Ice-crystal absorption: a comparison between theory and implications for remote sensing

The problem of the disagreement between cirrus crystal sizes determined remotely and by in situ measurements is shown to be due to inappropriate application of Mie theory. We retrieved the absorption optical depth at 8.3 and 11.1 mum from 11 tropical anvil cirrus clouds, using data from the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS). We related the absorption optical depth ratio between the two wavelengths to crystal size (the size was defined in terms of the crystal median mass dimension) by assuming Mie theory applied to ice spheres and anomalous diffraction theory (ADT) applied to hexagonal columns, hexagonal plates, bullet rosettes, and aggregates (polycrystals). The application of Mie theory to retrievals yielded crystal sizes approximately one third those obtained with ADT. The retrievals of crystal size by use of HIRS data are compared with measurements of habit and crystal size obtained from in situ measurements of tropical anvil cirrus particles. The results of the comparison show that ADT provides the more realistic retrieval. Moreover, we demonstrate that at infrared wavelengths retrieval of crystal size depends on assumed habit. The reason why Mie theory predicts smaller sizes than ADT is shown to result from particle geometry and enhanced absorption owing to the capture of photons from above the edge of the particle (tunneling). The contribution of particle geometry to absorption is three times greater than from tunneling, but this process enhances absorption by a further 35%. The complex angular momentum and T-matrix methods are used to show that the contribution to absorption by tunneling is diminished as the asphericity of spheroidal particles is increased. At an aspect ratio of 6 the contribution to the absorption that is due to tunneling is substantially reduced for oblate particles, whereas for prolate particles the tunneling contribution is reduced by 50% relative to the sphere.     

The role of protein kinase in C ischemic/reperfused preconditioned isolated rat hearts

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the preconditioning-induced cardiac protection in ischemic/reperfused myocardium. We studied the effect of PKC inhibition with calphostin C (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 nM), a potent and specific inhibitor of PKC, in isolated working nonpreconditioned and preconditioned ischemic/reperfused hearts. In the nonpreconditioned groups, all hearts underwent 30 min of normothermic global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. In the preconditioned groups, hearts were subjected to four cycles of ischemic preconditioning by using 5 min of ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion, before the induction of 30 min ischemia and reperfusion. At low concentrations of calphostin C (25, 50, and 100 nM), the PKC inhibitor had no effect on the incidence or arrhythmias or postischemic cardiac function in the nonpreconditioned ischemic/reperfused groups. With 200 and 400 nM of calphostin C, a significant increase in postischemic function and a reduction in the incidence of arrhythmias were observed in the nonpreconditioned ischemic/reperfused groups. Increasing the concentration of calphostin C to 800 NM, the recovery of postischemic cardiac function was similar to that of the drug-free control group. In preconditioned hearts, lower concentrations (< 100 nM) of calphostin C did not change the response of the myocardium to ischemia and reperfusion in comparison to the preconditioned drug-free myocardium. Two hundred and 400 nM of the PKC inhibitor further reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) from the preconditioned drug-free value of 50% to 0 (p < 0.05) and 0 (p < 0.05), respectively, indicating that the combination of the two, preconditioning and calphostin C, affords significant additional protection. Increasing the concentration of calphostin C to 800 nM blocked the cardioprotective effect of preconditioning (100% incidence of VF). The recovery of cardiac function was similarly improved at calphostin C doses of 200 and 400 nM and was reduced at 800 nM (p < 0.05). With 200 and 400 nM of calphostin C, both cytosolic and particulate PKC activity were reduced by approximately 40 and 60%, respectively, in both preconditioned and preconditioned/ischemic/reperfused hearts. The highest concentration of calphostin C (800 nM) resulted in almost a complete inhibition of cytosolic (100%) and particulate (85%) PKC activity correlated with the abolition of preconditioning-induced cardiac protection. In conclusion, calphostin C protects the ischemic myocardium obtained from intact animals, provides significant additional protection to preconditioning at moderate doses, and blocks the protective effect of preconditioning at high concentrations. The dual effects of calphostin C appear to be strictly dose and "enzyme inhibition" related.     

Dynamic optical trap generation using FLC SLMs for the manipulation of cold atoms

Abstract

Trapping and manipulation of cold atoms using optical potentials require the ability to generate and control a time varying light intensity distribution. Such an application demands that fast changing intensity distributions are generated, which are however free from flickering, or noise in general. Ferroelectric spatial light modulators are good candidates to achieve this because of their high refresh rate but they suffer from noise due to changes in the state of individual pixels during an animated sequence. A direct binary search based optimization routine was developed which minimizes the noise during such sequences. Filter sequences designed using this technique have been tested experimentally and the results demonstrated that flicker noise was eliminated.     

Characterization of white matter damage in ischemic leukoaraiosis with diffusion tensor MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Information on the neuropathological changes underlying ischemic leukoaraiosis is only available postmortem, and there are limited data on histological appearances early in the disease. Diffusion tensor imaging allows determination of the directionality of diffusion, which is greater in the direction of white matter bundles. Therefore, the technique might be expected to show loss of anisotropy (directional diffusion) in leukoaraiosis. METHODS: Nine patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis (radiological leukoaraiosis and clinical lacunar stroke) and 10 age-matched controls were studied. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed, and maps of diffusion trace and fractional anisotropy were constructed. Mean values of trace and fractional anisotropy were determined in standard regions of the anterior and posterior white matter in both hemispheres. RESULTS: In all patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis, a characteristic abnormal pattern was found, with loss of anisotropy and increased trace in the white matter. For example, in the right anterior white matter mean (SD) trace/3 was 1.12 (0.33) x10(-3) mm2 s-1 in patients and 0.75 (0.11) in controls (P=0.001). In the same region, fractional anisotropy was 0.53 (0.11) in patients and 0.78 (0.09) in controls (P<0.001). Within the white matter regions, there was a strong negative correlation between mean diffusivity and anisotropy (r=-0.92, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristic pattern found on diffusion tensor imaging in this patient group is consistent with axonal loss and gliosis leading to impairment to and loss of directional diffusion. The "in vivo histological" information obtained may be useful in monitoring disease progression and in investigating the pathogenesis of the cognitive impairment that may be present.     

Uterine activity patterns in uterine rupture: a case-control study

The effects of methylprednisolone therapy on the susceptibility of dystrophin-deficient myofibers to contraction-induced injury were evaluated in the mdx mouse diaphragm model of Duchenne dystrophy. Mdx myofibers were abnormally vulnerable to injury induced by high-stress eccentric contractions. However, methylprednisolone therapy did not significantly alter the degree of contraction-induced injury. These data suggest that beneficial effects of corticosteroid therapy in Duchenne dystrophy are unlikely to be related to a change in the threshold for contraction-induced myofiber damage.     

Ophthalmic findings with partial trisomy (duplication) of the long arm of chromosome 7

BACKGROUND: The sensitivity of diagnostic imaging of processes in the parotid gland has been increased by improved spatial resolution, yet specificity remains unchanged. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the low-flow color duplex technique alters the specificity of B-mode ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with tumors of the parotid gland were examined by color duplex echography as well as histologically. Twenty-eight of the 41 patients had benign tumors and 13 had malignant disease. In 17 of 41 patients, color duplex ultrasonography failed to detect any vascularization within the tumor. Histopathological examination showed that 3 of these 17 tumors were malignant and 14 of 17 were benign. Intranodal vascularization was detected in 24 cases. Ten of these patients were found to have malignant tumors of the parotid gland; 14 had benign parotid tumors. RESULTS: Our present findings show that marked intratumoral vascularization especially appears in malignant tumors. In contrast to lymph nodes, the location and texture of intranodal blood vessels do not provide information about the nature of the neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Low flow duplex ultrasonography does not increase the specificity of preoperative examination in tumors of the parotid gland.     

Hepatobiliary and intestinal clearance of amphiphilic cationic drugs in mice in which both mdr1a and mdr1b genes have been disrupted

The triumph of antibiotics over bacterial pathogens that has occurred in the latter half of this century looks increasingly threatened as we approach the new millennium. Increasing resistance in important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Shigella, and Streptococcus pneumoniae threatens the lives of millions. The increasing problems with drug resistance in (C. diphtheriae, Salmonella typhi and the pneumococcus in Vietnam are presented as examples of the challenge confronting tropical countries.     

Response of intraocular pressure to retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the response of intraocular pressure (IOP) to retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively masked and randomized to receive either 4 cc of retrobulbar anesthesia (X = 29) or 6 cc of peribulbar anesthesia (X = 30), each consisting of a 50:50 mixture of 2% xylocaine and 0.75% bupivacaine with 150 units of hyaluronidase. IOPs were measured pre-anesthesia and 1, 2, and 5 minutes post-anesthesia in nonglaucoma patients undergoing cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. RESULTS: Mean IOPs in the retrobulbar group as determined with a tonometer were 18.24, 18.66, 19.14, and 17.86 mm Hg pre-anesthesia and 1, 2, and 5 minutes post-anesthesia, respectively. In the peribulbar group, the mean IOPs were 18.53, 21.20, 20.40, and 19.20 mm Hg, respectively. The 1-minute pressures in the two groups were statistically different (P = .023). Within the peribulbar group, the 1- and 2-minute pressures were statistically different from the pre-anesthesia IOP (P = .001 and P = .018, respectively). CONCLUSION: Peribulbar anesthesia, with its higher volume of anesthetic (6 vs 4 cc), results in a higher initial IOP. This difference was slight and short lived, and occurred in the absence of any external ocular compression. This study may have application in avoiding elevation of IOP in select patients undergoing a local procedure.