Phototesting prior to narrowband (TL-01) ultraviolet B phototherapy

A device for phototesting patients prior to narrowband phototherapy is described. One hundred and fifty patients (130 with psoriasis and 20 with eczema) of skin types I-IV were phototested on the forearm and 22 on both forearm and back. The minimal erythema dose (MED) was judged visually 24 h after irradiation, and in those patients who were tested at two body sites, objective measurement of the erythema was made using a reflectance instrument. The MED values on the arm showed a fivefold range. There was no significant association between skin type and MED. The MED values on the arm were significantly higher than those measured on the back, although the differences were small in the majority of cases. No significant difference was found between the slopes of the dose-response curves measured on the arm and on the back.     

Analysis of electric arc furnaces efficiency via frequency spectrum-based arc coverage detection

We introduce the analysis of variables measured outside a direct current electric arc furnace that are related to the arc coverage and its electric energy efficiency. We derive an on-line reference to the arc coverage suitable for control decisions. In order to do so, we study the furnace shell vibration frequency spectrum as structure-borne sound sensed by a microphone. The data is analysed using real time software tools to obtain the sound signal spectrum associated with arc coverage likewise related to the optimal performance of the furnace. A statistical test is performed to prove the relationship between sound and electric energy efficiency.     

Linear Analysis of Ordinary Bridges Crossing Fault-Rupture Zones

Rooted in structural dynamics theory, two approximate procedures for estimating peak responses of linearly elastic “ordinary” bridges crossing fault-rupture zones are presented: response spectrum analysis (RSA) procedure and a linear static analysis procedure. These procedures estimate the peak response by superposing peak values of quasi-static and dynamic responses. The peak quasi-static response in both procedures is computed by static analysis of the bridge with peak values of all support displacements applied simultaneously. In RSA, the peak dynamic response is estimated by dynamic analysis including all significant modes, which is simplified in the latter procedure to static analysis of the bridge for appropriately selected forces; usually only one mode—the most dominant mode—is sufficient in the RSA procedure. Appearing in these procedures is the “effective” influence vector that differs from the influence vector for spatially uniform excitation, and the response spectrum used in the RSA procedure differs from the standard California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) spectrum. Both of these simplified procedures provide estimates of peak response that are close enough to results of the “exact” response history analysis to be useful for practical application.     

Photoluminescence and thermoluminescence properties of dysprosium doped zinc metaborate phosphors

Polycrystalline powder samples of dysprosium doped Zn（BO2）2 phosphors were prepared by solid state reaction in air at high temperature and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The IR, Photoluminescence （PL）, diffuse reflectance and three-dimensional （3D） thermoluminescence （TL） emission spectrum after 60^Co gamma ray irradiation were investigated. The characteristic 3D TL emission bands at about 425, 481 and 573 um with a main emission band of around 573 um were attributed to the host emission, 4^F9/2→6H15/2 and F9/2→6^H13/2 f-f transitions of Dy^3＋ ions. No emission from Dy^2＋ ions was observed in the measurement wavelength range. The TL-dose response of the Zn（BO2）2：Dy polycrystalline powder sample to gamma ray radiation in the range from 1 to 100 Gy at clinical dose levels was almost linear. The experimental results showed that Zn（BO2）2：Dy had potential use as the materials of gamma-ray thermoluminescence dosimeter （TLD） for clinical dosimetry.     

Action spectrum for UV-induced lipid peroxidation in cultured human skin fibroblasts

Lipid peroxidation was measured by release of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) into the supernatant of cultured human skin fibroblasts. This process is triggered by ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiations. For UVA irradiances and irradiation times up to 40 W.m-2 and 90 min, respectively, the peroxidation response is linear and obeys the reciprocity law. Corresponding values for UVB are 12 W.m-2 and 30 min, respectively. The action spectrum of the peroxidation process shows a continuously increasing response from about 425 to 275 nm. Whereas the UVB to UVA effectiveness ratio lies in the range of 10(3) to 10(4) for most in vitro or in vivo UV-induced responses, the ratio is only 10 to 100 for the peroxidation process. Given the solar spectral distribution, solar UVA radiation is by far the most effective in triggering the peroxidation response.     

Allergic and photoallergic dermatitis from diphenhydramine

A 52-year-old man developed contact and photoallergic dermatitis caused by diphenhydramine hydrochloride as well as contact dermatitis from paraphenylenediamine. The diphenhydramine photoallergy was elicited by long-wave ultraviolet light. The action spectrum differs from that noted in a recent report in which wavelengths shorter than 320 nm were responsible for eliciting diphenhydramine photoallergy. To the best of my knowledge, this is the third case of diphenhydramine photosensitivity reported in the English literature. The combination of both contact and photosensitivity to diphenhydramine has not previously been described.     

Follow-up study of patients treated by x-ray epilation for tinea capitis. Estimation of the dose to the thyroid and pituitary glands and other structures of the head and neck

This study is a further investigation of radiation dose to various head structures in the children given X-ray therapy for tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp). In this work, estimates of the dose to the thyroid and pituitary gland were obtained with lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosemeters using a child's head phantom. Doses were also measured for the parotid gland and several skin sites where skin tumours developed in the irradiated cases. In a previous study, brain and scalp doses of 140 and 500-800 rad had been estimated for the treated group using this same head phantom. In this work dosemeters were also placed in the same brain locations so that comparisons could be obtained between the two studies. The thyroid dose was estimated to be 6 +/- 2 rad and the pituitary dose was 49 +/- 6 rad for the conventional tinea capitis treatment. The dose to the parotid gland was 39 rad and the dose to skin sites on the face and neck where tumours occurred ranged from 20 to 40 rad. The data for the thyroid adenoma response from this and other studies involving irradiation of children suggests a linear dose-response relationship within the first 30-40 years after exposure with a risk of about 0-04% per rad.     

Assessment of skin types, skin colours and cutaneous responses to ultraviolet radiation in an Asian population

Ninety normal individuals were included in this study on skin types, skin colours and cutaneous responses to ultraviolet radiation. Skin types were recorded using Fitzpatrick's classification, skin colours were measured using the Minolta Chromameter CR-300, and cutaneous responses to UV radiation were measured in terms of minimal erythema dose (MED) to UVA, UVB and the immediate pigment darkening dose to UVA (IPDDA). Skin colour measurements were taken from the right cheek to represent facultative skin colours, and from the buttock to represent constitutive skin colours. The colours measured were expressed by the L x a x b colour space. Skin types and some colour parameters (L and b from covered parts of body) correlated fairly well with the minimal erythema doses (MED) to UVA and UVB. Skin colour measurements are more objective than skin type assessment and could be better markers of photosensitivity. However, there is still considerable overlap in MEDs for persons with different skin colours, and further studies of these parameters are warranted. Our MEDs are higher than other reports on similar skin types and skin colours. This could be due to differences in methodology, genetic make-up or acclimatization from chronic sun exposure. This illustrates the importance of local controls for each institution dealing with photosensitive disorders.     

Antimicrobial photosensitive reactions

Photosensitivity reactions are recognized as unwanted adverse effects of an array of commonly administered topical or systemic medications, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, antifungals, and antimicrobials. When a drug induces photosensitivity, exogenous molecules in the skin absorb normally harmless doses of visible and UV light, leading to an acute inflammatory response. In phototoxic reactions, the damage to tissues is direct; in photoallergic reactions, it is immunologically mediated. In vitro and in vivo assay systems can assist in predicting or confirming drug photosensitivity. The incidence of photosensitivity reactions may be too low to be detected in clinical studies and may become recognized only in the postmarketing stage of drug development. Some drugs have been withdrawn because of photosensitivity effects that appeared after general release. Photosensitivity reactions have been studied for a number of topical antimicrobials and for the sulfonamides, griseofulvin, the tetracyclines, and the quinolones. Incidence and intensity of drug phototoxicity can vary widely among the different compounds of a given class of antimicrobials. When phototoxic effects are relatively low in incidence, mild, reversible, and clinically manageable, the benefits of an antimicrobial drug may well outweigh the potential for adverse photosensitivity effects.     

Cue reactivity in young marijuana smokers: A preliminary investigation.

To develop and evaluate the feasibility of a cue reactivity paradigm for young marijuana smokers, the authors set up a laboratory procedure involving neutral and marijuana-related imagery, video, and in vivo cues. Fifteen adolescents and young adults with cannabis use disorders completed the procedure, which included continuous measurement of skin conductance and heart rate. Participants also completed questionnaires regarding marijuana craving before, during, and after cue presentations. Higher levels of craving and skin conductance were observed during marijuana cue presentations. The procedure appears to elicit cue reactivity among adolescents and young adults with cannabis use disorders and should be further evaluated and refined with a larger sample. Implications for future studies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The value of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in the local treatment of HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma

BACKGROUND: During the course of AIDS, 25 to 44% of homosexual patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus develop Kaposi's sarcoma. Main manifestation is the skin. Response rates of 80 to 100% can be achieved with total dosage up to 50 Gy. Nevertheless, remissions can also be attained with 20 Gy of fractionated radiotherapy. As clinical data on low dose conventional fractionated radiotherapy are insufficient we analysed the response rates of an overall dose of 20 Gy in conventional fractionation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1991 to June 1993, 43 patients with 111 HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma of the skin or oral cavity were treated. Lesions were irradiated with 5 to 12 MeV electrons or 60Co gamma-rays. The fractionation scheme was 5 times 2 Gy/week for skin and endoral lesions with a total reference dosage of up to 20 Gy. Side effects were assessed during therapy and the therapeutic result 6 weeks after end of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-eight out of 111 lesions were judged as complete response (CR) (34%), 61/111 as partial response (PR) (55%) and 12/111 were judged as no change (NC) (11%). Overall response (CR + PR) was 89%. Two patients with lesions of oral cavity suffered from RTOG grade-IV mucositis after 10 and 14 Gy. In 71/106 skin lesions (67%), radiation induced RTOG grade-1 reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: In patients with HIV associated Kaposi's sarcoma effective palliation can be achieved by means of radiotherapy with an overall dose of 20 Gy in conventional fractionation. Yet, the fraction of patients with complete responses is with 34 to 47% lower compared with doses above 20 Gy (66 to 100%). With reference to the reported data our results point to a dose-response relationship for Kaposi's sarcoma. Therefore higher total reference doses, e.g. 30 Gy with weekly 5 times 2 Gy or 24 Gy with 5 times 1.6 Gy for mucous lesions, respectively, are suggested as by this mean the complete response rate can be doubled.     

Thermoluminescence characteristics of NaSr4（BO3）3：Ce^3＋ under β-ray irradiation

The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Ce3+ doped NaSr4(BO3)3 phosphor under the β-ray irradiation were reported. The polycrystalline sample was synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction. The TL glow curve of NaSr4(BO3)3:Ce3+ phosphor was com-posed of only one peak. TL kinetic parameters of NaSr4(BO3)3:Ce3+ were deduced by the peak shape method, the activation energy (E) was 0.590 eV and the frequency factor was 1.008×106s-1. TL dose response was linear in the range of measurement. The 3-dimensional (3D) TL emission spectrum was also recorded, the emission spectrum consisted of two bands located at 441 and 479 nm respectively, corresponding to the characteristic 4f05d1→2F(5/2,7/2) transitions of the Ce3+ ion. The fading behavior of the NaSr4(BO3)3:Ce3+ phosphor over a period of 15 d was also studied.     

Spatial frequency and light-spread descriptions of visual acuity and hyperacuity

Resolution (visual acuity) and differential spatial localization (hyperacuity) targets were selected to allow rigorous psychophysical measurements as well as ready expression of both their spatial frequency spectrum and their retinal image light distribution. Thresholds were about 1 arc min for acuity and 4-6 arc sec for hyperacuity. As is consistent with the reciprocal relationship between the space and spatial frequency domains, the small locally restricted spatial differences between just distinguishable patterns are represented in the frequency domain by equally small differences, which are distributed over the entire spatial frequency spectrum. While they occur in many test situations, phase variations of spatial frequency components are not necessary for achieving optimum acuity and hyperacuity.     

铬的碳量子点荧光猝灭效应及其应用

以抗坏血酸为碳源,通过微波法直接在水溶液中制备了碳量子点(CQDs),利用透射电子显微镜、紫外吸收光谱、荧光光谱、傅里叶红外光谱及X射线衍射粉末仪对其进行表征,讨论了Cr对CQDs的荧光猝灭效应,并将其应用于Cr的测定。实验表明,在pH值为4.50的醋酸-醋酸钠缓冲溶液中,控制CQDs浓度为5.41×10^-5 mol/L(以碳计),在常温下与Cr反应20 min时,于激发波长335 nm,发射波长440 nm处进行测定,Cr质量浓度与体系的荧光猝灭程度呈良好的线性关系,线性相关系数为0.996 8,线性范围为2.0~71 μg/L。方法检出限为0.003 μg/L。实验方法应用于环境水中Cr的测定,测得结果与分光光度法基本一致,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=5)为1.8%~2.3%。
     

全谱交直流电弧发射光谱法测定地球化学调查样品中9种元素

传统电弧发射光谱法分析地球化学样品中Ag、B、Sn等元素时,采用光谱相板作为记录介质,而相板的灵敏度较低,谱线的线性范围较窄,采用人工操作译谱时,测量结果的精密度和正确度较差,因此在地球化学调查样品分析配套方案中,只采用电弧发射光谱法测定Ag、B、Sn这几个其他分析方法不易测定的元素。实验采用全谱交直流电弧发射光谱法,选择K₂S₂O₇-NaF-Al₂O₃-碳粉为缓冲剂,以Ge元素作为内标,确定曝光时间为45s,并进行仪器校正,选取合成硅酸盐光谱分析标准物质系列(GSES I-1~GSES I-9)绘制各元素的校准曲线,直接测定地球化学调查样品中Ag、B、Sn、Mo、Pb、Co、Ni、V、Bi等9种元素。方法检出限为:Ag 0.014μg/g、B 0.68μg/g、Sn 0.12μg/g、Mo 0.18μg/g、Pb 0.98μg/g、Co 0.32μg/g、Ni 1.79μg/g、V 1.51μg/g、Bi 0.05μg/g。方法用于测定6个地球化学标准物质中Ag、B、Sn、Mo、Pb、Co、Ni、V、Bi,结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=12)均小于10%;测定值与标准值之间的对数误差ΔlgC绝对值为0~0.057;按照实验方法和其他方法(电弧发射光谱法测定Ag、B、Sn,电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定Bi、Mo、Co,X射线荧光光谱法测定V、Ni、Pb)分别测定8个土壤样品中Ag、B、Sn、Mo、Pb、Co、Ni、V、Bi,结果相吻合。     

Beyond alpha: An empirical examination of the effects of different sources of measurement error on reliability estimates for measures of individual-differences constructs.

On the basis of an empirical study of measures of constructs from the cognitive domain, the personality domain, and the domain of affective traits, the authors of this study examine the implications of transient measurement error for the measurement of frequently studied individual-differences variables. The authors clarify relevant reliability concepts as they relate to transient error and present a procedure for estimating the coefficient of equivalence and stability (L. J. Cronbach, 1947), the only classical reliability coefficient that assesses a 3 major sources of measurement error (random response, transient, and specific factor errors). The authors conclude that transient error exists in all 3 trait domains and is especially large in the domain of affective traits. Their findings indicate that the nearly universal use of the coefficient of equivalence (Cronbach's alpha; L. J. Cronbach, 1951), which fails to assess transient error, leads to overestimates of reliability and undercorrections for biases due to measurement error. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Earthquake Response of Elastic Single-Degree-of-Freedom Systems with Nonlinear Viscoelastic Dampers

Investigated are the steady-forced and earthquake responses of single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) systems with a nonlinear viscoelastic damper (VED), which consists of a nonlinear fluid viscous damper (FVD) connected in series to a linear elastic bracing element (chevron or inverted V-shaped braces). For a wide range of bracing stiffness, nonlinear dampers are advantageous because they achieve essentially the same reduction in system responses but with a significantly reduced force. Damper nonlinearity has little influence on the structural response in the velocity-sensitive region of the spectrum even if the bracing is fairly flexible, but differences up to 16% were observed in other spectral regions. As expected, supplemental damping reduces structural response and the response reduction depends on the bracing stiffness, with this dependence varying with the spectral regions. For practical applications, a procedure is presented to estimate the design values of structural deformation, structural force, foundation shear, and damper force directly from the earthquake design (or response) spectrum. Finally, a procedure is presented to determine the damper and bracing properties necessary to limit the structural deformation to some design value or to the structural capacity.     

Regional dermolipectomy as treatment for sequelae of massive weight loss

Dermolipectomy is the most important procedure for treatment of the deformities engendered by massive weight loss. It remains the only treatment for excising redundant skin. Although liposuction is useful for removing fatty deposits without traditional surgical incisions, its application is limited by the ability of the skin to contract and conform to the newly sculpted figure. Thus liposuction may serve as an adjunct when treating the sequelae of weight loss but not as a primary procedure. In response to changing expectations, reconstructive surgeons have developed increasingly ingenious and specific dermolipectomy procedures to minimize or hide scars, lessen morbidity, and enhance function. Liposuction in combination with dermolipectomy has expanded the applicability of traditional procedures to a wider variety of patients. Surgical history, patient selection, surgical planning, a spectrum of regional dermolipectomy procedures, and potential complications are discussed herein.     

DNA-based HLA class II postmortem typing: evaluation of different techniques for prospective corneal allografting

BACKGROUND: Two new types of lasers, the pulsed dye laser and the Q-switched ruby laser, have shown good to excellent results in the treatment of vascular malformations and benign pigmented lesions of the skin. A new and very effective alternative to pulsed dye laser is the recently introduced Photoderm VL. This device is based on the use of a wide-band non-coherent intense pulsed light source which emits a continuous spectrum in the range of 515 nm to 1200 nm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: More than a 1000 patients with a variety of lesions of the skin were treated by these new laser systems and the Photoderm VL. The Q-switched ruby laser (wavelength 694 nm, pulse duration 25 ns) is suitable for the treatment of benign lentigines, café-au-lait macules, seborrhoic ceratosis, tattoos, and traumatic tattoos. The pulsed dye laser (585 nm, 0,3-0,45 ms) treats nevi flammei, capillary hemangiomas, telangiectasias, xanthelasma, hypertrophic scarring, and adenoma sebaceum. In addition we present the facilities of the new Photoderm VL (515 nm-1200 nm, 0,5-20 ms) for the treatment of nevi flammei, benign hemangiomatous malformations, telangiectasias, erythrosis interfollicularis colli, hypertrophic scarring, and hypertrichosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: the Q-switched ruby laser, the pulsed dye laser, and the Photoderm VL show excellent results in the treatment of lesions of the skin, which otherwise would have been difficult to treat of untreatable. The efficiency of the laser types presented is based on the theory of selective photothermolysis. Scarring is almost never seen and hypo- or hyperpigmentation is in most cases transient.     

Glucose attenuation of memory impairments.

The performance of pigeons in a short-term memory procedure (delayed matching-to-sample) was studied over a range of retention intervals from 0.2 s to 24.0 s. The authors examined the ability of 3 dose levels of glucose (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) to alleviate memory impairments produced by administration of scopolamine (0.03 mg/kg), by a reduction in the sample–response requirement and by interpolating retroactive interference in the retention interval (houselight illumination). Glucose administration attenuated the deficit produced by scopolamine and by the reduced sample–response requirement, by reversing the decrement in accuracy at 0 delay. Glucose did not, however, reverse the increase in rate of forgetting generated by retroactive interference. The results suggest that the mode of action by which glucose is able to attenuate drug-induced and behavioral impairments in memory may be through an effect on attentional or encoding processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)