Modular time division multiplexer: Efficient simultaneous characterization of fast and slow transients in multiple samples.

A modular time division multiplexer (MTDM) device is introduced to enable parallel measurement of multiple samples with both fast and slow decay transients spanning from millisecond to month-long time scales. This is achieved by dedicating a single high-speed measurement instrument for rapid data collection at the start of a transient, and by multiplexing a second low-speed measurement instrument for slow data collection of several samples in parallel for the later transients. The MTDM is a high-level design concept that can in principle measure an arbitrary number of samples, and the low cost implementation here allows up to 16 samples to be measured in parallel over several months, reducing the total ensemble measurement duration and equipment usage by as much as an order of magnitude without sacrificing fidelity. The MTDM was successfully demonstrated by simultaneously measuring the photoconductivity of three amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin films with 20 ms data resolution for fast transients and an uninterrupted parallel run time of over 20 days. The MTDM has potential applications in many areas of research that manifest response times spanning many orders of magnitude, such as photovoltaics, rechargeable batteries, amorphous semiconductors such as silicon and amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide.

Association between the 10 item Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire and physiotherapists' perception of the contribution of biopsychosocial factors in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

BACKGROUND: Contrasting evidence exists on the ability of clinicians to identify biopsychosocial factors in patients with musculoskeletal pain compared to questionnaires. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate associations between two aspects of clinical practice used to assess biopsychosocial factor contribution in patient presentations (physiotherapist perceptions versus shortened 10-item Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-10)). Potential influence of physiotherapists' training, experience and confidence level were assessed. STUDY DESIGN: Observational. METHODS: 90 musculoskeletal pain patients completed the ÖMPSQ-10 prior to their initial assessment. Independently, 19 treating physiotherapists provided their perception of contribution of biopsychosocial factors to the patient presentation. Pragmatic comparison of physiotherapist perceptions and the ÖMPSQ-10 was made with Spearman's correlations. RESULTS: Fair correlation existed between physiotherapists' perception of overall contribution of biopsychosocial factors to the patients' presentation and the ÖMPSQ-10 (0.39). There where moderate correlations for the domains of recovery expectancy (0.53), self-perceived ability to work (0.52) and ability to sleep (0.54). There where fair correlations for anxiety (0.33) and depression (0.32), and a poor correlation for fear (0.10). Correlations were influenced by therapist training in psychosocial aspects of pain, experience and confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapists' perceptions on biopsychosocial contributing factors to overall presentation of patients with musculoskeletal pain were reasonably correlated with a number of the domains in the ÖMPSQ-10. However, correlations for anxiety, depression and fear were not as good. This may reflect a lack of adequate training and/or the inadequacy of single questionnaire items to capture complex issues such as pain-related fear. Screening questionnaires are recommended as an adjunct to clinician perceptions.

Osseous genioplasty in conjunction with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: a review of 262 consecutive cases.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of osseous genioplasty with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. A retrospective consecutive case series of patients treated by a single surgeon between 2004 and 2013 was studied. All underwent Le Fort I, sagittal ramus osteotomies, septoplasty, inferior turbinate reduction, and osseous genioplasty. The outcome variables included the presenting chin dysmorphology, complications, and assessment of morphologic change. A Steiner analysis was completed for each subject's interval cephalogram. Two hundred sixty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria. Their mean age at operation was 25 (range 13-63) years. Chin osteotomy complications included one wound infection (0.4%), and two of the 1572 mandibular anterior teeth at risk sustained a pulpal injury. None of the subjects required revision. For subjects undergoing chin advancement, the mean change was +3.5 (range +3 to +6) mm. A majority also underwent counterclockwise rotation of the mandible (62%). For those undergoing chin lengthening, the mean change was +5 (range +3 to +12mm) mm, and for those undergoing vertical shortening, the mean change was -3.5 (range -3 to -7) mm. Osseous genioplasty is confirmed to be a safe method to reshape the chin. When osseous genioplasty is performed in conjunction with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, only a modest horizontal change is required to achieve the preferred pogonion projection.

Detection and therapeutic implications of c-Met mutations in small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the mutation status of c-Met in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NET), for which relatively limited therapeutic targets have been explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: c-Met was re-sequenced using cell lines and clinical samples. For in vitro studies, DNA constructs containing a juxtamembrane domain (JMD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) were generated. Detected mutations were introduced into the construct and effects on c-Met phosphorylation and interaction with tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs BMS777607 and SU11274 were assessed. RESULTS: 97 specimens were analyzed: 13 SCLC and 2 pulmonary carcinoid cell lines, 46 SCLC and 36 NET clinical specimens. Mutations were only detected in the JMD. No mutations were detected in the TKD. Found mutations consisted of the previously reported R988C and T1010I mutations. One novel JMD mutation, P996S, was detected in a SCLC specimen. The mutation rate in SCLC cell lines was 25% (31% including a derivative cell line), and 6.5% in clinical specimens. The mutation rate in NET was 8.3%. In vitro, there were no differences between wild type, R988C or T1010I mutants regarding c-Met phosphorylation at Y1003, located in the JMD, and at Y1234/1235, located in the TKD. BMS777607 and SU11274 were shown to inhibit phosphorylation of c-Met in wild type and R988C and T1010I mutants in a similar fashion. CONCLUSIONS: In SCLC and neuroendocrine tumors MET mutations are relatively rare. Detected mutations were located in the juxtamembrane domain and were of no functional relevance as they did not influence c-Met phosphorylation, regardless of TKI treatment.

Materials, interfaces, and photon confinement in dye-sensitized solar cells.

A series of experiments have been carried out to study the effects of materials quality, surface and interfacial modification, and photon confinement on standard dye-sensitized solar cells. For these studies, both physical and optical characterization of the materials has been performed in detail. In addition, DC and AC impedance measurements along with kinetic charge-transport modeling of experimental results have yielded information on how to systematically optimize the cell efficiency. The same kinetic model has been used to interpret the results of a series of experiments on interfacial modification studies using fluorine etching in combination with TiCl(4) surface treatment. By using specially designed photonic crystals to confine the photons in the cells, it is shown that the best cell efficiency can be further increased by about 13%.

One-dimensional long-range plasmonic-photonic structures.

We have fabricated line gratings from periodically etched fused silica on which a thin silver film is deposited that is in turn covered with a silica index-matched fluid. This dielectrically symmetric geometry supports an independent long-range surface plasmon-polariton (LRSPP) and a short-range surface plasmon polariton, and the associated plasmonic band structure has been probed. Coupling to external light is achieved via the patterned grating, and an ultrasharp LRSPP linewidth of 4 nm is observed. The experimental results are compared with finite-difference time-domain simulations.

Synthesis and characterization of iron silicon boron (Fe5Si2B) and iron boride (Fe3B) nanowires.

Single-crystal iron silicon boron (Fe(5)Si(2)B) and iron boride (Fe(3)B) nanowires were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method on either silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) on silicon (Si) or Si substrates without introducing any catalysts. FeI(2) and BI(3) were used as precursors. The typical size of the nanowires is about 5-50 nm in width and 1-20 mum in length. Different kinds of Fe-Si-B and Fe-B structures were synthesized by adjusting the ratio of FeI(2) vapor to BI(3) vapor. Single-crystal Fe(5)Si(2)B nanowires formed when the FeI(2) sublimator temperature was kept in the range of 540-570 degrees C. If the FeI(2) sublimator temperature was adjusted in the range of 430-470 degrees C, single-crystal Fe(3)B nanowires were produced. Fe(3)B nanowires grow from polycrystalline Fe(5)SiB(2) particles, while Fe(5)Si(2)B nanowires grow out of the Fe(5)Si(2)B layers, which are attached to triangle shaped FeSi particles. Both the ratio of FeI(2) vapor to BI(3) vapor and the formation of the particles (Fe(5)SiB(2) particles for the growth of Fe(3)B nanowires, FeSi particles for the growth of Fe(5)Si(2)B nanowires) are critical for the growth of Fe(3)B and Fe(5)Si(2)B nanowires. The correct FeI(2) vapor to BI(3) vapor ratio assures the desired phase form, while the particles provide preferential sites for adsorption and nucleation of Fe(3)B or Fe(5)Si(2)B molecules. Fe(3)B or Fe(5)Si(2)B nanowires grow due to the preferred growth direction of <110>.

Self-optimization of optical confinement in an ultraviolet photonic crystal slab laser.

We studied numerically and experimentally the effects of structural disorder on the performance of ultraviolet photonic crystal slab lasers. Optical gain selectively amplifies the high-quality modes of the passive system. For these modes, the in-plane and out-of-plane leakage rates may be automatically balanced in the presence of disorder. The spontaneous optimization of in-plane and out-of-plane confinement of light in a photonic crystal slab may lead to a reduction of the lasing threshold.

Model for a random laser.

The laser action in random media is studied numerically for a planar system of resonant scatterers pumped by an external laser. The eigenmodes of the finite system (quasistates) are "lossy" in the absence of gain because of the leakage of light outside the medium and can be characterized by their decay rates. Lasing occurs when the gain compensates the decay rate of the quasistate with the longest lifetime. The dependence of the lasing threshold on the number of scatterers (size of the system) is found to be I varies with 1/square root of (N), which agrees with recent experiments. We demonstrate that this dependence is strongly related to the fluctuations of quasistate decay rates and discuss the nature of these fluctuations.

Characterization of the phosphorylated forms and the phosphorylated residues of hepatitis delta virus delta antigens.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) replication requires both the cellular RNA polymerase and one virus-encoded protein, small delta antigen (S-HDAg). S-HDAg has been shown to be a phosphoprotein, but its phosphorylation status is not yet clear. In this study, we employed three methods to address this question. A special two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, namely, nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis, was used to separate the very basic S-HDAg. By carefully adjusting the pH of solubilization solution, the ampholyte composition, and the appropriate electrophoresis time periods, we were able to clearly resolve S-HDAg into two phosphorylated isoforms and one unphosphorylated form. In contrast, the viral large delta antigen (L-HDAg) can only be separated into one phosphorylated and one unphosphorylated form. By metabolic (32)P labeling, both immunoprecipitated S-HDAg and L-HDAg were found to incorporate radioactive phosphate. The extent of S-HDAg phosphorylation was increased upon 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment, while that of L-HDAg was not affected. Finally, phosphoamino acid analysis identified serine and threonine as the phospho residues in the labeled S-HDAg and only serine in the L-HDAg. Therefore, HDV S- and L-HDAgs differ in their phosphorylation patterns, which may account for their distinct biological functions.

Structural characterization of pulsed laser-deposited hydroxyapatite film on titanium substrate.

Pure, crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) films with thicknesses of roughly 10 microns have been deposited on titanium substrate using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Experimental results indicate that the structure and properties of the PLD-HA films varied with deposition parameters. The PLD process used in the present study did not induce significant amounts of calcium phosphate phases other than apatite, or significant changes in the behaviour of hydroxyl or phosphate functional groups. Broad face scanning electron microscopy showed that HA coating was comprised of numerous essentially spheroidal-shaped particles of different sizes, while the lateral morphology indicated that columnar and dome-shaped structures both existed in the film. Many pinholes and crevices observed on coating surfaces were linked to the original substrate surface crevices/craters. The adhesion strength of the coating, mostly in the range of 30-40 MPa, was found to be closely related to the fractography of the tested specimen. The fracture surfaces of specimens with higher bond strengths were usually accompanied by a higher degree of deformation and coating-substrate debonding, while the fracture of specimens with lower bond strengths occurred more frequently within HA coatings in a more brittle manner. The energy dispersive spectroscopy-determined Ca/P ratios of raw HA powder (1.78) and sintered HA target for PLD (1.79) were very close, indicating that the sintering process used in the present study essentially did not change the Ca/P ratio of HA. After the PLD process, the Ca/P ratio of the HA film increased to 1.99. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy point analysis indicated that the value of the Ca/P ratio was significantly higher in the region near the surface, particularly near the coating-substrate interface, than in the coating interior.

CNTF induces GFAP in a S-100 alpha brain cell population: the pattern of CNTF-alpha R suggests an indirect mode of action.

In a recent report, we demonstrated that intracerebral injections of the pleiotropic cytokine, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), into developing postnatal rats evoked a severe inflammatory response as determined by the appearance of reactive astrocytes and activated microglia. Considering the likely involvement of CNTF in the injury response, we felt it was important to further understand the role of CNTF in the developing rat CNS. In this study, we examined the responsiveness of other cell populations to intracerebral injections of CNTF. We report that CNTF increases glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), while having no appreciable effect on the levels of other intermediate filaments including vimentin and neurofilament. Moreover, CNTF did not affect the expression of the mature oligodendrocyte gene, myelin basic protein. These results suggest that CNTF is highly specific in its regulation of GFAP. In our previous study, we showed CNTF to increase GFAP in a cell population that already exists in the CNS parenchyma. To determine the origin of the CNTF-induced reactive astrocytes, therefore, we have utilized a technique of combined in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. To examine the possibility that CNTF acts on oligodendrocyte precursors to give rise to reactive astrocytes, the platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor (PDGF-alpha R) was utilized as a riboprobe in conjunction with an antibody to GFAP. Examination of CNTF-induced GFAP+ astrocytes revealed no colocalization with PDGF-alpha R mRNA. In contrast, when we utilized an S100 alpha antibody recognizing a calcium binding protein in immature astrocytes, we found colocalization of S100 alpha and GFAP mRNA. These data suggest that CNTF induces an upregulation of GFAP in immature S100 alpha + astrocytes. Examination of the CNTF-alpha receptor mRNA revealed no change in expression following CNTF treatment. Unexpectedly, however, the CNTF-induced astrogliotic response appears to be indirect since the CNTF-alpha receptor was solely expressed by neurons in the cytokine-treated animals.

Buckytubes and derivatives: their growth and implications for buckyball formation.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of graphite tubules (buckytubes) and their derivatives have revealed not only the previously reported buckytube geometries but also additional shapes of the buckytube derivatives. Detailed cross-sectional TEM images reveal the cylindrical cross section of buckytubes and the growth pattern of buckytubes as well as their derivatives. These observations of frozen growth stages of buckytubes and derivatives suggest a helical growth mechanism analogous to that of crystal growth via screw dislocations. The helicacy of buckytubes is analyzed by electron diffraction whereas the anisotropy of electronic structure is revealed by momentum transfer resolved electron energy loss spectrometry. Based on the TEM observations, it is proposed that buckytubes act as precursors to closed-shell fullerene (buckyball) formation and the possible steps in buckyball formation are outlined. In arc evaporation experiments in which residue rods (containing various amounts of buckytubes) were used as the starting anode for fullerene production, the amount of buckytubes in the rod was correlated with fullerene yield.

Diagnosis of recurrent rupture of interventricular septum during acute myocardial infarction by Doppler color flow mapping.

This report presents a 60-year-old female who had acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction and a grade 3/6 pansystolic murmur at left lower sternal border. Color Doppler echocardiographic examination revealed the presence of a ventricular septal defect which was later confirmed by contrast left ventriculography and at the time of operation. Urgent operation with closure of ventricular septum was performed and the cardiac murmur disappeared. One day after operation a grade 3/6 pansystolic murmur at left lower sternal border was heard and hypotension was noted. Color Doppler echocardiographic examination demonstrated another ventricular septal defect. The patient underwent re-operation due to hemodynamic instability. At operation, a new ventricular septal defect was noted while the previous patch was intact.