Search

Optimal laser control for ultrafast selection of closely lying excited states whose energy separation is smaller than the laser bandwidth is reported on the two-photon transition of atomic cesium; Cs (6S→7Dj, J=5/2 and 3/2). Selective excitation was carried out by pulse shaping of ultrashort laser pulses which were adaptively modulated in a closed-loop learning system handling eight parameters representing the electric field. Two-color fluorescence from the respective excited states was monitored to measure the selectivity. The fitness used in the learning algorithm was evaluated from the ratio of the fluorescence yields. After fifty generations, a pair of nearly transform-limited pulses were obtained as an optimal pulse shape, proving the effectiveness of the "Ramsey fringes" mechanism. The contrast of the selection ratio was improved by ∼30% from the simple "Ramsey fringes" experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free surface flow between two concentric cylinders with vertical axes is investigated using numerical and experimental approaches. The bottom end wall of the cylinders and the outer cylinder are stationary and fixed, and the inner cylinder is allowed to rotate. In such a case, an odd number of Taylor vortices is usually formed (normal mode). However, we found that anomalous modes with outer flow near the bottom end wall or inner flow at the free surface appear in some conditions. Further, we determined bifurcation diagrams between the normal three-cell mode and normal one-cell mode and between the normal five-cell mode and the normal three-cell mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural seismicity is correlated across multiple spatial and temporal scales, but correlations in seismicity prior to a large earthquake are locally subtle (e.g. seismic quiescence) and often prominent in broad scale (e.g. seismic activation), resulting in local and regional seismicity patterns, e.g. a Mogi's donut. Recognizing that patterns in seismicity rate are reflecting the regional dynamics of the directly unobservable crustal stresses, the Pattern Informatics (PI) approach was introduced by Tiampo et al. and Rundle et al. in 2002. In this study, we expand the PI approach to forecasting earthquakes into the third or vertical dimension, and illustrate its further improvement in the forecasting performance through case studies of both natural and synthetic data. The PI characterizes rapidly evolving spatio-temporal seismicity patterns as angular drifts of a unit state vector in a high-dimensional correlation space, and systematically identifies anomalous shifts in seismic activity with respect to the regional background. 3D PI analysis is particularly advantageous over 2D analysis in resolving vertically overlapped seismicity anomalies in a highly complex tectonic environment. Case studies will help to illustrate some important properties of the PI forecasting tool. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the equilibrium property of ergodicity was identified in an earthquake fault system (T iampo et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 238501, ; Phys. Rev. E 75, 066107, ). Ergodicity in this context not only requires that the system is stationary for these networks at the applicable spatial and temporal scales, but also implies that they are in a state of metastable equilibrium, one in which the ensemble averages can be substituted for temporal averages when studying their behavior in space and time. In this work we show that this property can be used to identify those regions of parameter space which are stationary when applied to the seismicity of two naturally-occurring earthquake fault networks. We apply this measure to one particular seismicity-based forecasting tool, the Pattern Informatics index (T iampo et al., Europhys. Lett. 60, 481–487, ; R undle et al., Proc. National Acad. Sci., U.S.A., Suppl. 1, 99, 2463, ), in order to test the hypothesis that the identification of ergodic regions can be used to improve and optimize forecasts that rely on historic seismicity catalogs. We also apply the same measure to synthetic catalogs in order to better understand the physical process that affects this accuracy. We show that, in particular, ergodic regions defined by magnitude and time period provide more reliable forecasts of future events in both natural and synthetic catalogs, and that these improvements can be directly related to specific features or properties of the catalogs that impact the behavior of their spatial and temporal statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient was treated by an iliac artery aneurysm resection, stent graft removal, right common femoral artery-left common femoral artery bypass, and colostomy. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor-like protrusion with a fistulous tract in the sigmoid colon (Fig. Computed tomography demonstrated an iliac aneurysm with thrombus and air bubbles, fistulizing to the sigmoid colon (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents our numerical and experimental results of the bifurcation found in Taylor-Couette system with a free surface. The lengths of the two concentric cylinders are finite and their axes are parallel to the direction of the gravitational force. When the end walls of the cylinders are fixed and stationary, numerical and experimental studies have shown that the flow has multiple patterns depending on the cylinder lengths and the Reynolds numbers. Experimental studies on flows with free surfaces also gave various flow modes. Our result shows that the measured and predicted time-dependent displacements of the free surface are in favorable agreement. In case of the cylinder length comparable with the gap width between the cylinders, gradual accelerations of the inner cylinder bring the normal mode flows with one, three and five toroidal vortices. The exchanges of stabilities between these flow modes are summarized in a phase diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diabetic patients with moderate to advanced renal failure have severe hypertension and often require multiple antihypertensive agents to control it. Nevertheless, no standardized therapy has been established. This study was designed to examine the safety and efficacy of the biliary-excreted angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor temocapril in those patients whose blood pressure was not adequately decreased by calcium channel blocker monotherapy. Methods. Twenty-seven patients who did not reach the therapeutic goal of blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg) with amlodipine monotherapy were assigned to receive temocapril (2 mg) and amlodipine (5 mg) for 3 months. Blood samples for hematological and biochemical examinations were taken every month during treatment. Twenty-four-hour urine was collected to measure urinary protein excretion. Trough plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics were measured during temocapril treatment. Results. Blood pressure was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) from 158 ± 14/91 ± 9 to 148 ± 15/83 ± 8 mm Hg by the addition of temocapril. The peak serum concentration (Cmax) was 86.3 ± 22.7 μg/l at 3.9 ± 1.6 h (Tmax) after administration. Mean area under curve for 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24 h) was 1179 ± 273 μg/l · h. Trough levels showed a steady state. After temocapril therapy, the slope of the reciprocal of creatinine decreased compared with that before the addition of temocapril. Urinary protein excretion significantly decreased from 3100 ± 1100 to 2300 ± 1100 mg/day. There was no significant change in hematological and biochemical data. Conclusions. The present findings suggest that temocapril can be safely used in patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy, and in combination with dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers it decreases blood pressure and effectively retards the aggravation of renal insufficiency for 3 months in those patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of an experimental and numerical study of the bifurcation structure of steady cellular states in small aspect ratio Taylor-Couette flows. In particular we focus on Z[sub 2] symmetry-breaking bifurcations where asymmetric states which break the mid-plane symmetry arise. We find good quantitative agreement between numerical and experimental results for the bifurcation set. The surprising new observation we make is that the symmetry-breaking bifurcation sequences coalesce in a self-consistent way as the aspect ratio is reduced so that only symmetric steady flows exist for very short cylinders. The implications of this for the onset of disordered motion are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed as having Bartter's syndrome in 1978, although suspicions remained that she had been taking diuretics surreptitiously. Careful observation and repeated urinary drug analyses revealed no clue that she had been taking diuretics, until 20 years later, when the urine samples at last disclosed traces of furosemide. At this time she showed proteinuria, of 2 g/day, and hypercholesteremia. The glomerular filtration rate had decreased to 66 ml/min per 1.73 m2. The 24-h urinary concentrations of β2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-β- d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, and other urinary enzymes that are indicators of damage in proximal tubular cells, were increased, showing proximal tubular damage. The function of the loop of Henle was evaluated by a hypotonic saline loading test. The fractional distal chloride reabsorption, an index of the solute conservation rate in the loop of Henle, was 65.4%, which was lower than the normal value (88.9 ± 6.2%). The maximal urinary concentrating ability was 357 mOsm/kg·H2O, and a short ammonium chloride loading test showed impairment in the acidification of the urine. The third renal biopsy specimens showed some obsolescent glomeruli, marked juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia, intraluminal calcification, interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes with fibrosis, and thickening of arteriolar walls with narrow lumens. Patients often attempt to hide their use of diuretics from medical staff, leading to them to make a misdiagnosis of Bartter's syndrome. Although the patient described here has not experienced life-threatening adverse effects from furosemide abuse, some findings appear to be irreversible, suggesting the deterioration of renal function. Patients should realize that longstanding abuse of diuretics causes not only metabolic abnormalities but also the risk of renal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental work on Taylor vortex flow in a gap with a small aspect ratio is concerned with two extra vortices and a twin vortex system, each of which depends on an anomalous cell of the anomalous mode. Extra vortices are smaller than other vortices such as defined cells. At any Reynolds number and aspect ratio extra vortices can be found at the corner of the end plate and inner rotating cylinder and at the corner of the end plate and outer stationary cylinder. For a one-cell flow (anomalous one-cell mode) in a symmetric system, an outer extra vortex develops and grows to the same size as the main cell, only in an aspect ratio of less than one. A twin vortex is observed to form when two vortices are aligned in the direction of the radius. There are three flow fields on the end plate; two are extra vortex flows and the other is the main cell flow. The flow direction of the anomalous cell is from the inner cylinder to the outer one, at the end plate opposite of the flow direction of the normal cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Taylor vortex flows in a symmetric or asymmetric system exhibit various patterns (cell modes). They can be classified by the process of cell formation, the number of cells and the direction of flow for the cell, into primary modes or secondary modes, and normal modes or anomalous modes. Following the previous report in which flows in a symmetric end condition were classified, in the present work, for flows in an asymmetric end condition, the Reynolds number at which a secondary mode bifurcates into another mode is experimentally investigated, and the bifurcation of the Taylor vortex flows in an asymmetric system when the Reynolds number is gradually decreased is presented in a bifurcation diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(b) We placed a covered metallic stent against the stenosis and the fistula. gl GLO:EUW/01may21:jgh15334-fig-0002.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 2 (a, b) We tightly strangulated the stent at four sites using biopsy forceps and detachable snare forceps. A 28-year-old male with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma was referred to our department for treatment of esophageal stenosis. We placed a covered metallic stent (Niti-S, Century Medical, Inc.) against the stenosis and the fistula (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents the case of a 10-year-old normal-growing girl was diagnosed as having anemia at the annual physical examination and she underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and for screening of gastrointestinal bleeding.

The article presents a case study of a 68 year old man with persisting constipation, mucous stool, and abdominal fullness. It mentions the patient was diagnosed as mesenteric panniculitis, and prednisolone at a dose of 50 mg a day; and also mentions the Elastica-Masson staining revealed that the venous intimal layer was characterized by hyperplasia of the elastic fiber and fibrous tissue.

The article presents a case study of a 76-year-old woman with a 33-year history of extensive ulcerative colitis (UC). It mentions that the patient has undergone in colonoscopy surveillance and chromoendoscopy with indigo-carmine dye revealed nodular-elevated lesion surrounded by flat and granular mucosa. It also mentions that endoscopic and pathologic findings reveals the presence of intramucosal cancer with dysplasia associated with UC.