Design method for eliminating spectral line tilt in a multiple sub-pupil ultra-spectral imager (MSPUI).

A multiple sub-pupil ultra-spectral imaging system designed with a single spectrometer and detector can simultaneously detect multiple-channel spectra with ultra-high spectral resolution. However, due to using a prism in the system's front end, the nonlinear dispersion introduces spectral line tilt in the imaging spectra. This phenomenon can lead to bias in the final spectral data. To eliminate this issue, we propose a new design by introducing a second prism to correct this spectral tilt in the system. The angle of spectral line tilt generated by the nonlinear dispersion of the first prism is derived. It provides the theoretical basis for characterizing the second complementary prism. Finally, a UV multiple sub-pupil ultra-spectral imaging system is designed. The system employs two pupil separation prisms and one flat panel array to segment the pupil in three channels, each operating within spectral ranges of 180∼210 nm, 275∼305 nm, and 370∼400 nm, respectively. The spectral resolutions in all three channels are better than 0.1 nm. The corrected spectral line tilt is less than 1/3 of a pixel in the two channels with pupil separation prisms. At a Nyquist frequency of 30 lp/mm, the modulation transfer functions of all three channels are greater than 0.7, ensuring imaging quality. The design results indicate that the method proposed in this paper, utilizing complementary prisms, can effectively correct the spectral line tilt caused by the nonlinear dispersion of the pupil separation prisms. This design approach can be a reference for developing multiple sub-pupil ultra-spectral imaging systems.

Characterization of spatial-temporal distribution and microenvironment source contribution of PM2.5 concentrations using a low-cost sensor network with artificial neural network/kriging techniques.

Low-cost sensors (LCS) network is widely used to improve the resolution of spatial-temporal distribution of air pollutant concentrations in urban areas. However, studies on air pollution sources contribution to the microenvironment, especially in industrial and mix-used housing areas, still need to be completed. This study investigated the spatial-temporal distribution and source contributions of PM2.5 in the urban area based on 6-month of the LCS network datasets. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was used to calibrate the measured PM2.5 by the LCS network. The calibrated PM2.5 were shown to agree with reference PM2.5 measured by the BAM-1020 with R2 of 0.85, MNE of 30.91%, and RMSE of 3.73 µg/m3, which meet the criteria for hotspot identification and personal exposure study purposes. The Kriging method was further used to establish the spatial-temporal distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in the urban area. Results showed that the highest average PM2.5 concentration occurred during autumn and winter due to monsoon and topographic effects. From a diurnal perspective, the highest level of PM2.5 concentration was observed during the daytime due to heavy traffic emissions and industrial production. Based on the present ANN-based microenvironment source contribution assessment model, temples, fried chicken shops, traffic emissions in shopping and residential zones, and industrial activities such as the mechanical manufacturing and precision metal machining were identified as the sources of PM2.5. The numerical algorithm coupled with the LCS network presented in this study is a practical framework for PM2.5 hotspots and source identification, aiding decision-makers in reducing atmospheric PM2.5 concentrations and formulating regional air pollution control strategies.

Source-apportionment and spatial distribution analysis of VOCs and their role in ozone formation using machine learning in central-west Taiwan.

This study assessed the machine learning based sensitivity analysis coupled with source-apportionment of volatile organic carbons (VOCs) to look into new insights of O3 pollution in Yunlin County located in central-west region of Taiwan. One-year (Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2021) hourly mass concentrations data of 54 VOCs, NOX, and O3 from 10 photochemical assessment monitoring stations (PAMs) in and around the Yunlin County were analyzed. The novelty of the study lies in the utilization of artificial neural network (ANN) to evaluate the contribution of VOCs sources in O3 pollution in the region. Firstly, the station specific source-apportionment of VOCs were carried out using positive matrix factorization (PMF)-resolving six sources viz. AAM: aged air mass, CM: chemical manufacturing, IC: Industrial combustion, PP: petrochemical plants, SU: solvent use and VE: vehicular emissions. AAM, SU, and VE constituted cumulatively more than 65% of the total emission of VOCs across all 10 PAMs. Diurnal and spatial variability of source-segregated VOCs showed large variations across 10 PAMs, suggesting for distinctly different impact of contributing sources, photo-chemical reactivity, and/or dispersion due to land-sea breezes at the monitoring stations. Secondly, to understand the contribution of controllable factors governing the O3 pollution, the output of VOCs source-contributions from PMF model along with mass concentrations of NOX were standardized and first time used as input variables to ANN, a supervised machine learning algorithm. ANN analysis revealed following order of sensitivity in factors governing the O3 pollution: VOCs from IC > AAM > VE ≈ CM ≈ SU > PP ≈ NOX. The results indicated that VOCs associated with IC (VOCs-IC) being the most sensitive factor which need to be regulated more efficiently to quickly mitigate the O3 pollution across the Yunlin County.

Sex Differences in Chronic Migraine: Focusing on Clinical Features, Pathophysiology, and Treatments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an update on sex differences in chronic migraine (CM), with a focus on clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: Approximately 6.8-7.8% of all migraineurs have CM, with an estimated prevalence of 1.4-2.2% in the general population. The economic burden caused by CM, including medical costs and lost working ability, is threefold higher than that caused by episodic migraine (EM). Notably, the prevalence of migraine is affected by age and sex. Female migraineurs with CM experience higher levels of headache-related disability, including longer headache duration, higher frequency of attacks, and more severely impacted efficiency at work. Sex hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, contribute to the sexually dimorphic characteristics and prevalence of migraine in men and women. Recent neuroimaging studies have indicated that migraine may have a greater impact and cause greater dysfunction in the organization of resting-state functional networks in women. Accumulating evidence suggests that topiramate, Onabotulinumtoxin A and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies are effective as the preventative treatments for CM. Recent evidence highlights a divergence in the characteristics of CM between male and female populations. The data comparing the treatment response for CM regarding sex are lacking.

Pathophysiology of Chronic Migraine: Insights from Recent Neuroimaging Research.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic migraine (CM) is a highly disabling primary headache disorder with a substantial impact on patients' quality of life. Episodic migraine (EM) and CM are dynamic states; CM usually evolves from EM alongside increased headache frequency, comorbidities, and medication overuse, supporting the notion that migraine is a spectrum disorder. This narrative review aims to summarize neuroimaging studies to better understand the pathophysiology of CM. RECENT FINDINGS: Positron emission tomography studies have revealed abnormal energy metabolism and metabolic changes in the dorsal rostral pons in individuals with CM, suggesting that this structure has a key role in the pathophysiology of migraine generation and chronification. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have suggested that thalamocortical pathway dysfunction may contribute to migraine chronification, while functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have highlighted that hypothalamic activity may be involved. Recent evidence highlights functional and structural alterations in cortical and subcortical pain-related brain regions in patients with CM. Whether these functional and structural abnormalities of the brain cause migraine chronification or are a consequence of repeated attacks is still debated. In the future, imaging patterns that predict the transformation from EM to CM should be identified.

Altered glucose metabolism and its association with carbonic anhydrase 8 in Machado-Joseph Disease.

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. This disorder is caused by polyglutamine (polyQ)-containing mutant ataxin-3, which tends to misfold and aggregate in neuron cells. We previously demonstrated a protective function of carbonic anhydrase 8 (CA8) in MJD disease models and a decreased glycolytic activity associated with down-regulated CA8 in a human osteosarcoma (OS) cell model. Given that a reduction in body weight accompanied by gait and balance instability was observed in MJD patients and transgenic (Tg) mice, in this study, we aimed to examine whether metabolic defects are associated with MJD and whether CA8 expression is involved in metabolic dysfunction in MJD. Our data first showed that glucose uptake ability decreases in cells harboring mutant ataxin-3, but increases in cells overexpressing CA8. In addition, the expressions of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) and phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) were significantly decreased in the presence of mutant ataxin-3. Consistently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that GLUT3 was less expressed in cerebella of aged MJD Tg mice, indicating that the dysfunction of GLUT3 may be associated with late-stage disease. On the other hand, transient down-regulation of CA8 revealed decreased expressions of GLUT3 and PFK1 in HEK293 cells harboring wild-type (WT) ataxin-3, but no further reduction of GLUT3 and PFK1 expressions were observed in HEK293 cells harboring mutant ataxin-3. Moreover, immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunofluorescence (IF) demonstrated that interactions exist between ataxin-3, CA8 and GLUT3 in MJD cellular and Tg models. These lines of evidence suggest that CA8 plays an important role in glucose metabolism and has different impacts on cells with or without mutant ataxin-3. Interestingly, the decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio in the feces of aged MJD Tg mice coincided with weight loss and metabolic dysfunction in MJD. Taken together, our results are the first to demonstrate the effects of CA8 on glucose metabolism and its involvement in the metabolic defects in MJD disease. Further investigations will be required to clarify the underlying mechanisms for the metabolic defects associated with MJD.

2022 Taiwan Guidelines for Acute and Preventive Treatment of Cluster Headaches.

The Treatment Guideline Subcommittee of the Taiwan Headache Society evaluated Taiwan's guidelines for the acute and preventive treatment of cluster headaches on the basis of the principles of evidence-based medicine. The subcommittee assessed the quality of clinical trials and levels of evidence and referred to the treatment guidelines of other countries. Over the course of several panel discussions, the subcommittee members reached a consensus regarding the major roles of, recommended levels of, clinical efficacy of, adverse events in, and clinical precautions for the acute and preventive treatment of cluster headaches. Thus, the subcommittee updated the previous version of the guidelines published in 2011. Most cluster headaches occurring in Taiwan are episodic, and very few patients develop chronic cluster headaches. Cluster headaches cause extreme pain over a short period and are accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic symptoms; therefore, immediate treatment can provide considerable relief. Treatment options can be categorized into acute and preventive types. Among the treatment methods currently available in Taiwan for cluster headaches, high-flow pure oxygen inhalation has demonstrated the best evidence and effectiveness for acute attacks, followed by triptan nasal spray; therefore, these are recommended as first-line treatments. Oral steroids and suboccipital steroid injections can be used as transitional preventative treatments. Verapamil is recommended as a first-line treatment for maintenance prophylaxis. Drugs such as lithium, topiramate, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies are recommended as secondline treatments. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation is the recommended instrumental therapy. The effectiveness of surgical treatment, such as sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation, is supported by a high level of evidence; nevertheless, because few patients have chronic cluster headaches in Taiwan, no clinical records are available for use as a reference. Transitional prophylaxis and maintenance prophylaxis can be used simultaneously according to the individual condition of the patient, and the transitional prophylaxis can be gradually discontinued once the maintenance prophylaxis takes effect. Steroids should not be used for more than 2 weeks as transitional prophylaxis. Maintenance prophylaxis should be administered until the end of the bout period (no attacks for 2 weeks) and then gradually tapered off. Key words: cluster headaches, oxygen therapy, triptans, steroids, CGRP monoclonal antibodies, noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation.

Prevalence and association of lifestyle and medical-, psychiatric-, and pain-related comorbidities in patients with migraine: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Migraine has been associated with many comorbidities. However, lifestyle factors and the presence of comorbid diseases have not previously been extensively studied in the same sample. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle factors and comorbid diseases between patients with migraine and migraine-free controls with subgroup analyses to determine the pathophysiology and possible consequences. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 1257 patients with migraine between the ages of 20 and 65 years from a headache outpatient clinic in Taiwan and 496 non-migraine controls. All participants completed questionnaires regarding demographics, migraine diagnosis, sleep, headache burden, and medical, pain, and psychiatric conditions. Participants also underwent a structured interview. The associations between comorbidities and migraine were investigated and further stratified by sex and aura. RESULTS: Patients with migraine with aura had an unhealthier lifestyle compared with controls in the form of current smoking status (15.5% [67/431] vs. 11.5% [57/496], p = 0.013). Furthermore, medical- (e.g., thyroid disease; 7.2% [91/1257 vs. 2.8% [14/496]; p = 0.006), psychiatric- (e.g., depression; 6% [76/1257 vs. 2.6% [13/496]; p = 0.031), and pain-related (e.g., fibromyalgia; 8% [101/1257 vs. 3.2% [16/496]; p = 0.006) comorbidities were more prevalent in patients compared with controls. Subgroup analyses revealed that chronic migraine, migraine with aura, and female sex were associated with a greater number of significant comorbidities than episodic migraine, migraine without aura, and male patients with migraine, respectively. CONCLUSION: Individuals seeking treatment for migraine reported greater levels of smoking and medical, psychiatric, and pain conditions than non-treatment-seeking healthy controls who were recruited from the community. Understanding the relationship between migraine and comorbid diseases may improve medical care as well as the quality of life.

LncRNA-PCAT1 maintains characteristics of dermal papilla cells and promotes hair follicle regeneration by regulating miR-329/Wnt10b axis.

BACKGROUND: The failure of hair follicle regeneration is the major cause of alopecia, which is a highly prevalent disease worldwide. Dermal papilla (DP) cells play important role in the regulation of hair follicle regeneration. However, the molecular mechanism of how dermal papilla cells direct follicle regeneration is still to be elucidated. METHODS: In vitro DP 3D culturing and in vivo nude mice DP sphere implanted models were used to examine the molecular regulation of DP cells and follicle regeneration. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect gene and protein expression, respectively. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression level of Wnt10b, Ki-67 and ß-catenin. Luciferase assay was used to examine the relationship among PCAT1, miR-329 and Wnt10b. ALP activity was measured by ELISA. H&E staining was used to measure follicle growth in skin tissues. RESULTS: Up-regulation of PCAT1 and Wnt10b, however, down-regulation of miR-329 were found in the in vitro 3D dermal papilla. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays demonstrated that PCAT1 promoted Wnt10b expression by sponging miR-329. Knockdown of PCAT1 suppressed the proliferation and activity, as well as ALP and other DP markers of DP cells by targeting miR-329. Knockdown of PCAT1 regulated miR-329/Wnt10b axis to attenuate ß-catenin expression and nucleus translocation to inhibit Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Furthermore, knockdown of PCAT1 suppressed DP sphere induced follicle regeneration and hair growth in nude mice. CONCLUSION: PCAT1 maintains characteristics of DP cells by targeting miR-329 to activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, thereby promoting hair follicle regeneration.

Identifying genetic variants for age of migraine onset in a Han Chinese population in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Considering the involvement of genetics in migraine pathogenesis in diverse ethnic populations, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are being conducted to identify migraine-susceptibility genes. However, limited surveys have focused on the onset age of migraine (AoM) in Asians. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify the susceptibility loci of migraine considering the AoM in an Asian population. METHODS: We conducted a GWAS in 715 patients with migraine of Han Chinese ethnicity, residing in Taiwan, to identify the susceptibility genes associated with AoM. Based on our standard demographic questionnaire, the population was grouped into different subsets. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations were examined using PLINK in different AoM onset groups. RESULTS: We discovered eight novel susceptibility loci correlated with AoM that reached the GWAS significance level in the Han Chinese population. First, rs146094041 in ESRRG was associated with AoM [Formula: see text] 12 years. The other SNPs including rs77630941 in CUX1, rs146778855 in CDH18, rs117608715 in NOL3, rs150592309 in PRAP1, and rs181024055 in NRAP were associated with the later AoM. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS to investigate the AoM in an Asian Han Chinese population. Our newly discovered susceptibility genes may have prospective associations with migraine pathogenesis.

Performance of commercially available anti-HDV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is a major global health issue around the world. There are approximately 15-20 million individuals infected with HDV worldwide. HDV infection usually causes increased mortality compared with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) alone. However, testing for the detection of HDV is not widely available in Taiwan. Therefore, the General Biologicals Corporation (GB) HDV Ab kit was developed for detecting anti-HDV antibodies. METHODS: A total of 913 serum and 462 EDTA-treated plasma samples were obtained from HBsAg-positive individuals in three hospitals in Taiwan from June 2014 to November 2017. We used three commercially available ELISA kits, DiaPro HDV Ab, DiaSorin ETI-AB-DELTAK-2 and GB HDV Ab, which were utilized strictly according to the instructions of the manufacturers. RESULTS: A comparative study of the results from the GB HDV Ab kit and the other commercial ELISA kits (DiaPro and DiaSorin) was performed to determine their efficacy for anti-HDV detection. The results indicated that the sensitivity of the GB HDV Ab kit for serum and EDTA samples was 100% compared to that of the DiaPro and DiaSorin kits, whereas the specificity for serum and EDTA samples was 99.3 and 98.1%, respectively. In addition, the overall agreement of the results of the GB HDV Ab kit for the serum and EDTA samples was 99.3 and 98.3%, respectively. It is worth noting that the performance of the GB HDV Ab kit was not affected by interference from triglyceride, bilirubin, hemoglobin, or human anti-mouse antibody. The limit of detection of the GB HDV Ab kit is approximately 100-fold lower than that of the other two commercial kits. CONCLUSIONS: The GB HDV Ab kit, which presented equivalent sensitivity and specificity compared to both certified anti-HDV kits, would be a suitable kit for HDV diagnosis in Taiwan.

Chronic Cluster Headache Update and East-West Comparisons: Focusing on Clinical Features, Pathophysiology, and Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an update on chronic cluster headache (CH) focusing on clinical features, pathophysiology, and management as well as comparisons between Eastern and Western populations. RECENT FINDINGS: Chronic CH in Eastern populations was relatively rare, compared to that in Western populations. Lacrimation and/or conjunctival injection is the most frequently reported cranial autonomic symptom, and visual aura is predominant in chronic CH patients. Neuroimaging evidence in both ethnic groups suggests that CH pathophysiology involves the hypothalamus and pain-modulatory areas, with dynamic alternations between CH episodes. Recent evidence indicates that midbrain dopaminergic systems may participate in CH chronicity. Noteworthy advances have emerged in neuromodulatory therapies for chronic CH, but treatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies has been unsuccessful. Recent evidence shows divergence of chronic CH between Eastern and Western populations. Neuromodulatory therapies but not CGRP inhibition is effective in this intractable patient group.

The small GTPase Rhb1 is involved in the cell response to fluconazole in Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is an important fungal pathogen in humans. Rhb1 is a small GTPase of the Ras superfamily and is conserved from yeasts to humans. In C. albicans, Rhb1 regulates the expression of secreted protease 2, low nitrogen-mediated morphogenesis, and biofilm formation. Moreover, our previous studies have indicated that Rhb1 is associated with the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway. In this study, we further explored the relationship between Rhb1 and drug susceptibility. The RHB1 deletion mutant exhibited reduced fluconazole susceptibility, and this phenotype occurred mainly through the increased gene expression and activity of efflux pumps. In addition, Mrr1 and Tac1 are transcription factors that can activate efflux pump gene expression. However, the RHB1 deletion, RHB1/MRR1 and RHB1/TAC1 double deletion mutants had no significant differences in efflux pump gene expression and fluconazole susceptibility, suggesting that Rhb1-regulated efflux pump genes do not act through Mrr1 and Tac1. We also showed that membrane localization is crucial for Rhb1 activity in response to fluconazole. Finally, Rhb1 was linked not only to the TOR but also to the Mkc1 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in response to fluconazole. In sum, this study unveiled a new role of Rhb1 in the regulation of C. albicans drug susceptibility.

Increased risk of sleep apnoea among primary headache disorders: a nationwide population-based longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Primary headache disorders (PHDs) are associated with sleep problems. It is suggested that headache and sleep disorder share anatomical and physiological characteristics. We hypothesised that patients with PHDs were exposed to a great risk for developing sleep apnoea (SA). METHODS: In this retrospective longitudinal study, the data obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan were analysed. The study included 1346 patients with PHDs who were initially diagnosed and 5348 patients who were randomly selected and age/sex matched with the study group as controls. PHDs, SA, comorbidities and other confounding factors were defined based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Cox proportional hazards regressions were employed to examine adjusted HRs after adjusting with confounding factors. RESULTS: Our data revealed that patients with PHDs had a higher risk (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.259 to 3.739, p<0.05) to develop SA compared with matched cohorts, whereas patients with migraine exhibited a high risk (HR 2.553, 95% CI 1.460 to 4.395, p<0.01). The results showed that patients with PHDs aged 18-44 exhibited highest risk of developing SA. In addition, males with PHDs exhibited an HR 3.159 (95% CI 1.479 to 6.749, p<0.01) for developing SA, respectively. The impact of PHDs on SA risk was progressively increased by various follow-up time intervals. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PHDs are linked to an increased risk for SA with sex-dependent and time-dependent characteristics.

The Antimicrobial Peptides P-113Du and P-113Tri Function against Candida albicans.

Two antimicrobial P-113 peptide derivatives, P-113Du and P-113Tri, were investigated in this study. Notably, P-113Du and P-113Tri contained significant fractions of α-helix conformation and were less sensitive to high salt and low pH than P-113. Moreover, compared to P-113, these peptides exhibited increased antifungal activity against planktonic cells, biofilm cells, and clinical isolates of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida spp. These results suggest that P-113Du and P-113Tri are promising candidates for development as novel antifungal agents.

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in migraine patients with and without aura: a cross-sectional, case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Although the comorbidity of migraine and restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been well-documented, the association between RLS and migraine frequency has yet to be elucidated. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of RLS among individuals who experience low-frequency, high-frequency, or chronic migraine presenting with and without aura. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, case-controlled study involving 505 participants receiving outpatient headache treatment. Standardized questionnaires were administered to collect information on experiences of migraine, RLS, sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and demographics. Participants were categorized into low-frequency (1-8/month), high-frequency (9-14/month), and chronic (≥15/month) headache groups. RLS was diagnosed according to the criteria outlined by the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to assess sleep quality and identify symptoms of anxiety and depression. Associations between migraine frequency and RLS prevalence were investigated using multivariate linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed an effect of migraine frequency on RLS prevalence (p = 0.026), though this effect did not persist following adjustment for baseline characteristics (p = 0.256). The trend was robust in patients whose migraines presented with auras (p univariate = 0.002; p multivariate = 0.043) but not in those without auras (p univariate and p multivariate > 0.05). Higher anxiety [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, p = 0.019] and sleep disturbance (OR = 1.17, p = 0.023) scores were associated with higher RLS prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Higher migraine frequency correlates with a higher prevalence of RLS, particularly among patients with auras.

Spectral broadband anastigmatic Wadsworth imaging spectrometer.

A new advanced optical design based on the Wadsworth mounting for a broadband stigmatic, coma-free practical spectrometer with high imaging quality is presented. By the addition of an inclined cylindrical lens with a wedge angle, the stigmatic imaging conditions in a broad waveband have been obtained by our analysis. An example which presents excellent optical performances over a spectral broadband of 380nm centered at 570nm has been designed to certify the analysis.

Occipital Condyle Syndrome as an Initial Presentation of Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: Occipital condyle syndrome (OCS) is a rare cause of headache. This study herein reports a case in which a unique headache and tongue deviation appear as symptoms of the first presentation of a malignant tumor. CASE REPORT: A healthy 67-year-old male presented with a unilateral shooting pain in the occipital region, accompanied by slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. Neurological examinations later revealed atrophy and mild fasciculation of the tongue. The clinical symptoms and MRI results suggested OCS. Screening for tumor markers showed an elevated CEA. The chest CT revealed a lobulated soft-tissue mass in the lower left lobe, and a CTguided biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. A whole body bone scan found multiple foci. The adenocarcinoma was graded pT2bN3M1b, stage IV. The headache improved with a prescription of prednisone, 60 mg to be taken daily. With three months of treatment, clinical examinations showed that the patient was free of pain and that there had been no progression of the atrophy or deviation of the tongue. CONCLUSION: The possible etiology of OCS includes a primary tumor or metastatic lesion that directly invades the base of the skull. Determining the underlying causes of OCS can be challenging, but MR imaging is currently the diagnostic tool of choice. An awareness of the features of OCS in healthy adults may be able to lead to earlier diagnosis of the underlying etiology and efficient relief of the symptoms.

Tandem gratings spectrometer for spectroscopy broadband anastigmatic imaging.

A tandem gratings spectrometer with high imaging quality is designed. By applying the geometric analysis, the spectral broadband anastigmatic imaging conditions have been obtained. It offers an advanced design with low aberrations for the whole spectral range of the small-scale spectrometer both in the off-axis and coaxial telescope applications. A UV design exhibiting excellent optical performance is presented. The specifications of design have also been investigated.

Interpretation of visible moiré between repetitive periodic-like gratings in the image domain.

An image domain approach to the interpretation of visible moiré phenomena in repetitive grating multiplicative superposition has been proposed. The local frequency method provides the instantaneous period and orientation of generated moiré. These parameters of the moiré have been sorted into real and pseudo patterns by the Fourier expansions analysis. With the combination of these two steps, the concept "equivalent period contribution threshold" has been introduced. It is found that different thresholds bring different integral domains and results for the calculation of average intensities of generated moiré waveforms. This proves that different thresholds would introduce different average intensity distribution (macrostructure effects) in different moiré patterns. With the local intensity variation (microstructure effects), the human eye would confuse different macrostructure effects but only consider them the same. The interpretation is that the macrostructure versus microstructure effects garble discernment of the human eye and result in different visible moiré phenomena. This is significant for visible moiré effects in various repetitive grating (both of cosinusoidal and binary patterns) superpositions in the image domain. It also presents and summarizes the coexistence of real and pseudo moirés in repetitive, periodic-like layer superposition.