Coherent Control of the Exciton Dynamics in the FMO Protein

We have achieved first steps toward coherent control of excitonic energy migration in the FMO pigment-protein complex, by combining femtosecond pulse shaping with a feedback loop using an evolutionary algorithm. The experimental conditions achieved, with a rotating sample, a cryostat, and a pulse shaper, are sufficient for closed loop optimizations.</p

Identification of Leishmania Mexicana Mexicana in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

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Variation of quadrupole splitting in modified oxyhemoglobin: A Mössbauer effect study

Human adult hemoglobin modified by both pyridoxal-5′-phosphate and glutaraldehyde in the oxy-form was studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Mössbauer spectra were measured at 87 and 295 K (hemoglobin in lyophilized form) and at 87 K (hemoglobin in frozen solution). The values of the quadrupole splitting for modified oxyhemoglobin were found to be lower then those of oxyhemoglobin without modifications in lyophilized form and frozen solution, respectively. The Mössbauer spectra of modified oxyhemoglobin were also analyzed in terms of the heme iron inequivalence in α- and β-subunits of the tetramer. Differences of the tendencies of temperature dependencies of quadrupole splitting for modified and non-modified oxyhemoglobin in lyophilized form were shown. Key words: Hemoglobin; Mössbauer Spectroscopy; Quadrupole Spitting.This work was supported in part by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant # 97-04-49482)

Commissioning and clinical implementation of the first commercial independent Monte Carlo 3D dose calculation to replace CyberKnife M6™ patient-specific QA measurements

Purpose: To report on the commissioning and clinical validation of the first commercially available independent Monte Carlo (MC) three-dimensional (3D) dose calculation for CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system® (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA). Methods: The independent dose calculation (IDC) by SciMoCa® (Scientific RT, Munich, Germany) was validated based on water measurements of output factors and dose profiles (unshielded diode, field-size dependent corrections). A set of 84 patient-specific quality assurance (QA) measurements for multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plans, using an Octavius two-dimensional SRS1000 array (PTW, Freiburg, Germany), was compared to results of respective calculations. Statistical process control (SPC) was used to detect plans outside action levels. Results: Of all output factors for the three collimator systems of the CyberKnife, 99% agreed within 2% and 81% within 1%, with a maximum deviation of 3.2% for a 5-mm fixed cone. The profiles were compared using a one-dimensional gamma evaluation with 2% dose difference and 0.5 mm distance-to-agreement (Γ(2,0.5)). The off-centre ratios showed an average pass rate >99% (92–100%). The agreement of the depth dose profiles depended on field size, with lowest pass rates for the smallest MLC field sizes. The average depth dose pass rate was 88% (35–99%). The IDCs showed a Γ(2,1) pass rate of 98%. Statistical process control detected six plans outside tolerance levels in the measurements, all of which could be attributed the measurement setup. Independent dose calculations showed problems in five plans, all due to differences in the algorithm between TPS and IDC. Based on these results changes were made in the class solution for treatment plans. Conclusion: The first commercially available MC 3D dose IDC was successfully commissioned and validated for the CyberKnife and replaced all routine patientspecific QA measurements in our clinic

A field expansions method for scattering by periodic multilayered media

The interaction of acoustic and electromagnetic waves with periodic structures plays an important role in a wide range of problems of scientific and technological interest. This contribution focuses upon the robust and high-order numerical simulation of a model for the interaction of pressure waves generated within the earth incident upon layers of sediment near the surface. Herein described is a boundary perturbation method for the numerical simulation of scattering returns from irregularly shaped periodic layered media. The method requires only the discretization of the layer interfaces (so that the number of unknowns is an order of magnitude smaller than finite difference and finite element simulations), while it avoids not only the need for specialized quadrature rules but also the dense linear systems characteristic of boundary integral/element methods. The approach is a generalization to multiple layers of Bruno and Reitich’s “Method of Field Expansions” for dielectric structures with two layers. By simply considering the entire structure simultaneously, rather than solving in individual layers separately, the full field can be recovered in time proportional to the number of interfaces. As with the original field expansions method, this approach is extremely efficient and spectrally accurate

Radiation Exposure and Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer in Early NASA Astronauts: Space for Exploration

Of the many possible health challenges posed during extended exploratory missions to space, the effects of space radiation on cardiovascular disease and cancer are of particular concern. There are unique challenges to estimating those radiation risks; care and appropriate and rigorous methodology should be applied when considering small cohorts such as the NASA astronaut population. The objective of this work was to establish whether there is evidence for excess cardiovascular disease or cancer mortality in an early NASA astronaut cohort and determine if a correlation exists between space radiation exposure and mortality

An analysis of quadrupole splitting of the Mössbauer spectra of ferritin and iron-dextran complexes in relation to the iron core microstructural variations

Mössbauer spectra of human liver ferritin and some pharmaceutically important iron-dextran complexes as ferritin models were measured at 87 K (frozen solutions) and at both 87 and 295 K (lyophilized forms). The Mössbauer spectra consisted of paramagnetic doublets only. However, the spectral line shapes were not Lorentzian and these Mössbauer spectra were better fitted using a superposition of two or more quadrupole doublets or using a distribution of quadrupole splittings. The differences of the maximal quantity of quadrupole doublets for better fitting of various Mössbauer spectra of ferritin and iron-dextran complexes were compared with the fitting using the distribution of quadrupole splitting for additional analysis. It is possible that variations of the quantity of quadrupole doublets for better fitting of Mössbauer spectra of ferritin and iron-dextran complexes may be related to heterogeneous iron cores in the samples. This heterogeneity is supposed to be different for various samples and changed for lyophilized samples and for frozen solutions as well as for various temperatures