Design of the collection optics for the Core Plasma Thomson Scattering (CPTS) in ITER.

In the ITER Core Plasma Thomson Scattering, the scattered light collection optics system is installed both inside and outside the diagnostic port under vacuum. The length of the optical path (∼6 m) and the need to shield the neutron and γ radiation increased the complexity of the system with the inclusion of multiple dog-legs, forcing the use of many elements with optical power. Multiple rounds of design have been required in order to satisfy iteratively the system requirements in terms of resolution, aberration, and shielding. The adoption of quasi-free-form reflective surfaces for several mirrors eventually allowed the correct compromise between all conflicting requirements.

Computer modeling of integrating spheres.

I present a Monte Carlo model for predicting the performance of integrating spheres as a function of incident flux direction. The model was developed specifically to aid in the design of integrating spheres used as cosine collectors but is of general applicability. I discuss a method of generating uncorrelated random numbers. The probability density functions associated with uniform irradiance over a circular entrance port and Lambertian reflectors or emitters are presented. A comparison of the model with analytic equations predicting performance for an unbaffled integrating sphere is included. The average of the data generated by the model agrees with the analytic solution for sphere throughput to better than 0.25% (ς = 8.3%).

Reliability of diagnostic reporting for children aged 6-11 years: a test-retest study of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Revised.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the reliability of symptom reporting by community children of elementary school age and their parents on a version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Revised (DISC-R). METHOD: A sample of 109 children aged 6-11 years from an ongoing epidemiologic study were recruited for retest DISC-R interviews after completion of the study protocol. Retest interviews took place 7-18 days after the first interview and were conducted by interviewers who had no prior information about the subjects. Test-retest reliability for five common childhood psychiatric diagnoses was evaluated with the kappa statistic; the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate test-retest reliability of symptom scales. RESULTS: The reliability of the parents' reports on the DISC-R was good to excellent for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and separation anxiety disorder; it was fair for overanxious disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. The children reported many fewer symptoms than the parents except for separation anxiety disorder; reliability was fair for separation anxiety disorder and poor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The children were particularly unreliable in reporting about time factors, such as duration and onset of symptoms. When symptoms were considered without duration and onset, children's reports reached fair reliability for separation anxiety disorder, overanxious disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but remained poor for oppositional defiant disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that highly structured diagnostic interviews such as the DISC-R may not be appropriate for use with younger children of elementary school age in community-based studies.

Alteration of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 gene in the [exn-5] mutant of Neurospora crassa.

The maternally inherited [exn-5] mutant of Neurospora crassa is characterized by its slow-growth rate and deficiency of cytochrome aa3 relative to wild-type strains. We have determined the DNA sequence of the COXI and COXII genes of the mutant, which encode subunits 1 and 2 of cytochrome c oxidase, respectively. No changes in the DNA sequence of the COXI gene relative to the corresponding wild-type gene were found. In the region of the COXII gene we found two alterations, one a C to T transition eight base pairs upstream of the coding sequence and the second within the coding sequence for subunit 2 affecting amino acid 27 of the precursor polypeptide (amino acid 15 of the mature polypeptide). The altered codon in [exn-5] specifies an isoleucine residue rather than the wild-type threonine residue. The corresponding position in subunit 2 sequences of all other organisms examined is conserved either as a threonine or a serine residue. Thus, we consider it likely that the mutation directly affecting the coding sequence of the polypeptide is responsible for the [exn-5] phenotype. Analysis of serially passaged heterokaryons constructed between wild-type and [exn-5] shows that both mutations segregate with the [exn-5] phenotype. Examination of mitochondrial translation products in [exn-5] revealed a deficiency of subunit 2, as well as the presence of a polypeptide that corresponds to a previously described precursor of subunit 1 that accumulates in a COXI mutant of N. crassa, [mi-3]. We propose possible relationships between [exn-5], [mi-3], and the nuclear su-1[mi-3] allele, which suppresses both mutations.

Differences among medical professionals in their attitude toward drugs.

This study was designed to explore the characteristics of medical personnel who might be related to illicit opiate use. Physicians, veterinarians, and dentists, all professionals having relatively high access to opiates, were compared on a number of attitudinal variable relating to drugs. Group differences were observed in regard to the perceived benefit and potential danger of specific drugs. The authors advocate a focus on the role demands of the professional rather than an analysis of the personality characteristics of individuals within the profession.