High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is a predictor of recurrent acute coronary syndrome in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is a useful tool for diagnosing myocardial ischemia. However, its role in the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction has not been studied. Here, the prognostic value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T for patients with acute myocardial infarction was investigated. The concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, other clinical chemistry makers, and living habits were investigated at the time of admission in patients with acute coronary syndrome, whereas the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T concentrations at 6 h after admission and during recovery were analyzed in other patient groups. The concentration of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T was significantly higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction than in those with other cardiac diseases and in controls (P < 0.01). Based on the standard diagnostic criterion, 134 patients were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Monitoring the change in concentration of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T in patients with acute coronary syndrome can reduce the risk of recurrence and death.

Optical-axis perturbation singularity in an out-of-plane ring resonator.

I use a matrix approach to determine the optical-axis perturbation sensitivity of an out-of-plane stable ring resonator. It is found to have a singularity for certain design parameters. On one side of the singularity the cavity behaves abnormally: the longer the mirror radius, the larger the mode volume and, surprisingly, the less the perturbation sensitivity. This is opposite the behavior of conventional stable resonators, a finding that is important to the cavity designs of out-of-plane ring lasers.

Lightweight mirror structures best core shapes: a reversal of historical belief.

After the publication of key works regarding hexagonal and triangular cores for lightweight mirror structures, optimal core shapes had become a closed issue. Since then, the mirror industry believed that the hexagonal core is the stiffest. This conclusion is found to be a result of misinterpretation of experimental data and an unfair comparison between mirrors with hexagonal and triangular cells. The major deficiencies in previously published work, presented here, along with our additional analysis, show that the reverse is true. To clarify the details, formulas for shear, torsion, and bending deflections will be derived for unit cells of different core structures. In addition, finite element models will be constructed to further support our claim.

Simulation of long distance optical propagation on a benchtop.

An optical instrument derived from two telescopes simulates long distance propagation of optical wavefronts, in short real distances. Both geometric and wave optical effects are correctly simulated. One 900:1 distance scaler is used routinely for benchtop testing and adjustment of laser leveling instruments that work at ranges of the order of a kilometer.