Precision Spectrometric Determination of Th and Pu in Solutions with Arsenazo III Using Internal Standardization

A spectrophotometric procedure with internal standardization was suggested for precision determination of the concentrations of Th and Pu in the form of colored complexes with arsenazo III in nitric acid solutions. The sensitivity of the method was significantly improved owing to the use of colored complexes. The optical density optimum (0.3-0.5) of the solutions for spectrophotometric measurements can be achieved at concentrations in solution of the element analyzed as low as (2-3) ×10^-6 M, at the arsenazo and HNO₃ concentrations of 1 ×10^-4 and 6 M, respectively. With this composition of the solution, the relative rms deviation of the results for a single run is no greater than 0.15 and 0.3% for thorium and plutonium, respectively.     

Plaque herniation through an intracoronary stent

We present a case where a Wiktor intracoronary stent was inserted for 'poor angiographic result' following balloon angioplasty. Despite appropriate positioning and repeated dilation of the stent a suboptimal result was achieved because of plaque herniation through the stent. The case emphasizes that the choice of stent used is important and will become more so as the number of choices available increases.     

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.