Uncovering the contribution of enhanced central gain and altered cortical oscillations to tinnitus generation.

Various theories and their associated mechanisms have been proposed as the neural basis of phantom sound perception (tinnitus), including central gain enhancement and altered cortical oscillations. However, it remains unknown whether these cortical changes directly cause tinnitus, or simply coexist with the phantom percept. Using chronically-implanted electrodes and drug delivery cannulae in rats, we examined whether enhanced central gain and cortical oscillations are consistent across different tinnitus induction methods (noise exposure; salicylate), and if directly-inducing enhanced central gain or altered cortical oscillations via pharmacologic manipulation of inhibition along the auditory pathway would cause behavioral evidence of tinnitus.

Nanostructure of Er3+ doped silicates.

We demonstrate nanostructural evolution resulting in highly increased photoluminescence in silicates doped with Er3+ ions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging, nano-energy dispersed X-ray (NEDX) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence analysis confirm the local composition and structure changes of the Er3+ ions upon thermal annealing. We studied two types of amorphous nanopowder: the first is of the composition SiO2/18Al2O3/2Er2O3 (SAE), synthesized by combustion flame-chemical vapor condensation, and the second is with a composition of SiO2/8Y2O3/2Er2O3 (SYE), synthesized by sol-gel synthesis (composition in mol%).

IgA directed against early antigen of Epstein-Barr virus is no specific marker for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance and specificity of IgA directed against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific early antigens (EA) for the unequivocal diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Therefore, sera from patients with diseases other than NPC, selected on the basis of elevated antibody titres against EBV antigens, were compared to sera from NPC patients with regard to the presence of IgA directed against EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA-IgA) and IgA directed against EA (EA-IgA). Four hundred forty-seven out of 7,508 non-NPC sera tested showed high titres (> 512) of IgG directed against Epstein Barr viral capsid antigen (VCA-IgG) and positive VCA-IgA (> or = 32).

Spectroscopy of Dy(3+) in Ge-Ga-S glass and its suitability for 1.3-microm fiber-optical amplifier applications.

Absorption and emission spectra, along with lifetime measurements, of Dy(3+) in Ge-Ga-S glasses are reported. Fluorescence is observed at 1.3, 1.

Optical properties of AlF(3)-based glasses doped with Pr(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+).

Rare-earth ions can easily be incorporated into fluoride glasses in moderate to large concentrations. Because these glasses possess low fundamental frequencies, they appear to have many advantages over oxide glasses as hosts for rare-earth ions used in optical amplifiers and lasers. We have investigated the optical properties (fluorescence, absorption, and excited-state lifetimes) of AlF(3)-based glass doped with Pr(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+).

Excimer-laser-induced spatially variant luminescence in pure-silica core fibers with fluorine-doped silica cladding.

Optical fibers with pure silica cores of both low and high water content and fluorine-doped silica claddings were irradiated with 248 nm (KrF) excimer-laser radiation. In addition to the differences in the spectra of luminescent emissions of the respective cores, spatial variance was observed in the luminescence behavior across cross sections of the cores. Photographic evidence of this phenomenon is presented along with the corresponding luminescence spectra.

Development of a porous polymer pH optrode.

A novel fiber-optic pH sensor has been developed with long-term stability and high sensitivity. The sensor is based on a porous cellulose triacetate fiber immobilized with Congo Red (pH indicator). This intrinsic fiberoptic pH sensor has shown excellent sensitivity, reversibility, and stability.

Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber amplifier operating at 1.31 microm.

We propose what is to our knowledge the first use of a Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber amplifier as a practical amplifier operating at the 1.3-microm band, based on a demonstration of signal amplification and a spectroscopic investigation. The feasibility of the fluoride fiber amplifier is confirmed.

Remote infrared chemical sensing using highly durable AlF(3)-based glass fibers.

Unclad, low-loss AlF(3)-based glass fibers with enhanced chemical durability have been successfully used for the first time to our knowledge as intrinsic evanescent infrared sensors for monitoring liquid chemicals. Different liquids with absorption bands between 1 and 4.5 microm, such as alcohol, acetonitrile, and mixtures of alcohol/acetonitrile and water/acetonitrile, have been tested.

Remote fiber-optic chemical sensing using evanescent-wave interactions in chalcogenide glass fibers.

An infrared-transmitting chalcogenide fiber was used as an optical probe to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively various chemical substances in aqueous solutions. An unclad fiber with 380-microm diameter was combined with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer to monitor the concentration of the analytes in solutions by measuring the changes in the absorbance of their fundamental vibration peaks. A linear relationship was observed between the absorption by the vanescent field and concentrations of various analytes.

Attenuation of incoherent infrared radiation in hollow sapphire and silica waveguides.

The attenuation of incoherent infrared radiation for wavelengths from 6 to 20 microm was investigated for hollow sapphire and silica waveguides suitable for applications in spectroscopy and thermometry. A low-attenuation region was exhibited between 9.6 and 17.

Porous plastic optical fiber sensor for ammonia measurement.

A porous plastic optical fiber has been developed for use in chemical gas sensing. This porous plastic waveguide, which was made with copolymer materials, has an interconnective porous structure as well as uniformity of pore size. These sensors are based on in-line optical absorption within the porous plastic fiber core and have much greater sensitivities than sensors based on evanescent coupling to a surrounding medium.

Porous optical fibers for high-sensitivity ammonia-vapor sensors.

A new porous glass optical fiber has been developed for use as a sensor for the detection of ammonia vapors at low concentrations. The porous structure that remains after selective heat treatment, phase separation, and chemical leaching of a borosilicate glass imparts a high surface area to the fiber core. Ammonia vapors permeating into the porous zone, which is pretreated with a reversible pH dye indicator, produce a spectral change in transmission.

Detection scheme in a fiber-optic magnetic-field sensor free from ambiguity due to material magnetic hysteresis.

A new technique has been demonstrated in the detection of low-frequency or dc magnetic fields in an optical-fiber interferometric sensor using the magnetostrictive approach. This technique permits magnetic-field measurements free of ambiguity associated with hysteresis effects of the material.

Characteristics of fiber-optic magnetic-field sensors employing metallic glasses.

A variety of extremely high-sensitivity, room-temperature magnetic-field sensors have been fabricated and tested using single-mode fibers in conjunction with highly magnetostrictive metallic glasses. Minimum detectable fields of 5 x 10(-9) Oe/m fiber are reported. The typical characteristics of the fiber magnetometers are summarized.