An efficient approach for calculating the dispersions of photonic-crystal fibers: design of the nearly zero ultra-flattened dispersion

A novel and efficient approach is proposed to calculate the dispersions of the guided modes of the photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs). Based on the vector boundary-element method (VBEM), the surface integral equations for the first and second derivatives of the propagation constants with respect to the wavelength are explicitly derived. Compared with the three-point finite-difference approach, which needs to solve and search three effective indexes near the interested wavelength, this approach can determine the dispersions of the PCFs by only solving one effective index at this wavelength based on the derived formulations. This novel approach saves over 60% computing time without losing the accuracy. Based on this approach, a novel four-ring PCF is designed by optimizing only three geometrical parameters to achieve the nearly zero ultra-flattened dispersion property. Compared with previously presented dispersion-flattened PCFs, the design procedure for the four-ring structure could be more efficient and easier because relatively lesser parameters need to be optimized.     

A comparison of lightness contrast effects in CRT and surface colours

The simultaneous contrast effect is investigated in this article. A total of 174 and 154 test/induction combinations were studied for CRT and surface colours respectively. Each combination was assessed by nine observers using a matching technique. The test and induction colours used for CRT colours were similar to surface colours using fabric samples. The results indicated a strong lightness contrast effect for both CRT and surface media; that is, the lightness of a test colour surrounded by a lighter induction colour was reduced for both CRT and surface colours. However, the effect in CRT medium was more pronounced than in the surface medium. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 13–20, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20074     

Growth and morphology of nanometer LiMn2O4 powder

The growth of Li_1+xMn₂O₄ via detonation reaction was investigated with respect to the presence of an energetic precursor, such as the metallic nitrate and the degree of confinement of the explosive charge. The detonation products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the products. Li_1+xMn₂O₄ with 1-2 μm spherical morphology and more uniform secondary particles, but with smaller primary particles of diameters from 20 to 60 nm and a variety of morphologies were found. The oxides produced by this cheap method affirmed the validity of detonation synthesis of nano-size powders.     

Stability analysis on single-phase natural circulation in Argonne lead loop facility

One-dimensional linear stability analysis was performed for single-phase lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) natural circulation. The Nyquist criterion and a root search method were employed to find the linear stability boundary of both forward and backward circulations. It was found that the natural circulations could be linearly unstable in a high Reynolds number region. Increasing loop friction makes a forward circulation more stable, but destabilizes the corresponding backward circulation under the same heating/cooling conditions. The characteristic wavelength of an unstable disturbance is roughly equal to the entire loop length.     

旋转式伽玛刀的辐射剂量学

旋转式伽玛刀的辐射剂量学指标的物理测试在放射性医疗设备投放医院正式临床使用前是必不可少的，是对设备及其附件的设计、加工制造、安装以及电气控制系统等的全面综合性检定。用电离室作辐射剂量学的绝对测量，用胶片法进行相对测量，给出了测量结果并进行了讨论。     

两个同心施转圆柱间的Taylor问题

本文推导了在修正双极坐标系下的Ｎａｖｉｅｒ－Ｓｔｏｋｅｓ方程和讨论了它的基本流的扰动解     

An antinociceptive effect of the intraperitoneal injection of nifedipine in rats, measured by tail-flick test

The tail-flick (TF) technique was used to assess the antinociceptive properties of nifedipine (NIF) given intraperitoneally (i.p.). First, the most suitable intensity of the noxious stimulus (temperature of the bulb) has been ascertained and used in the main study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received NIF, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at the doses of 0.0, 0.5, 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, or control with no injection. For the main study, the noxious stimulus was limited to 15 sec (cut-off time) and TF latencies were recorded up to 120 min. The antinociceptive response was expressed as the area under the curve for each rat and analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The antinociceptive response to the lower doses of NIF (0.5 and 2 mg/kg) did not differ from control (no injection) and DMSO alone. Significance was found at 5, 10 and 15 mg NIF with no difference among the doses. However, there was an increasing tendency of the mean values from 0.5 to 15 mg NIF resulting in a positive correlation. The correlation coefficient was 0.32483 (p = 0.015) and regression equation Y = (19.37) x dose + 1320. Our data suggest that spinal mechanisms are involved in NIF-induced antinociception.     

Bcl-2 deregulation leads to inhibition of sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cells

Epidemiological studies have linked dietary fiber to the prevention of human colorectal cancer and suggest that short chain fatty acids such as butyric acid, which is produced by fermentation of dietary fiber in the large intestine, may be an important mediator of the protective effects of fiber. We investigated the role of Bcl-2 deregulation on the sensitivity of colorectal carcinoma cells to undergo butyrate-induced apoptosis. Here we report an inverse relationship between the levels of Bcl-2 and the sensitivity of colorectal carcinoma cell lines to undergo apoptosis in response to butyrate. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in colorectal carcinoma DiFi cells resulted in suppression of butyrate-induced apoptosis and enhanced cell survival in response to butyrate. Butyrate-induced apoptosis was accompanied by inhibition of expression of a 30 kDa protein (p30, immunorecognized by anti-Bcl-2 mAb) and this cellular effect of butyrate was inhibited by Bcl-2 overexpression. These findings suggest that deregulation of Bcl-2 in human colorectal carcinoma cells confers resistance to induction of apoptosis by butyrate, a dietary micronutrient.