Multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy for the analysis of lymph-node tissues

Although histochemical and immunohistochemical methods are the standard procedures in diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders, useful improvements in evidencing histopathologic manifestations can be obtained with the introduction of tissue autofluorescence analyses. We used microspectrofluorometry and a Multispectral Imaging Autofluorescence Microscopy (MIAM) technique to analyze lymph-node biopsies from patients with lymphoadenopathy of different origins. Images of tissue autofluorescence were obtained by excitation at 365 nm of lymph-node sections and sequential detection with interference filters (50 nm bandwidth) peaked at 450, 550 and 658 nm. Monochrome images were combined together in a single red-green-blue color image. Most of the fluorescence was observed within the blue spectral band because of large contributions from extracellular collagen and elastin fibers as well as from reduced form of intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate). Autofluorescence imaging shows morphological differences between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues. The reactive hyperplasia samples show the typical lymph-node organization with weak fluorescent follicles separated by high fluorescent connective trabeculae. In the neoplastic lymph nodes the loss of follicle organization is observed. Consequently, MIAM permits to discriminate between non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissues on the basis of their autofluorescence pattern. Multispectral imaging of tissue autofluorescence may present some advantages with respect to standard histochemical microscopy since it (1) does not require any chemical manipulation of samples; (2) gives real-time results performing the analysis immediately upon specimen resection; and (3) supplies a representation of the biological structure organization linked to endogenous fluorophores.     

Search for spontaneous transition of nuclei to a superdense state

We report the results of an experimental search for spontaneous transition of nuclei from ordinary to superdense state in NaI(Tl). New limits on the superdense-state parameters are presented.     

Dark matter particles in the galactic halo

Arguments on the investigation of the DarkMatter particles in the galactic halo are addressed. Recent results obtained by exploiting the annual modulation signature are summarized and the perspectives are discussed.     

Search for double- β decay processes in 108Cd and 114Cd with the help of the low-background CdWO 4 crystal scintillator

The lifetime of the recently discovered six-quasiparticle (6-qp) isomer in ¹⁴⁰Nd has been measured using the ¹²⁶Te(¹⁸O, 4n) reaction and the pulsed-beam technique at the Institut de Physique Nucléaire (IPN) Orsay. The deduced lifetime of the 6-qp isomer in ¹⁴⁰Nd of 1.23(7)μs supports the 20⁺ spin-parity assignment to the isomeric state which is based on a spherical configuration that coexists with the triaxial bands observed in this spin range. Evidence for delayed components for the transitions below the 19/2⁺ state in ¹³⁹Nd was observed, with an apparent half-life of 272(4)ns.     

From caging to Rouse dynamics in polymer melts with intramolecular barriers: a critical test of the mode coupling theory

By means of computer simulations and solution of the equations of the mode coupling theory (MCT), we investigate the role of the intramolecular barriers on several dynamic aspects of nonentangled polymers. The investigated dynamic range extends from the caging regime characteristic of glass-formers to the relaxation of the chain Rouse modes. We review our recent work on this question, provide new results, and critically discuss the limitations of the theory. Solutions of the MCT for the structural relaxation reproduce qualitative trends of simulations for weak and moderate barriers. However, a progressive discrepancy is revealed as the limit of stiff chains is approached. This disagreement does not seem related with dynamic heterogeneities, which indeed are not enhanced by increasing barrier strength. It is not connected either with the breakdown of the convolution approximation for three-point static correlations, which retains its validity for stiff chains. These findings suggest the need of an improvement of the MCT equations for polymer melts. Concerning the relaxation of the chain degrees of freedom, MCT provides a microscopic basis for time scales from chain reorientation down to the caging regime. It rationalizes, from first principles, the observed deviations from the Rouse model on increasing the barrier strength. These include anomalous scaling of relaxation times, long-time plateaux, and nonmonotonous wavelength dependence of the mode correlators.     

Isothermal read-out for thermoluminescence dosimetry with CaSO4:Dy (TLD-900)

Experiments on the isothermal decay of the therraoluminescence associated with the main dosimetry peak of CaS0₄:Dy (TLD-900) dosemeters are described in this paper. The results on the kinetics parameters s (the frequency factor) and b (the order of the kinetics) and a new time dependence study on accidental high dose occurrence are also reported.     

No role for muons in the DAMA annual modulation results

We construct the non-linear realized Lagrangian for the Goldstone bosons associated to the breaking pattern of SU(4) to SO(4). This pattern is expected to occur in any Technicolor extension of the standard model featuring two Dirac fermions transforming according to real representations of the underlying gauge group. We concentrate on the Minimal Walking Technicolor quantum number assignments with respect to the standard model symmetries. We demonstrate that for, any choice of the quantum numbers, consistent with gauge and Witten anomalies the spectrum of the pseudo Goldstone Bosons contains electrically doubly charged states which can be discovered at the Large Hadron Collider.     

Testing noncommutative spacetimes and violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle through underground experiments

We propose to deploy limits that arise from different tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle: i) to provide theories of quantum gravity with experimental guidance; ii) to distinguish, among the plethora of possible models, the ones that are already ruled out by current data; iii) to direct future attempts to be in accordance with experimental constraints. We first review experimental bounds on nuclear processes forbidden by the Pauli Exclusion Principle,which have been derived by several experimental collaborations making use of various detector materials. Distinct features of the experimental devices entail sensitivities on the constraints hitherto achieved that may differ from one another by several orders of magnitude. We show that with choices of these limits, well-known examples of flat noncommutative space-time instantiations of quantum gravity can be heavily constrained, and eventually ruled out.We devote particular attention to the analysis of the κ-Minkowski and θ-Minkowski noncommutative spacetimes.These are deeply connected to some scenarios in string theory, loop quantum gravity, and noncommutative geometry.We emphasize that the severe constraints on these quantum spacetimes, although they cannot rule out theories of top-down quantum gravity to which they are connected in various ways, provide a powerful limitation for those models. Focus on this will be necessary in the future.     

Derivate des Methylendioxybenzols, 22. Mitt.1: Über die Synthese von Indolderivaten der Methylendioxybenzolreihe

Zusammenfassung Ausgehend vom Piperonal, dem Croweacin-, dem Myristicindem Apiol-, dem Dillapiol-aldehyd und dem 2.3-Methylendioxy-4.5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyd wird die Darstellung des 5.6-Methylendioxy-, 4-Methoxy-5.6-methylendioxy-, 7-Methoxy-5.6-methylendioxy-, des 4.7-Dimethoxy-5.6-methylendioxy-, des 6.7-Dimethoxy-4.5-methylendioxy-und des 4.5-Dimethoxy-6.7-methylendioxyindols beschrieben.Herrn Professor Dr.Friedrich Asinger zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet21. Mitt.:F. Dallacker, L. Doyen undG. Schmets, Ann. Chem.694, 117 (1966).