Iodine-filter-based high spectral resolution lidar for atmospheric temperature measurements.

This paper presents a method for measuring atmosphere temperature profile using a single iodine filter as frequency discriminator. This high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) is a system reconfigured with the transmitter of a mobile Doppler wind lidar and with a receiving subsystem redesigned to pass the backscattering optical signal through the iodine cell twice to filter out the aerosol scattering signal and to allow analysis of the molecular scattering spectrum, thus measuring temperatures. We report what are believed to be the first results of vertical temperature profiling from the ground to 16 km altitude by this lidar system (power-aperture product=0.

Wind-bias correction method for narrowband sodium Doppler lidars using iodine absorption spectroscopy.

We present a technique to measure the frequency chirp introduced by the laser pulse amplification process in the transmitter of the Colorado State University sodium lidar system. This chirp causes a systematic radial wind bias that must be removed from the reported wind measurements. An iodine absorption line located near the lidar operating wavelength of 589.

Probing exciton localization/delocalization: transient dc photoconductivity studies of excited states of symmetrical porphyrin monomers, oligomers, and supramolecular assemblies.

Solution-phase transient dc photoconductivity (TDCP) measurements are used to address the question of exciton localization/delocalization in strongly coupled oligomeric porphyrins and in well-defined, higher-order assemblies of oligomers (ladder and prism assemblies). The approach used is determination of the excited-state excess polarizability volume, Delta alpha(V)--a quantity known to report on exciton delocalization. The measurements reveal for the oligomers that singlet excitons are substantially delocalized but that triplet excitons are much more localized.

[Low dose X-irradiation promotes callus mineralization: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of low dose irradiation (LDI) on callus formation and mineralization.

Methods: 80 SD rats were subjected to standard closed fracture on right femur so as to establish animal models and then were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: LDI group undergoing low dose whole body X-ray irradiation of 1Gy right after fracture induction and control group without irradiation. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks later blood samples were collected from the heart to examine the amounts of white blood cells and platelets and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level.

Field demonstration of simultaneous wind and temperature measurements from 5 to 50 km with a Na double-edge magneto-optic filter in a multi-frequency Doppler lidar.

We report the first (to our knowledge) field demonstration of simultaneous wind and temperature measurements with a Na double-edge magneto-optic filter implemented in the receiver of a three-frequency Na Doppler lidar. Reliable winds and temperatures were obtained in the altitude range of 10-45 km with 1 km resolution and 60 min integration under the conditions of 0.4 W lidar power and 75 cm telescope aperture.

Blockade of HERG K+ channel by isoquinoline alkaloid neferine in the stable transfected HEK293 cells.

We studied the effects of isoquinoline alkaloid neferine (Nef) extracted from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn on Human ether-à-go-go-related gene (HERG) channels stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells using whole-cell patch clamp technique, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence experiment. Nef induced a concentration-dependent decrease in current amplitude according to the voltage steps and tail currents of HERG with an IC(50) of 7.419 microM (n(H) -0.

Continuous-wave sodium D2 resonance radiation generated in single-pass sum-frequency generation with periodically poled lithium niobate.

With two cw single-mode Nd:YAG lasers at 1064 and 1319 nm and a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, 11 mW of 2 kHz/100 ms bandwidth single-mode tunable 589 nm cw radiation has been detected using single-pass sum-frequency generation. The demonstrated conversion efficiency is approximately 3.2%[W(-1) cm(-1)].

Reduction of Akt2 inhibits migration and invasion of glioma cells.

Malignant gliomas have a tendency to invade diffusely into surrounding healthy brain tissues, thereby precluding their successful surgical removal. The serine/threonine kinase Akt2 is well known as an important regulator of cell survival and growth. In this study, we show that siRNA-mediated depletion of Akt2 inhibited migration and invasion of glioma cells.

Na double-edge magneto-optic filter for Na lidar profiling of wind and temperature in the lower atmosphere.

A Na double-edge magneto-optic filter is proposed for incorporation into the receiver of a three-frequency Na Doppler lidar to extend its wind and temperature measurements into the lower atmosphere. Two prototypes based on cold- and hot-cell designs were constructed and tested with laser scanning and quantum mechanics modeling. The hot-cell filter exhibits superior performances over the cold-cell filter containing buffer gas.

High-spectral-resolution lidar with iodine-vapor filters: measurement of atmospheric-state and aerosol profiles.

A high-spectral-resolution lidar can measure vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, pressure, the aerosol backscatter ratio, and the aerosol extinction coefficient simultaneously. We describe a system with these characteristics. The transmitter is a narrow-band (FWHM of the order of 74 MHz), injection-seeded, pulsed, double YAG laser at 532 nm.

Spectral structure of laser light scattering revisited: bandwidths of nonresonant scattering lidars.

It is well known that scattering lidars, i.e., Mie, aerosol-wind, Rayleigh, high-spectral-resolution, molecular-wind, rotational Raman, and vibrational Raman lidars, are workhorses for probing atmospheric properties, including the backscatter ratio, aerosol extinction coefficient, temperature, pressure, density, and winds.

Continuous-Wave, All-Solid-State, Single-Frequency 400-mW Source at 589 nm Based on Doubly Resonant Sum-Frequency Mixing in a Monolithic Lithium Niobate Resonator.

Sum-frequency mixing of two cw single-mode Nd:YAG lasers in a doubly resonant congruent lithium niobate resonator generated two TEM(00) beams of single-frequency 589-nm radiation. The primary beam had a power of 400 mW and the secondary beam of approximately 15 mW by use of 320 mW of 1319-nm and 660 mW of 1064-nm Nd:YAG radiation incident on the lithium niobate resonator. This corresponds to an optical power conversion efficiency of more than 40%.

[Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in nasal polyps].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in nasal polyp (NP) tissues and the role of MCP-1 in the formation of nasal polyps.

Methods: Forty nasal polyp tissues obtained from NP patients were used to detect the expression of MCP-1 and VEGF at the levels of protein and mRNA by immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assay. Twenty-five inferior turbinate (IT) samples obtained from chronic rhinitis patients were used as control.

Direct-detection Doppler wind measurements with a Cabannes-Mie lidar: b. Impact of aerosol variation on iodine vapor filter methods.

Atmospheric line-of-sight (LOS) wind measurement by means of incoherent Cabannes- Mie lidar with three frequency analyzers, two double-edge Fabry-Perot interferometers, one at 1064 nm (IR-FPI) and another at 355 nm (UV-FPI), as well as an iodine vapor filter (IVF) at 532 nm, utilizing either a single absorption edge, single edge (se-IVF), or both absorption edges, double edge (de-IVF), was considered in a companion paper [Appl. Opt. 46, 4434 (2007)], assuming known atmospheric temperature and aerosol mixing ratio, Rb.

Direct-detection Doppler wind measurements with a Cabannes-Mie lidar: a. Comparison between iodine vapor filter and Fabry-Perot interferometer methods.

Atmospheric line-of-sight (LOS) wind measurement by means of incoherent Cabannes-Mie lidar with three frequency analyzers with nearly the same maximum transmission of ~80% that could be fielded at different wavelengths is analytically considered. These frequency analyzers are (a) a double-edge Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) at 1064 nm (IR-FPI), (b) a double-edge Fabry-Perot interferometer at 355 nm (UV-FPI), and (c) an iodine vapor filter (IVF) at 532 nm with two different methods, using either one absorption edge, single edge (se-IVF), or both absorption edges, double edge (de-IVF). The effect of the backscattered aerosol mixing ratio, R(b), defined as the ratio of the aerosol volume backscatter coefficient to molecular volume backscatter coefficient, on LOS wind uncertainty is discussed.

The distribution of repetitive DNAs along chromosomes in plants revealed by self-genomic in situ hybridization.

The distribution of repetitive DNAs along chromosomes is one of the crucial elements for understanding the organization and the evolution of plant genomes. Using a modified genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) procedure, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with genomic DNA to their own chromosomes (called self-genomic in situ hybridization, self-GISH) was carried out in six selected plant species with different genome size and amount of repetitive DNA. Nonuniform distribution of the fluorescent labeled probe DNA was observed on the chromosomes of all the species that were tested.

Comparison of electron injection dynamics from re-bipyridyl complexes to TiO2 nanocrystalline thin films in different solvent environments.

Factors that control photoinduced interfacial electron transfer (ET) between molecular adsorbates and semiconductor nanoparticles have been intensely investigated in recent years. In this work, the solvent dependence of interfacial ET was studied by comparing ET rates in dye sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline films in different solvent environments. Photoinduced ET rates from Re(LA)(CO)3Cl [LA=dcbpy=4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine] (ReC1A) to TiO2 nanocrystalline thin films in air, pH buffer, MeOH, EtOH, and DMF were measured by femtosecond transient IR spectroscopy.

Comparison of interfacial electron transfer through carboxylate and phosphonate anchoring groups.

The effects of anchoring groups on electron injection from adsorbate to nanocrystalline thin films were investigated by comparing injection kinetics through carboxylate versus phosphonate groups to TiO2 and SnO2. In the first pair of molecules, Re(LA)(CO)3Cl (ReC1A) and Re(Lp)(CO)3Cl (ReC1P), [LA=2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-bis-CH2-COOH, Lp=2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-bis-CH2-PO3H2], the anchoring groups were insulated from the bipyridine ligand by a CH2 group. In the second pair of molecules, Ru(dcbpyH2)2(NCS)2 (RuN3) and Ru(bpbpyH2)2(NCS)2 (RuN3P), [dcbpy=2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-biscarboxylic acid, bpbpy=2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-bisphosphonic acid], the anchoring groups were directly connected to the bipyridine ligands.

[Advances in research of the structure and function of plant centromeres].

Centromeres are the chromosomal domains necessary for faithful chromosome segregation and transmission during mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotes. In the last decade, centromeres in some plant species including Arabidopsis, rice and maize have been deeply studied at molecular level. Centromeric DNAs evolve rapidly and are little conserved among various plants, but the types of centromeric DNA sequences and their organization patterns within centromeres are basically similar in plants.

Temporal variability of the telluric sodium layer.

The temporal variability of the telluric sodium layer is investigated by analyzing 28 nights of data obtained with the Colorado State University LIDAR experiment. The mean height power spectrum of the sodium layer was found to be well fitted by a power law over the observed range of frequencies, 10 microHz to 4 mHz. The best-fitting power law was found be be 10(beta)nu(alpha), with alpha=-1.

Significance of phenol-protein interactions in modifying the antioxidant capacity of peas.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of phenol-protein interaction (PPI) and its binding activity in strengthening the antioxidant capacity of peas after immersion with five phenolics under different heating conditions. The results showed that hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic acid, coumaric acid, or caffeic acid) are better than hydroxybenzoic acid (gallic acid) in increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) heat stability. In addition, the higher the temperature, the more evident was the enhancement.

Vibrational relaxation of CN stretch of pseudo-halide anions (OCN-, SCN-, and SeCN-) in polar solvents.

The vibrational relaxation dynamics of pseudo-halide anions XCN- (X = O, S, Se) in polar solvents were studied to understand the effect of charge on solute-to-solvent intermolecular energy transfer (IET) and solvent assisted intramolecular vibrational relaxation (IVR) pathways. The T1 relaxation times of the CN stretch in these anions were measured by IR pump/IR probe spectroscopy, in which the 0-1 transition was excited, and the 0-1 and 1-2 transitions were monitored to follow the recovery of the ground state and decay of the excited state. For these anions in five solvents, H2O, D2O, CH3OH, CH3CN, and (CH3)2SO, relaxation rates followed the trend of OCN- > SCN- > SeCN-.

pH-dependent electron transfer from re-bipyridyl complexes to metal oxide nanocrystalline thin films.

Photoinduced interfacial electron transfer (ET) from molecular adsorbates to semiconductor nanoparticles has been a subject of intense recent interest. Unlike intramolecular ET, the existence of a quasicontinuum of electronic states in the solid leads to a dependence of ET rate on the density of accepting states in the semiconductor, which varies with the position of the adsorbate excited-state oxidation potential relative to the conduction band edge. For metal oxide semiconductors, their conduction band edge position varies with the pH of the solution, leading to pH-dependent interfacial ET rates in these materials.

Ultrafast electron transfer between molecule adsorbate and antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles.

Ultrafast transient IR spectroscopy has been used to examine the effect of doping on interfacial electron transfer (ET) dynamics in Re(dpbpy)(CO)(3)Cl (dpbpy = 4,4'-(CH(2)PO(OH)(2))2-2,2'-bipyridine) (ReC1PO(3)) sensitized ATO (Sb:SnO(2)) nanocrystalline thin films. In films consisting of particles with 0%, 2% and 10% Sb dopant, the rates of electron injection from the adsorbate excited state to ATO were independent of and the rates of the recombination increased with the doping level. The observed similar forward electron injection rates were attributed to negligible changes of available accepting states in the conduction band at the doping levels studied.

The development of a Patient-Identification-Oriented Nursing Shift Exchange Support System using wireless RFID PDA techniques.

The objectives of this study were to technically testing the feasibility of combining RFID and PDA technologies in nursing care and to develop a support system for the nursing shift exchange, which featured with "Positive Patient Identification" and "Point of Care" for patient's safety and security. The most challenging part for the future work would be to embed the system into the real workflow. Future study would be to examine the practical effectiveness of the system.