Imaging through turbulence with a quadrature-phase optical interferometer

We present an improved technique for imaging through turbulence at visible wavelengths using a rotation shearing pupil-plane interferometer, intended for astronomical and terrestrial imaging applications. While previous astronomical rotation shearing interferometers have made only visibility modulus measurements, this interferometer makes four simultaneous measurements on each interferometric baseline, with phase differences of π/2 between each measurement, allowing complex visibility measurements (modulus and phase) across the entire input pupil in a single exposure. This technique offers excellent wavefront resolution, allowing operation at visible wavelengths on large apertures, is potentially immune to amplitude fluctuations (scintillation), and may offer superior calibration capabilities to other imaging techniques. The interferometer has been tested in the laboratory under weakly aberrating conditions and at Palomar Observatory under ordinary astronomical observing conditions. This research is based partly on observations obtained at the Hale Telescope

Calculation of the interfacial free energy of a binary hard-sphere fluid at a planar hard wall

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jcp/140/2/10.1063/1.4858433Using molecular-dynamics simulation and Gibbs-Cahn Integration, we calculate the interfacial free energy γ of a binary hard-sphere fluid mixture at a structureless, planar hard wall. The calculation is performed as a function of packing fraction (density) for several values of the diameter ratio α = σ2/σ1, where σ1 and σ2 are the diameters of the two particle types in the mixture. Our results are compared to those obtained from the bulk version of the White Bear Mark II (WBII) classical density-functional theory, which is a modification of the Fundamental-Measure Theory of Rosenfeld. The WBII bulk theory is shown to be in very good agreement with the simulation results, with significant deviation only at the very highest packing fractions

\u3cem\u3eSphk2\u3csup\u3e−/−\u3c/sup\u3e\u3c/em\u3e Mice are Protected from Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Sphingosine kinases phosphorylate sphingosine to sphingosine 1‑phosphate (S1P), which functions as a signaling molecule. We have previously shown that sphingosine kinase 2 (Sphk2) is important for insulin secretion. To obtain a better understanding of the role of Sphk2 in glucose and lipid metabolism, we have characterized 20- and 52-week old Sphk2−/− mice using glucose and insulin tolerance tests and by analyzing metabolic gene expression in adipose tissue. A detailed metabolic characterization of these mice revealed that aging Sphk2−/− mice are protected from metabolic decline and obesity compared to WT mice. Specifically, we found that 52-week old male Sphk2−/− mice had decreased weight and fat mass, and increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared to control mice. Indirect calorimetry studies demonstrated an increased energy expenditure and food intake in 52-week old male Sphk2−/− versus control mice. Furthermore, expression of adiponectin gene in adipose tissue was increased and the plasma levels of adiponectin elevated in aged Sphk2−/− mice compared to WT. Analysis of lipid metabolic gene expression in adipose tissue showed increased expression of the Atgl gene, which was associated with increased Atgl protein levels. Atgl encodes for the adipocyte triglyceride lipase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of lipolysis. In summary, these data suggest that mice lacking the Sphk2 gene are protected from obesity and insulin resistance during aging. The beneficial metabolic effects observed in aged Sphk2−/− mice may be in part due to enhanced lipolysis by Atgl and increased levels of adiponectin, which has lipid- and glucose-lowering effects

The Role of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Uncoupling on Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions in Rat Mesenteric Postcapillary Venules

BACKGROUND: Endothelial derived nitric oxide (NO) is essential in the regulation of blood pressure and attenuates leukocyte-endothelial interactions associated with vascular injury. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is coupled to L-arginine in the presence of tetrahydrobiopetrin (BH4) to produce NO. However, when BH4 is oxidized to dihydrobiopetrin (BH2) under conditions of oxidative stress, the ratio of BH2 to BH4 is increased causing the uncoupling of eNOS to use molecular oxygen as a substrate, instead of L-arginine, to produce superoxide

A Prospective Longitudinal Assessment of Medical Records for Diagnostic Substitution among Subjects Diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder in the United States

Background: Previously, investigators suggested that diagnostic substitution from other diagnoses, e.g., mental retardation (MR) and/or cerebral palsy (CP) to pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) is a driving factor behind increases in PDD. This study evaluated potential diagnostic substitution among subjects diagnosed with PDD vs MR or CP by examining birth characteristic overlap.Methods: SAS® and StatsDirect software examined medical records for subjects within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database who were Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)-enrolled from birth until diagnosed with an International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) outcome of PDD (299.xx, n=84), CP (343.xx, n=300), or MR (317.xx, 318.xx, or 319.xx, n=51).Results: Subjects with PDD had significantly (p<0.01) increased: male/female ratio (PDD=5.5 vs CP=1.5 or MR=1.3), mean age of initial diagnosis in years (PDD=3.13 vs CP=1.09 or MR=1.62), mean gestational age in weeks at birth (PDD=38.73 vs CP=36.20 or MR=34.84), mean birth weight in grams (PDD=3,368 vs CP=2,767 or MR=2,406), and mean Appearance-Pulse-Grimace-Activity-Respiration (APGAR) scores at 1 minute (PDD=7.82 vs CP=6.37 or MR=6.76) and 5 minutes (PDD=8.77 vs CP=7.92 or MR=8.04), as compared to subjects diagnosed with CP or MR.Conclusion: This study suggests diagnostic substitution cannot fully explain increased PDD prevalence during the 1990s within the United States

IMECE2008-67967 EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF CEMENT VISCOSITY ON CEMENT MANTLE IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

ABSTRACT Aseptic loosening of the tibial implant remains one of the major reasons of failure in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The cement viscosity at the time of application to the bone is of grea

Influence of Mature Overstory Trees on Adjacent 12-Year Regeneration and the Woody Understory: Aggregated Retention versus Intact Forest

Retention harvesting, an approach that intentionally retains legacy features such as mature overstory trees, provides options for achieving ecological objectives. At the same time, retained overstory trees may compete with the nearby recovering understory for resources, and much remains to be learned about potential trade-offs with regeneration objectives, particularly over extended time periods. We assessed the influence of aggregated retention (reserved mature overstory and understory patches) versus intact forest on structure and productivity (standing biomass) of the adjacent woody understory and regeneration 12 years after harvest in northern Minnesota, USA. Each site was dominated by Populus tremuloides Michx., a species that regenerates prolifically via root sprouts following disturbance. Overall, fewer differences than expected occurred between the effects of intact forest and aggregated retention on regeneration, despite the small size (0.1 ha) of aggregates. Instead, harvest status and distance from harvest edge had a greater influence on structure and standing woody biomass. Proximity to aggregates reduced large sapling biomass (all species, combined) relative to open conditions, but only up to 5 m into harvested areas. This suggests the trade-off for achieving productivity objectives might be minimal if managers use retention aggregates in this region to achieve ecological objectives and meet management guidelines