropriate choice of coordinate system, this model accurately predicts broadband suppression of ingested turbulence, showing that simple models can be used to isolate contributions and forwarding the concept of a globally applicable theory for extracting such information from other similar flowfields.

The recent interest in the development of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and micro air vehicles has revealed a need for a more thorough understanding of the aerodynamics of small airplanes flying at low speeds. In response to this need, a study of the lift, drag, and pitching moment characteristics of wings of low aspect ratio operating at low Reynolds numbers are presented. Wind-tunnel tests of wings with aspect ratios between 0.5 and 2.0, four distinct planforms, thickness-to-chord ratios of ≈ 2%, and 5-to-1 elliptical leading edges have been conducted as part of this research. The Reynolds numbers considered were in the range of 7 × × 10 4 to 2 × × 10 5 . Analysis of the data includes comparison of lift-curve slope, nonlinear equation approximations, maximum lift coefficient, and center of lift.

▪ Abstract In this review we describe the aerodynamic problems that must be addressed in order to design a successful small aerial vehicle. The effects of Reynolds number and aspect ratio (AR) on the design and performance of fixed-wing vehicles are described. The boundary-layer behavior on airfoils is especially important in the design of vehicles in this flight regime. The results of a number of experimental boundary-layer studies, including the influence of laminar separation bubbles, are discussed. Several examples of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in this regime are described. Also, a brief survey of analytical models for oscillating and flapping-wing propulsion is presented. These range from the earliest examples where quasi-steady, attached flow is assumed, to those that account for the unsteady shed vortex wake as well as flow separation and aeroelastic behavior of a flapping wing. Experiments that complemented the analysis and led to the design of a successful ornithopter are also described.

A face-specific brain EEG potential at approximately 160 ms after stimulus presentation has recently been described by various research groups. Most of these studies analysed this face-specific brain potential using smiling faces as stimuli. In electrophysiological studies, however, differences in amplitude due to the emotional valence of the stimuli were described as early as 100 ms after stimulus presentation. In order to investigate the effect of facial expressions with different emotional content on face-specific brain EEG potentials, event-related potentials (ERPs) to faces with sad, happy and neutral expressions were compared to ERPs elicited with buildings in 16 healthy subjects. A face-specific potential at vertex approximately 160 ms after stimulus presentation has been verified in the present study. No significant differences in latency or amplitude of this component were found for different facial expressions.

This is the second of two papers that discuss an experimental investigation of the aeroacoustic response characteristics of a 10-bladed rotor to grid-generated turbulence. To characterize empirically the rotor response, both the ingested velocity field and resulting far-field sound were measured. In part 1, an empirical velocity characterization of the grid- generated turbulence field was presented. This characterization culminated in a semi-empirical model of the ingested small-scale turbulence field and a modal decomposition of the circumferentially varying mean velocity field in the rotor inlet plane. This detailed velocity model is now used to investigate the aeroacoustic response of a 10-bladed rotor ingesting the grid-generated turbulence field. In particular, the semi-empirical turbulence model is used, in conjunction with theoretical spectral analysis techniques, to predict the far-field sound generated by the 10-bladed rotor. These predictions are compared to corresponding measured data to assess the fidelity of the spectral analysis methods and the semi-empirical turbulence model

Results are presented of an experimental investigation into the aeroacoustic response characteristics of rotor turbulence ingestion. To fully characterize the rotor response, both the ingested velocity field and the resulting far-field sound were measured. The results are presented of a detailed velocity characterization, which was performed upstream of the rotor. The velocity measurements included an evaluation of the streamwise development of turbulence characteristics downstream of the grid, a high-resolution mapping of the spatial distribution of the mean velocity and rms turbulence fluctuations in the rotor inlet plane, and the development of a semi-empirical, functional representation of the three-dimensional wave number spectral density of the ingested turbulence

Background Clostridia are anaerobic Gram-positive Firmicutes containing broad and flexible systems for substrate utilization, which have been used successfully to produce a range of industrial compounds. In particular, Clostridium acetobutylicum has been used to produce butanol on an industrial scale through acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. A genome-scale metabolic (GSM) model is a powerful tool for understanding the metabolic capacities of an organism and developing metabolic engineering strategies for strain development. The integration of stress-related specific transcriptomics information with the GSM model provides opportunities for elucidating the focal points of regulation. Results We describe here the construction and validation of a GSM model for C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824, iCac802. iCac802 spans 802 genes and includes 1,137 metabolites and 1,462 reactions, along with gene-protein-reaction associations. Both 13C-MFA and gene deletion data in the ABE fermentation pathway were used to test the predicted flux ranges allowed by the model. We also describe the CoreReg method, introduced in this paper, to integrate transcriptomic data and identify core sets of reactions that, when their flux was selectively restricted, reproduced flux and biomass-formation ranges seen under all regulatory constraints. CoreReg was used in response to butanol and butyrate stress to tighten bounds for 50 reactions within the iCac802 model. These bounds affected the flux of tens of reactions in core metabolism. The model, incorporating the regulatory restrictions from CoreReg under chemical stress, exhibited an approximate 70% reduction in biomass yield for most stress conditions. Conclusions The regulation placed on the model for the two stresses using CoreReg identified differences in the respective responses, including distinct core sets and the restriction of biomass production similar to experimental observations. Given the core sets predicted by the CoreReg method, remedial actions can be taken to counteract the effect of stress on metabolism. For less well-known systems, plausible regulatory loops can be suggested around the affected metabolic reactions, and the hypotheses can be tested experimentally. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13068-014-0144-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The presence of endplates (or sideplates ) in two-dimensional wind-tunnel force measurements on airfoils has a strong effect on lift and drag coefe cients at low Reynolds numbers. Results on an Eppler 61 airfoil indicate that the endplates are responsible for a sharp decrease in the airfoil performance. The lift coefe cient is reduced and the drag coefe cient is increased due to the interaction of the airfoil boundary layer with the sideplate boundary layer. Nomenclature b = span Cd = section proe le drag coefe cient Cl = section lift coefe cient c = chord length eQ = quantization error M = resolution of A/D converter Rec = chord Reynolds number Rex = Reynolds number based on distance x along endplate U1 = freestream velocity x = distance from leading edge of endplate ® = angle of attack ± = boundary-layer thickness

Data analysis techniques were previously developed for rotating machinery that predicted the far-field radiation, inferred inflow characteristics, and defined the near-field/far-field acoustic Green's function based on measurements of the pressure near field (Minniti, R. J., Blake, W. K., and Mueller, T. J., Inferring Propeller Inflow and Radiation from Near-Field Response, Part 1: Analytic Development, AIAA Journal, Vol. 39, No. 6, 2000, pp. 1030-1036). The techniques are applied to a free-running propeller in subsonic flow. As a first case, the propeller ingesting large-scale, mean-flow distortions as would be present downstream of stators or inlet guide vanes was considered. This simplified case allowed qualitative analysis in the time domain and complimenting quantitative analysis in the frequency domain. In addition, the case acted as a calibrating configuration to map the frequency response of the individual blades to the incoming flow by varying the number of distortions present and the rotational speed of the propeller. Based on the results of the first case, the analysis was extended to the propeller ingesting grid-generated turbulence. Because of the complex nature of the flow, all analysis was completed in the frequency domain. By the use of the techniques in Inferring Propeller Inflow and Radiation from Near-Field Response, Part 1: Analytic Development, an estimate of the blade summation gain was used to complete the direct solution of the aeroacoustic problem and predict the acoustic far field from a measurement of the ingested flow. Additionally, the inflow character was inferred from the near-field measurements.

Previously, the continuous performance test was demonstrated to elicit distinct electrophysiological correlates of cognitive response during execution (Go) and inhibition (NoGo) of an anticipated motor response. A robust method for topographical quantification of these brain electrical microstates has been established recently. Test reliability is crucial to allow application in the assessment of neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study evaluates the reliability of the Go and NoGo centroid locations as well as the NoGo anteriorisation (NGA) in 23 healthy individuals. Our results show supreme test-alternate retest reliabilities of Pearson's product moment correlations and intraclass correlation coefficients of r ≥0.63 ( P ≤0.001) for these parameters which assert a quality well within the range reported for those of other electrophysiological standard paradigms. Go and NoGo centroid locations as well as the NGA are, therefore, reliable correlates of prefrontal motor control and may contribute to the understanding of disorders with allied impairments.

The design of micro aerial vehicles requires a better understanding of the aerodynamics of small low-aspect-ratio wings. An experimental investigation has focused on measuring the lift, drag, and pitching moment about the quarter chord on a series of thin flat plates and cambered plates at chord Reynolds numbers varying between 60,000 and 200,000. Results show that the cambered plates offer better aerodynamic characteristics and performance. It also appears that the trailing-edge geometry of the wings and the turbulence intensity in the wind tunnel do not have a strong effect on the lift and drag for thin wings at low Reynolds numbers. Moreover, the results did not show the presence of any hysteresis, which is usually observed with thick airfoils/wings

Background: Churg-Strauss is a rare form of vasculitis characterized by pulmonary and small-vessel necrotizing vasculitis, vascular and/or extravascular granulomas, eosinophilia and

The design and calibration of a unique thin unsteady pressure sensor for use on small-scale marine propellers is presented. The Polyvinylidene Fluoride film-based sensor incorporates a miniature interface circuit suitable for use where space is a premium. Sensitivity of the sensor is comparable to high-quality microphones. Calibration is performed using an acoustic source and an industry-standard microphone. Evaluation of the sensor’s performance is presented for white noise unsteady pressure input. Results show excellent agreement between sensor-measured pressures and standard microphone-measured pressures.