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At least 847 records · Page 47

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy does not Increase Complications in Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) broadens the indications for breast conservation. Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (NAC) is used increasingly in the treatment of patients with early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes for patients who received NAC followed by OBCS. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who underwent OBCS involving the mastopexy/breast-reduction technique, including synchronous mastopexy/breast reduction for symmetry, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between January 2010 and January 2016. Patients who had received NAC were compared with those who had undergone surgery first. Demographic, treatment, and outcomes data were collected. Results: The study included 429 patients, corresponding to 713 breasts. Of these patients, 122, corresponding to 199 breasts, received NAC. The patients who received NAC were younger (p < 0.001) and had a more advanced cancer stage (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate per patient was 25.9%, with major complications occurring in 9.1% of the patients. After adjustment for risk factors, NAC was not shown to be associated with an increased risk of complications or delayed adjuvant radiation therapy (p = 0.37), irrespective of the chemotherapy regimen used or whether the interval between NAC and surgery was 4 weeks or longer. Conclusions: In a high-volume center, OBCS can be performed safely for carefully selected patients after NAC without an increased risk of complications or delayed adjuvant radiation therapy. An interval of at least 4 weeks between completion of NAC and surgery can be regarded as safe irrespective of the chemotherapy regimen used.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

The application of TSIM software to act design and analysis on flexible aircraft

The TSIM software is described. This is a package which uses an interactive FORTRAN-like simulation language for the simulation on nonlinear dynamic systems and offers facilities which include: mixed continuous and discrete time systems, time response calculations, numerical optimization, automatic trimming of nonlinear aircraft systems, and linearization of nonlinear equations for eigenvalues, frequency responses and power spectral response evaluation. Details are given of the application of TSIM to the analysis of aeroelastic systems under the RAE Farborough extension FLEX-SIM. The aerodynamic and structural data for the equations of motion of a flexible aircraft are prepared by a preprocessor program for incorporation in TSIM simulations. Within the simulation, the flexible aircraft model may then be selected interactively for different flight conditions and modal reduction techniques applied. The use of FLEX-SIM is demonstrated by an example of the flutter prediction for a simple aeroelastic model. By utilizing the numerical optimization facility of TSIM, it is possible to undertake identification of required parameters in the TSIM model within the simulation.

Kaynes, Ian W.↗

Further wind tunnel investigation of the SM701 airfoil with aileron and turbulators

Wind tunnel tests were performed on a two-dimensional model of the SM701 airfoil designed for use on the World Class gliders. The test covered a range of Reynolds numbers from 500,000 to 1.7 million. Aerodynamic forces and moments were measured with an external balance. Momentum loss method measurements of the section drag coefficient were also made. Flow visualization techniques provided information on transition from laminar to turbulent flow. Lift, drag, and pitching moment were analyzed and comparisons were made with predicted and previously obtained experimental data. The effects of V-tape turbulators for use in turbulent drag reduction were studied. The performance of a 25 percent chord aileron deflected through plus or minus 20 degrees was researched. The model was designed, constructed, and tested by students at Texas A&M University.

Steen, Gregory↗

Long-term variations in abundance and distribution of sulfuric acid vapor in the Venus atmosphere inferred from Pioneer Venus and Magellan radio occultation studies

Radio occultation experiments have been used to study various properties of planetary atmospheres, including pressure and temperature profiles, and the abundance profiles of absorbing constituents in those planetary atmospheres. However, the reduction of amplitude data from such experiments to determine abundance profiles requires the application of the inverse Abel transform (IAT) and numerical differentiation of experimental data. These two operations preferentially amplify measurement errors above the true signal underlying the data. A new technique for processing radio occultation data has been developed that greatly reduces the errors in the derived absorptivity and abundance profiles. This technique has been applied to datasets acquired from Pioneer Venus Orbiter radio occultation studies and more recently to experiments conducted with the Magellan spacecraft. While primarily designed for radar studies of the Venus surface, the high radiated power (EIRP) from the Magellan spacecraft makes it an ideal transmitter for measuring the refractivity and absorptivity of the Venus atmosphere by such experiments. The longevity of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter has made it possible to study long-term changes in the abundance and distribution of sulfuric acid vapor, H2SO4(g), in the Venus atmosphere between 1979 and 1992. The abundance of H2SO4(g) can be inferred from vertical profiles of 13-cm absorptivity profiles retrieved from radio occultation experiments. Data from 1979 and 1986-87 suggest that the abundance of H2SO4(g) at latitudes northward of 70 deg decreased over this time period. This change may be due to a period of active volcanism in the late 1970s followed by a relative quiescent period, or some other dynamic process in the Venus atmosphere. While the cause is not certain, such changes must be incorporated into dynamic models of the Venus atmosphere. Potentially, the Magellan spacecraft will extend the results of Pioneer Venus Orbiter and allow the continued monitoring of the abundance of distribution of H2SO4(g) in the Venus atmosphere, as well as other interesting atmospheric properties. Without such measurements it will be difficult to address other issues such as the short-term spatial variability of the abundance of H2SO4(g) at similar latitudes in Venus atmosphere, and the identities of particles responsible for large-scale variations observed in NIR images.

Jenkins, J. M.↗

Colloids and Nucleation

The objectives of the work funded under this grant were to develop a microphotographic technique and use it to monitor the nucleation and growth of crystals of hard colloidal spheres. Special attention is given to the possible need for microgravity studies in future experiments. A number of persons have been involved in this work. A masters student, Keith Davis, began the project and developed a sheet illumination apparatus and an image processing system for detection and analysis. His work on a segmentation program for image processing was sufficient for his master's research and has been published. A post doctoral student Bernie Olivier and a graduate student Yueming He, who originally suggested the sheet illumination, were funded by another source but along with Keith made photographic series of several samples (that had been made by Keith Davis). Data extraction has been done by Keith, Bernie, Yueming and two undergraduates employed on the grant. Results are published in Langmuir. These results describe the sheet lighting technique as one which illuminates not only the Bragg scattering crystal, but all the crystals. Thus, accurate crystal counts can be made for nucleation rate measurements. The strange crystal length scale reduction, observed in small angle light scattering (SALS) studies, following the initial nucleation and growth period, has been observed directly. The Bragg scattering (and dark) crystal size decreases in the crossover region. This could be an effect due to gravitational forces or due to over- compression of the crystal during growth. Direct observations indicate a complex morphology for the resulting hard sphere crystals. The crystal edges are fairly sharp but the crystals have a large degree of internal structure. This structure is a result of (unstable) growth and not aggregation. As yet unpublished work compares growth exponents data with data obtained by SALS. The nucleation rate density is determined over a broad volume fraction range (0.505 to 0.575) and compared to classical nucleation rate calculations. The experimental nucleation rate density varies with volume fraction more slowly than expected theoretically. Gravity may influence nucleation because crystal nuclei are more dense than the surrounding fluid and may be gravitationally convected. The largest observed crystal size was near volume fraction 0.52. Near the freezing point, crystals should grow to large size because nuclei are sparse and there is plenty of room to grow without contacting other crystals. Near melting the opposite is true, with crystals growing into one another shortly after nucleation. The maximum crystal size seen near 0.52 volume fraction suggests that gravitational stresses are limiting crystal growth near freezing.

Ackerson, Bruce↗

Spherical earth gravity and magnetic anomaly analysis by equivalent point source inversion

To facilitate geologic interpretation of satellite elevation potential field data, analysis techniques are developed and verified in the spherical domain that are commensurate with conventional flat earth methods of potential field interpretation. A powerful approach to the spherical earth problem relates potential field anomalies to a distribution of equivalent point sources by least squares matrix inversion. Linear transformations of the equivalent source field lead to corresponding geoidal anomalies, pseudo-anomalies, vector anomaly components, spatial derivatives, continuations, and differential magnetic pole reductions. A number of examples using 1 deg-averaged surface free-air gravity anomalies of POGO satellite magnetometer data for the United States, Mexico, and Central America illustrate the capabilities of the method.

Von Frese, R. R. B.↗

Combining Deep Learning and scatterControl for High-Throughput X-ray CT Based Non-Destructive Characterization of Large-Scale Casted Metallic Components

X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is essential for nondestructive evaluation and quality control of large-scale metal components. XCT imaging, however, faces significant challenges from metal artifacts, particularly those caused by Compton scattering, which degrade image quality and obscure critical details. Hardware-based solutions (e.g. scatterControl) offer advancements by intercepting scattered photons and reducing artifacts, but they can be time-consuming and require additional processing. Here, we propose modifying and leveraging a novel deep learning (DL) framework, Simurgh, to enhance and accelerate scatter correction in XCT. By combining scatterControl with DL-based artifact removal, we demonstrate significant reduction in scan time while producing high-quality reconstructions. Through extensive evaluation on industrial XCT data, we show that our methods reduce scan time by up to more than 10 x while preserving flaw detectability. Quantitative analysis across multiple segmentation techniques confirms that Simurgh-based reconstructions consistently outperform traditional Feldkamp-Davis-Kress, model-based iterative reconstruction, and commercial DL models in both pixel-level and task-specific evaluations, enabling scalable, high-throughput XCT workflows for characterization of large scale components in applications such as casting and metal additive manufacturing.

Complex metal parts↗

Robust Machine Learning Inference from X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectra through Featurization

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a commonly employed technique for characterizing functional materials. In particular, X-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES) encode local coordination and electronic information, and machine learning approaches to extract this information are of significant interest. To date, most ML approaches for XANES have primarily focused on using the raw spectral intensities as input, overlooking the potential benefits of incorporating spectral transformations and dimensionality reduction techniques into ML predictions. Here, in this work, we focused on systematically comparing the impact of different featurization methods on the performance of ML models for XAS analysis. We evaluated the classification and regression capabilities of these models on computed data sets and validated their performance on previously unseen experimental data sets. Our analysis revealed an intriguing discovery: the cumulative distribution function feature achieves both high prediction accuracy and exceptional transferability. This remarkably robust performance can be attributed to its tolerance to horizontal shifts in the spectra, which is crucial when validating models using experimental data. While this work exclusively focuses on XANES analysis, we anticipate that the methodology presented here will hold promise as a versatile asset to the broader spectroscopy community.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

SFU-Driven Transparent Approximation Acceleration on GPUs

Approximate computing, the technique that sacrifices certain amount of accuracy in exchange for substantial performance boost or power reduction, is one of the most promising solutions to enable power control and performance scaling towards exascale. Although most existing approximation designs target the emerging data-intensive applications that are comparatively more error-tolerable, there is still high demand for the acceleration of traditional scientific applications (e.g., weather and nuclear simulation), which often comprise intensive transcendental function calls and are very sensitive to accuracy loss. To address this challenge, we focus on a very important but often ignored approximation unit on GPUs.

Approximate computing↗

Changes in Spatiotemporal Precipitation Patterns in Changing Climate Conditions

Climate models robustly imply that some significant change in precipitation patterns will occur. Models consistently project that the intensity of individual precipitation events increases by approximately 6-7%/K, following the increase in atmospheric water content, but that total precipitation increases by a lesser amount (2-3%/K in the global average). Some other aspect of precipitation events must then change to compensate for this difference. We develop here a new methodology for identifying individual rainstorms and studying their physical characteristics - including starting location, intensity, spatial extent, duration, and trajectory - that allows identifying that compensating mechanism. We apply this technique to precipitation over the contiguous U.S. from both radar-based data products and high-resolution model runs simulating 100 years of business-as-usual warming. In model studies, we find that the dominant compensating mechanism is a reduction of storm size. In summer, rainstorms become more intense but smaller; in winter, rainstorm shrinkage still dominates, but storms also become less numerous and shorter duration. These results imply that flood impacts from climate change will be less severe than would be expected from changes in precipitation intensity alone. We show also that projected changes are smaller than model-observation biases, implying that the best means of incorporating them into impact assessments is via "data-driven simulations" that apply model-projected changes to observational data. We therefore develop a simulation algorithm that statistically describes model changes in precipitation characteristics and adjusts data accordingly, and show that, especially for summertime precipitation, it outperforms simulation approaches that do not include spatial information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Experiment M404: Proton electron spectrometer

A series of experiments were performed during the Gemini 4 mission to acquire a detailed description of the radiation environment. Data from these experiments were used as source terms for the calculation of radiation doses received by the crewmembers. Comparison of theory with experimental data was accomplished by the use of dosimeters to monitor the integrated dose received by each crewmember. The instantaneous direction of the magnetic field of the earth relative to the spectrometer was used in the reduction of data because particle intensities were strongly directional with respect to the magnetic field. The simultaneous measurement of the external radiation environment and the radiation dose received by the crewmen during a mission was useful to evaluate and perfect calculational techniques.

Marbach, J. R.↗

Applications systems verification and transfer project. Volume 6: Operational applications of satellite snow-cover observations NOAA/NESS support study

Geostationary and polar orbiting satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were used to operationally provide field hydrologists with basin snowcover percentages for inclusion in runoff models. Data reduction is accomplished thru the use of optical rectification devices and electronic color density slicers. Over two thousand satellite-derived snow maps covering 30 different basins in the western United States were provided to users. Plans for improving snowmapping techniques on computer interactive systems and by all-digital analysis are presented. A description of the newest generation of NOAA polar orbiters, TIROS-N, and its potential for snowmapping is reviewed. Snowcover percentages for all basins determined between November 1974 and July 1978 are presented in tabular format.

Schneider, S. R.↗

Spectroscopic comparison of effects of electron radiation on mechanical properties of two polyimides

The differences in the radiation durabilities of two polyimide materials, Du Pont Kapton and General Electric Ultem, are compared. An explanation of the basic mechanisms which occur during exposure to electron radiation from analyses of infrared (IR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic data for each material is provided. The molecular model for Kapton was, in part, established from earlier modeling for Ultem (pp. 1293-1298 of IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, December 1984). Techniques for understanding the durability of one complex polymer based on the understanding of a different and equally complex polymer are demonstrated. The spectroscopic data showed that the primary radiation-generated change in the tensile properties of Ultem (a large reduction in tensile elongation) was due to crosslinking, which followed the capture by phenyl radicals of hydrogen atoms removed from gem-dimethyl groups. In contrast, the tensile properties of Kapton remained unchanged because radical-radical recombination, a self-mending process, took place.

Long, Edward R., Jr.↗

Guide to measurement of winds with instrumented aircraft

Aircraft measurement techniques are reviewed. Review of past and present applications of instrument aircraft to atmospheric observations is presented. Questions to be answered relative to measuring mean wind profiles as contrasted to turbulence measurements are then addressed. Requirements of instrumentation and accuracy, data reduction, data acquisition, and theoretical and certainty analysis are considered.

Frost, Walter↗

An a priori model for the reduction of nutation observations: KSV(1994.3) nutation series

We discuss the formulation of a new nutation series to be used in the reduction of modern space geodetic data. The motivation for developing such a series is to develop a nutation series that has smaller short period errors than the IAU 1980 nutation series and to provide a series that can be used with techniques such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) that have sensitivity to nutations but can directly separate the effects of nutations from errors in the dynamical force models that effect the satellite orbits. A modern nutation series should allow the errors in the force models for GPS to be better understood. The series is constructed by convolving the Kinoshita and Souchay rigid Earth nutation series with an Earth response function whose parameters are partly based on geophysical models of the Earth and partly estimated from a long series (1979-1993) of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) estimates of nutation angles. Secular rates of change of the nutation angles to represent corrections to the precession constant and a secular change of the obliquity of the ecliptic are included in the theory. Time dependent amplitudes of the Free Core Nutation (FCN) that is most likely excited by variations in atmospheric pressure are included when the geophysical parameters are estimated. The complex components of the prograde annual nutation are estimated simultaneously with the geophysical parameters because of the large contribution to the nutation from the S(sub 1) atmospheric tide. The weighted root mean square (WRMS) scatter of the nutation angle estimates about this new model are 0.32 mas and the largest correction to the series when the amplitudes of the ten largest nutations are estimated is 0.18 +/- 0.03 mas for the in phase component of the prograde 18. 6 year nutation.

Herring, T. A.↗

Application of a Laser Interferometer Skin-Friction Meter in Complex Flows

A nonintrusive skin-friction meter has been found useful for a variety of complex wind-tunnel flows. This meter measures skin friction with a remotely located laser interferometer that monitors the thickness change of a thin oil film. Its accuracy has been proven in a low-speed flat-plate flow. The wind-tunnel flows described here include sub-sonic separated and reattached flow over a rearward-facing step, supersonic flow over a flat plate at high Reynolds numbers, and supersonic three - dimensional vortical flow over the lee of a delta wing at angle of attack. The data-reduction analysis was extended to apply to three-dimensional flows with unknown flow direction, large pressure and shear gradients, and large oil viscosity changes with time. The skin friction measurements were verified, where possible, with results from more conventional techniques and also from theoretical computations.

Monson, D. J.↗

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Measurements on Surfaces with Non-Uniform Temperature

Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) has become a useful tool to augment conventional pressure taps in measuring the surface pressure distribution of aerodynamic components in wind tunnel testing. While the PSP offers the advantage of a non-intrusive global mapping of the surface pressure, one prominent drawback to the accuracy of this technique is the inherent temperature sensitivity of the coating's luminescent intensity. A typical aerodynamic surface PSP test has relied on the coated surface to be both spatially and temporally isothermal, along with conventional instrumentation for an in situ calibration to generate the highest accuracy pressure mappings. In some tests however, spatial and temporal thermal gradients are generated by the nature of the test as in a blowing jet impinging on a surface. In these cases, the temperature variations on the painted surface must be accounted for in order to yield high accuracy and reliable data. A new temperature correction technique was developed at NASA Lewis to collapse a "family" of PSP calibration curves to a single intensity ratio versus pressure curve. This correction allows a streamlined procedure to be followed whether or not temperature information is used in the data reduction of the PSP. This paper explores the use of conventional instrumentation such as thermocouples and pressure taps along with temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) to correct for the thermal gradients that exist in aeropropulsion PSP tests. Temperature corrected PSP measurements for both a supersonic mixer ejector and jet cavity interaction tests are presented.

Bencic, Timothy J.↗