988 research outputs found
Simulations of Phytoplankton Species and Carbon Production in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean 2. Effects of Physical and Biogeochemical Processes
A one-dimensional multi-component lower trophic level ecosystem model that includes detailed algal physiology is used to investigate the response of phytoplankton community and carbon production and export to variations in physical and biochemical processes in the Cold Tongue region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean at ON, 140W. Results show that high-frequency variability in vertical advection and temperature is an important mechanism driving the carbon export. Filtering out low frequency physical forcing results in a 30% increase in primary production and dominance of high-light adapted Prochlorococcus and autotrophic eukaryotes. Sensitivity studies show that iron availability is the primary control on carbon export and production; whereas, algal biomass concentration is largely regulated by zooplankton grazing. Recycled iron is an important component of the ecosystem dynamics because sustained growth of algal groups depends on remineralized iron which accounts for 4.0% of the annual primary production in the Cold Tongue region. Sensitivity studies show that although all algal groups have a considerable effect on simulated phytoplankton carbon biomass, not all have a strong effect on primary production and carbon export. Thus, these sensitivity studies indicate that it may not be necessary to represent a broad spectrum of algal groups in carbon cycle models, because a few key groups appear to have a large influence on primary production and export variability. Combining the low-light adapted Prochlorococcus, high-light adapted Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus groups as a single group and using a three algal group model may be sufficient to simulate primary production and export variability in the tropical Pacific waters. The results from this modeling study suggest that the net effect of increased stratification and temperature conditions is a decrease in carbon export in the Cold Tongue region and a shift in the phytoplankton community towards smaller algal forms (e.g., Prochlorococcus spp. and Synechecoccus). Increased stratification can result in decreased iron concentration and reduced vertical velocities, both of which contribute to decreased carbon export. Also, stratified conditions enhance the remineralization rate of nutrients (e.g., iron), which enhances carbon production. Thus, inclusion of iron dynamics in climate models may be needed to fully represent the effect of climate variability on equatorial Pacific ecosystems
Simulations of Phytoplankton Species and Carbon Production in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean 1. Model Configuration and Ecosystem Dynamics
The primary objective of this research is to investigate phytoplankton community response to variations in physical forcing and biological processes in the Cold Tongue region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean at 0N, 140W. This research objective was addressed using a one-dimensional multicomponent lower trophic level ecosystem model that includes detailed algal physiology, such as spectrally-dependent photosynthetic processes and iron limitation on algal growth. The ecosystem model is forced by a one-year (1992) time series of spectrally-dependent light, temperature, and water column mixing obtained from a Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (TAO) Array mooring. Autotrophic growth is represented by five algal groups, which have light and nutrient utilization characteristics of low-light adapted Prochlorococcus, high-light adapted Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, autotrophic eukaryotes, and large diatoms. The simulated distributions and rates are validated using observations from the 1992 U. S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study Equatorial Pacific cruises. The modeldata comparisons show that the simulations successfully reproduce the temporal distribution of each algal group and that multiple algal groups are needed to fully resolve the variations observed for phytoplankton communities in the equatorial Pacific. The 1992 simulations show seasonal variations in algal species composition superimposed on shorter time scale variations (e.g., 8–20 days) that arise from changes in the upwelling/downwelling environmental structure. The simulated time evolution of the algal groups shows that eukaryotes are the most abundant group, being responsible for half of the annual biomass and 69% of the annual primary production and organic carbon export
Signal-to-noise ratio of Gaussian-state ghost imaging
The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of three Gaussian-state ghost imaging
configurations--distinguished by the nature of their light sources--are
derived. Two use classical-state light, specifically a joint signal-reference
field state that has either the maximum phase-insensitive or the maximum
phase-sensitive cross correlation consistent with having a proper
representation. The third uses nonclassical light, in particular an entangled
signal-reference field state with the maximum phase-sensitive cross correlation
permitted by quantum mechanics. Analytic SNR expressions are developed for the
near-field and far-field regimes, within which simple asymptotic approximations
are presented for low-brightness and high-brightness sources. A high-brightness
thermal-state (classical phase-insensitive state) source will typically achieve
a higher SNR than a biphoton-state (low-brightness, low-flux limit of the
entangled-state) source, when all other system parameters are equal for the two
systems. With high efficiency photon-number resolving detectors, a
low-brightness, high-flux entangled-state source may achieve a higher SNR than
that obtained with a high-brightness thermal-state source.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures. This version incorporates additional references
and a new analysis of the nonclassical case that, for the first time,
includes the complete transition to the classical signal-to-noise ratio
asymptote at high source brightnes
Ultrasound-mediated transdermal drug delivery: Mechanisms, scope, and emerging trends
The use of ultrasound for the delivery of drugs to, or through, the skin is commonly known as sonophoresis or phonophoresis. The use of therapeutic and high frequencies of ultrasound (≥ 0.7 MHz) for sonophoresis (HFS) dates back to as early as the 1950s, while low-frequency sonophoresis (LFS, 20–100 kHz) has only been investigated significantly during the past two decades. Although HFS and LFS are similar because they both utilize ultrasound to increase the skin penetration of permeants, the mechanisms associated with each physical enhancer are different. Specifically, the location of cavitation and the extent to which each process can increase skin permeability are quite dissimilar. Although the applications of both technologies are different, they each have strengths that could allow them to improve current methods of local, regional, and systemic drug delivery. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms associated with both HFS and LFS, specifically concentrating on the key mechanistic differences between these two skin treatment methods. Background on the relevant physics associated with ultrasound transmitted through aqueous media will also be discussed, along with implications of these phenomena on sonophoresis. Finally, a thorough review of the literature is included, dating back to the first published reports of sonophoresis, including a discussion of emerging trends in the field.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB-00351)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Grant DAAD-19-02-D-002
A physical mechanism to explain the delivery of chemical penetration enhancers into skin during transdermal sonophoresis — Insight into the observed synergism
The synergism between low-frequency sonophoresis (LFS) and chemical penetration enhancers (CPEs), especially surfactants, in transdermal enhancement has been investigated extensively since this phenomenon was first observed over a decade ago. In spite of the identifying that the origin of this synergism is the increased penetration and subsequent dispersion of CPEs in the skin in response to LFS treatment, to date, no mechanism has been directly proposed to explain how LFS induces the observed increased transport of CPEs. In this study, we propose a plausible physical mechanism by which the transport of all CPEs is expected to have significantly increased flux into the localized-transport regions (LTRs) of LFS-treated skin. Specifically, the collapse of acoustic cavitation microjets within LTRs induces a convective flux. In addition, because amphiphilic molecules preferentially adsorb onto the gas/water interface of cavitation bubbles, amphiphiles have an additional adsorptive flux. In this sense, the cavitation bubbles effectively act as carriers for amphiphilic molecules, delivering surfactants directly into the skin when they collapse at the skin surface as cavitation microjets. The flux equations derived for CPE delivery into the LTRs and non-LTRs during LFS treatment, compared to that for untreated skin, explain why the transport of all CPEs, and to an even greater extent amphiphilic CPEs, is increased during LFS treatment. The flux model is tested with a non-amphiphilic CPE (propylene glycol) and both nonionic and ionic amphiphilic CPEs (octyl glucoside and sodium lauryl sulfate, respectively), by measuring the flux of each CPE into untreated skin and the LTRs and non-LTRs of LFS-treated skin. The resulting data shows very good agreement with the proposed flux model.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB-00351)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Grant DAAD-19-02-D-002
Evaluation of the biocompatibility of experimentally manufactured portland cement: an animal study
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of MTA and the experimentally manufactured
portland cement (EMPC).
Study design: Twenty one Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were allocated to testing of three groups. Group I and Group
II included ProRoot MTA and the EMPC. The materials were mixed with distilled water and placed in polyethylene
tubes. The tubes were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of the animals. Group III served as control; the
implanted polyethylene tubes remained empty. At 7, 14, and 28 days after the implantation, the animals were sacrificed
and the implants were removed with the surrounding tissues. The specimens were prepared for histological
examination to evaluate the inflammatory response.
Results: No significant difference was found between tissue reactions against the tested materials (p>0.05). Also,
control group showed similar results(p>0.05).
Conclusions: Results suggest that the EMPC has the potential to be used in clinical conditions in which ProRoot
MTA is indicated. MTA and the EMPC show comparable biocompatibility when evaluated in vivo. Although the
results are supportive for the EMPC, more studies are required before the safe clinical use of the EMPC
Effects of ultrasound and sodium lauryl sulfate on the transdermal delivery of hydrophilic permeants: Comparative in vitro studies with full-thickness and split-thickness pig and human skin
The simultaneous application of ultrasound and the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate (referred to as US/SLS) to skin enhances transdermal drug delivery (TDD) in a synergistic mechanical and chemical manner. Since full-thickness skin (FTS) and split-thickness skin (STS) differ in mechanical strength, US/SLS treatment may have different effects on their transdermal transport pathways. Therefore, we evaluated STS as an alternative to the well-established US/SLS-treated FTS model for TDD studies of hydrophilic permeants. We utilized the aqueous porous pathway model to compare the effects of US/SLS treatment on the skin permeability and the pore radius of pig and human FTS and STS over a range of skin electrical resistivity values. Our findings indicate that the US/SLS-treated pig skin models exhibit similar permeabilities and pore radii, but the human skin models do not. Furthermore, the US/SLS-enhanced delivery of gold nanoparticles and quantum dots (two model hydrophilic macromolecules) is greater through pig STS than through pig FTS, due to the presence of less dermis that acts as an artificial barrier to macromolecules. In spite of greater variability in correlations between STS permeability and resistivity, our findings strongly suggest the use of 700 μm-thick pig STS to investigate the in vitro US/SLS-enhanced delivery of hydrophilic macromolecules.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB-00351)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Grant DAAD-19-02-D-002)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research FellowshipConselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paul
Primary extranodal Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma presenting as painful gingval swelling
Primary extra-nodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) constitute 25–40% of NHL but less than 1% arises in oral cavity. Here in 53-year-old man with stage IE gingival diffuse large B cell lymphoma who was treated successfully with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was presented
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