Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar corona have become more popular with the increased availability of computational power. Modern computational plasma codes, relying upon computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods, allow the coronal features to be resolved using solar surface magnetograms as inputs. These computations are carried out in a full three-dimensional domain and, thus, selection of the correct mesh configuration is essential to save computational resources and enable/speed up convergence. In addition, it has been observed that for MHD simulations close to the hydrostatic equilibrium, spurious numerical artefacts might appear in the solution following the mesh structure, which makes the selection of the grid also a concern for accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and trade off two main mesh topologies when applied to global solar corona simulations using the unstructured ideal MHD solver from the COOLFluiD platform. The first topology is based on the geodesic polyhedron and the second on $UV$ mapping. Focus is placed on aspects such as mesh adaptability, resolution distribution, resulting spurious numerical fluxes and convergence performance. For this purpose, first a rotating dipole case is investigated, followed by two simulations using real magnetograms from the solar minima (1995) and solar maxima (1999). It is concluded that the most appropriate mesh topology for the simulation depends on several factors, such as the accuracy requirements, the presence of features near the polar regions and/or strong features in the flow field in general. If convergence is of concern and the simulation contains strong dynamics, then grids which are based on the geodesic polyhedron are recommended compared with more conventionally used $UV$-mapped meshes.

This study determined the genetic background of virulence and resistance genes of MRSA ST398 in Austria. From 2004 up to 2008 a total of 41 human isolates of MRSA ST398 were investigated for virulence and resistance gene patterns using DNA microarray chip analysis. Highly similar virulence gene profiles were found in 29 (70·7%) of the isolates but genes encoding Panton–Valentine leukocidin, enterotoxins, or toxic shock syndrome toxin were not detected. Genes conferring resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin-lincosamide were common as all but one of the isolates exhibited tetM and/or tetK, which are involved in tetracycline resistance, and 12 (29·9%) were positive for ermC, conferring resistance to erythromycin/lincosamide. SplitsTree analysis showed that 40 isolates were closely related. Changes in virulence and resistance gene patterns were minimal over the observed time period.

An Fe–1 at.% Cu model alloy was examined by atom probe (3DAP) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to verify the accordance of the gained results. The Fe-Cu alloy was heat-treated for various times at 500°C, forming Cu-rich precipitates within the Fe matrix. The chemical compositions of the precipitates and matrix found by 3DAP were used to calculate the magnetic scattering contrast. Additionally, a magnetic moment of the precipitates that contain a significant amount of Fe was taken into account for the calculation of magnetic scattering contrast. This in turn is used for the evaluation of the magnetic scattering curves gained by SANS. Both the 3DAP data as well as the scattering curves were analyzed with regard to radius, number density, and volume fraction of the precipitates as a function of aging time. The results yielded by both techniques are in good agreement and correspond to the development of the hardness of the alloy. Minor differences can be related to the cluster search algorithm used for the analysis of the 3DAP data as well as Fe overestimation based on different field phases.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

TNM™ alloys are novel γ-TiAl based alloys which exhibit a high concentration of β-stabilizing elements such as Nb and Mo. Due to the high volume fraction of disordered β-phase these alloys can be hot-die forged under near conventional conditions. In this study, solid-state phase transformations and phase transition temperatures in Ti-(41-45)Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.1B (in at%) alloys were analyzed experimentally and compared to thermodynamic calculations. Results from scanning electron microscopy, conventional and high-energy X-ray diffraction as well as differential scanning calorimetry were used for the characterization of the prevailing phases and phase transformations. For the prediction of phase stabilities and phase transition temperatures thermodynamic calculations were conducted. ThermoCalc® was applied using a commercially available TiAl database. Combining all results a stable as well as a metastable phase diagram for Ti-(41-45)Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.1B alloys is proposed.

Significant experimental and theoretical progress has been made in the U.S. heavy ion fusion program on high-current sources, transport, and focusing. Currents over 200 mA have been transported through a matching section and 10 half-lattice periods with electric quadrupoles. An experiment shows control of high-beam current with an aperture, while avoiding secondary electrons. New theory and simulations of the neutralization of intense beam space charge with plasma in various focusing chamber configurations predict that near-emittance-limited beam focal spot sizes can be obtained even with beam perveance (ratio of beam space potential to ion energy) >10× higher than in earlier HIF focusing experiments. Progress in a new focusing experiment with plasma neutralization up to 10−3 perveance, and designs for a next-step experiment to study beam brightness evolution from source to target are described.

Disturbed and non-disturbed subjects were compared on a Repertory Grid measure of the differentiation of values, emotions and behaviours. The disturbed subjects tended to show either excessively tightened or excessively loosened relationships between values, feelings and behaviours. Tight relationships denoted a close correspondence between a subject's assessment of these three items; loose relationships denoted a poor correspondence. Non-disturbed subjects showed more moderate relationships. Among the disturbed patients, loosened relationships were found in schizophrenics rather than neurotics or personality disorders and tightened relationships in neurotics and personality disorders rather than schizophrenics.