Quantification of the Field Enhancement of Surface Plasmon Under Standing Wave Conditions

Plasmonics - We performed a quantitative study of the field intensity under surface plasmon (SP) using different impinging source changing the beam width for several metallic structures and compare...     

Quantitative evaluation of transmission properties of breast tissue equivalent materials under Compton scatter imaging setup

To explore the potential of utilizing Compton scattered x-ray photons for imaging applications, it is critical to accurately evaluate scattered x-ray transmission properties of targeted tissue materials. In this study, scattered x-ray transmission of breast tissue equivalent phantoms was evaluated. Firstly, two validations were carried out using a primary x-ray beam at 80 kVp with both experimental measurement (ion chamber with narrow-beam setup) and analytical calculation (Spektr toolkit). The tungsten-anode x-ray spectrum model was thus validated by measuring and calculating the transmission through increasing thickness of 1100 Aluminum filters. Similarly, the composition models of breast tissue equivalent phantoms (CIRS, 012A) were validated by measuring and calculating x-ray transmission for three different breast compositions (BR30/70, BR50/50, and BR70/30). Following validation, transmission properties of Compton scattered x-ray photons were measured with a GOS based linear array detector at the 90° angle from the primary beam. The same study was performed through three independent approaches: experimental measurement, analytical calculation, and Monte Carlo simulation (GEANT4). For all three methods, the scattered x-ray photon transmission as functions of phantom thickness were determined and fit into exponential functions. The transmission curves from all three methods matched reasonably well, with a maximum difference of 6.3% for the estimated effective attenuation coefficients of the BR50/50 phantom. The relative difference among the three methods of estimated attenuation is under 3.5%. As an initial step to develop a novel Compton scatter-based breast imaging system, the quantitative results from this study paved a fundamental base for future work.     

Direct correlation of structure changes and thermal events in hydrated lipid established by simultaneous calorimetry and time-resolved x-ray diffraction.

In many lipid systems, polymorphic and mesomorphic behavior depends on sample thermal history. To establish unequivocally the structural origin of endothermic and exothermic events in such systems, we have performed simultaneous calorimetry and time-resolved x-ray diffraction (SCALTRD). To this end, aluminum calorimetry crucibles were used to contain the hydrated lipid sample, and the calorimeter was mounted with the base of the crucible oriented perpendicular to a synchrotron-derived focused monochromatic x-ray beam for SCALTRD data collection. Measurements were made with hydrated monoelaidin and 1,2-dielaidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DEPE) contained in hermetically sealed crucibles. Time-resolved x-ray diffraction (TRXRD) data were collected using an x-ray image intensifier/video system and a streak camera containing an x-ray sensitive image plate and/or film. SCALTRD analysis of the lamellar gel to lamellar liquid crystalline phase transition in hydrated monoelaidin gives identical progress curves by calorimetry and TRXRD at a scan rate of 1 degree C/min. At faster rates, calorimetry shows a broader phase transition that starts at a lower and ends at a higher temperature than is observed by TRXRD. The disparity arises in part because the x-ray beam used in TRXRD interrogates only a small portion of the sample, whereas the calorimeter responds to the entire sample volume. Because data collection times are relatively long, radiation damage is an important potential problem for SCALTRD measurements. Such an effect was observed with DEPE/water in that TRXRD shows the lamellar gel to lamellar liquid crystalline phase transition occurring at a lower temperature than observed by calorimetry. We speculate that the sample accumulates impurities locally as a result of radiation damage that has the effect of lowering the phase transition temperature at the site of interrogation by the x-ray beam. This "methods-in-combination" SCALTRD approach facilitates the direct correlation of structure rearrangements and thermal events in the same sample under identical conditions of thermal history. The information content of the data so derived far surpasses that available from either method used in isolation.     

Free radical mediated x-ray damage of model membranes.

The damaging effects of synchrotron-derived x rays on aqueous phospholipid dispersions have been evaluated. The effect of degree of lipid hydration, phospholipid chemical structure, mesophase identity, aqueous medium composition, and incident flux on the severity and progress of damage was quantified using time-resolved x-ray diffraction and chromatographic analysis of damage products. Electron spin resonance measurements of spin-trapped intermediates generated during irradiation suggest a free radical-mediated process. Surprisingly, radiation damage effects revealed by x-ray diffraction were imperceptible when the lamellar phases were prepared under water-stressed conditions, despite the fact that x-ray-induced chemical breakdown of the lipid occurred regardless of hydration level. Of the fully hydrated lipid systems studied, saturated diacyl-phosphatidylcholines were most sensitive to radiation damage compared to the ester- and ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamines and the ether-linked phosphatidylcholines. The inclusion of buffers or inorganic salts in the dispersing medium had only a minor effect in reducing damage development. A small inverse dose-rate effect was found when the x-ray beam intensity was changed 15-fold. These results contribute to our understanding of the mechanism of radiation damage, to our appreciation of the importance of monitoring both structure and composition when evaluating biomaterials radiation sensitivity, and to the development of strategies for eliminating or reducing the severity of damage due to an increasingly important source of x rays, synchrotron radiation. Because damage is shown to be free radical mediated, these results have an important bearing on age-related accumulation of free radicals in cells and how these might compromise membrane integrity, culminating in cell death.     

Study of efficiency in five-field and field-by-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan using DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo code

Implementation of a modern treatment technique, such as IMRT, has been improved. In line with that, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of this technique require the ability of complex beam configurations modelling with respect to the patient. The source 20 DOSXYZnrc with the dynamic and step and shoot technique can be used to simulate the modality. However, they have a different process to obtain the dose distribution in a certain phantom. This study aimed to compare the simulation efficiency and isodose dose distribution in a water phantom from various beam angles and multileaf collimator (MLC) positions in an IMRT plan using source 20. The 30 × 30 × 30 cm³ phantom was irradiated by Varian Clinac iX10MV photon beam with various field sizes from 2 × 2 to 6 × 6 cm² using some beam angles 5°, 30°, 90°, 180°, and 300° and maintaining the source to surface distance (SSD) of 100 cm. The field-by-field and five-field methods were used to obtain the 3-dimensional (3D) dose distribution. The dose distribution of these methods was compared using the gamma index, DVH analysis, and simulation efficiency. Higher efficiency is better because it implies that it takes less time to reach a given uncertainty. The implementation of source 20 has been validated, with similar results, with validated source in DOSXYZnrc. The identical 3D-dimensions dose distributions using source 20 for dynamic and step and shoot were observed. Two simulations used the same number of histories with the statistical uncertainty of less than 3%. The step and shoot technique was more efficient than the dynamic simulation.     

X-ray micrography and imaging of Escherichia coli cell shape using laser plasma pulsed point x-ray sources.

High-resolution x-ray microscopy is a relatively new technique and is performed mostly at a few large synchrotron x-ray sources that use exposure times of seconds. We utilized a bench-top source of single-shot laser (ns) plasma to generate x-rays similar to synchrotron facilities. A 5 microlitres suspension of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 in 0.9% phosphate buffered saline was placed on polymethylmethyacrylate coated photoresist, covered with a thin (100 nm) SiN window and positioned in a vacuum chamber close to the x-ray source. The emission spectrum was tuned for optimal absorption by carbon-rich material. Atomic force microscope scans provided a surface and topographical image of differential x-ray absorption corresponding to specimen properties. By using this technique we observed a distinct layer around whole cells, possibly representing the Gram-negative envelope, darker stained areas inside the cell corresponding to chromosomal DNA as seen by thin section electron microscopy, and dent(s) midway through one cell, and 1/3- and 2/3-lengths in another cell, possibly representing one or more division septa. This quick and high resolution with depth-of-field microscopy technique is unmatched to image live hydrated ultrastructure, and has much potential for application in the study of fragile biological specimens.     

Effect of a pseudovolume image in multifocus radiography

The effect of a pseudovolume image was theoretically substantiated on the basis of calculations. This was experimentally studied using with microfocus x-ray diagnostic apparatuses. Digital microfocus and standard x-ray study were compared using an experimental material. Microfocus x-ray study is a highly informative technique that shows a greater possibility to provide volume images of an object than does standard x-ray study.     

Local and regional factors determining aquatic and semi-aquatic bug (Heteroptera) assemblages in rivers and streams of Greece

Heteroptera species were collected from 48 sites distributed throughout the mainland and island complexes of Greece during 1999–2004. The aims of this study were to investigate Heteroptera distribution and abundance in Greek streams, identify the environmental factors that are linked to variation in their assemblages and to partition the influence of environmental and spatial components, alone and in combination, on Heteroptera community composition. Canonical ordination techniques (CCA) were used to determine the relationship between environmental variables and species abundance, while variation partitioning was performed using partial CCA to understand the importance of different explanatory variables in Heteroptera variation. Heteroptera variation was decomposed into independent and joint effects of local (physicochemical variables, microhabitat composition, stream width and depth), regional (land use/cover) and geographic variables (longitude, latitude, altitude and distance to source). Land use/cover, aquatic and riparian vegetation, stream size and water chemistry were the most important factors structuring Heteroptera assemblages. At regional scale, bug assemblages were mainly divided into those found in forested and agricultural landscapes, following water quality and microhabitat composition at local scale. Local variables accounted for 48% of the total explained variation, regional variables for 20% whereas geographical position appeared to be the least influencing factor (8.5%). The results of partial constraint analyses suggested that local variables play a major role in Heteroptera variation followed by regional variables. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Near-Field Imaging of Surface Plasmon Polaritons Excited by Chains of Gold Nanodiscs

We present a study of the near-field pattern created by chains of gold nanodiscs situated on a gold thin film and illuminated at oblique incidence. Each disc generates surface plasmon polaritons that propagate on the gold surface. The created waves interfere between them and with the illuminating beam. We observed that when the discs are separated by a distance smaller than the half wavelength, the chain behaves like a continuous ridge. When the discs separation increases, a complex periodic pattern appears and extends up to several wavelengths from the chain. For some specific separation distances, a directional emission of surface plasmon is also observed. The experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations performed by considering each disk as an independent dipole-like surface plasmon source.     

Location of the heme-Fe atoms within the profile structure of a monolayer of cytochrome c bound to the surface of an ultrathin lipid multilayer film.

We have recently developed x-ray diffraction methods to derive the profile structure of ultrathin lipid multilayer films having one to five bilayers (e.g., Skita, V., W. Richardson, M. Filipkowski, A.F. Garito, and J.K. Blasie. 1987. J. Physique. 47:1849-1855). Furthermore, we have employed these techniques to determine the location of a monolayer of cytochrome c bound to the carboxyl group surface of various ultrathin lipid multilayer substrates via nonresonance x-ray diffraction (Pachence, J.M., and J.K. Blasie. 1987. Biophys. J. 52:735-747). Here an intense tunable source of x-rays (beam line X9-A at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the Brookhaven National Laboratory) was utilized to measure the resonance x-ray diffraction effect from the heme-Fe atoms within the cytochrome c molecular monolayer located on the carboxyl surface of a five monolayer arachidic acid film. Lamellar x-ray diffraction was recorded for energies above, below, and at the Fe K-absorption edge (E = 7,112 eV). An analysis of the resonance x-ray diffraction effect is presented, whereby the location of the heme-Fe atoms within the electron density profile of the cytochrome c/arachidic acid ultrathin multilayer film is indicated to +/- 3 A accuracy.     

Dosimetry of total skin electron irradiation

Elaboration of such a simple technique for total skin electron irradiation which ensures good dose homogeneity and minimal x-ray background dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We started large electron field irradiations with the Neptun 10p linear accelerator in the National Institute of Oncology -Budapest in 1986. After the installation of the Siemens Mevatron KD linear accelerator it was possible to introduce the modified Stanford technique. This technique satisfies better the requirements given in the objective. The required field size of 200x75 cm is produced as a result of two fields with 30 degrees angular separation (dual field) at a source skin distance of 465 cm. The patient's body is exposed to six dual electron fields. The electron energy is 6 MeV. Despite the long source skin distance the treatment time is relatively short due to the high dose rate (940 mu/min) capability of our Mevatron KD. The in air dose profiles were measured in miniphantom with semiconductor detector. Depth dose curves were measured in water and in polystyrene phantom with semiconductor detector and with films. RESULTS: The measured dose homogeneity of the 6 MeV energy dual field with 30 degrees angular separation is within +/- 5%in a 200x75cm plane field. The depth of dose maximum of the resulting dose distribution of six dual field irradiation is between 2 mm and 5 mm, while the depth of 80% isodose curve is about 8 mm. The total body x-ray background dose is less than 1% of the skin dose. CONCLUSION: The modified Stanford technique adapted to our Mevatron KD linear accelerator is suitable for total skin electron beam therapy.     

Preliminary crystallographic data for transketolase from yeast

Crystals of the vitamin B1-dependent enzyme transketolase from baker's yeast have been grown from the apo- and the holoform of the enzyme, using PEG as precipitant. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell constants a = 76.3 A, b = 114.2 A, and c = 163.5 A. The crystals are stable in the x-ray beam and diffract to at least 2.2 A on a conventional x-ray source. The enzyme is a dimer of identical subunits, and a Vm value of 2.2 A/dalton indicates that the asymmetric unit contains a dimer. Rotation function calculations using native data (10-5 A) revealed a local 2-fold rotation axis with phi = 0 degree and omega = 20 degrees.     

Subwavelength Quarter-Waveplate Composed of L-Shaped Metal Nanoparticles

We propose a subwavelength quarter-waveplate composed of four L-shaped nanoparticles that act as optical nanoantennas and investigate its optical properties using the finite-difference time-domain method. When polarization of the incident beam is parallel to one arm of the antenna, polarization of the scattering light rotates 45° with respect to that of the incident beam due to the symmetry of the L-shaped nanoantennas. Phase retardation is generated by changing the arm length of the antennas. The influence of the distance between the L-shaped nanoantennas on the far-field radiation is also discussed.     

A quantitative XANES analysis of the calcium high-affinity binding site of the purple membrane

In this article we report x-ray absorption measurements of Ca(2+)-substituted bacteriorhodopsin. We present a detailed study of the absorption spectrum close to the absorption edge that is very sensitive to the site geometry. We combined ab initio calculations of the x-ray absorption cross section based on a full multiple scattering approach, with a best fit of the experimental data performed by changing the cluster geometry. The Ca(2+)-bacteriorhodopsin environment is composed of six oxygen atoms showing a distorted orthorhombic symmetry, whereas the Ca(2+) in water solution has a regular octahydrated first sphere of coordination. Our results are in good agreement with previous molecular models suggesting that the high-affinity cationic site could be in the proximity of the retinal pocket. Our results provide strong direct evidence of the specific binding site of the metal cation in bacteriorhodopsin.     

The North American obligate cave fauna: regional patterns

The obligate cave faunas of nine regions of the United States –Florida Lime Sinks, Appalachians, Interior Low Plateaus, Ozarks, Driftless Area,Edwards Aquifer/Balcones Escarpment, Guadalupe Mountains, Black Hills, andMother Lode – are described and compared. The number of aquatic(stygobitic) species ranged from zero (Black Hills) to 82 (Appalachians), andthe number of terrestrial (troglobitic) species ranged from zero (Florida LimeSinks) to 256 (Interior Low Plateau). Even at the level of genus, overlapbetween regions is low. Several predictor variables (karst area, number ofcaves, number of long caves, number of deep caves, distance from the Pleistoceneice margin, distance from the late Cretaceous Sea, and vegetation type – asurrogate for productivity) were assessed using rank order statistics,especially rank order multiple regression with a backward elimination procedure.For both stygobites and troglobites, only number of caves was a significantpredictor. The absence of a karst area effect suggested that the degree of karstdevelopment is better described by the number of caves rather than area ofkarst. There was no evidence that distance to Pleistocene glacial boundaries wasimportant, but there was some support for the importance of distance from late Cretaceous sea margins, a potential source of aquatic subterranean colonists. Finally,there was no indication that surface productivity had an effect on speciesrichness. Analysis was complicated by correlations among predictor variables.     

东北虎豹国家公园梅花鹿的空间遗传格局及其影响因素

东北梅花鹿是东北虎豹国家公园主要的大型食草动物之一,是东北虎豹的主要猎物,对针阔混交林群落的维持有关键的作用,探究其遗传多样性及空间遗传格局对东北梅花鹿的保护以及国家公园生态系统的健康至关重要。在国家公园珲春保护区内,通过非损伤方法获得遗传样本,利用微卫星标记,研究该梅花鹿种群的空间遗传格局及其影响因素。结果表明：本研究区梅花鹿种群平均期望杂合度为0.721,遗传多样性较为丰富。有限的扩散能力常常导致种群在遗传距离上具有显著的空间自相关模式,本研究区梅花鹿种群在0-1km距离等级内在遗传距离上具有显著的空间自相关现象,据此可推测,该地区梅花鹿扩散距离为1km左右。STRUCTURE分析表明,珲春地区梅花鹿种群不存在明显的遗传分化。各种空间变量可以显著影响物种的遗传分化。本研究选取海拔、坡度、坡向、地表起伏率、人类干扰5个变量,研究其对梅花鹿种群遗传结构的影响,这5个变量多被认为与大中型哺乳动物扩散阻碍相关。依据5个变量建立了336个阻力模型,并进行偏曼特尔检验。其中,依据海拔、坡向、地表起伏率、人类干扰假设建立的246个阻力模型与遗传距离之间的关系并不显著,综合所有变量的15个生境适宜性模型阻力模型与遗传距离的关系也都不显著。在依据坡度假设建构的75个阻力模型中,只有1个模型与遗传距离有显著的正相关关系,该模型同时也是在控制空间自相关影响后,在所有模型中与遗传距离相关性最高的模型。根据该模型推测,最适宜梅花鹿扩散的坡度为10°,梅花鹿可能倾向于利用缓坡进行扩散。结果对东北虎豹国家公园梅花鹿种群的保护具有重要意义。     

Operationalising Factors That Explain the Emergence of Infectious Diseases: A Case Study of the Human Campylobacteriosis Epidemic

A framework of general factors for infectious disease emergence was made operational for Campylobacter utilising explanatory variables including time series and risk factor data. These variables were generated using a combination of empirical epidemiology, case-case and case-control studies, time series analysis, and microbial sub-typing (source attribution, diversity, genetic distance) to unravel the changing/emerging aetiology of human campylobacteriosis. The study focused on Scotland between 1990–2012 where there was a 75% increase in reported cases that included >300% increase in the elderly and 50% decrease in young children. During this period there were three phases 1990–2000 a 75% rise and a 20% fall to 2006, followed by a 19% resurgence. The rise coincided with expansions in the poultry industry, consumption of chicken, and a shift from rural to urban cases. The post-2000 fall occurred across all groups apart from the elderly and coincided with a drop of the prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken and a higher proportion of rural cases. The increase in the elderly was associated with uptake of proton pump inhibitors. During the resurgence the increase was predominantly in adults and the elderly, again there was increasing use of PPIs and high prevalences in chicken and ruminants. Cases associated with foreign travel during the study also increased from 9% to a peak of 16% in 2006 before falling to an estimated 10% in 2011, predominantly in adults and older children. During all three periods source attribution, genetic distance, and diversity measurements placed human isolates most similar to those in chickens. A combination of emergence factors generic for infectious diseases were responsible for the Campylobacter epidemic. It was possible to use these to obtain a putative explanation for the changes in human disease and the potential to make an informed view of how incidence rates may change in the future.     

Structural Complexity and Distance from Source Habitat Determine Invertebrate Abundance and Diversity

The structural complexity of habitats and the distance from the dispersion source are considered important determinants of species diversity. The fractal dimensions of substrates are a strong alternative measure for quantifying the structural complexity. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that structural complexity and distance from a dispersion source affect the density and diversity of macro‐invertebrates on submersed macrophytes. To test this hypothesis, we used artificial substrates with different fractal dimensions, which were incubated at different distances from a dispersion source (a stand of macrophytes) in a Neotropical floodplain lake. The relationship between the structural complexity of macrophytes and the density and diversity of invertebrates attached to artificial substrates was positive and significant. On the other hand, distance from the dispersion source negatively affected both the density and diversity of the attached invertebrates. For Oligochaeta, however, there was a significant effect of structural complexity for the artificial plants positioned further away, but it was not significant in the plants positioned closer to the dispersion source. Thus, the effects of complexity depended on the distance from the dispersion source, at least for this specific group of macro‐invertebrates. These results suggest that both structural complexity and distance from the dispersion source should be considered together to explain the diversity of invertebrates in river–floodplain systems. In addition, our results show that there is great potential for using fractal dimensions as a tool to quantify structural complexity in aquatic habitats, especially at the small spatial scales perceived by macro‐invertebrates. Abstract in Portuguese is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp .     

Comparison of methods for assessing geometric efficiency on multi-detector CT scanners

The aim of the current study was to compare the film method against the method based on a new CT slice detector in assessing geometric efficiency (GE) of x-ray beams utilized by a multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanner. Measurements of GE were performed using radiographic films and a solid state CT slice detector for all beam qualities, collimations and focal spot sizes available on an MDCT scanner. Repeatability of GE measurements was assessed. The radiographic film and the solid state detector methods were compared to each other in regard to efficacy in measuring free-in-air GE. The values of GE determined using the radiographic film method were found to range between 48.5% and 90.6%. Differences between values obtained with the radiographic film method and corresponding values obtained with the solid state detector were less than 10% exceeding 5% for only one case. Both methods show that wide beams have higher GE values compared to thin ones. The use of large instead of small focal spot was found to deteriorate GE values by up to 23.1%. Beam quality did not seem to influence GE of the various collimations. When thin beam collimations are employed, a considerable amount of the radiation is wasted for non-imaging purposes. Both film and solid state probe methods are capable of measuring GE of thin as well as wide collimations. The solid state detector is the easiest to use, however its usefulness is reduced by the fact that it cannot measure dose profiles of beam collimations available for step-and-shoot mode of operation.     

X-ray diffraction from a left ventricular wall of rat heart

We studied x-ray diffraction from the left ventricular wall of an excised, perfused whole heart of a rat using x rays from the third-generation synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8. With the beam at right angles to the long axis of the left ventricle, well-oriented, strong equatorial reflections were observed from the epicardium surface. The reflections became vertically split arcs when the beam passed through myocardium deeper in the wall, and rings were observed when the beam passed into the inner myocardium of the wall. These diffraction patterns were explained by employing a layered-spiral model of the arrangement of muscle fibers in the heart. In a quiescent heart with an expanded left ventricle, the muscle fibers at the epicardium surface were found to have a (1,0) lattice spacing smaller than in the rest of the wall. The intensity ratio of the (1,0) and (1,1) equatorial reflections decreased on contraction with a similar time course in all parts of the wall. The results show that it is possible to assign the origin of reflections in a diffraction diagram from a whole heart. This study offers a basis for interpretation of x-ray diffraction from a beating heart under physiologically and pathologically different conditions.