1,414 research outputs found
Near- to mid-infrared picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO4
We describe a Ti:sapphire-pumped picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO4 that is broadly tunable in the near to mid infrared. A 4.5-mm single-grating crystal at room temperature in combination with pump wavelength tuning provided access to a continuous-tuning range from 3.35 to 5 mu m, and a pump power threshold of 90 mW was measured. Average mid-infrared output powers in excess of 100 mW and total output powers of 400 mW in similar to 1-ps pulses were obtained at 33% extraction efficiency. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.</p
Ultrasound-induced acoustophoretic motion of microparticles in three dimensions
We derive analytical expressions for the three-dimensional (3D)
acoustophoretic motion of spherical microparticles in rectangular
microchannels. The motion is generated by the acoustic radiation force and the
acoustic streaming-induced drag force. In contrast to the classical theory of
Rayleigh streaming in shallow, infinite, parallel-plate channels, our theory
does include the effect of the microchannel side walls. The resulting
predictions agree well with numerics and experimental measurements of the
acoustophoretic motion of polystyrene spheres with nominal diameters of 0.537
um and 5.33 um. The 3D particle motion was recorded using astigmatism particle
tracking velocimetry under controlled thermal and acoustic conditions in a
long, straight, rectangular microchannel actuated in one of its transverse
standing ultrasound-wave resonance modes with one or two half-wavelengths. The
acoustic energy density is calibrated in situ based on measurements of the
radiation dominated motion of large 5-um-diam particles, allowing for
quantitative comparison between theoretical predictions and measurements of the
streaming induced motion of small 0.5-um-diam particles.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, Revtex 4.
Spin-exchange Hamiltonian and topological degeneracies in elemental gadolinium
We present a comprehensive study of the magnetic exchange Hamiltonian of elemental gadolinium. We use neutron scattering to measure the magnon spectrum over the entire Brillouin zone and fit the excitations to a spin wave model to extract the first 26 nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange interactions with rigorously defined uncertainty. We find these exchange interactions to follow RKKY behavior, oscillating from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic as a function of distance. Finally, we discuss the topological features and degeneracies in Gd, and HCP ferromagnets in general. We show theoretically how, with asymmetric exchange, topological properties could be tuned with a magnetic field
Dirac Magnons, Nodal Lines, and Nodal Plane in Elemental Gadolinium
We investigate the magnetic excitations of elemental gadolinium (Gd) using inelastic neutron scattering, showing that Gd is a Dirac magnon material with nodal lines at K and nodal planes at half integer l. We find an anisotropic intensity winding around the K-point Dirac magnon cone, which is interpreted to indicate Berry phase physics. Using linear spin wave theory calculations, we show the nodal lines have nontrivial Berry phases, and topological surface modes. We also discuss the origin of the nodal plane in terms of a screw-axis symmetry, and introduce a topological invariant characterizing its presence and effect on the scattering intensity. Together, these results indicate a highly nontrivial topology, which is generic to hexagonal close packed ferromagnets. We discuss potential implications for other such systems
Liver Transplantation for Advanced Liver Disease with Alpha-1antitrypsin Deficiency
ALPHA-1-antitrypsin deficiency associated with chronic obstructive airway disease was recognized in 1963 by Laurell and Ericksson.1 In 1969, Sharp2 described the first cases of alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency disease in children with cirrhosis. Since then, this inborn error has been recognized as one of the more common factors in cirrhosis of infancy and childhood,3 including “neonatal hepatitis.”4 Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a glycoprotein that accounts for a major portion of the alpha-1 globulin fraction of the serum.5 It is responsible for approximately 90 per cent of the antitrypsin activity6 of the serum, and it also inhibits several other plasma enzymes, including plasmin,7 elastase,8 collagenase,9 and. © 1980, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved
Mexico's Health System: More Comprehensive Reform Needed
Jason Lakin discusses and critiques a Policy Forum that reviews 25 years of reform to the Mexican health system and argues that more comprehensive reform is needed
Cisplatin and Oxaliplatin Toxicity: Importance of Cochlear Kinetics as a Determinant for Ototoxicity
Background
Cisplatin is a commonly used platinum anti-cancer drug. Regrettably cisplatin
has dose-limiting ototoxic side effects, e.g. the drug can induce an irreversible
hearing loss. The ototoxic mechanisms of cisplatin have not been
elucidated in the human ear and no clinically useful oto-protectors are yet
available. Cisplatin is a necessary part of many treatment regimes. Its beneficial
therapeutic effects might be reduced if cisplatin was excluded from the
treatment in order to protect the hearing function. In this work the ototoxic
effects of cisplatin are studied with the aim to better understand the mechanisms
behind the irreversible hearing loss induced by this drug. Oxaliplatin is
a second generation platinum-derivative anti-cancer drug, free from ototoxic
side effects in clinical practice. The effects of oxaliplatin on the inner ear have
been studied in this work and the results are compared with cisplatin treatment.
The two drugs differ regarding both anti-cancer effects and side effects,
which could be attributed to differences in pharmacokinetic factors, cellular
uptake and apoptotic mechanisms. The thioredoxin redox system with the
enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was studied in cochleae due to a suggested
DNA-independent apoptotic mechanism of the hair cells. The cochlear
pharmacokinetics of cisplatin was assessed and the transport protein organic
cation transporter 2 (OCT2) was studied in relation to the ototoxic effect of
cisplatin.
Material and methods
Cultured human colon carcinoma cells and cell cultures of rat organ of Corti
were used for apoptosis studies in vitro following exposure to cisplatin and
oxaliplatin. Cisplatin and oxaliplatin were administered i.v. to guinea pigs,
followed by in vivo sampling of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and scala
tympani (ST) perilymph. Liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization
was used to determine the concentration of parent drug in the samples.
Electrophysiological hearing thresholds and the loss of hair cells were assessed
to evaluate their ototoxic effects. Phenformin, a potential blocker of
OCT2 was administered and the ototoxic side effect of cisplatin was evaluated.
For immunohistochemical studies, cochlea from rat, guinea pig and pig
were used, where TrxR and OCT2 were evaluated in the cochlea. TrxR-assays
were used to measure the TrxR activity in cochlear tissue, both in vivo and in
vitro.
Results
The results from the in vitro studies showed that addition of either cisplatin
or oxaliplatin to the culture medium in organ of Corti cell cultures caused a
similar amount of outer hair cell loss and inhibition of TrxR activity. Cisplatin
exposure to cultured human colon carcinoma cells also reduced the activity
of TrxR. The results from the in vivo studies showed that a considerable concentration
of cisplatin was present in ST perilymph as compared with weak
concentrations of oxaliplatin after high dose oxaliplatin i.v. Ten minutes after
cisplatin administration, its concentration in ST perilymph was 4-fold higher
in the basal turn of the cochlea as compared to the apex. Cisplatin could be
analysed in ST perilymph for up to 120 min. Phenformin i.v. did not reduce
the ototoxic side-effect of cisplatin. Positive immunoreactivity to TrxR was
evident in both hair cells and spiral ganglion cells. Futhermore, OCT2 was
expressed in the supporting cells of organ of Corti and in the spiral ganglion
cells.
Conclusion
The transport of cisplatin to the vulnerable cells of hearing seems to be of major
importance for the ototoxic effects. An early high concentration of cisplatin
in the base of the cochlea and delayed elimination of cisplatin from ST perilymph
may be related to the cisplatin-induced loss of outer hair cells in the
basal turn of the cochlea. Cisplatin and oxaliplatin both cause similar ototoxic
effects when the organ of Corti is directly exposed in vitro. The thioredoxin
redox system with the TrxR enzyme may well play a critical role in cisplatininduced
ototoxicity. The presence of OCT2 in the supporting cells indicates
that this transport protein is primarily not involved in the uptake of cisplatin
from the systemic circulation but rather from the deeper compartments of
the cochlea. The knowledge elicited in this work will hopefully suggest objectives
for further studies in order to develop oto-protective treatments to
preserve the hearing of cisplatin treated patients
Bilberry Supplementation after Myocardial Infarction Decreases Microvesicles in Blood and Affects Endothelial Vesiculation
Scope: Diet rich in bilberries is considered cardioprotective, but the mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Cardiovascular disease is characterized by increased proatherogenic status and high levels of circulating microvesicles (MVs). In an open-label study patients with myocardial infarction receive an 8 week dietary supplementation with bilberry extract (BE). The effect of BE on patient MV levels and its influence on endothelial vesiculation in vitro is investigated. Methods and results: MVs are captured with acoustic trapping and platelet-derived MVs (PMVs), as well as endothelial-derived MVs (EMVs) are quantified with flow cytometry. The in vitro effect of BE on endothelial extracellular vesicle (EV) release is examined using endothelial cells and calcein staining. The mechanisms of BE influence on vesiculation pathways are studied by Western blot and qRT-PCR. Supplementation with BE decreased both PMVs and EMVs. Furthermore, BE reduced endothelial EV release, Akt phosphorylation, and vesiculation-related gene transcription. It also protects the cells from P2X7-induced EV release and increase in vesiculation-related gene expression. Conclusion: BE supplementation improves the MV profile in patient blood and reduces endothelial vesiculation through several molecular mechanisms related to the P2X7 receptor. The findings provide new insight into the cardioprotective effects of bilberries
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