High-accuracy measurement of the blackbody radiation frequency shift of the ground-state hyperfine transition in 133Cs.

We report a high-accuracy direct measurement of the blackbody radiation shift of the 133Cs ground-state hyperfine transition. This frequency shift is one of the largest systematic frequency biases encountered in realizing the current definition of the International System of Units (SI) second. Uncertainty in the blackbody radiation frequency shift correction has led to its being the focus of intense theoretical effort by a variety of research groups. Our experimental measurement of the shift used three primary frequency standards operating at different temperatures. We achieved an uncertainty a factor of five smaller than the previous best direct measurement. These results tend to validate the claimed accuracy of the recently calculated values.

Hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Europa.

Spatially resolved infrared and ultraviolet wavelength spectra of Europa's leading, anti-jovian quadrant observed from the Galileo spacecraft show absorption features resulting from hydrogen peroxide. Comparisons with laboratory measurements indicate surface hydrogen peroxide concentrations of about 0.13 percent, by number, relative to water ice. The inferred abundance is consistent with radiolytic production of hydrogen peroxide by intense energetic particle bombardment and demonstrates that Europa's surface chemistry is dominated by radiolysis.

Modulation transfer processes in optical heterodyne saturation spectroscopy.

Transfer of modulation from a phase-modulated laser beam to an unmodulated, oppositely running beam occurs in a sufficiently nonlinear resonant gaseous medium. Two mechanisms account for this transfer: modulated hole burning and reflection from an induced population grating. Heterodyne detection of the transferred modulation reveals multiplet patterns that are distinct for the two mechanisms. In particular, a central dispersion feature in the dispersive phase pattern is a diagnostic indication of the reflection process.

Bilateral pulmonary sequestrations.

The case history of a young man with bilateral intralobar sequestrations is presented. The patient underwent bilateral resection of the sequestrations, although only the left side was symptomatic. We have found no previous reports in the literature in which bilateral pulmonary resections were performed for this condition. We present the clinical features and management of this unique case.

Local effective emissivity of conical cavities.

The local effective emissivity for a point on the interior surface of a diffusely reflecting blackbody cone obeys an integral equation. A new analytic approximate solution of the integral equation is presented. This approximation is very good for interior portions of narrow cones where the effective emissivity is very close to unity. Another approximation of Kelley is better near the mouth of a narrow cone. Either approximation works for wide angle cones. The new approximation is modified to give a quantitative estimate of the effects of a temperature gradient along the side of the cone.

Lung cancer as a second primary.

An unusually high association of other primary cancers (9.7%) was found during the analysis of 403 consecutive cases of carcinoma of the lung diagnosed at DGMC between 1960 and 1975. Incidence by stage included 17.3% for Stage I (75 cases) and 16.9% for Stage II (59 cases). Median survival by stage was not adversely affected by the associated malignancy. Incidence by histologic type was 15.6% for adenocarcinoma (132 cases), 7.7% for epidermoid (130 cases), 1.5% for oat (small cell) (67 cases), 12.5% for large cell (40 cases) and 11.8% for undifferentiated anaplastic type (34 cases). Of 31 cases of Stage I adenocarcinoma, 9 (29%) had second malignancies. Both adenocarcinoma and epidermoid carcinoma exhibited decreasing association of second malignances with increasing stage of lung cancer. The head and neck region was the location of the nonlung malignancy in 22 cases and the GU system in 11 cases. Two cases each of colon carcinoma and basal cell skin carcinoma were found and there was one case each of carcinoma of the pancreas, lymphoma and melanoma. The diagnosis of lung cancer was made first in only 3 instances. The appearance of solitary nodules in patients with known malignancy should receive strong consideration for vigorous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Future studies should consider carcinogenic stimuli that may be common etiologic factors in both malignancies.

Survival in lung cancer.

Analysis was carried out according to stage and tissue type of 392 consecutive cases of lung cancer diagnosed at David Grant Medical Center between 1960 and 1974. Biphasic survival curves were described with a variable primary phase and a constant (1.1 percent per month) secondary phase. Survival was found to correlate both to histology and stage. The best survival was found in stage I bronchoalveolar carcinoma. Even in the more favorable categories a leveling off of survival was not found. This study strongly suggests that surgical treatment of lung cancer, while beneficial, cannot expect to be considered as a curative procedure in more than 10 percent of cases. Radiotherapy did not prolong survival.

Idiopathic chylopericardium: 131-I-triolein scan for noninvasive diagnosis.

We report idiopathic chylopericardium in a physically active, asymptomatic 29-year-old man. Preoperative diagnosis was made by external cardiac imaging after oral administration of 131-I-labeled triolein. To our knowledge this is the first report of preoperative noninvasive diagnosis of chylopericardium. After open drainage and pericardial biopsy, the patient is asymptomatic without recurrence after 8 months.