Combination of fiber-guided pulsed erbium and holmium laser radiation for tissue ablation under water

Because of the high absorption of near-infrared laser radiation in biological tissue, erbium lasers and holmium lasers emitting at 3 and 2 μm, respectively, have been proven to have optimal qualities for cutting or welding and coagulating tissue. To combine the advantages of both wavelengths, we realized a multiwavelength laser system by simultaneously guiding erbium and holmium laser radiation by means of a single zirconium fluoride (ZrF(4)) fiber. Laser-induced channel formation in water and poly(acrylamide) gel was investigated by the use of a time-resolved flash-photography setup, while pressure transients were recorded simultaneously with a needle hydrophone. The shapes and depths of vapor channels produced in water and in a submerged gel after single erbium and after combination erbium-holmium radiation delivered by means of a 400-μm ZrF(4) fiber were measured. Transmission measurements were performed to determine the amount of pulse energy available for tissue ablation. The effects of laser wavelength and the delay time between pulses of different wavelengths on the photomechanical and photothermal responses of meniscal tissue were evaluated in vitro by the use of histology. It was observed that the use of a short (200-μs, 100-mJ) holmium laser pulse as a prepulse to generate a vapor bubble through which the ablating erbium laser pulse can be transmitted (delay time, 100 μs) increases the cutting depth in meniscus from 450 to 1120 μm as compared with the depth following a single erbium pulse. The results indicate that a combination of erbium and holmium laser radiation precisely and efficiently cuts tissue under water with 20-50-μm collateral tissue damage.     

Estimation of Detection Thresholds for Redirected Walking Techniques

In immersive virtual environments (IVEs), users can control their virtual viewpoint by moving their tracked head and walking through the real world. Usually, movements in the real world are mapped one-to-one to virtual camera motions. With redirection techniques, the virtual camera is manipulated by applying gains to user motion so that the virtual world moves differently than the real world. Thus, users can walk through large-scale IVEs while physically remaining in a reasonably small workspace. In psychophysical experiments with a two-alternative forced-choice task, we have quantified how much humans can unknowingly be redirected on physical paths that are different from the visually perceived paths. We tested 12 subjects in three different experiments: (E1) discrimination between virtual and physical rotations, (E2) discrimination between virtual and physical straightforward movements, and (E3) discrimination of path curvature. In experiment E1, subjects performed rotations with different gains, and then had to choose whether the visually perceived rotation was smaller or greater than the physical rotation. In experiment E2, subjects chose whether the physical walk was shorter or longer than the visually perceived scaled travel distance. In experiment E3, subjects estimate the path curvature when walking a curved path in the real world while the visual display shows a straight path in the virtual world. Our results show that users can be turned physically about 49 percent more or 20 percent less than the perceived virtual rotation, distances can be downscaled by 14 percent and upscaled by 26 percent, and users can be redirected on a circular arc with a radius greater than 22 m while they believe that they are walking straight.     

Optoacoustic imaging using a three-dimensional reconstructionalgorithm

A novel three-dimensional (3-D) computational algorithm to reconstruct 3-D optoacoustic images from two-dimensional (2-D) pressure distributions generated at the sample surface is presented. The 2-D pressure distributions were measured as images at different delay times after the excitation laser pulse. The pressure images were captured with a gated CCD camera as the local pressure induces intensity changes of a reflected probe beam at the surface of the irradiated sample. The illumination time was 10 ns and the resolution of the surface pressure image was 20 μm. The reconstruction algorithm is based on the decomposition into plane waves. The algorithm was tested in the back projection of simulated pressure transients of three sources, and applied to different biological systems. Furthermore the algorithm was compared with the time of flight back projection algorithm. Optoacoustic images with a depth resolution of 15 μm and a lateral resolution of 100 μm are presented     

Schädigungsentwicklung der Legierung IN 738 LC bei Hochtemperatur-LCF-Beanspruchung

Damage evolution of the alloy IN 738 LC at high temperature low cycle fatigue Herrn Professor K.-T. Rie zum 60. Geburtstag Interrupted Low-Cycle-Fatigue tests have been carried out with IN 738 LC at 850°C. The specimens were extensively examined by SEM to quantify the evolution of fatigue damage. Surface crack nucleation at oxidized grain boundaries occured during the whole experiments. The coalescence of cracks was the dominant mechanism which lead to macro crack evolution and the final fracture.     

Fine structure of extracellular matrix and basal laminae in two types of abnormal collagen production: L-proline analog-treated otocyst cultures and disproportionate micromelia (Dmm/Dmm) mutants

The diagnostic implications of different procedures of DNA extraction were examined for the detection of HCMV DNA from sera and plasma of immunosuppressed patients. The detection limit of HCMV plasmid DNA from cell free seronegative plasma and serum by limiting dilution nested PCR decreased in the following sequence: phenol/chloroform > NaI-single tube method > proteinase K digestion equal to amplification of native sera and plasma. Nested PCR from native sera and plasma performed well and surpassed the proteinase K method in sensitivity for detection of serum DNAemia. Semi-quantitative determination of HCMV DNA titer present in native sera of immunosuppressed patients did not seem to be correlated to HCMV disease. When compared to the persistence of leukoDNAemia, the viral DNA titer in native plasma could only be observed in the acute phase of HCMV infection, an important phenomenon for diagnostic purposes. Correlation of serum DNAemia to virus culture revealed low positive and high negative predictive values. Predictive values of nested PCR from native sera for HCMV infection were not lower than those following organic DNA extraction. Despite its low correlation to viremia and virus isolation from any site, nested PCR from organic DNA extracts of serum or plasma is the most sensitive diagnostic tool of an ongoing HCMV infection. Additionally, semi-quantitative end point dilution nested PCR from native serum or plasma promises to be a rapid and easy tool for the monitoring of antiviral therapy.     

Life time prediction of old bridges

The prediction of a realistic lifetime and the prolongation of the service life of a structure is an important task to reduce costs of civil engineering structures. The usual theoretical predictions are not very reliable. The prediction model used consists of a load model, a system‐transfer model and a damage model. The results of these sequentially coupled models are usually unreliable, especially the influence of the uncertain load and damage models controls the reliability of the result. A method based on monitoring strategies is presented, which avoids these problems. Expected trends of future traffic are considered. If the remaining life time of existing structures should be assessed, information about the strain time history of the past is needed. It is shown how these data can be generated taking into account the estimated statistics of the load in the past, the dynamic behaviour and the bumpiness of the road. Synthetic time series of the local strains are generated which include the real statistics of the process and cluster effects induced by truck convoys.     

Holographic Gratings in Diblock Copolymers with Azobenzene and Mesogenic Side Groups in the Photoaddressable Dispersed Phase

Diblock copolymers, consisting of a photoaddressable mesogen‐containing dispersed phase and a polystyrene matrix, have been synthesized and characterized as holographic data storage materials. The photoaddressable phase contains p‐methoxy‐substituted azobenzene side groups and benzoylbiphenyl mesogenic side groups in a statistical distribution. Three‐ring mesogenic groups in combination with photoaddressable azobenzene side groups have been introduced for the first time in block copolymers in order to increase the local refractive‐index difference between illuminated and non‐illuminated volume elements, as well as to improve the stability of the orientation, while, at the same time, decreasing the optical density. To this end, a series of block copolymers with different azobenzene/mesogen ratios have been synthesized. The light‐induced reorientation dynamics of the chromophores and mesogens and the long‐term stability of the orientation have been studied with volume holographic measurements. A remarkable increase in stability of the holographic gratings has been achieved.     

Psychometric evaluation of Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale.

Examined the psychometric properties of A. Antonovsky's (1988) Sense of Coherence (SOC) Scale. 374 Ss completed the SOC scale and a battery of theoretically relevant questionnaires. Principal-components analysis with a Varimax-Promax rotation produced a solution with 5 factors, which were further reduced to 1 factor, suggesting that the SOC scale is a unidimensional instrument. Additional analyses indicated satisfactory internal consistency as well as test–retest reliability at 1 and 2 wks. Evidence for the validity of the SOC scale was obtained in that nonclinical Ss obtained higher SOC scores than did clinical Ss. Additional validity evidence was provided by negative correlations between SOC scores and self-reports of (1) perceived stress, (2) trait anxiety, and (3) current depression. Discriminant evidence for the validity of the SOC scale was mixed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)