History of HTS motor development at Reliance Electric

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiferl, R.

1994-07-29

A review of the High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) motor development program at Reliance Electric is presented. The project was initiated in 1987 by EPRI to investigate the use of high temperature superconducting materials in electric motors. Liquid nitrogen was proposed as the HTS winding coolant. The ultimate goal, motivation, motor type and HTS wire requirements as well as the program milestones are outlined. It was concluded that the HTS motor development has paralleled wire development; progress continues toward the goal of large horsepower HTS motors for commercial applications; the team is well on the way toward completing the design ofmore » a 125 hp, 1800 rpm motor with HTS coils cooled to 20 to 40 K; and the program is a vital step in the development of HTS motors.« less

Operational characteristics of energy storage high temperature superconducting flywheels considering time dependent processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vajda, Istvan; Kohari, Zalan; Porjesz, Tamas; Benko, Laszlo; Meerovich, V.; Sokolovsky; Gawalek, W.

2002-08-01

Technical and economical feasibilities of short-term energy storage flywheels with high temperature superconducting (HTS) bearing are widely investigated. It is essential to reduce the ac losses caused by magnetic field variations in HTS bulk disks/rings (levitators) used in the magnetic bearings of flywheels. For the HTS bearings the calculation and measurement of the magnetic field distribution were performed. Effects like eccentricity, tilting were measured. Time dependency of the levitation force following a jumpwise movement of the permanent magnet was measured. The results were used to setup an engineering design algorithm for energy storage HTS flywheels. This algorithm was applied to an experimental HTS flywheel model with a disk type permanent magnet motor/generator unit designed and constructed by the authors. A conceptual design of the disk-type motor/generator with radial flux is shown.

A new ring-shape high-temperature superconducting trapped-field magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheng, Jie; Zhang, Min; Wang, Yawei; Li, Xiaojian; Patel, Jay; Yuan, Weijia

2017-09-01

This paper presents a new trapped-field magnet made of second-generation high-temperature superconducting (2G HTS) rings. This so-called ring-shape 2G HTS magnet has the potential to provide much stronger magnetic fields relative to existing permanent magnets. Compared to existing 2G HTS trapped- field magnets, e.g. 2G HTS bulks and stacks, this new ring-shape 2G HTS magnet is more flexible in size and can be made into magnets with large dimensions for industrial applications. Effective magnetization is the key to being able to use trapped-field magnets. Therefore, this paper focuses on the magnetization mechanism of this new magnet using both experimental and numerical methods. Unique features have been identified and quantified for this new type of HTS magnet in the field cooling and zero field cooling process. The magnetization mechanism can be understood by the interaction between shielding currents and the penetration of external magnetic fields. An accumulation in the trapped field was observed by using multiple pulse field cooling. Three types of demagnetization were studied to measure the trapped-field decay for practical applications. Our results show that this new ring-shape HTS magnet is very promising in the trapping of a high magnetic field. As a super-permanent magnet, it will have a significant impact on large-scale industrial applications, e.g. the development of HTS machines with a very high power density and HTS magnetic resonance imaging devices.

A Field-Shaking System to Reduce the Screening Current-Induced Field in the 800-MHz HTS Insert of the MIT 1.3-GHz LTS/HTS NMR Magnet: A Small-Model Study.

PubMed

Lee, Jiho; Park, Dongkeun; Michael, Philip C; Noguchi, So; Bascuñán, Juan; Iwasa, Yukikazu

2018-04-01

In this paper, we present experimental results, of a small-model study, from which we plan to develop and apply a full-scale field-shaking system to reduce the screening current-induced field (SCF) in the 800-MHz HTS Insert (H800) of the MIT 1.3-GHz LTS/HTS NMR magnet (1.3G) currently under construction-the H800 is composed of 3 nested coils, each a stack of no-insulation (NI) REBCO double-pancakes. In 1.3G, H800 is the chief source of a large error field generated by its own SCF. To study the effectiveness of the field-shaking technique, we used two NI REBCO double-pancakes, one from Coil 2 (HCoil2) and one from Coil 3 (HCoil3) of the 3 H800 coils, and placed them in the bore of a 5-T/300-mm room-temperature bore low-temperature superconducting (LTS) background magnet. The background magnet is used not only to induce the SCF in the double-pancakes but also to reduce it by the field-shaking technique. For each run, we induced the SCF in the double-pancakes at an axial location where the external radial field Br > 0, then for the field-shaking, moved them to another location where the external axial field Bz ≫ B R . Due to the geometry of H800 and L500, top double-pancakes of 3 H800 coils will experience the considerable radial magnetic field perpendicular to the REBCO tape surface. To examine the effect of the field-shaking on the SCF, we tested each NI REBCO DP in the absence or presence of a radial field. In this paper, we report 77-K experimental results and analysis of the effect and a few significant remarks of the field-shaking.

Powering of an HTS dipole insert-magnet operated standalone in helium gas between 5 and 85 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Nugteren, J.; Kirby, G.; Bajas, H.; Bajko, M.; Ballarino, A.; Bottura, L.; Chiuchiolo, A.; Contat, P.-A.; Dhallé, M.; Durante, M.; Fazilleau, P.; Fontalva, A.; Gao, P.; Goldacker, W.; ten Kate, H.; Kario, A.; Lahtinen, V.; Lorin, C.; Markelov, A.; Mazet, J.; Molodyk, A.; Murtomäki, J.; Long, N.; Perez, J.; Petrone, C.; Pincot, F.; de Rijk, G.; Rossi, L.; Russenschuck, S.; Ruuskanen, J.; Schmitz, K.; Stenvall, A.; Usoskin, A.; Willering, G.; Yang, Y.

2018-06-01

This paper describes the standalone magnet cold testing of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet Feather-M2.1-2. This magnet was constructed within the European funded FP7-EUCARD2 collaboration to test a Roebel type HTS cable, and is one of the first high temperature superconducting dipole magnets in the world. The magnet was operated in forced flow helium gas with temperatures ranging between 5 and 85 K. During the tests a magnetic dipole field of 3.1 T was reached inside the aperture at a current of 6.5 kA and a temperature of 5.7 K. These values are in agreement with the self-field critical current of the used SuperOx cable assembled with Sunam tapes (low-performance batch), thereby confirming that no degradation occurred during winding, impregnation, assembly and cool-down of the magnet. The magnet was quenched many tens of times by ramping over the critical current and no degradation nor training was evident. During the tests the voltage over the coil was monitored in the microvolt range. An inductive cancellation wire was used to remove the inductive component, thereby significantly reducing noise levels. Close to the quench current, drift was detected both in temperature and voltage over the coil. This drifting happens in a time scale of minutes and is a clear indication that the magnet has reached its limit. All quenches happened approximately at the same average electric field and thus none of the quenches occurred unexpectedly.

Levitation or suspension: Which one is better for the heavy-load HTS maglev transportation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wei; Kang, Dong; Yang, X. F.; Wang, Fei; Peng, G. H.; Zheng, Jun; Ma, G. T.; Wang, J. S.

2015-09-01

Because of the limitation of permanent magnet (PM), the efficient of bulk high-Tc superconductor (HTSC) in a high-Tc superconducting (HTS) maglev system is not very high. It is better to magnetize the bulk HTSC with a high trapped field to increase the force density. The different application type of magnetized bulk HTSC in a maglev system, namely, levitation or suspension type, will bring quite different operation performance. This paper discusses the influence of application type on operation performance of magnetized bulk HTSC by experiments and simulations. From the discussion, it can be found which application type is better for the heavy-load HTS maglev system.

Scale-up of 2G wire manufacturing at American Superconductor Corporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleshler, S.; Buczek, D.; Carter, B.; Cedrone, P.; DeMoranville, K.; Gannon, J.; Inch, J.; Li, X.; Lynch, J.; Otto, A.; Podtburg, E.; Roy, D.; Rupich, M.; Sathyamurthy, S.; Schreiber, J.; Thieme, C.; Thompson, E.; Tucker, D.; Nagashima, K.; Ogata, M.

2009-10-01

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has developed the base technology and a manufacturing line for initial volume production of low-cost second generation high temperature superconductor (2G HTS) wire for commercial and military applications. The manufacturing line is based on reel-to-reel processing of wide HTS strips using rolling assisted bi-axially textured substrate (RABiTS™) for the template and Metal Organic Deposition (MOD) for the HTS layer. AMSC’s wide strip process is a low cost manufacturing technology since multiple wires are produced in a single manufacturing pass by slitting the wide strip to narrower width in the last stage of the manufacturing process. Industry standard 4.4 mm wide wires are produced by laminating metallic foils, such as copper, stainless steel or any other material, to the HTS insert wire, and are chosen to tailor the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of the wire for specific applications. The laminated, 4.4 mm wide wires are known as “344 superconductors.” In this paper, we summarize the status of AMSC’s manufacturing capability, the performance of the wire presently being produced, as well as the cost and technical advantages of AMSC’s manufacturing approach. In addition, future direction for research and development to improve electrical performance is presented.

An overview of rotating machine systems with high-temperature bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Difan; Izumi, Mitsuru; Miki, Motohiro; Felder, Brice; Ida, Tetsuya; Kitano, Masahiro

2012-10-01

The paper contains a review of recent advancements in rotating machines with bulk high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The high critical current density of bulk HTS enables us to design rotating machines with a compact configuration in a practical scheme. The development of an axial-gap-type trapped flux synchronous rotating machine together with the systematic research works at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology since 2001 are briefly introduced. Developments in bulk HTS rotating machines in other research groups are also summarized. The key issues of bulk HTS machines, including material progress of bulk HTS, in situ magnetization, and cooling together with AC loss at low-temperature operation are discussed.

REBCO tape performance under high magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benkel, Tara; Miyoshi, Yasuyuki; Chaud, Xavier; Badel, Arnaud; Tixador, Pascal

2017-08-01

New improvements in high temperature superconductors (HTS) make them a promising candidate for building the next generation of high field magnets. As the conductors became recently available in long length, new projects such as NOUGAT (new magnet generation to generate Tesla at low cost) were started. This project aims at designing and building an HTS magnet prototype generating 10 T inside a 20 T resistive magnet. In this configuration, severe mechanical stress is applied on the insert and its extremities are subject to a high transverse component of the field. Because the conductor has anisotropic properties, it has to be studied carefully under similar conditions as the final prototype. First, this paper presents both the NOUGAT project and its context. Then, it shows the experimental results on short HTS tapes studied under high magnetic field up to 23 T with varying orientation. These results allow validating the current margin of the prototype. Finally, a first wound prototype is presented with experimental results up to 200 A under 16 T. Contribution to the topical issue "Electrical Engineering Symposium (SGE 2016)", edited by Adel Razek

A Multicenter Study To Evaluate the Performance of High-Throughput Sequencing for Virus Detection

PubMed Central

Ng, Siemon H. S.; Vandeputte, Olivier; Aljanahi, Aisha; Deyati, Avisek; Cassart, Jean-Pol; Charlebois, Robert L.; Taliaferro, Lanyn P.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The capability of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) for detection of known and unknown viruses makes it a powerful tool for broad microbial investigations, such as evaluation of novel cell substrates that may be used for the development of new biological products. However, like any new assay, regulatory applications of HTS need method standardization. Therefore, our three laboratories initiated a study to evaluate performance of HTS for potential detection of viral adventitious agents by spiking model viruses in different cellular matrices to mimic putative materials for manufacturing of biologics. Four model viruses were selected based upon different physical and biochemical properties and commercial availability: human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and human reovirus (REO). Additionally, porcine circovirus (PCV) was tested by one laboratory. Independent samples were prepared for HTS by spiking intact viruses or extracted viral nucleic acids, singly or mixed, into different HeLa cell matrices (resuspended whole cells, cell lysate, or total cellular RNA). Data were obtained using different sequencing platforms (Roche 454, Illumina HiSeq1500 or HiSeq2500). Bioinformatic analyses were performed independently by each laboratory using available tools, pipelines, and databases. The results showed that comparable virus detection was obtained in the three laboratories regardless of sample processing, library preparation, sequencing platform, and bioinformatic analysis: between 0.1 and 3 viral genome copies per cell were detected for all of the model viruses used. This study highlights the potential for using HTS for sensitive detection of adventitious viruses in complex biological samples containing cellular background. IMPORTANCE Recent high-throughput sequencing (HTS) investigations have resulted in unexpected discoveries of known and novel viruses in a variety of sample types, including research materials, clinical materials, and biological products. Therefore, HTS can be a powerful tool for supplementing current methods for demonstrating the absence of adventitious or unwanted viruses in biological products, particularly when using a new cell line. However, HTS is a complex technology with different platforms, which needs standardization for evaluation of biologics. This collaborative study was undertaken to investigate detection of different virus types using two different HTS platforms. The results of the independently performed studies demonstrated a similar sensitivity of virus detection, regardless of the different sample preparation and processing procedures and bioinformatic analyses done in the three laboratories. Comparable HTS detection of different virus types supports future development of reference virus materials for standardization and validation of different HTS platforms. PMID:28932815

Study on AC loss measurements of HTS power cable for standardizing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukoyama, Shinichi; Amemiya, Naoyuki; Watanabe, Kazuo; Iijima, Yasuhiro; Mido, Nobuhiro; Masuda, Takao; Morimura, Toshiya; Oya, Masayoshi; Nakano, Tetsutaro; Yamamoto, Kiyoshi

2017-09-01

High-temperature superconducting power cables (HTS cables) have been developed for more than 20 years. In addition of the cable developments, the test methods of the HTS cables have been discussed and proposed in many laboratories and companies. Recently the test methods of the HTS cables is required to standardize and to common in the world. CIGRE made the working group (B1-31) for the discussion of the test methods of the HTS cables as a power cable, and published the recommendation of the test method. Additionally, IEC TC20 submitted the New Work Item Proposal (NP) based on the recommendation of CIGRE this year, IEC TC20 and IEC TC90 started the standardization work on Testing of HTS AC cables. However, the individual test method that used to measure a performance of HTS cables hasn’t been established as world’s common methods. The AC loss is one of the most important properties to disseminate low loss and economical efficient HTS cables in the world. We regard to establish the method of the AC loss measurements in rational and in high accuracy. Japan is at a leading position in the AC loss study, because Japanese researchers have studied on the AC loss technically and scientifically, and also developed the effective technologies for the AC loss reduction. The JP domestic commission of TC90 made a working team to discussion the methods of the AC loss measurements for aiming an international standard finally. This paper reports about the AC loss measurement of two type of the HTS conductors, such as a HTS conductor without a HTS shield and a HTS conductor with a HTS shield. The AC loss measurement method is suggested by the electrical method..

Therapeutic potential of fibroblast growth factor-2 for hypertrophic scars: upregulation of MMP-1 and HGF expression.

PubMed

Eto, Hitomi; Suga, Hirotaka; Aoi, Noriyuki; Kato, Harunosuke; Doi, Kentaro; Kuno, Shinichiro; Tabata, Yasuhiko; Yoshimura, Kotaro

2012-02-01

Although hypertrophic scars (HTSs) and keloids are challenging problems, their pathogenesis is not well understood, making therapy difficult. We showed that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression was downregulated in HTS compared with normal skin from the same patients, whereas type 1 and 3 collagen and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were upregulated. These differences, however, were not seen in cultured fibroblasts, suggesting the involvement of microenvironmental factors in the pathogenesis of HTS. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) highly upregulated the expression of MMP-1 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in both HTS-derived and control fibroblasts; the upregulation was reversed by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors. An animal study using human HTS tissue implanted into nude mice indicated that controlled-release FGF-2 resulted in significantly less weight and decreased hydroxyproline content in HTS. Degradation of collagen fibers in FGF-2-treated HTS was also confirmed histologically. Western blotting showed that FGF-2-treated HTS expressed significantly higher MMP-1 protein than control. Decreased MMP-1 expression may be an important transcriptional change in HTS, and its reversal as well as upregulation of HGF by FGF-2 could be a new therapeutic approach for HTS.

Static and dynamic stability of the guidance force in a side-suspended HTS maglev system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Dajin; Cui, Chenyu; Zhao, Lifeng; Zhang, Yong; Wang, Xiqing; Zhao, Yong

2017-02-01

The static and dynamic stability of the guidance force in a side-suspended HTS-PMG (permanent magnetic guideway) system were studied theoretically and experimentally. It is found that there are two types of guidance force that exist in the HTS-PMG system, which are sensitive to the levitation gap and the arrangement of YBCO bulks around the central axis of the PMG. An optimized YBCO array was used to stabilize the system, which enabled a side-suspended HTS-PMG maglev vehicle to run stably at 102 km h-1 on a circular test track with 6.5 m in diameter.

AC Application of HTS Conductors in Highly Dynamic Electric Motors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oswald, B.; Best, K.-J.; Setzer, M.; Duffner, E.; Soell, M.; Gawalek, W.; Kovalev, L. K.

2006-06-01

Based on recent investigations we design highly dynamic electric motors up to 400 kW and linear motors up to 120 kN linear force using HTS bulk material and HTS tapes. The introduction of HTS tapes into AC applications in electric motors needs fundamental studies on double pancake coils under transversal magnetic fields. First theoretical and experimental results on AC field distributions in double-pancake-coils and corresponding AC losses will be presented. Based on these results the simulation of the motor performance confirms extremely high power density and efficiency of both types of electric motors. Improved characteristics of rare earth permanent magnets used in our motors at low temperatures give an additional technological benefit.

Adapting High-Throughput Screening Methods and Assays for Biocontainment Laboratories

PubMed Central

Tigabu, Bersabeh; White, E. Lucile; Bostwick, Robert; Tower, Nichole; Bukreyev, Alexander; Rockx, Barry; LeDuc, James W.; Noah, James W.

2015-01-01

Abstract High-throughput screening (HTS) has been integrated into the drug discovery process, and multiple assay formats have been widely used in many different disease areas but with limited focus on infectious agents. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of HTS campaigns using infectious wild-type pathogens rather than surrogates or biochemical pathogen-derived targets. Concurrently, enhanced emerging pathogen surveillance and increased human mobility have resulted in an increase in the emergence and dissemination of infectious human pathogens with serious public health, economic, and social implications at global levels. Adapting the HTS drug discovery process to biocontainment laboratories to develop new drugs for these previously uncharacterized and highly pathogenic agents is now feasible, but HTS at higher biosafety levels (BSL) presents a number of unique challenges. HTS has been conducted with multiple bacterial and viral pathogens at both BSL-2 and BSL-3, and pilot screens have recently been extended to BSL-4 environments for both Nipah and Ebola viruses. These recent successful efforts demonstrate that HTS can be safely conducted at the highest levels of biological containment. This review outlines the specific issues that must be considered in the execution of an HTS drug discovery program for high-containment pathogens. We present an overview of the requirements for HTS in high-level biocontainment laboratories. PMID:25710545

Potential aerospace applications of high temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selim, Raouf

1994-01-01

The recent discovery of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) with superconducting transition temperature, T(sub c), above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen has opened the door for using these materials in new and practical applications. These materials have zero resistance to electric current, have the capability of carrying large currents and as such have the potential to be used in high magnetic field applications. One of the space applications that can use superconductors is electromagnetic launch of payloads to low-earth-orbit. An electromagnetic gun-type launcher can be used in small payload systems that are launched at very high velocity, while sled-type magnetically levitated launcher can be used to launch larger payloads at smaller velocities. Both types of launchers are being studied by NASA and the aerospace industry. The use of superconductors will be essential in any of these types of launchers in order to produce the large magnetic fields required to obtain large thrust forces. Low Temperature Superconductor (LTS) technology is mature enough and can be easily integrated in such systems. As for the HTS, many leading companies are currently producing HTS coils and magnets that potentially can be mass-produced for these launchers. It seems that designing and building a small-scale electromagnetic launcher is the next logical step toward seriously considering this method for launching payloads into low-earth-orbit. A second potential application is the use of HTS to build sensitive portable devices for the use in Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE). Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID's) are the most sensitive instruments for measuring changes in magnetic flux. By using HTS in SQUID's, one will be able to design a portable unit that uses liquid nitrogen or a cryocooler pump to explore the use of gradiometers or magnetometers to detect deep cracks or corrosion in structures. A third use is the replacement of Infra-Red (IR) sensor leads on Earth Orbit Systems (EOS) with HTS leads. IR detectors on these EOS missions are cooled to a 4.2K to improve their signal to noise ratio. They are connected to data acquisitions systems using manganin wires (low thermal conductors) to reduce the heat load on the cryogen. Replacing these wires with HTS leads will increase the lifetime of these missions by about 50 percent. This is a promising application that is ready for actual implementation on such systems. The analysis also show that an the number of IR detectors increase in larger EOS systems, substantial increase in the lifetime of each mission will be realized by using HTS leads instead of the manganin ones.

Dynamic response characteristics of high temperature superconducting maglev systems: Comparison between Halbach-type and normal permanent magnet guideways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, B.; Zheng, J.; Che, T.; Zheng, B. T.; Si, S. S.; Deng, Z. G.

2015-12-01

The permanent magnet guideway (PMG) is very important for the performance of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) system in terms of electromagnetic force and operational stability. The dynamic response characteristics of a HTS maglev model levitating on two types of PMG, which are the normal PMG with iron flux concentration and Halbach-type PMG, were investigated by experiments. The dynamic signals for different field-cooling heights (FCHs) and loading/unloading processes were acquired and analyzed by a vibration analyzer and laser displacement sensors. The resonant frequency, stiffness and levitation height of the model were discussed. It was found that the maglev model on the Halbach-type PMG has higher resonant frequency and higher vertical stiffness compared with the normal PMG. However, the low lateral stiffness of the model on the Halbach-type PMG indicates poor lateral stability. Besides, the Halbach-type PMG has better loading capacity than the normal PMG. These results are helpful to design a suitable PMG for the HTS system in practical applications.

Heat loss analysis-based design of a 12 MW wind power generator module having an HTS flux pump exciter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Hae-Jin; Go, Byeong-Soo; Jiang, Zhenan; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun

2016-11-01

The development of an effective high-temperature superconducting (HTS) generator is currently a research focus; however, the reduction of heat loss of a large-scale HTS generator is a challenge. This study deals with a heat loss analysis-based design of a 12 MW wind power generator module having an HTS flux pump exciter. The generator module consists of an HTS rotor of the generator and an HTS flux pump exciter. The specifications of the module were described, and the detailed configuration of the module was illustrated. For the heat loss analysis of the module, the excitation loss of the flux pump exciter, eddy current loss of all of the structures in the module, radiation loss, and conduction loss of an HTS coil supporter were assessed using a 3D finite elements method program. In the case of the conduction loss, different types of the supporters were compared to find out the supporter of the lowest conduction loss in the module. The heat loss analysis results of the module were reflected in the design of the generator module and discussed in detail. The results will be applied to the design of large-scale superconducting generators for wind turbines including a cooling system.

Modelling of the test of the JT-60SA HTS current leads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zappatore, A.; Heller, R.; Savoldi, L.; Zanino, R.

2017-07-01

The CURLEAD code, which was developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), implements an integrated 1D transient model of a high temperature superconducting (HTS) current lead (CL) including the room termination (RT), the meander-flow type heat exchanger (HX), and the HTS module. CURLEAD was successfully used for the design of the 70 kA ITER demonstrator and of the W7-X and JT-60SA CLs. Recently the code was successfully applied to the prediction and analysis of steady state operation of the ITER correction coils (CC) HTS CL. Here the steady state and pulsed operation of the JT-60SA HTS CLs are analysed, which requires also the modelling of the HX shell and of the vacuum shell, which was not present in the ITER CC. The CURLEAD model extension is presented and the capability of the new version of CURLEAD to reproduce the transient experimental data of the JT-60SA HTS CL is shown. The results obtained provide a better understanding of key parameters of the CL, among which the temperature evolution at the HX-HTS interface, the GHe mass flow rate needed in the HX to achieve the target temperature at that location and the heat load at the cold end.

Comparison of Sanger and next generation sequencing performance for genotyping Cryptosporidium isolates at the 18S rRNA and actin loci.

PubMed

Paparini, Andrea; Gofton, Alexander; Yang, Rongchang; White, Nicole; Bunce, Michael; Ryan, Una M

2015-01-01

Cryptosporidium is an important enteric pathogen that infects a wide range of humans and animals. Rapid and reliable detection and characterisation methods are essential for understanding the transmission dynamics of the parasite. Sanger sequencing, and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on an Ion Torrent platform, were compared with each other for their sensitivity and accuracy in detecting and characterising 25 Cryptosporidium-positive human and animal faecal samples. Ion Torrent reads (n = 123,857) were obtained at both 18S rRNA and actin loci for 21 of the 25 samples. Of these, one isolate at the actin locus (Cattle 05) and three at the 18S rRNA locus (HTS 10, HTS 11 and HTS 12), suffered PCR drop-out (i.e. PCR failures) when using fusion-tagged PCR. Sanger sequences were obtained for both loci for 23 of the 25 samples and showed good agreement with Ion Torrent-based genotyping. Two samples both from pythons (SK 02 and SK 05) produced mixed 18S and actin chromatograms by Sanger sequencing but were clearly identified by Ion Torrent sequencing as C. muris. One isolate (SK 03) was typed as C. muris by Sanger sequencing but was identified as a mixed C. muris and C. tyzzeri infection by HTS. 18S rRNA Type B sequences were identified in 4/6 C. parvum isolates when deep sequenced but were undetected in Sanger sequencing. Sanger was cheaper than Ion Torrent when sequencing a small numbers of samples, but when larger numbers of samples are considered (n = 60), the costs were comparative. Fusion-tagged amplicon based approaches are a powerful way of approaching mixtures, the only draw-back being the loss of PCR efficiency on low-template samples when using primers coupled to MID tags and adaptors. Taken together these data show that HTS has excellent potential for revealing the "true" composition of species/types in a Cryptosporidium infection, but that HTS workflows need to be carefully developed to ensure sensitivity, accuracy and contamination are controlled. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The missing indels: an estimate of indel variation in a human genome and analysis of factors that impede detection

PubMed Central

Jiang, Yue; Turinsky, Andrei L.; Brudno, Michael

2015-01-01

With the development of High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) thousands of human genomes have now been sequenced. Whenever different studies analyze the same genome they usually agree on the amount of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, but differ dramatically on the number of insertion and deletion variants (indels). Furthermore, there is evidence that indels are often severely under-reported. In this manuscript we derive the total number of indel variants in a human genome by combining data from different sequencing technologies, while assessing the indel detection accuracy. Our estimate of approximately 1 million indels in a Yoruban genome is much higher than the results reported in several recent HTS studies. We identify two key sources of difficulties in indel detection: the insufficient coverage, read length or alignment quality; and the presence of repeats, including short interspersed elements and homopolymers/dimers. We quantify the effect of these factors on indel detection. The quality of sequencing data plays a major role in improving indel detection by HTS methods. However, many indels exist in long homopolymers and repeats, where their detection is severely impeded. The true number of indel events is likely even higher than our current estimates, and new techniques and technologies will be required to detect them. PMID:26130710

Design, development and calibration of HTS wire based LOX level sensor probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karunanithi, R.; Jacob, S.; Nadig, D. S.; Prasad, M. V. N.; Gour, A. S.; Gowthaman, M.; Deekshith, P.; Shrivastava, V.

2014-01-01

For space applications, the weight of the liquid level sensors are of major concern as they affect the payload fraction and hence the cost. An attempt is made to design and test a light weight High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) wire based liquid level sensor for Liquid Oxygen (LOX) tank used in the cryostage of the spacecraft. The total resistance value measured of the HTS wire is inversely proportional to the liquid level. A HTS wire (SF12100) of 12mm width and 2.76m length without copper stabilizer has been used in the level sensor. The developed HTS wire based LOX level sensor is calibrated against a discrete diode array type level sensor. Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) and LOX has been used as cryogenic fluid for the calibration purpose. The automatic data logging for the system has been done using LabVIEW11. The net weight of the developed sensor is less than 1 kg.

A Primer on Infectious Disease Bacterial Genomics

PubMed Central

Petkau, Aaron; Knox, Natalie; Graham, Morag; Van Domselaar, Gary

2016-01-01

SUMMARY The number of large-scale genomics projects is increasing due to the availability of affordable high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies. The use of HTS for bacterial infectious disease research is attractive because one whole-genome sequencing (WGS) run can replace multiple assays for bacterial typing, molecular epidemiology investigations, and more in-depth pathogenomic studies. The computational resources and bioinformatics expertise required to accommodate and analyze the large amounts of data pose new challenges for researchers embarking on genomics projects for the first time. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of a bacterial genomics projects from beginning to end, with a particular focus on the planning and computational requirements for HTS data, and provide a general understanding of the analytical concepts to develop a workflow that will meet the objectives and goals of HTS projects. PMID:28590251

An active homopolar magnetic bearing with high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils and ferromagnetic cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, G. V.; Dirusso, E.; Provenza, A. J.

1995-01-01

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in liquid nitrogen. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 200 lb (890 N) radial load capacity (measured non-rotating) and supported a shaft to 14000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that in Cu in liquid nitrogen. Design compromises permitted use of circular coils with rectangular cross section. Conductor improvements will eventually permit coil shape optimization, higher current density and higher bearing load capacity. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, required negligible power to carry its direct current. The control coils were wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag. These dissipated negligible power for direct current (i.e. for steady radial load components). When an alternating current (AC) was added, the AC component dissipated power which increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. In fact at frequencies above about 2 hz, the effective resistance of the control coil conductor actually exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. This is at least qualitatively understandable in the context of a Bean-type model of flux and current penetration into a Type II superconductor. Fortunately the dynamic currents required for bearing stability are of small amplitude. These results show that while twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation, twisted multifilaments will be required to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads, such as those due to unbalance.

Human Tissue Stimulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Neurodyne Corporation Human Tissue Stimulator (HTS) is a totally implantable system used for treatment of chronic pain and involuntary motion disorders by electrical stimulation. It was developed by Pacesetter Systems, Inc. in cooperation with the Applied Physics Laboratory. HTS incorporates a nickel cadmium battery, telemetry and command systems technologies of the same type as those used in NASA's Small Astronomy Satellite-3 in microminiature proportions so that the implantable element is the size of a deck of cards. The stimulator includes a rechargeable battery, an antenna and electronics to receive and process commands and to report on its own condition via telemetry, a wireless process wherein instrument data is converted to electrical signals and sent to a receiver where signals are presented as usable information. The HTS is targeted to nerve centers or to particular areas of the brain to provide relief from intractable pain or arrest involuntary motion. The nickel cadmium battery can be recharged through the skin. The first two HTS units were implanted last year and have been successful. Extensive testing is required before HTS can be made available for general use.

Identification and Correction of Additive and Multiplicative Spatial Biases in Experimental High-Throughput Screening.

PubMed

Mazoure, Bogdan; Caraus, Iurie; Nadon, Robert; Makarenkov, Vladimir

2018-06-01

Data generated by high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies are prone to spatial bias. Traditionally, bias correction methods used in HTS assume either a simple additive or, more recently, a simple multiplicative spatial bias model. These models do not, however, always provide an accurate correction of measurements in wells located at the intersection of rows and columns affected by spatial bias. The measurements in these wells depend on the nature of interaction between the involved biases. Here, we propose two novel additive and two novel multiplicative spatial bias models accounting for different types of bias interactions. We describe a statistical procedure that allows for detecting and removing different types of additive and multiplicative spatial biases from multiwell plates. We show how this procedure can be applied by analyzing data generated by the four HTS technologies (homogeneous, microorganism, cell-based, and gene expression HTS), the three high-content screening (HCS) technologies (area, intensity, and cell-count HCS), and the only small-molecule microarray technology available in the ChemBank small-molecule screening database. The proposed methods are included in the AssayCorrector program, implemented in R, and available on CRAN.

High throughput screening technologies for ion channels

PubMed Central

Yu, Hai-bo; Li, Min; Wang, Wei-ping; Wang, Xiao-liang

2016-01-01

Ion channels are involved in a variety of fundamental physiological processes, and their malfunction causes numerous human diseases. Therefore, ion channels represent a class of attractive drug targets and a class of important off-targets for in vitro pharmacological profiling. In the past decades, the rapid progress in developing functional assays and instrumentation has enabled high throughput screening (HTS) campaigns on an expanding list of channel types. Chronologically, HTS methods for ion channels include the ligand binding assay, flux-based assay, fluorescence-based assay, and automated electrophysiological assay. In this review we summarize the current HTS technologies for different ion channel classes and their applications. PMID:26657056

Characterization of YBa2Cu3O7, including critical current density Jc, by trapped magnetic field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, In-Gann; Liu, Jianxiong; Weinstein, Roy; Lau, Kwong

1992-01-01

Spatial distributions of persistent magnetic field trapped by sintered and melt-textured ceramic-type high-temperature superconductor (HTS) samples have been studied. The trapped field can be reproduced by a model of the current consisting of two components: (1) a surface current Js and (2) a uniform volume current Jv. This Js + Jv model gives a satisfactory account of the spatial distribution of the magnetic field trapped by different types of HTS samples. The magnetic moment can be calculated, based on the Js + Jv model, and the result agrees well with that measured by standard vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). As a consequence, Jc predicted by VSM methods agrees with Jc predicted from the Js + Jv model. The field mapping method described is also useful to reveal the granular structure of large HTS samples and regions of weak links.

The effect of temperature on pinning mechanisms in HTS composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotnikova, A. P.; Rudnev, I. A.

2016-09-01

Pinning mechanism in samples of second generation tapes (2G) of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) was studied The critical current and the pinning force were calculated from the magnetization curves measured in the temperature range of 4.2 - 77 K in magnetic fields up to 14 Tesla using vibration sample magnetometer. To determine the pinning mechanism the dependences of pinning force on magnetic field were constructed according to the Dew-Hughes model and Kramer's rule. The obtained dependences revealed a significant influence of the temperature on effectiveness of different types of pinning. At low temperatures the 2G HTS tapes of different manufacturers demonstrated an equal efficiency of the pinning centers but with temperature increase the differences in pinning mechanisms as well as in properties and effectiveness of the pinning centers become obvious. The influence of the pinning mechanism on the energy losses in HTS tapes was shown.

Construction and Test Results of Coils 2 and 3 of a 3-Nested-Coil 800-MHz REBCO Insert for the MIT 1.3-GHz LTS/HTS NMR Magnet.

PubMed

Park, Dongkeun; Bascuñán, Juan; Michael, Philip C; Lee, Jiho; Hahn, Seungyong; Iwasa, Yukikazu

2018-04-01

We present construction and test results of Coils 2 and 3 of a 3-coil 800-MHz REBCO insert (H800) for the MIT 1.3 GHz LTS/HTS NMR magnet currently under construction. Each of three H800 coils (Coils 1-3) is a stack of no-insulation REBCO double pancakes (DPs). The innermost 8.67-T Coil 1 (26 DPs) was completed in 2016; the middle 5.64-T Coil 2 (32 DPs) has been wound, assembled, and tested; and for the outermost 4.44-T Coil 3, its 38 DPs have been wound and preliminary tests were performed to characterize each DP at 77 K. Included for Coil 2 are: 1) 77-K data of critical current, index, and turn-to-turn characteristic resistivity of each DP; 2) stacking order of the 32 DPs optimized to maximize the Coil 2 current margin and minimize its Joule dissipation in the pancake-to-pancake joints; 3) procedure to experimentally determine and apply a room-temperature preload to the DP stack; 4) 77-K and 4.2-K test results after each of 64 pancakes was over-banded with 75-μm-thick stainless steel tape for a radial thickness of 5 mm. Presented for each DP in Coil 3 are 77-K dada of critical current, index, and turn-to-turn characteristic resistivity.

Small Layer-wound ReBCO Solenoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, A. V.; Shcherbakov, V. I.; Shevchenko, S. A.; Surin, M. I.

The development of the next generation of high field superconducting magnet systems demands studies of new technological approach for its internal sections. Several small HTS solenoids (21 mm inner diameter, 32 layers) were fabricated by layer-winding technique from SuperPower type SCS-4050 ReBCO wire insulated by polyimide wrapping. Different designs of external and internal joints also were also tested. The highest field generated by HTS coil was 2.4 T in a 10 T background field (total field was 12.4 T) at 4.2 K and achieved current density in the coil was 498 A/mm2. The results will be used in development of HTS inner sections for 25 T superconducting magnet.

Accurate detection for a wide range of mutation and editing sites of microRNAs from small RNA high-throughput sequencing profiles

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yun; Ji, Bo; Song, Renhua; Wang, Shengpeng; Li, Ting; Zhang, Xiaotuo; Chen, Kun; Li, Tianqing; Li, Jinyan

2016-01-01

Various types of mutation and editing (M/E) events in microRNAs (miRNAs) can change the stabilities of pre-miRNAs and/or complementarities between miRNAs and their targets. Small RNA (sRNA) high-throughput sequencing (HTS) profiles can contain many mutated and edited miRNAs. Systematic detection of miRNA mutation and editing sites from the huge volume of sRNA HTS profiles is computationally difficult, as high sensitivity and low false positive rate (FPR) are both required. We propose a novel method (named MiRME) for an accurate and fast detection of miRNA M/E sites using a progressive sequence alignment approach which refines sensitivity and improves FPR step-by-step. From 70 sRNA HTS profiles with over 1.3 billion reads, MiRME has detected thousands of statistically significant M/E sites, including 3′-editing sites, 57 A-to-I editing sites (of which 32 are novel), as well as some putative non-canonical editing sites. We demonstrated that a few non-canonical editing sites were not resulted from mutations in genome by integrating the analysis of genome HTS profiles of two human cell lines, suggesting the existence of new editing types to further diversify the functions of miRNAs. Compared with six existing studies or methods, MiRME has shown much superior performance for the identification and visualization of the M/E sites of miRNAs from the ever-increasing sRNA HTS profiles. PMID:27229138

Modeling of the Electric Ship

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

2009, Northrop Grumman and American Superconductor, under an Office of Naval Research contract, successfully tested a HTS AC synchronous motor (HTS ACSM...BLANK i REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 ...Washington DC 20503. 1 . AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE June 2010 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND

New magnetic rails with double-layer Halbach structure by employing NdFeB and ferrite magnets for HTS maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ruixue; Zheng, Jun; Zheng, Botian; Qian, Nan; Li, Jipeng; Deng, Zigang

2018-01-01

In the high temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev system, the magnetic rail as an essential infrastructure is needed all along the route to carry passengers and goods to the destinations. Thus, large amount of rare earth magnetic materials are required in the magnetic rail construction. In order to decrease the dependence of magnetic rails on rare earth elements, the ferrite magnet is employed to replace part of the NdFeB magnets containing rare earth elements. Consequently, a new type rail with double-layer Halbach structure is presented, which is consisted of NdFeB and ferrite magnets. In this paper, we designed and fabricated the proposed rail, and further measured its magnetic flux density distribution and electromagnetic force interacting with HTS bulks. Experimental results indicate that, this new type rail, in double-layer Halbach structure, can achieve an equivalent distribution of magnetic flux density and levitation performance as the pure NdFeB Halbach rail, while a 10% reduction in NdFeB magnet consumption can be realized at the same time. In addition this work explores another magnetic material selection for HTS maglev applications. The dependence on rare earth element and the cost of magnetic rails can be further reduced, as the coercive force of ferrite magnets improved.

An HTS-compatible 3D colony formation assay to identify tumor-specific chemotherapeutics.

PubMed

Horman, Shane R; To, Jeremy; Orth, Anthony P

2013-12-01

There has been increasing interest in the development of cellular behavior models that take advantage of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. To enable assessment of differential perturbagen impacts on cell growth in 2D and 3D, we have miniaturized and adapted for high-throughput screening (HTS) the soft agar colony formation assay, employing a laser-scanning cytometer to image and quantify multiple cell types simultaneously. The assay is HTS compatible, providing high-quality, image-based, replicable data for multiple, co-cultured cell types. As proof of concept, we subjected colorectal carcinoma colonies in 3D soft agar to a mini screen of 1528 natural product compounds. Hit compounds from the primary screen were rescreened in an HTS 3D co-culture matrix containing colon stromal cells and cancer cells. By combining tumor cells and normal, nontransformed colon epithelial cells in one primary screening assay, we were able to obtain differential IC50 data, thereby distinguishing tumor-specific compounds from general cytotoxic compounds. Moreover, we were able to identify compounds that antagonized tumor colony formation in 3D only, highlighting the importance of this assay in identifying agents that interfere with 3D tumor structural growth. This screening platform provides a fast, simple, and robust method for identification of tumor-specific agents in a biologically relevant microenvironment.

Structures of human thymidylate synthase R163K with dUMP, FdUMP and glutathione show asymmetric ligand binding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gibson, Lydia M.; Celeste, Lesa R.; Lovelace, Leslie L.

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a well validated target in cancer chemotherapy. Here, a new crystal form of the R163K variant of human TS (hTS) with five subunits per asymmetric part of the unit cell, all with loop 181-197 in the active conformation, is reported. This form allows binding studies by soaking crystals in artificial mother liquors containing ligands that bind in the active site. Using this approach, crystal structures of hTS complexes with FdUMP and dUMP were obtained, indicating that this form should facilitate high-throughput analysis of hTS complexes with drug candidates. Crystal soaking experiments using oxidized glutathione revealed thatmore » hTS binds this ligand. Interestingly, the two types of binding observed are both asymmetric. In one subunit of the physiological dimer covalent modification of the catalytic nucleophile Cys195 takes place, while in another dimer a noncovalent adduct with reduced glutathione is formed in one of the active sites.« less

Development of Ulta-Efficient Electric Motors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shoykhet, B.; Schiferl, R.; Duckworth, R.

2008-05-01

Electric motors utilize a large amount of electrical energy in utility and industrial applications. Electric motors constructed with high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials have the potential to dramatically reduce electric motor size and losses. HTS motors are best suited for large motor applications at ratings above 1000 horsepower (hp), where the energy savings from the efficiency improvement can overcome the additional power required to keep the superconductors on the rotor cooled. Large HTS based motors are expected to be half the volume and have half the losses of conventional induction motors of the same rating. For a 5000 hp industrialmore » motor, this energy savings can result in $50,000 in operating cost savings over the course of a single year of operation. Since large horsepower motors utilize (or convert) about 30% of the electrical power generated in the United States and about 70% of large motors are candidates for replacement by HTS motors, the annual energy savings potential through the utilization of HTS motors can be up to $1 Billion in the United States alone. Research in the application of HTS materials to electric motors has lead to a number of HTS motor prototypes yet no industrial HTS motor product has yet been introduced. These motor demonstrations have been synchronous motors with HTS field windings, on the rotor. Figure 1-1 shows a solid model rendering of this type of motor. The rotor winding is made with HTS coils that are held at cryogenic temperature by introducing cooling fluid from the cryocooler to the rotor through a transfer coupling. The stator winding is made of copper wire. The HTS winding is thermally isolated from the warm armature and motor shafts by a vacuum insulation space and through the use of composite torque tubes. The stator in Figure 1-1 is an air core stator in that the stator teeth and a small part of the yoke is made up of nonmagnetic material so the magnetic fields distribute themselves as if in air. Between the HTS field winding and the physical air gap is a series of concentric cylinders that act as vacuum insulation space walls as well as conducting paths for induced currents to flow in order to shield the HTS winding and the rotor cold space from time dependent fields. These time dependent fields may be caused by rotor hunting, during a change in motor load, or by non-fundamental component voltages and currents applied by the inverter. These motors are variable speed controlled by the inverter. Common large motor utility and industrial applications are pump and fan drives that are best suited by a variable speed motor. Inverter control of the HTS motor eliminates the need to design the rotor for line starting, which would dump a large amount of heat into the rotor that would then heavily tax the cryogenic cooling system. The field winding is fed by a brushless exciter that provides DC current to the HTS rotor winding. The stator winding is air or water cooled. Technical and commercial hurdles to industrial HTS motor product introduction and customer acceptance include (1) the high cost of HTS wire and the cryogenic cooling system components, (2) customer concerns about reliability of HTS motors, and (3) the ability to attain the loss reduction potential of large HTS motors. Reliance Electric has demonstrated a number of HTS based electric motors up to a 1000 hp, variable speed synchronous motor with an HTS field winding in the year 2000. In 2001 this motor was tested to 1600 hp with a sinusoidal (constant frequency) supply. Figure 1-2 shows the HTS motor on the dynamometer test stand in the Reliance Electric test lab. The extensive test program of the 1000 hp motor successfully demonstrated the technical feasibility of large HTS motors and the basic technologies involved, however the test results did indicate the need for design refinements. In addition, test results served to identify other more fundamental critical technology issues, and revealed the need to continue research efforts in order to improve future HTS motor first cost, reliability, and performance. The lessons learned from the development and testing of the 1000 hp motor were the basis for the tasks proposed for the project that is being described in this final report. These eight tasks and the technology and commercial issues they address are listed in Table 1-1.« less

Magnet design with 100-kA HTS STARS conductors for the helical fusion reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanagi, N.; Terazaki, Y.; Ito, S.; Tamura, H.; Hamaguchi, S.; Mito, T.; Hashizume, H.; Sagara, A.

2016-12-01

The high-temperature superconducting (HTS) option is employed for the conceptual design of the LHD-type helical fusion reactor FFHR-d1. The 100-kA-class STARS (Stacked Tapes Assembled in Rigid Structure) conductor is used for the magnet system including the continuously wound helical coils. Protection of the magnet system in case of a quench is a crucial issue and the hot-spot temperature during an emergency discharge is estimated based on the zero-dimensional and one-dimensional analyses. The number of division of the coil winding package is examined to limit the voltage generation. For cooling the HTS magnet, helium gas flow is considered and its feasibility is examined by simple analysis as a first step.

Enhanced quench propagation in 2G-HTS coils co-wound with stainless steel or anodised aluminium tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Núñez-Chico, A. B.; Martínez, E.; Angurel, L. A.; Navarro, R.

2016-08-01

Early quench detection and thermal stability of superconducting coils are of great relevance for practical applications. Magnets made with second generation high temperature superconducting (2G-HTS) tapes present low quench propagation velocities and therefore slow voltage development and high local temperature rises, which may cause irreversible damage. Since quench propagation depends on the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity, this may be used to achieve an improvement of the thermal stability and robustness of 2G-HTS coils. On pancake type coils, the thermal conductivity along the tapes (coil’s azimuthal direction) is mostly fixed by the 2G-HTS tape characteristics, so that the reduction of anisotropy relies on the improvement of the radial thermal conductivity, which depends on the used materials between superconducting tapes, as well as on the winding and impregnation processes. In this contribution, we have explored two possibilities for such anisotropy reduction: by using anodised aluminium or stainless steel tapes co-wound with the 2G-HTS tapes. For all the analysed coils, critical current distribution, minimum quench energy values and both tangential and radial quench propagation velocities at different temperatures and currents are reported and compared with the results of similar coils co-wound with polyimide (Kapton®) tapes.

Design optimization of superconducting coils based on asymmetrical characteristics of REBCO tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Zhiyong; Li, Wenrong; Chen, Yanjun; Gömöry, Fedor; Frolek, Lubomír; Zhang, Min; Sheng, Jie

2018-07-01

Angle dependence Ic(B,θ) of superconducting tape is a crucial parameter to calculate the influence of magnetic field during the design of superconducting applications,. This paper focuses on the asymmetrical characteristics found in REBCO tapes and further applications based on this phenomenon. This paper starts with angle dependence measurements of different HTS tapes, asymmetrical characteristics are found in some of the testing samples. On basis of this property, optimization of superconducting coils in superconducting motor, transformer and insert magnet is discussed by simulation. Simplified experiments which represent the structure of insert magnet were carried out to prove the validity of numerical studies. Conclusions obtained in this paper show that the asymmetrical property of superconducting tape is quite important in design of superconducting applications, and optimized winding technique based on this property can be used to improve the performance of superconducting devices.

Comprehensive comparison of the levitation performance of bulk YBaCuO arrays above two different types of magnetic guideways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Zigang; Qian, Nan; Che, Tong; Jin, Liwei; Si, Shuaishuai; Zhang, Ya; Zheng, Jun

2016-12-01

The permanent magnet guideway (PMG) is an important part of high temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev systems. So far, two types of PMG, the normal PMG and Halbach-type PMG, are widely applied in present maglev transportation systems. In this paper, the levitation performance of high temperature superconductor bulks above the two PMGs was synthetically compared. Both static levitation performance and dynamic response characteristics were investigated. Benefiting from the reasonable magnetic field distribution, the Halbach-type PMG is able to gain larger levitation force, greater levitation force decay during the same relaxation time, bigger resonance frequency and dynamic stiffness for the bulk superconductor levitation unit compared with the normal PMG. Another finding is that the Halbach-type PMG is not sensitive to the levitation performance of the bulk levitation unit with different arrays. These results are helpful for the practical application of HTS maglev systems.

From molecular engineering to process engineering: development of high-throughput screening methods in enzyme directed evolution.

PubMed

Ye, Lidan; Yang, Chengcheng; Yu, Hongwei

2018-01-01

With increasing concerns in sustainable development, biocatalysis has been recognized as a competitive alternative to traditional chemical routes in the past decades. As nature's biocatalysts, enzymes are able to catalyze a broad range of chemical transformations, not only with mild reaction conditions but also with high activity and selectivity. However, the insufficient activity or enantioselectivity of natural enzymes toward non-natural substrates limits their industrial application, while directed evolution provides a potent solution to this problem, thanks to its independence on detailed knowledge about the relationship between sequence, structure, and mechanism/function of the enzymes. A proper high-throughput screening (HTS) method is the key to successful and efficient directed evolution. In recent years, huge varieties of HTS methods have been developed for rapid evaluation of mutant libraries, ranging from in vitro screening to in vivo selection, from indicator addition to multi-enzyme system construction, and from plate screening to computation- or machine-assisted screening. Recently, there is a tendency to integrate directed evolution with metabolic engineering in biosynthesis, using metabolites as HTS indicators, which implies that directed evolution has transformed from molecular engineering to process engineering. This paper aims to provide an overview of HTS methods categorized based on the reaction principles or types by summarizing related studies published in recent years including the work from our group, to discuss assay design strategies and typical examples of HTS methods, and to share our understanding on HTS method development for directed evolution of enzymes involved in specific catalytic reactions or metabolic pathways.

Compact cryocooling system for HTS sampler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, H.; Maruyama, M.; Hato, T.; Wakana, H.; Tanabe, K.; Konno, T.; Uekusa, K.; Sato, N.; Kawabata, M.

2007-10-01

This paper describes a compact cooling system using a single-stage stirling-type cryocooler for a practical HTS sampler. The system was designed to cool down an HTS sampler module below 50 K, enabling a bandwidth of the chip more than 100 GHz. The system measures 150 mm in width, 140 mm in height and 310 mm in depth, and weighs 5 kg. Semi-rigid coaxial cables made of brass with a silver coated inner conductor were adopted for a signal to be measured and a trigger pulse. The loss for the signal line was less than 1.5 dB at 50 GHz with relatively small thermal inflow. Thermal inflows from low frequency lines, IF signal lines for control/output of the sampler and dc bias lines, were minimized by choosing proper wires. A new sampler module with reduced weight was placed on the cold stage, which was surrounded by double magnetic shields. The module was successfully cooled down to less than 50 K with cooling time of 1 h in the system. We have also succeeded in observing sinusoidal waveforms with the HTS sampler cooled by the compact cooling system.

Pyicos: a versatile toolkit for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.

PubMed

Althammer, Sonja; González-Vallinas, Juan; Ballaré, Cecilia; Beato, Miguel; Eyras, Eduardo

2011-12-15

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionized gene regulation studies and is now fundamental for the detection of protein-DNA and protein-RNA binding, as well as for measuring RNA expression. With increasing variety and sequencing depth of HTS datasets, the need for more flexible and memory-efficient tools to analyse them is growing. We describe Pyicos, a powerful toolkit for the analysis of mapped reads from diverse HTS experiments: ChIP-Seq, either punctuated or broad signals, CLIP-Seq and RNA-Seq. We prove the effectiveness of Pyicos to select for significant signals and show that its accuracy is comparable and sometimes superior to that of methods specifically designed for each particular type of experiment. Pyicos facilitates the analysis of a variety of HTS datatypes through its flexibility and memory efficiency, providing a useful framework for data integration into models of regulatory genomics. Open-source software, with tutorials and protocol files, is available at http://regulatorygenomics.upf.edu/pyicos or as a Galaxy server at http://regulatorygenomics.upf.edu/galaxy eduardo.eyras@upf.edu Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Microwave Switching and Attenuation with Superconductors.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poulin, Grant Darcy

1995-01-01

The discovery of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials having a critical temperature above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen has generated a large amount of interest in both the basic and applied scientific communities. Considerable research effort has been expended in developing HTS microwave devices, since thin film, passive, microwave components will likely be the first area to be successfully commercialized. This thesis describes a new thin film HTS microwave device that can be operated as a switch or as a continuously variable attenuator. It is well suited for low power analog signal control applications and can easily be integrated with other HTS devices. Due to its small size and mass, the device is expected to find application as a receiver protection switch or as an automatic gain control element, both used in satellite communications receivers. The device has a very low insertion loss, and the isolation in the OFF state is continuously variable to 25 dB. With minor modifications, an isolation exceeding 50 dB is readily achievable. A patent application for the device has been filed, with the patent rights assigned to COM DEV. The device is based on an unusual non-linear response in HTS materials. Under a non-zero DC voltage bias, the current through a superconducting bridge is essentially voltage independent. We have proposed a thermal instability to account for this behaviour. Thermal modelling in conjunction with direct temperature measurements were used to confirm the validity of the model. We have developed a detailed model explaining the microwave response of the device. The model accurately predicts the microwave attenuation as a function of the applied DC control voltage and fully explains the device operation. A key feature is that the device acts as a pure resistive element at microwave frequencies, with no reactance. The resistance is continuously variable, controlled by the DC bias voltage. This distinguishes it from a PIN diode, since PIN diodes have a capacitive reactance that limits their frequency range. Measurements made to confirm the microwave model validity resulted in the development of a new cryogenic de-embedding technique. The technique allows accurate microwave measurements to be made on devices at cryogenic temperatures using only room temperature calibration standards. We have also investigated the effect of kinetic inductance on coplanar waveguide transmission lines, and indicate under what conditions kinetic inductance must be considered in transmission line design.

CSReport: A New Computational Tool Designed for Automatic Analysis of Class Switch Recombination Junctions Sequenced by High-Throughput Sequencing.

PubMed

Boyer, François; Boutouil, Hend; Dalloul, Iman; Dalloul, Zeinab; Cook-Moreau, Jeanne; Aldigier, Jean-Claude; Carrion, Claire; Herve, Bastien; Scaon, Erwan; Cogné, Michel; Péron, Sophie

2017-05-15

B cells ensure humoral immune responses due to the production of Ag-specific memory B cells and Ab-secreting plasma cells. In secondary lymphoid organs, Ag-driven B cell activation induces terminal maturation and Ig isotype class switch (class switch recombination [CSR]). CSR creates a virtually unique IgH locus in every B cell clone by intrachromosomal recombination between two switch (S) regions upstream of each C region gene. Amount and structural features of CSR junctions reveal valuable information about the CSR mechanism, and analysis of CSR junctions is useful in basic and clinical research studies of B cell functions. To provide an automated tool able to analyze large data sets of CSR junction sequences produced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS), we designed CSReport, a software program dedicated to support analysis of CSR recombination junctions sequenced with a HTS-based protocol (Ion Torrent technology). CSReport was assessed using simulated data sets of CSR junctions and then used for analysis of Sμ-Sα and Sμ-Sγ1 junctions from CH12F3 cells and primary murine B cells, respectively. CSReport identifies junction segment breakpoints on reference sequences and junction structure (blunt-ended junctions or junctions with insertions or microhomology). Besides the ability to analyze unprecedentedly large libraries of junction sequences, CSReport will provide a unified framework for CSR junction studies. Our results show that CSReport is an accurate tool for analysis of sequences from our HTS-based protocol for CSR junctions, thereby facilitating and accelerating their study. Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Streptococcus halotolerans sp. nov. isolated from the respiratory tract of Marmota himalayana in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China.

PubMed

Niu, Lina; Lu, Shan; Hu, Shoukui; Jin, Dong; Lai, Xinhe; Yang, Jing; Chen, Cuixia; Wang, Yiting; Bai, Xiangning; Lan, Ruiting; Lv, Gang; Xie, Yingping; Ye, Changyun; Xu, Jianguo

2016-10-01

Two Gramstaining-positive, catalase-negative, α-hemolytic, coccus-shaped organisms were isolated separately from the respiratory tracts of two Marmota himalayana animals from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, PR China. Morphological, biological, biochemical, and molecular genetic studies were performed on these two isolates (HTS9T and HTS12). Their biochemical characteristics, such as acid production from different sugars and enzymatic activities, indicated that they represented a member of the genus Streptococcus. They are most closely related to Streptococcus thoraltensis CIP 105518T based on sequence analysis of their 16S rRNA, groEL, sodA and rpoB genes, with similarities of 97.6, 89.9, 92.6 and 91.1 % the four genes respectively. The whole genome phylogenetic tree reconstructed using 372 core genes from 65 genomes of members of the genus Streptococcus validates that HTS9T forms a distinct subline and exhibits specific phylogenetic affinity with S. thoraltensis. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization of HTS9T showed a DNA reassociation value of 32.1 %, closest to that of S. thoraltensis CIP 105518T. Based on their phenotypic characteristics and in particular the phylogenetic findings (DNA-DNA hybridization, three phylogenetic trees built from the partial 16S rRNA/housekeeping genes, and from 372 core genes of 65 genomes of members of the genus Streptococcus), we propose with confidence that strains HTS9T and HTS12 should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus halotolerans sp. nov. The type strain is HTS9T (=DSM 101996T=CGMCC1.15532T). Genome analysis of Streptococcus halotolerans sp. nov. shows that its genome is 1 823 556 bp long with a DNA G+C content of 39.9 mol% and contains 2068 genes.

Development of resazurin-based assay in 384-well format for high throughput whole cell screening of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense strain STIB 900 for the identification of potential anti-trypanosomal agents.

PubMed

Lim, Kah Tee; Zahari, Zuriati; Amanah, Azimah; Zainuddin, Zafarina; Adenan, Mohd Ilham

2016-03-01

To accelerate the discovery of novel leads for the treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), it is necessary to have a simple, robust and cost-effective assay to identify positive hits by high throughput whole cell screening. Most of the fluorescence assay was made in black plate however in this study the HTS assay developed in 384-well format using clear plate and black plate, for comparison. The HTS assay developed is simple, sensitive, reliable and reproducible in both types of plates. Assay robustness and reproducibility were determined under the optimized conditions in 384-well plate was well tolerated in the HTS assay, including percentage of coefficient of variation (% CV) of 4.68% and 4.74% in clear and black 384-well plate, signal-to-background ratio (S/B) of 12.75 in clear 384-well plate and 12.07 in black 384-well plate, Z' factor of 0.79 and 0.82 in clear 384-well plate and black 384-well plate, respectively and final concentration of 0.30% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in both types of plate. Drug sensitivity was found to be comparable to the reported anti-trypanosomal assay in 96-well format. The reproducibility and sensitivity of this assay make it compliant to automated liquid handler use in HTS applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Derivation and Expansion Using Only Small Molecules of Human Neural Progenitors for Neurodegenerative Disease Modeling

PubMed Central

Reinhardt, Peter; Glatza, Michael; Hemmer, Kathrin; Tsytsyura, Yaroslav; Thiel, Cora S.; Höing, Susanne; Moritz, Sören; Parga, Juan A.; Wagner, Lydia; Bruder, Jan M.; Wu, Guangming; Schmid, Benjamin; Röpke, Albrecht; Klingauf, Jürgen; Schwamborn, Jens C.; Gasser, Thomas; Schöler, Hans R.; Sterneckert, Jared

2013-01-01

Phenotypic drug discovery requires billions of cells for high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns. Because up to several million different small molecules will be tested in a single HTS campaign, even small variability within the cell populations for screening could easily invalidate an entire campaign. Neurodegenerative assays are particularly challenging because neurons are post-mitotic and cannot be expanded for implementation in HTS. Therefore, HTS for neuroprotective compounds requires a cell type that is robustly expandable and able to differentiate into all of the neuronal subtypes involved in disease pathogenesis. Here, we report the derivation and propagation using only small molecules of human neural progenitor cells (small molecule neural precursor cells; smNPCs). smNPCs are robust, exhibit immortal expansion, and do not require cumbersome manual culture and selection steps. We demonstrate that smNPCs have the potential to clonally and efficiently differentiate into neural tube lineages, including motor neurons (MNs) and midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) as well as neural crest lineages, including peripheral neurons and mesenchymal cells. These properties are so far only matched by pluripotent stem cells. Finally, to demonstrate the usefulness of smNPCs we show that mDANs differentiated from smNPCs with LRRK2 G2019S are more susceptible to apoptosis in the presence of oxidative stress compared to wild-type. Therefore, smNPCs are a powerful biological tool with properties that are optimal for large-scale disease modeling, phenotypic screening, and studies of early human development. PMID:23533608

A novel HTS magnetic levitation dining table

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yiyun; Huang, Huiying

2018-05-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk can levitate above or suspend below a permanent magnet stably. Many magnificent potential applications of HTS bulk are proposed by researchers. Until now, few reports have been found for real applications of HTS bulk. A complete set of small-scale HTS magnetic levitation table is proposed in the paper. The HTS magnetic levitation table includes an annular HTS magnetic levitation system which is composed of an annular HTS bulk array and an annular permanent magnet guideway (PMG). The annular PMG and the annular cryogenics vessel which used to maintain low temperature environment of the HTS bulk array are designed. 62 YBCO bulks are used to locate at the bottom of the annular vessel. A 3D-model finite element numerical method is used to design the HTS bulk magnetic levitation system. Equivalent magnetic levitation and guidance forces calculation rules are proposed aimed at the annular HTS magnetic levitation system stability. Based on the proposed method, levitation and guidance forces curves of the one YBCO bulk magnetic above PMG could be obtained. This method also can use to assist PMG design to check whether the designed PMG could reach the basic demand of the HTS magnetic levitation table.

A study on the required performance of a 2G HTS wire for HTS wind power generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Hae-Jin; Park, Minwon; Go, Byeong-Soo; Yu, In-Keun

2016-05-01

YBCO or REBCO coated conductor (2G) materials are developed for their superior performance at high magnetic field and temperature. Power system applications based on high temperature superconducting (HTS) 2G wire technology are attracting attention, including large-scale wind power generators. In particular, to solve problems associated with the foundations and mechanical structure of offshore wind turbines, due to the large diameter and heavy weight of the generator, an HTS generator is suggested as one of the key technologies. Many researchers have tried to develop feasible large-scale HTS wind power generator technologies. In this paper, a study on the required performance of a 2G HTS wire for large-scale wind power generators is discussed. A 12 MW class large-scale wind turbine and an HTS generator are designed using 2G HTS wire. The total length of the 2G HTS wire for the 12 MW HTS generator is estimated, and the essential prerequisites of the 2G HTS wire based generator are described. The magnetic field distributions of a pole module are illustrated, and the mechanical stress and strain of the pole module are analysed. Finally, a reasonable price for 2G HTS wire for commercialization of the HTS generator is suggested, reflecting the results of electromagnetic and mechanical analyses of the generator.

ToxCast HTS Assay Development and Retrofitting: Strategies ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

A presentation to EC JRC partners on new ToxCast HTS assay methods and strategies to address current limitations to HTS methods Slide presentation to EC JRC partners on new ToxCast HTS assay methods and strategies to address current limitations to HTS methods.

Development of autoclave moldable addition-type polyimides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughan, R. W.; Jones, R. J.; Orell, M. K.; Zakrzewski, G. A.

1976-01-01

Chemistry and processing modifications of the poly(Diels Alder) polyimide (PDA) resin were performed to obtain structural composites suitable for 589 K (600 F) service. This work demonstrated that the PDA resin formulation is suitable for service at 589 K (600 F) for up to 125 hours when used in combination with Hercules HTS graphite fiber. Sandwich panels were autoclave molded using PDA/HTS skins and polyimide/glass honeycomb core. Excellent adhesion between honeycomb core and the facing skins was demonstrated. Fabrication ease was demonstrated by autoclave molding three-quarter scale YF-12 wing panels.

Detecting and overcoming systematic bias in high-throughput screening technologies: a comprehensive review of practical issues and methodological solutions.

PubMed

Caraus, Iurie; Alsuwailem, Abdulaziz A; Nadon, Robert; Makarenkov, Vladimir

2015-11-01

Significant efforts have been made recently to improve data throughput and data quality in screening technologies related to drug design. The modern pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on high-throughput screening (HTS) and high-content screening (HCS) technologies, which include small molecule, complementary DNA (cDNA) and RNA interference (RNAi) types of screening. Data generated by these screening technologies are subject to several environmental and procedural systematic biases, which introduce errors into the hit identification process. We first review systematic biases typical of HTS and HCS screens. We highlight that study design issues and the way in which data are generated are crucial for providing unbiased screening results. Considering various data sets, including the publicly available ChemBank data, we assess the rates of systematic bias in experimental HTS by using plate-specific and assay-specific error detection tests. We describe main data normalization and correction techniques and introduce a general data preprocessing protocol. This protocol can be recommended for academic and industrial researchers involved in the analysis of current or next-generation HTS data. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Robustness of Massively Parallel Sequencing Platforms

PubMed Central

Kavak, Pınar; Yüksel, Bayram; Aksu, Soner; Kulekci, M. Oguzhan; Güngör, Tunga; Hach, Faraz; Şahinalp, S. Cenk; Alkan, Can; Sağıroğlu, Mahmut Şamil

2015-01-01

The improvements in high throughput sequencing technologies (HTS) made clinical sequencing projects such as ClinSeq and Genomics England feasible. Although there are significant improvements in accuracy and reproducibility of HTS based analyses, the usability of these types of data for diagnostic and prognostic applications necessitates a near perfect data generation. To assess the usability of a widely used HTS platform for accurate and reproducible clinical applications in terms of robustness, we generated whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequence data from the genomes of two human individuals in two different genome sequencing centers. After analyzing the data to characterize SNPs and indels using the same tools (BWA, SAMtools, and GATK), we observed significant number of discrepancies in the call sets. As expected, the most of the disagreements between the call sets were found within genomic regions containing common repeats and segmental duplications, albeit only a small fraction of the discordant variants were within the exons and other functionally relevant regions such as promoters. We conclude that although HTS platforms are sufficiently powerful for providing data for first-pass clinical tests, the variant predictions still need to be confirmed using orthogonal methods before using in clinical applications. PMID:26382624

Pyicos: a versatile toolkit for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data

PubMed Central

Althammer, Sonja; González-Vallinas, Juan; Ballaré, Cecilia; Beato, Miguel; Eyras, Eduardo

2011-01-01

Motivation: High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionized gene regulation studies and is now fundamental for the detection of protein–DNA and protein–RNA binding, as well as for measuring RNA expression. With increasing variety and sequencing depth of HTS datasets, the need for more flexible and memory-efficient tools to analyse them is growing. Results: We describe Pyicos, a powerful toolkit for the analysis of mapped reads from diverse HTS experiments: ChIP-Seq, either punctuated or broad signals, CLIP-Seq and RNA-Seq. We prove the effectiveness of Pyicos to select for significant signals and show that its accuracy is comparable and sometimes superior to that of methods specifically designed for each particular type of experiment. Pyicos facilitates the analysis of a variety of HTS datatypes through its flexibility and memory efficiency, providing a useful framework for data integration into models of regulatory genomics. Availability: Open-source software, with tutorials and protocol files, is available at http://regulatorygenomics.upf.edu/pyicos or as a Galaxy server at http://regulatorygenomics.upf.edu/galaxy Contact: eduardo.eyras@upf.edu Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:21994224

Detection of Local Temperature Change on HTS Cables via Time-Frequency Domain Reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bang, Su Sik; Lee, Geon Seok; Kwon, Gu-Young; Lee, Yeong Ho; Ji, Gyeong Hwan; Sohn, Songho; Park, Kijun; Shin, Yong-June

2017-07-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) cables are drawing attention as transmission and distribution cables in future grid, and related researches on HTS cables have been conducted actively. As HTS cables have come to the demonstration stage, failures of cooling systems inducing quench phenomenon of the HTS cables have become significant. Several diagnosis of the HTS cables have been developed but there are still some limitations of the experimental setup. In this paper, a non-destructive diagnostic technique for the detection of the local temperature change point is proposed. Also, a simulation model of HTS cables with a local temperature change point is suggested to verify the proposed diagnosis. The performance of the diagnosis is checked by comparative analysis between the proposed simulation results and experiment results of a real-world HTS cable. It is expected that the suggested simulation model and diagnosis will contribute to the commercialization of HTS cables in the power grid.

A Split-Luciferase-Based Trimer Formation Assay as a High-throughput Screening Platform for Therapeutics in Alport Syndrome.

PubMed

Omachi, Kohei; Kamura, Misato; Teramoto, Keisuke; Kojima, Haruka; Yokota, Tsubasa; Kaseda, Shota; Kuwazuru, Jun; Fukuda, Ryosuke; Koyama, Kosuke; Matsuyama, Shingo; Motomura, Keishi; Shuto, Tsuyoshi; Suico, Mary Ann; Kai, Hirofumi

2018-05-17

Alport syndrome is a hereditary glomerular disease caused by mutation in type IV collagen α3-α5 chains (α3-α5(IV)), which disrupts trimerization, leading to glomerular basement membrane degeneration. Correcting the trimerization of α3/α4/α5 chain is a feasible therapeutic approach, but is hindered by lack of information on the regulation of intracellular α(IV) chain and the absence of high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms to assess α345(IV) trimer formation. Here, we developed sets of split NanoLuc-fusion α345(IV) proteins to monitor α345(IV) trimerization of wild-type and clinically associated mutant α5(IV). The α345(IV) trimer assay, which satisfied the acceptance criteria for HTS, enabled the characterization of intracellular- and secretion-dependent defects of mutant α5(IV). Small interfering RNA-based and chemical screening targeting the ER identified several chemical chaperones that have potential to promote α345(IV) trimer formation. This split luciferase-based trimer formation assay is a functional HTS platform that realizes the feasibility of targeting α345(IV) trimers to treat Alport syndrome. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improving detection of copy-number variation by simultaneous bias correction and read-depth segmentation.

PubMed

Szatkiewicz, Jin P; Wang, WeiBo; Sullivan, Patrick F; Wang, Wei; Sun, Wei

2013-02-01

Structural variation is an important class of genetic variation in mammals. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies promise to revolutionize copy-number variation (CNV) detection but present substantial analytic challenges. Converging evidence suggests that multiple types of CNV-informative data (e.g. read-depth, read-pair, split-read) need be considered, and that sophisticated methods are needed for more accurate CNV detection. We observed that various sources of experimental biases in HTS confound read-depth estimation, and note that bias correction has not been adequately addressed by existing methods. We present a novel read-depth-based method, GENSENG, which uses a hidden Markov model and negative binomial regression framework to identify regions of discrete copy-number changes while simultaneously accounting for the effects of multiple confounders. Based on extensive calibration using multiple HTS data sets, we conclude that our method outperforms existing read-depth-based CNV detection algorithms. The concept of simultaneous bias correction and CNV detection can serve as a basis for combining read-depth with other types of information such as read-pair or split-read in a single analysis. A user-friendly and computationally efficient implementation of our method is freely available.

Electromagnetic Performance Calculation of HTS Linear Induction Motor for Rail Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bin; Fang, Jin; Cao, Junci; Chen, Jie; Shu, Hang; Sheng, Long

2017-07-01

According to a high temperature superconducting (HTS) linear induction motor (LIM) designed for rail systems, the influence of electromagnetic parameters and mechanical structure parameters on the electromagnetic horizontal thrust, vertical force of HTS LIM and the maximum vertical magnetic field of HTS windings are analyzed. Through the research on the vertical field of HTS windings, the development regularity of the HTS LIM maximum input current with different stator frequency and different thickness value of the secondary conductive plate is obtained. The theoretical results are of great significance to analyze the stability of HTS LIM. Finally, based on theory analysis, HTS LIM test platform was built and the experiment was carried out with load. The experimental results show that the theoretical analysis is correct and reasonable.

Development of a single-phase 30 m HTS power cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Jeonwook; Bae, Joon-Han; Kim, Hae-Jong; Sim, Ki-Deok; Kim, Seokho; Jang, Hyun-Man; Lee, Chang-Young; Kim, Dong-Wook

2006-05-01

HTS power transmission cables appear to be the replacement and retrofitting of underground cables in urban areas and HTS power transmission cable offers a number of technical and economic merits compared to the normal conductor cable system. A 30 m long, single-phase 22.9 kV class HTS power transmission cable system has been developed by Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), LS Cable Ltd., and Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), which is one of the 21st century frontier project in Korea since 2001. The HTS power cable has been developed, cooled down and tested to obtain realistic thermal and electrical data on HTS power cable system. The evaluation results clarified such good performance of HTS cable that DC critical current of the HTS cable was 3.6 kA and AC loss was 0.98 W/m at 1260 Arms and shield current was 1000 Arms. These results proved the basic properties for 22.9 kV HTS power cable. As a next step, we have been developing a 30 m, three-phase 22.9 kV, 50 MV A HTS power cable system and long term evaluation is in progress now.

Commercialization of Medium Voltage HTS Triax TM Cable Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knoll, David

2012-12-31

The original project scope that was established in 2007 aimed to install a 1,700 meter (1.1 mile) medium voltage HTS Triax{TM} cable system into the utility grid in New Orleans, LA. In 2010, however, the utility partner withdrew from the project, so the 1,700 meter cable installation was cancelled and the scope of work was reduced. The work then concentrated on the specific barriers to commercialization of HTS cable technology. The modified scope included long-length HTS cable design and testing, high voltage factory test development, optimized cooling system development, and HTS cable life-cycle analysis. In 2012, Southwire again analyzed themore » market for HTS cables and deemed the near term market acceptance to be low. The scope of work was further reduced to the completion of tasks already started and to testing of the existing HTS cable system in Columbus, OH. The work completed under the project included: • Long-length cable modeling and analysis • HTS wire evaluation and testing • Cable testing for AC losses • Optimized cooling system design • Life cycle testing of the HTS cable in Columbus, OH • Project management. The 200 meter long HTS Triax{TM} cable in Columbus, OH was incorporated into the project under the initial scope changes as a test bed for life cycle testing as well as the site for an optimized HTS cable cooling system. The Columbus cable utilizes the HTS TriaxTM design, so it provided an economical tool for these of the project tasks.« less

Effects of holding time during cooling and of type of package on plasma membrane integrity, motility and in vitro oocyte penetration ability of frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa.

PubMed

Eriksson, B M; Vazquez, J M; Martinez, E A; Roca, J; Lucas, X; Rodriguez-Martinez, H

2001-05-01

The effect of a prolonged holding time (HT) during cooling on plasma membrane integrity (PMI), motility and in vitro oocyte penetration ability of boar spermatozoa frozen-thawed in different types of package was investigated. Boar semen was frozen in a split-sample design using 3 different HTs (3, 10 and 20 h) during cooling and three different types of freezing package: Maxi-straws, Medium-straws and FlatPacks. Assessment of PMI (SYBR-14 and propidium iodide, fluorescence microscopy) and sperm motility (visually and with CASA) was done during cooling (at 32 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 5 degrees C) and post-thaw (PT). The in vitro oocyte penetration ability of the spermatozoa was tested only PT, using a homologous in vitro penetration assay (hIVP). During cooling the HTs used had no significant (p<0.05) effect on either PMI or percentage of motile spermatozoa Post-thaw PMI was significantly higher (p<0.05) for 10 h and 20 h HT compared with 3 h, and the percentage of motile spermatozoa decreased significantly with 20 h HT as opposed to 3 h and 10 h. Regarding the freezing packages, the FlatPacks and Maxi-straws yielded significantly more PMI than did the Medium-straws (p<0.05). Post-thaw motility was significantly higher for FlatPacks than for straws, in terms of both percentage motile spermatozoa, and sperm velocity and lateral head displacement (LHD). The hIVP did not show any significant differences among the HTs, although FlatPacks yielded a significantly higher penetration rate and more spermatozoa per penetrated oocyte (p<0.05) than did the straws. Changes in motility patterns, toward a more circular motility during cooling and PT, could be noticed where individual spermatozoa showed a capacitation-like motility pattern. The changes were more obvious with 10-h and 20-h HTs than with 3-h HT.

Streptococcus himalayensis sp. nov., isolated from the respiratory tract of Marmota himalayana.

PubMed

Niu, Lina; Lu, Shan; Lai, Xin-He; Hu, Shoukui; Chen, Cuixia; Zhang, Gui; Yang, Jing; Jin, Dong; Wang, Yi; Lan, Ruiting; Lu, Gang; Xie, Yingping; Ye, Changyun; Xu, Jianguo

2017-02-01

Five strains of Gram-positive-staining, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped, chain-forming organisms isolated separately from the respiratory tracts of five Marmota himalayana animals in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China were subjected to phenotypic and molecular taxonomic analyses. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that these singular organisms represent a new member of the genus Streptococcus, being phylogenetically closest to Streptococcus marmotae DSM 101995T (98.4 % similarity). The groEL, sodA and rpoB sequence analysis showed interspecies similarity values between HTS2T and Streptococcus. marmotae DSM 101995T, its closest phylogenetic relative based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, of 98.2, 78.8 and 93.7 %, respectively. A whole-genome phylogenetic tree built from 82 core genes of genomes from 16 species of the genus Streptococcus validated that HTS2T forms a distinct subline and exhibits specific phylogenetic affinity with S. marmotae. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization of HTS2T showed an estimated DNA reassociation value of 40.5 % with Streptococcus. marmotae DSM 101995T. On the basis of their phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic findings, it is proposed that the five isolates be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus himalayensis sp. nov. The type strain is HTS2T (=DSM 101997T=CGMCC 1.15533T). The genome of Streptococcus himalayensis sp. nov. strain HTS2T contains 2195 genes with a size of 2 275 471 bp and a mean DNA G+C content of 41.3 mol%.

Computational analysis of stochastic heterogeneity in PCR amplification efficiency revealed by single molecule barcoding

PubMed Central

Best, Katharine; Oakes, Theres; Heather, James M.; Shawe-Taylor, John; Chain, Benny

2015-01-01

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most widely used techniques in molecular biology. In combination with High Throughput Sequencing (HTS), PCR is widely used to quantify transcript abundance for RNA-seq, and in the context of analysis of T and B cell receptor repertoires. In this study, we combine DNA barcoding with HTS to quantify PCR output from individual target molecules. We develop computational tools that simulate both the PCR branching process itself, and the subsequent subsampling which typically occurs during HTS sequencing. We explore the influence of different types of heterogeneity on sequencing output, and compare them to experimental results where the efficiency of amplification is measured by barcodes uniquely identifying each molecule of starting template. Our results demonstrate that the PCR process introduces substantial amplification heterogeneity, independent of primer sequence and bulk experimental conditions. This heterogeneity can be attributed both to inherited differences between different template DNA molecules, and the inherent stochasticity of the PCR process. The results demonstrate that PCR heterogeneity arises even when reaction and substrate conditions are kept as constant as possible, and therefore single molecule barcoding is essential in order to derive reproducible quantitative results from any protocol combining PCR with HTS. PMID:26459131

Longitudinal, 3D Imaging of Collagen Remodeling in Murine Hypertrophic Scars In Vivo using Polarization-sensitive Optical Frequency Domain Imaging

PubMed Central

Lo, William C. Y.; Villiger, Martin; Golberg, Alexander; Broelsch, G. Felix; Khan, Saiqa; Lian, Christine G.; Austen, William G.; Yarmush, Martin; Bouma, Brett E.

2016-01-01

Hypertrophic scars (HTS), frequently seen after traumatic injuries and surgery, remain a major clinical challenge due to the limited success of existing therapies. A significant obstacle to understanding HTS etiology is the lack of tools to monitor scar remodeling longitudinally and non-invasively. We present an in vivo, label-free technique using polarization-sensitive optical frequency domain imaging (PS-OFDI) for the 3D, longitudinal assessment of collagen remodeling in murine HTS. In this study, HTS was induced with a mechanical tension device for 4 to 10 days on incisional wounds and imaged up to one month after device removal; an excisional HTS model was also imaged at 6 months after injury to investigate deeper and more mature scars. We showed that local retardation (LR) and degree of polarization (DOP) provide a robust signature for HTS. Compared to normal skin with heterogeneous LR and low DOP, HTS was characterized by an initially low LR, which increased as collagen fibers remodeled, and a persistently high DOP. This study demonstrates that PS-OFDI offers a powerful tool to gain significant biological insights into HTS remodeling by enabling longitudinal assessment of collagen in vivo, which is critical to elucidating HTS etiology and developing more effective HTS therapies. PMID:26763427

Recent Development Status of Stirling Type Pulse Tube Cryocooler for HTS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiratsuka, Y.; Nakano, K.; Kato, T.

2014-05-01

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI) has been developing a high power stirling type pulse tube cryocooler. For the purpose of cooling high-temperature superconductor (HTS) devices, such as superconductor motor, SMES and current fault limiter, requested specifications from the devices to a cryocooler are compact size, light weight, high efficiency and high reliability. Especially, the cryocooler must be demanded COP > 0.1 in the efficiency. The experimental results of prototype pulse tube cryocooler were reported in June 2012 [1]. For an In-line type expander, the cooling capacity was 210 W at 77 K and the minimum temperature was 37 K when the compressor input power was 3.8 kW and the operating frequency was 49 Hz. Accordingly, COP was about 0.055. Moreover, for miniaturization a U type expander was tested and the performance is about 10 % less than that of an In-line type expander. After that, we have estimated that the cooling performance is influenced by the environment such as the effect of the pulse-tube inclination, the temperature and the flowing quantity of cooling water. The detailed results are reported in this paper.

High Tc Superconducting Magnet Excited by a Semiconductor Thermoelectric Element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuriyama, T.; Ono, M.; Tabe, S.; Oguchi, A.; Okamura, T.

2006-04-01

A high Tc superconducting (HTS) magnet excited by a thermal electromotive force of a thermoelectric element is studied. This HTS magnet has the advantages of compactness, lightweight and continuous excitation in comparison with conventional HTS magnets, because this HTS magnet does not need a large external power source. In this system, a heat input into the cryogenic environment is necessary to excite the thermoelectric element for constant operation. This heat generation, however, causes a rise in temperature of an HTS coil and reduces the system performance. In this paper, a newly designed magnet system which adopted a two-stage GM cryocooler was investigated. It enabled us to control the temperature of a thermoelectric element and that of an HTS coil independently. The temperature of the HTS coil could be kept at 10-20 K at the second stage of the GM cryocooler, while the thermoelectric element could be excited at higher temperature in the range of 50-70 K at the first stage, where the performance of the thermoelectric element was higher. The experimental results on this HTS magnet are shown and the possibility of the thermoelectric element as a main power source of the HTS magnets is discussed.

Electrically Stimulated Antagonist Muscle Contraction Increased Muscle Mass and Bone Mineral Density of One Astronaut - Initial Verification on the International Space Station.

PubMed

Shiba, Naoto; Matsuse, Hiroo; Takano, Yoshio; Yoshimitsu, Kazuhiro; Omoto, Masayuki; Hashida, Ryuki; Tagawa, Yoshihiko; Inada, Tomohisa; Yamada, Shin; Ohshima, Hiroshi

2015-01-01

Musculoskeletal atrophy is one of the major problems of extended periods of exposure to weightlessness such as on the International Space Station (ISS). We developed the Hybrid Training System (HTS) to maintain an astronaut's musculoskeletal system using an electrically stimulated antagonist to resist the volitional contraction of the agonist instead of gravity. The present study assessed the system's orbital operation capability and utility, as well as its preventative effect on an astronaut's musculoskeletal atrophy. HTS was attached to the non-dominant arm of an astronaut staying on the ISS, and his dominant arm without HTS was established as the control (CTR). 10 sets of 10 reciprocal elbow curls were one training session, and 12 total sessions of training (3 times per week for 4 weeks) were performed. Pre and post flight ground based evaluations were performed by Biodex (muscle performance), MRI (muscle volume), and DXA (BMD, lean [muscle] mass, fat mass). Pre and post training inflight evaluations were performed by a hand held dynamometer (muscle force) and a measuring tape (upper arm circumference). The experiment was completed on schedule, and HTS functioned well without problems. Isokinetic elbow extension torque (Nm) changed -19.4% in HTS, and -21.7% in CTR. Isokinetic elbow flexion torque changed -23.7% in HTS, and there was no change in CTR. Total Work (Joule) of elbow extension changed -8.3% in HTS, and +0.3% in CTR. For elbow flexion it changed -23.3% in HTS and -32.6% in CTR. Average Power (Watts) of elbow extension changed +22.1% in HTS and -8.0% in CTR. For elbow flexion it changed -6.5% in HTS and -4.8% in CTR. Triceps muscle volume according to MRI changed +11.7% and that of biceps was +2.1% using HTS, however -0.1% and -0.4% respectively for CTR. BMD changed +4.6% in the HTS arm and -1.2% for CTR. Lean (muscle) mass of the arm changed only +10.6% in HTS. Fat mass changed -12.6% in HTS and -6.4% in CTR. These results showed the orbital operation capability and utility, and the preventive effect of HTS for an astronaut's musculoskeletal atrophy. The initial flight data together with the ground data obtained so far will be utilized in the future planning of human space exploration.

The Effect of Magnetic Field on HTS Leads What Happens when thePower Fails at RAL?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Green, Michael A.

2007-02-14

The key to being able to operate the MICE superconducting solenoids on small coolers is the use of high temperature superconducting (HTS) leads between the first stage of the cooler and the magnet, which operates at around 4.2 K. Because MICE magnets are not shielded, all of the MICE magnets have a stray magnetic field in the region where the coolers and the HTS leads are located. The behavior of the HTS leads in a magnetic field depends strongly on the HTS material used for the leads and the temperature of the cooler first stage temperature. The HTS leads canmore » be specified to operate at the maximum current for the magnet. This report shows how the HTS leads can be specified for use the MICE magnets. MICE magnets take from 1.3 hours (the tracker solenoids) to 3.7 hours (the coupling magnet) to charge to the highest projected operating currents. If the power fails, the cooler and the upper ends of the HTS leads warm up. The question is how one can discharge the magnet to protect the HTS leads without quenching the MICE magnets. This report describes a method that one can use to protect the HTS leads in the event of a power failure at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).« less

15 CFR 335.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... § 335.2 Definitions. For purposes of these regulations and the forms used to implement them: The Act..., certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (HTS heading... microns or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or...

15 CFR 335.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... § 335.2 Definitions. For purposes of these regulations and the forms used to implement them: The Act..., certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (HTS heading... microns or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or...

15 CFR 335.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... § 335.2 Definitions. For purposes of these regulations and the forms used to implement them: The Act..., certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (HTS heading... microns or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or...

15 CFR 335.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... § 335.2 Definitions. For purposes of these regulations and the forms used to implement them: The Act..., certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (HTS heading... microns or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Casalbuoni, S., E-mail: sara.casalbuoni@kit.edu; Cecilia, A.; Gerstl, S.

Superconducting undulators (SCUs) have the potential to reach higher brilliance and flux with respect to the state of the art permanent magnet insertion devices. ANKA is collaborating with the industrial partner Babcock Noell GmbH (BNG) to realize NbTi conduction cooled planar devices for low emittance light sources, and is developing the instrumentation to characterize the magnetic field properties and to measure the beam heat load to a cold bore needed for the cryogenic design of SCUs. We present here: the most recent results obtained within the ANKA-BNG collaboration, the progress achieved in the development of the instrumentation, and the inmore » house studies on the application of high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape to the SCU technology.« less

The present status of the high temperature superconducting Maglev vehicle in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. S.; Wang, S. Y.; Zeng, Y. W.; Deng, C. Y.; Ren, Z. Y.; Wang, X. R.; Song, H. H.; Wang, X. Z.; Zheng, J.; Zhao, Y.

2005-02-01

Since the first successful running of the people-carrying high temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev test vehicle on 31 December 2000, about 27 000 people have taken it, and the accumulated running distance is about 400 km. The levitation force of the onboard HTS equipment is measured periodically, and new experimental results measured on 5 March 2003 show that the performance of the onboard HTS Maglev equipment is almost the same as that of two years ago. Experimental results indicate that the long-term stability of the HTS Maglev vehicle is good. This further proves the feasibility of the HTS Maglev vehicle for practical transportation. It is worth mentioning that all the results are measured at a low speed; however, investigations of the dynamic performance of the HTS Maglev vehicle at high speed are necessary for practical application. Research on the dynamic performance of the HTS Maglev vehicle is ongoing.

US Navy superconductivity program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gubser, Donald U.

1991-01-01

Both the new high temperature superconductors (HTS) and the low temperature superconductors (LTS) are important components of the Navy's total plan to integrate superconductivity into field operational systems. Fundamental research is an important component of the total Navy program and focuses on the HTS materials. Power applications (ship propulsion) use LTS materials while space applications (millimeter wave electronics) use HTS materials. The Space Experiment to be conducted at NRL will involve space flight testing of HTS devices built by industry and will demonstrate the ability to engineer and space qualify these devices for systems use. Another important component of the Navy's effort is the development of Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometers. This program will use LTS materials initially, but plans to implement HTS materials as soon as possible. Hybrid HTS/LTS systems are probable in many applications. A review of the status of the Navy's HTS materials research is given as well as an update on the Navy's development efforts in superconductivity.

High-throughput microsatellite genotyping in ecology: improved accuracy, efficiency, standardization and success with low-quantity and degraded DNA.

PubMed

De Barba, M; Miquel, C; Lobréaux, S; Quenette, P Y; Swenson, J E; Taberlet, P

2017-05-01

Microsatellite markers have played a major role in ecological, evolutionary and conservation research during the past 20 years. However, technical constrains related to the use of capillary electrophoresis and a recent technological revolution that has impacted other marker types have brought to question the continued use of microsatellites for certain applications. We present a study for improving microsatellite genotyping in ecology using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). This approach entails selection of short markers suitable for HTS, sequencing PCR-amplified microsatellites on an Illumina platform and bioinformatic treatment of the sequence data to obtain multilocus genotypes. It takes advantage of the fact that HTS gives direct access to microsatellite sequences, allowing unambiguous allele identification and enabling automation of the genotyping process through bioinformatics. In addition, the massive parallel sequencing abilities expand the information content of single experimental runs far beyond capillary electrophoresis. We illustrated the method by genotyping brown bear samples amplified with a multiplex PCR of 13 new microsatellite markers and a sex marker. HTS of microsatellites provided accurate individual identification and parentage assignment and resulted in a significant improvement of genotyping success (84%) of faecal degraded DNA and costs reduction compared to capillary electrophoresis. The HTS approach holds vast potential for improving success, accuracy, efficiency and standardization of microsatellite genotyping in ecological and conservation applications, especially those that rely on profiling of low-quantity/quality DNA and on the construction of genetic databases. We discuss and give perspectives for the implementation of the method in the light of the challenges encountered in wildlife studies. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Validation of high throughput sequencing and microbial forensics applications

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

High throughput sequencing (HTS) generates large amounts of high quality sequence data for microbial genomics. The value of HTS for microbial forensics is the speed at which evidence can be collected and the power to characterize microbial-related evidence to solve biocrimes and bioterrorist events. As HTS technologies continue to improve, they provide increasingly powerful sets of tools to support the entire field of microbial forensics. Accurate, credible results allow analysis and interpretation, significantly influencing the course and/or focus of an investigation, and can impact the response of the government to an attack having individual, political, economic or military consequences. Interpretation of the results of microbial forensic analyses relies on understanding the performance and limitations of HTS methods, including analytical processes, assays and data interpretation. The utility of HTS must be defined carefully within established operating conditions and tolerances. Validation is essential in the development and implementation of microbial forensics methods used for formulating investigative leads attribution. HTS strategies vary, requiring guiding principles for HTS system validation. Three initial aspects of HTS, irrespective of chemistry, instrumentation or software are: 1) sample preparation, 2) sequencing, and 3) data analysis. Criteria that should be considered for HTS validation for microbial forensics are presented here. Validation should be defined in terms of specific application and the criteria described here comprise a foundation for investigators to establish, validate and implement HTS as a tool in microbial forensics, enhancing public safety and national security. PMID:25101166

Validation of high throughput sequencing and microbial forensics applications.

PubMed

Budowle, Bruce; Connell, Nancy D; Bielecka-Oder, Anna; Colwell, Rita R; Corbett, Cindi R; Fletcher, Jacqueline; Forsman, Mats; Kadavy, Dana R; Markotic, Alemka; Morse, Stephen A; Murch, Randall S; Sajantila, Antti; Schmedes, Sarah E; Ternus, Krista L; Turner, Stephen D; Minot, Samuel

2014-01-01

High throughput sequencing (HTS) generates large amounts of high quality sequence data for microbial genomics. The value of HTS for microbial forensics is the speed at which evidence can be collected and the power to characterize microbial-related evidence to solve biocrimes and bioterrorist events. As HTS technologies continue to improve, they provide increasingly powerful sets of tools to support the entire field of microbial forensics. Accurate, credible results allow analysis and interpretation, significantly influencing the course and/or focus of an investigation, and can impact the response of the government to an attack having individual, political, economic or military consequences. Interpretation of the results of microbial forensic analyses relies on understanding the performance and limitations of HTS methods, including analytical processes, assays and data interpretation. The utility of HTS must be defined carefully within established operating conditions and tolerances. Validation is essential in the development and implementation of microbial forensics methods used for formulating investigative leads attribution. HTS strategies vary, requiring guiding principles for HTS system validation. Three initial aspects of HTS, irrespective of chemistry, instrumentation or software are: 1) sample preparation, 2) sequencing, and 3) data analysis. Criteria that should be considered for HTS validation for microbial forensics are presented here. Validation should be defined in terms of specific application and the criteria described here comprise a foundation for investigators to establish, validate and implement HTS as a tool in microbial forensics, enhancing public safety and national security.

Electrically Stimulated Antagonist Muscle Contraction Increased Muscle Mass and Bone Mineral Density of One Astronaut - Initial Verification on the International Space Station

PubMed Central

Takano, Yoshio; Yoshimitsu, Kazuhiro; Omoto, Masayuki; Hashida, Ryuki; Tagawa, Yoshihiko; Inada, Tomohisa; Yamada, Shin; Ohshima, Hiroshi

2015-01-01

Background Musculoskeletal atrophy is one of the major problems of extended periods of exposure to weightlessness such as on the International Space Station (ISS). We developed the Hybrid Training System (HTS) to maintain an astronaut’s musculoskeletal system using an electrically stimulated antagonist to resist the volitional contraction of the agonist instead of gravity. The present study assessed the system’s orbital operation capability and utility, as well as its preventative effect on an astronaut’s musculoskeletal atrophy. Methods HTS was attached to the non-dominant arm of an astronaut staying on the ISS, and his dominant arm without HTS was established as the control (CTR). 10 sets of 10 reciprocal elbow curls were one training session, and 12 total sessions of training (3 times per week for 4 weeks) were performed. Pre and post flight ground based evaluations were performed by Biodex (muscle performance), MRI (muscle volume), and DXA (BMD, lean [muscle] mass, fat mass). Pre and post training inflight evaluations were performed by a hand held dynamometer (muscle force) and a measuring tape (upper arm circumference). Results The experiment was completed on schedule, and HTS functioned well without problems. Isokinetic elbow extension torque (Nm) changed -19.4% in HTS, and -21.7% in CTR. Isokinetic elbow flexion torque changed -23.7% in HTS, and there was no change in CTR. Total Work (Joule) of elbow extension changed -8.3% in HTS, and +0.3% in CTR. For elbow flexion it changed -23.3% in HTS and -32.6% in CTR. Average Power (Watts) of elbow extension changed +22.1% in HTS and -8.0% in CTR. For elbow flexion it changed -6.5% in HTS and -4.8% in CTR. Triceps muscle volume according to MRI changed +11.7% and that of biceps was +2.1% using HTS, however -0.1% and -0.4% respectively for CTR. BMD changed +4.6% in the HTS arm and -1.2% for CTR. Lean (muscle) mass of the arm changed only +10.6% in HTS. Fat mass changed -12.6% in HTS and -6.4% in CTR. Conclusions These results showed the orbital operation capability and utility, and the preventive effect of HTS for an astronaut’s musculoskeletal atrophy. The initial flight data together with the ground data obtained so far will be utilized in the future planning of human space exploration. PMID:26296204

A High-Throughput Screening Platform of Microbial Natural Products for the Discovery of Molecules with Antibiofilm Properties against Salmonella

PubMed Central

Paytubi, Sonia; de La Cruz, Mercedes; Tormo, Jose R.; Martín, Jesús; González, Ignacio; González-Menendez, Victor; Genilloud, Olga; Reyes, Fernando; Vicente, Francisca; Madrid, Cristina; Balsalobre, Carlos

2017-01-01

In this report, we describe a High-Throughput Screening (HTS) to identify compounds that inhibit biofilm formation or cause the disintegration of an already formed biofilm using the Salmonella Enteritidis 3934 strain. Initially, we developed a new methodology for growing Salmonella biofilms suitable for HTS platforms. The biomass associated with biofilm at the solid-liquid interface was quantified by staining both with resazurin and crystal violet, to detect living cells and total biofilm mass, respectively. For a pilot project, a subset of 1120 extracts from the Fundación MEDINA's collection was examined to identify molecules with antibiofilm activity. This is the first validated HTS assay of microbial natural product extracts which allows for the detection of four types of activities which are not mutually exclusive: inhibition of biofilm formation, detachment of the preformed biofilm and antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells or biofilm embedded cells. Currently, several extracts have been selected for further fractionation and purification of the active compounds. In one of the natural extracts patulin has been identified as a potent molecule with antimicrobial activity against both, planktonic cells and cells within the biofilm. These findings provide a proof of concept that the developed HTS can lead to the discovery of new natural compounds with antibiofilm activity against Salmonella and its possible use as an alternative to antimicrobial therapies and traditional disinfectants. PMID:28303128

Utility of High Throughput Screening Techniques to Predict Stability of Monoclonal Antibody Formulations During Early Stage Development.

PubMed

Goldberg, Deborah S; Lewus, Rachael A; Esfandiary, Reza; Farkas, David C; Mody, Neil; Day, Katrina J; Mallik, Priyanka; Tracka, Malgorzata B; Sealey, Smita K; Samra, Hardeep S

2017-08-01

Selecting optimal formulation conditions for monoclonal antibodies for first time in human clinical trials is challenging due to short timelines and reliance on predictive assays to ensure product quality and adequate long-term stability. Accelerated stability studies are considered to be the gold standard for excipient screening, but they are relatively low throughput and time consuming. High throughput screening (HTS) techniques allow for large amounts of data to be collected quickly and easily, and can be used to screen solution conditions for early formulation development. The utility of using accelerated stability compared to HTS techniques (differential scanning light scattering and differential scanning fluorescence) for early formulation screening was evaluated along with the impact of excipients of various types on aggregation of monoclonal antibodies from multiple IgG subtypes. The excipient rank order using quantitative HTS measures was found to correlate with accelerated stability aggregation rate ranking for only 33% (by differential scanning fluorescence) to 42% (by differential scanning light scattering) of the antibodies tested, due to the high intrinsic stability and minimal impact of excipients on aggregation rates and HTS data. Also explored was a case study of employing a platform formulation instead of broader formulation screening for early formulation development. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of High Capacity Split Stirling Cryocooler for HTS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yumoto, Kenta; Nakano, Kyosuke; Hiratsuka, Yoshikatsu

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI) developed a high-power Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler for cooling high-temperature superconductor (HTS) devices, such as superconductor motors, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), and fault current limiters. The experimental results of a prototype pulse tube cryocooler were reported in September 2013. For a U-type expander, the cooling capacity was 151 W at 70 K with a compressor input power of 4 kW. Correspondingly, the coefficient of performance (COP) was about 0.038. However, the efficiency of the cryocooler is required to be COP > 0.1 and it was found that, theoretically, it is difficult to further improve the efficiency of a pulse tube cryocooler because the workflow generated at the hot end of the pulse tube cannot be recovered. Therefore, it was decided to change the expander to a free-piston type from a pulse tube type. A prototype was developed and preliminary experiments were conducted. A cooling capacity of 120 W at 70 K with a compressor input power of 2.15 kW with corresponding COP of 0.056, was obtained. The detailed results are reported in this paper.

Loss Analysis of High Power Stirling-Type Pulse Tube Cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, K.; Hiratsuka, Y.

2015-12-01

For the purpose of cooling high-temperature superconductor (HTS) devices, such as superconductor motors, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) and current fault limiters, cryocoolers should be compact in size, light-weight, and have high efficiency and reliability. In order to meet the demand of HTS devices world-wide, the cryocooler needs to have COP efficiency >0.1. We have developed a high power Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler (SPTC) with an in-line expander. The experimental results were reported in June 2012[1]. The cooling capacity was 210 W at 77 K and the minimum temperature was 37 K when the compressor input power was 3.8 kW. Accordingly, the COP was about 0.055. To further improve the efficiency, the energy losses in the cryocooler were analyzed. The experimental results and the numerical calculation results are reported in this paper.

A new approach for AC loss reduction in HTS transformer using auxiliary windings, case study: 25 kA HTS current injection transformer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heydari, Hossein; Faghihi, Faramarz; Aligholizadeh, Reza

2008-01-01

AC loss is one of the important parameters in HTS (high temperature superconducting) AC devices. Among the HTS AC power devices, the transformer is an essential part in the electrical power system. The AC losses in an HTS tape depend on the magnetic field. One of the techniques usually adopted to mitigate the unwanted magnetic field is using a system of coils that produce a magnetic field opposite to the incident one, reducing the total magnetic field. In this paper adding two auxiliary windings to the HTS transformer to produce this opposite magnetic field is proposed. The proper use of these auxiliary windings could reduce the leakage flux and, therefore, the AC loss. A mathematical model is used to describe the behaviour of a transformer operating with auxiliary windings, based on the theory of electromagnetic coupled circuits. The influence of the auxiliary windings on the leakage field is studied by the finite element method (FEM) and the AC loss of an HTS transformer was calculated. Also, the simulation results show that employing auxiliary windings will improve the HTS transformer efficiency.

Development of non-destructive evaluation system using an HTS-SQUID gradiometer for magnetized materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawano, J.; Tsukamoto, A.; Adachi, S.; Oshikubo, Y.; Hato, T.; Tanabe, K.; Okamura, T.

We have developed a new eddy-current non-destructive evaluation (NDE) system using an HTS SQUID gradiometer with the aim of applying it to practical materials with magnetization. The new NDE system employs a LN2-cooled external Cu pickup coil and an HTS SQUID chip placed in a magnetic shield made of HTS material. The HTS SQUID chip consists of an HTS planar gradiometer manufactured by using a ramp-edge junction technology and a multi-turn HTS thin film input coil coupled with the flip-chip configuration. The first-order coaxial gradiometric Cu pickup coil with a diameter of 16 mm and the baseline of 5.6 mm was used in the present NDE experiments. By using this NDE system, we could observe defect-induced magnetic signals without an appreciable influence of magnetization up to 10 mT. We also examined the ability of detecting deep-lying defects and compared with the results obtained using our previous NDE system.

Conductor requirements for high-temperature superconducting utility power transformers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pleva, E. F.; Mehrotra, V.; Schwenterly, S W

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) coated conductors in utility power transformers must satisfy a set of operating requirements that are driven by two major considerations-HTS transformers must be economically competitive with conventional units, and the conductor must be robust enough to be used in a commercial manufacturing environment. The transformer design and manufacturing process will be described in order to highlight the various requirements that it imposes on the HTS conductor. Spreadsheet estimates of HTS transformer costs allow estimates of the conductor cost required for an HTS transformer to be competitive with a similarly performing conventional unit.

Potential Novel Antibiotics from HTS Targeting the Virulence-regulating Transcription Factor, VirF, from Shigella flexneri

PubMed Central

Emanuele, Anthony A.; Adams, Nancy E.; Chen, Yi-Chen; Maurelli, Anthony T.; Garcia, George A.

2014-01-01

VirF is an AraC-type transcriptional regulator responsible for activating the transcription of virulence genes required for the intracellular invasion and cell-to-cell spread of Shigella flexneri. Gene disruption studies have validated VirF as a potential target for an anti-virulence therapy to treat shigellosis by determining that VirF is necessary for virulence, but not required for bacterial viability. Using a bacteria-based, β-galactosidase reporter assay we completed a high-throughput screening (HTS) campaign monitoring VirF activity in the presence of over 140,000 small molecules. From our screening campaign we identified five lead compounds to pursue in tissue-culture-based invasion and cell-to-cell spread assays and toxicity screens. Our observations of activity in these models for infection have validated our approach of targeting virulence regulation and have allowed us to identify a promising chemical scaffold from our HTS for hit-to-lead development. Interestingly, differential effects on invasion versus cell-to-cell spread suggest that the compounds’ efficacies may depend, in part, on the specific promoter that VirF is recognizing. PMID:24549153

Design of high-order HTS dual-band bandpass filters with receiver subsystem for future mobile communication systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekiya, N.

2016-08-01

We have developed two high-order high-temperature superconducting (HTS) dual-band bandpass filters (BPFs) with a receiver subsystem for future mobile communication systems. They feature stub-loaded hair-pin resonators with two types of microstrip lines between them. One has a six-pole design, and the other has an eight-pole design. Both were designed to operate at 2.15 GHz with a 43-MHz (2%) bandwidth for the lower passband and at 3.50 GHz with a 70-MHz (2%) bandwidth for the upper one. They were fabricated using YBa2Cu3Oy thin film on a CeO2-bufferd r-Al2O3 substrate. The measured results for both filters agree well with the simulated ones. The HTS dual-band BPF receiver subsystem uses a pulse tube cryocooler and a wideband low noise amplifier (LNA). We measured the frequency response of the six-pole dual-band BPF with and without a wideband LNA with a gain of 10 dB. The measured return losses were close.

Development of 66 kV class REBCO superconducting cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohya, M.; Masuda, T.; Amemiya, N.; Ishiyama, A.; Ohkuma, T.

Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) has been involved in the development of 66 kV/5 kA-class HTS cables using REBCO wires. One of the technical targets was to reduce the AC loss to less than 2 W/m/phase at 5 kA. SEI developed a clad-type textured metal substrate with lower magnetization loss than NiW substrates. REBCO wires of 30 mm wide were slit into 4 mm-wide strips, and these strips were wound spirally on a former with small gaps. The measured AC loss of the manufactured cable was 1.8 W/m/phase at 5 kA, achieving the AC loss goal. Another important target was to manage fault current. The copper protection layers were designed based on simulation findings. Fault current tests (max. 31.5 kA, 2 sec) showed that the designed HTS cable has the required withstanding performance. The development of the elemental technologies was finished on schedule, and a 15 m-long HTS cable system will be constructed to demonstrate that it meets all the required specifications.

Should trained lay providers perform HIV testing? A systematic review to inform World Health Organization guidelines.

PubMed

Kennedy, C E; Yeh, P T; Johnson, C; Baggaley, R

2017-12-01

New strategies for HIV testing services (HTS) are needed to achieve UN 90-90-90 targets, including diagnosis of 90% of people living with HIV. Task-sharing HTS to trained lay providers may alleviate health worker shortages and better reach target groups. We conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating HTS by lay providers using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Peer-reviewed articles were included if they compared HTS using RDTs performed by trained lay providers to HTS by health professionals, or to no intervention. We also reviewed data on end-users' values and preferences around lay providers preforming HTS. Searching was conducted through 10 online databases, reviewing reference lists, and contacting experts. Screening and data abstraction were conducted in duplicate using systematic methods. Of 6113 unique citations identified, 5 studies were included in the effectiveness review and 6 in the values and preferences review. One US-based randomized trial found patients' uptake of HTS doubled with lay providers (57% vs. 27%, percent difference: 30, 95% confidence interval: 27-32, p < 0.001). In Malawi, a pre/post study showed increases in HTS sites and tests after delegation to lay providers. Studies from Cambodia, Malawi, and South Africa comparing testing quality between lay providers and laboratory staff found little discordance and high sensitivity and specificity (≥98%). Values and preferences studies generally found support for lay providers conducting HTS, particularly in non-hypothetical scenarios. Based on evidence supporting using trained lay providers, a WHO expert panel recommended lay providers be allowed to conduct HTS using HIV RDTs. Uptake of this recommendation could expand HIV testing to more people globally.

Design of High Field Solenoids made of High Temperature Superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bartalesi, Antonio; /Pisa U.

2010-12-01

This thesis starts from the analytical mechanical analysis of a superconducting solenoid, loaded by self generated Lorentz forces. Also, a finite element model is proposed and verified with the analytical results. To study the anisotropic behavior of a coil made by layers of superconductor and insulation, a finite element meso-mechanic model is proposed and designed. The resulting material properties are then used in the main solenoid analysis. In parallel, design work is performed as well: an existing Insert Test Facility (ITF) is adapted and structurally verified to support a coil made of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}, a High Temperature Superconductormore » (HTS). Finally, a technological winding process was proposed and the required tooling is designed.« less

Generation of SNCA Cell Models Using Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) Technology for Efficient High-Throughput Drug Screening.

PubMed

Dansithong, Warunee; Paul, Sharan; Scoles, Daniel R; Pulst, Stefan M; Huynh, Duong P

2015-01-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. The hallmark of PD is the appearance of neuronal protein aggregations known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, of which α-synuclein forms a major component. Familial PD is rare and is associated with missense mutations of the SNCA gene or increases in gene copy number resulting in SNCA overexpression. This suggests that lowering SNCA expression could be therapeutic for PD. Supporting this hypothesis, SNCA reduction was neuroprotective in cell line and rodent PD models. We developed novel cell lines expressing SNCA fused to the reporter genes luciferase (luc) or GFP with the objective to enable high-throughput compound screening (HTS) for small molecules that can lower SNCA expression. Because SNCA expression is likely regulated by far-upstream elements (including the NACP-REP1 located at 8852 bp upstream of the transcription site), we employed zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome editing to insert reporter genes in-frame downstream of the SNCA gene in order to retain native SNCA expression control. This ensured full retention of known and unknown up- and downstream genetic elements controlling SNCA expression. Treatment of cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) resulted in significantly increased SNCA-luc and SNCA-GFP expression supporting the use of our cell lines for identifying small molecules altering complex modes of expression control. Cells expressing SNCA-luc treated with a luciferase inhibitor or SNCA siRNA resulted in Z'-scores ≥ 0.75, suggesting the suitability of these cell lines for use in HTS. This study presents a novel use of genome editing for the creation of cell lines expressing α-synuclein fusion constructs entirely under native expression control. These cell lines are well suited for HTS for compounds that lower SNCA expression directly or by acting at long-range sites to the SNCA promoter and 5'-UTR.

Development of Fluorescent Substrates and Assays for the Key Autophagy-Related Cysteine Protease Enzyme, ATG4B

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Thanh G.; Honson, Nicolette S.; Arns, Steven; Davis, Tara L.; Dhe-Paganon, Sirano; Kovacic, Suzana; Kumar, Nag S.; Pfeifer, Tom A.

2014-01-01

Abstract The cysteine protease ATG4B plays a role in key steps of the autophagy process and is of interest as a potential therapeutic target. At an early step, ATG4B cleaves proLC3 isoforms to form LC3-I for subsequent lipidation to form LC3-II and autophagosome membrane insertion. ATG4B also cleaves phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) from LC3-II to regenerate LC3-I, enabling its recycling for further membrane biogenesis. Here, we report several novel assays for monitoring the enzymatic activity of ATG4B. An assay based on mass spectrometric analysis and quantification of cleavage of the substrate protein LC3-B was developed and, while useful for mechanistic studies, was not suitable for high throughput screening (HTS). A doubly fluorescent fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) ligand YFP-LC3B-EmGFP (FRET-LC3) was constructed and shown to be an excellent substrate for ATG4B with rates of cleavage similar to that for LC3B itself. A HTS assay to identify candidate inhibitors of ATG4B utilizing FRET-LC3 as a substrate was developed and validated with a satisfactory Z′ factor and high signal-to-noise ratio suitable for screening small molecule libraries. Pilot screens of the 1,280-member library of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC™) and a 3,481-member library of known drugs (KD2) gave hit rates of 0.6% and 0.5% respectively, and subsequent titrations confirmed ATG4B inhibitory activity for three compounds, both in the FRET and mass spectrometry assays. The FRET- and mass spectrometry–based assays we have developed will allow for both HTS for inhibitors of ATG4B and mechanistic approaches to study inhibition of a major component of the autophagy pathway. PMID:24735444

Fundamental study on the magnetic field control method using multiple HTS coils for Magnetic Drug Delivery System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirano, R.; Kim, S. B.; Nakagawa, T.; Tomisaka, Y.; Ueda, H.

2017-07-01

The magnetic drug delivery system (MDDS) is a key technology to reduce the side effects in the medical applications, and the magnetic force control is very important issue in MDDS. In this application, the strength of magnetic field and gradient required to MDDS devices are 54 mT and 5.5 T/m, respectively. We proposed the new magnetic force control system that consists of the multiple racetrack HTS magnets. We can control the magnetic field gradient along the longitudinal direction by the arrangement of the multiple racetrack HTS magnets and operating current of each magnet. When the racetrack HTS magnets were used, the critical current was reduced by the self-magnetic field. Therefore, the shape design of HTS magnet to reduce the magnet field into the surface of HTS tapes was required. Therefore, the electromagnetic analysis based on finite element method (FEM) was carried out to design and optimize the shape of multiple racetrack HTS magnet. We were able to suppress the reduction of critical current by placing the magnetic substance at upper and lower side of the HTS magnets. It was confirmed that obtained maximum values of magnetic field strength and field gradient were 33 mT and 0.18 T/m, respectively.

Effect of Discontinuities and Penetrations on the Shielding Efficacy of High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Shields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatwar, R.; Kvitkovic, J.; Herman, C.; Pamidi, S.

2015-12-01

High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) materials have been demonstrated to be suitable for applications in shielding of both DC and AC magnetic fields. Magnetic shielding is required for protecting sensitive instrumentation from external magnetic fields and for preventing the stray magnetic fields produced by high power density equipment from affecting neighbouring devices. HTS shields have high current densities at relatively high operating temperatures (40-77 K) and can be easily fabricated using commercial HTS conductor. High current densities in HTS materials allow design and fabrication of magnetic shields that are lighter and can be incorporated into the body and skin of high power density devices. HTS shields are particularly attractive for HTS devices because a single cryogenic system can be used for cooling the device and the associated shield. Typical power devices need penetrations for power and signal cabling and the penetrations create discontinuities in HTS shields. Hence it is important to assess the effect of the necessary discontinuities on the efficacy of the shields and the design modifications necessary to accommodate the penetrations.

Recent Progress in Electrical Insulation Techniques for HTS Power Apparatus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayakawa, Naoki; Kojima, Hiroki; Hanai, Masahiro; Okubo, Hitoshi

This paper describes the electrical insulation techniques at cryogenic temperatures, i.e. Cryodielectrics, for HTS power apparatus, e.g. HTS power transmission cables, transformers, fault current limiters and SMES. Breakdown and partial discharge characteristics are discussed for different electrical insulation configurations of LN2, sub-cooled LN2, solid, vacuum and their composite insulation systems. Dynamic and static insulation performances with and without taking account of quench in HTS materials are also introduced.

Study on the effect of transition curve to the dynamic characteristics of high-temperature superconducting maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Nan; Zheng, Botian; Gou, Yanfeng; Chen, Ping; Zheng, Jun; Deng, Zigang

2015-12-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev technology is becoming more and more mature, and many key technologies have been deeply studied. However, the transition curve plays a key role in HTS maglev system, and related studies have not been carried out. In this paper series of simulations were conducted to test the lateral and vertical vibration of HTS maglev when passing through curves. Two magnetic guideways, of which one has transition curves but the other does not, are designed to test the vibration characteristics of a mini HTS maglev model running though curves. Results show that after adding transition curves between straight line and circular curve the vibration of HTS maglev model in lateral and vertical directions are all weakened in different degrees. It proves that adding transition curve into HTS maglev system is favorable and necessary.

High temperature superconducting synchronous motor design and test

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiferl, R.; Zhang, B.; Shoykhet, B.

1996-10-01

High horsepower synchronous motors with high temperature superconducting (HTS) field windings offer the potential to cut motor operating losses in half compared to conventional energy efficient induction motors available today. The design, construction and test of a prototype, air core, synchronous motor with helium gas cooled HTS field coils will be described in this paper. The work described is part of a US Department of Energy, Superconductivity Partnership Initiative award. The motor uses a modified conventional motor armature combined with a vacuum insulated rotor that contains the four racetrack-shaped HTS field coils. The rotor is cooled by helium gas somore » that the HTS coils operate at a temperature of 30 K. This paper provides a status report on HTS motor research and development at Reliance Lab., Rockwell Automation that will lead to commercial HTS motors for utility and industrial applications.« less

Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of hysterical tendencies in adolescents from three eastern Chinese provinces.

PubMed

Cheng, Qinglin; Xie, Li; Hu, Yunkai; Hu, Jinfeng; Gao, Wei; Lv, Yongxiang; Xu, Yong

2018-02-07

Few studies have attempted to compare the differences in the prevalence and impact factors of hysterical tendencies (HTs) in adolescents. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of adolescents' HTs across three eastern Chinese provinces (Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang). A multicenter, school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in three provinces (Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang) in China in 2014. The sample included 10,131 middle-school students aged 13-18 years who were randomly selected using a multiphase, stratified, cluster sampling technique. A two-stage appraisal procedure was used to determine the adolescents' HTs. We also designed a multicenter, school-based, case control (1329 cases with 2661 control individuals) study to collect data on the common factors affecting this population using a common protocol and questionnaire. An overall positive rate of HTs among adolescents across the three eastern Chinese provinces studied was found at 13.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.5-13.8%), at 14.5% (95% CI 13.3-15.7%) for females, and at 12.2% (95% CI 11.1-13.4%) for males. Gender-stratified, multiple conditional regression analyses revealed that superstitious beliefs pertaining to life, somatotype, teacher-student satisfaction, and family achievement orientation were significantly linked to HTs only in males, while left-behind adolescents, emotional and social adaptation, teacher-student support, family cohesion, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - depression scores were significantly associated with female HTs only. The models indicated that of all the independent variables studied, family medical history was the strongest impact factor for both male HTs (adjusted matched odds ratio (amOR) = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.84-4.86) and female HTs (amOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.59-4.98). HTs are prevalent among adolescents in the three eastern Chinese provinces studied. Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of HTs are significant in adolescents, and HTs seem to affect more females than males. Therefore, sex-specific intervention programs against HTs in adolescents should be considered to reduce HT prevalence in adolescents by modifying influential social, school, and family factors.

A Temperature-Stable Cryo-System for High-Temperature Superconducting MR In-Vivo Imaging

PubMed Central

Lin, In-Tsang; Yang, Hong-Chang; Chen, Jyh-Horng

2013-01-01

To perform a rat experiment using a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) surface resonator, a cryostat is essential to maintain the rat's temperature. In this work, a compact temperature-stable HTS cryo-system, keeping animal rectal temperature at 37.4°C for more than 3 hours, was successfully developed. With this HTS cryo-system, a 40-mm-diameter Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi-2223) surface resonator at 77 K was demonstrated in a 3-Tesla MRI system. The proton resonant frequency (PRF) method was employed to monitor the rat's temperature. Moreover, the capacity of MR thermometry in the HTS experiments was evaluated by correlating with data from independent fiber-optic sensor temperature measurements. The PRF thermal coefficient was derived as 0.03 rad/°C and the temperature-monitoring architecture can be implemented to upgrade the quality and safety in HTS experiments. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the HTS surface resonator at 77 K was higher than that of a professionally made copper surface resonator at 300 K, which has the same geometry, by a 3.79-fold SNR gain. Furthermore, the temperature-stable HTS cryo-system we developed can obtain stable SNR gain in every scan. A temperature-stable HTS cryo-system with an external air-blowing circulation system is demonstrated. PMID:23637936

In vitro effects of 3% hypertonic saline and 20% mannitol on canine whole blood coagulation and platelet function.

PubMed

Adamik, Katja-Nicole; Butty, Emmanuelle; Howard, Judith

2015-09-24

Hyperosmolar therapy, using either mannitol or hypertonic saline (HTS), is considered the treatment of choice for intracranial hypertension. However, hyperosmolar agents may impair coagulation and platelet function, limiting their use in patients at risk for hemorrhage. Despite this, studies evaluating the effects of mannitol compared to other hyperosmolar agents in dogs are largely lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro effects on global hemostasis and platelet function of 20% mannitol and 3% HTS on canine blood. Citrated whole blood from 15 healthy dogs was diluted with 0.9% saline, 20% mannitol and 3% HTS in ratios of 1:16 and 1:8. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was used to assess clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT) and maximal clot firmness (MCF) following extrinsic activation (Ex-tem) and after platelet inhibition (Fib-tem). A platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) was used to assess closure time (Ct(PFA)). No significant differences were observed between untreated whole blood and samples diluted with saline. Samples diluted with both mannitol and HTS were hypocoagulable compared to untreated whole blood samples. At a dilution of 1:16, no significant differences were found between any measured parameter in samples diluted with saline compared to mannitol or HTS. At a 1:8 dilution, Ct(PFA) was prolonged in samples diluted with mannitol and HTS compared to saline, and Ct(PFA) was prolonged more with mannitol than HTS. Ex-tem CT was increased at a 1:8 dilution with mannitol compared to HTS. Ex-tem CFT was prolonged at a 1:8 dilution with both agents compared to saline, and was prolonged more with mannitol than HTS. Ex-tem MCF was reduced at a 1:8 dilution with both agents compared to saline. Data in this study indicate that both mannitol and HTS affect canine platelet function and whole blood coagulation in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion. The most pronounced effects were observed after high dilutions with mannitol, which impaired platelet aggregation, clot formation time, clot strength, and fibrin formation significantly more than HTS. Further in vivo studies are necessary before recommendations can be made.

Identifying Novel Type ZBGs and Nonhydroxamate HDAC Inhibitors Through a SVM Based Virtual Screening Approach.

PubMed

Liu, X H; Song, H Y; Zhang, J X; Han, B C; Wei, X N; Ma, X H; Cui, W K; Chen, Y Z

2010-05-17

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been successfully used for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. Search for novel type ZBGs and development of non-hydroxamate HDACi has become a focus in current research. To complement this, it is desirable to explore a virtual screening (VS) tool capable of identifying different types of potential inhibitors from large compound libraries with high yields and low false-hit rates similar to HTS. This work explored the use of support vector machines (SVM) combined with our newly developed putative non-inhibitor generation method as such a tool. SVM trained by 702 pre-2008 hydroxamate HDACi and 64334 putative non-HDACi showed good yields and low false-hit rates in cross-validation test and independent test using 220 diverse types of HDACi reported since 2008. The SVM hit rates in scanning 13.56 M PubChem and 168K MDDR compounds are comparable to HTS rates. Further structural analysis of SVM virtual hits suggests its potential for identification of non-hydroxamate HDACi. From this analysis, a series of novel ZBG and cap groups were proposed for HDACi design. Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Simulation of chain of quenches on toroidal HTS-SMES taking account of thermal and electromagnetic characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oga, Y.; Noguchi, S.; Igarashi, H.

When a temperature rise occurs at a local area inside a coil of toroidal HTS-SMES by any reason, a temperature hotspot which results in a thermal runaway appears at the local area. Subsequently, after appearing the local normal zone in the HTS coil, the transport current of the HTS coil decrease since the resistance of HTS coil appears and the current partially flows into a parallel-connecting shunt resistance. However, if the transport current of the normal-transitioned HTS coil is hardly changed, the temperature on the hotspot would rise more and then the normal zone would spread rapidly. It may cause a serious accident due to high stored energy. Therefore, using the numerical simulation, we have investigated the behaviors of the coil current, the critical current, and the temperature in the superconducting element coils of HTS-SMES. Consequently, the temperature of the superconducting element coils rises up extremely when a large heat is generated at a certain area of one of them by any reason. Moreover, there is a possibility that the shunt resister hardly functions for protection since the coil is burned out due to high inductances and low resistance of the superconducting element coil.

Upcoming planetary missions and the applicability of high temperature superconductor bolometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brasunas, J.; Kunde, V.; Moseley, H.; Lakew, B.

1991-01-01

Planetary missions to Mars and beyond can last 11 years and longer, making impractical the use of stored cryogens. Passive radiative coolers and single-stage mechanical coolers remain possibilities. Cassini and Comet Rendezvous/Asteroid Fly-by (CRAF), both using the newly developed Mariner Mark 2 spacecraft, will be the next outer planet missions after Galileo; they are intended to provide information on the origin and evolution of the solar system. CRAF is slated for a 1994 launch. Cassini was chosen by ESA and will be launched by a Titan 4/Centaur in 1996. It will fly by Jupiter in 2000, inject an ESA-supplied probe into Titan in 2002, and take data in Saturn's orbit from 2002 to 2006. NASA/Goddard is currently developing a prototype Fourier transform spectrometer, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), for the Cassini mission. The baseline infrared detectors for CIRS are HgCdTe to 16 microns and Schwarz-type thermopiles from 16 to 1000 microns. The far infrared focal plane could be switched from thermopiles to high temperature superconductor (HTS) bolometers between now and 1996. An HTS bolometer could be built using the kinetic inductance effect, or the sharp resistance change at the transition. The transition-edge bolometer is more straightforward to implement, and initial efforts at NASA/Goddard are directed to that device. A working device was made and tested in early 1989. It also has somewhat elevated noise levels below 100 Hz. Upcoming efforts will center on reducing the time constant of the HTS bolometer by attempting to deposit an HTS film on a diamond substrate, and by thinning SrTiO3 substrates. Attempts will be made to improve the film quality to reduce the 1/4 noise level, and to improve the thermal isolation to increase the bolometer sensitivity. An attempt is being made to deposit good-quality HTS films on diamond films using a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique.

Upcoming planetary missions and the applicability of high temperature superconductor bolometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brasunas, J.; Kunde, V.; Moseley, H.; Lakew, B.

1990-01-01

Planetary missions to Mars and beyond can last 11 years and longer, making impractical the use of stored cryogens. Passive radiative coolers and single-stage mechanical coolers remain possibilities. CRAF and CASSINI, both using the newly developed Mariner Mark 2 spacecraft, will be the next outer planet missions after Galileo; they are intended to provide information on the origin and evolution of the solar system. CRAF is a cometary rendezvous mission slated for a 1994 launch. CASSINI has been chosen by ESA and will be launched by a Titan 4/Centaur in 1996. It will fly by Jupiter in 2000, inject an ESA-supplied probe into Titan in 2002, and take data in Saturn orbit from 2002 to 2006. NASA/Goddard is currently developing a prototype Fourier transform spectrometer (CIRS) that will be proposed for the CASSINI mission. The baseline infrared detectors for CIRS are HgCdTe to 16 microns and Schwarz-type thermopiles from 16 to 1000 microns. The far infrared focal plane could be switched from thermopiles to high temperature superconductor (HTS) bolometers between now and 1996. An HTS bolometer could be built using the kinetic inductance effect, or the sharp resistance change at the transition. The transition-edge bolometer is more straightforward to implement and initial efforts at NASA/Goddard are directed to that device. A working device was made and tested in early 1989. It also has somewhat elevated noise levels below 100 Hz. Upcoming efforts will center on reducing the time constant of the HTS bolometer by attempting to deposit an HTS film on a diamond substrate, and by thinning SrTiO3 substrates. Attempts will be made to improve the film quality to reduce th 1/f noise level, and to improve the thermal isolation to increase the bolometer sensitivity. An attempt is being made to deposit good-quality HTS films on diamond films using an MOCVD technique.

Development of a HTS transceiver sub-system for 3G mobile communication TD-SCDMA base station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xueqiang; He, Xiaofeng; Wang, Yuehui; Duan, Tao; Wang, Guizhen; Zhang, Yan; Li, Chunguang; Zhang, Qiang; Li, Hong; He, Yusheng

2010-02-01

A prototype of a high temperature superconducting (HTS) transceiver sub-system for applications in a TD-SCDMA, one of the third generation (3G) communication standards, base station has been developed. Both the HTS sub-system and the conventional counterpart have been implemented into a TD-SCDMA commercial communication network and comparison test studies were carried out. The measured results showed that the HTS sub-system could remarkably improve the RF performance of both transmitting and receiving chains.

Fish communities associated with cold-water corals vary with depth and substratum type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milligan, Rosanna J.; Spence, Gemma; Roberts, J. Murray; Bailey, David M.

2016-08-01

Understanding the processes that drive the distribution patterns of organisms and the scales over which these processes operate are vital when considering the effective management of species with high commercial or conservation value. In the deep sea, the importance of scleractinian cold-water corals (CWCs) to fish has been the focus of several studies but their role remains unclear. We propose this may be due to the confounding effects of multiple drivers operating over multiple spatial scales. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of CWCs in shaping fish community structure and individual species-habitat associations across four spatial scales in the NE Atlantic ranging from "regions" (separated by >500 km) to "substratum types" (contiguous). Demersal fish and substratum types were quantified from three regions: Logachev Mounds, Rockall Bank and Hebrides Terrace Seamount (HTS). PERMANOVA analyses showed significant differences in community composition between all regions which were most likely caused by differences in depths. Within regions, significant variation in community composition was recorded at scales of c. 20-3500 m. CWCs supported significantly different fish communities to non-CWC substrata at Rockall Bank, Logachev and the HTS. Single-species analyses using generalised linear mixed models showed that Sebastes sp. was strongly associated with CWCs at Rockall Bank and that Neocyttus helgae was more likely to occur in CWCs at the HTS. Depth had a significant effect on several other fish species. The results of this study suggest that the importance of CWCs to fish is species-specific and depends on the broader spatial context in which the substratum is found. The precautionary approach would be to assume that CWCs are important for associated fish, but must acknowledge that CWCs in different depths will not provide redundancy or replication within spatially-managed conservation networks.

The Poultry-Associated Microbiome: Network Analysis and Farm-to-Fork Characterizations

PubMed Central

Oakley, Brian B.; Morales, Cesar A.; Line, J.; Berrang, Mark E.; Meinersmann, Richard J.; Tillman, Glenn E.; Wise, Mark G.; Siragusa, Gregory R.; Hiett, Kelli L.; Seal, Bruce S.

2013-01-01

Microbial communities associated with agricultural animals are important for animal health, food safety, and public health. Here we combine high-throughput sequencing (HTS), quantitative-PCR assays, and network analysis to profile the poultry-associated microbiome and important pathogens at various stages of commercial poultry production from the farm to the consumer. Analysis of longitudinal data following two flocks from the farm through processing showed a core microbiome containing multiple sequence types most closely related to genera known to be pathogenic for animals and/or humans, including Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Shigella. After the final stage of commercial poultry processing, taxonomic richness was ca. 2–4 times lower than the richness of fecal samples from the same flocks and Campylobacter abundance was significantly reduced. Interestingly, however, carcasses sampled at 48 hr after processing harboured the greatest proportion of unique taxa (those not encountered in other samples), significantly more than expected by chance. Among these were anaerobes such as Prevotella, Veillonella, Leptrotrichia, and multiple Campylobacter sequence types. Retail products were dominated by Pseudomonas, but also contained 27 other genera, most of which were potentially metabolically active and encountered in on-farm samples. Network analysis was focused on the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter and revealed a majority of sequence types with no significant interactions with other taxa, perhaps explaining the limited efficacy of previous attempts at competitive exclusion of Campylobacter. These data represent the first use of HTS to characterize the poultry microbiome across a series of farm-to-fork samples and demonstrate the utility of HTS in monitoring the food supply chain and identifying sources of potential zoonoses and interactions among taxa in complex communities. PMID:23468931

Superconducting technology for overcurrent limiting in a 25 kA current injection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heydari, Hossein; Faghihi, Faramarz; Sharifi, Reza; Poursoltanmohammadi, Amir Hossein

2008-09-01

Current injection transformer (CIT) systems are within the major group of the standard type test of high current equipment in the electrical industry, so their performance becomes very important. When designing high current systems, there are many factors to be considered from which their overcurrent protection must be ensured. The output of a CIT is wholly dependent on the impedance of the equipment under test (EUT). Therefore current flow beyond the allowable limit can occur. The present state of the art provides an important guide to developing current limiters not only for the grid application but also in industrial equipment. This paper reports the state of the art in the technology available that could be developed into an application of superconductivity for high current equipment (CIT) protection with no test disruption. This will result in a greater market choice and lower costs for equipment protection solutions, reduced costs and improved system reliability. The paper will also push the state of the art by using two distinctive circuits, closed-core and open-core, for overcurrent protection of a 25 kA CIT system, based on a flux-lock-type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) and magnetic properties of high temperature superconducting (HTS) elements. An appropriate location of the HTS element will enhance the rate of limitation with the help of the magnetic field generated by the CIT output busbars. The calculation of the HTS parameters for overcurrent limiting is also performed to suit the required current levels of the CIT.

Magnolol attenuates the lung injury in hypertonic saline treatment from mesenteric ischemia reperfusion through diminishing iNOS.

PubMed

Shih, Hsin-Chin; Huang, Mu-Shun; Lee, Chen-Hsen

2012-06-15

Hypertonic saline (HTS) administration can decrease the inflammation following ischemia reperfusion. Magnolol is a potent antioxidant. The present study investigated whether combined treatment of magnolol and HTS could provide further protection in mesenteric ischemia reperfusion injury. Male C3H/HeOuJ mice were randomly segregated into the following groups: sham-operated (sham), vehicle treatment and mesenteric ischemia reperfusion (MSIR) (vehicle-treated), magnolol treatment and MSIR (magnolol-treated), HTS treatment and MSIR (HTS-treated), as well as co-administration of magnolol plus HTS and MSIR (combined-treated). In MSIR, mice were subjected to mesenteric ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min. Lung injury was evaluated by lung edema (water ratio) and myeloperoxide (MPO) activity; RNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), TNF-α, and IL-6 were assayed by real time RT-PCR. The formation of peroxynitrite in plasma was assayed by the peroxynitrite-dependent oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) to rhodamine. Compared with those in the sham-treated group, lung edema and MPO activity, expressions of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-6, and plasma peroxynitrite were significantly increased in the vehicle-treated group. Significant attenuations of these parameters were found in the magnolol-treated or HTS-treated animals. Combined treatment of magnolol and HTS further suppressed the lung edema, iNOS, and TNF-α expressions, and plasma peroxynitrite, compared with the results of a single treatment of magnolol or HTS. Compared with single-agent use, co-administration of magnolol and HTS further decreases iNOS expression and plasma peroxynitrite as well as the degree of lung injury from MISR. These results may provide another treatment measure for post-injury immunomodulation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Complication Rates of 3% Hypertonic Saline Infusion Through Peripheral Intravenous Access.

PubMed

Perez, Claudia Andira; Figueroa, Stephen A

2017-06-01

Hyperosmolar therapy with hypertonic saline (HTS) is a cornerstone in the management of intracranial hypertension and hyponatremia in the neurological intensive care unit. Theoretical safety concerns remain for infiltration, thrombophlebitis, tissue ischemia, and venous thrombosis associated with continuous 3% HTS administered via peripheral intravenous (pIV) catheters. It is common practice at many institutions to allow only central venous catheter infusion of 3% HTS. Hospital policy was changed to allow the administration of 3% HTS via 16- to 20-gauge pIVs to a maximum infusion rate of 50 mL/h in patients without central venous access. We prospectively monitored patients who received peripheral 3% HTS as part of a quality improvement project. We documented gauge, location, maximum infusion rate, and total hours of administration. Patients were assessed for infiltration, erythema, swelling, phlebitis, thrombosis, and line infection. There were 28 subjects across 34 peripheral lines monitored. Overall, subjects received 3% HTS for a duration between 1 and 124 hours with infusion rates of 30 to 50 mL/h. The rate of complications observed was 10.7% among all subjects. Documented complications included infiltration (n = 2), with an incidence of 6%, and thrombophlebitis (n = 1), with an incidence of 3%. There has been a long concern among healthcare providers, including nursing staff, in regard to pIV administration of prolonged 3% HTS infusion therapy. Our study indicates that peripheral administration of 3% HTS carries a low risk of minor, nonlimb, or life-threatening complications. Although central venous infusion may reduce the risk of these minor complications, it may increase the risk of more serious complications such as large vessel thrombosis, bloodstream infection, pneumothorax, and arterial injury. The concern regarding the risks of pIV administration of 3% HTS may be overstated and unfounded.

Magnetic fields end-face effect investigation of HTS bulk over PMG with 3D-modeling numerical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Yujie; Lu, Yiyun

2015-09-01

In this paper, the magnetic fields end-face effect of high temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk over a permanent magnetic guideway (PMG) is researched with 3D-modeling numerical method. The electromagnetic behavior of the bulk is simulated using finite element method (FEM). The framework is formulated by the magnetic field vector method (H-method). A superconducting levitation system composed of one rectangular HTS bulk and one infinite long PMG is successfully investigated using the proposed method. The simulation results show that for finite geometrical HTS bulk, even the applied magnetic field is only distributed in x-y plane, the magnetic field component Hz which is along the z-axis can be observed interior the HTS bulk.

Critical current studies of a HTS rectangular coil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Z.; Chudy, M.; Ruiz, H. S.; Zhang, X.; Coombs, T.

2017-05-01

Nowadays, superconducting high field magnets are used in numerous applications due to their superior properties. High temperature superconductors (HTS) are usually used for production of circular pancake or racetrack coils. However different geometries of HTS coils might be required for some specific applications. In this study, the HTS coil wound on a rectangular frame was fully characterized in homogeneous DC background field. The study contains measurements of critical current angular dependencies. The critical current of the entire coil and two selected strands under different magnitudes and orientations of external magnetic fields are measured. The critical regions of the coil in different angular regimes are determined. This study brings better understanding of the in- field performance of HTS coils wound on frames with right-angles.

High temperature superconducting Maglev equipment on vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. Y.; Wang, J. S.; Ren, Z. Y.; Zhu, M.; Jiang, H.; Wang, X. R.; Shen, X. M.; Song, H. H.

2003-04-01

Onboard high temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev equipment is a heart part of a HTS Maglev vehicle, which is composed of YBaCuO bulks and rectangle-shape liquid nitrogen vessel and used successfully in the first manned HTS Maglev test vehicle. Arrangement of YBaCuO bulks in liquid nitrogen vessel, structure of the vessel, levitation forces of a single vessel and two vessels, and total levitation force are reported. The first manned HTS Maglev test vehicle in the world has operated well more than one year after it was born on Dec. 31, 2000, and more than 23,000 passengers have taken the vehicle till now. Well operation of more than one year proves the reliability of the onboard HTS Maglev equipment.

Dynamic response characteristics of the high-temperature superconducting maglev system under lateral eccentric distance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bo; Zheng, Jun; Si, Shuaishuai; Qian, Nan; Li, Haitao; Li, Jipeng; Deng, Zigang

2016-07-01

Off-centre operation of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev systems caused by inevitable conditions such as the misregistration of vehicle, crosswind and curve negotiation, may change the distribution of the trapped flux in the HTS bulks and the magnetic interaction between HTS bulks and the PMG. It impacts on the performance of HTS maglev, and more seriously makes the maglev vehicle overturned. Therefore, understanding the performance of the HTS maglev in off-center operation is very important. In this paper, the dynamic response characteristics of a cryostat with twenty-four onboard YBaCuO superconductor bulks were experimentally investigated at different eccentric distances under loads before the initial FC process. Parameters such as vibration accelerations, displacement, natural frequency and dynamic stiffness were acquired and analyzed via the B&K vibration analyzer and laser displacement sensors. Results suggest that the natural frequency and dynamic stiffness of the maglev vehicle would be obviously reduced with the eccentric distance, posing negative effects on the stability of HTS maglev.

Parametric Study of HTS Coil Quench Protection Strategies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seibert, Joseph; Zarnstorff, Michael; Zhai, Yuhu

2016-10-01

Next generation fusion devices require high magnetic fields to adequately contain burning plasmas. Use of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils to generate these magnetic fields would lower energy cost of operation as well as increase stability of the superconducting state compared to low temperature superconducting coils. However, use of HTS coils requires developing quench protection strategies to prevent damage to the coils. One technique involves the utilization of copper discs and other conductors mutually coupled to the HTS coil to quickly extract the current from the coil. Another technique allows conduction between HTS turns to reduce the current in the coil during quench. This project describes a parametric study of the HTS coil and resistive-conductor setup in order to determine limiting cases of the geometry in an attempt to optimize current extraction and coil protection during quench scenarios. This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) under the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program.

Development of REBCO HTS Magnet of Magnetic Bearing for Large Capacity Flywheel Energy Storage System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukoyama, Shinichi; Matsuoka, Taro; Furukawa, Makoto; Nakao, Kengo; Nagashima, Ken; Ogata, Masafumi; Yamashita, Tomohisa; Hasegawa, Hitoshi; Yoshizawa, Kazuhiro; Arai, Yuuki; Miyazaki, Kazuki; Horiuchi, Shinichi; Maeda, Tadakazu; Shimizu, Hideki

A flywheel energy storage system (FESS) is a promising electrical storage system that moderates fluctuation of electrical power from renewable energy sources. The FESS can charge and discharge the surplus electrical power repetitively with the rotating energy. Particularly, the FESS that utilizes a high temperature superconducting magnetic bearing (HTS bearing) is lower loss than conventional FESS that has mechanical bearing, and has property of longer life operation than secondary batteries. The HTS bearing consists of a HTS bulk and double-pancake coils used 2nd generation REBCO wires. In the development, the HTS double-pancake coils were fabricated and were provided for a levitation test to verify the possibility of the HTS bearing. We successfully confirmed the magnetic field was achieved to design value, and levitation force in the configuration of one YBCO bulk and five double pan-cake coils was obtained to a satisfactory force of 39.2 kN (4 tons).

Accelerating the introduction of HTS products for a broad range of electric power and industrial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eaton, Russell

2002-01-01

The Department of Energy (DOE), as part of its Superconductivity Program for Electric Systems, is successfully pursuing the development of electric power and industrial devices, incorporating significant high-temperature superconducting (HTS) components or subsystems, through its innovative Superconducting Partnership Initiative (SPI). The objective of the SPI is to accelerate the commercial introduction of the HTS products for a broad range of electric power and industrial applications. DOE's approach to accomplishing the SPI objective is to support cost shared projects carried out by industry led teams. DOE will fund projects to develop HTS devices that are either in (1) the research and development stage (Phase 1), (2) the pre-commercialization stage (Phase II), or (3) the commercial entry stage (Phase III). DOE's industry partners must contribute at least half a project's costs. These teams will include capabilities needed to develop the device as well as to develop the business plan for the commercial product introduction. DOE's partners consist of vertically integrated teams consisting of equipment manufacturers, HTS wire and coil suppliers, national laboratories, and end users, primarily utilities. These partners carry out the multi-year technology development efforts, consisting generally of design, construction, and testing of the HTS system. Finally, commercialization of HTS products will be discussed primarily in terms of benefits these products will have over competing products based upon conventional conductors and the critical need for affordable, practical HTS materials and conductors for these applications. .

Reflective HTS switch

DOEpatents

Martens, Jon S.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Hohenwarter, Gert K. G.

1994-01-01

A HTS switch includes a HTS conductor for providing a superconducting path for an electrical signal and an serpentine wire actuator for controllably heating a portion of the conductor sufficiently to cause that portion to have normal, and not superconducting, resistivity. Mass of the portion is reduced to decrease switching time.

Sub-cooled liquid nitrogen cryogenic system with neon turbo-refrigerator for HTS power equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, S.; Hirai, H.; Nara, N.; Ozaki, S.; Hirokawa, M.; Eguchi, T.; Hayashi, H.; Iwakuma, M.; Shiohara, Y.

2014-01-01

We developed a prototype sub-cooled liquid nitrogen (LN) circulation system for HTS power equipment. The system consists of a neon turbo-Brayton refrigerator with a LN sub-cooler and LN circulation pump unit. The neon refrigerator has more than 2 kW cooling power at 65 K. The LN sub-cooler is a plate-fin type heat exchanger and is installed in a refrigerator cold box. In order to carry out the system performance tests, a dummy cryostat having an electric heater was set instead of a HTS power equipment. Sub-cooled LN is delivered into the sub-cooler by the LN circulation pump and cooled within it. After the sub-cooler, sub-cooled LN goes out from the cold box to the dummy cryostat, and comes back to the pump unit. The system can control an outlet sub-cooled LN temperature by adjusting refrigerator cooling power. The refrigerator cooling power is automatically controlled by the turbo-compressor rotational speed. In the performance tests, we increased an electric heater power from 200 W to 1300 W abruptly. We confirmed the temperature fluctuation was about ±1 K. We show the cryogenic system details and performance test results in this paper.

Identification of novel drug scaffolds for inhibition of SARS-CoV 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease using virtual and high-throughput screenings.

PubMed

Lee, Hyun; Mittal, Anuradha; Patel, Kavankumar; Gatuz, Joseph L; Truong, Lena; Torres, Jaime; Mulhearn, Debbie C; Johnson, Michael E

2014-01-01

We have used a combination of virtual screening (VS) and high-throughput screening (HTS) techniques to identify novel, non-peptidic small molecule inhibitors against human SARS-CoV 3CLpro. A structure-based VS approach integrating docking and pharmacophore based methods was employed to computationally screen 621,000 compounds from the ZINC library. The screening protocol was validated using known 3CLpro inhibitors and was optimized for speed, improved selectivity, and for accommodating receptor flexibility. Subsequently, a fluorescence-based enzymatic HTS assay was developed and optimized to experimentally screen approximately 41,000 compounds from four structurally diverse libraries chosen mainly based on the VS results. False positives from initial HTS hits were eliminated by a secondary orthogonal binding analysis using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The campaign identified a reversible small molecule inhibitor exhibiting mixed-type inhibition with a K(i) value of 11.1 μM. Together, these results validate our protocols as suitable approaches to screen virtual and chemical libraries, and the newly identified compound reported in our study represents a promising structural scaffold to pursue for further SARS-CoV 3CLpro inhibitor development. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

"Plate cherry picking": a novel semi-sequential screening paradigm for cheaper, faster, information-rich compound selection.

PubMed

Crisman, Thomas J; Jenkins, Jeremy L; Parker, Christian N; Hill, W Adam G; Bender, Andreas; Deng, Zhan; Nettles, James H; Davies, John W; Glick, Meir

2007-04-01

This work describes a novel semi-sequential technique for in silico enhancement of high-throughput screening (HTS) experiments now employed at Novartis. It is used in situations in which the size of the screen is limited by the readout (e.g., high-content screens) or the amount of reagents or tools (proteins or cells) available. By performing computational chemical diversity selection on a per plate basis (instead of a per compound basis), 25% of the 1,000,000-compound screening was optimized for general initial HTS. Statistical models are then generated from target-specific primary results (percentage inhibition data) to drive the cherry picking and testing from the entire collection. Using retrospective analysis of 11 HTS campaigns, the authors show that this method would have captured on average two thirds of the active compounds (IC(50) < 10 microM) and three fourths of the active Murcko scaffolds while decreasing screening expenditure by nearly 75%. This result is true for a wide variety of targets, including G-protein-coupled receptors, chemokine receptors, kinases, metalloproteinases, pathway screens, and protein-protein interactions. Unlike time-consuming "classic" sequential approaches that require multiple iterations of cherry picking, testing, and building statistical models, here individual compounds are cherry picked just once, based directly on primary screening data. Strikingly, the authors demonstrate that models built from primary data are as robust as models built from IC(50) data. This is true for all HTS campaigns analyzed, which represent a wide variety of target classes and assay types.

Reflective HTS switch

DOEpatents

Martens, J.S.; Hietala, V.M.; Hohenwarter, G.K.G.

1994-09-27

A HTS (High Temperature Superconductor) switch includes a HTS conductor for providing a superconducting path for an electrical signal and an serpentine wire actuator for controllably heating a portion of the conductor sufficiently to cause that portion to have normal, and not superconducting, resistivity. Mass of the portion is reduced to decrease switching time. 6 figs.

Efficient growth of HTS films with volatile elements

DOEpatents

Siegal, M.P.; Overmyer, D.L.; Dominguez, F.

1998-12-22

A system is disclosed for applying a volatile element-HTS layer, such as Tl-HTS, to a substrate in a multiple zone furnace, said method includes heating at higher temperature, in one zone of the furnace, a substrate and adjacent first source of Tl-HTS material, to sublimate Tl-oxide from the source to the substrate; and heating at lower temperature, in a separate zone of the furnace, a second source of Tl-oxide to replenish the first source of Tl-oxide from the second source. 3 figs.

Study on stabilization and quench protection of coils wound of HTS coated conductors considering quench origins - Proposal of criteria for stabilization and quench protection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukamoto, Osami; Fujimoto, Yasutaka; Takao, Tomoaki

2014-09-01

It has been considered that HTS coils are hard to be quenched because of high quench energy due to high critical temperature and high specific heat of HTS wires. Therefore, attention to quench protection was not much paid. However, HTS coils still have possibility to be quenched during operation by mainly the following two origins, (a) presence of non-recoverable local defects in the conductors and (b) temperature rise of long part of the conductor. Actually, severe quench accidents, such as burning coils, are occurring in various places as scales of HTS increased. Purposes of this paper are to study on behaviors of normal zone and hot spot temperature of wires during quench detect/energy dump sequence and to find criteria for the stability and quench protection. In the paper, criteria are proposed for stability and quench protection of HTS coils. A criterion for the stability is that a coil can be operated stably without a quench against defects in coil windings and that for quench protection is that a coil can be safely protected from damages caused by a quench due to temperature rise of long part of coil wires. The criteria are used as design rules for HTS coils.

Application of Titration-Based Screening for the Rapid Pilot Testing of High-Throughput Assays.

PubMed

Zhang, Ji-Hu; Kang, Zhao B; Ardayfio, Ophelia; Ho, Pei-i; Smith, Thomas; Wallace, Iain; Bowes, Scott; Hill, W Adam; Auld, Douglas S

2014-06-01

Pilot testing of an assay intended for high-throughput screening (HTS) with small compound sets is a necessary but often time-consuming step in the validation of an assay protocol. When the initial testing concentration is less than optimal, this can involve iterative testing at different concentrations to further evaluate the pilot outcome, which can be even more time-consuming. Quantitative HTS (qHTS) enables flexible and rapid collection of assay performance statistics, hits at different concentrations, and concentration-response curves in a single experiment. Here we describe the qHTS process for pilot testing in which eight-point concentration-response curves are produced using an interplate asymmetric dilution protocol in which the first four concentrations are used to represent the range of typical HTS screening concentrations and the last four concentrations are added for robust curve fitting to determine potency/efficacy values. We also describe how these data can be analyzed to predict the frequency of false-positives, false-negatives, hit rates, and confirmation rates for the HTS process as a function of screening concentration. By taking into account the compound pharmacology, this pilot-testing paradigm enables rapid assessment of the assay performance and choosing the optimal concentration for the large-scale HTS in one experiment. © 2013 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

Analyzing older users' home telehealth services acceptance behavior-applying an Extended UTAUT model.

PubMed

Cimperman, Miha; Makovec Brenčič, Maja; Trkman, Peter

2016-06-01

Although telehealth offers an improved approach to providing healthcare services, its adoption by end users remains slow. With an older population as the main target, these traditionally conservative users pose a big challenge to the successful implementation of innovative telehealth services. The objective of this study was to develop and empirically test a model for predicting the factors affecting older users' acceptance of Home Telehealth Services (HTS). A survey instrument was administered to 400 participants aged 50 years and above from both rural and urban environments in Slovenia. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the causal effect of seven hypothesized predicting factors. HTS were introduced as a bundle of functionalities, representing future services that currently do not exist. This enabled users' perceptions to be measured on the conceptual level, rather than attitudes to a specific technical solution. Six relevant predictors were confirmed in older users' HTS acceptance behavior, with Performance Expectancy (r=0.30), Effort Expectancy (r=0.49), Facilitating Conditions (r=0.12), and Perceived Security (r=0.16) having a direct impact on behavioral intention to use HTS. In addition, Computer Anxiety is positioned as an antecedent of Effort Expectancy with a strong negative influence (r=-0.61), and Doctor's Opinion influence showed a strong impact on Performance Expectancy (r=0.31). The results also indicate Social Influence as an irrelevant predictor of acceptance behavior. The model of six predictors yielded 77% of the total variance explained in the final measured Behavioral Intention to Use HTS by older adults. The level at which HTS are perceived as easy to use and manage is the leading acceptance predictor in older users' HTS acceptance. Together with Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Security, these three factors represent the key influence on older people's HTS acceptance behavior. When promoting HTS, interventions should focus to portray it as secure. Marketing interventions should focus also on promoting HTS among health professionals, using them as social agents to frame the services as useful and beneficial. The important role of computer anxiety may result in a need to use different equipment such as a tablet computer to access HTS. Finally, this paper introduces important methodological guidelines for measuring perceptions on a conceptual level of future services that currently do not exist. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cost analysis of two community-based HIV testing service modalities led by a Non-Governmental Organization in Cape Town, South Africa.

PubMed

Meehan, Sue-Ann; Beyers, Nulda; Burger, Ronelle

2017-12-02

In South Africa, the financing and sustainability of HIV services is a priority. Community-based HIV testing services (CB-HTS) play a vital role in diagnosis and linkage to HIV care for those least likely to utilise government health services. With insufficient estimates of the costs associated with CB-HTS provided by NGOs in South Africa, this cost analysis explored the cost to implement and provide services at two NGO-led CB-HTS modalities and calculated the costs associated with realizing key HIV outputs for each CB-HTS modality. The study took place in a peri-urban area where CB-HTS were provided from a stand-alone centre and mobile service. Using a service provider (NGO) perspective, all inputs were allocated by HTS modality with shared costs apportioned according to client volume or personnel time. We calculated the total cost of each HTS modality and the cost categories (personnel, capital and recurring goods/services) across each HTS modality. Costs were divided into seven pre-determined project components, used to examine cost drivers. HIV outputs were analysed for each HTS modality and the mean cost for each HIV output was calculated per HTS modality. The annual cost of the stand-alone and mobile modalities was $96,616 and $77,764 respectively, with personnel costs accounting for 54% of the total costs at the stand-alone. For project components, overheads and service provision made up the majority of the costs. The mean cost per person tested at stand-alone ($51) was higher than at the mobile ($25). Linkage to care cost at the stand-alone ($1039) was lower than the mobile ($2102). This study provides insight into the cost of an NGO led CB-HTS project providing HIV testing and linkage to care through two CB-HIV testing modalities. The study highlights; (1) the importance of including all applicable costs (including overheads) to ensure an accurate cost estimate that is representative of the full service implementation cost, (2) the direct link between test uptake and mean cost per person tested, and (3) the need for effective linkage to care strategies to increase linkage and thereby reduce the mean cost per person linked to HIV care.

Modelling ac ripple currents in HTS coated conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhihan; Grilli, Francesco

2015-10-01

Dc transmission using high temperature superconducting (HTS) coated conductors (CCs) offers a promising solution to the globally growing demand for effective, reliable and economic transmission of green energy up to the gigawatt level over very long distances. The credible estimation of the losses and thereby the heat dissipation involved, where ac ripples (introduced in rectification/ac-dc conversion) are viewed as a potential source of notable contribution, is highly essential for the rational design of practical HTS dc transmission cables and corresponding cryogenic systems to fulfil this demand. Here we report a targeted modelling study into the ac losses in a HTS CC subject to dc and ac ripple currents simultaneously, by solving Maxwell’s equations using the finite element method (FEM) in the commercial software package COMSOL. It is observed that the instantaneous loss exhibits only one peak per cycle in the HTS CC subject to sinusoidal ripples, given that the amplitude of the ac ripples is smaller than approximately 20% of that of the dc current. This is a distinct contrast to the usual observation of two peaks per cycle in a HTS CC subject to ac currents only. The unique mechanism is also revealed, which is directly associated with the finding that, around any local minima of the applied ac ripples, the critical state of -J c is never reached at the edges of the HTS CC, as it should be according to the Bean model. When running further into the longer term, it is discovered that the ac ripple loss of the HTS CC in full-wave rectification decays monotonically, at a speed which is found to be insensitive to the frequency of the applied ripples within our targeted situations, to a relatively low level of approximately 1.38 × 10-4 W m-1 in around 1.7 s. Comparison between this level and other typical loss contributions in a HTS dc cable implies that ac ripple currents in HTS CCs should only be considered as a minor source of dissipation in superconducting dc transmission.

web cellHTS2: a web-application for the analysis of high-throughput screening data.

PubMed

Pelz, Oliver; Gilsdorf, Moritz; Boutros, Michael

2010-04-12

The analysis of high-throughput screening data sets is an expanding field in bioinformatics. High-throughput screens by RNAi generate large primary data sets which need to be analyzed and annotated to identify relevant phenotypic hits. Large-scale RNAi screens are frequently used to identify novel factors that influence a broad range of cellular processes, including signaling pathway activity, cell proliferation, and host cell infection. Here, we present a web-based application utility for the end-to-end analysis of large cell-based screening experiments by cellHTS2. The software guides the user through the configuration steps that are required for the analysis of single or multi-channel experiments. The web-application provides options for various standardization and normalization methods, annotation of data sets and a comprehensive HTML report of the screening data analysis, including a ranked hit list. Sessions can be saved and restored for later re-analysis. The web frontend for the cellHTS2 R/Bioconductor package interacts with it through an R-server implementation that enables highly parallel analysis of screening data sets. web cellHTS2 further provides a file import and configuration module for common file formats. The implemented web-application facilitates the analysis of high-throughput data sets and provides a user-friendly interface. web cellHTS2 is accessible online at http://web-cellHTS2.dkfz.de. A standalone version as a virtual appliance and source code for platforms supporting Java 1.5.0 can be downloaded from the web cellHTS2 page. web cellHTS2 is freely distributed under GPL.

A predictive data-driven framework for endocrine prioritization: a triazole fungicide case study.

PubMed

Paul Friedman, Katie; Papineni, Sabitha; Marty, M Sue; Yi, Kun Don; Goetz, Amber K; Rasoulpour, Reza J; Kwiatkowski, Pat; Wolf, Douglas C; Blacker, Ann M; Peffer, Richard C

2016-10-01

The US Environmental Protection Agency Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) is a tiered screening approach to determine the potential for a chemical to interact with estrogen, androgen, or thyroid hormone systems and/or perturb steroidogenesis. Use of high-throughput screening (HTS) to predict hazard and exposure is shifting the EDSP approach to (1) prioritization of chemicals for further screening; and (2) targeted use of EDSP Tier 1 assays to inform specific data needs. In this work, toxicology data for three triazole fungicides (triadimefon, propiconazole, and myclobutanil) were evaluated, including HTS results, EDSP Tier 1 screening (and other scientifically relevant information), and EPA guideline mammalian toxicology study data. The endocrine-related bioactivity predictions from HTS and information that satisfied the EDSP Tier 1 requirements were qualitatively concordant. Current limitations in the available HTS battery for thyroid and steroidogenesis pathways were mitigated by inclusion of guideline toxicology studies in this analysis. Similar margins (3-5 orders of magnitude) were observed between HTS-predicted human bioactivity and exposure values and between in vivo mammalian bioactivity and EPA chronic human exposure estimates for these products' registered uses. Combined HTS hazard and human exposure predictions suggest low priority for higher-tiered endocrine testing of these triazoles. Comparison with the mammalian toxicology database indicated that this HTS-based prioritization would have been protective for any potential in vivo effects that form the basis of current risk assessment for these chemicals. This example demonstrates an effective, human health protective roadmap for EDSP evaluation of pesticide active ingredients via prioritization using HTS and guideline toxicology information.

A predictive data-driven framework for endocrine prioritization: a triazole fungicide case study

PubMed Central

Paul Friedman, Katie; Papineni, Sabitha; Marty, M. Sue; Yi, Kun Don; Goetz, Amber K.; Rasoulpour, Reza J.; Kwiatkowski, Pat; Wolf, Douglas C.; Blacker, Ann M.; Peffer, Richard C.

2016-01-01

Abstract The US Environmental Protection Agency Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) is a tiered screening approach to determine the potential for a chemical to interact with estrogen, androgen, or thyroid hormone systems and/or perturb steroidogenesis. Use of high-throughput screening (HTS) to predict hazard and exposure is shifting the EDSP approach to (1) prioritization of chemicals for further screening; and (2) targeted use of EDSP Tier 1 assays to inform specific data needs. In this work, toxicology data for three triazole fungicides (triadimefon, propiconazole, and myclobutanil) were evaluated, including HTS results, EDSP Tier 1 screening (and other scientifically relevant information), and EPA guideline mammalian toxicology study data. The endocrine-related bioactivity predictions from HTS and information that satisfied the EDSP Tier 1 requirements were qualitatively concordant. Current limitations in the available HTS battery for thyroid and steroidogenesis pathways were mitigated by inclusion of guideline toxicology studies in this analysis. Similar margins (3–5 orders of magnitude) were observed between HTS-predicted human bioactivity and exposure values and between in vivo mammalian bioactivity and EPA chronic human exposure estimates for these products’ registered uses. Combined HTS hazard and human exposure predictions suggest low priority for higher-tiered endocrine testing of these triazoles. Comparison with the mammalian toxicology database indicated that this HTS-based prioritization would have been protective for any potential in vivo effects that form the basis of current risk assessment for these chemicals. This example demonstrates an effective, human health protective roadmap for EDSP evaluation of pesticide active ingredients via prioritization using HTS and guideline toxicology information. PMID:27347635

Magnetic Separation Using HTS Bulk Magnet for Cs-Bearing Fe precipitates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oka, T.; Ichiju, K.; Sasaki, S.; Ogawa, J.; Fukui, S.; Sato, T.; Ooizumi, M.; Yokoyama, K.; Aoki, S.; Ohnishi, N.

2017-09-01

A peculiar magnetic separation technique has been examined in order to remove the Cs-bearing Fe precipitates formed of the waste ash from the withdrawn incinerator furnaces in Fukushima. The separation system was constructed in combination with high temperature superconducting bulk magnets which generates the intensive magnetic field over 2 T, which was activated by the pulsed field magnetization process. The separation experiment has been operated with use of the newly-built alternating channel type magnetic separating device, which followed the high-gradient magnetic separation technique. The magnetic stainless steel filters installed in the water channels are magnetized by the applied magnetic fields, and are capable of attracting the precipitates bearing the Fe compound and thin Cs contamination. The experimental results clearly exhibited the positive feasibility of HTS bulk magnets.

26 CFR 52.4682-3 - Imported taxable products.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

....4681-1(c)(5)) of VCRs. The HTS classification for the VCRs is 8528.10.40. VCRs classified under HTS... reference to the Table. The Table ODC weight specified for VCRs classified under HTS heading 8528.10.40 is 0... of nonmechanical amplification or switching devices such as tubes, transistors, and integrated...

26 CFR 52.4682-3 - Imported taxable products.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

....4681-1(c)(5)) of VCRs. The HTS classification for the VCRs is 8528.10.40. VCRs classified under HTS... reference to the Table. The Table ODC weight specified for VCRs classified under HTS heading 8528.10.40 is 0... of nonmechanical amplification or switching devices such as tubes, transistors, and integrated...

High-throughput sequencing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Follow-up of minimal residual disease and emergence of new clones.

PubMed

Salson, Mikaël; Giraud, Mathieu; Caillault, Aurélie; Grardel, Nathalie; Duployez, Nicolas; Ferret, Yann; Duez, Marc; Herbert, Ryan; Rocher, Tatiana; Sebda, Shéhérazade; Quief, Sabine; Villenet, Céline; Figeac, Martin; Preudhomme, Claude

2017-02-01

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is known to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). High-throughput sequencing (HTS) is currently used in routine practice for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with hematological neoplasms. In this retrospective study, we examined the role of immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor-based MRD in patients with ALL by HTS analysis of immunoglobulin H and/or T-cell receptor gamma chain loci in bone marrow samples from 11 patients with ALL, at diagnosis and during follow-up. We assessed the clinical feasibility of using combined HTS and bioinformatics analysis with interactive visualization using Vidjil software. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of HTS for monitoring MRD. HTS gives a more complete insight of the leukemic population than conventional real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and allows identification of new emerging clones at each time point of the monitoring. Thus, HTS monitoring of Ig/TR based MRD is expected to improve the management of patients with ALL. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quench Detection and Protection for High Temperature Superconducting Transformers by Using the Active Power Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanato, N.; Kobayashi, Y.

AC high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils have been developed for transformers, motors and so on. Quench detection and protection system are essential for safety operations of the AC HTS facilities. The balance voltage method is universally used for the quench detection and protection, however especially for AC operations, the method has risks in terms of high voltage sparks. Because the method needs a voltage tap soldered to a midpoint of the coil winding and the AC HTS facilities generally operate at high voltages and therefore high voltage sparks may occur at the midpoint with no insulation. We have proposed the active power method for the quench detection and protection. The method requires no voltage tap on the midpoint of the coil winding and therefore it has in-built effectiveness for the AC HTS facilities. In this paper, we show that the method can detect the quench in an HTS transformer and moreover our proposed quench protection circuits which consist of thyristors are simple and useful for the AC HTS facilities.

Influence of radius of cylinder HTS bulk on guidance force in a maglev vehicle system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longcai, Zhang

2014-07-01

Bulk superconductors had great potential for various engineering applications, especially in a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev vehicle system. In such a system, the HTS bulks were always exposed to AC external magnetic field, which was generated by the inhomogeneous surface magnetic field of the NdFeB guideway. In our previous work, it was observed that the guidance force of the YBCO bulk over the NdFeB guideway used in the HTS maglev vehicle system was decayed by the application of the AC external magnetic field. In this paper, we investigated the influence of the radius of the cylinder HTS bulk exposed to an AC magnetic field perturbation on the guidance force in the maglev vehicle system. From the results, it was found that the guidance force was stronger for the bulk with bigger radius and the guidance force decay rates of the bulks were approximately equal despite of the different radius in the maglev vehicle system. Therefore, in order to obtain higher guidance force in the maglev vehicle system, we could use the cylinder HTS bulks with the bigger radius.

Integration of HTS Cables in the Future Grid of the Netherlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuijderduin, R.; Chevtchenko, O.; Smit, J. J.; Aanhaanen, G.; Melnik, I.; Geschiere, A.

Due to increasing power demand, the electricity grid of the Netherlands is changing. The future transmission grid will obtain electrical power generated by decentralized renewable sources, together with large scale generation units located at the coastal region. In this way electrical power has to be distributed and transmitted over longer distances from generation to end user. Potential grid issues like: amount of distributed power, grid stability and electrical loss dissipation merit particular attention. High temperature superconductors (HTS) can play an important role in solving these grid problems. Advantages to integrate HTS components at transmission voltages are numerous: more transmittable power together with less emissions, intrinsic fault current limiting capability, lower ac loss, better control of power flow, reduced footprint, less magnetic field emissions, etc. The main obstacle at present is the relatively high price of HTS conductor. However as the price goes down, initial market penetration of several HTS components (e.g.: cables, fault current limiters) is expected by year 2015. In the full paper we present selected ways to integrate EHV AC HTS cables depending on a particular future grid scenario in the Netherlands.

Characteristic and magnetic field analysis of a high temperature superconductor axial-flux coreless induction maglev motor.

PubMed

Wei, Qin; Yu, Fan; Jin, Fang; Shuo, Li; Guoguo, Li; Gang, Lv

2012-04-01

A new high temperature superconductor axial-flux coreless maglev motor (HTS AFIM) is proposed, of which the primary windings are made of HTS tapes and the secondary is a non-magnetic conductor. The main works of this paper are the magnetic-field computation and characteristics analysis of HTS AFIM. For the first one, the reduction of magnetic fields near outer and inner radius of the HTS AFIM is solved by introducing the sub-loop electro-magnetic model along the radial position. For the second one, the AC losses of HTS coils are calculated. The relationships between the device's characteristics and device parameters are presented, and the results indicate that under certain frequency and current levitation device can output enough lift force. The conclusions are verified by finite element calculations.

Characteristic and magnetic field analysis of a high temperature superconductor axial-flux coreless induction maglev motor

PubMed Central

Wei, Qin; Yu, Fan; Jin, Fang; Shuo, Li; Guoguo, Li; Gang, Lv

2012-01-01

A new high temperature superconductor axial-flux coreless maglev motor (HTS AFIM) is proposed, of which the primary windings are made of HTS tapes and the secondary is a non-magnetic conductor. The main works of this paper are the magnetic-field computation and characteristics analysis of HTS AFIM. For the first one, the reduction of magnetic fields near outer and inner radius of the HTS AFIM is solved by introducing the sub-loop electro-magnetic model along the radial position. For the second one, the AC losses of HTS coils are calculated. The relationships between the device’s characteristics and device parameters are presented, and the results indicate that under certain frequency and current levitation device can output enough lift force. The conclusions are verified by finite element calculations. PMID:22393268

AC losses in horizontally parallel HTS tapes for possible wireless power transfer applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Boyang; Geng, Jianzhao; Zhang, Xiuchang; Fu, Lin; Li, Chao; Zhang, Heng; Dong, Qihuan; Ma, Jun; Gawith, James; Coombs, T. A.

2017-12-01

This paper presents the concept of using horizontally parallel HTS tapes with AC loss study, and the investigation on possible wireless power transfer (WPT) applications. An example of three parallel HTS tapes was proposed, whose AC loss study was carried out both from experiment using electrical method; and simulation using 2D H-formulation on the FEM platform of COMSOL Multiphysics. The electromagnetic induction around the three parallel tapes was monitored using COMSOL simulation. The electromagnetic induction and AC losses generated by a conventional three turn coil was simulated as well, and then compared to the case of three parallel tapes with the same AC transport current. The analysis demonstrates that HTS parallel tapes could be potentially used into wireless power transfer systems, which could have lower total AC losses than conventional HTS coils.

Use of Cell Viability Assay Data Improves the Prediction Accuracy of Conventional Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship Models of Animal Carcinogenicity

PubMed Central

Zhu, Hao; Rusyn, Ivan; Richard, Ann; Tropsha, Alexander

2008-01-01

Background To develop efficient approaches for rapid evaluation of chemical toxicity and human health risk of environmental compounds, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in collaboration with the National Center for Chemical Genomics has initiated a project on high-throughput screening (HTS) of environmental chemicals. The first HTS results for a set of 1,408 compounds tested for their effects on cell viability in six different cell lines have recently become available via PubChem. Objectives We have explored these data in terms of their utility for predicting adverse health effects of the environmental agents. Methods and results Initially, the classification k nearest neighbor (kNN) quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modeling method was applied to the HTS data only, for a curated data set of 384 compounds. The resulting models had prediction accuracies for training, test (containing 275 compounds together), and external validation (109 compounds) sets as high as 89%, 71%, and 74%, respectively. We then asked if HTS results could be of value in predicting rodent carcinogenicity. We identified 383 compounds for which data were available from both the Berkeley Carcinogenic Potency Database and NTP–HTS studies. We found that compounds classified by HTS as “actives” in at least one cell line were likely to be rodent carcinogens (sensitivity 77%); however, HTS “inactives” were far less informative (specificity 46%). Using chemical descriptors only, kNN QSAR modeling resulted in 62.3% prediction accuracy for rodent carcinogenicity applied to this data set. Importantly, the prediction accuracy of the model was significantly improved (72.7%) when chemical descriptors were augmented by HTS data, which were regarded as biological descriptors. Conclusions Our studies suggest that combining NTP–HTS profiles with conventional chemical descriptors could considerably improve the predictive power of computational approaches in toxicology. PMID:18414635

Simulation and measurement of a Ka-band HTS MMIC Josephson junction mixer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ting; Pegrum, Colin; Du, Jia; Guo, Yingjie Jay

2017-01-01

We report modeling and simulation results for a Ka band high-temperature superconducting (HTS) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) Josephson junction mixer. A Verilog-A model of a Josephson junction is established and imported into the system simulator to realize a full HTS MMIC circuit simulation containing the HTS passive circuit models. Impedance matching optimization between the junction and passive devices is investigated. Junction DC I-V characteristics, current and local oscillator bias conditions and mixing performance are simulated and compared with the experimental results. Good agreement is obtained between the simulation and measurement results.

Use of Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) with High Throughput Exposure Predictions as a Risk-Based Screening Approach of Several Thousand Commodity Chemicals (SOT Poster)

EPA Science Inventory

Although progress has been made with HTS (high throughput screening) in profiling biological activity (e.g., EPA’s ToxCast™), challenges arise interpreting HTS results in the context of adversity & converting HTS assay concentrations to equivalent human doses for the broad domain...

Probe molecules (PrM) approach in adverse outcome pathway (AOP) based high throughput screening (HTS): in vivo discovery for developing in vitro target methods

EPA Science Inventory

Efficient and accurate adverse outcome pathway (AOP) based high-throughput screening (HTS) methods use a systems biology based approach to computationally model in vitro cellular and molecular data for rapid chemical prioritization; however, not all HTS assays are grounded by rel...

An equiosmolar study on early intracranial physiology and long term outcome in severe traumatic brain injury comparing mannitol and hypertonic saline.

PubMed

Jagannatha, Aniruddha Tekkatte; Sriganesh, Kamath; Devi, Bhagavatula Indira; Rao, Ganne Sesha Umamaheswara

2016-05-01

The impact of hypertonic saline (HTS) on long term control of intracranial hypertension (ICH) is yet to be established. The current prospective randomized controlled study was carried out in 38 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Over 450 episodes of refractory ICH were treated with equiosmolar boluses of 20% mannitol in 20 patients and 3.0% HTS in 18 subjects. Intracranial pressure (ICP) was monitored for 6days. ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were comparable between the groups. The mannitol group had a progressive increase in the ICP over the study period (p=0.01). A similar increase was not seen in the HTS group (p=0.1). The percentage time for which the ICP remained below a threshold of 20 mmHg on day6 was higher in the HTS group (63% versus 49%; p=0.3). The duration of inotrope requirement in the HTS group was less compared to the mannitol group (p=0.06). The slope of fall in ICP in response to a bolus dose at a given baseline value of ICP was higher with HTS compared to mannitol (p=0.0001). In-hospital mortality tended to be lower in the HTS group (3 versus 10; p=0.07) while mortality at 6 months was not different between the groups (6 versus 10; p=0.41). Dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale scores at 6months were comparable between the groups (p=0.21). To conclude, immediate physiological advantages seen with HTS over mannitol did not translate into long term benefit on ICP/CPP control or mortality of patients with TBI. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Loss measurement and analysis for the prototype generator with HTS stator and permanent magnet rotor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Peng; Qu, Timing; Yu, Xiaoyu; Li, Longnian; Gu, Chen; Li, Xiaohang; Wang, Dewen; Hu, Boping; Chen, Duxing; Han, Zhenghe

2013-11-01

A prototype HTS synchronous generator with a permanent magnet rotor and HTS armature windings was developed. The rated armature frequency is 10 Hz. The cryogenic Dewar is tightly surrounded outside the iron core. Both HTS coils and the iron core were cooled by using conduction cooling method. During the process of no-load running, the no-load loss power data were obtained through the torque measurement. The temperature evolution characteristics of the stator was measured by PT-100 temperature sensors. These results show that the no-load loss power at around 77 K are much larger than that at room temperature. The possible reason for the no-load loss increment is discussed. The ac loss power of one individual HTS coil used in this generator was also tested. Compared with the iron loss power, the ac loss power is rather small and could be neglected.

High temperature superconductors for magnetic suspension applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmichael, C. K.; Cooley, R. S.; Chen, Q. Y.; Ma, K. B.; Lamb, M. A.; Meng, R. L.; Chu, C. W.; Chu, W. K.

1994-01-01

High temperature superconductors (HTS) hold the promise for applications in magnetic levitation bearings, vibration damping, and torque coupling. Traditional magnetic suspension systems require active feedback and vibration controls in which power consumption and low frequency vibration are among the major engineering concerns. HTS materials have been demonstrated to be an enabling approach towards such problems due to their flux trapping properties. In our laboratory at TCSUH, we have been conducting a series of experiments to explore various mechanical applications using HTS. We have constructed a 30 lb. model flywheel levitated by a hybrid superconducting magnetic bearing (HSMB). We are also developing a levitated and vibration-dampled platform for high precision instrumentation. These applications would be ideal for space usages where ambient temperature is adequate for HTS to operate properly under greatly reduced cryogenic requirements. We will give a general overview of these potential applications and discuss the operating principles of the HTS devices we have developed.

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening laboratory. Part I: meeting drug-discovery needs in the heartland of America with entrepreneurial flair.

PubMed

McDonald, Peter R; Roy, Anuradha; Chaguturu, Rathnam

2011-05-01

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening (KU HTS) core is a state-of-the-art drug-discovery facility with an entrepreneurial open-service policy, which provides centralized resources supporting public- and private-sector research initiatives. The KU HTS core applies pharmaceutical industry project-management principles in an academic setting by bringing together multidisciplinary teams to fill critical scientific and technology gaps, using an experienced team of industry-trained researchers and project managers. The KU HTS proactively engages in supporting grant applications for extramural funding, intellectual-property management and technology transfer. The KU HTS staff further provides educational opportunities for the KU faculty and students to learn cutting-edge technologies in drug-discovery platforms through seminars, workshops, internships and course teaching. This is the first instalment of a two-part contribution from the KU HTS laboratory.

Weak links in high critical temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tafuri, Francesco; Kirtley, John R.

2005-11-01

The traditional distinction between tunnel and highly transmissive barriers does not currently hold for high critical temperature superconducting Josephson junctions, both because of complicated materials issues and the intrinsic properties of high temperature superconductors (HTS). An intermediate regime, typical of both artificial superconductor-barrier-superconductor structures and of grain boundaries, spans several orders of magnitude in the critical current density and specific resistivity. The physics taking place at HTS surfaces and interfaces is rich, primarily because of phenomena associated with d-wave order parameter (OP) symmetry. These phenomena include Andreev bound states, the presence of the second harmonic in the critical current versus phase relation, a doubly degenerate state, time reversal symmetry breaking and the possible presence of an imaginary component of the OP. All these effects are regulated by a series of transport mechanisms, whose rules of interplay and relative activation are unknown. Some transport mechanisms probably have common roots, which are not completely clear and possibly related to the intrinsic nature of high-TC superconductivity. The d-wave OP symmetry gives unique properties to HTS weak links, which do not have any analogy with systems based on other superconductors. Even if the HTS structures are not optimal, compared with low critical temperature superconductor Josephson junctions, the state of the art allows the realization of weak links with unexpectedly high quality quantum properties, which open interesting perspectives for the future. The observation of macroscopic quantum tunnelling and the qubit proposals represent significant achievements in this direction. In this review we attempt to encompass all the above aspects, attached to a solid experimental basis of junction concepts and basic properties, along with a flexible phenomenological background, which collects ideas on the Josephson effect in the presence of d-wave pairing for different types of barriers.

No-insulation multi-width winding technique for high temperature superconducting magnet.

PubMed

Hahn, Seungyong; Kim, Youngjae; Keun Park, Dong; Kim, Kwangmin; Voccio, John P; Bascuñán, Juan; Iwasa, Yukikazu

2013-10-21

We present a No-Insulation ( NI ) Multi-Width ( MW ) winding technique for an HTS (high temperature superconductor) magnet consisting of double-pancake (DP) coils. The NI enables an HTS magnet self-protecting and the MW minimizes the detrimental anisotropy in current-carrying capacity of HTS tape by assigning tapes of multiple widths to DP coils within a stack, widest tape to the top and bottom sections and the narrowest in the midplane section. This paper presents fabrication and test results of an NI-MW HTS magnet and demonstrates the unique features of the NI-MW technique: self-protecting and enhanced field performance, unattainable with the conventional technique.

HTS cryogenic current comparator for non-invasive sensing of charged-particle beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, L.; Gallop, J. C.; Macfarlane, J. C.; Carr, C.

2002-03-01

The principle of the superconducting cryogenic direct-current comparator (CCC) is applied to the non-invasive sensing of charged-particle beams (ions, electrons). With the use of HTS components it is feasible to envisage applications, for example, in precision mass spectrometry, in real-time monitoring of ion-beam implantation currents and for the determination of the Faraday fundamental constant. We have developed a novel current concentrating technique using HTS thick-film material, to increase the sensitivity of the CCC. Recent simulations and experimental measurements of the flux and current concentration ratios, frequency response and linearity of a prototype HTS-CCC operating at 77 K are described.

Coupled Cryogenic Thermal and Electrical Models for Transient Analysis of Superconducting Power Devices with Integrated Cryogenic Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Satyanarayana, S.; Indrakanti, S.; Kim, J.; Kim, C.; Pamidi, S.

2017-12-01

Benefits of an integrated high temperature superconducting (HTS) power system and the associated cryogenic systems on board an electric ship or aircraft are discussed. A versatile modelling methodology developed to assess the cryogenic thermal behavior of the integrated system with multiple HTS devices and the various potential configurations are introduced. The utility and effectiveness of the developed modelling methodology is demonstrated using a case study involving a hypothetical system including an HTS propulsion motor, an HTS generator and an HTS power cable cooled by an integrated cryogenic helium circulation system. Using the methodology, multiple configurations are studied. The required total cooling power and the ability to maintain each HTS device at the required operating temperatures are considered for each configuration and the trade-offs are discussed for each configuration. Transient analysis of temperature evolution in the cryogenic helium circulation loop in case of a system failure is carried out to arrive at the required critical response time. The analysis was also performed for a similar liquid nitrogen circulation for an isobaric condition and the cooling capacity ratio is used to compare the relative merits of the two cryogens.

Comparing Sanger sequencing and high-throughput metabarcoding for inferring photobiont diversity in lichens.

PubMed

Paul, Fiona; Otte, Jürgen; Schmitt, Imke; Dal Grande, Francesco

2018-06-05

The implementation of HTS (high-throughput sequencing) approaches is rapidly changing our understanding of the lichen symbiosis, by uncovering high bacterial and fungal diversity, which is often host-specific. Recently, HTS methods revealed the presence of multiple photobionts inside a single thallus in several lichen species. This differs from Sanger technology, which typically yields a single, unambiguous algal sequence per individual. Here we compared HTS and Sanger methods for estimating the diversity of green algal symbionts within lichen thalli using 240 lichen individuals belonging to two species of lichen-forming fungi. According to HTS data, Sanger technology consistently yielded the most abundant photobiont sequence in the sample. However, if the second most abundant photobiont exceeded 30% of the total HTS reads in a sample, Sanger sequencing generally failed. Our results suggest that most lichen individuals in the two analyzed species, Lasallia hispanica and L. pustulata, indeed contain a single, predominant green algal photobiont. We conclude that Sanger sequencing is a valid approach to detect the dominant photobionts in lichen individuals and populations. We discuss which research areas in lichen ecology and evolution will continue to benefit from Sanger sequencing, and which areas will profit from HTS approaches to assessing symbiont diversity.

Nonlinear vibration behaviors of high-Tc superconducting bulks in an applied permanent magnetic array field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jipeng; Li, Haitao; Zheng, Jun; Zheng, Botian; Huang, Huan; Deng, Zigang

2017-06-01

The nonlinear vibration of high temperature superconducting (HTS) bulks in an applied permanent magnetic array (Halbach array) field, as a precondition for commercial application to HTS maglev train and HTS bearing, is systematically investigated. This article reports the actual vibration rules of HTS bulks from three aspects. First, we propose a new numerical model to simplify the calculation of levitation force. This model could provide precise simulations, especially the estimation of eigenfrequency. Second, an approximate analytic solution of the vibration of the HTS bulks is obtained by using the method of harmonic balance. Finally, to verify the results mentioned above, we measure the vertical vibration acceleration signals of an HTS maglev model, consisting of eight YBaCuO bulks, oscillating freely above a Halbach array with large displacement excitation. Higher order harmonic components, which indicate the nonlinear vibration phenomenon, are detected in the responses. All the three results are compared and agreed well with each other. This study combines the experimental and theoretical analyses and provides a deep understanding of the physical phenomenon of the nonlinear vibration and is meaningful for the vibration control of the relevant applications.

AC HTS Transmission Cable for Integration into the Future EHV Grid of the Netherlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuijderduin, R.; Chevtchenko, O.; Smit, J. J.; Aanhaanen, G.; Melnik, I.; Geschiere, A.

Due to increasing power demand, the electricity grid of the Netherlands is changing. The future grid must be capable to transmit all the connected power. Power generation will be more decentralized like for instance wind parks connected to the grid. Furthermore, future large scale production units are expected to be installed near coastal regions. This creates some potential grid issues, such as: large power amounts to be transmitted to consumers from west to east and grid stability. High temperature superconductors (HTS) can help solving these grid problems. Advantages to integrate HTS components at Extra High Voltage (EHV) and High Voltage (HV) levels are numerous: more power with less losses and less emissions, intrinsic fault current limiting capability, better control of power flow, reduced footprint, etc. Today's main obstacle is the relatively high price of HTS. Nevertheless, as the price goes down, initial market penetration for several HTS components is expected by year 2015 (e.g.: cables, fault current limiters). In this paper we present a design of intrinsically compensated EHV HTS cable for future grid integration. Discussed are the parameters of such cable providing an optimal power transmission in the future network.

Design of conduction cooling system for a high current HTS DC reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dao, Van Quan; Kim, Taekue; Le Tat, Thang; Sung, Haejin; Choi, Jongho; Kim, Kwangmin; Hwang, Chul-Sang; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun

2017-07-01

A DC reactor using a high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet reduces the reactor’s size, weight, flux leakage, and electrical losses. An HTS magnet needs cryogenic cooling to achieve and maintain its superconducting state. There are two methods for doing this: one is pool boiling and the other is conduction cooling. The conduction cooling method is more effective than the pool boiling method in terms of smaller size and lighter weight. This paper discusses a design of conduction cooling system for a high current, high temperature superconducting DC reactor. Dimensions of the conduction cooling system parts including HTS magnets, bobbin structures, current leads, support bars, and thermal exchangers were calculated and drawn using a 3D CAD program. A finite element method model was built for determining the optimal design parameters and analyzing the thermo-mechanical characteristics. The operating current and inductance of the reactor magnet were 1,500 A, 400 mH, respectively. The thermal load of the HTS DC reactor was analyzed for determining the cooling capacity of the cryo-cooler. The study results can be effectively utilized for the design and fabrication of a commercial HTS DC reactor.

Comparison of mapping algorithms used in high-throughput sequencing: application to Ion Torrent data

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The rapid evolution in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies has opened up new perspectives in several research fields and led to the production of large volumes of sequence data. A fundamental step in HTS data analysis is the mapping of reads onto reference sequences. Choosing a suitable mapper for a given technology and a given application is a subtle task because of the difficulty of evaluating mapping algorithms. Results In this paper, we present a benchmark procedure to compare mapping algorithms used in HTS using both real and simulated datasets and considering four evaluation criteria: computational resource and time requirements, robustness of mapping, ability to report positions for reads in repetitive regions, and ability to retrieve true genetic variation positions. To measure robustness, we introduced a new definition for a correctly mapped read taking into account not only the expected start position of the read but also the end position and the number of indels and substitutions. We developed CuReSim, a new read simulator, that is able to generate customized benchmark data for any kind of HTS technology by adjusting parameters to the error types. CuReSim and CuReSimEval, a tool to evaluate the mapping quality of the CuReSim simulated reads, are freely available. We applied our benchmark procedure to evaluate 14 mappers in the context of whole genome sequencing of small genomes with Ion Torrent data for which such a comparison has not yet been established. Conclusions A benchmark procedure to compare HTS data mappers is introduced with a new definition for the mapping correctness as well as tools to generate simulated reads and evaluate mapping quality. The application of this procedure to Ion Torrent data from the whole genome sequencing of small genomes has allowed us to validate our benchmark procedure and demonstrate that it is helpful for selecting a mapper based on the intended application, questions to be addressed, and the technology used. This benchmark procedure can be used to evaluate existing or in-development mappers as well as to optimize parameters of a chosen mapper for any application and any sequencing platform. PMID:24708189

Supercooling as a Viable Non-Freezing Cell Preservation Method of Rat Hepatocytes

PubMed Central

Usta, O. Berk; Kim, Yeonhee; Ozer, Sinan; Bruinsma, Bote G.; Lee, Jungwoo; Demir, Esin; Berendsen, Tim A.; Puts, Catheleyne F.; Izamis, Maria-Louisa; Uygun, Korkut; Uygun, Basak E.; Yarmush, Martin L.

2013-01-01

Supercooling preservation holds the potential to drastically extend the preservation time of organs, tissues and engineered tissue products, and fragile cell types that do not lend themselves well to cryopreservation or vitrification. Here, we investigate the effects of supercooling preservation (SCP at -4oC) on primary rat hepatocytes stored in cryovials and compare its success (high viability and good functional characteristics) to that of static cold storage (CS at +4oC) and cryopreservation. We consider two prominent preservation solutions a) Hypothermosol (HTS-FRS) and b) University of Wisconsin solution (UW) and a range of preservation temperatures (-4 to -10 oC). We find that there exists an optimum temperature (-4oC) for SCP of rat hepatocytes which yields the highest viability; at this temperature HTS-FRS significantly outperforms UW solution in terms of viability and functional characteristics (secretions and enzymatic activity in suspension and plate culture). With the HTS-FRS solution we show that the cells can be stored for up to a week with high viability (~56%); moreover we also show that the preservation can be performed in large batches (50 million cells) with equal or better viability and no loss of functionality as compared to smaller batches (1.5 million cells) performed in cryovials. PMID:23874947

Isotonic Regression Based-Method in Quantitative High-Throughput Screenings for Genotoxicity

PubMed Central

Fujii, Yosuke; Narita, Takeo; Tice, Raymond Richard; Takeda, Shunich

2015-01-01

Quantitative high-throughput screenings (qHTSs) for genotoxicity are conducted as part of comprehensive toxicology screening projects. The most widely used method is to compare the dose-response data of a wild-type and DNA repair gene knockout mutants, using model-fitting to the Hill equation (HE). However, this method performs poorly when the observed viability does not fit the equation well, as frequently happens in qHTS. More capable methods must be developed for qHTS where large data variations are unavoidable. In this study, we applied an isotonic regression (IR) method and compared its performance with HE under multiple data conditions. When dose-response data were suitable to draw HE curves with upper and lower asymptotes and experimental random errors were small, HE was better than IR, but when random errors were big, there was no difference between HE and IR. However, when the drawn curves did not have two asymptotes, IR showed better performance (p < 0.05, exact paired Wilcoxon test) with higher specificity (65% in HE vs. 96% in IR). In summary, IR performed similarly to HE when dose-response data were optimal, whereas IR clearly performed better in suboptimal conditions. These findings indicate that IR would be useful in qHTS for comparing dose-response data. PMID:26673567

A novel propulsion method for high- Tc superconducting maglev vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Guangtong; Wang, Jiasu; Wang, Suyu; Liu, Minxian; Jing, Hua; Lu, Yiyun; Lin, Qunxu

2008-01-01

High-Tc superconducting (HTS) maglev is considered as a perfect transportation type because of its unique inherent stability. A direct current (DC) linear motor using the permanent magnet guideway (PMG) as the stator and the on-board coil as the rotor instead of the present inductive or synchronous alternate current (AC) linear motor which has an economic disadvantage due to the necessity to lay primary coil along the guideway is proposed in this paper. In order to modulate the magnetic field under the PMG, an inverse E shape ferromagnetic device (IESFD) core is designed. The possible winding method for the on-board coil is listed, and the analytical result shows that a considerable net ampere force and thus the propulsion force can be generated by this special structure. The influence of the concentrated effect of the IESFD on the maglev performance of HTS bulk is studied by a numerical program, and the results show that the levitation force with the IESFD is 90% of that without. It is also indicated that the load capability and lateral performance of the maglev vehicle combined this propulsion method can be improved thanks to the attractive effect between the IESFD and PMG. The cost of the HTS maglev vehicle will be remarkably reduced and then shorten the distance to practical application with this propulsion method.

High Throughput Sequencing for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens

PubMed Central

Sekse, Camilla; Holst-Jensen, Arne; Dobrindt, Ulrich; Johannessen, Gro S.; Li, Weihua; Spilsberg, Bjørn; Shi, Jianxin

2017-01-01

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) is becoming the state-of-the-art technology for typing of microbial isolates, especially in clinical samples. Yet, its application is still in its infancy for monitoring and outbreak investigations of foods. Here we review the published literature, covering not only bacterial but also viral and Eukaryote food pathogens, to assess the status and potential of HTS implementation to inform stakeholders, improve food safety and reduce outbreak impacts. The developments in sequencing technology and bioinformatics have outpaced the capacity to analyze and interpret the sequence data. The influence of sample processing, nucleic acid extraction and purification, harmonized protocols for generation and interpretation of data, and properly annotated and curated reference databases including non-pathogenic “natural” strains are other major obstacles to the realization of the full potential of HTS in analytical food surveillance, epidemiological and outbreak investigations, and in complementing preventive approaches for the control and management of foodborne pathogens. Despite significant obstacles, the achieved progress in capacity and broadening of the application range over the last decade is impressive and unprecedented, as illustrated with the chosen examples from the literature. Large consortia, often with broad international participation, are making coordinated efforts to cope with many of the mentioned obstacles. Further rapid progress can therefore be prospected for the next decade. PMID:29104564

Comparison study of cable geometries and superconducting tape layouts for high-temperature superconductor cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ta, Wurui; Shao, Tianchong; Gao, Yuanwen

2018-04-01

High-temperature superconductor (HTS) rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide (REBCO) tapes are very promising for use in high-current cables. The cable geometry and the layout of the superconducting tapes are directly related to the performance of the HTS cable. In this paper, we use numerical methods to perform a comparison study of multiple-stage twisted stacked-tape cable (TSTC) conductors to find better cable structures that can both improve the critical current and minimize the alternating current (AC) losses of the cable. The sub-cable geometry is designed to have a stair-step shape. Three superconducting tape layouts are chosen and their transport performance and AC losses are evaluated. The magnetic field and current density profiles of the cables are obtained. The results show that arrangement of the superconducting tapes from the interior towards the exterior of the cable based on their critical current values in descending order can enhance the cable's transport capacity while significantly reducing the AC losses. These results imply that cable transport capacity improvements can be achieved by arranging the superconducting tapes in a manner consistent with the electromagnetic field distribution. Through comparison of the critical currents and AC losses of four types of HTS cables, we determine the best structural choice among these cables.

Ultra-High Performance, High-Temperature Superconducting Wires via Cost-effective, Scalable, Co-evaporation Process

PubMed Central

Kim, Ho-Sup; Oh, Sang-Soo; Ha, Hong-Soo; Youm, Dojun; Moon, Seung-Hyun; Kim, Jung Ho; Dou, Shi Xue; Heo, Yoon-Uk; Wee, Sung-Hun; Goyal, Amit

2014-01-01

Long-length, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires capable of carrying high critical current, Ic, are required for a wide range of applications. Here, we report extremely high performance HTS wires based on 5 μm thick SmBa2Cu3O7 − δ (SmBCO) single layer films on textured metallic templates. SmBCO layer wires over 20 meters long were deposited by a cost-effective, scalable co-evaporation process using a batch-type drum in a dual chamber. All deposition parameters influencing the composition, phase, and texture of the films were optimized via a unique combinatorial method that is broadly applicable for co-evaporation of other promising complex materials containing several cations. Thick SmBCO layers deposited under optimized conditions exhibit excellent cube-on-cube epitaxy. Such excellent structural epitaxy over the entire thickness results in exceptionally high Ic performance, with average Ic over 1,000 A/cm-width for the entire 22 meter long wire and maximum Ic over 1,500 A/cm-width for a short 12 cm long tape. The Ic values reported in this work are the highest values ever reported from any lengths of cuprate-based HTS wire or conductor. PMID:24752189

Potential escalation of heat-related working costs with climate and socioeconomic changes in China

PubMed Central

Zhao, Yan; Sultan, Benjamin; Vautard, Robert; Braconnot, Pascale; Wang, Huijun J.; Ducharne, Agnes

2016-01-01

Global climate change will increase the frequency of hot temperatures, impairing health and productivity for millions of working people and raising labor costs. In mainland China, high-temperature subsidies (HTSs) are allocated to employees for each working day in extremely hot environments, but the potential heat-related increase in labor cost has not been evaluated so far. Here, we estimate the potential HTS cost in current and future climates under different scenarios of socioeconomic development and radiative forcing (Representative Concentration Pathway), taking uncertainties from the climate model structure and bias correction into account. On average, the total HTS in China is estimated at 38.6 billion yuan/y (US $6.22 billion/y) over the 1979–2005 period, which is equivalent to 0.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Assuming that the HTS standards (per employee per hot day) remain unchanged throughout the 21st century, the total HTS may reach 250 billion yuan/y in the 2030s and 1,000 billion yuan/y in 2100. We further show that, without specific adaptation, the increased HTS cost is mainly determined by population growth until the 2030s and climate change after the mid-21st century because of increasingly frequent hot weather. Accounting for the likely possibility that HTS standards follow the wages, the share of GDP devoted to HTS could become as high as 3% at the end of 21st century. PMID:27044089

Numerical study on AC loss reduction of stacked HTS tapes by optimal design of flux diverter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Guole; Zhang, Guomin; Jing, Liwei; Yu, Hui

2017-12-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) coils are key parts of many AC applications, such as generators, superconducting magnetic energy storage and transformers. AC loss reduction in HTS coils is essential for the commercialization of these HTS devices. Magnetic material is generally used as the flux diverter in an effort to reduce the AC loss in HTS coils. To achieve the greatest reduction in the AC loss of the coils, the flux diverter should be made of a material with low loss and high saturated magnetic density, and the optimization of the geometric size and location of the flux diverter is required. In this paper, we chose Ni-alloy as the flux diverter, which can be processed into a specific shape and size. The influence of the shape and location of the flux diverter on the AC loss characteristics of stacked (RE)BCO tapes is investigated by use of a finite element method. Taking both the AC loss of the (RE)BCO coils and the ferromagnetic loss of the flux diverter into account, the optimal geometry of the flux diverter is obtained. It is found that when the applied current is at half the value of the critical current, the total loss of the HTS stack with the optimal flux diverter is only 18% of the original loss of the HTS stack without the flux diverter. Besides, the effect of the flux diverter on the critical current of the (RE)BCO stack is investigated.

Rotor compound concept for designing an industrial HTS synchronous motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashani, M.; Hosseina, M.; Sarrafan, K.; Darabi, A.

2013-06-01

Recently, producing power with smaller amount of losses become as a goal in our daily life. Today, large amount of energy waste in power networks all around the world. The main reason is “resistive electric equipments” of power networks. Since early 1980s, simultaneous with the development of high temperature superconductive (HTS) technology, superconductors gently attracted the mankind attentions. Using superconductive equipments instead of conventional resistive ones are result in salient electric loss reduction in power systems. Especially to reduce losses in power networks superconductive industrial rotating machines can potentially perform a significant role. In early recent century, first generation of HTS rotating machines was born. But unfortunately they have long way to penetrate the commercial markets yet. In HTS rotating machines the conventional copper made windings are replaced with the HTS superconductors. In this paper an industrial HTS synchronous motor with YBCO coated conductor field windings was designed. As a new approach, model was equipped with a compound rotor that includes both magnetic and non-magnetic materials. So, large amount of heavy iron made part was replaced by light non-magnetic material such as G-10 fiberglass. Furthermore, in this structure iron loss in rotor could be reduced to its lowest value. Also less weight and more air gap energy density were the additional advantages. Regarding zero electric loss production in field windings and less iron loss in rotor construction, this model potentially is more effective than the other iron made HTS motors.

DC current distribution mapping system of the solar panels using a HTS-SQUID gradiometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyazaki, Shingo; Kasuya, Syohei; Mawardi Saari, Mohd; Sakai, Kenji; Kiwa, Toshihiko; Tsukamoto, Akira; Adachi, Seiji; Tanabe, Keiichi; Tsukada, Keiji

2014-05-01

Solar panels are expected to play a major role as a source of sustainable energy. In order to evaluate solar panels, non-destructive tests, such as defect inspections and response property evaluations, are necessary. We developed a DC current distribution mapping system of the solar panels using a High Critical Temperature Superconductor Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (HTS-SQUID) gradiometer with ramp edge type Josephson junctions. Two independent components of the magnetic fields perpendicular to the panel surface (∂Bz/∂x, ∂Bz/∂y) were detected. The direct current of the solar panel is visualized by calculating the composition of the two signal components, the phase angle, and mapping the DC current vector. The developed system can evaluate the uniformity of DC current distributions precisely and may be applicable for defect detection of solar panels.

A Practical HTS SQUID Magnetometer System for NDI of Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-10

based on present-day high Tc SQUIDs is feasible, and present a portable design cooled by a miniature cryocooler . In addition, a reevaluation of the basic...integration of this cryocooler with SQUIDs, is that there is no available electromagnetic field emission information. We did not find any for other types ...background signals. Third, there are several other types of cryocoolers , integrated or split, made of plastics available on the market. They will

Space applications for high temperature superconductivity - Brief review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishen, Kumar

1990-01-01

An overview is presented of materials and devices based on high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) that could have useful space-oriented applications. Of specific interest are applications of HTS technologies to mm and microwave systems, spaceborne and planet-surface sensors, and to magnetic subsystems for robotic, rescue, and docking maneuvers. HTS technologies can be used in optoelectronics, magnetic-field detectors, antennae, transmission/delay lines, and launch/payload coils.

Sensing Fissile Materials at Long Range

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

Adjusted Magnetic Design Working Point Parametrics ................................................ 21  B.  Use of  HTS  Monoliths or Permanent Magnets for...25  B.3 Applications of  HTS  bulk to cyclotrons. ....................................................................... 26  B.4...57  D.  HTS  Potential for cyclotrons

No-insulation multi-width winding technique for high temperature superconducting magnet

PubMed Central

Hahn, Seungyong; Kim, Youngjae; Keun Park, Dong; Kim, Kwangmin; Voccio, John P.; Bascuñán, Juan; Iwasa, Yukikazu

2013-01-01

We present a No-Insulation (NI) Multi-Width (MW) winding technique for an HTS (high temperature superconductor) magnet consisting of double-pancake (DP) coils. The NI enables an HTS magnet self-protecting and the MW minimizes the detrimental anisotropy in current-carrying capacity of HTS tape by assigning tapes of multiple widths to DP coils within a stack, widest tape to the top and bottom sections and the narrowest in the midplane section. This paper presents fabrication and test results of an NI-MW HTS magnet and demonstrates the unique features of the NI-MW technique: self-protecting and enhanced field performance, unattainable with the conventional technique. PMID:24255549

Design, Construction and Test of Cryogen-Free HTS Coil Structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hocker, H.; Anerella, M.; Gupta, R.

2011-03-28

This paper will describe design, construction and test results of a cryo-mechanical structure to study coils made with the second generation High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). A magnet comprised of HTS coils mounted in a vacuum vessel and conduction-cooled with Gifford-McMahon cycle cryocoolers is used to develop and refine design and construction techniques. The study of these techniques and their effect on operations provides a better understanding of the use of cryogen free magnets in future accelerator projects. A cryogen-free, superconducting HTS magnet possesses certain operational advantages over cryogenically cooled, low temperature superconductingmore » magnets.« less

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening Laboratory. Part II: enabling collaborative drug-discovery partnerships through cutting-edge screening technology.

PubMed

McDonald, Peter R; Roy, Anuradha; Chaguturu, Rathnam

2011-07-01

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening (KU HTS) core is a state-of-the-art drug-discovery facility with an entrepreneurial open-service policy, which provides centralized resources supporting public- and private-sector research initiatives. The KU HTS core was established in 2002 at the University of Kansas with support from an NIH grant and the state of Kansas. It collaborates with investigators from national and international academic, nonprofit and pharmaceutical organizations in executing HTS-ready assay development and screening of chemical libraries for target validation, probe selection, hit identification and lead optimization. This is part two of a contribution from the KU HTS laboratory.

Chemical stability of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.

1992-01-01

A review of the available studies on the chemical stability of the high temperature superconductors (HTS) in various environments was made. The La(1.8)Ba(0.2)CuO4 HTS is unstable in the presence of H2O, CO2, and CO. The YBa2Cu3O(7-x) superconductor is highly susceptible to degradation in different environments, especially water. The La(2-x)Ba(x)CuO4 and Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O HTS are relatively less reactive than the YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Processing of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) HTS in purified oxygen, rather than in air, using high purity noncarbon containing starting materials is recommended. Exposure of this HTS to the ambient atmosphere should also be avoided at all stages during processing and storage. Devices and components made out of these oxide superconductors would have to be protected with an impermeable coating of a polymer, glass, or metal to avoid deterioration during use.

Measurements and tests of HTS bulk material in resistive fault current limiters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noe, M.; Juengst, K.-P.; Werfel, F. N.; Elschner, S.; Bock, J.; Wolf, A.; Breuer, F.

2002-08-01

The application of superconducting fault current limiters (SCFCL) depends highly on their technical and economical benefits. Therefore it is obvious that the main requirements on the SCFCL are a reliable, fail-safe and rapid current limitation, low losses, and an inexpensive production. As a potential candidate material we have investigated HTS bulk material in resistive fault current limiters. Our report focuses on the E- j-curves, the AC-losses and the quench behaviour of melt cast processed-BSCCO 2212 and melt textured polycrystalline-YBCO 123. Within a temperature range from 64 to 80 K E- j-curves and AC losses of HTS elements were measured. The measurement results show that HTS bulk material meets the SCFCL specifications. In order to avoid hot spots during limitation and to improve mechanical stability a metallic bypass is needed. First test results of the quench behaviour of HTS bulk material with metallic bypass demonstrate safe limitation up to the specified electrical field of 100 V/m.

Analysis and experimental study of wireless power transfer with HTS coil and copper coil as the intermediate resonators system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiufang; Nie, Xinyi; Liang, Yilang; Lu, Falong; Yan, Zhongming; Wang, Yu

2017-01-01

Intermediate resonator (repeater) between transmitter and receiver can significantly increase the distance of wireless power transfer (WPT) and the efficiency of wireless power transfer. The wireless power transfer via strongly coupled magnetic resonances with an high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil and copper coil as intermediate resonators was presented in this paper. The electromagnetic experiment system under different conditions with different repeating coils were simulated by finite element software. The spatial distribution patterns of magnetic induction intensity at different distances were plotted. In this paper, we examined transfer characteristics with HTS repeating coil and copper repeating coil at 77 K and 300 K, respectively. Simulation and experimental results show that HTS and copper repeating coil can effectively enhance the space magnetic induction intensity, which has significant effect on improving the transmission efficiency and lengthening transmission distance. We found that the efficiency and the distance of wireless power transfer system with an HTS coil as repeater is much higher by using of copper coil as repeater.

Transient analysis of an HTS DC power cable with an HVDC system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinh, Minh-Chau; Ju, Chang-Hyeon; Kim, Jin-Geun; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun; Yang, Byeongmo

2013-11-01

The operational characteristics of a superconducting DC power cable connected to a highvoltage direct current (HVDC) system are mainly concerned with the HVDC control and protection system. To confirm how the cable operates with the HVDC system, verifications using simulation tools are needed. This paper presents a transient analysis of a high temperature superconducting (HTS) DC power cable in connection with an HVDC system. The study was conducted via the simulation of the HVDC system and a developed model of the HTS DC power cable using a real time digital simulator (RTDS). The simulation was performed with some cases of short circuits that may have caused system damage. The simulation results show that during the faults, the quench did not happen with the HTS DC power cable because the HVDC controller reduced some degree of the fault current. These results could provide useful data for the protection design of a practical HVDC and HTS DC power cable system.

Automation of Data Analysis Programs Used in the Cryogenic Characterization of Superconducting Microwave Resonators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Creason, A. S.; Miranda, F. A.

1996-01-01

Knowledge of the microwave properties at cryogenic temperatures of components fabricated using High-Temperature-Superconductors (HTS) is useful in the design of HTS-based microwave circuits. Therefore, fast and reliable characterization techniques have been developed to study the aforementioned properties. In this paper, we discuss computer analysis techniques employed in the cryogenic characterization of HTS-based resonators. The revised data analysis process requires minimal user input. and organizes the data in a form that is easily accessible by the user for further examination. These programs retrieve data generated during the cryogenic characterization at microwave frequencies of HTS based resonators and use it to calculate parameters such as the loaded and unloaded quality factors (Q and Q(sub o), respectively), the resonant frequency (f(sub o)), and the coupling coefficient (k), which are important quantities in the evaluation of HTS resonators. While the data are also stored for further use, the programs allow the user to obtain a graphical representation of any of the measured parameters as a function of temperature soon after the completion of the cryogenic measurement cycle. Although these programs were developed to study planar HTS-based resonators operating in the reflection mode, they could also be used in the cryogenic characterization of two ports (i.e., reflection/transmission) resonators.

A New Training for Older Adults Using Combined Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Volitional Contraction: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Takano, Yoshio; Matsuse, Hiroo; Tsukada, Yuuya; Omoto, Masayuki; Hashida, Ryuki; Shiba, Naoto

2016-01-01

The hybrid training system (HTS) resists the motion of a volitionally contracting agonist muscle using force generated by its electrically stimulated antagonist. We have developed a new training method using the principle of HTS. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of HTS with electrical stimulation on muscle strength and physical function by comparing it against training without electrical stimulation in older adults. 16 subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the squat and single leg lift training (control, CTR) group, and the CTR with HTS training group. Some electrical stimulation was applied to the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the HTS group. The subjects performed training for 25 min per session 3 times a week for 12 weeks. At points before and after the research maximal isokinetic torque, knee-flexors (KFT) and knee-extensors (KET), a one-leg standing test (OLT), a functional reach test (FRT), a 10-meter maximal gait time (10MGT) and Timed up & go test (TUG) were conducted. None of the subjects had any injuries during the study period. TUG significantly improved after the training period in both the HTS group (7.15 sec to 6.01 sec P = 0.01) and in the CTR.

Knowledge, attitudes, and normative beliefs as predictors of hookah smoking initiation: a longitudinal study of university students.

PubMed

Sidani, Jaime E; Shensa, Ariel; Barnett, Tracey E; Cook, Robert L; Primack, Brian A

2014-06-01

While cross-sectional studies have shown that hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) is an increasingly popular behavior among university students, little is known about factors associated with initiation. This study sought to determine associations between knowledge, attitudes, and normative beliefs and initiation of HTS among university students. Data were from a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 569 randomly selected first- and second-year university students. Online questionnaires that were developed in accordance with our composite theoretical model were completed in September 2010 and April 2011. About one-seventh (13%) of participants initiated HTS by follow-up. Positive attitudes and favorable normative beliefs were associated with increased adjusted odds of initiation (AOR = 4.12, 95% CI = 2.56, 6.59; and AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.35, 2.99, respectively), while negative attitudes were associated with decreased adjusted odds (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.48, 0.80). Correct knowledge regarding toxicants associated with HTS was not significantly associated with initiation. While positive attitudes and favorable normative beliefs are associated with initiation of HTS in a cohort of never-users, increased knowledge about toxins is not associated with lower initiation. It may be particularly valuable for educational interventions to attempt to alter positive attitudes and normative beliefs related to HTS.

Use of high-throughput in vitro toxicity screening data in cancer hazard evaluations by IARC Monograph Working Groups

PubMed Central

Chiu, Weihsueh A.; Guyton, Kathryn Z.; Martin, Matthew T.; Reif, David M.; Rusyn, Ivan

2017-01-01

Evidence regarding carcinogenic mechanisms serves a critical role in International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph evaluations. Three recent IARC Working Groups pioneered inclusion of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ToxCast program high-throughput screening (HTS) data to supplement other mechanistic evidence. In Monograph V110, HTS profiles were compared between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and prototypical activators across multiple nuclear receptors. For Monograph V112 -113, HTS assays were mapped to 10 key characteristics of carcinogens identified by an IARC expert group, and systematically considered as an additional mechanistic data stream. Both individual assay results and ToxPi-based rankings informed mechanistic evaluations. Activation of multiple nuclear receptors in HTS assays showed that PFOA targets peroxisome proliferator activated and other receptors. ToxCast assays substantially covered 5 of 10 key characteristics, corroborating literature evidence of “induces oxidative stress” and “alters cell proliferation, cell death or nutrient supply” and filling gaps for “modulates receptor-mediated effects.” Thus, ToxCast HTS data were useful both in evaluating specific mechanistic hypotheses and in the overall evaluation of mechanistic evidence. However, additional HTS assays are needed to provide more comprehensive coverage of the 10 key characteristics of carcinogens that form the basis of current IARC mechanistic evaluations. PMID:28738424

Use of high-throughput in vitro toxicity screening data in cancer hazard evaluations by IARC Monograph Working Groups.

PubMed

Chiu, Weihsueh A; Guyton, Kathryn Z; Martin, Matthew T; Reif, David M; Rusyn, Ivan

2018-01-01

Evidence regarding carcinogenic mechanisms serves a critical role in International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph evaluations. Three recent IARC Working Groups pioneered inclusion of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ToxCast program high-throughput screening (HTS) data to supplement other mechanistic evidence. In Monograph V110, HTS profiles were compared between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and prototypical activators across multiple nuclear receptors. For Monograph V112-113, HTS assays were mapped to 10 key characteristics of carcinogens identified by an IARC expert group, and systematically considered as an additional mechanistic data stream. Both individual assay results and ToxPi-based rankings informed mechanistic evaluations. Activation of multiple nuclear receptors in HTS assays showed that PFOA targets not only peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, but also other receptors. ToxCast assays substantially covered 5 of 10 key characteristics, corroborating literature evidence of "induces oxidative stress" and "alters cell proliferation, cell death or nutrient supply" and filling gaps for "modulates receptor-mediated effects." Thus, ToxCast HTS data were useful both in evaluating specific mechanistic hypotheses and in contributing to the overall evaluation of mechanistic evidence. However, additional HTS assays are needed to provide more comprehensive coverage of the 10 key characteristics of carcinogens that form the basis of current IARC mechanistic evaluations.

Ictal semiology in hippocampal versus extrahippocampal temporal lobe epilepsy.

PubMed

Gil-Nagel, A; Risinger, M W

1997-01-01

We have analysed retrospectively the clinical features and electroencephalograms in 35 patients with complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin who were seizure-free after epilepsy surgery. Two groups were differentiated for statistical analysis: 16 patients had hippocampal temporal lobe seizures (HTS) and 19 patients had extrahippocampal temporal lobe seizures (ETS) associated with a small tumour of the lateral or inferior temporal cortex. All patients in the HTS group had ictal onset verified with intracranial recordings (depth or subdural electrodes). In the ETS group, extrahippocampal onset was verified with intracranial recordings in eight patients and assumed, because of failure of a previous amygdalohippocampectomy, in one patient. Historical information, ictal semiology and ictal EEG of typical seizures were analysed in each patient. The occurrence of early and late oral automatisms and dystonic posturing of an upper extremity was analysed separately. A prior history of febrile convulsions was obtained in 13 HTS patients (81.3%) but in none with ETS (P < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). An epigastric aura preceded seizures in five patients with HTS (31.3%) and none with ETS (P = 0.0135, Fisher's exact test), while an aura with experiential content was recalled by nine patients with ETS (47.4%) and none with HTS (P = 0.0015), Fisher's exact test). Early oral automatisms occurred in 11 patients with HTS (68.8%) and in two with ETS (10.5%) (P = 0.0005, Fisher's exact test). Early motor involvement of the contralateral upper extremity without oral automatisms occurred in three patients with HTS (18.8%) and in 10 with ETS (52.6%) (P = 0.0298, Fisher's exact test). Arrest reaction, vocalization, speech, facial grimace, postictal cough, late oral automatisms and late motor involvement of the contralateral arm and hand occurred with similar frequency in both groups. These observations show that the early clinical features of HTS and ETS are different.

Diagnostic value and cost-benefit analysis of 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in primary care in Portugal

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Hypertensive patients (HTs) are usually attended in primary care (PC). We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and cost-benefit ratio of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in all newly diagnosed hypertensive patients (HTs) attended in PC. Methods In a cross-sectional study ABPM was recorded in all 336 never treated HTs (Office BP ≥140 and/or ≥ 90 mm Hg) that were admitted during 16 months. Since benefits from drug treatment in white-coat hypertension (WCH) remain unproven, a cost benefit estimation of a general use of ABPM (vs absence of ABPM) in HTs was calculated comparing the cost of usual medical assistance of HTs only diagnosed in office with that based both on refraining from drug treatment all subjects identified as WCH and on the reduction by half of the frequency of biochemical exams and doctor visits. Results Women were 56%, age 51 ± 14 years and BMI 27 ± 4 Kg/m2. Out of these, 206 were considered as true HTs, daytime ABPM ≥ 135 and/or ≥85 mm Hg and 130 (38,7%) were identified as having white coat hypertension (WCH), daytime ABPM <135/85 mm Hg. Versus HTs, WCH group showed higher percentage of women (68% vs 51%) and lower values of an index composed by the association of cardiovascular risk factors. We estimated that with ABPM total medical expenses can be reduced by 23% (157.500 euros) with a strategy based on ABPM for 1000 patients followed for 2 years. Conclusions In PC, the widespread use of ABPM in newly diagnosed HTs increases diagnostic accuracy of hypertension, improves cardiovascular risk stratification, reduces health expenses showing a highly favourable benefit-cost ratio vs a strategy without ABPM. PMID:23937261

Evaluation of DC electric field distribution of PPLP specimen based on the measurement of electrical conductivity in LN2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Jae-Sang; Seong, Jae-Kyu; Shin, Woo-Ju; Lee, Jong-Geon; Cho, Jeon-Wook; Ryoo, Hee-Suk; Lee, Bang-Wook

2013-11-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) cable has been paid much attention due to its high efficiency and high current transportation capability, and it is also regarded as eco-friendly power cable for the next generation. Especially for DC HTS cable, it has more sustainable and stable properties compared to AC HTS cable due to the absence of AC loss in DC HTS cable. Recently, DC HTS cable has been investigated competitively all over the world, and one of the key components of DC HTS cable to be developed is a cable joint box considering HVDC environment. In order to achieve the optimum insulation design of the joint box, analysis of DC electric field distribution of the joint box is a fundamental process to develop DC HTS cable. Generally, AC electric field distribution depends on relative permittivity of dielectric materials but in case of DC, electrical conductivity of dielectric material is a dominant factor which determines electric field distribution. In this study, in order to evaluate DC electric field characteristics of the joint box for DC HTS cable, polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP) specimen has been prepared and its DC electric field distribution was analyzed based on the measurement of electrical conductivity of PPLP in liquid nitrogen (LN2). Electrical conductivity of PPLP in LN2 has not been reported yet but it should be measured for DC electric field analysis. The experimental works for measuring electrical conductivity of PPLP in LN2 were presented in this paper. Based on the experimental works, DC electric field distribution of PPLP specimen was fully analyzed considering the steady state and the transient state of DC. Consequently, it was possible to determine the electric field distribution characteristics considering different DC applying stages including DC switching on, DC switching off and polarity reversal conditions.

Microwave response of high transition temperature superconducting thin films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, Felix Antonio

1991-01-01

We have studied the microwave response of YBa2Cu3O(7 - delta), Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O, and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O high transition temperature superconducting (HTS) thin films by performing power transmission measurements. These measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 300 K to 20 K and at frequencies within the range of 30 to 40 GHz. Through these measurements we have determined the magnetic penetration depth (lambda), the complex conductivity (sigma(sup *) = sigma(sub 1) - j sigma(sub 2)) and the surface resistance (R(sub s)). An estimate of the intrinsic penetration depth (lambda approx. 121 nm) for the YBa2Cu3O(7 - delta) HTS has been obtained from the film thickness dependence of lambda. This value compares favorably with the best values reported so far (approx. 140 nm) in single crystals and high quality c-axis oriented thin films. Furthermore, it was observed that our technique is sensitive to the intrinsic anisotropy of lambda in this superconductor. Values of lambda are also reported for Bi-based and Tl-based thin films. We observed that for the three types of superconductors, both sigma(sub 1) and sigma(sub 2) increased when cooling the films below their transition temperature. The measured R(sub s) are in good agreement with other R(sub S) values obtained using resonant activity techniques if we assume a quadratic frequency dependence. Our analysis shows that, of the three types of HTS films studied, the YBa2Cu3O(7 - delta) thin film, deposited by laser ablation and off-axis magnetron sputtering are the most promising for microwave applications.

Rapid Identification of Cell-Specific, Internalizing RNA Aptamers with Bioinformatics Analyses of a Cell-Based Aptamer Selection

PubMed Central

Thiel, William H.; Bair, Thomas; Peek, Andrew S.; Liu, Xiuying; Dassie, Justin; Stockdale, Katie R.; Behlke, Mark A.; Miller, Francis J.; Giangrande, Paloma H.

2012-01-01

Background The broad applicability of RNA aptamers as cell-specific delivery tools for therapeutic reagents depends on the ability to identify aptamer sequences that selectively access the cytoplasm of distinct cell types. Towards this end, we have developed a novel approach that combines a cell-based selection method (cell-internalization SELEX) with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatics analyses to rapidly identify cell-specific, internalization-competent RNA aptamers. Methodology/Principal Findings We demonstrate the utility of this approach by enriching for RNA aptamers capable of selective internalization into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Several rounds of positive (VSMCs) and negative (endothelial cells; ECs) selection were performed to enrich for aptamer sequences that preferentially internalize into VSMCs. To identify candidate RNA aptamer sequences, HTS data from each round of selection were analyzed using bioinformatics methods: (1) metrics of selection enrichment; and (2) pairwise comparisons of sequence and structural similarity, termed edit and tree distance, respectively. Correlation analyses of experimentally validated aptamers or rounds revealed that the best cell-specific, internalizing aptamers are enriched as a result of the negative selection step performed against ECs. Conclusions and Significance We describe a novel approach that combines cell-internalization SELEX with HTS and bioinformatics analysis to identify cell-specific, cell-internalizing RNA aptamers. Our data highlight the importance of performing a pre-clear step against a non-target cell in order to select for cell-specific aptamers. We expect the extended use of this approach to enable the identification of aptamers to a multitude of different cell types, thereby facilitating the broad development of targeted cell therapies. PMID:22962591

Bolts from Orion: Destroying Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile Systems with Lethal Autonomous Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

era SAMs that had been upgraded by Ukrainian contractors . During the operation, Russian aircraft’s 10 electronic countermeasures could not...main SEAD asset is the F-16 CJ equipped with the HARM targeting system ( HTS ). The HTS can autonomously locate and identify threat radars and pass...targeting information to the HARMs before launch. The HTS can also provide targeting 13 information to global positioning system (GPS) guided

High temperature superconductor analog electronics for millimeter-wavelength communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romanofsky, R. R.; Bhasin, K. B.

1991-01-01

The performance of high temperature superconductor (HTS) passive microwave circuits up to X-band was encouraging when compared to their metallic counterparts. The extremely low surface resistance of HTS films up to about 10 GHz enables a reduction in loss by as much as 100 times compared to copper when both materials are kept at about 77 K. However, a superconductor's surface resistance varies in proportion to the frequency squared. Consequently, the potential benefit of HTS materials to millimeter-wave communications requires careful analysis. A simple ring resonator was used to evaluate microstrip losses at Ka-band. Additional promising components were investigated such as antennas and phase shifters. Prospects for HTS to favorable impact millimeter-wave communications systems are discussed.

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening Laboratory. Part II: enabling collaborative drug-discovery partnerships through cutting-edge screening technology

PubMed Central

McDonald, Peter R; Roy, Anuradha; Chaguturu, Rathnam

2011-01-01

The University of Kansas High-Throughput Screening (KU HTS) core is a state-of-the-art drug-discovery facility with an entrepreneurial open-service policy, which provides centralized resources supporting public- and private-sector research initiatives. The KU HTS core was established in 2002 at the University of Kansas with support from an NIH grant and the state of Kansas. It collaborates with investigators from national and international academic, nonprofit and pharmaceutical organizations in executing HTS-ready assay development and screening of chemical libraries for target validation, probe selection, hit identification and lead optimization. This is part two of a contribution from the KU HTS laboratory. PMID:21806374

Dynamic motion modes of high temperature superconducting maglev on a 45-m long ring test line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, W. Y.; Qian, N.; Zheng, J.; Jin, L. W.; Zhang, Y.; Deng, Z. G.

2017-10-01

With the development of high temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev, studies on the running stability have become more and more significant to ensure the operation safety. An experimental HTS maglev vehicle was tested on a 45-m long ring test line under the speed from 4 km/h to 20 km/h. The lateral and vertical acceleration signals of each cryostat were collected by tri-axis accelerometers in real time. By analyzing the phase relationship of acceleration signals on the four cryostats, several typical motion modes of the HTS maglev vehicle, including lateral, yaw, pitch and heave motions were observed. This experimental finding is important for the next improvement of the HTS maglev system.

Improvement of persistent magnetic field trapping in bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, In-Gann; Weinstein, Roy

1993-01-01

For type-II superconductors, magnetic field can be trapped due to persistent internal supercurrent. Quasi-persistent magnetic fields near 2 T at 60 K (and 1.4 T at 77 K) have been measured in minimagnets made of proton-irradiated melt-textured Y-Ba-Cu-O (MT-Y123) samples. Using the trapping effect, high-field permanent magnets with dipole, quadrupole, or more complicated configurations can be made of existing MT-Y123 material, thus bypassing the need for high-temperature superconductor (HTS) wires. A phenomenological current model has been developed to account for the trapped field intensity and profile in HTS samples. This model is also a guide to select directions of materials development to further improve field trapping properties. General properties such as magnetic field intensities, spatial distributions, stabilities, and temperature dependence of trapped field are discussed.

Development status of a high cooling capacity single stage pulse tube cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirayama, T.; Li, R.; Y Xu, M.; Zhu, S. W.

2017-12-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) applications require high-capacity and high-reliability cooling solutions to keep HTS materials at temperatures of approximately 80 K. In order to meet such requirements, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.(SHI) has been developing high cooling capacity GM-type active-buffer pulse tube cryocooler. An experimental unit was designed, built and tested. A cooling capacity of 390.5 W at 80 K, COP 0.042 was achieved with an input power of approximately 9 kW. The cold stage usually reaches a stable temperature of about 25 K within one hour starting at room temperature. Also, a simplified analysis was carried out to better understand the experimental unit. In the analysis, the regenerator, thermal conduction, heat exchanger and radiation losses were calculated. The net cooling capacity was about 80% of the PV work. The experimental results, the analysis method and results are reported in this paper.

21 CFR 876.5830 - Hemodialyzer with disposable insert (Kiil type).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Hemodialyzer with disposable insert (Kiil type). (a) Identification. A hemodialyzer with disposable inserts (Kiil type) is a device that is used as a part of an artificial kidney system for the treatment of patients with renal failure or toxemic conditions and that includes disposable inserts consisting of layers...

Evaluation of the Combined Application of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Volitional Contractions on Thigh Muscle Strength, Knee Pain and Physical Performance in Women at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Rabe, Kaitlin G; Matsuse, Hiroo; Jackson, Anthony; Segal, Neil A

2018-05-28

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability that is associated with quadriceps weakness. However, strengthening in people with or with risk factors for knee OA can be poorly tolerated. To assess the efficacy of a twelve-week low-load exercise program, using a hybrid training system (HTS) that utilizes the combination of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and volitional contractions, for improving thigh muscle strength, knee pain and physical performance in women with or with risk factors for knee OA. Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial SETTING: Exercise training laboratory PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two women, age 44-85 years, with risk factors for knee OA INTERVENTIONS: Participants randomized to 12 weeks of biweekly low-load resistance training either with HTS or on an isokinetic dynamometer (control). Maximum isokinetic knee extensor torque. Secondary measures included: maximum isokinetic knee flexor torque, knee pain (KOOS), and timed 20-meter walk and chair-stand tests. HTS and control both resulted in muscle strengthening, reduced knee pain and improved physical performance. HTS group quadriceps and hamstring strength increased by 0.06±0.04 Nm/kg (p>.05) and 0.05±0.02 Nm/kg (p=.02), respectively. Control group quadriceps and hamstring strength increased by 0.03±0.04 Nm/kg (p>.05) and 0.06±0.02 Nm/kg (p=.009), respectively. Knee pain improved by 11.9±11.5 points (p<.001) for the HTS group and 14.1±15.4 points (p=.001) for the control group. 20-meter walk time decreased by 1.60±2.04 seconds (p=.005) and 0.95±1.2 seconds (p=.004), and chair stand time decreased by 4.8±10.0 seconds (p>.05) and 1.9±4.7 seconds (p>.05) in the HTS and control groups, respectively. These results did not differ statistically between HTS and control groups. These results suggest HTS is effective for improving pain and physical performance in women with risk factors for knee OA. However, HTS does not appear to be superior to low-load resistance training for improving muscle strength, pain or physical function. Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of in Vitro HTS-Derived Concentration–Response Data as Biological Descriptors Improves the Accuracy of QSAR Models of in Vivo Toxicity

PubMed Central

Sedykh, Alexander; Zhu, Hao; Tang, Hao; Zhang, Liying; Richard, Ann; Rusyn, Ivan; Tropsha, Alexander

2011-01-01

Background Quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assays are increasingly being used to inform chemical hazard identification. Hundreds of chemicals have been tested in dozens of cell lines across extensive concentration ranges by the National Toxicology Program in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health Chemical Genomics Center. Objectives Our goal was to test a hypothesis that dose–response data points of the qHTS assays can serve as biological descriptors of assayed chemicals and, when combined with conventional chemical descriptors, improve the accuracy of quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models applied to prediction of in vivo toxicity end points. Methods We obtained cell viability qHTS concentration–response data for 1,408 substances assayed in 13 cell lines from PubChem; for a subset of these compounds, rodent acute toxicity half-maximal lethal dose (LD50) data were also available. We used the k nearest neighbor classification and random forest QSAR methods to model LD50 data using chemical descriptors either alone (conventional models) or combined with biological descriptors derived from the concentration–response qHTS data (hybrid models). Critical to our approach was the use of a novel noise-filtering algorithm to treat qHTS data. Results Both the external classification accuracy and coverage (i.e., fraction of compounds in the external set that fall within the applicability domain) of the hybrid QSAR models were superior to conventional models. Conclusions Concentration–response qHTS data may serve as informative biological descriptors of molecules that, when combined with conventional chemical descriptors, may considerably improve the accuracy and utility of computational approaches for predicting in vivo animal toxicity end points. PMID:20980217

Temperature Distribution and Critical Current of Long HTS Cables Cooled with Subcooled Liquid Nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyatkin, V. S.; Ivanov, Y. V.; Watanabe, H.; Chikumoto, N.; Yamaguchi, S.

2017-07-01

Cooling of the long HTS power transmission lines performs by pumping of subcooled liquid nitrogen (LN2) along the cable. The temperature of LN2 along the cable increases due to the heat losses of the cryostat and heat generation in the HTS cable. The experiment using test cable line in Ishikari shows that flow rate of 35 L/min retains increasing of LN2 temperature by 1 K per 1 km of length. The technology when the back flow of LN2 cools the radiation shield surrounding the cable pipe is also applied in Ishikari-2 project. In this case the ambient heat flow into cable pipe is 50 times less than that without radiation shield. Back flow of LN2 removes almost all heat coming from the environment. When transport current is close to the critical value the Joule heat of HTS cable is significant. This heat additionally increases the temperature of LN2 flowing along the HTS cable. Near the outlet the temperature of HTS cable is maximal and the local critical current is minimal. The current matching critical current criterion of average electrical field of E 0 = 10-4 V/m provides the voltage drop and significant Joule heat at the hot end of the cable. It can lead the damage of the cable. The present work contains analysis of temperature distribution along the cable and the way to achieve the fail-safe operation of long HTS cable cooled by subcooled LN2. We also performed extrapolation of obtained results for several times longer cable lines by decreasing the LN2 flow rate.

ARQiv-HTS, a versatile whole-organism screening platform enabling in vivo drug discovery at high-throughput rates

PubMed Central

White, David T; Eroglu, Arife Unal; Wang, Guohua; Zhang, Liyun; Sengupta, Sumitra; Ding, Ding; Rajpurohit, Surendra K; Walker, Steven L; Ji, Hongkai; Qian, Jiang; Mumm, Jeff S

2017-01-01

The zebrafish has emerged as an important model for whole-organism small-molecule screening. However, most zebrafish-based chemical screens have achieved only mid-throughput rates. Here we describe a versatile whole-organism drug discovery platform that can achieve true high-throughput screening (HTS) capacities. This system combines our automated reporter quantification in vivo (ARQiv) system with customized robotics, and is termed ‘ARQiv-HTS’. We detail the process of establishing and implementing ARQiv-HTS: (i) assay design and optimization, (ii) calculation of sample size and hit criteria, (iii) large-scale egg production, (iv) automated compound titration, (v) dispensing of embryos into microtiter plates, and (vi) reporter quantification. We also outline what we see as best practice strategies for leveraging the power of ARQiv-HTS for zebrafish-based drug discovery, and address technical challenges of applying zebrafish to large-scale chemical screens. Finally, we provide a detailed protocol for a recently completed inaugural ARQiv-HTS effort, which involved the identification of compounds that elevate insulin reporter activity. Compounds that increased the number of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells represent potential new therapeutics for diabetic patients. For this effort, individual screening sessions took 1 week to conclude, and sessions were performed iteratively approximately every other day to increase throughput. At the conclusion of the screen, more than a half million drug-treated larvae had been evaluated. Beyond this initial example, however, the ARQiv-HTS platform is adaptable to almost any reporter-based assay designed to evaluate the effects of chemical compounds in living small-animal models. ARQiv-HTS thus enables large-scale whole-organism drug discovery for a variety of model species and from numerous disease-oriented perspectives. PMID:27831568

US effort on HTS power transformers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, S.

2011-11-01

Waukesha Electric Systems has been working in HTS power transformers development program under the auspices of US Government Department of Energy since 1994. This presentation will describe various milestones for this program and program history along with the lessons learned along the way. Our motivations for working on this development program based on man benefits offered by HTS power transformers to power delivery systems will be discussed. Based on various issues encountered during execution of many HTS projects, DOE has set up an independent program review process that is lead by team of experts. This team reviews are integral part of all DOE HTS projects. Success of all projects would be greatly enhanced by identifying critical issues early in the program. Requiring appropriate actions to mitigate the issues before processing further will lead to proactive interrogation and incorporation of expert's ideas in the project plans. Working of this review process will be also described in this presentation. Waukesha Electric Systems team including: Superpower-Inc, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Houston Center for Superconductivity and Southern California Edison company was awarded a cost share grant by US Government in 2010 for development of a fault current limiting HTS power transformer. This multi year's program will require design, manufacture, installation, and monitoring of a 28 MVA tree phase transformer installed at Irvine CA. Smart Grid demonstration site. Transformer specifications along with requirements for fault current limiting and site requirement will be discussed. Design and development of various sub systems in support of this program including: HTS conductor performance specification, Dielectric system design approach, Dewar development for containing phase assemblies, cryo-cooling system design approach, etc. will be described. Finally; overall program schedule, critical milestone events, test plans and progress to date will be reported.

Performance of the BG1Luc ER TA method in a qHTS format.

PubMed

Ceger, Patricia; Allen, David; Huang, Ruili; Xia, Menghang; Casey, Warren

2015-01-01

In 2012, the BG1Luc4E2 estrogen receptor (ER) transactivation (TA) method (BG1Luc ER TA) was accepted by U.S. regulatory agencies and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to detect substances with ER agonist activity. The method is now part of the Tier 1 testing battery in the Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. The BG1Luc ER TA method uses the BG1 ovarian cell line that endogenously expresses full-length ER (α and β) and is stably transfected with a plasmid containing four estrogen responsive elements upstream of a luciferase reporter gene. To allow increased throughput and testing efficiency, the BG1Luc ER TA ("BG1 manual") method was adapted for quantitative high-throughput screening (BG1 qHTS) in the U.S. Tox21 testing program. The BG1 qHTS test method was used to test approximately 10,000 chemicals three times each, and concentration-response data (n=15) were analyzed to evaluate test method performance. The balanced accuracy of the BG1 qHTS test method (97% [32/33]) was determined by comparing results to ER TA performance standards for the BG1 manual method. Concordance between the BG1 manual and qHTS methods was 92% (57/62) when calculated for a larger set of non-reference chemicals tested in both methods. These data demonstrate that the performance of the BG1 qHTS is similar to the currently accepted BG1 manual method, thereby establishing the utility of the BG1 qHTS method for identifying ER active environmental chemicals.

HTS flux concentrator for non-invasive sensing of charged particle beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, L.; Gallop, J. C.; Macfarlane, J. C.; Carr, C.; Donaldson, G. B.

2001-12-01

The principle of the superconducting cryogenic current comparator (CCC) is applied to the non-invasive sensing of charged-particle beams (ions, electrons). With the use of HTS components it is feasible to envisage applications, for example, in precision mass spectrometry and real-time monitoring of ion-beam implantation currents. Recent simulations and experimental measurements of the flux concentration ratio, frequency response and linearity of a prototype HTS-CCC operating at 77 K are described.

Progress in American Superconductor's HTS wire and optimization for fault current limiting systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malozemoff, Alexis P.

2016-11-01

American Superconductor has developed composite coated conductor tape-shaped wires using high temperature superconductor (HTS) on a flexible substrate with laminated metal stabilizer. Such wires enable many applications, each requiring specific optimization. For example, coils for HTS rotating machinery require increased current density J at 25-50 K. A collaboration with Argonne, Brookhaven and Los Alamos National Laboratories and several universities has increased J using an optimized combination of precipitates and ion irradiation defects in the HTS. Major commercial opportunities also exist to enhance electric power grid resiliency by linking substations with distribution-voltage HTS power cables [10]. Such links provide alternative power sources if one substation's transmission-voltage power is compromised. But they must also limit fault currents which would otherwise be increased by such distribution-level links. This can be done in an HTS cable, exploiting the superconductor-to-resistive transition when current exceeds the wires' critical J. A key insight is that such transitions are usually nonuniform; so the wire must be designed to prevent localized hot spots from damaging the wire or even generating gas bubbles in the cable causing dielectric breakdown. Analysis shows that local heating can be minimized by increasing the composite tape's total thickness, decreasing its total resistance in the normal state and decreasing its critical J. This conflicts with other desirable wire characteristics. Optimization of these conflicting requirements is discussed.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Normative Beliefs as Predictors of Hookah Smoking Initiation: A Longitudinal Study of University Students

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Introduction: While cross-sectional studies have shown that hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) is an increasingly popular behavior among university students, little is known about factors associated with initiation. This study sought to determine associations between knowledge, attitudes, and normative beliefs and initiation of HTS among university students. Methods: Data were from a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 569 randomly selected first- and second-year university students. Online questionnaires that were developed in accordance with our composite theoretical model were completed in September 2010 and April 2011. Results: About one-seventh (13%) of participants initiated HTS by follow-up. Positive attitudes and favorable normative beliefs were associated with increased adjusted odds of initiation (AOR = 4.12, 95% CI = 2.56, 6.59; and AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.35, 2.99, respectively), while negative attitudes were associated with decreased adjusted odds (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.48, 0.80). Correct knowledge regarding toxicants associated with HTS was not significantly associated with initiation. Conclusions: While positive attitudes and favorable normative beliefs are associated with initiation of HTS in a cohort of never-users, increased knowledge about toxins is not associated with lower initiation. It may be particularly valuable for educational interventions to attempt to alter positive attitudes and normative beliefs related to HTS. PMID:24323574

A magnetic levitation rotating plate model based on high-Tc superconducting technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Jun; Li, Jipeng; Sun, Ruixue; Qian, Nan; Deng, Zigang

2017-09-01

With the wide requirements of the training aids and display models of science, technology and even industrial products for the public like schools, museums and pleasure grounds, a simple-structure and long-term stable-levitation technology is needed for these exhibitions. Opportunely, high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology using bulk superconductors indeed has prominent advantages on magnetic levitation and suspension for its self-stable characteristic in an applied magnetic field without any external power or control. This paper explores the feasibility of designing a rotatable magnetic levitation (maglev) plate model with HTS bulks placed beneath a permanent magnet (PM) plate. The model is featured with HTS bulks together with their essential cryogenic equipment above and PMs below, therefore it eliminates the unclear visual effects by spray due to the low temperature coolant such as liquid nitrogen (LN2) and additional levitation weight of the cryogenic equipment. Besides that, a matched LN2 automation filling system is adopted to help achieving a long-term working state of the rotatable maglev plate. The key low-temperature working condition for HTS bulks is maintained by repeatedly opening a solenoid valve and automatically filling LN2 under the monitoring of a temperature sensor inside the cryostat. With the support of the cryogenic devices, the HTS maglev system can meet all requirements of the levitating display model for exhibitions, and may enlighten the research work on HTS maglev applications.

Use of in Vitro HTS-Derived Concentration-Response Data as ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Background: Quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assays are increasingly being employed to inform chemical hazard identification. Hundreds of chemicals have been tested in dozens of cell lines across extensive concentration ranges by the National Toxicology Program in collaboration with the NIH Chemical Genomics Center. Objectives: To test a hypothesis that dose-response data points of the qHTS assays can serve as biological descriptors of assayed chemicals and, when combined with conventional chemical descriptors, may improve the accuracy of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models applied to prediction of in vivo toxicity endpoints. Methods and Results: The cell viability qHTS concentration-response data for 1,408 substances assayed in 13 cell lines were obtained from PubChem; for a subset of these compounds rodent acute toxicity LD50 data were also available. The classification k Nearest Neighbor and Random Forest QSAR methods were employed for modeling LD50 data using either chemical descriptors alone (conventional models) or in combination with biological descriptors derived from the concentration-response qHTS data (hybrid models). Critical to our approach was the use of a novel noise-filtering algorithm to treat qHTS data. We show that both the external classification accuracy and coverage (i.e., fraction of compounds in the external set that fall within the applicability domain) of the hybrid QSAR models was superior to convent

Design of HTS filter for GSM-R communication system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Hongyu; Ji, Laiyun

2018-04-01

High-temperature superconducting materials with its excellent performance have increasingly been valued by industries, especially in the field of electronic information. The superconducting material has almost zero surface resistance, and the filter made of it has the characteristics of low insertion loss, high edge steepness and good out-of-band rejection. It has higher selectivity for the desired signal and thus less interference from adjacent channels Signal interference, and noise reduction coefficient can improve the ability to detect weak signals. This design is suitable for high temperature superconducting filter of GSM-R communication system, which can overcome many shortcomings of the traditional GSM-R. The filter is made of DyBCO, a high temperature superconducting thin film material based on magnesium oxide (MgO) substrate with the dielectric constant of 9.7, the center frequency at 887.5MHz, bandwidth of 5MHz.

Power supply system for the superconducting outsert of the CHMFL hybrid magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Z.; Zhu, J.; Chen, W.; Jiang, D.; Huang, P.; Chen, Z.; Tan, Y.; Kuang, G.

2017-12-01

The construction of a new hybrid magnet, consisting of a 11 T superconducting outsert and a 34 T resistive insert magnet, has been finished at the Chinese High Magnetic Field Laboratory (CHMFL) in Hefei. With a room temperature bore of 800 mm in diameter, the hybrid magnet superconducting outsert is composed of four separate Nb3Sn-based Cable-in-Conduit Conductor (CICC) coils electrically connected in series and powered by a single power supply system. The power supply system for the superconducting outsert consists of a 16 kA DC power supply, a quench protection system, a pair of 16 kA High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) current leads, and two Low Temperature Superconducting bus-lines. The design and manufacturing of the power supply system have been completed at the CHMFL. This paper describes the design features of the power supply system as well as the current fabrication condition of its main components.

The essential roles of chemistry in high-throughput screening triage

PubMed Central

Dahlin, Jayme L; Walters, Michael A

2015-01-01

It is increasingly clear that academic high-throughput screening (HTS) and virtual HTS triage suffers from a lack of scientists trained in the art and science of early drug discovery chemistry. Many recent publications report the discovery of compounds by screening that are most likely artifacts or promiscuous bioactive compounds, and these results are not placed into the context of previous studies. For HTS to be most successful, it is our contention that there must exist an early partnership between biologists and medicinal chemists. Their combined skill sets are necessary to design robust assays and efficient workflows that will weed out assay artifacts, false positives, promiscuous bioactive compounds and intractable screening hits, efforts that ultimately give projects a better chance at identifying truly useful chemical matter. Expertise in medicinal chemistry, cheminformatics and purification sciences (analytical chemistry) can enhance the post-HTS triage process by quickly removing these problematic chemotypes from consideration, while simultaneously prioritizing the more promising chemical matter for follow-up testing. It is only when biologists and chemists collaborate effectively that HTS can manifest its full promise. PMID:25163000

Thermal Insulation Performance of Flexible Piping for Use in HTS Power Cables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fesmire, James E.; Augustynowicz, S. D.; Demko, J. A.; Thompson, Karen (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables that typically operate at temperatures below 80 K are being developed for power transmission. The practical application of HTS power cables will require the use of flexible piping to contain the cable and the liquid nitrogen coolant. A study of thermal performance of multilayer insulation (MLI) was conducted in geometries representing both rigid and flexible piping. This experimental study performed at the Cryogenics Test Laboratory of NASA Kennedy Space Center provides a framework for the development of cost-effective, efficient thermal insulation systems that will support these long-distance flexible lines containing HTS power cables. The overall thermal performance of the insulation system for a rigid configuration and for a flexible configuration, simulating a flexible HTS power cable, was determined by the steady-state liquid nitrogen boiloff method under the full range of vacuum levels. Two different cylindrically rolled material systems were tested: a standard MLI and a layered composite insulation (LCI). Comparisons of ideal MLI, MLI on rigid piping, and MLI between flexible piping are presented.

Large-scale HTS bulks for magnetic application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werfel, Frank N.; Floegel-Delor, Uta; Riedel, Thomas; Goebel, Bernd; Rothfeld, Rolf; Schirrmeister, Peter; Wippich, Dieter

2013-01-01

ATZ Company has constructed about 130 HTS magnet systems using high-Tc bulk magnets. A key feature in scaling-up is the fabrication of YBCO melts textured multi-seeded large bulks with three to eight seeds. Except of levitation, magnetization, trapped field and hysteresis, we review system engineering parameters of HTS magnetic linear and rotational bearings like compactness, cryogenics, power density, efficiency and robust construction. We examine mobile compact YBCO bulk magnet platforms cooled with LN2 and Stirling cryo-cooler for demonstrator use. Compact cryostats for Maglev train operation contain 24 pieces of 3-seed bulks and can levitate 2500-3000 N at 10 mm above a permanent magnet (PM) track. The effective magnetic distance of the thermally insulated bulks is 2 mm only; the stored 2.5 l LN2 allows more than 24 h operation without refilling. 34 HTS Maglev vacuum cryostats are manufactured tested and operate in Germany, China and Brazil. The magnetic levitation load to weight ratio is more than 15, and by group assembling the HTS cryostats under vehicles up to 5 t total loads levitated above a magnetic track is achieved.

Assessment of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) electric motors for rotorcraft propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doernbach, Jay

1990-01-01

The successful development of high temperature superconductors (HTS) could have a major impact on future aeronautical propulsion and aeronautical flight vehicle systems. Applications of high temperature superconductors have been envisioned for several classes of aeronautical systems, including subsonic and supersonic transports, hypersonic aircraft, V/STOL aircraft, rotorcraft and solar powered aircraft. The potential of HTS electric motors and generators for providing primary shaft power for rotorcraft propulsion is examined. Three different sized production helicopters were investigated; namely, the Bell Jet Ranger, the Sikorsky Black Hawk and the Sikorsky Super Stallion. These rotorcraft have nominal horsepower ratings of 500, 3600, and 13400 respectively. Preliminary results indicated that an all-electric HTS drive system produces an improvement in rotorcraft Takeoff Gross Weight (TOGW) for those rotorcraft with power ratings above 2000 horsepower. The predicted TOGW improvements are up to 9 percent for the medium-sized Sikorsky Black Hawk and up to 20 percent for the large-sized Sikorsky Super Stallion. The small-sized Bell Jet Ranger, however, experienced a penalty in TOGW with the all-electric HTS drive system.

Influence of experimental methods on crossing in magnetic force-gap hysteresis curve of HTS maglev system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yiyun; Qin, Yujie; Dang, Qiaohong; Wang, Jiasu

2010-12-01

The crossing in magnetic levitation force-gap hysteresis curve of melt high-temperature superconductor (HTS) vs. NdFeB permanent magnet (PM) was experimentally studied. One HTS bulk and PM was used in the experiments. Four experimental methods were employed combining of high/low speed of movement of PM with/without heat insulation materials (HIM) enclosed respectively. Experimental results show that crossing of the levitation force-gap curve is related to experimental methods. A crossing occurs in the magnetic force-gap curve while the PM moves approaching to and departing from the sample with high or low speed of movement without HIM enclosed. When the PM is enclosed with HIM during the measurement procedures, there is no crossing in the force-gap curve no matter high speed or low speed of movement of the PM. It was found experimentally that, with the increase of the moving speed of the PM, the maximum magnitude of levitation force of the HTS increases also. The results are interpreted based on Maxwell theories and flux flow-creep models of HTS.

HTS-Net: An integrated regulome-interactome approach for establishing network regulation models in high-throughput screenings

PubMed Central

Rioualen, Claire; Da Costa, Quentin; Chetrit, Bernard; Charafe-Jauffret, Emmanuelle; Ginestier, Christophe

2017-01-01

High-throughput RNAi screenings (HTS) allow quantifying the impact of the deletion of each gene in any particular function, from virus-host interactions to cell differentiation. However, there has been less development for functional analysis tools dedicated to RNAi analyses. HTS-Net, a network-based analysis program, was developed to identify gene regulatory modules impacted in high-throughput screenings, by integrating transcription factors-target genes interaction data (regulome) and protein-protein interaction networks (interactome) on top of screening z-scores. HTS-Net produces exhaustive HTML reports for results navigation and exploration. HTS-Net is a new pipeline for RNA interference screening analyses that proves better performance than simple gene rankings by z-scores, by re-prioritizing genes and replacing them in their biological context, as shown by the three studies that we reanalyzed. Formatted input data for the three studied datasets, source code and web site for testing the system are available from the companion web site at http://htsnet.marseille.inserm.fr/. We also compared our program with existing algorithms (CARD and hotnet2). PMID:28949986

A perspective on 10-years HTS experience at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research - eighteen million assays and counting.

PubMed

Lackovic, Kurt; Lessene, Guillaume; Falk, Hendrik; Leuchowius, Karl-Johan; Baell, Jonathan; Street, Ian

2014-03-01

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) is Australia's longest serving medical research institute. WEHI's High Throughput Screening (HTS) Facility was established in 2003 with $5 million of infrastructure funds invested by WEHI, and the Victorian State Government's Strategic Technology Initiative through Bio21 Australia Ltd. The Facility was Australia's first truly academic HTS facility and was one of only a handful operating in publicly funded institutions worldwide at that time. The objectives were to provide access to enabling HTS technologies, such as assay design, liquid handling automation, compound libraries and expertise to promote translation of basic research in a national setting that has a relatively young biotech sector and does not have a big Pharma research presence. Ten years on and the WEHI HTS Facility has participated in over 92 collaborative projects, generated over 18 million data points, and most importantly, projects that began in the Facility have been commercialized successfully (due to strong ties with Business Development and emphasis on intellectual property management) and now have molecules progressing in clinical trials.

High-Power, High-Temperature Superconductor Technology Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhasin, Kul B.

2005-01-01

Since the first discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) 10 years ago, the most promising areas for their applications in microwave systems have been as passive components for communication systems. Soon after the discovery, experiments showed that passive microwave circuits made from HTS material exceeded the performance of conventional devices for low-power applications and could be 10 times as small or smaller. However, for superconducting microwave components, high-power microwave applications have remained elusive until now. In 1996, DuPont and Com Dev Ltd. developed high-power superconducting materials and components for communication applications under a NASA Lewis Research Center cooperative agreement, NCC3-344 "High Power High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) Technology Development." The agreement was cost shared between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Technology Reinvestment Program Office and the two industrial partners. It has the following objectives: 1) Material development and characterization for high-power HTS applications; 2) Development and validation of generic high-power microwave components; 3) Development of a proof-of-concept model for a high-power six-channel HTS output multiplexer.

Double-layer rotor magnetic shield performance analysis in high temperature superconducting synchronous generators under short circuit fault conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hekmati, Arsalan; Aliahmadi, Mehdi

2016-12-01

High temperature superconducting, HTS, synchronous machines benefit from a rotor magnetic shield in order to protect superconducting coils against asynchronous magnetic fields. This magnetic shield, however, suffers from exerted Lorentz forces generated in light of induced eddy currents during transient conditions, e.g. stator windings short-circuit fault. In addition, to the exerted electromagnetic forces, eddy current losses and the associated effects on the cryogenic system are the other consequences of shielding HTS coils. This study aims at investigating the Rotor Magnetic Shield, RMS, performance in HTS synchronous generators under stator winding short-circuit fault conditions. The induced eddy currents in different circumferential positions of the rotor magnetic shield along with associated Joule heating losses would be studied using 2-D time-stepping Finite Element Analysis, FEA. The investigation of Lorentz forces exerted on the magnetic shield during transient conditions has also been performed in this paper. The obtained results show that double line-to-ground fault is of the most importance among different types of short-circuit faults. It was revealed that when it comes to the design of the rotor magnetic shields, in addition to the eddy current distribution and the associated ohmic losses, two phase-to-ground fault should be taken into account since the produced electromagnetic forces in the time of fault conditions are more severe during double line-to-ground fault.

Hierarchical virtual screening for the discovery of new molecular scaffolds in antibacterial hit identification

PubMed Central

Ballester, Pedro J.; Mangold, Martina; Howard, Nigel I.; Robinson, Richard L. Marchese; Abell, Chris; Blumberger, Jochen; Mitchell, John B. O.

2012-01-01

One of the initial steps of modern drug discovery is the identification of small organic molecules able to inhibit a target macromolecule of therapeutic interest. A small proportion of these hits are further developed into lead compounds, which in turn may ultimately lead to a marketed drug. A commonly used screening protocol used for this task is high-throughput screening (HTS). However, the performance of HTS against antibacterial targets has generally been unsatisfactory, with high costs and low rates of hit identification. Here, we present a novel computational methodology that is able to identify a high proportion of structurally diverse inhibitors by searching unusually large molecular databases in a time-, cost- and resource-efficient manner. This virtual screening methodology was tested prospectively on two versions of an antibacterial target (type II dehydroquinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces coelicolor), for which HTS has not provided satisfactory results and consequently practically all known inhibitors are derivatives of the same core scaffold. Overall, our protocols identified 100 new inhibitors, with calculated Ki ranging from 4 to 250 μM (confirmed hit rates are 60% and 62% against each version of the target). Most importantly, over 50 new active molecular scaffolds were discovered that underscore the benefits that a wide application of prospectively validated in silico screening tools is likely to bring to antibacterial hit identification. PMID:22933186

Hierarchical virtual screening for the discovery of new molecular scaffolds in antibacterial hit identification.

PubMed

Ballester, Pedro J; Mangold, Martina; Howard, Nigel I; Robinson, Richard L Marchese; Abell, Chris; Blumberger, Jochen; Mitchell, John B O

2012-12-07

One of the initial steps of modern drug discovery is the identification of small organic molecules able to inhibit a target macromolecule of therapeutic interest. A small proportion of these hits are further developed into lead compounds, which in turn may ultimately lead to a marketed drug. A commonly used screening protocol used for this task is high-throughput screening (HTS). However, the performance of HTS against antibacterial targets has generally been unsatisfactory, with high costs and low rates of hit identification. Here, we present a novel computational methodology that is able to identify a high proportion of structurally diverse inhibitors by searching unusually large molecular databases in a time-, cost- and resource-efficient manner. This virtual screening methodology was tested prospectively on two versions of an antibacterial target (type II dehydroquinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces coelicolor), for which HTS has not provided satisfactory results and consequently practically all known inhibitors are derivatives of the same core scaffold. Overall, our protocols identified 100 new inhibitors, with calculated K(i) ranging from 4 to 250 μM (confirmed hit rates are 60% and 62% against each version of the target). Most importantly, over 50 new active molecular scaffolds were discovered that underscore the benefits that a wide application of prospectively validated in silico screening tools is likely to bring to antibacterial hit identification.

IR detector system based on high-Tc superconducting bolometer on SI membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burnus, M.; Hefle, G.; Heidenblut, T.; Khrebtov, Igor A.; Laukemper, J.; Michalke, W.; Neff, H.; Schwierzi, B.; Semtchinova, O. K.; Steinbeiss, E.; Tkachenko, A. D.

1996-06-01

An infrared detector system based on high-T(subscript c) superconducting (HTS) membrane bolometer is reported. Superconducting transition-edge bolometer has been manufactured by silicon micromachining using an epitaxial GdBa(subscript 2)Cu(subscript 3)O(subscript 7-x) film on an epitaxial yttria- stabilized zirconia buffer layer on silicon. The active area of the element is 0.85 X 0.85 mm(superscript 2). The membrane thickness is 1 micrometers , those of the buffer layer and HTS films are 50 nm. The detectivity of bolometer, D(superscript *), is 3.8 X 10(superscript 9) cm Hz(superscript 1/2) W(superscript -1) at 84.5 K and within the frequency regime 100 < f < 300 Hz. The optical response is 580 V/W at time constant 0.4 ms. This is one of the fastest composite type HTS-bolometer ever reported. The bolometer is mounted on a metal N(subscript 2)-liquid cryostat, which fits the preamplifier. With the volume of N(subscript 2)-reservoir being 0.1 liter, the cryostat holds nitrogen for about 8 hours. Using only wire heater with constant current, the temperature stability of about 0.03 K/h is achieved. The detector system can be used in IR- Fourier spectroscopy at wavelengths longer than the typical operating range of semiconductor detectors (wavelength greater than about 20 micrometers ).

High-Throughput Sequencing, a Versatile Weapon to Support Genome-Based Diagnosis in Infectious Diseases: Applications to Clinical Bacteriology

PubMed Central

Caboche, Ségolène; Audebert, Christophe; Hot, David

2014-01-01

The recent progresses of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies enable easy and cost-reduced access to whole genome sequencing (WGS) or re-sequencing. HTS associated with adapted, automatic and fast bioinformatics solutions for sequencing applications promises an accurate and timely identification and characterization of pathogenic agents. Many studies have demonstrated that data obtained from HTS analysis have allowed genome-based diagnosis, which has been consistent with phenotypic observations. These proofs of concept are probably the first steps toward the future of clinical microbiology. From concept to routine use, many parameters need to be considered to promote HTS as a powerful tool to help physicians and clinicians in microbiological investigations. This review highlights the milestones to be completed toward this purpose. PMID:25437800

Development of a 600 kJ HTS SMES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seong, K. C.; Kim, H. J.; Kim, S. H.; Sim, K. D.; Sohn, M. H.; Lee, E. Y.; Park, S. J.; Hahn, S. Y.; Park, M. W.

2008-09-01

This paper describes an overview of development on a 600 kJ high-temperature superconducting magnetic energy storage (HTS SMES). Our final goal will be the commercialization of MJ class HTS SMES system for the increase of power quality within 5 years. Hence, for this purpose, we have developed the research and development in 3 years. The purpose of this research is to develop a pilot system, which can protect the sensitivity loads from a momentary power interruption or a voltage sag.

Dynamic Field and Current Distributions in Multifilamentary YBa2Cu3O7-delta Thin Films with Magnetic Coupling (POSTPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

INTRODUCTION The separation of high-temperature superconducting HTS tapes into filaments is a viable approach to reduce ac and hysteretic losses in...generation HTS coated conductors. However, ac losses of finely striated tapes can still be larger than desired as predicted by analytical expressions.6...necessitates an in-depth understanding of the flux and current dynamics in multifilamentary HTS structures as both depend strongly on temperature and history of

Thin Film Multilayer Conductor/Ferroelectric Tunable Microwave Components for Communication Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, Felix A.; Romanofsky, Robert R.; VanKeuls, Frederick W.; Mueller, Carl H.; Treece, Randolph E.; Rivkin, Tania V.

1997-01-01

High Temperature Superconductor/Ferroelectric (HTS/FE ) thin film multilayered structures deposited onto dielectric substrates are currently being investigated for use in low loss, tunable microwave components for satellite and ground based communications. The main goal for this technology is to achieve maximum tunability while keeping the microwave losses as low as possible, so as to avoid performance degradation when replacing conventional technology (e.g., filters and oscillators) with HTS/FE components. Therefore, for HTS/FE components to be successfully integrated into current working systems, full optimization of the material and electrical properties of the ferroelectric films, without degrading those of the HTS film; is required. Hence, aspects such as the appropriate type of ferroelectric and optimization of the deposition conditions (e.g., deposition temperature) should be carefully considered. The tunability range as well as the microwave losses of the desired varactor (i.e., tunable component) are also dependent on the geometry chosen (e.g., parallel plate capacitor, interdigital capacitor, coplanar waveguide, etc.). In addition, the performance of the circuit is dependent on the location of the varactor in the circuit and the biasing circuitry. In this paper, we will present our results on the study of the SrTiO3/YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)/LaAl03 (STO/YBCO/LAO) and the Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3/YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)/LaAl03(BSTO/YBCO/ILAO) HTS/FE multilayered structures. We have observed that the amount of variation of the dielectric constant upon the application of a dc electric field is closely related to the microstructure of the film. The largest tuning of the STO/YBCO/LAO structure corresponded to single-phased, epitaxial STO films deposited at 800 C and with a thickness of 500 nm. Higher temperatures resulted in interfacial degradation and poor film quality, while lower deposition temperatures resulted in films with lower dielectric constants, lower tunabilities, and higher losses. For STO/LAO multilayer structures having STO film of similar quality we have observed that interdigital capacitor configurations allow for higher tunabilities and lower losses than parallel plate configurations, but required higher dc voltage. Results on the use of these geometries in working microwave components such as filters and stabilizing resonators for local oscillators (LO) will be discussed.

Characterization of environmental chemicals with potential for DNA damage using isogenic DNA repair-deficient chicken DT40 cell lines.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Kimiyo N; Hirota, Kouji; Kono, Koichi; Takeda, Shunichi; Sakamuru, Srilatha; Xia, Menghang; Huang, Ruili; Austin, Christopher P; Witt, Kristine L; Tice, Raymond R

2011-08-01

Included among the quantitative high throughput screens (qHTS) conducted in support of the US Tox21 program are those being evaluated for the detection of genotoxic compounds. One such screen is based on the induction of increased cytotoxicity in seven isogenic chicken DT40 cell lines deficient in DNA repair pathways compared to the parental DNA repair-proficient cell line. To characterize the utility of this approach for detecting genotoxic compounds and identifying the type(s) of DNA damage induced, we evaluated nine of 42 compounds identified as positive for differential cytotoxicity in qHTS (actinomycin D, adriamycin, alachlor, benzotrichloride, diglycidyl resorcinol ether, lovastatin, melphalan, trans-1,4-dichloro-2-butene, tris(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate) and one non-cytotoxic genotoxic compound (2-aminothiamine) for (1) clastogenicity in mutant and wild-type cells; (2) the comparative induction of γH2AX positive foci by melphalan; (3) the extent to which a 72-hr exposure duration increased assay sensitivity or specificity; (4) the use of 10 additional DT40 DNA repair-deficient cell lines to better analyze the type(s) of DNA damage induced; and (5) the involvement of reactive oxygen species in the induction of DNA damage. All compounds but lovastatin and 2-aminothiamine were more clastogenic in at least one DNA repair-deficient cell line than the wild-type cells. The differential responses across the various DNA repair-deficient cell lines provided information on the type(s) of DNA damage induced. The results demonstrate the utility of this DT40 screen for detecting genotoxic compounds, for characterizing the nature of the DNA damage, and potentially for analyzing mechanisms of mutagenesis. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Characterization of environmental chemicals with potential for DNA damage using isogenic DNA repair-deficient chicken DT40 cell lines

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Kimiyo N.; Hirota, Kouji; Kono, Koichi; Takeda, Shunichi; Sakamuru, Srilatha; Xia, Menghang; Huang, Ruili; Austin, Christopher P.; Witt, Kristine L.; Tice, Raymond R.

2012-01-01

Included among the quantitative high throughput screens (qHTS) conducted in support of the U.S. Tox21 program are those being evaluated for the detection of genotoxic compounds. One such screen is based on the induction of increased cytotoxicity in 7 isogenic chicken DT40 cell lines deficient in DNA repair pathways compared to the parental DNA repair-proficient cell line. To characterize the utility of this approach for detecting genotoxic compounds and identifying the type(s) of DNA damage induced, we evaluated nine of 42 compounds identified as positive for differential cytotoxicity in qHTS (actinomycin D, adriamycin, alachlor, benzotrichloride, diglycidyl resorcinol ether, lovastatin, melphalan, trans-1,4-dichloro-2-butene, tris(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate) and one non-cytotoxic genotoxic compound (2-aminothiamine) for (1) clastogenicity in mutant and wild-type cells; (2) the comparative induction of γH2AX positive foci by melphalan; (3) the extent to which a 72-hr exposure duration increased assay sensitivity or specificity; (4) the use of 10 additional DT40 DNA repair-deficient cell lines to better analyze the type(s) of DNA damage induced; and (5) the involvement of reactive oxygen species in the induction of DNA damage. All compounds but lovastatin and 2-aminothiamine were more clastogenic in at least one DNA repair-deficient cell line than the wild-type cells. The differential responses across the various DNA repair-deficient cell lines provided information on the type(s) of DNA damage induced. The results demonstrate the utility of this DT40 screen for detecting genotoxic compounds, for characterizing the nature of the DNA damage, and potentially for analyzing mechanisms of mutagenesis. PMID:21538559

Comparison of the effects of 7.2% hypertonic saline and 20% mannitol on whole blood coagulation and platelet function in dogs with suspected intracranial hypertension - a pilot study.

PubMed

Yozova, Ivayla D; Howard, Judith; Henke, Diana; Dirkmann, Daniel; Adamik, Katja N

2017-06-19

Hyperosmolar therapy with either mannitol or hypertonic saline (HTS) is commonly used in the treatment of intracranial hypertension (ICH). In vitro data indicate that both mannitol and HTS affect coagulation and platelet function in dogs. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 20% mannitol and 7.2% HTS on whole blood coagulation using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) and platelet function using a platelet function analyzer (PFA®) in dogs with suspected ICH. Thirty client-owned dogs with suspected ICH needing osmotherapy were randomized to receive either 20% mannitol (5 ml/kg IV over 15 min) or 7.2% HTS (4 ml/kg IV over 5 min). ROTEM® (EXTEM® and FIBTEM® assays) and PFA® analyses (collagen/ADP cartridges) were performed before (T 0 ), as well as 5 (T 5 ), 60 (T 60 ) and 120 (T 120 ) minutes after administration of HTS or mannitol. Data at T 5 , T 60 and T 120 were analyzed as a percentage of values at T 0 for comparison between groups, and as absolute values for comparison between time points, respectively. No significant difference was found between the groups for the percentage change of any parameter at any time point except for FIBTEM® clotting time. Within each group, no significant difference was found between time points for any parameter except for FIBTEM® clotting time in the HTS group, and EXTEM® and FIBTEM® maximum clot firmness in the mannitol group. Median ROTEM® values lay within institutional reference intervals in both groups at all time points, whereas median PFA® values were above the reference intervals at T 5 (both groups) and T 60 (HTS group). Using currently recommended doses, mannitol and HTS do not differ in their effects on whole blood coagulation and platelet function in dogs with suspected ICH. Moreover, no relevant impairment of whole blood coagulation was found following treatment with either solution, whereas a short-lived impairment of platelet function was found after both solutions.

23.4% saline decreases brain tissue volume in severe hepatic encephalopathy as assessed by a quantitative computed tomography marker

PubMed Central

Liotta, Eric M; Lizza, Bryan D; Romanova, Anna L; Guth, James C; Berman, Michael D; Carroll, Timothy J; Francis, Brandon; Ganger, Daniel; Ladner, Daniela P; Maas, Matthew B; Naidech, Andrew M

2016-01-01

Objective Cerebral edema is common in severe hepatic encephalopathy and may be life-threatening. Bolus 23.4% hypertonic saline (HTS) improves surveillance neuromonitoring scores, although its mechanism of action is not clearly established. We investigated the hypothesis that bolus HTS decreases cerebral edema in severe hepatic encephalopathy utilizing a quantitative technique to measure brain and CSF volume changes. Design Retrospective analysis of serial computed tomography (CT) scans and clinical data for a case-control series was performed. Setting Intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital. Patients Patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy treated with 23.4% HTS and control patients who did not receive 23.4% HTS. Methods We used clinically obtained CT scans to measure volumes of the ventricles, intracranial CSF, and brain using a previously validated semi-automated technique (Analyze Direct; Overland Park, KS). Volumes before and after 23.4% HTS were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Associations between total CSF volume, ventricular volume, serum sodium, and Glasgow Coma Scale Scores were assessed using Spearman correlation. Results Eleven patients with 18 administrations of 23.4% HTS met inclusion criteria. Total CSF (median 47.6 [35.1–69.4] to 61.9 [47.7–87.0] mL, p<0.001) and ventricular volumes (median 8.0 [6.9–9.5] to 9.2 [7.8–11.9] mL, p=0.002) increased and Glasgow Coma Scale Scores improved (median 4 [3–6] to 7 [6–9], p=0.008) after 23.4% HTS. In contrast, total CSF and ventricular volumes decreased in untreated control patients. Serum sodium increase was associated with increase in total CSF volume (r=0.83, p<0.001) and change in total CSF volume was associated with ventricular volume change (r=0.86, p<0.001). Conclusions Total CSF and ventricular volumes increased after 23.4% HTS, consistent with a reduction in brain tissue volume. Total CSF and ventricular volume change may be useful quantitative measures to assess cerebral edema in severe hepatic encephalopathy. PMID:26308431

sRNAtoolboxVM: Small RNA Analysis in a Virtual Machine.

PubMed

Gómez-Martín, Cristina; Lebrón, Ricardo; Rueda, Antonio; Oliver, José L; Hackenberg, Michael

2017-01-01

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) data for small RNAs (noncoding RNA molecules that are 20-250 nucleotides in length) can now be routinely generated by minimally equipped wet laboratories; however, the bottleneck in HTS-based research has shifted now to the analysis of such huge amount of data. One of the reasons is that many analysis types require a Linux environment but computers, system administrators, and bioinformaticians suppose additional costs that often cannot be afforded by small to mid-sized groups or laboratories. Web servers are an alternative that can be used if the data is not subjected to privacy issues (what very often is an important issue with medical data). However, in any case they are less flexible than stand-alone programs limiting the number of workflows and analysis types that can be carried out.We show in this protocol how virtual machines can be used to overcome those problems and limitations. sRNAtoolboxVM is a virtual machine that can be executed on all common operating systems through virtualization programs like VirtualBox or VMware, providing the user with a high number of preinstalled programs like sRNAbench for small RNA analysis without the need to maintain additional servers and/or operating systems.

Investigation on Prototype Superconducting Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) for 600-km/h Wheel-Type Railway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eom, Beomyong; Lee, Changhyeong; Kim, Seokho; Lee, Changyoung; Yun, Sangwon

The existing wheel-type high-speed railway with a rotatable motor has a limit of 600 km/h speed. The normal conducting electromagnet has several disadvantages to realize 600 km/h speed. Several disadvantages are the increased space and weight, and the decreased electric efficiency to generate the required high magnetic field. In order to reduce the volume and weight, superconducting electromagnets can be considered for LSM (Linear Synchronous Motor). Prior to the fabrication of the real system, a prototype demo-coil is designed and fabricated using 2G high temperature superconducting wire. The prototype HTS coil is cooled by the conduction using a GM cryocooler. To reduce the heat penetration, thermal design was performed for the current leads, supporting structure and radiation shield considering the thermal stress. The operating temperature and current are 30∼40 K and 100 A. The coil consists of two double pancake coils (N, S pole, respectively) and it is driven on a test rail, which is installed for the test car. This paper describes the design and test results of the prototype HTS LSM system. Thermal characteristics are investigated with additional dummy thermal mass on the coil after turning off the cryocooler.

Acute effects of TiO2 nanomaterials on the viability and taxonomic composition of aquatic bacterial communities assessed via high-throughput screening and next generation sequencing.

PubMed

Binh, Chu Thi Thanh; Tong, Tiezheng; Gaillard, Jean-François; Gray, Kimberly A; Kelly, John J

2014-01-01

The nanotechnology industry is growing rapidly, leading to concerns about the potential ecological consequences of the release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to the environment. One challenge of assessing the ecological risks of ENMs is the incredible diversity of ENMs currently available and the rapid pace at which new ENMs are being developed. High-throughput screening (HTS) is a popular approach to assessing ENM cytotoxicity that offers the opportunity to rapidly test in parallel a wide range of ENMs at multiple concentrations. However, current HTS approaches generally test one cell type at a time, which limits their ability to predict responses of complex microbial communities. In this study toxicity screening via a HTS platform was used in combination with next generation sequencing (NGS) to assess responses of bacterial communities from two aquatic habitats, Lake Michigan (LM) and the Chicago River (CR), to short-term exposure in their native waters to several commercial TiO2 nanomaterials under simulated solar irradiation. Results demonstrate that bacterial communities from LM and CR differed in their sensitivity to nano-TiO2, with the community from CR being more resistant. NGS analysis revealed that the composition of the bacterial communities from LM and CR were significantly altered by exposure to nano-TiO2, including decreases in overall bacterial diversity, decreases in the relative abundance of Actinomycetales, Sphingobacteriales, Limnohabitans, and Flavobacterium, and a significant increase in Limnobacter. These results suggest that the release of nano-TiO2 to the environment has the potential to alter the composition of aquatic bacterial communities, which could have implications for the stability and function of aquatic ecosystems. The novel combination of HTS and NGS described in this study represents a major advance over current methods for assessing ENM ecotoxicity because the relative toxicities of multiple ENMs to thousands of naturally occurring bacterial species can be assessed simultaneously under environmentally relevant conditions.

Acute Effects of TiO2 Nanomaterials on the Viability and Taxonomic Composition of Aquatic Bacterial Communities Assessed via High-Throughput Screening and Next Generation Sequencing

PubMed Central

Binh, Chu Thi Thanh; Tong, Tiezheng; Gaillard, Jean-François; Gray, Kimberly A.; Kelly, John J.

2014-01-01

The nanotechnology industry is growing rapidly, leading to concerns about the potential ecological consequences of the release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to the environment. One challenge of assessing the ecological risks of ENMs is the incredible diversity of ENMs currently available and the rapid pace at which new ENMs are being developed. High-throughput screening (HTS) is a popular approach to assessing ENM cytotoxicity that offers the opportunity to rapidly test in parallel a wide range of ENMs at multiple concentrations. However, current HTS approaches generally test one cell type at a time, which limits their ability to predict responses of complex microbial communities. In this study toxicity screening via a HTS platform was used in combination with next generation sequencing (NGS) to assess responses of bacterial communities from two aquatic habitats, Lake Michigan (LM) and the Chicago River (CR), to short-term exposure in their native waters to several commercial TiO2 nanomaterials under simulated solar irradiation. Results demonstrate that bacterial communities from LM and CR differed in their sensitivity to nano-TiO2, with the community from CR being more resistant. NGS analysis revealed that the composition of the bacterial communities from LM and CR were significantly altered by exposure to nano-TiO2, including decreases in overall bacterial diversity, decreases in the relative abundance of Actinomycetales, Sphingobacteriales, Limnohabitans, and Flavobacterium, and a significant increase in Limnobacter. These results suggest that the release of nano-TiO2 to the environment has the potential to alter the composition of aquatic bacterial communities, which could have implications for the stability and function of aquatic ecosystems. The novel combination of HTS and NGS described in this study represents a major advance over current methods for assessing ENM ecotoxicity because the relative toxicities of multiple ENMs to thousands of naturally occurring bacterial species can be assessed simultaneously under environmentally relevant conditions. PMID:25162615

Experiences in implementing uHTS--cutting edge technology meets the real world.

PubMed

Gribbon, Philip; Schaertl, Sabine; Wickenden, Malcolm; Williams, Gareth; Grimley, Rachel; Stuhmeier, Frank; Preckel, Hartwig; Eggeling, Christian; Kraemer, Joachim; Everett, Jeremy; Keighley, Wilma W; Sewing, Andreas

2004-01-01

Driven by growing corporate compound files, the demands of target biology, and attempts to cut cost, the number of solutions to HTS has spiralled. In quick succession new assay technologies and screening platforms are appearing on the market, with the promise of screening faster than ever in low volume high density formats whilst providing high quality data. Within this world of rapid change, Pfizer has applied cutting edge technology to HTS by introducing screening in 1 microl formats utilising single molecule detection technology. Instead of resource intensive in-house development, Pfizer entered into a collaboration with Evotec OAI / Evotec Technologies and introduced their Mark-II EVOscreen platform. In this article we will outline the benefits of the approach taken at Pfizer, Sandwich, and introduce the Mark-II EVOscreen platform, illustrating the potential but also possible pitfalls of HTS miniaturisation.

Plate-fin Heat-exchangers for a 10 kW Brayton Cryocooler and a 1 km HTS Cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Ho-Myung; Gwak, Kyung Hyun; Jung, Seyong; Yang, Hyung Suk; Hwang, Si-Dole

Plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHX) are designed and fabricated for a cryogenic cooling system, serving for a 10 kW Brayton cryocooler and a 1 km HTS transmission cable under development in Korea. To achieve compactness and thermal efficiency at the same time, a recuperative HX for Brayton cycle and a sub-cooling HX of liquid nitrogen for HTS cable are designed as integrated parts. A key design feature is focused on the coldest part of sub-cooling HX, where the streams of liquid nitrogen and refrigerant (helium gas) are arranged as two-pass cross-flow so that the risk of freeze-out of liquid nitrogen can be reduced. Details of hardware PFHX design are presented and discussed towards its immediate application to the HTS cable system.

The Role of HTS in Drug Discovery at the University of Michigan

PubMed Central

Larsen, Martha J.; Larsen, Scott D.; Fribley, Andrew; Grembecka, Jolanta; Homan, Kristoff; Mapp, Anna; Haak, Andrew; Nikolovska-Coleska, Zaneta; Stuckey, Jeanne A.; Sun, Duxin

2014-01-01

High throughput screening (HTS) is an integral part of a highly collaborative approach to drug discovery at the University of Michigan. The HTS lab is one of four core centers that provide services to identify, produce, screen and follow-up on biomedical targets for faculty. Key features of this system are: protein cloning and purification, protein crystallography, small molecule and siRNA HTS, medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics. Therapeutic areas that have been targeted include anti-bacterial, metabolic, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, anti-cancer and anti-viral. The centers work in a coordinated, interactive environment to affordably provide academic investigators with the technology, informatics and expertise necessary for successful drug discovery. This review provides an overview of these centers at the University of Michigan, along with case examples of successful collaborations with faculty. PMID:24409957

1 MVA HTS-2G Generator for Wind Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovalev, K. L.; Poltavets, V. N.; Ilyasov, R. I.; Verzhbitsky, L. G.; Kozub, S. S.

2017-10-01

The calculation, design simulations and design performance of 1 MVA HTS-2G (second-generation high-temperature superconductor) Generator for Wind Turbines were done in 2013-2014 [1]. The results of manufacturing and testing of 1 MVA generator are presented in the article. HTS-2G field coils for the rotor were redesigned, fabricated and tested. The tests have shown critical current of the coils, 41-45 A (self field within the ferromagnetic core, T = 77 K), which corresponds to the current of short samples at self field. Application of the copper inner frame on the pole has improved internal cooling conditions of HTS coil windings and reduced the magnetic field in the area, thereby increased the critical current value. The original construction of the rotor with a rotating cryostat was developed, which decreases the thermal in-flow to the rotor. The stator of 1 MW HTS-2G generator has been manufactured. In order to improve the specific weight of the generator, the wave (harmonic drive) multiplier was used, which provides increasing RPM from 15 RPM up to 600 RPM. The total mass of the multiplier and generator is significantly smaller compared to traditional direct-drive wind turbines generators [2-7]. Parameters of the multiplier and generator were chosen based on the actual parameters of wind turbines, namely: 15 RPM, power is 1 MVA. The final test of the assembled synchronous generator with HTS-2G field coils for Wind Turbines with output power 1 MVA was completed during 2015.

A Robotic Platform for Quantitative High-Throughput Screening

PubMed Central

Michael, Sam; Auld, Douglas; Klumpp, Carleen; Jadhav, Ajit; Zheng, Wei; Thorne, Natasha; Austin, Christopher P.; Inglese, James

2008-01-01

Abstract High-throughput screening (HTS) is increasingly being adopted in academic institutions, where the decoupling of screening and drug development has led to unique challenges, as well as novel uses of instrumentation, assay formulations, and software tools. Advances in technology have made automated unattended screening in the 1,536-well plate format broadly accessible and have further facilitated the exploration of new technologies and approaches to screening. A case in point is our recently developed quantitative HTS (qHTS) paradigm, which tests each library compound at multiple concentrations to construct concentration-response curves (CRCs) generating a comprehensive data set for each assay. The practical implementation of qHTS for cell-based and biochemical assays across libraries of > 100,000 compounds (e.g., between 700,000 and 2,000,000 sample wells tested) requires maximal efficiency and miniaturization and the ability to easily accommodate many different assay formats and screening protocols. Here, we describe the design and utilization of a fully integrated and automated screening system for qHTS at the National Institutes of Health's Chemical Genomics Center. We report system productivity, reliability, and flexibility, as well as modifications made to increase throughput, add additional capabilities, and address limitations. The combination of this system and qHTS has led to the generation of over 6 million CRCs from > 120 assays in the last 3 years and is a technology that can be widely implemented to increase efficiency of screening and lead generation. PMID:19035846

Design versions of HTS three-phase cables with the minimized value of AC losses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altov, V. A.; Balashov, N. N.; Degtyarenko, P. N.; Ivanov, S. S.; Kopylov, S. I.; Lipa, DA; Samoilenkov, S. V.; Sytnikov, V. E.; Zheltov, V. V.

2018-03-01

Design versions of HTS three-phase cables consisting of 2G HTS tapes have been investigated by the numerical simulation method with the aim of AC losses minimization. Two design versions of cables with the coaxial and extended rectangular cross-section shape are considered – the non-sectioned and sectioned one. In the latter each cable phase consists of sections connected in parallel. The optimal dimensions of sections and order of their alteration are chosen by appropriate calculations. The model used takes into account the current distribution between the sections and its non-uniformity within each single HTS tape as well. The following characteristics are varied: design version, dimension, positioning of extra copper layer in a cable, design of HTS tapes themselves and their mutual position. The dependence of AC losses on the latter two characteristics is considered in details, and the examples of cable designs optimized by the total set of characteristics for the medium class of voltages (10 – 60 kV) are given. At the critical current JC=5.1 кA per phase and current amplitudes lower than 0.85JC, the level of total AC losses does not exceed the natural cryostat heat losses.

1 ATM subcooled liquid nitrogen cryogenic system with GM-refrigerator for a HTS power transformer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, S.; Ohashi, K.; Umeno, T.; Suzuki, Y.; Kamioka, Y.; Kimura, H.; Tsutsumi, K.; Iwakuma, M.; Funaki, K.; Bhono, T.; Yagi, Y.

2002-05-01

A subcooled liquid nitrogen cryogenic system with GM-refrigerators was developed. The system was operated successfully in a commercial distribution power grid for three consecutive weeks without additional liquid nitrogen supply. The system consists of two main units. One is a HTS transformer unit and the HTS transformer is installed in a G-FRP cryostat. The other one is a pump unit. The pump unit has a liquid nitrogen pump and two GM-refrigerators of 290 W at 64 K for 50 Hz operation in a stainless steel dewar. The refrigerator cold heads are immersed in liquid nitrogen and produce directly subcooled liquid nitrogen in the pump unit. Those two units are connected by transfer-tubes and 1 atmosphere (0.1 MPa) subcooled liquid nitrogen is circulated through the system. In the field test, the refrigerators were operated at 60 Hz and it took 12 hours to cool the transformer down to 70 K and 26 hours to 66 K. The refrigerator cold heads were controlled not to be below 64 K during operation. In spite of a heat generation by the HTS transformer, the subcooled liquid nitrogen temperature in the HTS transformer unit was kept lower than 68 K.

Screening for angiogenic inhibitors in zebrafish to evaluate a predictive model for developmental vascular toxicity.

PubMed

Tal, Tamara; Kilty, Claire; Smith, Andrew; LaLone, Carlie; Kennedy, Brendán; Tennant, Alan; McCollum, Catherine W; Bondesson, Maria; Knudsen, Thomas; Padilla, Stephanie; Kleinstreuer, Nicole

2017-06-01

Chemically-induced vascular toxicity during embryonic development may cause a wide range of adverse effects. To identify putative vascular disrupting chemicals (pVDCs), a predictive pVDC signature was constructed from 124 U.S. EPA ToxCast high-throughput screening (HTS) assays and used to rank 1060 chemicals for their potential to disrupt vascular development. Thirty-seven compounds were selected for targeted testing in transgenic Tg(kdrl:EGFP) and Tg(fli1:EGFP) zebrafish embryos to identify chemicals that impair developmental angiogenesis. We hypothesized that zebrafish angiogenesis toxicity data would correlate with human cell-based and cell-free in vitro HTS ToxCast data. Univariate statistical associations used to filter HTS data based on correlations with zebrafish angiogenic inhibition in vivo revealed 132 total significant associations, 33 of which were already captured in the pVDC signature, and 689 non-significant assay associations. Correlated assays were enriched in cytokine and extracellular matrix pathways. Taken together, the findings indicate the utility of zebrafish assays to evaluate an HTS-based predictive toxicity signature and also provide an experimental basis for expansion of the pVDC signature with novel HTS assays. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Research Techniques Made Simple: High-Throughput Sequencing of the T-Cell Receptor.

PubMed

Matos, Tiago R; de Rie, Menno A; Teunissen, Marcel B M

2017-06-01

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is a rapidly advancing technique that allows sensitive and accurate identification and quantification of every distinct T-cell clone present within any biological sample. The relative frequency of each individual clone within the full T-cell repertoire can also be studied. HTS is essential to expand our knowledge on the diversity of the TCR repertoire in homeostasis or under pathologic conditions, as well as to understand the kinetics of antigen-specific T-cell responses that lead to protective immunity (i.e., vaccination) or immune-related disorders (i.e., autoimmunity and cancer). HTS can be tailored for personalized medicine, having the potential to monitor individual responses to therapeutic interventions and show prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers. In this article, we briefly review the methodology, advances, and limitations of HTS of the TCR and describe emerging applications of this technique in the field of investigative dermatology. We highlight studying the pathogenesis of T cells in allergic dermatitis and the application of HTS of the TCR in diagnosing, detecting recurrence early, and monitoring responses to therapy in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An active magnetic bearing with high T(sub c) superconducting coils and ferromagnetic cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, G. V.; Dirusso, E.; Provenza, A. J.

1995-01-01

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high-T(sub c) superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in LN2. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 890 N (200 lb) radial load capacity (measured non-rotatings) and supported a shaft to 14,000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that for Cu in LN2. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, dissipated negligible power for its direct current. The control coils, wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag, dissipated negligible power for direct current. AC losses increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. Above about 2 Hz, the effective resistance of the control coils exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. These results show that twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation but may be desired to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads.

Heat Transfer Search Algorithm for Non-convex Economic Dispatch Problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazra, Abhik; Das, Saborni; Basu, Mousumi

2018-06-01

This paper presents Heat Transfer Search (HTS) algorithm for the non-linear economic dispatch problem. HTS algorithm is based on the law of thermodynamics and heat transfer. The proficiency of the suggested technique has been disclosed on three dissimilar complicated economic dispatch problems with valve point effect; prohibited operating zone; and multiple fuels with valve point effect. Test results acquired from the suggested technique for the economic dispatch problem have been fitted to that acquired from other stated evolutionary techniques. It has been observed that the suggested HTS carry out superior solutions.

Placing and preserving priorities: projects, productivity, progress and people

PubMed Central

Babiak, John

1998-01-01

High throughput screening (HTS) involves using automated equipment to test a large number of samples against a defined molecular target to identify a reasonable number of active molecules in a timely fashion. Major factors which can influence priorities for the limited resources of the HTS group are projects, productivity, progress and people. The challenge to the HTS group is to provide excellent and timely screening services, but still devote efforts to new technologies and personnel development. This article explains why these factors are so important. PMID:18924829

Heat Transfer Search Algorithm for Non-convex Economic Dispatch Problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazra, Abhik; Das, Saborni; Basu, Mousumi

2018-03-01

This paper presents Heat Transfer Search (HTS) algorithm for the non-linear economic dispatch problem. HTS algorithm is based on the law of thermodynamics and heat transfer. The proficiency of the suggested technique has been disclosed on three dissimilar complicated economic dispatch problems with valve point effect; prohibited operating zone; and multiple fuels with valve point effect. Test results acquired from the suggested technique for the economic dispatch problem have been fitted to that acquired from other stated evolutionary techniques. It has been observed that the suggested HTS carry out superior solutions.

Screening of phospholipase A activity and its production by new actinomycete strains cultivated by solid-state fermentation.

PubMed

Sutto-Ortiz, Priscila; Camacho-Ruiz, María de Los Angeles; Kirchmayr, Manuel R; Camacho-Ruiz, Rosa María; Mateos-Díaz, Juan Carlos; Noiriel, Alexandre; Carrière, Frédéric; Abousalham, Abdelkarim; Rodríguez, Jorge A

2017-01-01

Novel microbial phospholipases A (PLAs) can be found in actinomycetes which have been poorly explored as producers of this activity. To investigate microbial PLA production, efficient methods are necessary such as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for direct search of PLAs in microbial cultures and cultivation conditions to promote this activity. About 200 strains isolated with selected media for actinomycetes and mostly belonging to Streptomyces (73%) and Micromonospora (10%) genus were first screened on agar-plates containing the fluorophore rhodamine 6G and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) to detect strains producing phospholipase activity. Then, a colorimetric HTS assay for general PLA activity detection (cHTS-PLA) using enriched PC (≈60%) as substrate and cresol red as indicator was developed and applied; this cHTS-PLA assay was validated with known PLAs. For the first time, actinomycete strains were cultivated by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using PC as inductor and sugar-cane bagasse as support to produce high PLA activity (from 207 to 2,591 mU/g of support). Phospholipase activity of the enzymatic extracts from SSF was determined using the implemented cHTS-PLA assay and the PC hydrolysis products obtained, were analyzed by TLC showing the presence of lyso-PC. Three actinomycete strains of the Streptomyces genus that stood out for high accumulation of lyso-PC, were selected and analyzed with the specific substrate 1,2-α-eleostearoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (EEPC) in order to confirm the presence of PLA activity in their enzymatic extracts. Overall, the results obtained pave the way toward the HTS of PLA activity in crude microbial enzymatic extracts at a larger scale. The cHTS-PLA assay developed here can be also proposed as a routine assay for PLA activity determination during enzyme purification,directed evolution or mutagenesis approaches. In addition, the production of PLA activity by actinomycetes using SSF allow find and produce novel PLAs with potential applications in biotechnology.

Screening of phospholipase A activity and its production by new actinomycete strains cultivated by solid-state fermentation

PubMed Central

Sutto-Ortiz, Priscila; Camacho-Ruiz, María de los Angeles; Kirchmayr, Manuel R.; Camacho-Ruiz, Rosa María; Mateos-Díaz, Juan Carlos; Noiriel, Alexandre; Carrière, Frédéric; Abousalham, Abdelkarim

2017-01-01

Novel microbial phospholipases A (PLAs) can be found in actinomycetes which have been poorly explored as producers of this activity. To investigate microbial PLA production, efficient methods are necessary such as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for direct search of PLAs in microbial cultures and cultivation conditions to promote this activity. About 200 strains isolated with selected media for actinomycetes and mostly belonging to Streptomyces (73%) and Micromonospora (10%) genus were first screened on agar-plates containing the fluorophore rhodamine 6G and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) to detect strains producing phospholipase activity. Then, a colorimetric HTS assay for general PLA activity detection (cHTS-PLA) using enriched PC (≈60%) as substrate and cresol red as indicator was developed and applied; this cHTS-PLA assay was validated with known PLAs. For the first time, actinomycete strains were cultivated by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using PC as inductor and sugar-cane bagasse as support to produce high PLA activity (from 207 to 2,591 mU/g of support). Phospholipase activity of the enzymatic extracts from SSF was determined using the implemented cHTS-PLA assay and the PC hydrolysis products obtained, were analyzed by TLC showing the presence of lyso-PC. Three actinomycete strains of the Streptomyces genus that stood out for high accumulation of lyso-PC, were selected and analyzed with the specific substrate 1,2-α-eleostearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EEPC) in order to confirm the presence of PLA activity in their enzymatic extracts. Overall, the results obtained pave the way toward the HTS of PLA activity in crude microbial enzymatic extracts at a larger scale. The cHTS-PLA assay developed here can be also proposed as a routine assay for PLA activity determination during enzyme purification,directed evolution or mutagenesis approaches. In addition, the production of PLA activity by actinomycetes using SSF allow find and produce novel PLAs with potential applications in biotechnology. PMID:28695068

Structural modeling of HTS tapes and cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allen, N. C.; Chiesa, L.; Takayasu, M.

2016-12-01

Structural finite element analysis (FEA) has been used as an insightful tool to investigate the electromechanical behavior of HTS REBCO tapes and twisted stacked-tape cables under tension, torsion, bending and combined loads. A novel technique was developed for modeling the layered composite structure of the 2G tapes with structural solid-shell elements in ANSYS®. The FEA models produced detailed strain information for the REBCO superconducting layer which was then paired with an analytical model to predict the critical current performance of the 2G HTS tapes under various loads. Two commercially available HTS tapes (SuperPower and SuNAM) under tension, torsion and combined tension-torsion were first analyzed with FEA and compared with available experimental results at 77 K. A sharp critical current degradation was experienced at the yield strength of the tapes under tension and below a 100 mm twist-pitch under torsion. Combined tension-torsion loads had a more gradual degradation of critical current for twist-pitches of 115 mm or shorter but had a negligible difference compared to pure tension for longer twist-pitches. Using the structural solid-shell technique for modeling 2G tapes in ANSYS®, an FEA methodology for simulating full scale three-dimensional HTS stacked-tape cables under pure bending was created. A model of a Twisted-Stacked Tape Cable (TSTC), a configuration first proposed at MIT, was initially developed and then adapted to the slotted-core HTS Cable-In-Conduit Conductor produced by the ENEA laboratory in Italy. The numerical axial strain of the HTS REBCO tapes within the cables as calculated by FEA were found to agree with an analytical model for two cases: perfect-slip (frictionless) and no-slip (bonded). The ENEA CICC model was also compared with recent experimental critical current data at 77 K and was found to match best using a low friction coefficient of 0.02 indicating that the tapes within the cable freely slide with respect to each other helping to reduce the axial strain during bending.

Insights and Perspectives on Emerging Inputs to Weight of Evidence Determinations for Food Safety: Workshop Proceedings

PubMed Central

Bialk, Heidi; Llewellyn, Craig; Kretser, Alison; Canady, Richard; Lane, Richard; Barach, Jeffrey

2013-01-01

This workshop aimed to elucidate the contribution of computational and emerging in vitro methods to the weight of evidence used by risk assessors in food safety assessments. The following issues were discussed: using in silico and high-throughput screening (HTS) data to confirm the safety of approved food ingredients, applying in silico and HTS data in the process of assessing the safety of a new food ingredient, and utilizing in silico and HTS data in communicating the safety of food ingredients while enhancing the public’s trust in the food supply. Perspectives on integrating computational modeling and HTS assays as well as recommendations for optimizing predictive methods for risk assessment were also provided. Given the need to act quickly or proceed cautiously as new data emerge, this workshop also focused on effectively identifying a path forward in communicating in silico and in vitro data. PMID:24296863

Older Adults' Perceptions of Home Telehealth Services

PubMed Central

Brenčič, Maja Makovec; Trkman, Peter; de Leonni Stanonik, Mateja

2013-01-01

Abstract The success of home telemedicine depends on end-user adoption, which has been slow despite rapid advances in technological development. This study focuses on an examination of significant factors that may predict the successful adoption of home telemedicine services (HTS) among older adults. Based on previous studies in the fields of remote patient monitoring, assisted living technologies, and consumer health information technology acceptance, eight factors were identified as a framework for qualitative testing. Twelve focus groups were conducted with an older population living in both urban and rural environments. The results reveal seven predictors that play an important role in perceptions of HTS: perceived usefulness, effort expectancy, social influence, perceived security, computer anxiety, facilitating conditions, and physicians' opinion. The results provide important insights in the field of older adults' acceptance of HTS, with guidelines for the strategic planning, developing, and marketing of HTS for the graying market. PMID:23931702

Hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, C. W.; Deng, L. Z.; Lv, B.

2015-07-01

Hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors have ushered in the modern era of high temperature superconductivity (HTS) and have continued to be at center stage in the field. Extensive studies have been made, many compounds discovered, voluminous data compiled, numerous models proposed, many review articles written, and various prototype devices made and tested with better performance than their nonsuperconducting counterparts. The field is indeed vast. We have therefore decided to focus on the major cuprate materials systems that have laid the foundation of HTS science and technology and present several simple scaling laws that show the systematic and universal simplicity amid the complexity of these material systems, while referring readers interested in the HTS physics and devices to the review articles. Developments in the field are mostly presented in chronological order, sometimes with anecdotes, in an attempt to share some of the moments of excitement and despair in the history of HTS with readers, especially the younger ones.

Numerical calculation of primary slot leakage inductance of a Single-sided HTS linear induction motor used for linear metro

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dong; Wen, Yinghong; Li, Weili; Fang, Jin; Cao, Junci; Zhang, Xiaochen; Lv, Gang

2017-03-01

In the paper, the numerical method calculating asymmetric primary slot leakage inductances of Single-sided High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Linear Induction Motor (HTS LIM) is presented. The mathematical and geometric models of three-dimensional nonlinear transient electromagnetic field are established and the boundary conditions are also given. The established model is solved by time-stepping Finite Element Method (FEM). Then, the three-phase asymmetric primary slot leakage inductances under different operation conditions are calculated by using the obtained electromagnetic field distribution. The influences of the special effects such as longitudinal end effects, transversal edge effects, etc. on the primary slot leakage inductance are investigated. The presented numerical method is validated by experiments carried out on a 3.5 kW prototype with copper wires which has the same structures with the HTS LIM.

Nuisance Compounds, PAINS Filters, and Dark Chemical Matter in the GSK HTS Collection.

PubMed

Chakravorty, Subhas J; Chan, James; Greenwood, Marie Nicole; Popa-Burke, Ioana; Remlinger, Katja S; Pickett, Stephen D; Green, Darren V S; Fillmore, Martin C; Dean, Tony W; Luengo, Juan I; Macarrón, Ricardo

2018-07-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) hits include compounds with undesirable properties. Many filters have been described to identify such hits. Notably, pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) has been adopted by the community as the standard term to refer to such filters, and very useful guidelines have been adopted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and subsequently triggered a healthy scientific debate about the pitfalls of draconian use of filters. Using an inhibitory frequency index, we have analyzed in detail the promiscuity profile of the whole GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) HTS collection comprising more than 2 million unique compounds that have been tested in hundreds of screening assays. We provide a comprehensive analysis of many previously published filters and newly described classes of nuisance structures that may serve as a useful source of empirical information to guide the design or growth of HTS collections and hit triaging strategies.

Electrical and thermal characteristics of Bi2212/Ag HTS coils for conduction-cooled SMES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayakawa, N.; Noguchi, S.; Kurupakorn, C.; Kojima, H.; Endo, F.; Hirano, N.; Nagaya, S.; Okubo, H.

2006-06-01

In this paper, we investigated the electrical and thermal performance of conduction-cooled Bi2212/Ag HTS coils with 4K-GM cryocooler system. First, we measured the critical current Ic for different ambient temperatures T0 at 4.2 K - 40 K. Experimental results revealed that Ic increased with the decrease in T0 and was saturated at T0 < 10 K. We carried out thermal analysis considering heat generation, conduction and transfer under conduction-cooling condition, and reproduced the electrical and thermal characteristics of the conduction-cooled HTS coil, taking account of temperature dependence of specific heat and thermal conductivity of the materials. We also measured the temperature rise of Bi2212/Ag HTS coil for different continuous current levels at T0 = 4.8 K. Experimental results revealed the criterion of thermal runaway, which was discussed in terms of heat generation and propagation in the test coil.

Potential impact of high temperature superconductors on MAGLEV transportation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, J. R.

1992-02-01

This report describes the potential impact that high-temperature superconductors (HTS's) may have on transportation by magnetically levitated vehicles. It is not intended as a planning document, but rather as an overview of potential HTS applications to magnetic-levitation (maglev) transportation. The present maglev program in the United States is summarized, and the present status of development of HTS's is described. Areas identified for possible impact on maglev technology are: (1) liquid-nitrogen-cooled levitation magnets; (2) magnetic-field shielding of the passenger compartment; (3) superconducting magnetic energy storage for wayside power; (4) superconducting bearings for flywheel energy storage for wayside power; (5) downleads to continuously powered liquid-helium-cooled levitation magnets; and (6) liquid-hydrogen-cooled levitation magnets and linear motor propulsion windings. Major technical issues that remain to be resolved for the use of HTS's in maglev applications include thermal magnetic stability, mechanical properties, and critical current density at liquid-nitrogen temperatures.

Further development of high temperature-resistant graphite fiber coupling agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, R. N.

1976-01-01

Potential coupling agents for graphite fibers were screened by their effect on the weight losses of Thornel 300, HMS, and HTS fibers at 588K for 200 and 400 hours. Unidirectional laminates were made from HMS and HTS fibers, untreated, and treated with each of the seven coupling agents. The matrix of all laminates was PMR polyimide (PMR-PR). On the basis of the best overall retention of elevated temperature interlaminar shear strength after 200 hours at 588K, composite weight after 200 hours at 588K, and fiber weight after 400 hours at 588K, ventromer T-1 applied from aqueous solution and pyrolyzed PPQ were selected for further evaluation as coupling agents for HTS fiber while ventromer T-2 and pyrolyzed PPQ were selected as coupling agents for HMS fiber. It was shown that pyrolyzed PPQ as a coupling agent improves the oxidative stability of HTS/PMR-PI composites.

Method for improving the durability of ion insertion materials

DOEpatents

Lee, Se-Hee; Tracy, C. Edwin; Cheong, Hyeonsik M.

2002-01-01

The invention provides a method of protecting an ion insertion material from the degradative effects of a liquid or gel-type electrolyte material by disposing a protective, solid ion conducting, electrically insulating, layer between the ion insertion layer and the liquid or gel-type electrolyte material. The invention further provides liquid or gel-type electrochemical cells having improved durability having a pair of electrodes, a pair of ion insertion layers sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, a pair of solid ion conducting layers sandwiched between the ion insertion layers, and a liquid or gel-type electrolyte material disposed between the solid ion conducting layers, where the solid ion conducting layer minimizes or prevents degradation of the faces of the ion insertion materials facing the liquid or gel-type electrolyte material. Electrochemical cells of this invention having increased durability include secondary lithium batteries and electrochromic devices.

High-Throughput Screening for Identification of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Enhancers: A Drug Repurposing Opportunity to Rectify Vascular Amyloid Toxicity.

PubMed

Qosa, Hisham; Mohamed, Loqman A; Al Rihani, Sweilem B; Batarseh, Yazan S; Duong, Quoc-Viet; Keller, Jeffrey N; Kaddoumi, Amal

2016-07-06

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic interface that maintains brain homeostasis and protects it from free entry of chemicals, toxins, and drugs. The barrier function of the BBB is maintained mainly by capillary endothelial cells that physically separate brain from blood. Several neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are known to disrupt BBB integrity. In this study, a high-throughput screening (HTS) was developed to identify drugs that rectify/protect BBB integrity from vascular amyloid toxicity associated with AD progression. Assessing Lucifer Yellow permeation across in-vitro BBB model composed from mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd3) grown on 96-well plate inserts was used to screen 1280 compounds of Sigma LOPAC®1280 library for modulators of bEnd3 monolayer integrity. HTS identified 62 compounds as disruptors, and 50 compounds as enhancers of the endothelial barrier integrity. From these 50 enhancers, 7 FDA approved drugs were identified with EC50 values ranging from 0.76-4.56 μM. Of these 7 drugs, 5 were able to protect bEnd3-based BBB model integrity against amyloid toxicity. Furthermore, to test the translational potential to humans, the 7 drugs were tested for their ability to rectify the disruptive effect of Aβ in the human endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3. Only 3 (etodolac, granisetron, and beclomethasone) out of the 5 effective drugs in the bEnd3-based BBB model demonstrated a promising effect to protect the hCMEC/D3-based BBB model integrity. These drugs are compelling candidates for repurposing as therapeutic agents that could rectify dysfunctional BBB associated with AD.

High-throughput screening for identification of blood-brain barrier integrity enhancers: a drug repurposing opportunity to rectify vascular amyloid toxicity

PubMed Central

Qosa, Hisham; Mohamed, Loqman A.; Al Rihani, Sweilem B.; Batarseh, Yazan S.; Duong, Quoc-Viet; Keller, Jeffrey N.; Kaddoumi, Amal

2016-01-01

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic interface that maintains brain homeostasis and protects it from free entry of chemicals, toxins and drugs. The barrier function of the BBB is maintained mainly by capillary endothelial cells that physically separate brain from blood. Several neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are known to disrupt BBB integrity. In this study, a high-throughput screening (HTS) was developed to identify drugs that rectify/protect BBB integrity from vascular amyloid toxicity associated with AD progression. Assessing Lucifer Yellow permeation across in-vitro BBB model composed from mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd3) grown on 96-well plate inserts was used to screen 1280 compounds of Sigma LOPAC®1280 library for modulators of bEnd3 monolayer integrity. HTS identified 62 compounds as disruptors, and 50 compounds as enhancers of the endothelial barrier integrity. From these 50 enhancers, 7 FDA approved drugs were identified with EC50 values ranging from 0.76–4.56 μM. Of these 7 drugs, five were able to protect bEnd3-based BBB model integrity against amyloid toxicity. Furthermore, to test the translational potential to humans, the 7 drugs were tested for their ability to rectify the disruptive effect of Aβ in the human endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3. Only 3 (etodolac, granisetron and beclomethasone) out of the 5 effective drugs in the bEnd3-based BBB model demonstrated a promising effect to protect the hCMEC/D3-based BBB model integrity. These drugs are compelling candidates for repurposing as therapeutic agents that could rectify dysfunctional BBB associated with AD. PMID:27392852

Towards a 20 kA high temperature superconductor current lead module using REBCO tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heller, R.; Bagrets, N.; Fietz, W. H.; Gröner, F.; Kienzler, A.; Lange, C.; Wolf, M. J.

2018-01-01

Most of the large fusion devices presently under construction or in operation consisting of superconducting magnets like EAST, Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), JT-60SA, and ITER, use high temperature superconductor (HTS) current leads (CL) to reduce the cryogenic load and operational cost. In all cases, the 1st generation HTS material Bi-2223 is used which is embedded in a low-conductivity matrix of AgAu. In the meantime, industry worldwide concentrates on the production of the 2nd generation HTS REBCO material because of the better field performance in particular at higher temperature. As the new material can only be produced in a multilayer thin-film structure rather than as a multi-filamentary tape, the technology developed for Bi-2223-based current leads cannot be transferred directly to REBCO. Therefore, several laboratories are presently investigating the design of high current HTS current leads made of REBCO. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is developing a 20 kA HTS current lead using brass-stabilized REBCO tapes—as a further development to the Bi-2223 design used in the JT-60SA current leads. The same copper heat exchanger module as in the 20 kA JT-60SA current lead will be used for simplicity, which will allow a comparison of the newly developed REBCO CL with the earlier produced and investigated CL for JT-60SA. The present paper discusses the design and accompanying test of single tape and stack REBCO mock-ups. Finally, the fabrication of the HTS module using REBCO stacks is described.

Not all are free-living: high-throughput DNA metabarcoding reveals a diverse community of protists parasitizing soil metazoa.

PubMed

Geisen, S; Laros, I; Vizcaíno, A; Bonkowski, M; de Groot, G A

2015-09-01

Protists, the most diverse eukaryotes, are largely considered to be free-living bacterivores, but vast numbers of taxa are known to parasitize plants or animals. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches now commonly replace cultivation-based approaches in studying soil protists, but insights into common biases associated with this method are limited to aquatic taxa and samples. We created a mock community of common free-living soil protists (amoebae, flagellates, ciliates), extracted DNA and amplified it in the presence of metazoan DNA using 454 HTS. We aimed at evaluating whether HTS quantitatively reveals true relative abundances of soil protists and at investigating whether the expected protist community structure is altered by the co-amplification of metazoan-associated protist taxa. Indeed, HTS revealed fundamentally different protist communities from those expected. Ciliate sequences were highly over-represented, while those of most amoebae and flagellates were under-represented or totally absent. These results underpin the biases introduced by HTS that prevent reliable quantitative estimations of free-living protist communities. Furthermore, we detected a wide range of nonadded protist taxa probably introduced along with metazoan DNA, which altered the protist community structure. Among those, 20 taxa most closely resembled parasitic, often pathogenic taxa. Therewith, we provide the first HTS data in support of classical observational studies that showed that potential protist parasites are hosted by soil metazoa. Taken together, profound differences in amplification success between protist taxa and an inevitable co-extraction of protist taxa parasitizing soil metazoa obscure the true diversity of free-living soil protist communities. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Operation of a 500 MHz high temperature superconducting NMR: towards an NMR spectrometer operating beyond 1 GHz.

PubMed

Yanagisawa, Y; Nakagome, H; Tennmei, K; Hamada, M; Yoshikawa, M; Otsuka, A; Hosono, M; Kiyoshi, T; Takahashi, M; Yamazaki, T; Maeda, H

2010-04-01

We have begun a project to develop an NMR spectrometer that operates at frequencies beyond 1 GHz (magnetic field strength in excess of 23.5 T) using a high temperature superconductor (HTS) innermost coil. As the first step, we developed a 500 MHz NMR with a Bi-2223 HTS innermost coil, which was operated in external current mode. The temporal magnetic field change of the NMR magnet after the coil charge was dominated by (i) the field fluctuation due to a DC power supply and (ii) relaxation in the screening current in the HTS tape conductor; effect (i) was stabilized by the 2H field-frequency lock system, while effect (ii) decreased with time due to relaxation of the screening current induced in the HTS coil and reached 10(-8)(0.01 ppm)/h on the 20th day after the coil charge, which was as small as the persistent current mode of the NMR magnet. The 1D (1)H NMR spectra obtained by the 500 MHz LTS/HTS magnet were nearly equivalent to those obtained by the LTS NMR magnet. The 2D-NOESY, 3D-HNCO and 3D-HNCACB spectra were achieved for ubiquitin by the 500 MHz LTS/HTS magnet; their quality was closely equivalent to that achieved by a conventional LTS NMR. Based on the results of numerical simulation, the effects of screening current-induced magnetic field changes are predicted to be harmless for the 1.03 GHz NMR magnet system. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HTS-DB: an online resource to publish and query data from functional genomics high-throughput siRNA screening projects.

PubMed

Saunders, Rebecca E; Instrell, Rachael; Rispoli, Rossella; Jiang, Ming; Howell, Michael

2013-01-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) uses technologies such as RNA interference to generate loss-of-function phenotypes on a genomic scale. As these technologies become more popular, many research institutes have established core facilities of expertise to deal with the challenges of large-scale HTS experiments. As the efforts of core facility screening projects come to fruition, focus has shifted towards managing the results of these experiments and making them available in a useful format that can be further mined for phenotypic discovery. The HTS-DB database provides a public view of data from screening projects undertaken by the HTS core facility at the CRUK London Research Institute. All projects and screens are described with comprehensive assay protocols, and datasets are provided with complete descriptions of analysis techniques. This format allows users to browse and search data from large-scale studies in an informative and intuitive way. It also provides a repository for additional measurements obtained from screens that were not the focus of the project, such as cell viability, and groups these data so that it can provide a gene-centric summary across several different cell lines and conditions. All datasets from our screens that can be made available can be viewed interactively and mined for further hit lists. We believe that in this format, the database provides researchers with rapid access to results of large-scale experiments that might facilitate their understanding of genes/compounds identified in their own research. DATABASE URL: http://hts.cancerresearchuk.org/db/public.

Cryopreservation of isolated primary rat hepatocytes: enhanced survival and long-term hepatospecific function.

PubMed

Sosef, Meindert N; Baust, John M; Sugimachi, Keishi; Fowler, Alex; Tompkins, Ronald G; Toner, Mehmet

2005-01-01

To investigate the long-term effect of cryopreservation on hepatocyte function, as well as attempt to improve cell viability and function through the utilization of the hypothermic preservation solution, HypoThermosol (HTS), as the carrier solution. Advances in the field of bioartificial liver support have led to an increasing demand for successful, efficient means of cryopreservation of hepatocytes. Fresh rat hepatocytes were cryopreserved in suspension in culture media (Media-cryo group) or HTS (HTS-cryo group), both supplemented with 10% DMSO. Following storage up to 2 months in liquid nitrogen, cells were thawed and maintained in a double collagen gel culture for 14 days. Hepatocyte yield and viability were assessed up to 14 days postthaw. Serial measurements of albumin secretion, urea synthesis, deethylation of ethoxyresorufin (CYT P450 activity), and responsiveness to stimulation with interleukin-6 (IL-6) were performed. Immediate postthaw viability was 60% in Media-cryo and 79% in HTS-cryo, in comparison with control (90%). Albumin secretion, urea synthesis and CYT P450 activity yielded 33%, 55%, and 59% in Media-cryo and 71%, 80%, and 88% in HTS-cryo, respectively, compared with control (100%). Assessment of cellular response to IL-6 following cryopreservation revealed a similar pattern of up-regulation in fibrinogen production and suppression of albumin secretion compared with nonfrozen controls. This study demonstrates that isolated rat hepatocytes cryopreserved using HTS showed high viability, long-term hepatospecific function, and response to cytokine challenge. These results may represent an important step forward to the utilization of cryopreserved isolated hepatocytes in bioartificial liver devices.

Lateral motion stability of high-temperature superconducting maglev systems derived from a nonlinear guidance force hysteretic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haitao; Deng, Zigang; Jin, Li’an; Li, Jipeng; Li, Yanxing; Zheng, Jun

2018-07-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev, owning to the capability of passive stabilization, is potentially promising for high-speed transportation. The guidance force of bulk HTS materials above a permanent magnetic guideway has a nonlinear response due to the hysteresis effect. As a kind of rail transit, when the vehicle runs along the track, the curve and other disturbances will cause vibrations to the vehicle system. These physical factors will pose dynamic loads on the components, reducing structural reliability as well as affecting the ride comfort. The lateral motion, as an important part of the vehicle system dynamics, needs to be studied in the pursuit of HTS maglev realization. In this paper, we first measured the guidance forces of HTS bulks under different motion conditions, and analyzed the relationship between the lateral displacement, the movement velocity and the guidance force. Then, a mathematical model was built based on these experimental data. The key feature of this mathematical model is that it can describe the hysteresis characteristic of the guidance force. Based on this model, we investigated the lateral motion stability of the HTS levitation system, and found three singular points, one stable focus point, and two unstable saddle points. Lastly, a phase portrait was proposed to indicate the safe working region of the HTS maglev vehicle where the vehicle can automatically return to its equilibrium position. These experimental and simulation results are important to clarify the lateral motion stability under external disturbance or shock, and provide a reference basis for the design of levitation systems.

Novel model of stator design to reduce the mass of superconducting generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kails, Kevin; Li, Quan; Mueller, Markus

2018-05-01

High temperature superconductors (HTS), with much higher current density than conventional copper wires, make it feasible to develop very powerful and compact power generators. Thus, they are considered as one promising solution for large (10 + MW) direct-drive offshore wind turbines due to their low tower head mass. However, most HTS generator designs are based on a radial topology, which requires an excessive amount of HTS material and suffers from cooling and reliability issues. Axial flux machines on the other hand offer higher torque/volume ratios than the radial machines, which makes them an attractive option where space and transportation becomes an issue. However, their disadvantage is heavy structural mass. In this paper a novel stator design is introduced for HTS axial flux machines which enables a reduction in their structural mass. The stator is for the first time designed with a 45° angle that deviates the air gap closing forces into the vertical direction reducing the axial forces. The reduced axial forces improve the structural stability and consequently simplify their structural design. The novel methodology was then validated through an existing design of the HTS axial flux machine achieving a ∼10% mass reduction from 126 tonnes down to 115 tonnes. In addition, the air gap flux density increases due to the new claw pole shapes improving its power density from 53.19 to 61.90 W kg‑1. It is expected that the HTS axial flux machines designed with the new methodology offer a competitive advantage over other proposed superconducting generator designs in terms of cost, reliability and power density.

Trends and exceptions of physical properties on antibacterial activity for Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.

PubMed

Brown, Dean G; May-Dracka, Tricia L; Gagnon, Moriah M; Tommasi, Ruben

2014-12-11

To better understand the difficulties surrounding the identification of novel antibacterial compounds from corporate screening collections, physical properties of ∼3200 antibacterial project compounds with whole cell activity against Gram-negative or Gram-positive pathogens were profiled and compared to actives found from high throughput (HTS) screens conducted on both biochemical and phenotypic bacterial targets. The output from 23 antibacterial HTS screens illustrated that when compared to the properties of the antibacterial project compounds, the HTS actives were significantly more hydrophobic than antibacterial project compounds (typically 2-4 log units higher), and furthermore, for 14/23 HTS screens, the average clogD was higher than the screening collection average (screening collection clogD = 2.45). It was found that the consequences of this were the following: (a) lead identification programs often further gained hydrophobic character with increased biochemical potency, making the separation even larger between the physicochemical properties of known antibacterial agents and the HTS active starting point, (b) the probability of plasma protein binding and cytotoxicity are often increased, and (c) cell-based activity in Gram-negative bacteria was severely limited or, if present, demonstrated significant efflux. Our analysis illustrated that compounds least susceptible to efflux were those which were highly polar and small in MW or very large and typically zwitterionic. Hydrophobicity was often the dominant driver for HTS actives but, more often than not, precluded whole cell antibacterial activity. However, simply designing polar compounds was not sufficient for antibacterial activity and pointed to a lack of understanding of complex and specific bacterial penetration mechanisms.

Experimental design for the evaluation of high-T(sub c) superconductive thermal bridges in a sensor satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Elaine P.; Lee, Kasey M.

1994-01-01

Infrared sensor satellites, which consist of cryogenic infrared sensor detectors, electrical instrumentation, and data acquisition systems, are used to monitor the conditions of the earth's upper atmosphere in order to evaluate its present and future changes. Currently, the electrical connections (instrumentation), which act as thermal bridges between the cryogenic infrared sensor and the significantly warmer data acquisition unit of the sensor satellite system, constitute a significant portion of the heat load on the cryogen. As a part of extending the mission life of the sensor satellite system, the researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center (NASA-LaRC) are evaluating the effectiveness of replacing the currently used manganin wires with high-temperature superconductive (HTS) materials as the electrical connections (thermal bridges). In conjunction with the study being conducted at NASA-LaRC, the proposed research is to design a space experiment to determine the thermal savings on a cryogenic subsystem when manganin leads are replaced by HTS leads printed onto a substrate with a low thermal conductivity, and to determine the thermal conductivities of HTS materials. The experiment is designed to compare manganin wires with two different types of superconductors on substrates by determining the heat loss by the thermal bridges and providing temperature measurements for the estimation of thermal conductivity. A conductive mathematical model has been developed and used as a key tool in the design process and subsequent analysis.

Minimal Residual Disease Detection and Evolved IGH Clones Analysis in Acute B Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using IGH Deep Sequencing.

PubMed

Wu, Jinghua; Jia, Shan; Wang, Changxi; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Sixi; Zeng, Xiaojing; Mai, Huirong; Yuan, Xiuli; Du, Yuanping; Wang, Xiaodong; Hong, Xueyu; Li, Xuemei; Wen, Feiqiu; Xu, Xun; Pan, Jianhua; Li, Changgang; Liu, Xiao

2016-01-01

Acute B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is one of the most common types of childhood cancer worldwide and chemotherapy is the main treatment approach. Despite good response rates to chemotherapy regiments, many patients eventually relapse and minimal residual disease (MRD) is the leading risk factor for relapse. The evolution of leukemic clones during disease development and treatment may have clinical significance. In this study, we performed immunoglobulin heavy chain ( IGH ) repertoire high throughput sequencing (HTS) on the diagnostic and post-treatment samples of 51 pediatric B-ALL patients. We identified leukemic IGH clones in 92.2% of the diagnostic samples and nearly half of the patients were polyclonal. About one-third of the leukemic clones have correct open reading frame in the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of IGH , which demonstrates that the leukemic B cells were in the early developmental stage. We also demonstrated the higher sensitivity of HTS in MRD detection and investigated the clinical value of using peripheral blood in MRD detection and monitoring the clonal IGH evolution. In addition, we found leukemic clones were extensively undergoing continuous clonal IGH evolution by variable gene replacement. Dynamic frequency change and newly emerged evolved IGH clones were identified upon the pressure of chemotherapy. In summary, we confirmed the high sensitivity and universal applicability of HTS in MRD detection. We also reported the ubiquitous evolved IGH clones in B-ALL samples and their response to chemotherapy during treatment.

High-Throughput Pharmacokinetics for Environmental Chemicals (SOT)

EPA Science Inventory

High throughput screening (HTS) promises to allow prioritization of thousands of environmental chemicals with little or no in vivo information. For bioactivity identified by HTS, toxicokinetic (TK) models are essential to predict exposure thresholds below which no significant bio...

Using information from historical high-throughput screens to predict active compounds.

PubMed

Riniker, Sereina; Wang, Yuan; Jenkins, Jeremy L; Landrum, Gregory A

2014-07-28

Modern high-throughput screening (HTS) is a well-established approach for hit finding in drug discovery that is routinely employed in the pharmaceutical industry to screen more than a million compounds within a few weeks. However, as the industry shifts to more disease-relevant but more complex phenotypic screens, the focus has moved to piloting smaller but smarter chemically/biologically diverse subsets followed by an expansion around hit compounds. One standard method for doing this is to train a machine-learning (ML) model with the chemical fingerprints of the tested subset of molecules and then select the next compounds based on the predictions of this model. An alternative approach would be to take advantage of the wealth of bioactivity information contained in older (full-deck) screens using so-called HTS fingerprints, where each element of the fingerprint corresponds to the outcome of a particular assay, as input to machine-learning algorithms. We constructed HTS fingerprints using two collections of data: 93 in-house assays and 95 publicly available assays from PubChem. For each source, an additional set of 51 and 46 assays, respectively, was collected for testing. Three different ML methods, random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and naïve Bayes (NB), were investigated for both the HTS fingerprint and a chemical fingerprint, Morgan2. RF was found to be best suited for learning from HTS fingerprints yielding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values >0.8 for 78% of the internal assays and enrichment factors at 5% (EF(5%)) >10 for 55% of the assays. The RF(HTS-fp) generally outperformed the LR trained with Morgan2, which was the best ML method for the chemical fingerprint, for the majority of assays. In addition, HTS fingerprints were found to retrieve more diverse chemotypes. Combining the two models through heterogeneous classifier fusion led to a similar or better performance than the best individual model for all assays. Further validation using a pair of in-house assays and data from a confirmatory screen--including a prospective set of around 2000 compounds selected based on our approach--confirmed the good performance. Thus, the combination of machine-learning with HTS fingerprints and chemical fingerprints utilizes information from both domains and presents a very promising approach for hit expansion, leading to more hits. The source code used with the public data is provided.

Evaluation of high temperature superconductive thermal bridges for space borne cryogenic detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Elaine P.

1996-01-01

Infrared sensor satellites are used to monitor the conditions in the earth's upper atmosphere. In these systems, the electronic links connecting the cryogenically cooled infrared detectors to the significantly warmer amplification electronics act as thermal bridges and, consequently, the mission lifetimes of the satellites are limited due to cryogenic evaporation. High-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials have been proposed by researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley's Research Center (NASA-LaRC) as an alternative to the currently used manganin wires for electrical connection. The potential for using HTS films as thermal bridges has provided the motivation for the design and the analysis of a spaceflight experiment to evaluate the performance of this superconductive technology in the space environment. The initial efforts were focused on the preliminary design of the experimental system which allows for the quantitative comparison of superconductive leads with manganin leads, and on the thermal conduction modeling of the proposed system. Most of the HTS materials were indicated to be potential replacements for the manganin wires. In the continuation of this multi-year research, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the sources of heat transfer on the thermal bridges that have been neglected in the preliminary conductive model and then to develop a methodology for the estimation of the thermal conductivities of the HTS thermal bridges in space. The Joule heating created by the electrical current through the manganin wires was incorporated as a volumetric heat source into the manganin conductive model. The radiative heat source on the HTS thermal bridges was determined by performing a separate radiant interchange analysis within a high-T(sub c) superconductor housing area. Both heat sources indicated no significant contribution on the cryogenic heat load, which validates the results obtained in the preliminary conduction model. A methodology was presented for the estimation of the thermal conductivities of the individual HTS thermal bridge materials and the effective thermal conductivities of the composite HTS thermal bridges as functions of temperature. This methodology included a sensitivity analysis and the demonstration of the estimation procedure using simulated data with added random errors. The thermal conductivities could not be estimated as functions of temperature; thus the effective thermal conductivities of the HTS thermal bridges were analyzed as constants.

Neon turbo-Brayton cycle refrigerator for HTS power machines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirai, Hirokazu; Hirokawa, M.; Yoshida, Shigeru; Nara, N.; Ozaki, S.; Hayashi, H.; Okamoto, H.; Shiohara, Y.

2012-06-01

We developed a prototype turbo-Brayton refrigerator whose working fluid is neon gas. The refrigerator is designed for a HTS (High Temperature Superconducting) power transformer and its cooling power is more than 2 kW at 65 K. The refrigerator has a turboexpander and a turbo-compressor, which utilize magnetic bearings. These rotational machines have no rubbing parts and no oil-components. Those make a long maintenance interval of the refrigerator. The refrigerator is very compact because our newly developed turbo-compressor is volumetrically smaller than a displacement type compressor in same operating specification. Another feature of the refrigerator is a wide range operation capability for various heat-loads. Cooling power is controlled by the input-power of the turbo-compressor instead of the conventional method of using an electric heater. The rotational speed of the compressor motor is adjusted by an inverter. This system is expected to be more efficient. We show design details, specification and cooling test results of the new refrigerator in this paper.

Correlation Between Material Properties of Ferroelectric Thin Films and Design Parameters for Microwave Device Applications: Modeling Examples and Experimental Verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, Felix A.; VanKeuls, Fred W.; Subramanyam, Guru; Mueller, Carl H.; Romanofsky, Robert R.; Rosado, Gerardo

2000-01-01

The application of thin ferroelectric films for frequency and phase agile components is the topic of interest of many research groups worldwide. Consequently, proof-of-concepts (POC) of different tunable microwave components using either (HTS, metal)/ferroelectric thin film/dielectric heterostructures or (thick, thin) film "flip-chip" technology have been reported. Either as ferroelectric thin film characterization tools or from the point of view of circuit implementation approach, both configurations have their respective advantages and limitations. However, we believe that because of the progress made so far using the heterostructure (i.e., multilayer) approach, and due to its intrinsic features such as planar configuration and monolithic integration, a study on the correlation of circuit geometry aspects and ferroelectric material properties could accelerate the insertion of this technology into working systems. In this paper, we will discuss our study performed on circuits based on microstrip lines at frequencies above 10 GHz, where the multilayer configuration offers greater ease of insertion due to circuit's size reduction. Modeled results of relevant circuit parameters such as the characteristic impedance, effective dielectric constant, and attenuation as a function of ferroelectric film's dielectric constant, tans, and thickness, will be presented for SrTiO3 and Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3 ferroelectric films. A comparison between the modeled and experimental data for some of these parameters will be presented.

Cheminformatic Analysis of the US EPA ToxCast Chemical Library

EPA Science Inventory

The ToxCast project is employing high throughput screening (HTS) technologies, along with chemical descriptors and computational models, to develop approaches for screening and prioritizing environmental chemicals for further toxicity testing. ToxCast Phase I generated HTS data f...

Prospects on the application of HTS SQUID magnetometry to nondestructive evaluation (NDE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weinstock, H.

1993-04-01

In light of recent advances in the fabrication of low-noise HTS SQUIDs, a review is presented on the use of LTS SQUID magnetometry for nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Examples are given on applications relating to defects in steel, subsurface cracks in aircraft frames, and voids in non-metallic structures. HTS SQUIDs may make a significant difference in the acceptance of these applications because sensing coils will be closer to a sample under test, there will be greater instrument portability and the problem of bringing liquid helium to remote locations will be eliminated.

Development and production of second generation high Tc superconducting tapes at SuperOx and first tests of model cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, S.; Petrykin, V.; Molodyk, A.; Samoilenkov, S.; Kaul, A.; Vavilov, A.; Vysotsky, V.; Fetisov, S.

2014-04-01

The SuperOx and SuperOx Japan LLC companies were founded with the goal of developing a cost-effective technology for second generation HTS (2G HTS) tapes by utilizing a combination of the most advanced chemical and physical deposition techniques, together with implementing original tape architectures. In this paper we present a brief overview of our production and experimental facilities and recent results of 2G HTS tape fabrication, and describe the first tests of the tapes in model cables for AC and DC power application.

Microwave signal-processing applications of HTS films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, J. D.; Wagner, G. R.

1990-01-01

The low surface resistance (Rs) of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) will lead to the development of passive microwave devices for application in radar, electronic warfare, and satellite systems with performance significantly better than achieved with normal conductors. In particular, delay line based devices such as phase shifters, convolvers, and correlators will have low lossses and multi-GHz bandwidths. Low-loss filters which presently occupy cubic feet in waveguide will be fabricated in compact microstrip or stripline, and ultra-high Q resonators which currently require liquid helium refrigeration will be operated at around 77 K. Measurement of Rs of HTS is important both for device design and for optimization of the film growth process. Several approaches have been developed which provide data over a wide range of frequency and temperature, including stripline, cacity, and dielectric resonator techniques. HTS films for microwave applications should have at least Rs(HTS(

PubChem BioAssay: A Decade's Development toward Open High-Throughput Screening Data Sharing.

PubMed

Wang, Yanli; Cheng, Tiejun; Bryant, Stephen H

2017-07-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) is now routinely conducted for drug discovery by both pharmaceutical companies and screening centers at academic institutions and universities. Rapid advance in assay development, robot automation, and computer technology has led to the generation of terabytes of data in screening laboratories. Despite the technology development toward HTS productivity, fewer efforts were devoted to HTS data integration and sharing. As a result, the huge amount of HTS data was rarely made available to the public. To fill this gap, the PubChem BioAssay database ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pcassay/ ) was set up in 2004 to provide open access to the screening results tested on chemicals and RNAi reagents. With more than 10 years' development and contributions from the community, PubChem has now become the largest public repository for chemical structures and biological data, which provides an information platform to worldwide researchers supporting drug development, medicinal chemistry study, and chemical biology research. This work presents a review of the HTS data content in the PubChem BioAssay database and the progress of data deposition to stimulate knowledge discovery and data sharing. It also provides a description of the database's data standard and basic utilities facilitating information access and use for new users.

High-Throughput RNA Interference Screening: Tricks of the Trade

PubMed Central

Nebane, N. Miranda; Coric, Tatjana; Whig, Kanupriya; McKellip, Sara; Woods, LaKeisha; Sosa, Melinda; Sheppard, Russell; Rasmussen, Lynn; Bjornsti, Mary-Ann; White, E. Lucile

2016-01-01

The process of validating an assay for high-throughput screening (HTS) involves identifying sources of variability and developing procedures that minimize the variability at each step in the protocol. The goal is to produce a robust and reproducible assay with good metrics. In all good cell-based assays, this means coefficient of variation (CV) values of less than 10% and a signal window of fivefold or greater. HTS assays are usually evaluated using Z′ factor, which incorporates both standard deviation and signal window. A Z′ factor value of 0.5 or higher is acceptable for HTS. We used a standard HTS validation procedure in developing small interfering RNA (siRNA) screening technology at the HTS center at Southern Research. Initially, our assay performance was similar to published screens, with CV values greater than 10% and Z′ factor values of 0.51 ± 0.16 (average ± standard deviation). After optimizing the siRNA assay, we got CV values averaging 7.2% and a robust Z′ factor value of 0.78 ± 0.06 (average ± standard deviation). We present an overview of the problems encountered in developing this whole-genome siRNA screening program at Southern Research and how equipment optimization led to improved data quality. PMID:23616418

Evaluation of Impermeant, DNA-Binding Dye Fluorescence as a Real-Time Readout of Eukaryotic Cell Toxicity in a High Throughput Screening Format

PubMed Central

Chiaraviglio, Lucius

2014-01-01

Abstract Interpretation of high throughput screening (HTS) data in cell-based assays may be confounded by cytotoxic properties of screening compounds. Therefore, assessing cell toxicity in real time during the HTS process itself would be highly advantageous. Here, we investigate the potential of putatively impermeant, fluorescent, DNA-binding dyes to give cell toxicity readout during HTS. Amongst 19 DNA-binding dyes examined, three classes were identified that were (1) permeant, (2) cytotoxic, or (3) neither permeant nor cytotoxic during 3-day incubation with a macrophage cell line. In the last class, four dyes (SYTOX Green, CellTox Green, GelGreen, and EvaGreen) gave highly robust cytotoxicity data in 384-well screening plates. As proof of principle, successful combination with a luminescence-based assay in HTS format was demonstrated. Here, both intracellular growth of Legionella pneumophila (luminescence) and host cell viability (SYTOX Green exclusion) were assayed in the same screening well. Incorporation of membrane-impermeant, DNA-binding, fluorescent dyes in HTS assays should prove useful by allowing evaluation of cytotoxicity in real time, eliminating reagent addition steps and effort associated with endpoint cell viability analysis, and reducing the need for follow-up cytotoxicity screening. PMID:24831788

Effects of Multicomponent Exercise on Functional and Cognitive Parameters of Hypertensive Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

PubMed Central

Feriani, Daniele Jardim; Gonçalves, Ivan de Oliveira; Asano, Ricardo Yukio; Aguiar, Samuel da Silva; Uchida, Marco Carlos

2017-01-01

Purpose. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of a 6-month multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) on physical function and cognitive parameters of normotensive (NTS) and hypertensive (HTS) older patients and verify if age can influence the adaptations in response to the exercise. Methods. A total of 218 subjects, 101 NTS and 117 HTS, were recruited and underwent functional and cognitive evaluations before and after six months of a MCEP. The program of exercise was performed twice a week, for 26 weeks. The physical exercises were thought to mimic the activities of daily living and, therefore, aggregated functional and walking exercises. Exercise sessions were performed at moderate intensity. Results. Data indicated that HTS and NST patients showed a similar increase in the performance of walking speed test and one-leg stand test after the MCEP. Regarding age, results did not show differences in the magnitude of adaptations between old and young HTS and NTS patients. Conclusions. Data of the present study indicated that a 6-month MCEP was able to increase equally balance and mobility in NTS and HTS patients. Moreover, data demonstrated that aging did not seem to impair the capacity to adapt in response to exercise in both groups. PMID:28409030

Epitaxy of mercury-based high temperature superconducting films on oxide and metal substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yi-Yuan

High-Tc superconducting (HTS) cuprates are highly anisotropic thus epitaxy along certain crystalline directions is essential to realize high-current-carrying capability at temperatures above 77 K. Hg-based HTS (Hg-HTS) cuprates have the record-high Tc up to 135 K, therefore are of great interest for fundamental research and practical applications. However, growth Of epitaxial Hg-HTS films is extremely difficult in conventional thermal-reaction process since Hg is highly volatile. Motivated by this, we first developed a cation-exchange process for growing epitaxial Hg-HTS films, which involves two steps: selection of precursor matrices with predesigned structure and composition followed by cation-exchange processing. New materials are formed via "atomic surgery" on an existing structure rather than thermal reaction among amorphous oxides in conventional process, thus the structural features of the precursor are inherited by the new material. Using epitaxial Tl-based HTS films as precursor and annealing them in Hg-vapor, epitaxial Hg-HTS films with superior quality have been obtained. This success encouraged us to develop epitaxy on metal tapes for coated conductors and On large-area wafers for electronic devices. For coated conductors, we addressed three critical issues: epitaxy on metal substrates, enhancement of in-field Jcs and scale-up in thickness and length. First, using a fabrication scheme that combines two processes: cation-exchange and fast-temperature-ramping-annealing, epitaxial HgBa2CaCu2O6+delta films were grown on rolling-assisted-biaxially-textured Ni substrates buffered with CeO 2/YSZ/CeO2 for the first time. We fabricated HgBa2CaCu 2O6+delta coated conductors with Tc = 122--124 K and self-field Jc > 1 x 106A/cm2 at 92 K which are record-high for HTS coated conductors. Second, we demonstrated improved in-field J cs via overdoping HgBa2CaCu 2O6+delta films (by means Of charge "overdoped"), heavy-ion-irradiation and substrate engineering. Finally, thick HgBa 2CaCu2O6+delta films show high I c, and spool process also shows potential in middle-length tape fabrication. These results make Hg-HTS films good candidates as power transmission wires/tapes. For large-area epitaxy, ½ inch x ½ inch HgBa2CaCu 2O6+delta films were synthesized on LaAlO3(100) with uniform and high Tcs and Jc s. A new crucible Hg-annealing technique that requires neither vacuum nor torch-sealing has been invented, promising for large-area wafers and long tapes/wires. So far HgBa2CaCu2O6+delta films with good quality have been reproducibly fabricated using this new technique.

Alternating current loss characteristics in (bismuth,lead)SCCO and yttrium barium copper oxide superconducting tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Doan Ngoc

Alternating current (AC) loss and current carrying capacity are two of the most crucial considerations in large-scale power applications of high temperature superconducting (HTS) conductors. AC losses result in an increased thermal load for cooling machines, and thus increased operating costs. Furthermore, AC losses can stimulate quenching phenomena or at least decrease the stability margin for superconducting devices. Thus, understanding AC losses is essential for the development of HTS AC applications. The main focus of this dissertation is to make reliable total AC loss measurements and interpret the experimental results in a theoretical framework. With a specially designed magnet, advanced total AC loss measurement system in liquid nitrogen (77 K) has been successfully built. Both calorimetric and electromagnetic methods were employed to confirm the validity of the measured results and to have a more thorough understanding of AC loss in HTS conductors. The measurement is capable of measuring total AC loss in HTS tapes over a wide range of frequency and amplitude of transport current and magnetic field. An accurate phase control technique allows measurement of total AC loss with any phase difference between the transport current and magnetic field by calorimetric method. In addition, a novel total AC loss measurement system with variable temperatures from 30 K to 100 K was successfully built and tested. Understanding the dependence of AC losses on temperature will enable optimization of the operating temperature and design of HTS devices. As a part of the dissertation, numerical calculations using Brandt's model were developed to study electrodynamics and total AC loss in HTS conductors. In the calculations, the superconducting electrical behavior is assumed to follow a power-law model. In general, the practical properties of conductors, including field-dependence of critical current density Jc, n-value and non-uniform distribution of Jc, can be accounted for in the numerical calculations. The numerical calculations are also capable of investigating eddy current loss in the stabilizer and ferromagnetic loss in the substrate of YBa2Cu3O 7-delta (YBCO) coated conductor. AC loss characteristics and electrodynamics in several (Bi,Pb)2 Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi-2223) and YBCO tapes were studied experimentally and numerically. It was found that AC loss behavior Ax in HTS tapes is strongly affected by the sample parameters such as cross-section, structure, dimensions, critical current distribution as well as by operation parameters including temperature, frequency, the phase difference between transport current and magnetic field, the orientation of magnetic field. The Ni-5%W substrate in YBCO conductors generates some ferromagnetic loss but this loss component is significantly reduced by a small parallel DC magnetic field. At a given AC magnetic field B0, there is a temperature Tmax at which the magnetization loss is maximum. The design of HTS devices needs to be optimized to avoid operating at that temperature. In general, the total AC loss in HTS tapes is still high for many power device applications, especially for those that present a rather high AC applied magnetic field. The development of low loss conductors is therefore crucial for HTS large-scale applications.

Computational toxicology and in silico modeling of embryogenesis

EPA Science Inventory

High-throughput screening (HTS) is providing a rich source of in vitro data for predictive toxicology. ToxCast™ HTS data presently covers 1060 broad-use chemicals and captures >650 in vitro features for diverse biochemical and receptor binding activities, multiplexed reporter gen...

20180312 - Mechanistic Modeling of Developmental Defects through Computational Embryology (SOT)

EPA Science Inventory

Significant advances in the genome sciences, in automated high-throughput screening (HTS), and in alternative methods for testing enable rapid profiling of chemical libraries for quantitative effects on diverse cellular activities. While a surfeit of HTS data and information is n...

Pathway Profiling and Tissue Modeling Using ToxCast HTS Data

EPA Science Inventory

High-throughput screening (HTS) and high-content screening (HCS) assays are providing data-rich studies to probe and profile the direct cellular effects of thousands of chemical compounds in commerce or potentially entering the environment. In vitro profiling may compare unknown ...

A miniaturized HTS microwave receiver front-end subsystem for radar and communication applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Yongbo; Guo, Jin; Gao, Changzheng; Li, Chunguang; Li, Hong; Wang, Jia; Cui, Bin; He, Xiaofeng; Li, Chao; Li, Na; Li, Guoqiang; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Xueqiang; Meng, Jibao; He, Yusheng

2010-08-01

This paper presents a miniaturized high performance high temperature superconducting (HTS) microwave receiver front-end subsystem, which uses a mini stirling cryocooler to cool a high selective HTS filter and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The HTS filter was miniaturized by using specially designed compact resonators and fabricating with double-sided YBCO films on LAO substrate which has a relatively high permittivity. The LNA was specially designed to work at cryogenic temperature with noise figure of 0.27 dB at 71 K. The mini cryocooler, which is widely used in infrared detectors, has a smaller size (60 mm × 80 mm × 100 mm) and a lighter weight (340 g) than the stirling cryocoolers commonly used in other HTS filter subsystem. The whole front-end subsystem, including a HTS filter, a LNA, a cryocooler and the vacuum chamber, has a size of only φ120 mm × 175 mm and a weight of only 3.3 kg. The microwave devices inside the subsystem are working at 71.8 K with a consumed cooling power of 0.325 W. The center frequency of this subsystem is 925.2 MHz and the bandwidth is 2.7 MHz (which is a fractional bandwidth of 0.2%), with the gain of 19.75 dB at center frequency and the return loss better than -18.11 dB in the pass band. The stop band rejection is more than 60 dB and the skirt slope is exceeding 120 dB MHz -1. The noise figure of this subsystem is less than 0.8 dB. This front-end subsystem can be used in radars and communication systems conveniently due to it’s compact size and light weight.

Measurable residual disease detection by high-throughput sequencing improves risk stratification for pediatric B-ALL

PubMed Central

Wood, Brent; Wu, David; Crossley, Beryl; Dai, Yunfeng; Williamson, David; Gawad, Charles; Borowitz, Michael J.; Devidas, Meenakshi; Maloney, Kelly W.; Larsen, Eric; Winick, Naomi; Raetz, Elizabeth; Carroll, William L.; Hunger, Stephen P.; Loh, Mignon L.; Robins, Harlan

2018-01-01

Early response to induction chemotherapy is an important prognostic factor in B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Here, we compare high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of IGH and TRG genes vs flow cytometry (FC) for measurable residual disease (MRD) detection at the end of induction chemotherapy in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed B-ALL. Six hundred nineteen paired pretreatment and end-of-induction bone marrow samples from Children’s Oncology Group studies AALL0331 (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00103285) (standard risk [SR]; with MRD by FC at any level) and AALL0232 (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00075725) (high risk; with day 29 MRD <0.1% by FC) were evaluated by HTS and FC for event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS). HTS and FC showed similar 5-year EFS and OS for MRD-positive and -negative patients using an MRD threshold of 0.01%. However, there was a high discordant rate with HTS identifying 55 (38.7%) more patients MRD positive at this threshold. These discrepant patients have worse outcomes than FC MRD-negative patients. In addition, the increased analytic sensitivity of HTS permitted identification of 19.9% of SR patients without MRD at any detectable level who had excellent 5-year EFS (98.1%) and OS (100%). The higher analytic sensitivity and lower false-negative rate of HTS improves upon FC for MRD detection in pediatric B-ALL by identifying a novel subset of patients at end of induction who are essentially cured using current chemotherapy and identifying MRD at 0.01% in up to one-third of patients who are missed at the same threshold by FC. PMID:29284596

A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Hypertonic Sodium Solutions and Mannitol for Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Emergency Department Management.

PubMed

Burgess, Sarah; Abu-Laban, Riyad B; Slavik, Richard S; Vu, Erik N; Zed, Peter J

2016-04-01

To comparatively evaluate hypertonic sodium (HTS) and mannitol in patients following acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the outcomes of all-cause mortality, neurological disability, intracranial pressure (ICP) change from baseline, ICP treatment failure, and serious adverse events. PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP (World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) were searched (inception to November 2015) using hypertonic saline solutions, sodium chloride, mannitol, osmotic diuretic, traumatic brain injury, brain injuries, and head injury. Searches were limited to humans. Clinical practice guidelines and bibliographies were reviewed. Prospective, randomized trials comparing HTS and mannitol in adults (≥16 years) with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8) and elevated ICP were included. ICP elevation, ICP reduction, and treatment failure were defined using study definitions. Of 326 articles screened, 7 trials enrolling a total of 191 patients met inclusion criteria. Studies were underpowered to detect a significant difference in mortality or neurological outcomes. Due to significant heterogeneity and differences in reporting ICP change from baseline, this outcome was not meta-analyzed. No difference between HTS and mannitol was observed for mean ICP reduction; however, risk of ICP treatment failure favored HTS (risk ratio [RR] = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.18-0.81). Serious adverse events were not reported. Based on limited data, clinically important differences in mortality, neurological outcomes, and ICP reduction were not observed between HTS or mannitol in the management of severe TBI. HTS appears to lead to fewer ICP treatment failures. © The Author(s) 2016.

Development of a compact HTS lead unit for the SC correction coils of the SuperKEKB final focusing magnet system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Zhanguo; Ohuchi, Norihito; Tsuchiya, Kiyosumi; Arimoto, Yasushi

2016-09-01

Forty-three superconducting (SC) correction coils with maximum currents of about 60 A are installed in the SuperKEKB final focusing magnet system. Current leads to energize the SC correction coils should have an affordable heat load and fit the spatial constraints in the service cryostat where the current leads are installed. To address the requirements, design optimization of individual lead was performed with vapor cooled current lead made of a brass material, and a compact unit was designed to accommodate eight current leads together in order to be installed with one port in the service cryostat. The 2nd generation high temperature SC (HTS) tape was adopted and soldered at the cold end of the brass current lead to form a hybrid HTS lead structure. A prototype of the compact lead unit with HTS tape was constructed and tested with liquid helium (LHe) environment. This paper presents a cryogenic measurement system to simulate the real operation conditions in the service cryostat, and analysis of the experimental results. The measured results showed excellent agreement with the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. In total, 11 sets of the compact HTS lead units were constructed for the 43 SC correction coils at KEK. One set from the mass production was tested in cryogenic conditions, and exhibited the same performance as the prototype. The compact HTS lead unit can feed currents to four SC correction coils simultaneously with the simple requirement of controlling and monitoring helium vapor flow, and has a heat load of about 0.762 L/h in terms of LHe consumption.

AOPs and Biomarkers: Bridging High Throughput Screening and Regulatory Decision Making

EPA Science Inventory

As high throughput screening (HTS) plays a larger role in toxicity testing, camputational toxicology has emerged as a critical component in interpreting the large volume of data produced. Computational models designed to quantify potential adverse effects based on HTS data will b...

Metabolism Retrofit Strategies for ToxCast Assays (BOSC)

EPA Science Inventory

The EPA’s ToxCast program utilizes a wide variety of high-throughput screening assays (HTS) to assess chemical perturbations of molecular and cellular endpoints. A limitation of many HTS assays used for toxicity assessment is the lack of xenobiotic metabolism (XM) which precludes...

Superconductor-Magnet Bearings With Inherent Stability and Velocity-Independent Drag Torque

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Eun-Jeong; Ma, Ki Bui; Wilson, Thomas L.; Chu, Wei-Kan

1999-01-01

A hybrid superconductor magnet bearing system has been developed based on passive magnetic levitation and the flux pinning effect of high-temperature superconductivity. The rationale lies in the unique capability of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) to enhance system stability passively without power consumption. Characterization experiments have been conducted to understand its dynamic behavior and to estimate the required motor torque for its driving system design. These experiments show that the hybrid HTS-magnet bearing system has a periodic oscillation of drag torque due mainly to the nonuniform magnetic field density of permanent magnets. Furthermore, such a system also suffers from a small superimposed periodic oscillation introduced by the use of multiple HTS disks rather than a uniform annulus of HTS material. The magnitude of drag torque is velocity independent and very small. These results make this bearing system appealing for high-speed application. Finally, design guidelines for superconducting bearing systems are suggested based on these experimental results.

GrigoraSNPs: Optimized Analysis of SNPs for DNA Forensics.

PubMed

Ricke, Darrell O; Shcherbina, Anna; Michaleas, Adam; Fremont-Smith, Philip

2018-04-16

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) enables additional DNA forensic capabilities not attainable using traditional STR panels. However, the inclusion of sets of loci selected for mixture analysis, extended kinship, phenotype, biogeographic ancestry prediction, etc., can result in large panel sizes that are difficult to analyze in a rapid fashion. GrigoraSNP was developed to address the allele-calling bottleneck that was encountered when analyzing SNP panels with more than 5000 loci using HTS. GrigoraSNPs uses a MapReduce parallel data processing on multiple computational threads plus a novel locus-identification hashing strategy leveraging target sequence tags. This tool optimizes the SNP calling module of the DNA analysis pipeline with runtimes that scale linearly with the number of HTS reads. Results are compared with SNP analysis pipelines implemented with SAMtools and GATK. GrigoraSNPs removes a computational bottleneck for processing forensic samples with large HTS SNP panels. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Magnetic superelevation design of Halbach permanent magnet guideway for high-temperature superconducting maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Wuyang; Qian, Nan; Zheng, Jun; Huang, Huan; Zhang, Ya; Deng, Zigang

2017-07-01

To improve the curve negotiating ability of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev system, a special structure of magnetic superelevation for double-pole Halbach permanent magnet guideway (PMG) was designed. The most significant feature of this design is the asymmetrical PMG that forms a slanting magnetic field without affecting the smoothness of the PMG surface. When HTS maglev vehicle runs through curves with magnetic superelevation, the vehicle will slant due to asymmetry in magnetic field and the flux-pinning effect of onboard HTS bulks. At the same time, one component of the levitation force provides a part of the centripetal force that reduces lateral acceleration of the vehicle and thus enhances its curve negotiating ability. Furthermore, the slant angle of magnetic superelevation can be adjusted by changing the materials and the thickness of the added permanent magnets. This magnetic superelevation method, together with orographic uplift, can be applied to different requirements of PMG designs. Besides, the applicability of this method would benefit future development of high-speed HTS maglev system.

Yeast as a potential vehicle for neglected tropical disease drug discovery.

PubMed

Denny, P W; Steel, P G

2015-01-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) efforts for neglected tropical disease (NTD) drug discovery have recently received increased attention because several initiatives have begun to attempt to reduce the deficit in new and clinically acceptable therapies for this spectrum of infectious diseases. HTS primarily uses two basic approaches, cell-based and in vitro target-directed screening. Both of these approaches have problems; for example, cell-based screening does not reveal the target or targets that are hit, whereas in vitro methodologies lack a cellular context. Furthermore, both can be technically challenging, expensive, and difficult to miniaturize for ultra-HTS [(u)HTS]. The application of yeast-based systems may overcome some of these problems and offer a cost-effective platform for target-directed screening within a eukaryotic cell context. Here, we review the advantages and limitations of the technologies that may be used in yeast cell-based, target-directed screening protocols, and we discuss how these are beginning to be used in NTD drug discovery. © 2014 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

Abbott Physicochemical Tiering (APT)--a unified approach to HTS triage.

PubMed

Cox, Philip B; Gregg, Robert J; Vasudevan, Anil

2012-07-15

The selection of the highest quality chemical matter from high throughput screening (HTS) is the ultimate aim of any triage process. Typically there are many hundreds or thousands of hits capable of modulating a given biological target in HTS with a wide range of physicochemical properties that should be taken into consideration during triage. Given the multitude of physicochemical properties that define drug-like space, a system needs to be in place that allows for a rapid selection of chemical matter based on a prioritized range of these properties. With this goal in mind, we have developed a tool, coined Abbott Physicochemical Tiering (APT) that enables hit prioritization based on ranges of these important physicochemical properties. This tool is now used routinely at Abbott to help prioritize hits out of HTS during the triage process. Herein we describe how this tool was developed and validated using Abbott internal high throughput ADME data (HT-ADME). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simulation of the Vortex Dynamics in a Real Pinning Landscape of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - δ Coated Conductors

DOE PAGES

Sadovskyy, I. A.; Koshelev, A. E.; Glatz, A.; ...

2016-01-01

The ability of high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) to carry very large currents with almost no dissipation makes them irreplaceable for high-power applications. The development and further improvement of HTS-based cables require an in-depth understanding of the superconducting vortex dynamics in the presence of complex pinning landscapes. We present a critical current analysis of a real HTS sample in a magnetic field by combining state-of-the-art large-scale Ginzburg-Landau simulations with reconstructive three-dimensional scanning-transmission-electron-microscopy tomography of the pinning landscape in Dy-doped YBa 2Cu 3O 7-δ. This methodology provides a unique look at the vortex dynamics in the presence of a complex pinning landscape responsiblemore » for the high-current-carrying-capacity characteristic of commercial HTS wires. Finally, our method demonstrates very good functional and quantitative agreement of the critical current between simulation and experiment, providing a new predictive tool for HTS wire designs.« less

Cycle Design of Reverse Brayton Cryocooler for HTS Cable Cooling Using Exergy Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Sudeep Kumar; Ghosh, Parthasarathi

2017-02-01

The reliability and price of cryogenic refrigeration play an important role in the successful commercialization of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables. For cooling HTS cable, sub-cooled liquid nitrogen (LN2) circulation system is used. One of the options to maintain LN2 in its sub-cooled state is by providing refrigeration with the help of Reverse Brayton Cryo-cooler (RBC). The refrigeration requirement is 10 kW for continuously sub-cooling LN2 from 72 K to 65 K for cooling 1 km length of HTS cable [1]. In this paper, a parametric evaluation of RBC for sub-cooling LN2 has been performed using helium as a process fluid. Exergy approach has been adopted for this analysis. A commercial process simulator, Aspen HYSYS® V8.6 has been used for this purpose. The critical components have been identified and their exergy destruction and exergy efficiency have been obtained for a given heat load condition.

Intersection of toxicogenomics and high throughput screening in the Tox21 program: an NIEHS perspective.

PubMed

Merrick, B Alex; Paules, Richard S; Tice, Raymond R

Humans are exposed to thousands of chemicals with inadequate toxicological data. Advances in computational toxicology, robotic high throughput screening (HTS), and genome-wide expression have been integrated into the Tox21 program to better predict the toxicological effects of chemicals. Tox21 is a collaboration among US government agencies initiated in 2008 that aims to shift chemical hazard assessment from traditional animal toxicology to target-specific, mechanism-based, biological observations using in vitro assays and lower organism models. HTS uses biocomputational methods for probing thousands of chemicals in in vitro assays for gene-pathway response patterns predictive of adverse human health outcomes. In 1999, NIEHS began exploring the application of toxicogenomics to toxicology and recent advances in NextGen sequencing should greatly enhance the biological content obtained from HTS platforms. We foresee an intersection of new technologies in toxicogenomics and HTS as an innovative development in Tox21. Tox21 goals, priorities, progress, and challenges will be reviewed.

Side-suspended High-Tc Superconducting Maglev Prototype Vehicle Running at a High Speed in an Evacuated Circular Test Track

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Dajin; Zhao, Lifeng; Cui, Chenyu; Zhang, Yong; Guo, Jianqiang; Zhao, Yong

2017-07-01

High-T c superconductor (HTS) and permanent magnetic guideway (PMG) based maglev train is intensively studied in China, Japan, Germany and Brazil, mainly through static or vibration test. Amongst these studies, only a few of reports are available for the direct and effective assessment on the dynamic performance of the HTS maglev vehicle by running on a straight or circular PMG track. The highest running speed of these experiments is lower than 50 km/h. In this paper, a side-suspended HTS permanent magnetic guideway maglev system was proposed and constructed in order to increase the running speed in a circular track. By optimizing the arrangement of YBCO bulks besides the PMG, the side-suspended HTS maglev prototype vehicle was successfully running stably at a speed as high as 150 km/h in a circular test track with 6.5 m in diameter, and in an evacuated tube environment, in which the pressure is 5 × 103 Pa.

Simulation of the Vortex Dynamics in a Real Pinning Landscape of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - δ Coated Conductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sadovskyy, I. A.; Koshelev, A. E.; Glatz, A.

The ability of high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) to carry very large currents with almost no dissipation makes them irreplaceable for high-power applications. The development and further improvement of HTS-based cables require an in-depth understanding of the superconducting vortex dynamics in the presence of complex pinning landscapes. We present a critical current analysis of a real HTS sample in a magnetic field by combining state-of-the-art large-scale Ginzburg-Landau simulations with reconstructive three-dimensional scanning-transmission-electron-microscopy tomography of the pinning landscape in Dy-doped YBa 2Cu 3O 7-δ. This methodology provides a unique look at the vortex dynamics in the presence of a complex pinning landscape responsiblemore » for the high-current-carrying-capacity characteristic of commercial HTS wires. Finally, our method demonstrates very good functional and quantitative agreement of the critical current between simulation and experiment, providing a new predictive tool for HTS wire designs.« less

Numerical studies on the force characteristic of superconducting linear synchronous motor with HTS bulk magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Junjie; Li, Jing; Li, Xiang; Han, Le

2018-03-01

High temperature superconductor (HTS) bulks have significant potential use in linear motor application act as quasi-permanent magnet to replace traditional magnets. Force characteristic between HTS bulk magnet and traveling magnetic field was investigated with numerical simulation and experimental measurement in this paper. Influences of bulk height and number on the force characteristic were studied by the finite element model considering the nonlinear E-J relationship. Study was also made on addition of a back iron plate to the bulk magnet. Besides, force characteristic of bulk was compared with the permanent magnet results. The small initial decrease of the thrust could be explained by inside superconducting current redistribution. It was found that efficiency of linear motor did not increase by adding more bulk magnets. The bulk magnet will be remagnetized instead of erasing trapped field with the increase of the traveling magnetic field strength. The conclusions are helpful in prediction and design the linear motor with HTS bulk magnet.

The design and testing of a cooling system using mixed solid cryogen for a portable superconducting magnetic energy storage system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, K. L.; Song, J. B.; Choi, J. H.; Kim, S. H.; Y Koh, D.; Seong, K. C.; Chang, H. M.; Lee, H. G.

2010-12-01

A cooling system that uses solid nitrogen (SN2) as an effective heat capacity enhancer was recently introduced to enhance the thermal stability of the HTS SMES. Since SN2 has a large enthalpy with minimal weight, it enables a portable system by increasing the recooling to recooling time period (RRTP). However, contact between the SN2 and HTS SMES magnet can be broken by repeated thermal disturbances (thermal 'dry-out' phenomena). Therefore, it is essential to improve thermal contact to allow full use of the heat capacity of SN2. This study evaluated the effect of using a mixture containing SN2 and a small amount of a liquid cryogen as a cooling system in the HTS SMES system. The performance of the cooling system was evaluated using the mixed cryogen and compared with that of SN2 alone. In addition, the role of liquid neon (Ne) as a heat exchanger between SN2 and the HTS SMES magnet is discussed.

Reproducibility of HTS-SQUID magnetocardiography in an unshielded clinical environment.

PubMed

Leder, U; Schrey, F; Haueisen, J; Dörrer, L; Schreiber, J; Liehr, M; Schwarz, G; Solbrig, O; Figulla, H R; Seidel, P

2001-07-01

A new technology has been developed which measures the magnetic field of the human heart (magnetocardiogram, MCG) by using high temperature superconducting (HTS) sensors. These sensors can be operated at the temperature of liquid nitrogen without electromagnetic shielding. We tested the reproducibility of HTS-MCG measurements in healthy volunteers. Unshielded HTS-MCG measurements were performed in 18 healthy volunteers in left precordial position in two separate sessions in a clinical environment. The heart cycles of 10 min were averaged, smoothed, the baselines were adjusted, and the data were standardized to the respective areas under the curves (AUC) of the absolute values of the QRST amplitudes. The QRS complexes and the ST-T intervals were used to assess the reproducibility of the two measurements. Ratios (R(QRS), R(STT)) were calculated by dividing the AUC of the first measurement by the ones of the second measurement. The linear correlation coefficients (CORR(QRS), CORR(STT)) of the time intervals of the two measurements were calculated, too. The HTS-MCG signal was completely concealed by the high noise level in the raw data. The averaging and smoothing algorithms unmasked the QRS complex and the ST segment. A high reproducibility was found for the QRS complex (R(QRS)=1.2+/-0.3, CORR(QRS)=0.96+/-0.06). Similarly to the shape of the ECG it was characterized by three bends, the Q, R, and S waves. In the ST-T interval, the reproducibility was considerably lower (R(STT)=0.9+/-0.2, CORR(STT)=0.66+/-0.28). In contrast to the shape of the ECG, a baseline deflection after the T wave which may belong to U wave activity was found in a number of volunteers. HTS-MCG devices can be operated in a clinical environment without shielding. Whereas the reproducibility was found to be high for the depolarization interval, it was considerably lower for the ST segment and for the T wave. Therefore, before clinically applying HTS-MCG systems to the detection of repolarization abnormalities in acute coronary syndromes, further technical development of the systems is necessary to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

High-temperature superconductivity for avionic electronic warfare and radar systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryan, Paul A.

1994-01-01

The electronic warfare (EW) and radar communities expect to be major beneficiaries of the performance advantages high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) has to offer over conventional technology. Near term upgrades to system hardware can be envisioned using extremely small, high Q, microwave filters and resonators; compact, wideband, low loss, microwave delay and transmission lines; as well as, wideband, low loss, monolithic microwave integrated circuit phase shifters. The most dramatic impact will be in the far term, using HTS to develop new, real time threat identification and response strategy receiver/processing systems designed to utilize the unique high frequency properties of microwave and ultimately digital HTS.

Use of high temperature superconductors in magnetoplasmadynamic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reed, C. B.; Sovey, J. S.

1988-01-01

The use of Tesla-class high-temperature superconducting magnets may have an extremely large impact on critical development issues (erosion, heat transfer, and performance) related to magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters and also may provide significant benefits in reducing the mass of magnetics used in the power processing system. These potential performance improvements, coupled with additional benefits of high-temperature superconductivity, provide a very strong motivation to develop high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) applied-field MPD thruster propulsion systems. The application of HTS to MPD thruster propulsion systems may produce an enabling technology for these electric propulsion systems. This paper summarizes the impact that HTS may have upon MPD propulsion systems.

Development and test of a 100 kVA superconducting transformer operated at 77 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kummeth, P.; Schlosser, R.; Massek, P.; Schmidt, H.; Albrecht, C.; Breitfelder, D.; Neumüller, H.-W.

2000-05-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) transformers are very promising candidates for application in electrical power engineering. Their main advantages are reduced size, weight, better efficiency and reduced potential fire and environmental hazards. We have designed, constructed and tested a 100 kVA HTS power transformer operated at 77 K. The nominal primary and secondary currents (voltages) are 18 A (5.6 kV) and 92 A (1.1 kV), respectively. No-load tests, short-circuit tests and load tests proved repeatedly that the transformer has the rated capacity. HTS winding losses of 20.6 W and iron losses of 403 W were measured.

Development of Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductors for Magnetic Bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selvamanickam, V.; Pfaffenbach, K.; Sokolowski, R. S.; Zhang, Y.; Salama, K.

1996-01-01

The material requirements, material manufacturing and magnetic properties that are relevant to fabrication of High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnetic bearings have been discussed. It is found that the seeded-melt-texturing method can be used to fabricate the single domain material that is required to achieve the best magnetic properties. Trapped-field mapping has been used as a non-destructive tool to determine the single-domain nature of the HTS material and quantity of the HTS disks. Both the trapped field and the levitation force of the Y-Ba-Cu-O disks are found to be strongly sensitive to the oxygen content.

Flux pumping for non-insulated and metal-insulated HTS coils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Jun; Geng, Jianzhao; Coombs, T. A.

2018-01-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils wound from coated conductors without turn-to-turn insulation (non-insulated (NI) coils) have been proven with excellent electrical and thermal performances. However, the slow charging of NI coils has been a long-lasting problem. In this work, we explore using a transformer-rectifier HTS flux pump to charge an NI coil and a metal-insulated coil. The charging performance comparison is made between different coils. Comprehensive study is done to thoroughly understand the electrical-magnetic transience in charging these coils. We will show that the low-voltage high-current flux pump is especially suitable for charging NI coils with very low characteristic resistance.

The Development and Demonstration of a 360m/10 kA HTS DC Power Cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Liye

With the quick development of renewable energy, it is expected that the electric power from renewable energy would be the dominant one for the future power grid. Due to the specialty of the renewable energy, the HVDC power transmission would be very useful for the transmission of electric power from renewable energy. DC power cable made of High Tc Superconductor (HTS) would be a possible alternative for the construction of HVDC power transmission system. In this chapter, we report the development and demonstration of a 360 m/10 kA HTS DC power cable and the test results.

Nanomaterial (NM) bioactivity profiling by ToxCast high-throughput screening (HTS)

EPA Science Inventory

Rapidly increasing numbers of new NMs and their uses demand efficient tests of NM bioactivity for safety assessment. The EPA’s ToxCast program uses HTS assays to prioritize for targeted testing, identify biological pathways affected, and aid in linking NM properties and potential...

Superconducting multiport antenna arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaloupka, H.

1993-10-01

Applications of HTS to radiating elements and beam-forming networks of multibeam and/or multifrequency arrays are discussed. This includes radiating elements which meet special requirements with respect to size and frequency response. Realized versions of both a three-port HTS array and a 4 x 4 Butler matrix are presented.

Development of a tiered screening strategy for a molecular-initiating event: thyroperoxidase inhibition (SOT)

EPA Science Inventory

Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) analyses illustrate that some molecular-initiating events (MIEs) for thyroid disruption, including thyroperoxidase (TPO) inhibition, are not evaluated by current ToxCast/Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. A novel HTS assay for TPO inhibiti...

Incorporating Population Variability and Susceptible Subpopulations into Dosimetry for High-Throughput Toxicity Testing

EPA Science Inventory

Momentum is growing worldwide to use in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) to evaluate human health effects of chemicals. However, the integration of dosimetry into HTS assays and incorporation of population variability will be essential before its application in a risk assess...

Retrofit Strategies for Incorporating Xenobiotic Metabolism into High Throughput Screening Assays (EMGS)

EPA Science Inventory

The US EPA’s ToxCast program is designed to assess chemical perturbations of molecular and cellular endpoints using a variety of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. However, existing HTS assays have limited or no xenobiotic metabolism which could lead to a mischaracterization...

Dynamic levitation performance of Gd-Ba-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors under a varying external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Hengpei; Zheng, Jun; Jin, Liwei; Huang, Huan; Deng, Zigang; Shi, Yunhua; Zhou, Difan; Cardwell, David A.

2018-07-01

We report that the dynamic levitation force of bulk high temperature superconductors (HTS) in motion attenuates when exposed to an inhomogeneous magnetic field. This phenomenon has significant potential implications for the long-term stability and running performance of HTS in maglev applications. In order to suppress the attenuation of the levitation force associated with fluctuations in magnetic field, we compare the dynamic levitation performance of single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) and Gd-Ba-Cu-O (GdBCO) bulk superconductors with relatively high critical current densities. A bespoke HTS maglev dynamic measurement system (SCML-03) incorporating a rotating circular permanent magnet guideway was employed to simulate the movement of HTS in a varying magnetic field at different frequencies (i.e. speed of rotation). The attenuation of the levitation force during dynamic operation, which is key parameter for effective maglev operation, has been evaluated experimentally. It is found that GdBCO bulk superconductors that exhibit superior levitation force properties are more able to resist the attenuation of levitation force compared with YBCO bulk materials under the same operating conditions. This investigation indicates clearly that GdBCO bulk superconductors can play an important role in suppressing attenuation of the levitation force, therefore improving the long-term levitation performance under dynamic operating conditions. This result is potentially significant in the design and application of HTS in maglev systems.

Performance evolution of 60 kA HTS cable prototypes in the EDIPO test facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bykovsky, N.; Uglietti, D.; Sedlak, K.; Stepanov, B.; Wesche, R.; Bruzzone, P.

2016-08-01

During the first test campaign of the 60 kA HTS cable prototypes in the EDIPO test facility, the feasibility of a novel HTS fusion cable concept proposed at the EPFL Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) was successfully demonstrated. While the measured DC performance of the prototypes at magnetic fields from 8 T to 12 T and for currents from 30 kA to 70 kA was close to the expected one, an initial electromagnetic cycling test (1000 cycles) revealed progressive degradation of the performance in both the SuperPower and SuperOx conductors. Aiming to understand the reasons for the degradation, additional cycling (1000 cycles) and warm up-cool down tests were performed during the second test campaign. I c performance degradation of the SuperOx conductor reached ∼20% after about 2000 cycles, which was reason to continue with a visual inspection of the conductor and further tests at 77 K. AC tests were carried out at 0 and 2 T background fields without transport current and at 10 T/50 kA operating conditions. Results obtained in DC and AC tests of the second test campaign are presented and compared with appropriate data published recently. Concluding the first iteration of the HTS cable development program at SPC, a summary and recommendations for the next activity within the HTS fusion cable project are also reported.

Scoping study for compact high-field superconducting net energy tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mumgaard, R. T.; Greenwald, M.; Freidberg, J. P.; Wolfe, S. M.; Hartwig, Z. S.; Brunner, D.; Sorbom, B. N.; Whyte, D. G.

2016-10-01

The continued development and commercialization of high temperature superconductors (HTS) may enable the construction of compact, net-energy tokamaks. HTS, in contrast to present generation low temperature superconductors, offers improved performance in high magnetic fields, higher current density, stronger materials, higher temperature operation, and simplified assembly. Using HTS along with community-consensus confinement physics (H98 =1) may make it possible to achieve net-energy (Q>1) or burning plasma conditions (Q>5) in DIII-D or ASDEX-U sized, conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. It is shown that, by operating at high plasma current and density enabled by the high magnetic field (B>10T), the required triple products may be achieved at plasma volumes under 20m3, major radii under 2m, with external heating powers under 40MW. This is at the scale of existing devices operated by laboratories, universities and companies. The trade-offs in the core heating, divertor heat exhaust, sustainment, stability, and proximity to known plasma physics limits are discussed in the context of the present tokamak experience base and the requirements for future devices. The resulting HTS-based design space is compared and contrasted to previous studies on high-field copper experiments with similar missions. The physics exploration conducted with such HTS devices could decrease the real and perceived risks of ITER exploitation, and aid in quickly developing commercially-applicable tokamak pilot plants and reactors.

Towards liquid-helium-free, persistent-mode MgB2 MRI magnets: FBML experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwasa, Yukikazu

2017-05-01

In this article I present our experience at the Magnet Technology Division of the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory on liquid-helium (LHe)-free, persistent-mode MgB2 MRI magnets. Before reporting on our MgB2 magnets, I first summarize the basic work that we began in the late 1990s to develop LHe-free, high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets cooled in solid cryogen—I begin by discussing the enabling feature, particularly of solid nitrogen (SN2), for adiabatic HTS magnets. The next topic is our first LHe-free, SN2-HTS magnet, for which we chose Bi2223 because in the late 1990s Bi2223 was the only HTS available to build an HTS magnet. I then move on to two MgB2 magnets, I and II, developed after discovery of MgB2 in 2000. The SN2-MgB2 Magnet II—0.5 T/240 mm, SN2-cooled, and operated in persistent mode—was completed in January 2016. The final major topic in this article is a tabletop LHe-free, persistent-mode 1.5 T/70 mm SN2-MgB2 ‘finger’ MRI magnet for osteoporosis screening—we expect to begin this project in 2017. Before concluding this article, I present my current view on challenges and prospects for MgB2 MRI magnets.

Towards Liquid-Helium-Free, Persistent-Mode MgB2 MRI Magnets: FBML Experience.

PubMed

Iwasa, Yukikazu

2017-01-01

In this article I present our experience at the Magnet Technology Division of the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory on liquid-helium (LHe)-free, persistent-mode MgB 2 MRI magnets. Before reporting on our MgB 2 magnets, I first summarize the basic work that we began in the late 1990s to develop LHe-free, high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets cooled in solid cryogen-I begin by discussing the enabling feature, particularly of solid nitrogen (SN2), for adiabatic HTS magnets. The next topic is our first LHe-free, SN2-HTS magnet, for which we chose Bi2223 because in the late 1990s Bi2223 was the only HTS available to build an HTS magnet. I then move on to two MgB 2 magnets, I and II, developed after discovery of MgB 2 in 2000. The SN2-MgB 2 Magnet II-0.5-T/240-mm, SN2-cooled, and operated in persistent mode-was completed in January 2016. The final major topic in this article is a tabletop LHe-free, persistent-mode 1.5-T/70-mm SN2-MgB 2 "finger" MRI magnet for osteoporosis screening-we expect to begin this project in 2017. Before concluding this article, I present my current view on challenges and prospects for MgB 2 MRI magnets.

Towards Liquid-Helium-Free, Persistent-Mode MgB2 MRI Magnets: FBML Experience

PubMed Central

Iwasa, Yukikazu

2017-01-01

In this article I present our experience at the Magnet Technology Division of the MIT Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory on liquid-helium (LHe)-free, persistent-mode MgB2 MRI magnets. Before reporting on our MgB2 magnets, I first summarize the basic work that we began in the late 1990s to develop LHe-free, high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets cooled in solid cryogen—I begin by discussing the enabling feature, particularly of solid nitrogen (SN2), for adiabatic HTS magnets. The next topic is our first LHe-free, SN2-HTS magnet, for which we chose Bi2223 because in the late 1990s Bi2223 was the only HTS available to build an HTS magnet. I then move on to two MgB2 magnets, I and II, developed after discovery of MgB2 in 2000. The SN2-MgB2 Magnet II—0.5-T/240-mm, SN2-cooled, and operated in persistent mode—was completed in January 2016. The final major topic in this article is a tabletop LHe-free, persistent-mode 1.5-T/70-mm SN2-MgB2 “finger” MRI magnet for osteoporosis screening—we expect to begin this project in 2017. Before concluding this article, I present my current view on challenges and prospects for MgB2 MRI magnets. PMID:29568161

RNAi High-Throughput Screening of Single- and Multi-Cell-Type Tumor Spheroids: A Comprehensive Analysis in Two and Three Dimensions.

PubMed

Fu, Jiaqi; Fernandez, Daniel; Ferrer, Marc; Titus, Steven A; Buehler, Eugen; Lal-Nag, Madhu A

2017-06-01

The widespread use of two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures for high-throughput screening (HTS) to identify targets in drug discovery has led to attrition in the number of drug targets being validated. Solid tumors are complex, aberrantly growing microenvironments that harness structural components from stroma, nutrients fed through vasculature, and immunosuppressive factors. Increasing evidence of stromally-derived signaling broadens the complexity of our understanding of the tumor microenvironment while stressing the importance of developing better models that reflect these interactions. Three-dimensional (3D) models may be more sensitive to certain gene-silencing events than 2D models because of their components of hypoxia, nutrient gradients, and increased dependence on cell-cell interactions and therefore are more representative of in vivo interactions. Colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) models composed of epithelial cells only, deemed single-cell-type tumor spheroids (SCTS) and multi-cell-type tumor spheroids (MCTS), containing fibroblasts were developed for RNAi HTS in 384-well microplates with flat-bottom wells for 2D screening and round-bottom, ultra-low-attachment wells for 3D screening. We describe the development of a high-throughput assay platform that can assess physiologically relevant phenotypic differences between screening 2D versus 3D SCTS, 3D SCTS, and MCTS in the context of different cancer subtypes. This assay platform represents a paradigm shift in how we approach drug discovery that can reduce the attrition rate of drugs that enter the clinic.

Replacement of Val3 in human thymidylate synthase affects its kinetic properties and intracellular stability .

PubMed

Huang, Xiao; Gibson, Lydia M; Bell, Brittnaie J; Lovelace, Leslie L; Peña, Maria Marjorette O; Berger, Franklin G; Berger, Sondra H; Lebioda, Lukasz

2010-03-23

Human and other mammalian thymidylate synthase (TS) enzymes have an N-terminal extension of approximately 27 amino acids that is not present in bacterial TSs. The extension, which is disordered in all reported crystal structures of TSs, has been considered to play a primary role in protein turnover but not in catalytic activity. In mammalian cells, the variant V3A has a half-life similar to that of wild-type human TS (wt hTS) while V3T is much more stable; V3L, V3F, and V3Y have half-lives approximately half of that for wt hTS. Catalytic turnover rates for most Val3 mutants are only slightly diminished, as expected. However, two mutants, V3L and V3F, have strongly compromised dUMP binding, with K(m,app) values increased by factors of 47 and 58, respectively. For V3L, this observation can be explained by stabilization of the inactive conformation of the loop of residues 181-197, which prevents substrate binding. In the crystal structure of V3L, electron density corresponding to a leucine residue is present in a position that stabilizes the loop of residues 181-197 in the inactive conformation. Since this density is not observed in other mutants and all other leucine residues are ordered in this structure, it is likely that this density represents Leu3. In the crystal structure of a V3F.FdUMP binary complex, the nucleotide is bound in an alternative mode to that proposed for the catalytic complex, indicating that the high K(m,app) value is caused not by stabilization of the inactive conformer but by substrate binding in a nonproductive, inhibitory site. These observations show that the N-terminal extension affects the conformational state of the hTS catalytic region. Each of the mechanisms leading to the high K(m,app) values can be exploited to facilitate design of compounds acting as allosteric inhibitors of hTS.

EPA's ToxCast Program for Predicting Hazard and Prioritizing the Toxicity Testing of Environmental Chemicals

EPA Science Inventory

An alternative is to perform a set of relatively inexpensive and rapid high throughput screening (HTS) assays, derive signatures predictive of effects or modes of chemical toxicity from the HTS data, then use these predictions to prioritize chemicals for more detailed analysis. T...

Incorporating High-Throughput Exposure Predictions with Dosimetry-Adjusted In Vitro Bioactivity to Inform Chemical Toxicity Testing

EPA Science Inventory

We previously integrated dosimetry and exposure with high-throughput screening (HTS) to enhance the utility of ToxCast™ HTS data by translating in vitro bioactivity concentrations to oral equivalent doses (OEDs) required to achieve these levels internally. These OEDs were compare...

High Throughput Assays for Exposure Science (NIEHS OHAT Staff Meeting presentation)

EPA Science Inventory

High throughput screening (HTS) data that characterize chemically induced biological activity have been generated for thousands of chemicals by the US interagency Tox21 and the US EPA ToxCast programs. In many cases there are no data available for comparing bioactivity from HTS w...

Perspectives on Validation of High-Throughput Assays Supporting 21st Century Toxicity Testing

EPA Science Inventory

In vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) assays are seeing increasing use in toxicity testing. HTS assays can simultaneously test many chemicals but have seen limited use in the regulatory arena, in part because of the need to undergo rigorous, time-consuming formal validation. ...

Profiling Environmental Chemicals in the Antioxidant Response Element Pathway using Quantitative High Throughput Screening (qHTS)

EPA Science Inventory

The antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway plays an important role in the amelioration of oxidative stress, which can contribute to a number of diseases, including cancer. We screened 1408 NTP-provided substances in 1536-well qHTS format at concentrations ranging fr...

Chemical Screening for Bioactivated Electrophilic Metabolites Using Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes (AIME) (SOT)

EPA Science Inventory

The US EPA's ToxCast program is designed to assess chemical perturbations of molecular and cellular endpoints using a variety of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. However, existing HTS assays have limited or no xenobiotic metabolism which could lead to a mischaracterization...

Predictive Signatures of Developmental Toxicity Modeled with HTS Data from ToxCast™ Bioactivity Profiles

EPA Science Inventory

The EPA ToxCast™ research program uses a high-throughput screening (HTS) approach for predicting the toxicity of large numbers of chemicals. Phase-I contains 309 well-characterized chemicals which are mostly pesticides tested in over 600 assays of different molecular targets, cel...

Hit-to-lead optimization of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines as novel cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonists.

PubMed

Szabó, György; Kiss, Róbert; Páyer-Lengyel, Dóra; Vukics, Krisztina; Szikra, Judit; Baki, Andrea; Molnár, László; Fischer, János; Keseru, György M

2009-07-01

Hit-to-lead optimization of a novel series of N-alkyl-N-[2-oxo-2-(4-aryl-4H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline-5-yl)-ethyl]-carboxylic acid amides, derived from a high throughput screening (HTS) hit, are described. Subsequent optimization led to identification of in vitro potent cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists representing a new class of compounds in this area.

Controlling the electronic and geometric structures of 2D insertions to realize high performance metal/insertion-MoS2 sandwich interfaces.

PubMed

Su, Jie; Feng, Liping; Zeng, Wei; Liu, Zhengtang

2017-06-08

Metal/insertion-MoS 2 sandwich interfaces are designed to reduce the Schottky barriers at metal-MoS 2 interfaces. The effects of geometric and electronic structures of two-dimensional (2D) insertion materials on the contact properties of metal/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces are comparatively studied by first-principles calculations. Regardless of the geometric and electronic structures of 2D insertion materials, Fermi level pinning effects and charge scattering at the metal/insertion-MoS 2 interface are weakened due to weak interactions between the insertion and MoS 2 layers, no gap states and negligible structural deformations for MoS 2 layers. The Schottky barriers at metal/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces are induced by three interface dipoles and four potential steps that are determined by the charge transfers and structural deformations of 2D insertion materials. The lower the electron affinities of 2D insertion materials, the more are the electrons lost from the Sc surface, resulting in lower n-type Schottky barriers at Sc/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces. The larger the ionization potentials and the thinner the thicknesses of 2D insertion materials, the fewer are the electrons that accumulate at the Pt surface, leading to lower p-type Schottky barriers at Pt/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces. All Sc/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces exhibited ohmic characters. The Pt/BN-MoS 2 interface exhibits the lowest p-type Schottky barrier of 0.52 eV due to the largest ionization potential (∼6.88 eV) and the thinnest thickness (single atomic layer thickness) of BN. These results in this work are beneficial to understand and design high performance metal/insertion-MoS 2 interfaces through 2D insertion materials.

Optimization of ADME Properties for Sulfonamides Leading to the Discovery of a T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker, ABT-639

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The discovery of a novel peripherally acting and selective Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel blocker, ABT-639, is described. HTS hits 1 and 2, which have poor metabolic stability, were optimized to obtain 4, which has improved stability and oral bioavailability. Modification of 4 to further improve ADME properties led to the discovery of ABT-639. Following oral administration, ABT-639 produces robust antinociceptive activity in experimental pain models at doses that do not significantly alter psychomotor or hemodynamic function in the rat. PMID:26101566

Optimization of ADME Properties for Sulfonamides Leading to the Discovery of a T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker, ABT-639.

PubMed

Zhang, Qingwei; Xia, Zhiren; Joshi, Shailen; Scott, Victoria E; Jarvis, Michael F

2015-06-11

The discovery of a novel peripherally acting and selective Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel blocker, ABT-639, is described. HTS hits 1 and 2, which have poor metabolic stability, were optimized to obtain 4, which has improved stability and oral bioavailability. Modification of 4 to further improve ADME properties led to the discovery of ABT-639. Following oral administration, ABT-639 produces robust antinociceptive activity in experimental pain models at doses that do not significantly alter psychomotor or hemodynamic function in the rat.

Characterization and complete genome sequence of a panicovirus from Bermuda grass by high-throughput sequencing.

PubMed

Tahir, Muhammad N; Lockhart, Ben; Grinstead, Samuel; Mollov, Dimitre

2017-04-01

Bermuda grass samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy and 28-30 nm spherical virus particles were observed. Total RNA from these plants was subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The nearly full genome sequence of a panicovirus was identified from one HTS scaffold. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the HTS results and complete the genome sequence of 4404 nt. This virus was provisionally named Bermuda grass latent virus (BGLV). Its predicted open reading frames follow the typical arrangement of the genus Panicovirus. Based on sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses BGLV differs from other viruses and therefore taxonomically it is a new member of the genus Panicovirus, family Tombusviridae.

Microplate-Based Method for High-Throughput Screening (HTS) of Chromatographic Conditions Studies for Recombinant Protein Purification.

PubMed

Carvalho, Rimenys J; Cruz, Thayana A

2018-01-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) systems have emerged as important tools to provide fast and low cost evaluation of several conditions at once since it requires small quantities of material and sample volumes. These characteristics are extremely valuable for experiments with large number of variables enabling the application of design of experiments (DoE) strategies or simple experimental planning approaches. Once, the capacity of HTS systems to mimic chromatographic purification steps was established, several studies were performed successfully including scale down purification. Here, we propose a method for studying different purification conditions that can be used for any recombinant protein, including complex and glycosylated proteins, using low binding filter microplates.

The influence of winding direction of two-layer HTS DC cable on the critical current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyatkin, V. S.; Kashiwagi, K.; Ivanov, Y. V.; Otabe, E. S.; Yamaguchi, S.

2017-09-01

The design of twist pitch and direction of winding in multilayer HTS coaxial cable is important. For HTS AC transmitting cables, the main condition of twist pitch is the balance of inductances of each layer for providing the current balance between layers. In this work, the finite element method analysis for the coaxial cables with both same and opposite directions winding is used to calculate magnetic field distribution, and critical current of the cable is estimated. It was found that the critical current of the cable with same direction winding is about 10 percent higher than that in the case of the cable with the opposite direction winding.

Optimizing multi-dimensional high throughput screening using zebrafish

PubMed Central

Truong, Lisa; Bugel, Sean M.; Chlebowski, Anna; Usenko, Crystal Y.; Simonich, Michael T.; Massey Simonich, Staci L.; Tanguay, Robert L.

2016-01-01

The use of zebrafish for high throughput screening (HTS) for chemical bioactivity assessments is becoming routine in the fields of drug discovery and toxicology. Here we report current recommendations from our experiences in zebrafish HTS. We compared the effects of different high throughput chemical delivery methods on nominal water concentration, chemical sorption to multi-well polystyrene plates, transcription responses, and resulting whole animal responses. We demonstrate that digital dispensing consistently yields higher data quality and reproducibility compared to standard plastic tip-based liquid handling. Additionally, we illustrate the challenges in using this sensitive model for chemical assessment when test chemicals have trace impurities. Adaptation of these better practices for zebrafish HTS should increase reproducibility across laboratories. PMID:27453428

Flux-lock type of superconducting fault current limiters: A comprehensive review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badakhshan, M.; Mousavi G., S. M.

2018-04-01

Power systems must be developed and extended to supply the continuous enhancement of demands for electrical energy. This development of systems in addition to the integration of distributed generation (DG) units to the power systems results higher capacity of system. Hence, short circuit current of network is confronted with persistent increasing. Since exploration of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) have attracted a lot of attention all over the world. There are different types of SFCLs. Flux-lock type of SFCL because of its characteristics in fault current limitation is an important category of SFCLs. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of research activities and applications of Flux-lock type of SFCLs in power systems.

Linking ToxCast Signatures with Functional Consequences: Proof-of-Concept Study using Known Inhibitors of Vascular Development

EPA Science Inventory

The USEPA’s ToxCast program is developing a novel approach to chemical toxicity testing using high-throughput screening (HTS) assays to rapidly test thousands of chemicals against hundreds of in vitro molecular targets. This approach is based on the premise that in vitro HTS bioa...

Use of in Vitro HTS-Derived Concentration-Response Data as Biological Descriptors Improves the Accuracy of QSAR Models of in Vivo Toxicity

EPA Science Inventory

Background: Quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assays are increasingly being employed to inform chemical hazard identification. Hundreds of chemicals have been tested in dozens of cell lines across extensive concentration ranges by the National Toxicology Program in co...

High Throughput PBTK: Evaluating EPA’s Open-Source Data and Tools for Dosimetry and Exposure Reconstruction

EPA Science Inventory

Thousands of chemicals have been profiled by high-throughput screening (HTS) programs such as ToxCast and Tox21; these chemicals are tested in part because most of them have limited or no data on hazard, exposure, or toxicokinetics (TK). While HTS generates in vitro bioactivity d...

Collaborative Core Research Program for Chemical-Biological Warfare Defense

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-04

Discovery through High Throughput Screening (HTS) and Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD...Discovery through High Throughput Screening (HTS) and Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD) Current pharmaceutical approaches involving drug discovery...structural analysis and docking program generally known as fragment based drug design (FBDD). The main advantage of using these approaches is that

ToxCast Assay Network (TCAN) Viewer: A Visualization Tool for High-throughput Assay Chemical Data (SOT)

EPA Science Inventory

USEPA’s ToxCast program has generated high-throughput bioactivity screening (HTS) data on thousands of chemicals. The ToxCast program has described and annotated the HTS assay battery with respect to assay design and target information (e.g., gene target). Recent stakeholder and ...

Effect-size measures as descriptors of assay quality in high-content screening: A brief review of some available methodologies

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The field of high-content screening (HCS) typically uses measures of screen quality conceived for fairly straightforward high-throughput screening (HTS) scenarios. However, in contrast to HTS, image-based HCS systems rely on multidimensional readouts reporting biological responses associated with co...

Non-destructive inspection using HTS SQUID on aluminum liner covered by CFRP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatsukade, Y.; Yotsugi, K.; Sakaguchi, Y.; Tanaka, S.

2007-10-01

An eddy-current-based SQUID non-destructive inspection (NDI) system to detect deep-lying cracks in multi-layer composite-Al vessels was developed taking advantage of the uncontested sensitivity of HTS-SQUID in low-frequency range. An HTS-SQUID gradiometer was mounted in a pulse tube cryocooler. A pair of differential coils with C-shaped ferrite cores was employed to induce an enhanced eddy current in an Al vessel wrapped in a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) cover. Ellipsoidal dome-shaped Al liners containing through cracks, which were made by pressure cycle tests, in the CFRP covers with total thickness of 6 mm (CFPR 3 mm, and Al 3 mm) were inspected by the system. While inducing eddy currents in the vessels with excitation fields at 100 Hz or 7 kHz, the vessels were rotated under the HTS-SQUID. Above the cracks, anomalous signals due to the cracks were clearly detected at both frequencies. These results suggested the SQUID-NDI technique would be a possible candidate for inspection of high-pressure multi-layer composite-Al vessels.

The effect of low temperature cryocoolers on the development of low temperature superconducting magnets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Green, Michael A.

2000-08-05

The commercial development of reliable 4 K cryocoolers improves the future prospects for magnets made from low temperature superconductors (LTS). The hope of the developers of high temperature superconductors (HTS) has been to replace liquid helium cooled LTS magnets with HTS magnets that operate at or near liquid nitrogen temperature. There has been limited success in this endeavor, but continued problems with HTS conductors have greatly slowed progress toward this goal. The development of cryocoolers that reliably operate below 4 K will allow magnets made from LTS conductor to remain very competitive for many years to come. A key enablingmore » technology for the use of low temperature cryocoolers on LTS magnets has been the development of HTS leads. This report describes the characteristics of LTS magnets that can be successfully melded to low-temperature cryocoolers. This report will also show when it is not appropriate to consider the use of low-temperature cryocoolers to cool magnets made with LTS conductor. A couple of specific examples of LTS magnets where cryocoolers can be used are given.« less

Massage in hypertrophic scars.

PubMed

Patiño, O; Novick, C; Merlo, A; Benaim, F

1999-01-01

Various attempts have been made to intervene with the formation of hypertrophic scarring (HTS) or to ameliorate it once it has developed, but none have yet proved effective. Massage therapy is routinely used by therapists for the treatment of various conditions, and there have been reports of increased scar pliability and decreased scar banding with the use of massage. This study examines the use of friction massage over a 3-month period in a group of 30 pediatric patients with HTS. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either therapeutic massage sessions of 10 minutes per day in combination with treatment with pressure garments or they were treated with pressure garments alone. A modified Vancouver Burn Scar Assessment Scale was used to measure the characteristics of the identified scars (10 cm by 10 cm) before and after the implementation of massage therapy. The study failed to demonstrate any appreciable effects of massage therapy on the vascularity, pliability, and height of the HTS studied, although there were reports of a decrease in pruritus in some patients. Further studies, with prolonged treatment intervals, are necessary to conclusively demonstrate the ineffectiveness of this therapy for HTS.

Design and development of 500 m long HTS cable system in the KEPCO power grid, Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohn, S. H.; Lim, J. H.; Yang, B. M.; Lee, S. K.; Jang, H. M.; Kim, Y. H.; Yang, H. S.; Kim, D. L.; Kim, H. R.; Yim, S. W.; Won, Y. J.; Hwang, S. D.

2010-11-01

In Korea, two long-term field demonstrations for high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable have been carried out for several years; Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and LS Cable Ltd. (LSC) independently. Encouraged at the result of the projects performed in parallel, a new project targeting the real grid operation was launched in the fourth quarter of 2008 with the Korean government's financial support. KEPCO and LSC are jointly collaborating in the selection of substation, determination of cable specification, design of cryogenic system, and the scheme of protection coordination. A three phase 500 m long HTS cable at a distribution level voltage of 22.9 kV is to be built at 154/22.9 kV Icheon substation located in near Seoul. A hybrid cryogenic system reflecting the contingency plan is being designed including cryocoolers. The HTS cable system will be installed in the second quarter of 2010, being commissioned by the fall of 2010. This paper describes the objectives of the project and design issues of the cable and cryogenic system in detail.

Feasibility and electromagnetic analysis of a REBCO superconducting undulator

DOE PAGES

Kesgin, Ibrahim; Kasa, Matthew; Doose, Charles; ...

2016-03-17

Recent advances in second-generation (2G) high temperature superconducting (HTS) coated conductors (CCs) have made them very attractive for new applications such as undulators. In this study, we have, for the first time, experimentally evaluated a design to validate applicability of 2G-HTS tapes for next generation undulator magnetic structures. A two-period undulator magnetic core was fabricated and 2G-HTS CCs were successfully wound onto the undulator core. The performance of the undulator magnetic structure was investigated and the highest engineering current density, J e, in such configuration reported yet was obtained. A new U-slit tape configuration was used to reduce the numbermore » of resistive joints and it was shown that with this new technique affordable levels of resistance values can be achieved for short length undulators. The ferromagnetic core was designed such as to accommodate winding the U-slit tapes. Finally, test results indicated that the winding and the soldering procedures are successful and do not deteriorate the performance of the 2G-HTS tapes.« less

First quantitative high-throughput screen in zebrafish identifies novel pathways for increasing pancreatic β-cell mass

PubMed Central

Wang, Guangliang; Rajpurohit, Surendra K; Delaspre, Fabien; Walker, Steven L; White, David T; Ceasrine, Alexis; Kuruvilla, Rejji; Li, Ruo-jing; Shim, Joong S; Liu, Jun O; Parsons, Michael J; Mumm, Jeff S

2015-01-01

Whole-organism chemical screening can circumvent bottlenecks that impede drug discovery. However, in vivo screens have not attained throughput capacities possible with in vitro assays. We therefore developed a method enabling in vivo high-throughput screening (HTS) in zebrafish, termed automated reporter quantification in vivo (ARQiv). In this study, ARQiv was combined with robotics to fully actualize whole-organism HTS (ARQiv-HTS). In a primary screen, this platform quantified cell-specific fluorescent reporters in >500,000 transgenic zebrafish larvae to identify FDA-approved (Federal Drug Administration) drugs that increased the number of insulin-producing β cells in the pancreas. 24 drugs were confirmed as inducers of endocrine differentiation and/or stimulators of β-cell proliferation. Further, we discovered novel roles for NF-κB signaling in regulating endocrine differentiation and for serotonergic signaling in selectively stimulating β-cell proliferation. These studies demonstrate the power of ARQiv-HTS for drug discovery and provide unique insights into signaling pathways controlling β-cell mass, potential therapeutic targets for treating diabetes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08261.001 PMID:26218223

Development of superconducting magnetic bearing using superconducting coil and bulk superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seino, H.; Nagashima, K.; Arai, Y.

2008-02-01

The authors conducted a study on superconducting magnetic bearing, which consists of superconducting rotor and stator to apply the flywheel energy-storage system for railways. In this study, high temperature bulk superconductor (HTS bulk) was combined with superconducting coils to increase the load capacity of the bearing. In the first step of the study, the thrust rolling bearing was selected for application by using liquid nitrogen cooled HTS bulk. 60mm-diameter HTS bulks and superconducting coil which generated a high gradient of magnetic field by cusp field were adopted as a rotor and a stator for superconducting magnetic bearing, respectively. The results of the static load test and the rotation test, creep of the electromagnetic forces caused by static flux penetration and AC loss due to eccentric rotation were decreased to the level without any problems in substantial use by using two HTS bulks. In the result of verification of static load capacity, levitation force (thrust load) of 8900N or more was supportable, and stable static load capacity was obtainable when weight of 460kg was levitated.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oz, E.; Myers, C. E.; Edwards, M. R.

The Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC) experiment employs an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) current drive and plasma heating system to form and sustain high-Β plasmas. For radial confinement, an array of coaxial, internal, passive, flux-conserving (FC) rings applies magnetic pressure to the plasma while still allowing radio-frequency RMFo from external coils to reach the plasma. The 3 ms pulse duration of the present experiment is limited by the skin time (τfc) of its room-temperature copper FC rings. To explore plasma phenomena with longer characteristic times, the pulse duration of the next-generation PFRC-2 device will exceed 100 ms, necessitating FC ringsmore » with (τfc > 300 ms. In this paper we review the physics of internal, discrete, passive FCs and describe the evolution of the PFRC's FC array. We then detail new experiments that have produced higher performance FC rings that contain embedded high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes. Several HTS tape winding configurations have been studied and a wide range of extended skin times, from 0.4 s to over 103 s, has been achieved. The new FC rings must carry up to 3 kA of current to balance the expected PFRC-2 plasma pressure, so the dependence of the HTS-FC critical current on the winding configuration and temperature was also studied. From these experiments, the key HTS-FC design considerations have been identified and HTS-FC rings with the desired performance characteristics have been produced.« less

Partial Discharge Characteristics in Composite Insulation Systems with PPLP for HTS Cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, Y.; Yamashita, K.; Kumada, A.; Hidaka, K.; Tatamidani, K.; Masuda, T.

2014-05-01

The electrical insulation system of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable consists of liquid nitrogen (N2(l)) and polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP). Partial discharge (PD) may occur in butt gaps of the insulation layers and its characteristics imply the insulation performance of HTS cables. N2(l) cooling system is installed in the power system and N2(l) will flow through the cables during the system operation. Filling the HTS cable with N2(l) in order to perform pre-shipment inspection is time-consuming and costly for cable manufacturers. Therefore, they are trying to find a cost effective method for pre-shipment inspections. One alternative is to use high pressure gaseous nitrogen (N2(g)) instead of N2(l). This article investigates PD characteristics such as PD inception electric field (PDIE) and PD extinction electric field (PDEE) in butt gaps of HTS cables in 0.1 to 0.3 MPa and 0.1 MPa to 1.0 MPa N2(g) environments. For assessing the surface/volume effects, PD characteristics are measured with changing the size of butt gaps. It turns out that PDIE and PDEE in N2(g) are linearly correlated with those in N2(l) at any gas pressure in our testing, and PDIE in 1.0 MPa N2(g) is almost 30% of that in 0.2 MPa It suggests that PD characteristics in N2(l) can be extrapolated from those in N2(g).

Open Access High Throughput Drug Discovery in the Public Domain: A Mount Everest in the Making

PubMed Central

Roy, Anuradha; McDonald, Peter R.; Sittampalam, Sitta; Chaguturu, Rathnam

2013-01-01

High throughput screening (HTS) facilitates screening large numbers of compounds against a biochemical target of interest using validated biological or biophysical assays. In recent years, a significant number of drugs in clinical trails originated from HTS campaigns, validating HTS as a bona fide mechanism for hit finding. In the current drug discovery landscape, the pharmaceutical industry is embracing open innovation strategies with academia to maximize their research capabilities and to feed their drug discovery pipeline. The goals of academic research have therefore expanded from target identification and validation to probe discovery, chemical genomics, and compound library screening. This trend is reflected in the emergence of HTS centers in the public domain over the past decade, ranging in size from modestly equipped academic screening centers to well endowed Molecular Libraries Probe Centers Network (MLPCN) centers funded by the NIH Roadmap initiative. These centers facilitate a comprehensive approach to probe discovery in academia and utilize both classical and cutting-edge assay technologies for executing primary and secondary screening campaigns. The various facets of academic HTS centers as well as their implications on technology transfer and drug discovery are discussed, and a roadmap for successful drug discovery in the public domain is presented. New lead discovery against therapeutic targets, especially those involving the rare and neglected diseases, is indeed a Mount Everestonian size task, and requires diligent implementation of pharmaceutical industry’s best practices for a successful outcome. PMID:20809896

Evaluation of commercial DNA and RNA extraction methods for high-throughput sequencing of FFPE samples.

PubMed

Kresse, Stine H; Namløs, Heidi M; Lorenz, Susanne; Berner, Jeanne-Marie; Myklebost, Ola; Bjerkehagen, Bodil; Meza-Zepeda, Leonardo A

2018-01-01

Nucleic acid material of adequate quality is crucial for successful high-throughput sequencing (HTS) analysis. DNA and RNA isolated from archival FFPE material are frequently degraded and not readily amplifiable due to chemical damage introduced during fixation. To identify optimal nucleic acid extraction kits, DNA and RNA quantity, quality and performance in HTS applications were evaluated. DNA and RNA were isolated from five sarcoma archival FFPE blocks, using eight extraction protocols from seven kits from three different commercial vendors. For DNA extraction, the truXTRAC FFPE DNA kit from Covaris gave higher yields and better amplifiable DNA, but all protocols gave comparable HTS library yields using Agilent SureSelect XT and performed well in downstream variant calling. For RNA extraction, all protocols gave comparable yields and amplifiable RNA. However, for fusion gene detection using the Archer FusionPlex Sarcoma Assay, the truXTRAC FFPE RNA kit from Covaris and Agencourt FormaPure kit from Beckman Coulter showed the highest percentage of unique read-pairs, providing higher complexity of HTS data and more frequent detection of recurrent fusion genes. truXTRAC simultaneous DNA and RNA extraction gave similar outputs as individual protocols. These findings show that although successful HTS libraries could be generated in most cases, the different protocols gave variable quantity and quality for FFPE nucleic acid extraction. Selecting the optimal procedure is highly valuable and may generate results in borderline quality specimens.

Operating experience of the southwire high-temperature superconducting cable project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughey, R. L.; Lindsay, D.

2002-01-01

Southwire Company of Carrollton, Georgia in cooperation with Oak Ridge National Laboratory has designed, built, installed and is operating the world's first field installation of a High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cable system. The cables supply power to three Southwire manufacturing facilities and part of the corporate headquarters building in Carrollton, GA. The system consists of three 30-m single phase cables rated at 12.4 kV, 1250 Amps, liquid nitrogen cooling system, and the computer-based control system. The cables are built using BSCCO-2223 powder-in-tube HTS tapes and a proprietary cryogenic dielectric material called Cryoflex™. The cables are fully shielded with a second layer of HTS tapes to eliminate any external magnetic fields. The Southwire HTS cables were first energized on january 6, 2000. Since that time they have logged over 8,500 hours of operation while supplying 100% of the required customer load. To date, the cables have worked without failure and operations are continuing. The cable design has passed requisite testing for this class of conventional cables including 10× over current to 12,500 Amps and BIL testing to 110 kV. Southwire has also successfully designed and tested a cable splice. System heat loads and AC Losses have been measured and compared to calculated values. On June 1, 2001 on-site monitoring was ceased and the system was changed to unattended operation to further prove the reliability of the HTS cable system. .

Improved efficiency of nanoneedle insertion by modification with a cell-puncturing protein

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryu, Seunghwan; Matsumoto, Yuta; Matsumoto, Takahiro; Ueno, Takafumi; Silberberg, Yaron R.; Nakamura, Chikashi

2018-03-01

An atomic force microscope (AFM) probe etched into an ultra-sharp cylindrical shape (a nanoneedle) can be inserted into a living cell and mechanical responses of the insertion process are represented as force-distance curves using AFM. A probe-molecule-functionalized nanoneedle can be used to detect intracellular molecules of interest in situ. The insertion efficiencies of nanoneedles vary among cell types due to the cortex structures of cells, and some cell types, such as mouse fibroblast Balb/3T3 cells, show extremely low efficacy of insertion. We addressed this issue by using a cell membrane puncturing protein from bacteriophage T4 (gp5), a needle-like protein that spontaneously penetrates through the cell membrane. Gp5 was immobilized onto a nanoneedle surface. The insertion efficiency of the functionalized nanoneedle increased by over 15% compared to the non-functionalized control. Gp5-modification is a versatile approach in cell manipulation techniques for the insertion of other types of nanostructures into cells.

Temperature dependence of critical current and transport current losses of 4 mm YBCO coated conductors manufactured using nonmagnetic substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kvitkovic, J.; Hatwar, R.; Pamidi, S. V.; Fleshler, S.; Thieme, C.

2015-12-01

The temperature dependence of the critical current and AC losses were measured on American Superconductor Corporation's (AMSC) second generation high temperature superconducting (2G HTS) wire produced by Rolling Assisted Biaxially Textured Substrate (RABiTS) and Metal Organic Deposition (MOD) process. Wires manufactured with two types of substrates were characterized. The magnetic substrate with composition Ni5a%W exhibits a magnetic signature and has non-negligible AC losses in AC power applications. A new nonmagnetic substrate with an alloy composition Ni9a%W has been developed by AMSC to address the AC losses in 2G HTS. The data presented show that the performance of the new conductor is identical to the conductor with magnetic substrate in terms of critical current density. The data on AC losses demonstrate the absence of ferromagnetic loss component in the new conductor and significantly reduced AC losses at low to moderate values of I/Ic. The reduced losses will translate into reduced capital costs and lower operating costs of superconducting electrical devices for AC applications.

Temperature behavior of the magnetoresistance hysteresis in a granular high-temperature superconductor: Magnetic flux compression in the intergrain medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semenov, S. V.; Balaev, D. A.

2018-07-01

Granular high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) are characterized by the hysteretic behavior of magnetoresistance. This phenomenon is attributed to the effective field in the intergrain medium of a granular HTS. At the grain boundaries, which are, in fact, weak Josephson couplings, the dissipation is observed. The effective field in the intergrain medium is a superposition of the external field and the field induced by magnetic moments of HTS grains. Meanwhile, analysis of the field width of the R(H) magnetoresistance hysteresis ΔH = Hdec - Hinc at Hdec = const, where Hinc and Hdec are increasing and decreasing branches of the R(H) hysteretic dependence, shows that the effective field in the intergrain medium exceeds by far both the external field and the field induced by magnetic moments of HTS grains. This situation suggests the magnetic flux compression in the intergrain medium because of the small length of grain boundaries, which amounts to ∼1 nm, i.e., is comparable with the coherence length and corresponds to Josephson tunneling in HTS materials. In this work, using the previously developed approach, we examine experimental data on the magnetoresistance and magnetization hysteresis in the granular YBa2Cu3O7 HTS compound in the range from 77 K to the critical temperature. According to the results obtained, the degree of magnetic flux compression determined by the parameter α in the expression for the effective field Beff(H) = H - 4π M(H) α in the intergrain medium remains constant over the investigated temperature range. All the features of the observed evolution of the R(H) hysteretic dependences are explained well within the proposed approach when the expression for Beff(H) contains the experimental M(H) magnetization data and the parameter α of about 20-25. The latter is indicative of the dominant effect of magnetic flux compression in the intergrain medium on the transport properties of granular HTS materials.

The HTS barcode checker pipeline, a tool for automated detection of illegally traded species from high-throughput sequencing data.

PubMed

Lammers, Youri; Peelen, Tamara; Vos, Rutger A; Gravendeel, Barbara

2014-02-06

Mixtures of internationally traded organic substances can contain parts of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These mixtures often raise the suspicion of border control and customs offices, which can lead to confiscation, for example in the case of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-throughput sequencing of DNA barcoding markers obtained from such samples provides insight into species constituents of mixtures, but manual cross-referencing of results against the CITES appendices is labor intensive. Matching DNA barcodes against NCBI GenBank using BLAST may yield misleading results both as false positives, due to incorrectly annotated sequences, and false negatives, due to spurious taxonomic re-assignment. Incongruence between the taxonomies of CITES and NCBI GenBank can result in erroneous estimates of illegal trade. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is an application for automated processing of sets of 'next generation' barcode sequences to determine whether these contain DNA barcodes obtained from species listed on the CITES appendices. This analytical pipeline builds upon and extends existing open-source applications for BLAST matching against the NCBI GenBank reference database and for taxonomic name reconciliation. In a single operation, reads are converted into taxonomic identifications matched with names on the CITES appendices. By inclusion of a blacklist and additional names databases, the HTS barcode checker pipeline prevents false positives and resolves taxonomic heterogeneity. The HTS barcode checker pipeline can detect and correctly identify DNA barcodes of CITES-protected species from reads obtained from TCM samples in just a few minutes. The pipeline facilitates and improves molecular monitoring of trade in endangered species, and can aid in safeguarding these species from extinction in the wild. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is available at https://github.com/naturalis/HTS-barcode-checker.

The HTS barcode checker pipeline, a tool for automated detection of illegally traded species from high-throughput sequencing data

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Mixtures of internationally traded organic substances can contain parts of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These mixtures often raise the suspicion of border control and customs offices, which can lead to confiscation, for example in the case of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-throughput sequencing of DNA barcoding markers obtained from such samples provides insight into species constituents of mixtures, but manual cross-referencing of results against the CITES appendices is labor intensive. Matching DNA barcodes against NCBI GenBank using BLAST may yield misleading results both as false positives, due to incorrectly annotated sequences, and false negatives, due to spurious taxonomic re-assignment. Incongruence between the taxonomies of CITES and NCBI GenBank can result in erroneous estimates of illegal trade. Results The HTS barcode checker pipeline is an application for automated processing of sets of 'next generation’ barcode sequences to determine whether these contain DNA barcodes obtained from species listed on the CITES appendices. This analytical pipeline builds upon and extends existing open-source applications for BLAST matching against the NCBI GenBank reference database and for taxonomic name reconciliation. In a single operation, reads are converted into taxonomic identifications matched with names on the CITES appendices. By inclusion of a blacklist and additional names databases, the HTS barcode checker pipeline prevents false positives and resolves taxonomic heterogeneity. Conclusions The HTS barcode checker pipeline can detect and correctly identify DNA barcodes of CITES-protected species from reads obtained from TCM samples in just a few minutes. The pipeline facilitates and improves molecular monitoring of trade in endangered species, and can aid in safeguarding these species from extinction in the wild. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is available at https://github.com/naturalis/HTS-barcode-checker. PMID:24502833

High-temperature superconducting radiofrequency probe for magnetic resonance imaging applications operated below ambient pressure in a simple liquid-nitrogen cryostat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lambert, Simon; Ginefri, Jean-Christophe; Poirier-Quinot, Marie; Darrasse, Luc

2013-05-01

The present work investigates the joined effects of temperature and static magnetic field on the electrical properties of a 64 MHz planar high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, in order to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) applications with a moderate decrease of the HTS coil temperature (THTS). Temperature control is provided with accuracy better than 0.1 K from 80 to 66 K by regulating the pressure of the liquid nitrogen bath of a dedicated cryostat. The actual temperature of the HTS coil is obtained using a straightforward wireless method that eliminates the risks of coupling electromagnetic interference to the HTS coil and of disturbing the static magnetic field by DC currents near the region of interest. The resonance frequency ( f0) and the quality factor (Q) of the HTS coil are measured as a function of temperature in the 0-4.7 T field range with parallel and orthogonal orientations relative to the coil plane. The intrinsic HTS coil sensitivity and the detuning effect are then analyzed from the Q and f0 data. In the presence of the static magnetic field, the initial value of f0 in Earth's field could be entirely recovered by decreasing THTS, except for the orthogonal orientation above 1 T. The improvement of Q by lowering THTS was substantial. From 80 to 66 K, Q was multiplied by a factor of 6 at 1.5 T in orthogonal orientation. In parallel orientation, the maximum measured improvement of Q from 80 K to 66 K was a factor of 2. From 80 to 66 K, the improvement of the RF sensitivity relative to the initial value at the Earth's field and ambient pressure was up to 4.4 dB in parallel orientation. It was even more important in orthogonal orientation and continued to increase, up to 8.4 dB, at the maximum explored field of 1.5 T. Assuming that the noise contributions from the RF receiver are negligible, the SNR improvement using enhanced HTS coil cooling in NMR experiments was extracted from Q measurements either with or without the presence of the sample. Notably, the additional cooling in the presence of conductive samples appears more beneficial at higher field strengths and with an orthogonal incidence than with parallel. The temperature range accessible here, involving a relatively straightforward cryogenic design, brings a gain in RF sensitivity that is of great significance to cutting-edge applications with very weakly conducting samples, small biological specimens, or small animals in vivo. This work also demonstrates a better tolerance to thin-film orientation misalignments relative to the magnetic field, and this could eventually play a role in designing effective non-planar HTS coils or coil arrays which include elements of various orientations. Finally, the data provided in this work may help understand some critical aspects in the design of HTS coils for NMR and MRI applications and accounts for the presence of the static magnetic field, particularly regarding the SNR loss due to a decreased quality factor and detuning issues.

75 FR 6169 - Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request Under the U.S.-Singapore Free...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-08

... centimeters (52 inches). Finish: (Piece) dyed. Fabric 2 HTS Subheading: 6004.10.00. Fiber Content: 35% rayon...). Finish: (Piece) dyed. Fabric 3 HTS Subheading: 6001.22.00. Fiber Content: 79% rayon made from bamboo/15...: (Piece) dyed. (2) Certain knit fabrics of polyester fiber, of the specifications detailed below...

78 FR 3396 - Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and Unfinished, From the People's Republic of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-16

... pillow blocks) incorporating tapered rollers, with or without spindles, whether or not for automotive use... JTEKT (Thailand) Co., Ltd. We valued CPZ/SKF's roller steel using Harmonized Tariff Schedule (``HTS... circular cross- section''), rather than HTS category 7227.90 (``Bars and rods of alloy steel (other than...

630 kVA high temperature superconducting transformer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zueger, H.

This document describes the 630 KVA HTS transformer project made by ABB jointly with EDF and ASC. The project started April 1994 and its goal was to manufacture a real scale superconducting distribution transformer and to operate it during one year in the grid of Geneva's utility (SIG). The conclusion highlights the future perspective of HTS transformers.

76 FR 2415 - Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2010...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-13

... articles provided for in the noted subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS): Brazil for HTS... economic effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, on total U.S. imports.... Persons interested in learning whether the hearing has been canceled should call the Office of the...

50 CFR 300.184 - Species subject to permitting, documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The following fish or fish products are subject to the....35.00.00) excluding fillets and other fish meat of HTS heading 0304. (ii) Frozen bluefin tuna (No. 0303.45.00.00), excluding fillets and other fish meat of HTS heading 0304. (2) In addition, bluefin...

50 CFR 300.184 - Species subject to permitting, documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The following fish or fish products are subject to the....35.00.00) excluding fillets and other fish meat of HTS heading 0304. (ii) Frozen bluefin tuna (No. 0303.45.00.00), excluding fillets and other fish meat of HTS heading 0304. (2) In addition, bluefin...

20180416 - Retrofitting an Estrogen Receptor Transactivation Assay with Metabolic Competence Using Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes (AIME) (SETAC HTS)

EPA Science Inventory

The VM7Luc4E2 estrogen receptor (ER) transactivation assay is an OECD approved method (TG 457) for the detection of ER agonists and antagonists, and is also part of the Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) portfolio. Despite international acceptance as a screening assay, immorta...

A high-throughput screen for mitochondrial function reveals known and novel mitochondrial toxicants in a library of environmental agents

PubMed Central

Datta, Sandipan; Sahdeo, Sunil; Gray, Jennifer A.; Morriseau, Christophe; Hammock, Bruce D.; Cortopassi, Gino

2016-01-01

Mitochondrial toxicity is emerging as a major mechanism underlying serious human health consequences. This work performs a high-throughput screen (HTS) of 176 environmental chemicals for mitochondrial toxicity utilizing a previously reported biosensor platform. This established HTS confirmed known mitochondrial toxins and identified novel mitotochondrial uncouplers such as 2, 2′-Methylenebis(4-chlorophenol) and pentachlorophenol. It also identified a mitochondrial ‘structure activity relationship’ (SAR) in the sense that multiple environmental chlorophenols are mitochondrial inhibitors and uncouplers. This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that a mitochondrial HTS assay detects known and novel environmental mitotoxicants, and could be used to quickly evaluate human health risks from mitotoxicants in the environment. PMID:27717841

Optimizing multi-dimensional high throughput screening using zebrafish.

PubMed

Truong, Lisa; Bugel, Sean M; Chlebowski, Anna; Usenko, Crystal Y; Simonich, Michael T; Simonich, Staci L Massey; Tanguay, Robert L

2016-10-01

The use of zebrafish for high throughput screening (HTS) for chemical bioactivity assessments is becoming routine in the fields of drug discovery and toxicology. Here we report current recommendations from our experiences in zebrafish HTS. We compared the effects of different high throughput chemical delivery methods on nominal water concentration, chemical sorption to multi-well polystyrene plates, transcription responses, and resulting whole animal responses. We demonstrate that digital dispensing consistently yields higher data quality and reproducibility compared to standard plastic tip-based liquid handling. Additionally, we illustrate the challenges in using this sensitive model for chemical assessment when test chemicals have trace impurities. Adaptation of these better practices for zebrafish HTS should increase reproducibility across laboratories. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Permanent magnets composed of high temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinstein, Roy; Chen, In-Gann; Liu, Jay; Lau, Kwong

1991-01-01

A study of persistent, trapped magnetic field has been pursued with high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials. The main effort is to study the feasibility of utilization of HTS to fabricate magnets for various devices. The trapped field, when not in saturation, is proportional to the applied field. Thus, it should be possible to replicate complicated field configurations with melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7 (MT-Y123) material, bypassing the need for HTS wires. Presently, materials have been developed from which magnets of 1.5 T, at 77 K, can be fabricated. Much higher field is available at lower operating temperature. Stability of a few percent per year is readily attainable. Results of studies on prototype motors and minimagnets are reported.

High-Throughput Sequencing and Metagenomics: Moving Forward in the Culture-Independent Analysis of Food Microbial Ecology

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Following recent trends in environmental microbiology, food microbiology has benefited from the advances in molecular biology and adopted novel strategies to detect, identify, and monitor microbes in food. An in-depth study of the microbial diversity in food can now be achieved by using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches after direct nucleic acid extraction from the sample to be studied. In this review, the workflow of applying culture-independent HTS to food matrices is described. The current scenario and future perspectives of HTS uses to study food microbiota are presented, and the decision-making process leading to the best choice of working conditions to fulfill the specific needs of food research is described. PMID:23475615

ADVANCES IN DISCOVERING SMALL MOLECULES TO PROBE PROTEIN FUNCTION IN A SYSTEMS CONTEXT

PubMed Central

Doyle, Shelby K; Pop, Marius S; Evans, Helen L; Koehler, Angela N

2015-01-01

High throughput screening has historically been used for drug discovery almost exclusively by the pharmaceutical industry. Due to a significant decrease in costs associated with establishing a high throughput facility and an exponential interest in discovering probes of development and disease associated biomolecules, HTS core facilities have become an integral part of most academic and non-profit research institutions over the past decade. This major shift has led to the development of new HTS methodologies extending beyond the capabilities and target classes used in classical drug discovery approaches such as traditional enzymatic activity-based screens. In this brief review we describe some of the most interesting developments in HTS technologies and methods for chemical probe discovery. PMID:26615565

48 CFR 237.7101 - Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... and dry cleaning services to be provided on a bulk weight basis. (1) Insert a reasonable per pound..., Instruction to Offerors (Bulk Weight), in solicitations for laundry services to be provided on a bulk weight... laundry services on a bag type basis, insert reasonable per pound prices by bag type. (2) Insert an...

The Fluctuating Bond Model, a Glue for Cuprate Superconductivity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newns, Dennis

2008-03-01

Twenty years of research have yet to produce a consensus on the origin of high temperature superconductivity (HTS). The mechanism of HTS - which originates in the CuO2 plane, common to all HTS families - can be constrained by some key experimental facts regarding superconducting and pseudogap behaviors. Superconductivity, involving a Tc of order 100 K, exhibits an unusual d-wave superconducting gap, with Fermi liquid nodal excitations, and an anomalous doping- dependent oxygen isotope shift. A ``pseudogap,'' also with d-symmetry, leads to a dip in the density of states below a characteristic temperature scale T^*, which has a negative isotope shift; we associate the pseudogap with the recently observed spatially inhomogeneous (nanometer- scale) C4 symmetry breaking. The isotope shifts and other evidence imply a key role for oxygen vibrations, but conventional BCS single-phonon coupling is essentially forbidden by symmetry and by the on-site Coulomb interaction U. In a novel approach, we introduce a model based on a strong, local, nonlinear interaction between electrons within the Cu-O-Cu bond in the CuO2 plane, and the oxygen vibrational degrees of freedom, termed the Fluctuating Bond Model (FBM) [D.M. Newns and C.C. Tsuei, Nature Physics 3, 184 (2007)]. In mean field the model predicts a phase manifesting broken C4 symmetry, with a d-type pseudogap, and an upper phase boundary in temperature, with a negative isotope shift, which we identify with T^*. An intrinsic d-wave pairing tendency is found, leading to a transition temperature dome and an anomalous isotope shift similar to that found experimentally. The softening in the oxygen vibrational frequency below Tc, seen in Raman and neutron spectra, has a natural explanation in the FBM. Recent ab initio calculations have been implemented which provide microscopic support for the model.

Hypoxia-sensitive reporter system for high-throughput screening.

PubMed

Tsujita, Tadayuki; Kawaguchi, Shin-ichi; Dan, Takashi; Baird, Liam; Miyata, Toshio; Yamamoto, Masayuki

2015-02-01

The induction of anti-hypoxic stress enzymes and proteins has the potential to be a potent therapeutic strategy to prevent the progression of ischemic heart, kidney or brain diseases. To realize this idea, small chemical compounds, which mimic hypoxic conditions by activating the PHD-HIF-α system, have been developed. However, to date, none of these compounds were identified by monitoring the transcriptional activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Thus, to facilitate the discovery of potent inducers of HIF-α, we have developed an effective high-throughput screening (HTS) system to directly monitor the output of HIF-α transcription. We generated a HIF-α-dependent reporter system that responds to hypoxic stimuli in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This system was developed through multiple optimization steps, resulting in the generation of a construct that consists of the secretion-type luciferase gene (Metridia luciferase, MLuc) under the transcriptional regulation of an enhancer containing 7 copies of 40-bp hypoxia responsive element (HRE) upstream of a mini-TATA promoter. This construct was stably integrated into the human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-BE(2)c, to generate a reporter system, named SKN:HRE-MLuc. To improve this system and to increase its suitability for the HTS platform, we incorporated the next generation luciferase, Nano luciferase (NLuc), whose longer half-life provides us with flexibility for the use of this reporter. We thus generated a stably transformed clone with NLuc, named SKN:HRE-NLuc, and found that it showed significantly improved reporter activity compared to SKN:HRE-MLuc. In this study, we have successfully developed the SKN:HRE-NLuc screening system as an efficient platform for future HTS.

Development and Validation of a Computational Model for Androgen Receptor Activity

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Testing thousands of chemicals to identify potential androgen receptor (AR) agonists or antagonists would cost millions of dollars and take decades to complete using current validated methods. High-throughput in vitro screening (HTS) and computational toxicology approaches can more rapidly and inexpensively identify potential androgen-active chemicals. We integrated 11 HTS ToxCast/Tox21 in vitro assays into a computational network model to distinguish true AR pathway activity from technology-specific assay interference. The in vitro HTS assays probed perturbations of the AR pathway at multiple points (receptor binding, coregulator recruitment, gene transcription, and protein production) and multiple cell types. Confirmatory in vitro antagonist assay data and cytotoxicity information were used as additional flags for potential nonspecific activity. Validating such alternative testing strategies requires high-quality reference data. We compiled 158 putative androgen-active and -inactive chemicals from a combination of international test method validation efforts and semiautomated systematic literature reviews. Detailed in vitro assay information and results were compiled into a single database using a standardized ontology. Reference chemical concentrations that activated or inhibited AR pathway activity were identified to establish a range of potencies with reproducible reference chemical results. Comparison with existing Tier 1 AR binding data from the U.S. EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program revealed that the model identified binders at relevant test concentrations (<100 μM) and was more sensitive to antagonist activity. The AR pathway model based on the ToxCast/Tox21 assays had balanced accuracies of 95.2% for agonist (n = 29) and 97.5% for antagonist (n = 28) reference chemicals. Out of 1855 chemicals screened in the AR pathway model, 220 chemicals demonstrated AR agonist or antagonist activity and an additional 174 chemicals were predicted to have potential weak AR pathway activity. PMID:27933809

Human telomere sequence DNA in water-free and high-viscosity solvents: G-quadruplex folding governed by Kramers rate theory.

PubMed

Lannan, Ford M; Mamajanov, Irena; Hud, Nicholas V

2012-09-19

Structures formed by human telomere sequence (HTS) DNA are of interest due to the implication of telomeres in the aging process and cancer. We present studies of HTS DNA folding in an anhydrous, high viscosity deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprised of choline choride and urea. In this solvent, the HTS DNA forms a G-quadruplex with the parallel-stranded ("propeller") fold, consistent with observations that reduced water activity favors the parallel fold, whereas alternative folds are favored at high water activity. Surprisingly, adoption of the parallel structure by HTS DNA in the DES, after thermal denaturation and quick cooling to room temperature, requires several months, as opposed to less than 2 min in an aqueous solution. This extended folding time in the DES is, in part, due to HTS DNA becoming kinetically trapped in a folded state that is apparently not accessed in lower viscosity solvents. A comparison of times required for the G-quadruplex to convert from its aqueous-preferred folded state to its parallel fold also reveals a dependence on solvent viscosity that is consistent with Kramers rate theory, which predicts that diffusion-controlled transitions will slow proportionally with solvent friction. These results provide an enhanced view of a G-quadruplex folding funnel and highlight the necessity to consider solvent viscosity in studies of G-quadruplex formation in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the solvents and analyses presented here should prove valuable for understanding the folding of many other nucleic acids and potentially have applications in DNA-based nanotechnology where time-dependent structures are desired.

Using high throughput screening to define virus clearance by chromatography resins.

PubMed

Connell-Crowley, Lisa; Larimore, Elizabeth A; Gillespie, Ron

2013-07-01

High throughput screening (HTS) of chromatography resins can accelerate downstream process development by rapidly providing information on product and impurity partitioning over a wide range of experimental conditions. In addition to the removal of typical product and process-related impurities, chromatography steps are also used to remove potential adventitious viral contaminants and non-infectious retrovirus-like particles expressed by rodent cell lines used for production. This article evaluates the feasibility of using HTS in a 96-well batch-binding format to study removal of the model retrovirus xenotropic murine leukemia virus (xMuLV) from product streams. Two resins were examined: the anion exchange resin Q Sepharose Fast Flow™ (QSFF) and Capto adhere™, a mixed mode resin. QSFF batch-binding HTS data was generated using two mAbs at various pHs, NaCl concentrations, and levels of impurities. Comparison of HTS data to that generated using the column format showed good agreement with respect to virus retentation at different pHs, NaCl concentrations and impurity levels. Results indicate that NaCl concentration and impurity level, but not pH, are key parameters that can impact xMuLV binding to both resins. Binding of xMuLV to Capto adhere appeared to tolerate higher levels of NaCl and impurity than QSFF, and showed some product-specific impact on binding that was not observed with QSFF. Overall, the results demonstrate that the 96-well batch-binding HTS technique can be an effective tool for rapidly defining conditions for robust virus clearance on chromatographic resins. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In situ DMSO hydration measurements of HTS compound libraries.

PubMed

Ellson, R; Stearns, R; Mutz, M; Brown, C; Browning, B; Harris, D; Qureshi, S; Shieh, J; Wold, D

2005-09-01

Compounds used in high throughput screening (HTS) are typically dissolved in DMSO. These solutions are stored automation-friendly racks of wells or tubes. DMSO is hygroscopic and quickly absorbs water from the atmosphere. When present in DMSO compound solutions, water can accelerate degradation and precipitation. Understanding DMSO hydration in an HTS compound library can improve storage and screening methods by managing the impact of water on compound stability. A non-destructive, acoustic method compatible with HTS has been developed to measure water content in DMSO solutions. Performance of this acoustic method was compared with an optical technique and found to be in good agreement. The accuracy and precision of acoustic measurements was shown to be under 3% over the tested range of DMSO solutions (0% to 35% water by volume) and insensitive to the presence of HTS compounds at typical storage concentrations. Time course studies of hydration for wells in 384-well and 1536-well microplates were performed. Well geometry, fluid volume, well position and atmospheric conditions were all factors in hydration rate. High rates of hydration were seen in lower-volume fills, higher-density multi-well plates and when there was a large differential between the humidity of the lab and the water content of the DMSO. For example, a 1536-well microplate filled with 2microL of 100% DMSO exposed for one hour to a laboratory environment with approximately 40% relative humidity will absorb over 6% water by volume. Understanding DMSO hydration rates as well as the ability to reverse library hydration are important steps towards managing stability and availability of compound libraries.

Hypertonic saline in paediatric traumatic brain injury: a review of nine years' experience with 23.4% hypertonic saline as standard hyperosmolar therapy.

PubMed

Piper, B J; Harrigan, P W

2015-03-01

We describe the protocolised use of 23.4% hypertonic saline solution (HTS) for intracranial hypertension in the context of traumatic brain injury in the paediatric population. This study represents the largest published data on the use of 23.4% HTS in the paediatric population. In this retrospective cohort, we focus on the efficacy, biochemical and metabolic consequences of 23.4% HTS administration in a Level 1 paediatric trauma centre. Mortality in the first seven days was 6% (2/32) with a mean intensive care unit length-of-stay of ten days (range 2 to 25, standard deviation [SD] 6). All-cause hospital mortality was 6%, with no deaths after the seven-day study period. Mean intracranial pressure (ICP) response to HTS was 10 mmHg (range 1 to 30, SD 8). For biochemistry data, the mean highest daily serum sodium was 148 mmol/l (139 to 161, SD 6), mean highest serum chloride was 115 mmol/l (range 101 to 132, SD 8) with matched mean serum base excess of -1.5 mmol/l (range 2 to -8, SD 3) and mean peak serum creatinine was 73 mmol/l (range 32 to 104, SD 32). Glasgow outcome scores of >3 (independent function) were achieved in 74% of patients. We describe the use of 23.4% HTS, demonstrating it to be a practical and efficacious method of delivering osmoles and may be advantageous in minimising total fluid volume. Thus, the bolus versus infusion debate may best be served via combining both approaches.

75 FR 33578 - Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from India: Preliminary Results of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-14

... January 1, 1989, such merchandise was classifiable under item numbers 610.3231, 610.3234, 610.3241, 610... currently classifiable under HTS item numbers 7306.30.1000, 7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.30.5040, 7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 7306.30.5090. As with the TSUSA numbers, the HTS numbers are provided for...

Development of Ultra-Efficient Electric Motors Final Technical Report Covering work from April 2002 through September 2007

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rich Schiferl

2008-05-30

High temperature superconducting (HTS) motors offer the potential for dramatic volume and loss reduction compared to conventional, high horspower, industrial motors. This report is the final report on the results of eight research tasks that address some of the issues related to HTS motor development that affect motor efficiency, cost, and reliability.

Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) Working Group (WG) 3 Phase 2 Study Summary

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-29

threshold Kauai Niihau 52 HTS Power Contours 1 kW transmitter power with 20 dB attenuation, 1 km grid spacing LTE base station received power (dBW...137.4 dBW LTE threshold Kauai Niihau 53 HTS LTE System Threshold Exceedance, 1755-1780 MHz 1 kW transmitter power, 1 km grid spacing

EPA's ToxCast Project: Lessons learned and future directions for use of HTS in predicting in vivo toxicology -- A Chemical Perspective

EPA Science Inventory

U.S. EPA’s ToxCast and the related Tox21 projects are employing high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies to profile thousands of chemicals, which in turn serve as probes of a wide diversity of targets, pathways and mechanisms related to toxicity. Initial models relating ToxCa...

Magnetizing technique for permanent magnets by intense static fields generated by HTS bulk magnets: Numerical Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

N. Kawasaki; Oka, T.; Fukui, S.; Ogawa, J.; Sato, T.; Terasawa, T.; Itoh, Y.

A demagnetized Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet was scanned in the strong magnetic field space just above the magnetic pole containing a HTS bulk magnet which generates the magnetic field 3.4 T. The magnet sample was subsequently found to be fully magnetized in the open space of the static magnetic fields. The finite element method was carried out for the static field magnetization of a permanent magnet using a HTS bulk magnet. Previously, our research group experimentally demonstrated the possibility of full magnetization of rare earth permanent magnets with high-performance magnetic properties with use of the static field of HTS bulk magnets. In the present study, however, we succeeded for the first time in visualizing the behavior of the magnetizing field of the bulk magnet during the magnetization process and the shape of the magnetic field inside the body being magnetized. By applying this kind of numerical analysis to the magnetization for planned motor rotors which incorporate rare-earth permanent magnets, we hope to study the fully magnetized regions for the new magnetizing method using bulk magnets and to give motor designing a high degree of freedom.

Power system applications of high temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garlick, W. G.

This paper presents an overview of potential applications for high temperature superconductors (HTSs) in the field of power engineering. For almost 10 years material scientists, chemists and physicists have had the freedom to find, explore and characterize the properties of new HTS materials. 10 years is not a long time in the development of a revolutionary technology, but it seems like an age to the engineer who has recognized its potential and waits impatiently for the technology to stabilize in order to apply it. Largely due to Government and Industry partnerships, only a few years after the discovery of HTS, electrical power applications based on HTS are now being designed and tested. These applications offer many benefits to the resident electrical system: increased energy efficiency, smaller equipment, reduced emissions, increased stability and reliability, deferred expansion and flexible transmission and distribution. They have a common focus: lower electricity costs, improved environmental quality and more competitive products for a global market. For HTS to become a commercial success, the development of materials technologies is necessary but not sufficient on its own; the development of a capability to design and manufacture products that use the materials is also fundamental to a viable and successful industrial base.

New fluorescence techniques for high-throughput drug discovery.

PubMed

Jäger, S; Brand, L; Eggeling, C

2003-12-01

The rapid increase of compound libraries as well as new targets emerging from the Human Genome Project require constant progress in pharmaceutical research. An important tool is High-Throughput Screening (HTS), which has evolved as an indispensable instrument in the pre-clinical target-to-IND (Investigational New Drug) discovery process. HTS requires machinery, which is able to test more than 100,000 potential drug candidates per day with respect to a specific biological activity. This calls for certain experimental demands especially with respect to sensitivity, speed, and statistical accuracy, which are fulfilled by using fluorescence technology instrumentation. In particular the recently developed family of fluorescence techniques, FIDA (Fluorescence Intensity Distribution Analysis), which is based on confocal single-molecule detection, has opened up a new field of HTS applications. This report describes the application of these new techniques as well as of common fluorescence techniques--such as confocal fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy--to HTS. It gives experimental examples and presents advantages and disadvantages of each method. In addition the most common artifacts (auto-fluorescence or quenching by the drug candidates) emerging from the fluorescence detection techniques are highlighted and correction methods for confocal fluorescence read-outs are presented, which are able to circumvent this deficiency.

Computer Simulation of Embryonic Systems: What can a ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

(1) Standard practice for assessing developmental toxicity is the observation of apical endpoints (intrauterine death, fetal growth retardation, structural malformations) in pregnant rats/rabbits following exposure during organogenesis. EPA’s computational toxicology research program (ToxCast) generated vast in vitro cellular and molecular effects data on >1858 chemicals in >600 high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. The diversity of assays has been increased for developmental toxicity with several HTS platforms, including the devTOX-quickPredict assay from Stemina Biomarker Discovery utilizing the human embryonic stem cell line (H9). Translating these HTS data into higher order-predictions of developmental toxicity is a significant challenge. Here, we address the application of computational systems models that recapitulate the kinematics of dynamical cell signaling networks (e.g., SHH, FGF, BMP, retinoids) in a CompuCell3D.org modeling environment. Examples include angiogenesis (angiodysplasia) and dysmorphogenesis. Being numerically responsive to perturbation, these models are amenable to data integration for systems Toxicology and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). The AOP simulation outputs predict potential phenotypes based on the in vitro HTS data ToxCast. A heuristic computational intelligence framework that recapitulates the kinematics of dynamical cell signaling networks in the embryo, together with the in vitro profiling data, produce quantitative pr

Computational Modeling and Simulation of Developmental ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Standard practice for assessing developmental toxicity is the observation of apical endpoints (intrauterine death, fetal growth retardation, structural malformations) in pregnant rats/rabbits following exposure during organogenesis. EPA’s computational toxicology research program (ToxCast) generated vast in vitro cellular and molecular effects data on >1858 chemicals in >600 high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. The diversity of assays has been increased for developmental toxicity with several HTS platforms, including the devTOX-quickPredict assay from Stemina Biomarker Discovery utilizing the human embryonic stem cell line (H9). Translating these HTS data into higher order-predictions of developmental toxicity is a significant challenge. Here, we address the application of computational systems models that recapitulate the kinematics of dynamical cell signaling networks (e.g., SHH, FGF, BMP, retinoids) in a CompuCell3D.org modeling environment. Examples include angiogenesis (angiodysplasia) and dysmorphogenesis. Being numerically responsive to perturbation, these models are amenable to data integration for systems Toxicology and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). The AOP simulation outputs predict potential phenotypes based on the in vitro HTS data ToxCast. A heuristic computational intelligence framework that recapitulates the kinematics of dynamical cell signaling networks in the embryo, together with the in vitro profiling data, produce quantitative predic

Laser speckle imaging of rat retinal blood flow with hybrid temporal and spatial analysis method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Haiying; Yan, Yumei; Duong, Timothy Q.

2009-02-01

Noninvasive monitoring of blood flow in retinal circulation will reveal the progression and treatment of ocular disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. A non-invasive and direct BF measurement technique with high spatial-temporal resolution is needed for retinal imaging. Laser speckle imaging (LSI) is such a method. Currently, there are two analysis methods for LSI: spatial statistics LSI (SS-LSI) and temporal statistical LSI (TS-LSI). Comparing these two analysis methods, SS-LSI has higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) and TSLSI is less susceptible to artifacts from stationary speckle. We proposed a hybrid temporal and spatial analysis method (HTS-LSI) to measure the retinal blood flow. Gas challenge experiment was performed and images were analyzed by HTS-LSI. Results showed that HTS-LSI can not only remove the stationary speckle but also increase the SNR. Under 100% O2, retinal BF decreased by 20-30%. This was consistent with the results observed with laser Doppler technique. As retinal blood flow is a critical physiological parameter and its perturbation has been implicated in the early stages of many retinal diseases, HTS-LSI will be an efficient method in early detection of retina diseases.

Influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of a magnetized bulk high-Tc superconductor magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, W.; Wang, J. S.; Ma, G. T.; Zheng, J.; Tuo, X. G.; Li, L. L.; Ye, C. Q.; Liao, X. L.; Wang, S. Y.

2012-03-01

Compared with the permanent magnet, the magnetized bulk high-Tc superconductor magnet (MBSCM) can trap higher magnetic field due to its strong flux pinning ability, so it is a good candidate to improve the levitation performance of high-Tc superconductive (HTS) maglev system. The trapped magnetic flux of a MBSCM is sustained by the inductive superconducting current produced by the magnetizing process and is susceptible to the current intensity as well as configuration. In the HTS maglev system, the lateral displacement is an important process to change the superconducting current within a MBSCM and then affects its levitation performance, which is essential for the traffic ability in curve-way, the loading capacity of lateral impact and so on. The research about influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of MBSCM is necessary when MBSCM is applied on the HTS maglev vehicle. The experimental investigations about the influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of a MBSCM with different trapped fluxes and applied fields are processed in this article. The analyses and conclusions of this article are useful for the practical application of MBSCM in HTS maglev system.

High-throughput screening of chromatographic separations: II. Hydrophobic interaction.

PubMed

Kramarczyk, Jack F; Kelley, Brian D; Coffman, Jonathan L

2008-07-01

A high-throughput screen (HTS) was developed to evaluate the selectivity of various hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) resins for separating a mAb from aggregate species. Prior to the resin screen, the solubility of the protein was assessed to determine the allowable HIC operating region by examining 384 combinations of pH, salt, and protein concentration. The resin screen then incorporated 480 batch-binding and elution conditions with eight HIC resins in combination with six salts. The results from the screen were reproducible, and demonstrated quantitative recovery of the mAb and aggregate. The translation of the HTS batch-binding data to lab-scale chromatography columns was tested for four conditions spanning the range of product binding and selectivity. After accounting for the higher number of theoretical plates in the columns, the purity and recovery of the lab-scale column runs agreed with the HTS results demonstrating the predictive power of the filterplate system. The HTS data were further analyzed by the calculation of pertinent thermodynamic parameters such as the partition coefficient, K(P), and the separation factor, alpha. The separation factor was used to rank the purification capabilities of the resin and salt conditions explored. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mechanical reinforcement for RACC cables in high magnetic background fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayer, C. M.; Gade, P. V.; Barth, C.; Preuß, A.; Jung, A.; Weiß, K. P.

2016-02-01

Operable in liquid helium, liquid hydrogen or liquid nitrogen, high temperature superconductor (HTS) cables are investigated as future alternatives to low temperature superconductor (LTS) cables in magnet applications. Different high current HTS cable concepts have been developed and optimized in the last years—each coming with its own benefits and challenges. As the Roebel assembled coated conductor (RACC) is the only fully transposed HTS cable investigated so far, it is attractive for large scale magnet and accelerator magnet applications when field quality and alternating current (AC) losses are of highest importance. However, due to its filamentary character, the RACC is very sensitive to Lorentz forces. In order to increase the mechanical strength of the RACC, each of the HTS strands was covered by an additional copper tape. After investigating the maximum applicable transverse pressure on the strand composition, the cable was clamped into a stainless steel structure to reinforce it against Lorentz forces. A comprehensive test has been carried out in the FBI facility at 4.2 K in a magnetic field of up to 12 T. This publication discusses the maximum applicable pressure as well as the behaviour of the RACC cable as a function of an external magnetic field.

Superconducting Cable Termination

DOEpatents

Sinha, Uday K.; Tolbert, Jerry

2005-08-30

Disclosed is a termination that connects high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable immersed in pressurized liquid nitrogen to high voltage and neutral (shield) external bushings at ambient temperature and pressure. The termination consists of a splice between the HTS power (inner) and shield (outer) conductors and concentric copper pipes which are the conductors in the termination. There is also a transition from the dielectric tape insulator used in the HTS cable to the insulators used between and around the copper pipe conductors in the termination. At the warm end of the termination the copper pipes are connected via copper braided straps to the conventional warm external bushings which have low thermal stresses. This termination allows for a natural temperature gradient in the copper pipe conductors inside the termination which enables the controlled flashing of the pressurized liquid coolant (nitrogen) to the gaseous state. Thus the entire termination is near the coolant supply pressure and the high voltage and shield cold bushings, a highly stressed component used in most HTS cables, are eliminated. A sliding seal allows for cable contraction as it is cooled from room temperature to ˜72-82 K. Seals, static vacuum, and multi-layer superinsulation minimize radial heat leak to the environment.

Smartphone-Based Hearing Screening in Noisy Environments

PubMed Central

Na, Youngmin; Joo, Hyo Sung; Yang, Hyejin; Kang, Soojin; Hong, Sung Hwa; Woo, Jihwan

2014-01-01

It is important and recommended to detect hearing loss as soon as possible. If it is found early, proper treatment may help improve hearing and reduce the negative consequences of hearing loss. In this study, we developed smartphone-based hearing screening methods that can ubiquitously test hearing. However, environmental noise generally results in the loss of ear sensitivity, which causes a hearing threshold shift (HTS). To overcome this limitation in the hearing screening location, we developed a correction algorithm to reduce the HTS effect. A built-in microphone and headphone were calibrated to provide the standard units of measure. The HTSs in the presence of either white or babble noise were systematically investigated to determine the mean HTS as a function of noise level. When the hearing screening application runs, the smartphone automatically measures the environmental noise and provides the HTS value to correct the hearing threshold. A comparison to pure tone audiometry shows that this hearing screening method in the presence of noise could closely estimate the hearing threshold. We expect that the proposed ubiquitous hearing test method could be used as a simple hearing screening tool and could alert the user if they suffer from hearing loss. PMID:24926692

Technical and Economical Demands on 25K - 77K Refrigerators for Future HTS — Series Products in Power Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gromoll, B.

2004-06-01

For the future high temperature superconductivity, HTS, series products new refrigerators are essential. Demands are made on these which are only partly fulfilled by refrigerators available in the market today. This refers to cooling power, initial cost and in particular reliability. Without proper refrigeration techniques it will be almost impossible to bring HTS products to the market. Based on the experiences made by the construction and operation of HTS prototypes within our company, like the 400 kW motor, 1.2 MVA current limiter and 1 MVA traction-transformer provided with refrigerators which are available in the market today, criteria have been established to identify the future technical and economical requirements. These criteria apply to efficiency, maintainability, operation flexibility, feasibility of integration and performance/cost ratio. For the temperature range of 20 K to 77 K cooling with Gifford-McMahon, Pulse Tube, Stirling and Mixture-Cascade refrigerators are applicable. The development potential of these processes are compared for the different applications in future series products. Presented are the necessary steps towards reliable and economic refrigerators from the viewpoint of an equipment manufacturer. These are essential for a market entry in the year 2008.

Experience of 12 kA / 16 V SMPS during the HTS Current Leads Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panchal, P.; Christian, D.; Panchal, R.; Sonara, D.; Purwar, G.; Garg, A.; Nimavat, H.; Singh, G.; Patel, J.; Tanna, V.; Pradhan, S.

2017-04-01

As a part of up gradation plans in SST-1 Tokamak, one pair of 3.3 kA rated prototype hybrid current leads were developed using Di-BSCCO as High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) and the copper heat exchanger. In order to validate the manufacturing procedure prior to go for series production of such current leads, it was recommended to test these current leads using dedicated and very reliable DC switch mode power supply (SMPS). As part of test facility, 12 kA, 16 VDC programmable SMPS was successfully installed, commissioned and tested. This power supply has special features such as modularity, N+1 redundancy, very low ripple voltage, precise current measurements with Direct Current Current Transformer, CC/CV modes with auto-crossover and auto-sequence programming. As a part of acceptance of this converter, A 5.8 mΩ water-cooled resistive dummy load and PLC based SCADA system is designed, developed for commissioning of power supply. The same power supply was used for the testing of the prototype HTS current leads. The paper describes the salient features and experience of state-of-art of power supply and results obtained from this converter during the HTS current leads test.

Insights into the microbial diversity and community dynamics of Chinese traditional fermented foods from using high-throughput sequencing approaches*

PubMed Central

He, Guo-qing; Liu, Tong-jie; Sadiq, Faizan A.; Gu, Jing-si; Zhang, Guo-hua

2017-01-01

Chinese traditional fermented foods have a very long history dating back thousands of years and have become an indispensable part of Chinese dietary culture. A plethora of research has been conducted to unravel the composition and dynamics of microbial consortia associated with Chinese traditional fermented foods using culture-dependent as well as culture-independent methods, like different high-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques. These HTS techniques enable us to understand the relationship between a food product and its microbes to a greater extent than ever before. Considering the importance of Chinese traditional fermented products, the objective of this paper is to review the diversity and dynamics of microbiota in Chinese traditional fermented foods revealed by HTS approaches. PMID:28378567

Centrifuge advances using HTS magnetic bearings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werfel, F. N.; Flögel-Delor, U.; Rothfeld, R.; Wippich, D.; Riedel, T.

2001-05-01

Passive magnetic bearings are of increasing technical interest. We performed experiments with centrifugal rotors to analyze gyroscopic forces in terms imbalance, rotor elasticity and damping. Centrifuge rotors need to be operated soft and stable without whirling the sediments. In order to evaluate optimal parameters critical and resonance behaviors are investigated. Eccentricities up 2 mm are safely passed by accelerating test wheels. In a simple model we describe the effect of passing critical rotational speeds. Measurements of bearing properties and wheel performance are presented. We have constructed a first prototype centrifuge designed with a HTS double bearing which operates a titanium rotor safely up to 30 000 rpm. A 15 W Stirling cooler serves cryogenics of the YBCO stators. From the experiments design guidelines for centrifugal applications with HTS bearings are given.

Influence of Off-Centre Operation on the Performance of HTS Maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gou, Y.; He, D.; Zheng, J.; Ye, C.; Xu, Y.; Sun, R.; Che, T.; Deng, Z.

2014-03-01

Owing to instinctive self-stable levitation characteristics, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev using bulk high-temperature superconductors attracts more and more attention from scientists and engineers around the world. In this paper, the levitation force relaxation and guidance force characteristics of a Y-Ba-Cu-O levitation unit with different eccentric distances (EDs) off the center of the permanent magnet guideway were experimentally investigated under field-cooling (FC) conditions. Experimental results indicate that the levitation force slightly increases at small EDs firstly, but degrades with further increasing of EDs. However, the maximum guidance force and its stiffness exhibit enhancement in moderate ED range. The results demonstrate that a properly designed initial FC eccentric distance is important for the practical applications of HTS maglev according to specific requirements like running in curve lines.

The Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center: leveraging academic innovation to advance novel targets through HTS and beyond.

PubMed

Johns, Margaret A; Meyerkord-Belton, Cheryl L; Du, Yuhong; Fu, Haian

2014-03-01

The Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center (ECBDC) aims to accelerate high throughput biology and translation of biomedical research discoveries into therapeutic targets and future medicines by providing high throughput research platforms to scientific collaborators worldwide. ECBDC research is focused at the interface of chemistry and biology, seeking to fundamentally advance understanding of disease-related biology with its HTS/HCS platforms and chemical tools, ultimately supporting drug discovery. Established HTS/HCS capabilities, university setting, and expertise in diverse assay formats, including protein-protein interaction interrogation, have enabled the ECBDC to contribute to national chemical biology efforts, empower translational research, and serve as a training ground for young scientists. With these resources, the ECBDC is poised to leverage academic innovation to advance biology and therapeutic discovery.

Hydrolyzable tannin analysis in food.

PubMed

Arapitsas, Panagiotis

2012-12-01

The discovery of plant polyphenols in food is perhaps one of the biggest breakthroughs in modern food science. Plant polyphenols are known for their role in food quality and safety, since they contribute significantly to taste, flavour, colour, stability etc., while they are increasingly recognised as important factors in long-term health, contributing towards reducing the risk of chronic disease. Almost 200years ago, hydrolyzable tannins (HTs) were the first group of plant polyphenols subjected to analytical chemical research. Despite the lack of commercially available standards, food analysis research offers a wealth of papers dealing with extraction optimisation, identification and quantification of HTs. The object of this review is to summarise analytical chemistry applications and the tools currently used for the analysis of HTs in food. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transplanting Human Skin Grafts onto Nude Mice to Model Skin Scars.

PubMed

Ding, Jie; Tredget, Edward E

2017-01-01

Hypertrophic scar (HTS) is a common outcome of deep dermal wound healing mainly followed mechanical, chemical, and thermal injuries in the skin. Because of the lack of the most effective prevention and treatment, it is particularly important to establish an ideal dermal animal model for improving the understanding of the pathogenesis and exploring therapeutic approaches of HTS. Compared to other dermal fibrotic animal models in rabbits, red Duroc pigs, guinea pigs, rats, and mice, the approach that uses normal human split-thickness skin grafted onto nude or other immunodeficient mice which develop scars that resemble human HTS offers the advantages of lower cost, easier manipulation, and shorter research period. In this chapter, we will introduce the detailed procedures to create the ideal dermal fibrotic mouse model.

Mixed cryogen cooling systems for HTS power applications: A status report of progress in Korea University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Jung-Bin; Lee, Haigun

2012-12-01

A cooling system employing a solid cryogen (SC), such as solid nitrogen (SN2), was recently reported for high-temperature superconducting (HTS) applications. However, thermal contact between the SC and the HTS can be degraded by repeated overcurrent runs, resulting in 'thermal dry-out'. Novel cryogens, SC with small amounts of liquid cryogen, have been suggested to overcome this problem. Such cooling systems rely on the small amount of liquid cryogen to facilitate heat exchange so as to fully exploit the heat capacity of the solid cryogen. This paper presents a description and summary of recent activities at Korea University related to cooling systems employing mixed cryogens of solid-liquid nitrogen, solid argon-liquid nitrogen, and solid nitrogen-liquid neon.

Advanced YBCO-Coated Conductors for Use on Air Platforms (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

for example, the Navy has programs on both homopolar and synchronous superconducting motors to drive the future all-electric ship.6 Westinghouse has...syn- chronous, homopolar , inductor-type alternator with a stationary HTS coil, solid rotor forging, and conven- tional stator; refer to Fig. 1. This is...Denial,’’ III-Vs Rev., 17 [5] 10 (2004). 6. D. U. Gubser, ‘‘Superconducting Motors and Generators for Naval Appli- cations,’’ Physica C, 392–396 1192

Insertion of an SVA element, a nonautonomous retrotransposon, in PMS2 intron 7 as a novel cause of Lynch syndrome.

PubMed

van der Klift, Heleen M; Tops, Carli M; Hes, Frederik J; Devilee, Peter; Wijnen, Juul T

2012-07-01

Heterozygous germline mutations in the mismatch repair gene PMS2 predispose carriers for Lynch syndrome, an autosomal dominant predisposition to cancer. Here, we present a LINE-1-mediated retrotranspositional insertion in PMS2 as a novel mutation type for Lynch syndrome. This insertion, detected with Southern blot analysis in the genomic DNA of the patient, is characterized as a 2.2 kb long 5' truncated SVA_F element. The insertion is not detectable by current diagnostic testing limited to MLPA and direct Sanger sequencing on genomic DNA. The molecular nature of this insertion could only be resolved in RNA from cultured lymphocytes in which nonsense-mediated RNA decay was inhibited. Our report illustrates the technical problems encountered in the detection of this mutation type. Especially large heterozygous insertions will remain unnoticed because of preferential amplification of the smaller wild-type allele in genomic DNA, and are probably underreported in the mutation spectra of autosomal dominant disorders. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Creation of knock out and knock in mice by CRISPR/Cas9 to validate candidate genes for human male infertility, interest, difficulties and feasibility.

PubMed

Kherraf, Zine-Eddine; Conne, Beatrice; Amiri-Yekta, Amir; Kent, Marie Christou; Coutton, Charles; Escoffier, Jessica; Nef, Serge; Arnoult, Christophe; Ray, Pierre F

2018-06-15

High throughput sequencing (HTS) and CRISPR/Cas9 are two recent technologies that are currently revolutionizing biological and clinical research. Both techniques are complementary as HTS permits to identify new genetic variants and genes involved in various pathologies and CRISPR/Cas9 permits to create animals or cell models to validate the effect of the identified variants, to characterize the pathogeny of the identified variants and the function of the genes of interest and ultimately to provide ways of correcting the molecular defects. We analyzed a cohort of 78 infertile men presenting with multiple morphological anomalies of the sperm flagella (MMAF), a severe form of male infertility. Using whole exome sequencing (WES), homozygous mutations in autosomal candidate genes were identified in 63% of the tested subjects. We decided to produce by CRISPR/cas9 four knock-out (KO) and one knock-in (KI) mouse lines to confirm these results and to increase our understanding of the physiopathology associated with these genetic variations. Overall 31% of the live pups obtained presented a mutational event in one of the targeted regions. All identified events were insertions or deletions localized near the PAM sequence. Surprisingly we observed a high rate of germline mosaicism as 30% of the F1 displayed a different mutation than the parental event characterized on somatic tissue (tail), indicating that CRISPR/Cas9 mutational events kept happening several cell divisions after the injection. Overall, we created mouse models for 5 distinct loci and in each case homozygous animals could be obtained in approximately 6 months. These results demonstrate that the combined use of WES and CRISPR/Cas9 is an efficient and timely strategy to identify and validate mutations responsible for infertility phenotypes in human. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Droplet-based microfluidic high-throughput screening of heterologous enzymes secreted by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

PubMed

Beneyton, Thomas; Thomas, Stéphane; Griffiths, Andrew D; Nicaud, Jean-Marc; Drevelle, Antoine; Rossignol, Tristan

2017-01-31

Droplet-based microfluidics is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to microtiter plate techniques for enzymatic high-throughput screening (HTS), especially for exploring large diversities with lower time and cost footprint. In this case, the assayed enzyme has to be accessible to the substrate within the water-in-oil droplet by being ideally extracellular or displayed at the cell surface. However, most of the enzymes screened to date are expressed within the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli cells, which means that a lysis step must take place inside the droplets for enzyme activity to be assayed. Here, we take advantage of the excellent secretion abilities of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to describe a highly efficient expression system particularly suitable for the droplet-based microfluidic HTS. Five hydrolytic genes from Aspergillus niger genome were chosen and the corresponding five Yarrowia lipolytica producing strains were constructed. Each enzyme (endo-β-1,4-xylanase B and C; 1,4-β-cellobiohydrolase A; endoglucanase A; aspartic protease) was successfully overexpressed and secreted in an active form in the crude supernatant. A droplet-based microfluidic HTS system was developed to (a) encapsulate single yeast cells; (b) grow yeast in droplets; (c) inject the relevant enzymatic substrate; (d) incubate droplets on chip; (e) detect enzymatic activity; and (f) sort droplets based on enzymatic activity. Combining this integrated microfluidic platform with gene expression in Y. lipolytica results in remarkably low variability in the enzymatic activity at the single cell level within a given monoclonal population (<5%). Xylanase, cellobiohydrolase and protease activities were successfully assayed using this system. We then used the system to screen for thermostable variants of endo-β-1,4-xylanase C in error-prone PCR libraries. Variants displaying higher thermostable xylanase activities compared to the wild-type were isolated (up to 4.7-fold improvement). Yarrowia lipolytica was used to express fungal genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes of interest. We developed a successful droplet-based microfluidic platform for the high-throughput screening (10 5 strains/h) of Y. lipolytica based on enzyme secretion and activity. This approach provides highly efficient tools for the HTS of recombinant enzymatic activities. This should be extremely useful for discovering new biocatalysts via directed evolution or protein engineering approaches and should lead to major advances in microbial cell factory development.

Ultrathin endoscope flexibility can predict discomfort associated with unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy

PubMed Central

Ono, Satoshi; Niimi, Keiko; Fujishiro, Mitsuhiro; Nakao, Tomoko; Suzuki, Kazushi; Ohike, Yumiko; Kodashima, Shinya; Yamamichi, Nobutake; Yamazaki, Tsutomu; Koike, Kazuhiko

2013-01-01

AIM: To evaluate the effects of choice of insertion route and ultrathin endoscope types. METHODS: This prospective study (January-June 2012) included 882 consecutive patients who underwent annual health checkups. Transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed in 503 patients and transoral EGD in 235 patients using six types of ultrathin endoscopes. Patients were given a choice of insertion route, either transoral or transnasal, prior to EGD examination. For transoral insertion, the endoscope was equipped with a thin-type mouthpiece and tongue depressor. Conscious sedation was not used for any patient. EGD-associated discomfort was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS; no discomfort 0- maximum discomfort 10). RESULTS: Rates of preference for transnasal insertion were significantly higher in male (male/female 299/204 vs 118/117) and younger patients (56.8 ± 11.2 years vs 61.3 ± 13.0 years), although no significant difference was found in VAS scores between transoral and transnasal insertion (3.9 ± 2.3 vs 4.1 ± 2.5). Multivariate analysis revealed that gender, age, operator, and endoscope were independent significant predictors of VAS for transnasal insertion, although gender, age, and endoscope were those for transoral insertion. Further analysis revealed only the endoscopic flexibility index (EFI) as an independent significant predictor of VAS for transnasal insertion. Both EFI and tip diameter were independent significant predictors of VAS for transoral insertion. CONCLUSION: Flexibility of ultrathin endoscopes can be a predictor of EGD-associated discomfort, especially in transnasal insertion. PMID:23858379

Improved Pinning Morphology in HTS with Order of Magnitude Increase in Jc and Pinned Field

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-27

Patricia Nieto 0.25 Lilliana Phamnguyen 0.25 William Rifenburgh 0.25 Adriana Rodriguez 0.25 Jonathan Salazar 0.25 Michael Saldana 0.25 Clinton Seibert...times higher than the initial Jc. Bulk YBCO was used in the experiment, and Jc set a new world’s record of 321 kA /cc for this variety of HTS, over 5

Water flow measurement in large bore pipes: an experimental comparison between two different types of insertion flowmeters.

PubMed

Cascetta, Furio; Palombo, Adolfo; Scalabrini, Gianfranco

2003-04-01

In this paper the metrological behavior of two different insertion flowmeters (magnetic and turbine types) in large water pipes is described. A master-slave calibration was carried out in order to estimate the overall uncertainty of the tested meters. The experimental results show that (i) the magnetic insertion tested flowmeter performs the claimed accuracy (+/- 2%) within all the flow range (20:1); (ii) the insertion turbine tested meter, instead, reaches the claimed accuracy just in the upper zone of the flow range.

Current-carrying element based on second-generation high-temperature superconductor for the magnet system of a fusion neutron source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, M. S.; Ivanov, D. P.; Novikov, S. I.; Shuvaev, S. A.

2015-12-01

Application of current-carrying elements (CCEs) made of second-generation high-temperature superconductor (2G HTS) in magnet systems of a fusion neutron source (FNS) and other fusion devices will allow their magnetic field and thermodynamic stability to be increased substantially in comparison with those of low-temperature superconductor (LTS) magnets. For a toroidal magnet of the FNS, a design of a helical (partially transposed) CCE made of 2G HTS is under development with forced-flow cooling by helium gas, a current of 20-30 kA, an operating temperature of 10-20 K, and a magnetic field on the winding of 12-15 T (prospectively ~20 T). Short-sized samples of the helical flexible heavy-current CCE are being fabricated and investigated; a pilot-line unit for production of long-sized CCE pieces is under construction. The applied fabrication technique allows the CCE to be produced which combines a high operating current, thermal and mechanical stability, manufacturability, and low losses in the alternating modes. The possibility of fabricating the CCE with the outer dimensions and values of the operating parameter required for the FNS (and with a significant margin) using already available serial 2G HTS tapes is substantiated. The maximum field of toroidal magnets with CCEs made of 2G HTS will be limited only by mechanical properties of the magnet's casing and structure, while the thermal stability will be approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of toroidal magnets with LTS-based CCEs. The helical CCE made of 2G HTS is very promising for fusion and hybrid electric power plants, and its design and technologies of production, as well as the prototype coils made of it for the FNS and other tokamaks, are worth developing now.

Hypertonic Saline Reduces Vascular Leakage in a Mouse Model of Severe Dengue

PubMed Central

Tan, Kar Wai; Angeli, Veronique; Moochhala, Shabbir; Ooi, Eng Eong; Alonso, Sylvie

2013-01-01

Dengue (DEN) is a mosquito-borne viral disease and represents a serious public health threat and an economical burden throughout the tropics. Dengue clinical manifestations range from mild acute febrile illness to severe DEN hemorrhagic fever/DEN shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). Currently, resuscitation with large volumes of isotonic fluid remains the gold standard of care for DEN patients who develop vascular leakage and shock. Here, we investigated the ability of small volume of hypertonic saline (HTS) suspensions to control vascular permeability in a mouse model of severe DEN associated with vascular leakage. Several HTS treatment regimens were considered and our results indicated that a single bolus of 7.5% NaCl at 4 mL per kg of body weight administered at the onset of detectable vascular leakage rapidly and significantly reduced vascular leak for several days after injection. This transient reduction of vascular leakage correlated with reduced intestine and liver damage with restoration of the hepatic functions, and resulted in delayed death of the infected animals. Mechanistically, we showed that HTS did not directly impact on the viral titers but resulted in lower immune cells counts and decreased systemic levels of soluble mediators involved in vascular permeability. In addition, we demonstrated that neutrophils do not play a critical role in DEN-associated vascular leakage and that the therapeutic effect of HTS is not mediated by its impact on the neutrophil counts. Together our data indicate that HTS treatment can transiently but rapidly reduce dengue-associated vascular leakage, and support the findings of a recent clinical trial which evaluated the efficacy of a hypertonic suspension to impact on vascular permeability in DSS children. PMID:23637867

Formalization, Annotation and Analysis of Diverse Drug and Probe Screening Assay Datasets Using the BioAssay Ontology (BAO)

PubMed Central

Vempati, Uma D.; Przydzial, Magdalena J.; Chung, Caty; Abeyruwan, Saminda; Mir, Ahsan; Sakurai, Kunie; Visser, Ubbo; Lemmon, Vance P.; Schürer, Stephan C.

2012-01-01

Huge amounts of high-throughput screening (HTS) data for probe and drug development projects are being generated in the pharmaceutical industry and more recently in the public sector. The resulting experimental datasets are increasingly being disseminated via publically accessible repositories. However, existing repositories lack sufficient metadata to describe the experiments and are often difficult to navigate by non-experts. The lack of standardized descriptions and semantics of biological assays and screening results hinder targeted data retrieval, integration, aggregation, and analyses across different HTS datasets, for example to infer mechanisms of action of small molecule perturbagens. To address these limitations, we created the BioAssay Ontology (BAO). BAO has been developed with a focus on data integration and analysis enabling the classification of assays and screening results by concepts that relate to format, assay design, technology, target, and endpoint. Previously, we reported on the higher-level design of BAO and on the semantic querying capabilities offered by the ontology-indexed triple store of HTS data. Here, we report on our detailed design, annotation pipeline, substantially enlarged annotation knowledgebase, and analysis results. We used BAO to annotate assays from the largest public HTS data repository, PubChem, and demonstrate its utility to categorize and analyze diverse HTS results from numerous experiments. BAO is publically available from the NCBO BioPortal at http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1533. BAO provides controlled terminology and uniform scope to report probe and drug discovery screening assays and results. BAO leverages description logic to formalize the domain knowledge and facilitate the semantic integration with diverse other resources. As a consequence, BAO offers the potential to infer new knowledge from a corpus of assay results, for example molecular mechanisms of action of perturbagens. PMID:23155465

A Single-Block TRL Test Fixture for the Cryogenic Characterization of Planar Microwave Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mejia, M.; Creason, A. S.; Toncich, S. S.; Ebihara, B. T.; Miranda, F. A.

1996-01-01

The High-Temperature-Superconductivity (HTS) group of the RF Technology Branch, Space Electronics Division, is actively involved in the fabrication and cryogenic characterization of planar microwave components for space applications. This process requires fast, reliable, and accurate measurement techniques not readily available. A new calibration standard/test fixture that enhances the integrity and reliability of the component characterization process has been developed. The fixture consists of 50 omega thru, reflect, delay, and device under test gold lines etched onto a 254 microns (0.010 in) thick alumina substrate. The Thru-Reflect-Line (TRL) fixture was tested at room temperature using a 30 omega, 7.62 mm (300 mil) long, gold line as a known standard. Good agreement between the experimental data and the data modelled using Sonnet's em(C) software was obtained for both the return (S(sub 11)) and insertion (S( 21)) losses. A gold two-pole bandpass filter with a 7.3 GHz center frequency was used as our Device Under Test (DUT), and the results compared with those obtained using a Short-Open-Load-Thru (SOLT) calibration technique.

HTS flywheel energy storage system with rotor shaft stabilized by feed-back control of armature currents of motor-generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukamoto, O.; Utsunomiya, A.

2007-10-01

We propose an HTS bulk bearing flywheel energy system (FWES) with rotor shaft stabilization system using feed-back control of the armature currents of the motor-generator. In the proposed system the rotor shift has a pivot bearing at one end of the shaft and an HTS bulk bearing (SMB) at the other end. The fluctuation of the rotor shaft with SMB is damped by feed-back control of the armature currents of the motor-generator sensing the position of the rotor shaft. The method has merits that the fluctuations are damped without active control magnet bearings and extra devices which may deteriorate the energy storage efficiency and need additional costs. The principle of the method was demonstrated by an experiment using a model permanent magnet motor.

A High-Throughput Screening Method for Identification of Inhibitors of the Deubiquitinating Enzyme USP14

PubMed Central

Lee, Byung-Hoon; Finley, Daniel; King, Randall W.

2013-01-01

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) reverse the process of ubiquitination, and number nearly 100 in humans. In principle, DUBs represent promising drug targets, as several of the enzymes have been implicated in human diseases. The isopeptidase activity of DUBs can be selectively inhibited by targeting the catalytic site with drug-like compounds. Notably, the mammalian 26S proteasome is associated with three major DUBs: RPN11, UCH37 and USP14. Because the ubiquitin ‘chain-trimming’ activity of USP14 can inhibit proteasome function, inhibitors of USP14 can stimulate proteasomal degradation. We recently established a high-throughput screening (HTS) method to discover small-molecule inhibitors specific for USP14. The protocols in this article cover the necessary procedures for preparing assay reagents, performing HTS for USP14 inhibitors, and carrying out post-HTS analysis. PMID:23788557

The application of high temperature superconductors to space electrical power distribution components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aron, Paul R.; Myers, Ira T.

1988-01-01

Some important space based electrical power distribution systems and components are examined to determine what might be achieved with the introduction of high temperature superconductors (HTS). Components that are compared in a before-and-after fashion include transformers, transmission lines, and capacitors. It is concluded that HTS has its greatest effect on the weight associated with transmission lines, where the weight penalty could be reduced by as much as 130 kg/kW/km of cable. Transformers, because 28 percent of their mass is in the conductor, are reduced in weight by the same factor. Capacitors are helped the least with only negligible savings possible. Finally, because HTS can relax the requirement to use alternating current in order to reduce conductor mass, it will be possible to generate significant savings by eliminating most transformers and capacitors.

Quench Detection and Protection of an HTS Coil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheehan, Evan; Pfotenhauer, John; Miller, Franklin; Christianson, Owen

2017-12-01

A pulsed, modular HTS magnet for energy storage applications was constructed and tested. Charge and discharge pulses were accomplished in about 1 second. A recuperative cryogenic cooling system supplies 42 to 80 Kelvin helium gas to the magnet. A practical solution to overvoltage and overcurrent protection has been implemented digitally using LabVIEW. Voltages as little as 46 μV greater than the expected value trigger the protection system, which stops the pulse profile and begins an immediate current ramp down to zero over 1 second. The protection system has displayed its effectiveness in HTS transition detection and damage prevention. Experimentation has demonstrated that current pulses on the order of seconds with amplitudes of up to 110 Amps can be achieved for extended periods. Higher currents produce joint heating in excess of the available cooling from the existing cryogenic system.

A method to enhance the curve negotiation performance of HTS Maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, T.; Gou, Y. F.; Deng, Z. G.; Zheng, J.; Zheng, B. T.; Chen, P.

2015-09-01

High temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev has attracted more and more attention due to its special self-stable characteristic, and much work has been done to achieve its actual application, but the research about the curve negotiation is not systematic and comprehensive. In this paper, we focused on the change of the lateral displacements of the Maglev vehicle when going through curves under different velocities, and studied the change of the electromagnetic forces through experimental methods. Experimental results show that setting an appropriate initial eccentric distance (ED), which is the distance between the center of the bulk unit and the center of the permanent magnet guideway (PMG), when cooling the bulks is favorable for the Maglev system’s curve negotiation. This work will provide some available suggestions for improving the curve negotiation performance of the HTS Maglev system.

Influence of B4C-doping and high-energy ball milling on phase formation and critical current density of (Bi,Pb)-2223 HTS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Margiani, N. G.; Mumladze, G. A.; Adamia, Z. A.; Kuzanyan, A. S.; Zhghamadze, V. V.

2018-05-01

In this paper, the combined effects of B4C-doping and planetary ball milling on the phase evolution, microstructure and transport properties of Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy(B4C)x HTS with x = 0 ÷ 0.125 were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), resistivity and critical current density measurements. Obtained results have shown that B4C additive leads to the strong acceleration of high-Tc phase formation and substantial enhancement in Jc. High-energy ball milling seems to produce a more homogeneous distribution of refined doped particles in the (Bi,Pb)-2223 HTS which results in an improved intergranular flux pinning and better self-field Jc performance.

High-throughput sequencing in veterinary infection biology and diagnostics.

PubMed

Belák, S; Karlsson, O E; Leijon, M; Granberg, F

2013-12-01

Sequencing methods have improved rapidly since the first versions of the Sanger techniques, facilitating the development of very powerful tools for detecting and identifying various pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and other microbes. The ongoing development of high-throughput sequencing (HTS; also known as next-generation sequencing) technologies has resulted in a dramatic reduction in DNA sequencing costs, making the technology more accessible to the average laboratory. In this White Paper of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Centre for the Biotechnology-based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Medicine (Uppsala, Sweden), several approaches and examples of HTS are summarised, and their diagnostic applicability is briefly discussed. Selected future aspects of HTS are outlined, including the need for bioinformatic resources, with a focus on improving the diagnosis and control of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine.

The application of high temperature superconductors to space electrical power distribution components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aron, Paul R.; Myers, Ira T.

1988-01-01

Some important space based electrical power distribution systems and components are examined to determine what might be achieved with the introduction of high temperature superconductors (HTS). Components that are compared in a before and after fashion include transformers, transmission lines, and capacitors. It is concluded that HTS has its greatest effect on the weight associated with transmission lines, where the weight penalty could be reduced by as much as 130 kg/kW/km of cable. Transformers, because 28 percent of their mass is in the conductor, are reduced in weight by the same factor. Capacitors are helped the least with only negligible savings possible. Finally, because HTS can relax the requirement to use alternating current in order to reduce conductor mass, it will be possible to generate significant savings by eliminating most transformers and capacitors.

HTS Fabry-Perot resonators for the far infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keller, Philipp; Prenninger, Martin; Pechen, Evgeny V.; Renk, Karl F.

1996-06-01

We report on far infrared (FIR) Fabry-Perot resonators (FPR) with high temperature superconductor (HTS) thin films as mirrors. For the fabrication of FPR we use two parallel MgO plates covered with YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films on adjacent sides. We have measured the far-infrared transmissivity at 10 K with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Very sharp resonances can be observed for frequencies below 6 THz where the MgO is transparent. The finesse (width of the first order resonance) is comparable to the FPR with metallic meshes as reflectors that are applied in the FIR spectroscopy and astronomy. We have also shown that thin films of gold are not adequate substitute to HTS thin films and not suitable for the fabrication of high-quality FPR due to the ohmic losses.

Ty1-copia elements reveal diverse insertion sites linked to polymorphisms among flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) accessions.

PubMed

Galindo-González, Leonardo; Mhiri, Corinne; Grandbastien, Marie-Angèle; Deyholos, Michael K

2016-12-07

Initial characterization of the flax genome showed that Ty1-copia retrotransposons are abundant, with several members being recently inserted, and in close association with genes. Recent insertions indicate a potential for ongoing transpositional activity that can create genomic diversity among accessions, cultivars or varieties. The polymorphisms generated constitute a good source of molecular markers that may be associated with phenotype if the insertions alter gene activity. Flax, where accessions are bred mainly for seed nutritional properties or for fibers, constitutes a good model for studying the relationship of transpositional activity with diversification and breeding. In this study, we estimated copy number and used a type of transposon display known as Sequence-Specific Amplification Polymorphisms (SSAPs), to characterize six families of Ty1-copia elements across 14 flax accessions. Polymorphic insertion sites were sequenced to find insertions that could potentially alter gene expression, and a preliminary test was performed with selected genes bearing transposable element (TE) insertions. Quantification of six families of Ty1-copia elements indicated different abundances among TE families and between flax accessions, which suggested diverse transpositional histories. SSAPs showed a high level of polymorphism in most of the evaluated retrotransposon families, with a trend towards higher levels of polymorphism in low-copy number families. Ty1-copia insertion polymorphisms among cultivars allowed a general distinction between oil and fiber types, and between spring and winter types, demonstrating their utility in diversity studies. Characterization of polymorphic insertions revealed an overwhelming association with genes, with insertions disrupting exons, introns or within 1 kb of coding regions. A preliminary test on the potential transcriptional disruption by TEs of four selected genes evaluated in three different tissues, showed one case of significant impact of the insertion on gene expression. We demonstrated that specific Ty1-copia families have been active since breeding commenced in flax. The retrotransposon-derived polymorphism can be used to separate flax types, and the close association of many insertions with genes defines a good source of potential mutations that could be associated with phenotypic changes, resulting in diversification processes.

Evaluation of Series T22 Wet Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2017-01-01

Several types of advanced wet tantalum capacitors, and series T22 in particular, are designed without internal Teflon sealing that is used for military grade, CLR style capacitors. This raises concerns regarding hermeticity of the single seal parts and their capability to withstand high internal gas pressures that might develop during operation in space. To address these issues, T22 series capacitors rated to 50 V and 125 V were subjected to highly accelerated life testing (HALT) at 125 C and rated voltage and step stress random vibration testing (RVT). To simulate conditions of storage or operation under increased internal gas pressure, the parts were stored at temperature of 150 C for 2500 hr (HTS150). Electrical characteristics of the parts were measured through the storage testing and the hermeticity leak rate was tested before and after HTS150. To assess thermo-mechanical robustness of the part, capacitors were manually soldered onto printed wired boards (PWB) and stressed by 1000 temperature cycles between -55 C and +125 C. The effect of temperature cycling was assessed by additional HALT at different temperatures. Results show that T22 series capacitors have robust design and can satisfy requirements for space applications.

Mammalian Cell-Based Sensor System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Pratik; Franz, Briana; Bhunia, Arun K.

Use of living cells or cellular components in biosensors is receiving increased attention and opens a whole new area of functional diagnostics. The term "mammalian cell-based biosensor" is designated to biosensors utilizing mammalian cells as the biorecognition element. Cell-based assays, such as high-throughput screening (HTS) or cytotoxicity testing, have already emerged as dependable and promising approaches to measure the functionality or toxicity of a compound (in case of HTS); or to probe the presence of pathogenic or toxigenic entities in clinical, environmental, or food samples. External stimuli or changes in cellular microenvironment sometimes perturb the "normal" physiological activities of mammalian cells, thus allowing CBBs to screen, monitor, and measure the analyte-induced changes. The advantage of CBBs is that they can report the presence or absence of active components, such as live pathogens or active toxins. In some cases, mammalian cells or plasma membranes are used as electrical capacitors and cell-cell and cell-substrate contact is measured via conductivity or electrical impedance. In addition, cytopathogenicity or cytotoxicity induced by pathogens or toxins resulting in apoptosis or necrosis could be measured via optical devices using fluorescence or luminescence. This chapter focuses mainly on the type and applications of different mammalian cell-based sensor systems.

Status and Progress of a Fault Current Limiting Hts Cable to BE Installed in the con EDISON Grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maguire, J.; Folts, D.; Yuan, J.; Henderson, N.; Lindsay, D.; Knoll, D.; Rey, C.; Duckworth, R.; Gouge, M.; Wolff, Z.; Kurtz, S.

2010-04-01

In the last decade, significant advances in the performance of second generation (2G) high temperature superconducting wire have made it suitable for commercially viable applications such as electric power cables and fault current limiters. Currently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is co-funding the design, development and demonstration of an inherently fault current limiting HTS cable under the Hydra project with American Superconductor and Consolidated Edison. The cable will be approximately 300 m long and is being designed to carry 96 MVA at a distribution level voltage of 13.8 kV. The underground cable will be installed and energized in New York City. The project is led by American Superconductor teamed with Con Edison, Ultera (Southwire and nkt cables joint venture), and Air Liquide. This paper describes the general goals, design criteria, status and progress of the project. Fault current limiting has already been demonstrated in 3 m prototype cables, and test results on a 25 m three-phase cable will be presented. An overview of the concept of a fault current limiting cable and the system advantages of this unique type of cable will be described.

Environmental microbiology through the lens of high-throughput DNA sequencing: synopsis of current platforms and bioinformatics approaches.

PubMed

Logares, Ramiro; Haverkamp, Thomas H A; Kumar, Surendra; Lanzén, Anders; Nederbragt, Alexander J; Quince, Christopher; Kauserud, Håvard

2012-10-01

The incursion of High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) in environmental microbiology brings unique opportunities and challenges. HTS now allows a high-resolution exploration of the vast taxonomic and metabolic diversity present in the microbial world, which can provide an exceptional insight on global ecosystem functioning, ecological processes and evolution. This exploration has also economic potential, as we will have access to the evolutionary innovation present in microbial metabolisms, which could be used for biotechnological development. HTS is also challenging the research community, and the current bottleneck is present in the data analysis side. At the moment, researchers are in a sequence data deluge, with sequencing throughput advancing faster than the computer power needed for data analysis. However, new tools and approaches are being developed constantly and the whole process could be depicted as a fast co-evolution between sequencing technology, informatics and microbiologists. In this work, we examine the most popular and recently commercialized HTS platforms as well as bioinformatics methods for data handling and analysis used in microbial metagenomics. This non-exhaustive review is intended to serve as a broad state-of-the-art guide to researchers expanding into this rapidly evolving field. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-Throughput Screening by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HTS by NMR) for the Identification of PPIs Antagonists.

PubMed

Wu, Bainan; Barile, Elisa; De, Surya K; Wei, Jun; Purves, Angela; Pellecchia, Maurizio

2015-01-01

In recent years the ever so complex field of drug discovery has embraced novel design strategies based on biophysical fragment screening (fragment-based drug design; FBDD) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and/or structure-guided approaches, most often using X-ray crystallography and computer modeling. Experience from recent years unveiled that these methods are more effective and less prone to artifacts compared to biochemical high-throughput screening (HTS) of large collection of compounds in designing protein inhibitors. Hence these strategies are increasingly becoming the most utilized in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Nonetheless, there is still an impending need to develop innovative and effective strategies to tackle other more challenging targets such as those involving protein-protein interactions (PPIs). While HTS strategies notoriously fail to identify viable hits against such targets, few successful examples of PPIs antagonists derived by FBDD strategies exist. Recently, we reported on a new strategy that combines some of the basic principles of fragment-based screening with combinatorial chemistry and NMR-based screening. The approach, termed HTS by NMR, combines the advantages of combinatorial chemistry and NMR-based screening to rapidly and unambiguously identify bona fide inhibitors of PPIs. This review will reiterate the critical aspects of the approach with examples of possible applications.

High-throughput screening by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HTS by NMR) for the identification of PPIs antagonists

PubMed Central

Wu, Bainan; Barile, Elisa; De, Surya K.; Wei, Jun; Purves, Angela; Pellecchia, Maurizio

2015-01-01

In recent years the ever so complex field of drug discovery has embraced novel design strategies based on biophysical fragment screening (fragment-based drug design; FBDD) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and/or structure-guided approaches, most often using X-ray crystallography and computer modeling. Experience from recent years unveiled that these methods are more effective and less prone to artifacts compared to biochemical high-throughput screening (HTS) of large collection of compounds in designing protein inhibitors. Hence these strategies are increasingly becoming the most utilized in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Nonetheless, there is still an impending need to develop innovative and effective strategies to tackle other more challenging targets such as those involving protein-protein interactions (PPIs). While HTS strategies notoriously fail to identify viable hits against such targets, few successful examples of PPIs antagonists derived by FBDD strategies exist. Recently, we reported on a new strategy that combines some of the basic principles of fragment-based screening with combinatorial chemistry and NMR-based screening. The approach, termed HTS by NMR, combines the advantages of combinatorial chemistry and NMR-based screening to rapidly and unambiguously identify bona fide inhibitors of PPIs. This review will reiterate the critical aspects of the approach with examples of possible applications. PMID:25986689

In vivo MR imaging of the human skin at subnanoliter resolution using a superconducting surface coil at 1.5 Tesla.

PubMed

Laistler, Elmar; Poirier-Quinot, Marie; Lambert, Simon A; Dubuisson, Rose-Marie; Girard, Olivier M; Moser, Ewald; Darrasse, Luc; Ginefri, Jean-Christophe

2015-02-01

To demonstrate the feasibility of a highly sensitive superconducting surface coil for microscopic MRI of the human skin in vivo in a clinical 1.5 Tesla (T) scanner. A 12.4-mm high-temperature superconducting coil was used at 1.5T for phantom and in vivo skin imaging. Images were inspected to identify fine anatomical skin structures. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement by the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, as compared to a commercial MR microscopy coil was quantified from phantom imaging; the gain over a geometrically identical coil made from copper (cooled or not) was theoretically deduced. Noise sources were identified to evaluate the potential of HTS coils for future studies. In vivo skin images with isotropic 80 μm resolution were demonstrated revealing fine anatomical structures. The HTS coil improved SNR by a factor 32 over the reference coil in a nonloading phantom. For calf imaging, SNR gains of 380% and 30% can be expected over an identical copper coil at room temperature and 77 K, respectively. The high sensitivity of HTS coils allows for microscopic imaging of the skin at 1.5T and could serve as a tool for dermatology in a clinical setting. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Power dissipation in HTS coated conductor coils under the simultaneous action of AC and DC currents and fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Boyang; Li, Chao; Geng, Jianzhao; Zhang, Xiuchang; Gawith, James; Ma, Jun; Liu, Yingzhen; Grilli, Francesco; Coombs, T. A.

2018-07-01

This paper presents a comprehensive alternating current (AC) loss study of a circular high temperature superconductor (HTS) coated conductor coil. The AC losses from a circular double pancake coil were measured using the electrical method. A 2D axisymmetric H -formulation model using the FEM package in COMSOL Multiphysics has been established to match the circular geometry of the coil used in the experiment. Three scenarios have been analysed: Scenario 1 with AC transport current and DC magnetic field (experiment and simulation); Scenario 2 with DC transport current and AC magnetic field (simulation); and Scenario 3 with AC transport current and AC magnetic field (simulation and experimental data support). The angular dependence analysis on the coil under a magnetic field with different orientation angle θ has been carried out for all three scenarios. For Scenario 3, the effect of the relative phase difference Δφ between the AC current and the AC field on the total AC loss of the coil has been investigated. In summary, a current/field/angle/phase dependent AC loss ( I , B , θ, Δφ) study of a circular HTS coil has been carried out. The obtained results provide useful indications for the future design and research of HTS AC systems.

Low resistance splices for HTS devices and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lalitha, S. L.

This paper discusses the preparation methodology and performance evaluation of low resistance splices made of the second generation (2G) high-temperature superconductor (HTS). These splices are required in a broad spectrum of HTS devices including a large aperture, high-field solenoid built in the laboratory to demonstrate a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device. Several pancake coils are assembled in the form of a nested solenoid, and each coil requires a hundred meters or more of 2G (RE)BCO tape. However, commercial availability of this superconductor with a very uniform physical properties is currently limited to shorter piece lengths. This necessitates us havingmore » splices to inter-connect the tape pieces within a pancake coil, between adjacent pancake coils, and to attach HTS current leads to the magnet assembly. As a part of the optimization and qualification of splicing process, a systematic study was undertaken to analyze the electrical performance of splices in two different configurations suitable for this magnet assembly: lap joint and spiral joint. The electrical performance is quantified in terms of the resistance of splices estimated from the current-voltage characteristics. Finally, It has been demonstrated that a careful application of this splicing technique can generate lap joints with resistance less than 1 nΩ at 77 K.« less

Low resistance splices for HTS devices and applications

DOE PAGES

Lalitha, S. L.

2017-06-30

This paper discusses the preparation methodology and performance evaluation of low resistance splices made of the second generation (2G) high-temperature superconductor (HTS). These splices are required in a broad spectrum of HTS devices including a large aperture, high-field solenoid built in the laboratory to demonstrate a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device. Several pancake coils are assembled in the form of a nested solenoid, and each coil requires a hundred meters or more of 2G (RE)BCO tape. However, commercial availability of this superconductor with a very uniform physical properties is currently limited to shorter piece lengths. This necessitates us havingmore » splices to inter-connect the tape pieces within a pancake coil, between adjacent pancake coils, and to attach HTS current leads to the magnet assembly. As a part of the optimization and qualification of splicing process, a systematic study was undertaken to analyze the electrical performance of splices in two different configurations suitable for this magnet assembly: lap joint and spiral joint. The electrical performance is quantified in terms of the resistance of splices estimated from the current-voltage characteristics. Finally, It has been demonstrated that a careful application of this splicing technique can generate lap joints with resistance less than 1 nΩ at 77 K.« less

Metabarcoding analysis of strongylid nematode diversity in two sympatric primate species.

PubMed

Pafčo, Barbora; Čížková, Dagmar; Kreisinger, Jakub; Hasegawa, Hideo; Vallo, Peter; Shutt, Kathryn; Todd, Angelique; Petrželková, Klára J; Modrý, David

2018-04-12

Strongylid nematodes in large terrestrial herbivores such as great apes, equids, elephants, and humans tend to occur in complex communities. However, identification of all species within strongylid communities using traditional methods based on coproscopy or single nematode amplification and sequencing is virtually impossible. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies provide opportunities to generate large amounts of sequence data and enable analyses of samples containing a mixture of DNA from multiple species/genotypes. We designed and tested an HTS approach for strain-level identification of gastrointestinal strongylids using ITS-2 metabarcoding at the MiSeq Illumina platform in samples from two free-ranging non-human primate species inhabiting the same environment, but differing significantly in their host traits and ecology. Although we observed overlapping of particular haplotypes, overall the studied primate species differed in their strongylid nematode community composition. Using HTS, we revealed hidden diversity in the strongylid nematode communities in non-human primates, more than one haplotype was found in more than 90% of samples and coinfections of more than one putative species occurred in 80% of samples. In conclusion, the HTS approach on strongylid nematodes, preferably using fecal samples, represents a time and cost-efficient way of studying strongylid communities and provides a resolution superior to traditional approaches.

Design of a 100 kVA high temperature superconducting demonstration synchronous generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Mosawi, M. K.; Beduz, C.; Goddard, K.; Sykulski, J. K.; Yang, Y.; Xu, B.; Ship, K. S.; Stoll, R.; Stephen, N. G.

2002-08-01

The paper presents the main features of a 100 kVA high temperature superconducting (HTS) demonstrator generator, which is designed and being built at the University of Southampton. The generator is a 2-pole synchronous machine with a conventional 3-phase stator and a HTS rotor operating in the temperature range 57-77 K using either liquid nitrogen down to 65 K or liquid air down to 57 K. Liquid air has not been used before in the refrigeration of HTS devices but has recently been commercialised by BOC as a safe alternative to nitrogen for use in freezing of food. The generator will use an existing stator with a bore of 330 mm. The rotor is designed with a magnetic core (invar) to reduce the magnetising current and the field in the coils. For ease of manufacture, a hybrid salient pole construction is used, and the superconducting winding consists of twelve 50-turn identical flat coils. Magnetic invar rings will be used between adjacent HTS coils of the winding to divert the normal component of the magnetic field away from the Bi2223 superconducting tapes. To avoid excessive eddy-current losses in the rotor pole faces, a cold copper screen will be placed around the rotor core to exclude ac magnetic fields.

Ranking the selectivity of PubChem screening hits by activity-based protein profiling: MMP13 as a case study.

PubMed

Nakai, Ryuichiro; Salisbury, Cleo M; Rosen, Hugh; Cravatt, Benjamin F

2009-02-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) has become an integral part of academic and industrial efforts aimed at developing new chemical probes and drugs. These screens typically generate several 'hits', or lead active compounds, that must be prioritized for follow-up medicinal chemistry studies. Among primary considerations for ranking lead compounds is selectivity for the intended target, especially among mechanistically related proteins. Here, we show how the chemical proteomic technology activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) can serve as a universal assay to rank HTS hits based on their selectivity across many members of an enzyme superfamily. As a case study, four metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) inhibitors of similar potency originating from a publically supported HTS and reported in PubChem were tested by ABPP for selectivity against a panel of 27 diverse metalloproteases. The inhibitors could be readily separated into two groups: (1) those that were active against several metalloproteases and (2) those that showed high selectivity for MMP13. The latter set of inhibitors was thereby designated as more suitable for future medicinal chemistry optimization. We anticipate that ABPP will find general utility as a platform to rank the selectivity of lead compounds emerging from HTS assays for a wide variety of enzymes.

Cuprate High Temperature Superconductors and the Vision for Room Temperature Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newns, Dennis M.; Martyna, Glenn J.; Tsuei, Chang C.

Superconducting transition temperatures of 164 K in cuprate high temperature superconductors (HTS) and recently 200 K in H3S under high pressure encourage us to believe that room temperature superconductivity (RTS) might be possible. In considering paths to RTS, we contrast conventional (BCS) SC, such as probably manifested by H3S, with the unconventional superconductivity (SC) in the cuprate HTS family. Turning to SC models, we show that in the presence of one or more van Hove singularities (vHs) near the Fermi level, SC mediated by classical phonons (kBTc>ℏ×phonon frequency) can occur. The phonon frequency in the standard Tc formula is replaced by an electronic cutoff, enabling a much higher Tc independent of phonon frequency. The resulting Tc and isotope shift plot versus doping strongly resembles that seen experimentally in HTS. A more detailed theory of HTS, which involves mediation by classical phonons, satisfactorily reproduces the chief anomalous features characteristic of these materials. We propose that, while a path to RTS through an H3S-like scenario via strongly-coupled ultra-high frequency phonons is attractive, features perhaps unavailable at ordinary pressures, a route involving SC mediated by classical phonons which can be low frequency may be found.

Glass precursor approach to high-temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.

1992-01-01

The available studies on the synthesis of high T sub c superconductors (HTS) via the glass precursor approach were reviewed. Melts of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system as well as those doped with oxides of some other elements (Pb, Al, V, Te, Nb, etc.) could be quenched into glasses which, on further heat treatments under appropriate conditions, crystallized into the superconducting phase(s). The nature of the HTS phase(s) formed depends on the annealing temperature, time, atmosphere, and the cooling rate and also on the glass composition. Long term annealing was needed to obtain a large fraction of the 110 K phase. The high T sub c phase did not crystallize out directly from the glass matrix, but was preceded by the precipitation of other phases. The 110 K HTS was produced at high temperatures by reaction between the phases formed at lower temperatures resulting in multiphase material. The presence of a glass former such as B2O3 was necessary for the Y-Ba-Cu-O melt to form a glass on fast cooling. A discontinuous YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) HTS phase crystallized out on heat treatment of this glass. Attempts to prepare Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O system in the glassy state were not successful.

Accurate Sample Assignment in a Multiplexed, Ultrasensitive, High-Throughput Sequencing Assay for Minimal Residual Disease.

PubMed

Bartram, Jack; Mountjoy, Edward; Brooks, Tony; Hancock, Jeremy; Williamson, Helen; Wright, Gary; Moppett, John; Goulden, Nick; Hubank, Mike

2016-07-01

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) (next-generation sequencing) of the rearranged Ig and T-cell receptor genes promises to be less expensive and more sensitive than current methods of monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the adoption of new approaches by clinical laboratories requires careful evaluation of all potential sources of error and the development of strategies to ensure the highest accuracy. Timely and efficient clinical use of HTS platforms will depend on combining multiple samples (multiplexing) in each sequencing run. Here we examine the Ig heavy-chain gene HTS on the Illumina MiSeq platform for MRD. We identify errors associated with multiplexing that could potentially impact the accuracy of MRD analysis. We optimize a strategy that combines high-purity, sequence-optimized oligonucleotides, dual indexing, and an error-aware demultiplexing approach to minimize errors and maximize sensitivity. We present a probability-based, demultiplexing pipeline Error-Aware Demultiplexer that is suitable for all MiSeq strategies and accurately assigns samples to the correct identifier without excessive loss of data. Finally, using controls quantified by digital PCR, we show that HTS-MRD can accurately detect as few as 1 in 10(6) copies of specific leukemic MRD. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantitative High-Throughput Identification of Drugs as Modulators of Human Constitutive Androstane Receptor

PubMed Central

Lynch, Caitlin; Zhao, Jinghua; Huang, Ruili; Xiao, Jingwei; Li, Linhao; Heyward, Scott; Xia, Menghang; Wang, Hongbing

2015-01-01

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3) plays a key role in governing the transcription of numerous hepatic genes that involve xenobiotic metabolism/clearance, energy homeostasis, and cell proliferation. Thus, identification of novel human CAR (hCAR) modulators may not only enhance early prediction of drug-drug interactions but also offer potentially novel therapeutics for diseases such as metabolic disorders and cancer. In this study, we have generated a double stable cell line expressing both hCAR and a CYP2B6-driven luciferase reporter for quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) of hCAR modulators. Approximately 2800 compounds from the NIH Chemical Genomics Center Pharmaceutical Collection were screened employing both the activation and deactivation modes of the qHTS. Activators (115) and deactivators (152) of hCAR were identified from the primary qHTS, among which 10 agonists and 10 antagonists were further validated in the physiologically relevant human primary hepatocytes for compound-mediated hCAR nuclear translocation and target gene expression. Collectively, our results reveal that hCAR modulators can be efficiently identified through this newly established qHTS assay. Profiling drug collections for hCAR activity would facilitate the prediction of metabolism-based drug-drug interactions, and may lead to the identification of potential novel therapeutics. PMID:25993555

Optimization of HTS superconducting magnetic energy storage magnet volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korpela, Aki; Lehtonen, Jorma; Mikkonen, Risto

2003-08-01

Nonlinear optimization problems in the field of electromagnetics have been successfully solved by means of sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and the finite element method (FEM). For example, the combination of SQP and FEM has been proven to be an efficient tool in the optimization of low temperature superconductors (LTS) superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) magnets. The procedure can also be applied for the optimization of HTS magnets. However, due to a strongly anisotropic material and a slanted electric field, current density characteristic high temperature superconductors HTS optimization is quite different from that of the LTS. In this paper the volumes of solenoidal conduction-cooled Bi-2223/Ag SMES magnets have been optimized at the operation temperature of 20 K. In addition to the electromagnetic constraints the stress caused by the tape bending has also been taken into account. Several optimization runs with different initial geometries were performed in order to find the best possible solution for a certain energy requirement. The optimization constraints describe the steady-state operation, thus the presented coil geometries are designed for slow ramping rates. Different energy requirements were investigated in order to find the energy dependence of the design parameters of optimized solenoidal HTS coils. According to the results, these dependences can be described with polynomial expressions.

Low resistance splices for HTS devices and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalitha, S. L.

2017-09-01

This paper discusses the preparation methodology and performance evaluation of low resistance splices made of the second generation (2G) high-temperature superconductor (HTS). These splices are required in a broad spectrum of HTS devices including a large aperture, high-field solenoid built in the laboratory to demonstrate a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device. Several pancake coils are assembled in the form of a nested solenoid, and each coil requires a hundred meters or more of 2G (RE)BCO tape. However, commercial availability of this superconductor with a very uniform physical properties is currently limited to shorter piece lengths. This necessitates us having splices to inter-connect the tape pieces within a pancake coil, between adjacent pancake coils, and to attach HTS current leads to the magnet assembly. As a part of the optimization and qualification of splicing process, a systematic study was undertaken to analyze the electrical performance of splices in two different configurations suitable for this magnet assembly: lap joint and spiral joint. The electrical performance is quantified in terms of the resistance of splices estimated from the current-voltage characteristics. It has been demonstrated that a careful application of this splicing technique can generate lap joints with resistance less than 1 nΩ at 77 K.

An accurate bacterial DNA quantification assay for HTS library preparation of human biological samples.

PubMed

Seashols-Williams, Sarah; Green, Raquel; Wohlfahrt, Denise; Brand, Angela; Tan-Torres, Antonio Limjuco; Nogales, Francy; Brooks, J Paul; Singh, Baneshwar

2018-05-17

Sequencing and classification of microbial taxa within forensically relevant biological fluids has the potential for applications in the forensic science and biomedical fields. The quantity of bacterial DNA from human samples is currently estimated based on quantity of total DNA isolated. This method can miscalculate bacterial DNA quantity due to the mixed nature of the sample, and consequently library preparation is often unreliable. We developed an assay that can accurately and specifically quantify bacterial DNA within a mixed sample for reliable 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) library preparation and high throughput sequencing (HTS). A qPCR method was optimized using universal 16S rDNA primers, and a commercially available bacterial community DNA standard was used to develop a precise standard curve. Following qPCR optimization, 16S rDNA libraries from saliva, vaginal and menstrual secretions, urine, and fecal matter were amplified and evaluated at various DNA concentrations; successful HTS data were generated with as low as 20 pg of bacterial DNA. Changes in bacterial DNA quantity did not impact observed relative abundances of major bacterial taxa, but relative abundance changes of minor taxa were observed. Accurate quantification of microbial DNA resulted in consistent, successful library preparations for HTS analysis. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Superconductor bearings, flywheels and transportation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werfel, F. N.; Floegel-Delor, U.; Rothfeld, R.; Riedel, T.; Goebel, B.; Wippich, D.; Schirrmeister, P.

2012-01-01

This paper describes the present status of high temperature superconductors (HTS) and of bulk superconducting magnet devices, their use in bearings, in flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) and linear transport magnetic levitation (Maglev) systems. We report and review the concepts of multi-seeded REBCO bulk superconductor fabrication. The multi-grain bulks increase the averaged trapped magnetic flux density up to 40% compared to single-grain assembly in large-scale applications. HTS magnetic bearings with permanent magnet (PM) excitation were studied and scaled up to maximum forces of 10 kN axially and 4.5 kN radially. We examine the technology of the high-gradient magnetic bearing concept and verify it experimentally. A large HTS bearing is tested for stabilizing a 600 kg rotor of a 5 kWh/250 kW flywheel system. The flywheel rotor tests show the requirement for additional damping. Our compact flywheel system is compared with similar HTS-FESS projects. A small-scale compact YBCO bearing with in situ Stirling cryocooler is constructed and investigated for mobile applications. Next we show a successfully developed modular linear Maglev system for magnetic train operation. Each module levitates 0.25t at 10 mm distance during one-day operation without refilling LN2. More than 30 vacuum cryostats containing multi-seeded YBCO blocks are fabricated and are tested now in Germany, China and Brazil.

Study on stability of rake teeth inserting soil of chain rake type mulching film recovery machine based on Adams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Wensong; Jian, Jianming; San, Yunlong; Lui, Rui; Li, Gang; Hou, Shulin

2017-08-01

Traditional rake type mulching film recycling machine has the problem of difficulty in unloading and packing film, poor continuity of the work. In order to solve such problems, this paper designs a kind of chain rake type mulching film recycling machine which can realize continuous raking film, collecting film, transporting film, shaking off soil, unloading film. Rake teeth is the basic part of chain rake mulching recycling machine. The stability of rake teeth's inserting soil is an important factor to ensure recovery efficiency of the plastic film recovery. By virtual prototype simulation, this paper study the influence of different factors on the stability of rake teeth inserting soil. The results are as follows: The speed of chain rake has no significant effect on the stability of rake teeth inserting soil; Reducing resistance of rake teeth in the process of working, is conducive to improve the stability of rake teeth inserting soil; Appropriate increasing elastic modulus of chain rake, is helpful to enhance the stability of rake teeth inserting soil.

High Radiation Environment Nuclear Fragment Separator Magnet

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kahn, Stephen; Gupta, Ramesh

2016-01-31

Superconducting coils wound with HTS conductor can be used in magnets located in a high radiation environment. NbTi and Nb 3Sn superconductors must operate at 4.5 K or below where removal of heat is less efficient. The HTS conductor can carry significant current at higher temperatures where the Carnot efficiency is significantly more favorable and where the coolant heat capacity is much larger. Using the HTS conductor the magnet can be operated at 40 K. This project examines the use of HTS conductor for the Michigan State University Facility For Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) fragment separator dipole magnet which bendsmore » the beam by 30° and is located in a high radiation region that will not be easily accessible. Two of these magnets are needed to select the chosen isotope. There are a number of technical challenges to be addressed in the design of this magnet. The separator dipole is 2 m long and subtends a large angle. The magnet should keep a constant transverse field profile along its beam reference path. Winding coils with a curved inner segment is difficult as the conductor will tend to unwind during the process. In the Phase I project two approaches to winding the conductor were examined. The first was to wind the coils with curved sections on the inner and outer segments with the inner segment wound with negative curvature. The alternate approach was to use a straight segment on the inner segment to avoid negative curvature. In Phase I coils with a limited number of turns were successfully wound and tested at 77 K for both coil configurations. The Phase II program concentrated on the design, coil winding procedures, structural analysis, prototyping and testing of an HTS curved dipole coil at 40 K with a heat load representative of the radiation environment. One of the key criteria of the design of this magnet is to avoid the use of organic materials that would degrade rapidly in radiation. The Lorentz forces expected from the coils interacting with the magnetic field are large and in order minimize the deformation of the coils, mechanical support must be provided. Since the support structure cannot be made of organic materials with minimal thermal conductivity, an optimization was explored comparing the amount of coil deformation that can be tolerated and the amount of heat leakage that can be endured. A test coil containing 500 m of HTS was constructed to be tested at the 40 K operating temperature. The anticipated heat load was simulated with heater strips to demonstrate that the heat could be removed and that the coil can operate in a stable state. The FRIB project has decided that using HTS coils for this magnet was too risky considering their time and funding constraints and has opted for a more conservative approach with conventional coils. As an outcome of this STTR project, it is likely that HTS coils operating at higher temperatures will have beneficial applications for future accelerator projects.« less

Anatomical Footprint of the Tibialis Anterior Tendon: Surgical Implications for Foot and Ankle Reconstructions.

PubMed

Willegger, Madeleine; Seyidova, Nargiz; Schuh, Reinhard; Windhager, Reinhard; Hirtler, Lena

2017-01-01

This study aimed to analyze precisely the dimensions, shapes, and variations of the insertional footprints of the tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) at the medial cuneiform (MC) and first metatarsal (MT1) base. Forty-one formalin-fixed human cadaveric specimens were dissected. After preparation of the TAT footprint, standardized photographs were made and the following parameters were evaluated: the footprint length, width, area of insertion, dorsoplantar location, shape, and additional tendon slips. Twenty feet (48.8%) showed an equal insertion at the MC and MT1, another 20 feet (48.8%) had a wide insertion at the MC and a narrow insertion at the MT1, and 1 foot (2.4%) demonstrated a narrow insertion at the MC and a wide insertion at the MT1. Additional tendon slips inserting at the metatarsal shaft were found in two feet (4.8%). Regarding the dorsoplantar orientation, the footprints were located medial in 29 feet (70.7%) and medioplantar in 12 feet (29.3%). The most common shape at the MT1 base was the crescent type (75.6%) and the oval type at the MC (58.5%). The present study provided more detailed data on the dimensions and morphologic types of the tibialis anterior tendon footprint. The established anatomical data may allow for a safer surgical preparation and a more anatomical reconstruction.

Building Structure Feature-based Models for Predicting Isoform-specific Human Cytochrome P-450 (hCYP 3A4, 2D6 and 2C9) Inhibition Assay Results in ToxCast

EPA Science Inventory

EPA’s ToxCast project is using high-throughput screening (HTS) to profile and prioritize chemicals for further testing. ToxCast Phase I evaluated 309 unique chemicals, the majority pesticide actives, in over 500 HTS assays. These included 3 human cytochrome P450 (hCYP3A4, hCYP2...

Naval Medical Research and Development News. Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2016

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

you are active or reserve, civilian, contractor , or volunteer - your reach spans the globe and you are an important part of fulfilling that trust...human health risk assessment rely on determination of biologically-effective concentrations in suites of in vitro high throughput screening ( HTS ...Dashboard (http:// actor.epa.gov/dashboard/) provides access to the results of more than 800 HTS in vitro assay endpoints for over 1800 chemicals

High voltage insulation of bushing for HTS power equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Woo-Jin; Choi, Jae-Hyeong; Kim, Sang-Hyun

2012-12-01

For the operation of high temperature superconducting (HTS) power equipments, it is necessary to develop insulating materials and high voltage (HV) insulation technology at cryogenic temperature of bushing. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is an attractive dielectric liquid. Also, the polymer insulating materials are expected to be used as solid materials such as glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon), Silicon (Si) rubber, aromatic polyamide (Nomex), EPDM/Silicon alloy compound (EPDM/Si). In this paper, the surface flashover characteristics of various insulating materials in LN2 are studied. These results are studied at both AC and impulse voltage under a non-uniform field. The use of GFRP and Teflon as insulation body for HTS bushing should be much desirable. Especially, GFRP is excellent material not only surface flashover characteristics but also mechanical characteristics at cryogenic temperature. The surface flashover is most serious problem for the shed design in LN2 and operation of superconducting equipments.

Operation and design selection of high temperature superconducting magnetic bearings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werfel, F. N.; Floegel-Delor, U.; Riedel, T.; Rothfeld, R.; Wippich, D.; Goebel, B.

2004-10-01

Axial and radial high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic bearings are evaluated by their parameters. Journal bearings possess advantages over thrust bearings. High magnetic gradients in a multi-pole permanent magnet (PM) configuration, the surrounding melt textured YBCO stator and adequate designs are the key features for increasing the overall bearing stiffness. The gap distance between rotor and stator determines the specific forces and has a strong impact on the PM rotor design. We report on the designing, building and measuring of a 200 mm prototype 100 kg HTS bearing with an encapsulated and thermally insulated melt textured YBCO ring stator. The encapsulation requires a magnetically large-gap (4-5 mm) operation but reduces the cryogenic effort substantially. The bearing requires 3 l of LN2 for cooling down, and about 0.2 l LN2 h-1 under operation. This is a dramatic improvement of the efficiency and in the practical usage of HTS magnetic bearings.

Response of Cr and Cr-Al coatings on Zircaloy-2 to high temperature steam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Weicheng; Mouche, Peter A.; Heuser, Brent J.

2018-01-01

The oxidation behavior of chromium (Cr) and chromium-aluminum (CrAl) coatings with various compositions deposited on Zircaloy-2 to 700 °C high-temperature steam (HTS) exposure has been investigated. CrAl coatings with higher Al compositions demonstrate lower oxidation weight gain. A layer of γ-alumina developed on the CrAl coatings with Al composition over 43 at%, while Al2O3 and Cr2O3 developed on CrAl coatings with Al composition below 33 at%. Oxidation of Zircaloy-2 substrate was inhibited by the 1um coatings to 20 h HTS exposure. Coating constituent elements diffused into the substrate and formed intermetallic phases with the Zircaloy substrate. Thicker layers of intermetallic phases developed on the coatings with higher Al composition. The intermetallic phases included Fe and Ni, indicating the dissolution of second phase particles (SPPs) during HTS exposure.

Current leads cooling for the series-connected hybrid magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Hongyu; Marshall, William S.; Bird, Mark D.; Gavrilin, Andrew V.; Weijers, Hubertus W.

2014-01-01

Two Series-Connected Hybrid (SCH) magnets are being developed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Both SCH magnets combine a set of resistive Florida-Bitter coils with a superconducting outsert coil constructed of the cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC). The outsert coils of the two magnets employ 20 kA BSCCO HTS current leads for the power supply although they have different designs and cooling methods. The copper heat exchangers of the HTS current leads for the HZB SCH are cooled with forced flow helium at a supply temperature of 44 K, while the copper heat exchangers of HTS current leads for NHMFL SCH are cooled with liquid nitrogen at a temperature of 78 K in a self-demand boil-off mode. This paper presents the two cooling methods and their impacts on cryogenic systems. Their efficiencies and costs are compared and presented.

A compact 3 T all HTS cryogen-free MRI system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parkinson, B. J.; Bouloukakis, K.; Slade, R. A.

2017-12-01

We have designed and built a passively shielded, cryogen-free 3 T 160 mm bore bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide HTS magnet with shielded gradient coils suitable for use in small animal imaging applications. The magnet is cooled to approximately 16 K using a two-stage cryocooler and is operated at 200 A. The magnet has been passively shimmed so as to achieve ±10 parts per million (ppm) homogeneity over a 60 mm diameter imaging volume. We have demonstrated that B 0 temporal stability is fit-for-purpose despite the magnet operating in the driven mode. The system has produced good quality spin-echo and gradient echo images. This compact HTS-MRI system is emerging as a true alternative to conventional low temperature superconductor based cryogen-free MRI systems, with much more efficient cryogenics since it operates entirely from a single phase alternating current electrical supply.

Development of Prototype HTS Components for Magnetic Suspension Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haldar, P.; Hoehn, J., Jr.; Selvamanickam, V.; Farrell, R. A.; Balachandran, U.; Iyer, A. N.; Peterson, E.; Salazar, K.

1996-01-01

We have concentrated on developing prototype lengths of bismuth and thallium based silver sheathed superconductors by the powder-in-tube approach to fabricate high temperature superconducting (HTS) components for magnetic suspension applications. Long lengths of mono and multi filament tapes are presently being fabricated with critical current densities useful for maglev and many other applications. We have recently demonstrated the prototype manufacture of lengths exceeding 1 km of Bi-2223 multi filament conductor. Long lengths of thallium based multi-filament conductor have also been fabricated with practical levels of critical current density and improved field dependence behavior. Test coils and magnets have been built from these lengths and characterized over a range of temperatures and background fields to determine their performance. Work is in progress to develop, fabricate and test HTS windings that will be suitable for magnetic suspension, levitation and other electric power related applications.

Feasibility of low-cost magnetic rail designs by integrating ferrite magnets and NdFeB magnets for HTS Maglev systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, R. X.; Deng, Z. G.; Gou, Y. F.; Li, Y. J.; Zheng, J.; Wang, S. Y.; Wang, J. S.

2015-09-01

Permanent magnet guideway (PMG) is an indispensable part of high temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev systems. Present PMGs are made of NdFeB magnets with excellent performance and cost much. As another permanent magnet material, the ferrite magnet is weak at magnetic energy product and coercive force, but inexpensive. So, it is a possible way to integrate the ferrite and NdFeB magnets for cutting down the cost of present PMGs. In the paper, the equivalent on magnetic field intensity between ferrite magnets and NdFeB magnets was evaluated by finite element simulation. According to the calculation results, the magnetic field of the PMG integrating ferrite magnets and NdFeB magnets can be increased remarkably comparing with the pure ferrite PMG. It indicates that low-cost PMG designs by integrating the two permanent magnet materials are feasible for the practical HTS Maglev system.

Method and apparatus of cryogenic cooling for high temperature superconductor devices

DOEpatents

Yuan, Xing; Mine, Susumu

2005-02-15

A method and apparatus for providing cryogenic cooling to HTS devices, in particular those that are used in high-voltage electric power applications. The method involves pressurizing liquid cryogen to above one atmospheric pressure to improve its dielectric strength, while sub-cooling the liquid cryogen to below its saturation temperature in order to improve the performance of the HTS components of the device. An apparatus utilizing such a cooling method consists of a vessel that contains a pressurized gaseous cryogen region and a sub-cooled liquid cryogen bath, a liquid cryogen heating coupled with a gaseous cryogen venting scheme to maintain the pressure of the cryogen to a value in a range that corresponds to optimum dielectric strength of the liquid cryogen, and a cooling system that maintains the liquid cryogen at a temperature below its boiling point to improve the performance of HTS materials used in the device.

Insert Concepts for the Material Science Research Rack (MSRR-1) of the Material Science Research Facility (MSRF) on the International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouch, Myscha; Carswell, Bill; Farmer, Jeff; Rose, Fred; Tidwell, Paul

2000-01-01

The Material Science Research Rack I (MSRR-1) of the Material Science Research Facility (MSRF) contains an Experiment Module (EM) being developed collaboratively by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). This NASA/ESA EM will accommodate several different removable and replaceable Module Inserts (MIs) which are installed on orbit NASA's planned inserts include the Quench Module Insert (QMI) and the Diffusion Module Insert (DMI). The QMI is a high-gradient Bridgman-type vacuum furnace with quench capabilities used for experiments on directional solidification of metal alloys. The DMI is a vacuum Bridgman-Stockbarger-type furnace for experiments on Fickian and Soret diffusion in liquids. This paper discusses specific design features and performance capabilities of each insert. The paper also presents current prototype QMI hardware analysis and testing activities and selected results.

Potent and Orally Bioavailable GPR142 Agonists as Novel Insulin Secretagogues for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

GPR142 is a G protein-coupled receptor that is predominantly expressed in pancreatic β-cells. GPR142 agonists stimulate insulin secretion in the presence of high glucose concentration, so that they could be novel insulin secretagogues with reduced or no risk of hypoglycemia. We report here the optimization of HTS hit compound 1 toward a proof of concept compound 33, which showed potent glucose lowering effects during an oral glucose tolerance test in mice and monkeys. PMID:24900747

Testing Cessation Messages for Cigarette Package Inserts: Findings from a Best/Worst Discrete Choice Experiment

PubMed Central

Thrasher, James F.; Davis, Rachel E.; Popova, Lucy; Cho, Yoo Jin; Salloum, Ramzi G.; Louviere, Jordan; Hammond, David

2018-01-01

This study assessed smokers’ responses to different smoking cessation topics and imagery for cigarette package inserts. Adult smokers from Canada (n = 1000) participated in three discrete choice experiments (DCEs): DCE 1 assessed five cessation benefit topics and five imagery types; DCE 2 assessed five messages with tips to improve cessation success and five imagery types; DCE 3 assessed four reproductive health benefits of cessation topics and four imagery types. In each DCE, participants evaluated four or five sets of four inserts, selecting the most and least motivating (DCEs 1 & 3) or helpful (DCE 2) for quitting. Linear mixed models regressed choices on insert and smoker characteristics. For DCE 1, the most motivating messages involved novel disease topics and imagery of younger women. For DCE 2, topics of social support, stress reduction and nicotine replacement therapy were selected as most helpful, with no differences by imagery type. For DCE 3, imagery influenced choices more than topic, with imagery of a family or a mom and baby selected as most motivating. Statistically significant interactions for all three experiments indicated that the influence of imagery type on choices depended on the message topic. Messages to promote smoking cessation through cigarette pack inserts should consider specific combinations of message topic and imagery. PMID:29415523

Comparison of the in vitro effects of saline, hypertonic hydroxyethyl starch, hypertonic saline, and two forms of hydroxyethyl starch on whole blood coagulation and platelet function in dogs.

PubMed

Wurlod, Virginie A; Howard, Judith; Francey, Thierry; Schweighauser, Ariane; Adamik, Katja N

2015-01-01

To compare the in vitro effects of hypertonic solutions and colloids to saline on coagulation in dogs. In vitro experimental study. Veterinary teaching hospital. Twenty-one adult dogs. Blood samples were diluted with saline, 7.2% hypertonic saline solution with 6% hydroxyethylstarch with an average molecular weight of 200 kDa and a molar substitution of 0.4 (HH), 7.2% hypertonic saline (HTS), hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 or hydroxyethyl starch 600/0.75 at ratios of 1:22 and 1:9, and with saline and HES at a ratio of 1:3. Whole blood coagulation was analyzed using rotational thromboelastometry (extrinsic thromboelastometry-cloting time (ExTEM-CT), maximal clot firmness (MCF) and clot formation time (CFT) and fibrinogen function TEM-CT (FibTEM-CT) and MCF) and platelet function was analyzed using a platelet function analyzer (closure time, CTPFA ). All parameters measured were impaired by saline dilution. The CTPFA was prolonged by 7.2% hypertonic saline solution with 6% hydroxyethylstarch with an average molecular weight of 200 kDa and a molar substitution of 0.4 (HH) and HTS but not by HES solutions. At clinical dilutions equivalent to those generally administered for shock (saline 1:3, HES 1:9, and hypertonic solutions 1:22), CTPFA was more prolonged by HH and HTS than other solutions but more by saline than HES. No difference was found between the HES solutions or the hypertonic solutions. ExTEM-CFT and MCF were impaired by HH and HTS but only mildly by HES solutions. At clinically relevant dilutions, no difference was found in ExTEM-CFT between HTS and saline or in ExTEM-MCF between HH and saline. No consistent difference was found between the 2 HES solutions but HH impaired ExTEM-CFT and MCF more than HTS. At high dilutions, FibTEM-CT and -MCF and ExTEM-CT were impaired by HES. Hypertonic solutions affect platelet function and whole blood coagulation to a greater extent than saline and HES. At clinically relevant dilutions, only CTPFA was markedly more affected by hypertonic solutions than by saline. At high dilutions, HES significantly affects coagulation but to no greater extent than saline at clinically relevant dilutions. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.

Discovery of Dual Inhibitors of MDM2 and XIAP for Cancer Treatment | Office of Cancer Genomics

Cancer.gov

MDM2 and XIAP are mutually regulated. Binding of MDM2 RING protein to the IRES region on XIAP mRNA results in MDM2 protein stabilization and enhanced XIAP translation. In this study, we developed a protein-RNA fluorescence polarization (FP) assay for high-throughput screening (HTS) of chemical libraries. Our FP-HTS identified eight inhibitors that blocked the MDM2 protein-XIAP RNA interaction, leading to MDM2 degradation.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konzen, Lance M. N.; Sefat, Athena S.

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped ‘parent’ materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which ‘dopants’ can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce ‘in-plane’ superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Passive radiative cooling of a HTS coil for attitude orbit control in micro-spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inamori, Takaya; Ozaki, Naoya; Saisutjarit, Phongsatorn; Ohsaki, Hiroyuki

2015-02-01

This paper proposes a novel radiative cooling system for a high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil for an attitude orbit control system in nano- and micro-spacecraft missions. These days, nano-spacecraft (1-10 kg) and micro-spacecraft (10-100 kg) provide space access to a broader range of spacecraft developers and attract interest as space development applications. In planetary and high earth orbits, most previous standard-size spacecraft used thrusters for their attitude and orbit control, which are not available for nano- and micro-spacecraft missions because of the strict power consumption, space, and weight constraints. This paper considers orbit and attitude control methods that use a superconducting coil, which interacts with on-orbit space plasmas and creates a propulsion force. Because these spacecraft cannot use an active cooling system for the superconducting coil because of their mass and power consumption constraints, this paper proposes the utilization of a passive radiative cooling system, in which the superconducting coil is thermally connected to the 3 K cosmic background radiation of deep space, insulated from the heat generation using magnetic holders, and shielded from the sun. With this proposed cooling system, the HTS coil is cooled to 60 K in interplanetary orbits. Because the system does not use refrigerators for its cooling system, the spacecraft can achieve an HTS coil with low power consumption, small mass, and low cost.

Effect of High Dietary Tryptophan on Intestinal Morphology and Tight Junction Protein of Weaned Pig.

PubMed

Tossou, Myrlene Carine B; Liu, Hongnan; Bai, Miaomiao; Chen, Shuai; Cai, Yinghua; Duraipandiyan, Veeramuthu; Liu, Hongbin; Adebowale, Tolulope O; Al-Dhabi, Naif Abdullah; Long, Lina; Tarique, Hussain; Oso, Abimbola O; Liu, Gang; Yin, Yulong

2016-01-01

Tryptophan (Trp) plays an essential role in pig behavior and growth performances. However, little is known about Trp's effects on tight junction barrier and intestinal health in weaned pigs. In the present study, twenty-four (24) weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with 8 piglets/treatments. The piglets were fed different amounts of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) as follows: 0.0%, 0.15, and 0.75%, respectively, named zero Trp (ZTS), low Trp (LTS), and high Trp (HTS), respectively. No significant differences were observed in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain: feed (G/F) ratio between the groups. After 21 days of the feeding trial, results showed that dietary Trp significantly increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) in the jejunum of pig fed HTS. In addition, pig fed HTS had higher (P < 0.05) serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate. Furthermore, pig fed HTS significantly decreased mRNA expression of tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1 but not claudin-1 in the jejunum. The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the groups. Collectively, these data suggest that dietary Trp supplementation at a certain level (0.75%) may negatively affect the small intestinal structure in weaned pig.

In Vitro Toxicity Assessment Technique for Volatile ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with evaluating the human health, environmental, and wildlife effects of over 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the environment and commerce. The challenge is that sparse chemical data exists; traditional toxicity testing methods are slow, costly, involve animal studies, and cannot keep up with a chemical registry that typically grows by at least 1000 chemicals every year. In recent years, High Throughput Screening (HTS) has been used in order to prioritize chemicals for traditional toxicity screening or to complement traditional toxicity studies. HTS is an in vitro approach of rapidly assaying a large number of chemicals for biochemical activity using robotics and automation. However, no method currently exists for screening volatile chemicals such as air pollutants in a HTS fashion. Additionally, significant uncertainty regarding in vitro to in in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) remains. An approach to bridge the IVIVE gap and the current lack of ability to screen volatile chemicals in a HTS fashion is by using a probe molecule (PrM) technique. The proposed technique uses chemicals with empirical human pharmacokinetic data as PrMs to study toxicity of molecules with no known data for gas-phase analysis. We are currently studying the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme CYP2A6 using transfected BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cell line. The CYP2A6 pathway activity is studied by the formation of cotinine from nicot

A gene expression biomarker accurately predicts estrogen ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The EPA’s vision for the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) in the 21st Century (EDSP21) includes utilization of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays coupled with computational modeling to prioritize chemicals with the goal of eventually replacing current Tier 1 screening tests. The ToxCast program currently includes 18 HTS in vitro assays that evaluate the ability of chemicals to modulate estrogen receptor α (ERα), an important endocrine target. We propose microarray-based gene expression profiling as a complementary approach to predict ERα modulation and have developed computational methods to identify ERα modulators in an existing database of whole-genome microarray data. The ERα biomarker consisted of 46 ERα-regulated genes with consistent expression patterns across 7 known ER agonists and 3 known ER antagonists. The biomarker was evaluated as a predictive tool using the fold-change rank-based Running Fisher algorithm by comparison to annotated gene expression data sets from experiments in MCF-7 cells. Using 141 comparisons from chemical- and hormone-treated cells, the biomarker gave a balanced accuracy for prediction of ERα activation or suppression of 94% or 93%, respectively. The biomarker was able to correctly classify 18 out of 21 (86%) OECD ER reference chemicals including “very weak” agonists and replicated predictions based on 18 in vitro ER-associated HTS assays. For 114 chemicals present in both the HTS data and the MCF-7 c

Emerging applications of high temperature superconductors for space communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinen, Vernon O.; Bhasin, Kul B.; Long, Kenwyn J.

1990-01-01

Proposed space missions require longevity of communications system components, high input power levels, and high speed digital logic devices. The complexity of these missions calls for a high data bandwidth capacity. Incorporation of high temperature superconducting (HTS) thin films into some of these communications system components may provide a means of meeting these requirements. Space applications of superconducting technology has previously been limited by the requirement of cooling to near liquid helium temperatures. Development of HTS materials with transition temperatures above 77 K along with the natural cooling ability of space suggest that space applications may lead the way in the applications of high temperature superconductivity. In order for HTS materials to be incorporated into microwave and millimeter wave devices, the material properties such as electrical conductivity, current density, surface resistivity and others as a function of temperature and frequency must be well characterized and understood. The millimeter wave conductivity and surface resistivity were well characterized, and at 77 K are better than copper. Basic microwave circuits such as ring resonators were used to determine transmission line losses. Higher Q values than those of gold resonator circuits were observed below the transition temperature. Several key HTS circuits including filters, oscillators, phase shifters and phased array antenna feeds are feasible in the near future. For technology to improve further, good quality, large area films must be reproducibly grown on low dielectric constant, low loss microwave substrates.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides.

PubMed

Konzen, Lance M N; Sefat, Athena S

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped 'parent' materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which 'dopants' can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce 'in-plane' superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Correlations Between Magnetic Flux and Levitation Force of HTS Bulk Above a Permanent Magnet Guideway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Huan; Zheng, Jun; Zheng, Botian; Qian, Nan; Li, Haitao; Li, Jipeng; Deng, Zigang

2017-10-01

In order to clarify the correlations between magnetic flux and levitation force of the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk, we measured the magnetic flux density on bottom and top surfaces of a bulk superconductor while vertically moving above a permanent magnet guideway (PMG). The levitation force of the bulk superconductor was measured simultaneously. In this study, the HTS bulk was moved down and up for three times between field-cooling position and working position above the PMG, followed by a relaxation measurement of 300 s at the minimum height position. During the whole processes, the magnetic flux density and levitation force of the bulk superconductor were recorded and collected by a multipoint magnetic field measurement platform and a self-developed maglev measurement system, respectively. The magnetic flux density on the bottom surface reflected the induced field in the superconductor bulk, while on the top, it reveals the penetrated magnetic flux. The results show that the magnetic flux density and levitation force of the bulk superconductor are in direct correlation from the viewpoint of inner supercurrent. In general, this work is instructive for understanding the connection of the magnetic flux density, the inner current density and the levitation behavior of HTS bulk employed in a maglev system. Meanwhile, this magnetic flux density measurement method has enriched present experimental evaluation methods of maglev system.