Implementation of the toroidal absorption cell with multi-layer patterns by a single ring surface.

We developed a type of toroidal multi-pass cell with multi-layer patterns based on the off-axis model. The effective path length of the original toroidal multi-pass cell is extended several roundtrips in comparison with the single-layer pattern, since the inner surface of the toroidal multi-pass cell is more efficiently utilized. The light pattern has been achieved by using the simple ring surface, which is easy to fabricate. The exact analytical equations for the design of the toroidal multi-pass cell were derived based on analytical vector calculations. A series of numerical ray tracing simulations is presented, and the maximum theoretical optical path length that can be reached is 30 m with a setup of 5 cm column radius. Furthermore, two practical spot patterns are demonstrated with a path length of 8.3 m for a two-layer pattern and 10 m for a three-layer pattern, with respective effective volumes of 63 mL and 94 mL. Furthermore, the fringe effect is substantially reduced to less than 0.5% by the usage of our designed mask.

Quantum state-to-state study for (H-(D-),HD) collisions on two potential energy surfaces.

Quantum time-dependent wave-packet calculations have been carried out to explore the state-to-state dynamics of the ion-molecule (H-(D-),HD) collisions on two accurate ab initio potential energy surfaces in the collision energy range 0.2-1.2 eV. Total and final state-resolved integral and differential cross sections are elaborated in detail. The differential cross sections vary substantially with the collision energy, turning from predominantly backward-scattering at low collision energies to forward and sideways scattering bias at relatively high collision energies. The rebound, stripping and time-delayed mechanisms are found to be possible in (H-(D-),HD) collisions. A set of quasi-classical trajectory calculations were performed, and the results indicate that the backward-scattering peak is caused by the low impact parameter trajectories, while the trajectories of high impact parameter are responsible for the forward scattering. A set of representative state-to-state differential cross sections at collision energies 0.6 and 1.2 eV are also presented. Different reaction mechanisms are dominant in (H-(D-),HD) collisions at different collision energies, resulting in different product rovibrational state distributions. The differences between the dynamics results based on the two potential energy surfaces are also discussed.

High-speed multi-pass tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer based on frequency-modulation spectroscopy.

We report a multi-pass tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer based on the frequency-modulation spectroscopy (FMS) technique. It has the advantage of high scan speed and is immune to the etalon effect. A multi-pass Herriott-type cell was used in the spectrometer to increase the effective optical length to 17.5 m and compact the physical dimensions of the spectrometer to 60×30×30 cm3. Noise due to low-frequency fluctuation of the laser power and the 1/f noise in the rapid detection are sufficiently reduced by FMS. Interference fringes are effectively suppressed when the modulation frequency equals to integer or half-integer times of their free spectral range (FSR). An absorption line of C2H2 around 1.51 µm was recorded with the spectrometer to demonstrate its capabilities. The response frequency of the spectrometer is up to 100 kHz (10 µs) thanks to the high modulation frequency of FMS. The detection sensitivity of the spectrometer is about 240 ppb (3σ) at 100 kHz measurement repetition rate. The amplitude of the absorption signal is highly linear to the C2H2 concentration in the range of 300 ppb -100 ppm. Based on the Allan variation, the detection limit was determined to be 18 ppb with a detection time of 166 s.

Protective effects of glutamine preconditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a common phenomenon in hepatic surgical procedures and can result in further severe damage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of glutamine preconditioning on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its dose-dependency. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 per group). One group received 0.9% NaCl (control) and the other three received glutamine (Gln groups) 4 hours before ischemia. The Gln groups were named GL, GM, and GH according to the glutamine dose. The liver was subjected to 1 hour of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion. Two hours later, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), intracellular free calcium (Ca2+), and activity of Na+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed, and liver tissue sections were examined under a microscope. RESULTS: The Gln and control groups differed in the concentration of intracellular free calcium (P<0.05), and the activity of Na+/K+ ATPase and SOD in the Gln groups was higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The ALT level was lower in the GM and GH groups than in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of Na+/K+ ATPase and SOD rose gradually with increasing glutamine dose (P<0.05), and the concentration of Ca2+ declined gradually with increasing glutamine dose (P<0.05). The degree of hepatocyte injury was milder in the Gln groups than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine preconditioning protected effectively against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. These protective effects were related to the dose of glutamine and due to the reduction of intracellular calcium overload and the improvements in the activity of Na+/K+ ATPase and SOD.

A portable low-power integrated current and temperature laser controller for high-sensitivity gas sensor applications.

A low-noise, low power, high modulation-bandwidth design integrated laser current and temperature driver with excellent long-term stability is described. The current driver circuit is based on the Hall-Libbrecht design. A high sensitivity and a stable driver current were obtained using a differential amplifier and an integral amplifier. The set-point voltage for the current driver came from an ultra-compact, ultra-low temperature coefficient voltage reference chip or the digital to analog convertor output of a microcontroller or a modulation signal. An integral temperature chip, referred to as ADN8834, was used to drive the thermoelectric cooler controller of the distributed feedback (DFB) laser. The internal amplifier acquired the feedback current of the temperature sensor. The proportional-integral-derivative parameters such as proportion, integration, and derivative were set by external resistors. The short- and long-term stability and linearity of the developed laser driver were tested using a DFB laser with a central wavelength of 6991 cm-1. The laser driver was validated for high-sensitivity gas sensing of CO2 and C2H2 via a laser absorption spectroscopy experiment. The limits of detection were less than 11.5 ppm and 0.124 ppm for CO2 and C2H2, respectively. Direct absorption measurements and the 1-f and 2-f demodulation signals confirmed the capabilities of the proposed laser driver system in high-sensitivity gas sensing applications. The driver unit can readily be accommodated into many portable laser sensing devices for industrial applications.

[The prognostic value of human neuroendocrine clone on colorectal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the prognostic value of neuroendocrine clone on colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: The immunochemistry methods were used to investigate the percent of neuroendocrine carcinoma in 73 human colorectal carcinoma. Retrospective analysis and follow-up were carried out in all patients. RESULTS: In all 73 cases of colorectal carcinoma, the total percentage of neuroendocrine carcinoma was 17.8%. Neuroendocrine carcinoma included 11 synapse positive, 6 chromogranin positive and 4 both positive. The major factors related to the prevalence of neuroendocrine carcinoma were sex, age, tumor location and Dukes' stage. And the 1-year survival rate of the patients who suffered from neuroendocrine carcinoma is obviously lower than that of other colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The neuroendocrine carcinoma is a special kind of human colorectal carcinoma, and neuroendocrine clone may be a new marker of the malignant potency. The neuroendocrine clone has its prognostic value and may be a novel therapeutic target.