Early Detection of Breast Cancer: Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Target Specific NIR-Fluorescent Estrogen Conjugate for Molecular Optical Imaging

Estrogen induced proliferation of existing mutant cells is widely understood to be the major risk determining factor in the development of breast cancer. Hence determination of the Estrogen Receptor[ER] status is of paramount importance. We have carried out the synthesis and characterization of a novel NIR fluorescent dye conjugate aimed at measuring ER+ve status in-vivo. The conjugate was synthesized by ester formation between 17-β estradiol and a cyanine dye namely: bis-1, 1-(4-sulfobutyl) indotricarbocyanine-5-carboxylic acid, sodium salt. The replacement of the sodium ion in the ester by a larger glucosammonium ion was found to enhance the hydrophilicity and reduce the toxic effect on cell lines. The excitation and emission peaks for the dye were recorded as 750 and 788 nm respectively; ideal for non-invasive optical imaging owing to minimal tissue attenuation and auto-fluorescence at these wavelengths. The dye (NIRDC1) has a significant drop in plasma-protein binding therefore leading to marked improvement in pharmacokinetic profile such as dye evacuation in comparison to ICG. In addition the dye showed enhanced fluorescence quantum yield, molar extinction coefficient and linearity in fluorescence relative to ICG. This dye can be potentially used as a target specific exogenous contrast agent in molecular optical imaging for early detection of breast cancer.     

Nonlinear Coherent States and Ehrenfest Time for Schrödinger Equation

We consider the propagation of wave packets for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, in the semi-classical limit. We establish the existence of a critical size for the initial data, in terms of the Planck constant: if the initial data are too small, the nonlinearity is negligible up to the Ehrenfest time. If the initial data have the critical size, then at leading order the wave function propagates like a coherent state whose envelope is given by a nonlinear equation, up to a time of the same order as the Ehrenfest time. We also prove a nonlinear superposition principle for these nonlinear wave packets.     

A Generalized Hadamard-Fresnel Complementary Transformation Derived by Virtue of New Coherent-Entangled State

The new coherent-entangled state |z,x;θ〉 is proposed in the two-mode Fock space, which exhibits both the properties of coherent and entangled states. The completeness relation of |z,x;θ〉 is proved by virtue of the technique of integral within an ordered product of operators. A generalized Hadamard-Fresnel complementary transformation derived by virtue of the coherent-entangled state |z,x;θ〉, which is unitary. The new unitary operator plays the role of both Hadamard transformation for ([^(a)]₁sinq-[^(a)]₂cosq)(\hat{a}_{1}\sin\theta -\hat{a}_{2}\cos\theta) and Fresnel transformation for ([^(a)]₁cosq+[^(a)]₂sinq)(\hat{a}_{1}\cos\theta +\hat{a}_{2}\sin\theta), respectively.     

Intravascular 3.0 T MRI Using an Imaging-Guidewire: a Feasibility Study in Swine

This study was to validate the feasibility of using a magnetic resonance imaging-guidewire (MRIG) for intravascular 3.0 T MR imaging of deep-seated arterial walls of large animals. The functionality of a 0.032-in. MRIG was evaluated and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated. Then, MRI of ten iliofemoral arteries of six pigs was acquired by MRIG and surface coil. The difference in the SNRs of the arterial walls between different coils was compared. Histology examined the potential thermal injuries of the imaged vessels. The MRIG functioned with the 3.0 T MR scanner. The average SNR of the arterial walls was significantly higher with the MRIG than with the surface coils (76.22 ± 34.76 vs. 12.63 ± 4.25, P < 0.01). Histology showed no evidence of thermal injuries at the vessel walls. This study validated the feasibility of generating intravascular 3.0 T MRI of deep-seated arterial walls in large animals, which should facilitate the translation of this technique from 1.5 to 3.0 T MR scanner.     

Time-resolved imaging of hydrogel printing via laser-induced forward transfer

In this work, the printing mechanism of an alginate-based hydrogel via laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is investigated by spatial and temporal high-resolved stroboscopic imaging. First, the generation of the liquid jet is studied at two different laser fluences in a process without collector slide. Furthermore, the impingement process onto the collector slide at the same fluence levels is observed. With the help of these images the development of the jet is explained. Besides the influences of the collector slide as well as the applied laser fluence on the transfer are demonstrated.     

Activation of superior colliculi in humans during visual exploration

Background  

Visual, oculomotor, and – recently – cognitive functions of the superior colliculi (SC) have been documented in detail in non-human primates in the past. Evidence for corresponding functions of the SC in humans is still rare. We examined activity changes in the human tectum and the lateral geniculate nuclei (LGN) in a visual search task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and anatomically defined regions of interest (ROI). Healthy subjects conducted a free visual search task and two voluntary eye movement tasks with and without irrelevant visual distracters. Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals in the SC were compared to activity in the inferior colliculi (IC) and LGN.     

Measurement of the tau lepton mass and an upper limit on the mass difference between tau+ and tau-

The mass of the tau lepton has been measured in the decay mode tau-->3pinutau using a pseudomass technique. The result obtained from 414 fb-1 of data collected with the Belle detector is Mtau=[1776.61+/-0.13(stat)+/-0.35(sys)] MeV/c2. The upper limit on the relative mass difference between positive and negative tau leptons is |Mtau+-Mtau-|/Mtau<2.8 x 10-4 at 90% confidence level.     

Numerical analyses of flow around airfoils subjected to flow induced vibration

This paper describes extensive computer-based analytical studies on the details of unsteady flow behavior around airfoils subjected to flow induced vibration in turbo-machinery. To consider the time-dependent motions of airfoils, a complete Navier-Stokes solver incorporating a moving mesh based on an analytic solution of motion equation for airfoil translation and rotation was applied. The drag and lift coefficients for the cases of stationary airfoils and airfoils subjected to flow induced vibration were examined. From the numerical results in non-coupling case as out of consideration of the airfoil motion, it was found that the separation vortex consisted of large-scale rolls with axes in the span direction, and rib substructures with axes in the stream direction. In the coupling simulation including the airfoil motion, both the translation and the rotation displacement were gradually increased when the airfoil translation and rotation natural frequencies synchronize exactly with the oscillation frequency of the fluid force. In addition, the transformation from complex structure with rolls and ribs to two-dimensional aspect of only rolls could be visualized in three-dimensional simulation.