Detection of hepatocarcinoma in rats by integration of the fluorescence spectrum: Experimental model

The incorporation of spectroscopic techniques into diagnostic procedures may greatly improve the chances for precise diagnostics. One promising technique is fluorescence spectroscopy, which has recently been used to detect many different types of diseases. In this work, we use laser-induced tissue fluorescence to detect hepatocarcinoma in rats using excitation light at wavelengths of 443 and 532 nm. Hepatocarcinoma was induced chemically in Wistar rats. The collected fluorescence spectrum ranges from the excitation wavelength up to 850 nm. A mathematical procedure carried out on the spectrum determines a figure of merit value, which allows the detection of hepatocarcinoma. The figure of merit involves a procedure which evaluates the ratio between the backscattered excitation wavelength and the broad emission fluorescence band. We demonstrate that a normalization allowed by integration of the fluorescence spectra is a simple operation that may allow the detection of hepatocarcinoma.     

Synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SR-TXRF) for evaluation of food contamination

Summary The objective of this study was to use synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-TXRF) for the determination of metals and other elements in food available to the population in commercial establishments, in order to evaluate the risks of contamination by these products. The analyzed species were vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruits, cereal and grain. The results indicated that some species were contaminated by Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb with concentrations much higher than the reference values.     

On the Weak Invariance Principle for Stationary Sequences under Projective Criteria

In this paper, we study the central limit theorem and its weak invariance principle for sums of a stationary sequence of random variables, via a martingale decomposition. Our conditions involve the conditional expectation of sums of random variables with respect to the distant past. The results contribute to the clarification of the central limit question for stationary sequences. Magda Peligrad is supported in part by a Charles Phelps Taft research support grant at the Univeristy of Cincinnati and the NSA grant H98230-05-1-0066.     

Dynamics of kinks in biological membranes

kinks created in a biological membrane by the interaction with a movable bead. We arrive at the evolution equations for both the bead and the membrane, whence we conclude that the force exerted on the bead by a fixed membrane points in the direction along which the curvature of the membrane is more concentrated. This is the first step towards understanding the basic mechanism behind the dynamics of protein aggregation which takes place on biological membranes. Received November 6, 2001 / Published online February 4, 2002     

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear polarization applied to evaluation of porosity of phosphate conversion coatings on electrogalvanized steels

In this work, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear polarization are used in determining porosity of zinc phosphates, and of nickel and manganese modified zinc phosphates on electrogalvanized steel. The porosity of the phosphate layers ranges from 0.1% for the manganese-modified hopeite to 8% for hopeite, using the linear polarization and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The porosity values measured using the two techniques were in agreement. All impedance spectra of coated samples showed two steps, with two capacitive arcs and an inductive looping.     

Time Delay and Short-Range Scattering in Quantum Waveguides

Although many physical arguments account for using a modified definition of time delay in multichannel-type scattering processes, one can hardly find rigorous results on that issue in the literature. We try to fill in this gap by showing, both in an abstract setting and in a short-range case, the identity of the modified time delay and the Eisenbud-Wigner time delay in waveguides. In the short-range case we also obtain limiting absorption principles, state spectral properties of the total Hamiltonian, prove the existence of the wave operators and show an explicit formula for the S-matrix. The proofs rely on stationary and commutator methods. Communicated by Yosi Avron submitted 12/04/05, accepted 13/05/05     

Neutron interferometry in gravitational field with torsion

We consider the possibility of finding experimental evidence of the fifth force with the measurement of a phase shift of neutron beams via an interferometric apparatus and also a possible rotation of the polarization plane of polarized neutron beams when torsion is introduced in a gravitational field.     

High-throughput concept for tailoring switchable mirrors

The optical properties, the switching kinetics and the lifetime of hydrogen switchable mirrors based on Mg-Ni alloys are determined with particular regard to the composition of the optically active metal-hydride layer in combination with the thickness of the catalytic capping layer. For this, a high-throughput experiment is introduced. The switching kinetics and the reversibility of switchable mirrors are strongly thickness dependent, though the details hinge on the fine structure of the clustered capping layer. Therefore, the kinetics is correlated with the surface structures of Pd on Mg_yNi_1−y as investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. The results are explained by the so-called strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) state, characterized by a complete encapsulation of the capping layer clusters by oxidized species originating from the support. The SMSI-effect is less important with increasing Pd-layer thickness, and is suppressed by a good wetting of the Pd-clusters on the optically active film. This explains the critical thickness for the catalyzed hydrogen uptake observed in many switchable mirror systems. Moreover, the degradation of the kinetics during cycling is found to depend on the Pd-layer thickness and on the gas environment. Only films, covered with at least 15 nm Pd, show small degradation caused by the SMSI-effect. The SMSI-effect is partly reversible: after changing the gas environment from hydrogen to oxygen, the oxide on the Pd-clusters can be partly removed.     

Properties of isolated DNA bases, base pairs and nucleosides examined by laser spectroscopy

The vibronic spectra of laser desorbed and jet cooled guanine (G) adenine (A), and cytosine (C) consist of bands from four, two and two major tautomers respectively, as revealed by UV-UV and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. The vibronic spectrum of adenine around 277 nm consists of weak nπ^* and strong ππ^* transitions, based on IR-UV and deuteration experiments. Precise ionization potentials of G and A were determined with 2-color, 2-photon ionization. We also measured vibronic and IR spectra of several base pairs. GC exhibits a HNH ^... OH/NH ^... N/C=O ^... HNH bonding similar to the Watson-Crick GC base pair but with C as enol tautomer. One GG isomer exhibits non-symmetric hydrogen bonding with HNH ^... N/NH ^... N/C=O ^... HNH interactions. A second observed GG isomer has a symmetrical hydrogen bond arrangement with C=O ^... NH/NH ^... O=C bonding. Two CC isomers were observed with symmetrical C=O ^... NH/NH ^... O=C bonding and nonsymmetrical C=O ^... HNH/NH ^... N interaction, respectively. Guanosine (Gs), 2-DeoxyGs und 3-DeoxyGs each exhibit only one isomer in the investigated wavelength range around 290 nm with a strong intramolecular sugar(5-OH) ^... enolguanine(3-N) hydrogen bond. Received 16 June 2002 / Received in final form 15 July 2002 Published online 13 September 2002