Three-component micro-PIV using the continuity equation and a comparison of the performance with that of stereoscopic measurements

Recently, a number of techniques have been presented for the determination of the third “out-of-plane” velocity component in micro particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) data. In particular, the conventional macroscopic stereo-PIV technique has been converted to the micro scale by the use of stereo-microscopy. In this work a different technique is investigated, which uses conventional, two-component micro-PIV to generate velocity data on a number of planes. The in-plane velocity gradients are then calculated, which can be used in the continuity equation to produce the out-of-plane velocity gradients. These, together with the no-penetration boundary condition, can then be used to calculate the out-of-plane velocities. An algorithm is presented that is capable of handling up to one invalid vector per column of data by using a combination of first order and second order projections of the velocity. The advantage of the continuity based technique is that it uses the existing two-component micro-PIV technology, which at present is in a more advanced stage of development then stereo-microscopy based micro-PIV. The technique is investigated using a flow similar to one used previously to assess stereoscopic micro-PIV (Meas Sci Technol 17:2175–2185, 2006). This allows a comparison of the performance of the two techniques. The results show that the continuity based data agrees well with an independent computational fluid dynamics solution and has a smaller experimental uncertainty than the stereoscopic technique at a better spatial resolution. There are, however, potential limitations to the continuity based technique. These include the two-dimensionality of the data, which is limited to the planes on which the original images were taken, and the dependence of the technique on the data close to surfaces, where the experimental errors are often greatest. Stereoscopic micro-PIV does not have these limitations so, whilst at present it appears that continuity based techniques may be more accurate, there is sufficient potential for stereoscopic techniques to justify their further development.     

PHTHALOCYANINE PHOTOSENSITIZATION FOR IN VITRO ELIMINATION OF RESIDUAL ACUTE NON-LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA: PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

Abstract Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) in first remission of acute non-lympho-blastic leukaemia (ANLL) has increased the proportion of patients eligible for intensive myeloablative therapy and has produced encouraging early results. However, more patients relapse after ABMT than after allogeneic BMT and this may be due in part to reinfusion of leukaemia with the graft. We have examined the phototoxicity of sulphonated chloro-aluminium phthalocyanine (SPC) on leukaemic blasts from patients with ANLL and normal myeloid progenitors (GM-CFC) to determine whether in vitro phototherapy might be used to eliminate residual ANLL from bone marrow grafts. ANLL blasts were shown to take up SPC readily and the phototoxicity was shown to be dependent on the concentration of SPC, duration and temperature of incubation, the interval from SPC incubation to light exposure and the duration of light exposure using 675 nm light delivered by an optical fibre at 50 mV from an Ar pumped dye laser. After a 2 hour incubation at 25 μ.g SPC m⁻¹ recovery of ANLL blasts at 24 h was 5 ± 2% whilst GM-CFC recovery from normal marrow was 47 ± 9%. This study suggests that ANLL blasts may be more sensitive to SPC phototoxicity than normal marrow GM-CFC, and further studies to examine the potential of this compound for the elimination of residual ANLL from marrow autografts are in progress.     

Oxygen monitoring during 5-aminolaevulinic acid induced photodynamic therapy in normal rat colon. Comparison of continuous and fractionated light regimes

Currently, the clinical use of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) induced protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is limited by the maximum tolerated oral ALA dose (60 mg/kg). Attempts have been made to enhance this treatment modality without increasing the administered dose of ALA. One way to do this is through light dose fractionation, where the irradiation is interrupted at a particular point for a short period of time. This can produce up to three times more necrosis than with the same light dose delivered without a break. An oxygen microelectrode was employed to study the effect of continuous and fractionated light regimes on the level of oxygen in the colon of normal Wistar rats during ALA PDT. A rapid decline in pO2 occurred close to the irradiation fibre as soon as the light dose commenced. With the fractionated regime, a partial recovery in pO2 was observed during the dark interval which was reversed soon after the second light fraction commenced. We have shown that the level of tissue oxygen at the treatment site is affected differently when the light dose is fractionated, than when continuous illumination is employed. This factor may at least partially explain the difference in outcome of these two treatment regimes. Further, oxygen measurements might prove to be a useful way of monitoring PDT treatments if they can predict whether tissue is likely to be viable following treatment.     

THE CONTRASTING MECHANISMS OF COLONIC COLLAGEN DAMAGE BETWEEN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY and THERMAL INJURY

Abstract The colon is protected from disruption and bursting pressures by the submucosal collagen layer. Photodynamic therapy with aluminium sulphonated phthalocyanine (AlSPc) does not cause perforation or reduction in the bursting strength of the rodent colon despite causing full thickness damage. Thermal injury also produces full thickness necrosis but causes perforation and considerably reduces the bursting strength of the colon. The differing mechanisms of damage were examined. Using transmission electron microscopy we examined collagen from undamaged normal rodent colon, colon damaged by photodynamic therapy and thermally injured colon. Following photodynamic therapy collagen maintained its architecture and periodicity. Thermally damaged collagen became grossly swollen and lost its fibrillary architecture. We have concluded that photodynamic therapy with AlSPc is collagen sparing.     

Search for the KL-->pi 0 pi 0 e+e- decay in the KTeV experiment

The recent discovery of a large CP violating asymmetry in KL-->pi+pi-e+e- mode has prompted us to seach for the associated KL-->pi 0 pi 0 e+e- decay mode in the KTeV-E799 experiment at Fermilab. In 2.7 x 10(11) K(L) decays, one candidate event has been observed with an expected background of 0.3 event, resulting in an upper limit for the KL-->pi 0 pi 0 e+e- branching ratio of 6.6 x 10(-9) at the 90% C.L.     

Search for the rare decay K(L)-->pi(0)e(+)e(-)

The KTeV/E799 experiment at Fermilab has searched for the rare kaon decay K(L)-->pi(0)e(+)e(-). This mode is expected to have a significant CP violating component. The measurement of its branching ratio could support the standard model or could indicate the existence of new physics. This Letter reports new results from the 1999-2000 data set. One event is observed with an expected background at 0.99+/-0.35 events. We set a limit on the branching ratio of 3.5x10(-10) at the 90% confidence level. Combining with the previous result based on the data set taken in 1997 yields the final KTeV result: BR(K(L)-->pi(0)e(+)e(-))<2.8x10(-10) at 90% C.L.     

Search for the decay K(L) --> pi(0)&mgr;(+)&mgr;(-)

We report on a search for the decay K(L)-->pi(0)&mgr;(+)&mgr;(-) carried out as a part of the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. This decay is expected to have a significant CP violating contribution and a direct measurement will either support the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mechanism for CP violation or point to new physics. Two events were observed in the 1997 data with an expected background of 0.87+/-0.15 events, and we set an upper limit B(K(L)-->pi(0)&mgr;(+)&mgr;(-))<3. 8x10(-10) at the 90% confidence level.