Comparison of the eye's wave-front aberration measured psychophysically and with the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor

The Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor offers many theoretical advantages over other methods for measuring aberrations of the eye; therefore it is essential that its accuracy be thoroughly tested. We assessed the accuracy of a Shack-Hartmann sensor by directly comparing its measured wave-front aberration function with that obtained by the Smirnov psychophysical method for the same eyes. Wave-front profiles measured by the two methods agreed closely in terms of shape and magnitude with rms differences of approximately lambda/2 and approximately lambda/6 (5.6-mm pupil) for two eyes. Primary spherical aberration was dominant in these profiles, and, in one subject, secondary coma was opposite in sign to primary coma, thereby canceling its effect. Discovery of an unusual, subtle wave-front anomaly in one individual further demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity of the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor for measuring the optical quality of the human eye.     

Conformal proton therapy for prostate carcinoma

The suppression of apoptosis may contribute to the carcinogenicity of the peroxisome proliferators (PPs), a class of non-genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogens. Our previous work demonstrated that the PP nafenopin suppressed both spontaneous and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we extend these observations by demonstrating the ability of nafenopin to suppress apoptosis induced by other major candidates for the signalling of cell death in the liver. Treatment of rat or mouse hepatocyte monolayers with TGFbeta1 or the DNA damaging drugs etoposide or hydroxyurea induced high levels of apoptosis. Western blot analysis did not support a role for either p53 or p21waf1 in etoposide-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes. Treatment of mouse hepatocytes with an agonistic anti-Fas antibody also resulted in an induction of high levels of apoptosis. Pre-addition and continued exposure to nafenopin suppressed apoptosis induced by all three stimuli. Overall, our studies demonstrate that the ability of nafenopin to protect hepatocytes from apoptosis is not restricted to species or apoptotic stimulus. It is possible, therefore, that the PPs may suppress apoptosis by acting on diverse signalling pathways. However, it seems more likely that nafenopin suppresses hepatocyte apoptosis elicited by each death stimulus by impinging on a core apoptotic mechanism.     

Prediction of rubber stability by accelerated aging test modeling

This study was devoted to the prediction of polymer material aging. The prediction of the shelf time of tire rubber is used as an example in this article. The main steps of the whole procedure are described. They are the design of the experiment, accelerated aging testing, the construction of a multiresponse mathematical model and parameter estimation, and the extrapolation of the model in real‐life settings. The main pitfalls were deduced, and techniques to overcome these pitfalls are described. Novel methods of data modeling, such as evolutionary design of experiment and successive Bayesian estimation, were used. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1275–1284, 2005     

Silicon as an alloying element in ferrite stainless steels containing 8–13% Cr

A jumpwise improving of the passivation ability and pitting-resistance of the Fe-(8–13)% Cr-(0.32–2.7)% Si alloys upon surpassing the limit of ∼14–15 at % by the chromium and silicon summary concentration is found. It is suggested that the nature of the critical summary concentration C _Cr + C _Si is identical to that in Fe-Cr binary alloys; it is caused by the silicon building-in to the alloy’s crystal lattice and its substitution for chromium in the statistical proportion to its atomic part in alloys. When the summary concentration C _Cr + C _Si approaches ∼14–15 at %, each elementary cell in the Fe bcc lattice must necessarily contain either a Cr atom or the proportional number of Si atoms. The improved passivation ability and pitting-resistance of the Fe-Cr-Si alloy, compared with the Fe-Cr alloys, is explained by the fayalite formation at the alloy surface. Original Russian Text ? I.I. Reformatskaya, I.G. Rodionova, A.N. Podobaev, I.I. Ashcheulova, E.V. Trofimova, 2006, published in Zashchita Metallov, 2006, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 591–597.     

Phase Composition,Structure, and Hydrolytic Durability of a Uranium-Containing Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Compound

Uranium-containing samples of magnesium potassium phosphate (MPP) compound were synthesized using a nitric acid uranium solution. Uranium is incorporated in the MPP compound in the form of potassium uranyl phosphate with the structure of metaankoleite natural mineral, K(UO₂)PO₄·3H₂O. The differential and integral uranium leach rates, determined in accordance with GOST (State Standard) R 52 126–2003 on the 28th day of contact of the compound with water, are 1.7 × 10^–6 and 2.7 × 10^–6 g cm^–2 day^–1, respectively, and the degree of leaching is 0.014%. High hydrolytic durability of the compound with respect to uranium leaching reduces the risk of release of uranium isotopes from radioactive waste into the environment.     

Microcirculatory bed of the rat ovary in health and under laser irradiation

Personal clinical observations during the recent years allow the authors to confirm the indisputable value of surgical experience got during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and in particular, the "fourfold" scheme proposed by V. I. Voiachek for the diagnosis and treatment of blind gunshot wounds to the skull base. Computed tomography considerably increases the probability of detection of the exact localization of foreign bodies in complex anatomical structures of the skull and thus facilitates choosing the most rational surgical management. The use of the electro-optical transducer for the extraction of foreign bodies from almost inaccessible areas of the skull base decreases the risk of operation.     

Increasing the Resistance of Automobile Sheet to Atmospheric Corrosion by Optimizing its Chemical Composition and the Parameters of the Manufacturing Process

A method involving alternating immersion in a 3.5% NaCl solution has been developed for corrosion tests of automobile sheet. Results obtained from 30 cycles of tests (10 + 50 min) of specimens of steels 08Yu, 08ps, 08YuP, 08YuDP, 08GSYuT, and IF established the dependence of the steel's unit weight gain from corrosion products on its combined content of carbon and silicon: steels with a lower content of these elements show a smaller gain in weight, i.e., they exhibit greater corrosion resistance. Steel alloyed with copper (0.23–0.34%) and phosphorus (0.06–0.08%) – the production of which has been mastered by the company Severstal' — has the highest resistance to corrosion. Use of the method makes it possible to rank grades of automobile sheet in one of three corrosion-resistance classifications in relation to their chemical composition and the parameters of the production process. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 8, pp. 46–52, August, 2005.