Magnetic Relaxometry with an Atomic Magnetometer and SQUID Sensors on Targeted Cancer Cells

Magnetic relaxometry methods have been shown to be very sensitive in detecting cancer cells and other targeted diseases. Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) sensors are one of the primary sensor systems used in this methodology because of their high sensitivity with demonstrated capabilities of detecting fewer than 100,000 magnetically-labeled cancer cells. The emerging technology of atomic magnetometers (AM) represents a new detection method for magnetic relaxometry with high sensitivity and without the requirement for cryogens. We report here on a study of magnetic relaxometry using both AM and SQUID sensors to detect cancer cells that are coated with superparamagnetic nanoparticles through antibody targeting. The AM studies conform closely to SQUID sensor results in the measurement of the magnetic decay characteristics following a magnetization pulse. The AM and SQUID sensor data are well described theoretically for superparamagnetic particles bound to cells and the results can be used to determine the number of cells in a cell culture or tumor. The observed fields and magnetic moments of cancer cells are linear with the number of cells over a very large range. The AM sensor demonstrates very high sensitivity for detecting magnetically labeled cells does not require cryogenic cooling and is relatively inexpensive.     

Nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS) applied to damage assessment in bone

Nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS) is a resonance-based technique exploiting the significant nonlinear behavior of damaged materials. In NRUS, the resonant frequency(ies) of an object is studied as a function of the excitation level. As the excitation level increases, the elastic nonlinearity is manifest by a shift in the resonance frequency. This study shows the feasibility of this technique for application to damage assessment in bone. Two samples of bovine cortical bone were subjected to progressive damage induced by application of mechanical cycling. Before cycling commenced, and at each step in the cycling process, NRUS was applied for damage assessment. For independent assessment of damage, high-energy x-ray computed tomography imaging was performed but was only useful in identifying the prominent cracks. As the integral quantity of damage increased, NRUS revealed a corresponding increase in the nonlinear response. The measured change in nonlinear response is much more sensitive than the change in linear modulus. The results suggest that NRUS could be a potential tool for micro-damage assessment in bone. Further work must be carried out for a better understanding of the physical nature of damaged bone and for the ultimate goal of the challenging in vivo implementation of the technique.     

Measurements of F2 and xF(nu)(3) - xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe Data in a Physics Model-Independent Way

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F2 and DeltaxF(3) = xF(nu)(3)-xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe differential cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model-independent (PMI) way. This first measurement of DeltaxF(3), which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictions. The ratio of the F2 (PMI) values measured in nu(mu) and mu scattering is in agreement (within 5%) with the predictions of next-to-leading-order parton distribution functions using massive charm production schemes, thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data.     

Experimental investigation of the two-photon widths of the chi(c0) and the chi(c2) mesons

Using 12.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the CLEO detector at CESR, we observed two-photon production of the cc states chi(c0) and chi(c2) in their decay to pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-). We measured gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c))xB(chi(c)-->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)) to be 75+/-13(stat)+/-8(syst) eV for the chi(c0) and 6.4+/-1.8(stat)+/-0.8(syst) eV for the chi(c2), implying gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c0)) = 3.76+/-0.65(stat)+/-0.41(syst)+/-1.69(br) keV and gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c2)) = 0.53+/-0.15(stat)+/-0.06(syst)+/-0.22(br) keV. Also, cancellation of dominant experimental and theoretical uncertainties permits a precise comparison of gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c0))/gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c2)), evaluated to be 7.4+/-2.4(stat)+/-0.5(syst)+/-0.9(br), with QCD-based predictions.     

Multiple-array passive acoustic source localization in urban environments

In many situations of interest, obstacles to acoustic wave propagation such as terrain or buildings exist that provide unique challenges to localization. These obstacles introduce multiple propagation paths, reflections, and diffraction into the propagation. In this paper, matched field processing is proposed as an effective method of acoustic localization in a two dimensional scattering environment. Numerical techniques can be used to model complex propagation in a space where analytical solutions are not feasible. Realistically, there is always some uncertainty in model parameters that in turn can adversely affect localization ability. In particular, uncertainty in array location, sound speed, and various parameters affecting inter-array coherence only are investigated. A spatially distributed, multiarray network is shown to mitigate the effects of uncertainty. Multiarray inverse filter processing techniques are evaluated through perturbation of uncertain model parameters. These techniques are more accurate and flexible to implement than other matched field processing methods such as time reversal.     

Line tension at fluid membrane domain boundaries measured by micropipette aspiration

Line tension is a determinant of fluid phase domain formation kinetics and morphology in lipid bilayer membranes, which are models for biological membrane heterogeneity. We describe the first direct measurement of this line tension by micropipette aspiration. Our data are analyzed with a model that does not rely on independently measured (and composition dependent) secondary parameters, such as bending stiffness or membrane viscosities. Line tension is strongly composition dependent and decreases towards a critical consolute point in a quasiternary room temperature phase diagram.     

Ionization-induced electron trapping in ultrarelativistic plasma wakes

The onset of trapping of electrons born inside a highly relativistic, 3D beam-driven plasma wake is investigated. Trapping occurs in the transition regions of a Li plasma confined by He gas. Li plasma electrons support the wake, and higher ionization potential He atoms are ionized as the beam is focused by Li ions and can be trapped. As the wake amplitude is increased, the onset of trapping is observed. Some electrons gain up to 7.6 GeV in a 30.5 cm plasma. The experimentally inferred trapping threshold is at a wake amplitude of 36 GV/m, in good agreement with an analytical model and PIC simulations.