Experimental and theoretical investigations of birefringent holey fibers with a triple defect

We have manufactured and characterized a birefringent holey fiber of a new construction. The birefringence in this fiber is induced by the highly elliptical shape of the core, which consists of a triple defect in a hexagonal structure. Using a hybrid edge-nodal finite-element method, we calculated the spectral dependence of phase and group modal birefringence for spatial modes E11 and E21 in idealized and in real fiber, whose geometry we determined by using a scanning-electron microscope. Results of our calculations show that technological imperfections significantly affect the fiber's birefringence. Normalized cutoff wavelengths for higher-order modes relative to the filling factor were also determined for the idealized structure. We observed a significant disagreement between theoretical and experimental values of cutoff wavelengths, which was attributed to high confinement losses near the cutoff condition. We also measured the spectral dependence of the phase and the group modal birefringence for spatial modes E11 and E21. The measured parameters showed good agreement with the results of modeling.     

Benziporphyrins: exploring arene chemistry in a macrocyclic environment

Benziporphyrins are synthetic porphyrin analogues, in which one of the pyrroles is replaced with a benzenoid ring. The arene can be incorporated into the macrocycle in several ways leading to molecules with distinct physical and chemical properties. By appropriately changing the structure of benziporphyrins, it is possible to affect their aromaticity, tautomeric equilibria, and reactivity. Benziporphyrins are versatile ligands, which offer a means to study the metal-arene couple in a macrocyclic environment. The coordination brings the metal ion into the vicinity of the arene fragment leading to activation of C-H bonds or weak interactions, which can be observed spectroscopically.     

Real-time fusion of endoscopic views with dynamic 3-D cardiac images: a phantom study

Minimally invasive robotically assisted cardiac surgical systems currently do not routinely employ 3-D image guidance. However, preoperative magnetic resonance and computed tomography (CT) images have the potential to be used in this role, if appropriately registered with the patient anatomy and animated synchronously with the motion of the actual heart. This paper discusses the fusion of optical images of a beating heart phantom obtained from an optically tracked endoscope, with volumetric images of the phantom created from a dynamic CT dataset. High quality preoperative dynamic CT images are created by first extracting the motion parameters of the heart from the series of temporal frames, and then applying this information to animate a high-quality heart image acquired at end systole. Temporal synchronization of the endoscopic and CT model is achieved by selecting the appropriate CT image from the dynamic set, based on an electrocardiographic trigger signal. The spatial error between the optical and virtual images is 1.4 +/- 1.1 mm, while the time discrepancy is typically 50-100 ms. Index Terms-Image guidance, image warping, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, virtual endoscopy, virtual reality.     

The switch mechanism of the cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis in menadione-treated human osteosarcoma cell line 143B cells

Time-dependent changes in the cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis were studied in cultured 143B cells treated with menadione, an anti-cancerous drug, excluding a possible involvement of "secondary necrosis." The population of apoptotic cells judged by FITC-Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) double staining reached its maximum at 6 hours after 100 microM menadione treatment followed by an abrupt decrease thereafter, while that of necrotic cells continuously increased reaching 90% at 24 hours. Electron microscopically, cells attached to the culture dish at 6 hours after the treatment consisted of two different types of cells: cells with typical apoptotic features occupying the major population and those with condensed nuclei and swollen cytoplasm. Cells attached to the culture dish at 8 hours after the treatment consisted exclusively of those with condensed nuclei and swollen cytoplasm. Mitochondria in these cells showed various structural changes: those swollen to various degrees with deposition of flocculent densities, or those with highly condensed matrix. Distinct decreases both in intracellular levels of ATP and caspase-3-like activities and remarkable elevations of intracellular levels of superoxide, which were partly suppressed by NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors, occurred at 6 hours after the treatment. These results may suggest that distinct increases of the intracellular level of superoxide derived from plasma membrane NAD(P)H oxidase besides that from mitochondria have triggered the transition of cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis. Transition of highly condensed mitochondria to extremely swollen ones may reflect necrotic processes in menadione-treated cells. The present study strongly suggests that time-dependent study is essential using the electron microscopic technique to analyze detailed processes in the changes of the cell death mode.     

Ultrastructural basis for the transition of cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis in menadione-treated osteosarcoma 143B cells

Time-dependent ultrastructural changes of menadione-treated human osteosarcoma 143B cells were correlated with those in their stainability to Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI). Populations of both apoptotic (Annexin V(+)/PI(-)) and necrotic (Annexin V(+)/PI(+)) cells, judged by flow cytometry, began to increase at 2 h after menadione treatment. The former reached a maximum at 6 h followed by abrupt decreases thereafter, while the latter continued to increase. Electron microscopically, cells obtained at 6 h after the menadione treatment consisted of mixed populations of cells with typical apoptotic features and those with a mixture of apoptotic and necrotic features, while cells obtained at 8-24 h consisted exclusively of cells with a mixture of apoptotic and necrotic features. Thus, necrotic cells, as judged by flow cytometry, were in a transitional state of cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis and are thus designated as 'intermediate cells'. Lack of apoptotic bodies, judged by flow cytometric analysis on sub-G1 nuclei and by electron microscopy in menadione-treated cells, suggested that the transition of cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis occurred before the apoptotic processes were completed. Effects of N-acetylcysteine and Z-VAD-fmk on menadione-induced ultrastructural changes were also studied.     

A magnetic time division multiplexer for use in control circuits

The essentially magnetic multiplexing system described uses saturable inductors and diodes interconnected so that sending and receiving ends of the information link operate as synchronous switches slaved to the ac line. The switching rate is proportional to the number of channels desired. The information may be encoded singly, simultaneously or serially; or in combination, simultaneously or serially; provided the pilot devices remain energized for at least one cycle of the ac supply voltage.     

Stick—slip friction as a method of powder flow characterization

We have made use of a previously ignored quantity, stick—slip friction, in determining powder flow properties. Stick-slip friction can easily be measured with a Table Model Instron or similar device. The stick—slip friction of most powders can be measured with greater accuracy and precision than any type of angle of repose measurements. Stick—slip friction values for a set of plastic powders were related to the particle size, flow properties and tensile strength. While stick—slip friction may not be universally relatable to flow behavior, it does hold promise for more limited sample tests.     

Relationships between Tg and cohesive energy: 1. Dependence of Tg on the composition of copolymers

The possibility of expressing the glass transition temperature of copolymers and homopolymers with an n-alkyl side chain as a function of two parameters (cohesive energy and steric factor) is discussed. An empirical equation representing these two factors is proposed. Calculated values are in good agreement with literature data for the investigated systems.     

Tunable magnetocaloric effect in amorphous Gd-Fe-Co-Al-Si alloys

Journal of Materials Science - A magnetocaloric effect with wide tunability was observed in melt-spun amorphous Gd65Fe15-xCo5+xAl10Si5 (x?=?0, 5, 10) alloys of different Fe/Co ratios....