Development of cataract and corneal opacity in mice due to radon exposure

This work investigates the radiation damage on the eye of albino mice exposed to effective radon doses ranging from 20.92 to 83.68 mSv. These doses were taken over 2–8 weeks using a radon chamber constructed by the National Institute for Standard (Egypt). The guidance on the quality assurance program for radon measurements was followed. Therefore, the estimated doses received by the laboratory animals meet the requirements of national standard. The refractive index(RI) and protein concentration were measured for soluble proteins of both corneas and lenses. In addition, the sodium dodecyle sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE) technique was used. The results show increasing of the RI of both cornea and lens proteins and decreasing in total protein concentration of exposed animals. These results were accompanied with changes in the SDSPAGE profile for both cornea and lens. Therefore, radon exposure produces substantial hazards to the cornea and lens of experimental animals and has a crucial role in the development of cataract and corneal opacity.     

Multi-parametric MRI of the physiology and optics of the in-vivo mouse lens

The optics of the ocular lens are determined by its geometry (shape and volume) and its inherent gradient of refractive index (water to protein ratio), which are in turn maintained by unique cellular physiology known as the lens internal microcirculation system. Previously, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used on ex vivo organ cultured bovine lenses to show that pharmacological perturbations to this microcirculation system disrupt ionic and fluid homeostasis and overall lens optics. In this study, we have optimised in vivo MRI protocols for use on wild-type and transgenic mouse models so that the effects of genetically perturbing the lens microcirculation system on lens properties can be studied. In vivo MRI protocols and post-analysis methods for studying the mouse lens were optimised and used to measure the lens geometry, diffusion, T1 and T2, as well as the refractive index (n) calculated from T2, in wild-type mice and the genetically modified Cx50KI46 mouse. In this animal line, gap junctional coupling in the lens is increased by knocking in the gap junction protein Cx46 into the Cx50 locus. Relative to wild-type mice, Cx50KI46 mice showed significantly reduced lens size and radius of curvature, increased T1 and T2 values, and decreased n in the lens nucleus, which was consistent with the developmental and functional changes characterised previously in this lens model. These proof of principle experiments show that in vivo MRI can be applied to transgenic mouse models to gain mechanistic insights into the relationship between lens physiology and optics, and in the future suggest that longitudinal studies can be performed to determine how this relationship is altered by age in mouse models of cataract.     

潜在视功能检测仪研究及其光学系统设计

研究一种针对白内障患者的潜在视功能检测仪。采用透射式视力分辨率板并且使进入眼瞳成像光束足够细和有足够的光能量,以致能够通过白内障患者云雾状晶状体中的微小间隙在视网膜上成像,移动透射式视力分辨率板调焦可测出患者的视度在-7D~ 12D之间的潜在视力。进行了光学系统结构设计和理论计算,进行了实验和测试。实验测试结果表明,该系统出瞳位置光斑直径D-=0.094 mm,测得视力与传统测试方法测得视力相一致。通过该仪器对白内障患者手术前检测,可比较准确预测置换人工晶体手术后达到的视力水平,这对医生和患者都具有重要参考价值。     

Veselago’s lens consisting of left-handed materials with arbitrary index of refraction

We study Veselago’s lens with arbitrary index of refraction and characteristic impedance. Using a full wave optics calculation, we show that this lens can be considered as an imaging system and we derive the appropriate lens formula. The lens with arbitrary index and impedance retains some of the properties of the matched lens, such as the invariance of its optical axis, three-dimensional imaging and easy manufacturing, but it loses the property of sub-wavelength resolution. We also show that identical results can be obtained for the impedance matched lens in the framework of paraxial geometrical optics, from which it can be inferred that optical systems containing such a lens can be studied and designed using traditional ray-tracing tools.     

Simultaneous Measurement of Refractive Index and Thickness of Transparent Plates by Low Coherence Interferometry

We demonstrate a novel low coherence Michelson interferometer which can provide simultaneous measurement of the refractive index and thickness of transparent plates used as a measured object. Unlike the existing low coherence interferometers reported so far, either an object or a focusing lens aligned on the signal arm is scanned repeatedly by a precise translation stage in synchronization with movement of a reflection mirror on the reference arm. The so-called object or lens scanning method gives us two measured quantities a movement distance of the stage between two light focusing states on the front and rear planes of an object and the corresponding optical path difference. These two measured quantities, result in desirable values of the index and thickness of the object with a short calculation. The measurement accuracy of ≤0.1% is expected for a thickness of more than 1 mm. In the experiment using the object scanning method, the accuracy of 0.3% or less was successfully attained for nearly 1-mm thick plates of fused quartz, sapphire, LiTaO₃ and slide glass.     

基于晶状体中微量元素与白内障关系的广义回归神经网络模式识别

选择微量元素Sr,Mg,Na,K,Mn,Cu,Fe和Zn在晶状体中的含量作为识别白内障患者的指标,建立了广义回归神经网络(GRNN)模式识别.选择20个样本为训练集,5个样本为预测集.结果表明,与BP神经网络相比,该种网络具有设计简单与收敛快的优点,对给定的数据能完全识别,预示着通过对晶状体中的微量元素含量的分析,可能作为白内障患者诊断的一种辅助手段.     

Physical theory of the competition that allows HIV to escape from the immune system

Competition within the immune system may degrade immune control of viral infections. We formalize the evolution that occurs in both HIV-1 and the immune system quasispecies. Inclusion of competition in the immune system leads to a novel balance between the immune response and HIV-1, in which the eventual outcome is HIV-1 escape rather than control. The analytical model reproduces the three stages of HIV-1 infection. We propose a vaccine regimen that may be able to reduce competition between T cells, potentially eliminating the third stage of HIV-1.     

Evaluation of the scientific impact,productivity and biological age based upon the h‐index in three Latin American countries: the materials science case

We discuss the scientific impact of Latin American scientists in the field of materials science. The analysis is based on the h‐index as the scientometric index used to quantify the scientific productivity of an individual. In particular, we focus our analysis in México, Chile and Colombia. We compare the level of productivity between all these countries. We also analyzed the h‐index as function of the biological age, by using the first year of publication of a given scientists as a reference and discussed the general distribution of its quantification. We do not find a clear relationship between these two quantities. Based in our results we propose some political measures that these countries could implement to improve productivity as well as scientific development in this field.     

Cataract diagnosis by measurement of backscattered light

We present a portable optical cataract assessment technology which measures with a circular photodetector the fraction of light scattered backwards by the human eye lens when illuminated by a laser diode. As our signal arises directly from the fundamental pathology-increased scattering in the lens-it directly assesses cataract extent and progression. Initial clinical results in undilated human eyes show device reading correlations in agreement with clinical examination and Scheimpflug photography.     

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the secondary cataract

Excitation–emission matrices of laser-induced fluorescence of lens capsule epithelium, the lens nucleus, and the lens capsule are investigated. A solid-state laser in combination with an optical parametric generator tunable in the range from 210 to 350 nm was used for excitation of fluorescence. The spectra of fluorescence of all three types of tissues exhibit typical features that are specific to them and drastically differ from one another. This effect can be used for intrasurgical control of presence of residual lens capsule epithelium cells in the capsular bag after surgical treatment of a cataract.     

二维空气孔型光子晶体负折射平板透镜的减反层

提出并优化了由单排渐变介质波导构成的二维空气孔型光子晶体负折射平板透镜表面的减反层，改善了成像质量.二维时域有限差分模拟计算结果表明，采用减反层后，在入射角小于23°的范围内，在使得有效折射率n_eff=-1的工作频率处，光子晶体表面对从空气一侧入射的平面波的反射率可降低到1％以下. 关键词： 光子晶体 负折射 平板透镜 减反层     

Two-photon excited fluorescence of the lens for the diagnosis of presbyopia

Presbyopia is a wide spread phenomenon in elder people and is caused by the hardening of the lens in human eyes. Research is performed to make such lenses again more flexible by application of geometrically optimised cuts through the lens with a femtosecond-laser. Different protein agglomerations are responsible for the flexibility reduction of the lens. Two-photon excited fluorescence of the lens can be used as a diagnostic tool to localise such protein accumulations. In in-vitro experiments with human cataract lenses and also lenses of the Philly-mouse it could be demonstrated that with age the fluorescence increases as presbyopia proceeds. The distribution of the fluorescing compounds are not homogeneous but rather cloudy. Discrimination of the compounds by fluorescence lifetime measurements in relation of the depth in the lens is possible.     

Refractive index measurement of optical waveguides using modified end-fire coupling method

We present a modified end-fire coupling method to reconstruct two-dimensional index profiles of optical waveguides. The reconstruction is based on the measured differential optical fields and an inverse algorithm for the Helmholtz equation. The differential fields are obtained from spatially perturbed images recorded by a CCD camera. A closed-loop piezoelectric stage given a sinusoidal wave and an oil-immersion objective lens for high-resolution images are used in the measurement. A single-mode fiber and a Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide with known index profile at 632.8 nm are measured for demonstration. The measured index profiles agree quite well with core regions of known index profiles.     

Simultaneous measurement of the phase and group indices and the thickness of transparent plates by low-coherence interferometry

We propose and demonstrate a novel technique for simultaneous measurement of the phase index, n(p) , the group index, n(g) , and the thickness, t , of transparent plates by use of a low-coherence interferometer. The output light from a superluminescent diode is focused upon the front plane of a transparent plate that is used as the sample. The sample stage is subsequently moved until the light is focused upon the rear plane of the plate. Measurement of the stage movement distance and the corresponding optical path difference allows us to determine both n(p) and n(g) . By placing the sample between two glass plates, we measured n(p) , n(g) , and t simultaneously, with an error of 0.3% or less, for nearly 1-mm-thick transparent plates, including glass and electro-optic crystals.     

Wavelength dependence of focusing properties of two-dimensional photonic quasicrystal flat lens

We investigated the wavelength dependence of the focusing properties of a germanium-cylinder-based two-dimensional (2D) decagonal Penrose-type photonic quasicrystal (PQC) flat lens for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. We found that near the second bandgap and in the high-frequency side (between the bandgap boundary and the first light intensity peak) of the pass band, the flat lens can exhibit a focusing effect for a point light source and that the focusing wavelengths can directly be drawn from the photonic band structure. For all the focusing wavelengths, the summation of the object distance and the image distance is less than the thickness of the flat lens when the object distance is half the thickness of the flat lens. As the wavelength increases, the image distance, the image quality, and the effective refractive index of the flat lens increase, whereas the image power of the point light source decreases. The effective refractive index of the flat lens is less than -1.     

冬小麦不同生育时期叶面积指数反演方法

针对当前作物叶面积指数遥感反演过程中,在不同生育时期采用相同的植被指数进行反演存在叶面积指数反演精度较低的问题。以冬小麦为研究对象,选取了对冬小麦覆盖度响应程度不同的六种宽带和四种窄带共10种植被指数,分析比较了在冬小麦整个生育期选用当前广泛使用的归一化植被指数(NDVI)反演冬小麦的LAI和在冬小麦不同生长阶段选用不同的植被指数反演冬小麦LAI的结果差异。在冬小麦整个生育期内使用NDVI反演小麦LAI得到的LAI反演值和真实值之间的R2=0.558 5,RMSE=0.320 9。改进的比值植被指数(mSR)适合于反演冬小麦生长前期(拔节期之前)的LAI,得到的LAI反演值和真实值之间的相关系数r=0.728 7,均方根误差RMSE=0.297 1;比值植被指数(SR)适于反演冬小麦生长中期(拔节到抽穗前),得到的LAI反演值和真实值之间的R2=0.654 6,RMSE=0.306 1;NDVI适于反演冬小麦生长后期(抽穗到成熟期)的LAI,得到的LAI反演值和真实值之间的R2=0.679 4,均方根误差RMSE=0.316 4。 研究表明：在冬小麦的不同生育时期,根据地表作物覆盖度的变化和反射率的变化,选择不同的植被指数建立冬小麦LAI的反演模型获得的反演精度均高于在冬小麦整个生育期使用NDVI获得的反演结果。说明在冬小麦的不同生育时期选择不同的植被指数构建LAI的分段反演模型可以改善冬小麦LAI的反演精度。     

Opacity calculations for high-Z plasma in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium

Opacity of high-Z element plasma in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) is calculated. In the calculation, a collisional radiative model in detailed-configuration-accounting (DCA) is applied to population calculations for NLTE plasmas. Configuration-averaged rate coefficients that needed in the rate equations are obtained based on the first order perturbation theory. The Hatree-Fock-Slater self-consistent-field method is used to calculate the electron wave functions. The spin-orbit splitting is included in the spectrum calculations. The unresolved transition array method is used in the opacity calculations. The calculated frequency-dependent opacity of high-Z plasma Lu is presented. The comparison shows that the present spectrum agrees with another theoretical result well except that the present one shifts a little to the lower energy due to its lower mean ionization stage. The effects of highly doubly excited states on ionization balance and on the opacity are investigated. The mean ionization stage increases more than three stages when doubly excited states 5l6l′ and 5l5l′ are not included in the population calculations and the absorption spectrum also shifts to the higher energy.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis><Superscript>0</Superscript>-tagged quark jets at the large hadron collider

The Large Hadron Collider will allow studies of hard probes in nucleus-nucleus collisions which were not accessible at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider—even the study of small cross-section Z ⁰-tagged jets becomes possible. Going beyond the measurement of back-to-back correlations of two strongly interacting particles to measure plasma properties, we replace one side by an electromagnetic probe which propagates through the plasma undisturbed and therefore provides a measurement of the energy of the initial hard scattering. We show that at sufficiently high transverse momentum the Z ⁰-tagged jets originate predominately from the fragmentation of quarks and anti-quarks while gluon jets are suppressed. We propose to use lepton-pair tagged jets to study medium-induced partonic energy loss and to measure in-medium parton fragmentation functions to determine the opacity of the quark gluon plasma.     

Flat acoustic lens by acoustic grating with curled slits

We design a flat sub-wavelength lens that can focus acoustic wave. We analytically study the transmission through an acoustic grating with curled slits, which can serve as a material with tunable impedance and refractive index for acoustic waves. The effective parameters rely on the geometry of the slits and are independent of frequency. A flat acoustic focusing lens by such acoustic grating with gradient effective refractive index is designed. The focusing effect is clearly observed in simulations and well predicted by the theory. We demonstrate that despite the large impedance mismatch between the acoustic lens and the matrix, the intensity at the focal point is still high due to Fabry–Perot resonance.     

New insight into cataract formation: enhanced stability through mutual attraction

Small-angle neutron scattering experiments and molecular dynamics simulations combined with an application of concepts from soft matter physics to complex protein mixtures provide new insight into the stability of eye lens protein mixtures. Exploring this colloid-protein analogy we demonstrate that weak attractions between unlike proteins help to maintain lens transparency in an extremely sensitive and nonmonotonic manner. These results not only represent an important step towards a better understanding of protein condensation diseases such as cataract formation, but provide general guidelines for tuning the stability of colloid mixtures, a topic relevant for soft matter physics and industrial applications.