Extended depth of focus in tomographic phase microscopy using a propagation algorithm

Tomographic phase microscopy is a laser interferometry technique in which a 3D refractive index map of a biological sample is constructed from quantitative phase images collected at a set of illumination angles. Although the resulting tomographic images provide valuable information, their resolution declines at axial distances beyond about 1 microm from the focal plane. We describe an improved 3D reconstruction algorithm in which the field at the focal plane is numerically propagated to depths throughout the sample. Diffraction is thus incorporated, extending the depth of focus to more than 10 mum. Tomograms with improved focal depth are demonstrated for single HT29 cells.     

Laser nuclear studies

The ability of optical pumping to produce nuclear orientation and the advent of single frequency tunable dye lasers has brought about a new interesting area of study, Laser Induced Nuclear Orientation (LINO). The impact of LINO on the nuclear structure studies of short lived nuclei along with a discussion on various relaxation mechanisms involved are presented. As an example, recent experimental results on^85mRb (T_1/2=1.0 μs) are given in detail. Possible application of LINO to¹⁵¹Eu discussed.     

Phase-dispersion optical tomography

We report on phase-dispersion optical tomography, a new imaging technique based on phase measurements using low-coherence interferometry. The technique simultaneously probes the target with fundamental and second-harmonic light and interferometrically measures the relative phase shift of the backscattered light fields. This phase change can arise either from reflection at an interface within a sample or from bulk refraction. We show that this highly sensitive (~5 degrees ) phase technique can complement optical coherence tomography, which measures electric field amplitude, by revealing otherwise undetectable dispersive variations in the sample.     

Crystal structure and conformation of Linomide [N-methyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide]: A novel immunomodulator

Linomide [N-methyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide] is a new immunomodulator from Phamacia Laboratories, Helsingborg, Sweden. Linomide (LS-2616) has delayed hypersensitivity in rat skin, potentiates mouse natural killer cell activity, and stimulates polyclonal T-cell activation. It has been shown that LS-2616 abolishes the effects of continuous cyclosporine treatment in experimental models. Crystal structure of LS-2616 has been undertaken as a first step in the establishment of a possible structure–function relationship for the drug. Crystals of LS-2616 (C₁₈H₁₆N₂O₃) obtained from methylene chloride are monoclinic, of space group P2₁/a with the following crystallographic parameters: a = 8.793(1) Å, b = 22.349(3) Å, c = 7.808(1) Å, = 92.96(1)°, V = 1532.3(6) ų, _obs = 1.34 Mg/m³, _calc = 1.337 Mg/m³, and Z = 4. The structure was solved with CAD-4 data using MULTAN programs and refined to a final R value of 0.041. The N-methyl carboxamide is in the cis configuration and is turned away from the quinoline ring by 87°. FK506 is a novel 23-membered macrolide lactone which is currently used for bone marrow and organ transplantations. The crystal structure of FK506 has been published. The absolute configuration of FK506 was established as a cis-amide which contains a L-pipecolic acid moiety. Preliminary modeling studies of FK506 with LS-2616 revealed that this cis conformation for the N-methyl carboxamide leads to a lower binding energy than the corresponding trans conformation. The plane of the phenyl group is inclined by 95° to the carboxamide plane. The molecule has the familiar herring-bone type of packing, characteristic of the polyphenyl molecules, stabilized by O–H O and C–H O hydrogen bonds involving the hydroxyl group and the ketone substituents on the quinoline ring and the N-methyl group of the carboxamide.     

Noncontact measurement of nerve displacement during action potential with a dual-beam low-coherence interferometer

We have used a novel phase-referenced heterodyne dual-beam low-coherence interferometer to perform what we believe are the first noncontact measurements of surface motion in a nerve bundle during the action potential. Nerve displacements of approximately 5-nm amplitude and approximately 10-ms duration are measured without signal averaging. This interferometer may find general application in measurement of small motion in cells and other weakly scattering samples.     

Interferometric phase-dispersion microscopy

We describe a new scanning microscopy technique, phase-dispersion microscopy (PDM). The technique is based on measuring the phase difference between the fundamental and the second-harmonic light in a novel interferometer. PDM is highly sensitive to subtle refractive-index differences that are due to dispersion (differential optical path sensitivity, 5 nm). We apply PDM to measure minute amounts of DNA in solution and to study biological tissue sections. We demonstrate that PDM performs better than conventional phase-contrast microscopy in imaging dispersive and weakly scattering samples.     

Probing the periphery of dendrimers by heterogeneous electron transfer

The accessibility of the electroactive periphery was studied and compared for dendrimers and linear analogs by heterogeneous electron transfer using microelectrodes.     

Electronic structure and bonding studies on triple-decker sandwich complexes with a P6 middle ring

DFT and hybrid HF-DFT studies of structure and bonding of CpMP6MCp triple-decker sandwich complexes, ranging from 18-28 valence electrons (VE) with M=Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W, show that the middle P6 ring complexes adopt symmetric planar (28 valence electron count [VEC]), asymmetric planar (26 VEC), and puckered (24 VEC) geometries. According to the mno Rule, 50 skeletal electrons are needed for these triple-decker cluster frameworks. For 28 VEC, this corresponds to 10 electrons more than the 50 electrons of the mno Rule if all VE of the metal are included. These additional electrons control the distortion of a P6 middle ring and other finer structural details. Completely filled 2a* and 2b* orbitals in 28 VE complexes lead to a planar symmetrical P6 middle ring, while the occupancy in either 2a* or 2b* alone explains the in-plane distortions (asymmetric) in 26 VE complexes. In comparison with 28 VE complexes, the puckering of P6 middle ring in 24 VE complexes is due to the greater stabilization of 5a and the extra stabilization of the +4 oxidation state of Ti. The quintet state of 22 VE complexes is planar as 2a* and 2b* are half filled. Similar geometrical and bonding patterns of CpScP6ScCp and C2P3H2ScC3P3H3ScC2P3H2 support the carbon-phosphorus analogy further. The 18 VE systems, CpScC3B3H6ScCp+ and CpScP3B3H3ScCp+, have the 50 skeletal electrons as stipulated by the mno Rule. Corresponding anions have 52 skeletal electrons (20 VE); the middle rings here are distorted in the plane.     

Chemical characterization of large size archaeological clay bricks for grouping study by internal mono-standard neutron activation analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The k0-based internal mono-standard neutron activation analysis (IM-NAA) method was used to analyze large size archaeological clay brick samples...