Technique For Quantitative Measurement Research Articles

The Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Tissues during Activities of Daily Living: Dynamic Assessment Using Quantitative Transmission-Mode Ultrasound Techniques.

The measurement of musculoskeletal tissue properties and loading patterns during physical activity is important for understanding the adaptation mechanisms of tissues such as bone, tendon, and muscle tissues, particularly with injury and repair. Although the properties and loading of these connective tissues have been quantified using direct measurement techniques, these methods are highly invasive and often prevent or interfere with normal activity patterns. Indirect biomechanical methods, such as estimates based on electromyography, ultrasound, and inverse dynamics, are used more widely but are known to yield different parameter values than direct measurements. Through a series of literature searches of electronic databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and IEEE Explore, this paper reviews current methods used for the in vivo measurement of human musculoskeletal tissue and describes the operating principals, application, and emerging research findings gained from the use of quantitative transmission-mode ultrasound measurement techniques to non-invasively characterize human bone, tendon, and muscle properties at rest and during activities of daily living. In contrast to standard ultrasound imaging approaches, these techniques assess the interaction between ultrasound compression waves and connective tissues to provide quantifiable parameters associated with the structure, instantaneous elastic modulus, and density of tissues. By taking advantage of the physical relationship between the axial velocity of ultrasound compression waves and the instantaneous modulus of the propagation material, these techniques can also be used to estimate the in vivo loading environment of relatively superficial soft connective tissues during sports and activities of daily living. This paper highlights key findings from clinical studies in which quantitative transmission-mode ultrasound has been used to measure the properties and loading of bone, tendon, and muscle tissue during common physical activities in healthy and pathological populations.

Quantitative phase imaging techniques for measuring scattering properties of cells and tissues: a review-part I.

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) techniques offer intrinsic information about the sample of interest in a label-free, noninvasive manner and have an enormous potential for wide biomedical applications with negligible perturbations to the natural state of the sample in vitro. We aim to present an in-depth review of the scattering formulation of light-matter interactions as applied to biological samples such as cells and tissues, discuss the relevant quantitative phase measurement techniques, and present a summary of various reported applications. We start with scattering theory and scattering properties of biological samples followed by an exploration of various microscopy configurations for 2D QPI for measurement of structure and dynamics. We reviewed 157 publications and presented a range of QPI techniques and discussed suitable applications for each. We also presented the theoretical frameworks for phase reconstruction associated with the discussed techniques and highlighted their domains of validity. We provide detailed theoretical as well as system-level information for a wide range of QPI techniques. Our study can serve as a guideline for new researchers looking for an exhaustive literature review of QPI methods and relevant applications.

Using Sequence Analyses to Quantitatively Measure Oropharyngeal Swallowing Temporality in Point-of-Care Ultrasound Examinations: A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: Swallowing is a complex process that comprises well-timed control of oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures to achieve airway protection and swallowing efficiency. To understand its temporality, previous research adopted adherence measures and revealed obligatory pairs in healthy swallows and the effect of aging and bolus type on the variability of event timing and order. This study aimed to (i) propose a systemic conceptualization of swallowing physiology, (ii) apply sequence analyses, a set of information-theoretic and bioinformatic methods, to quantify and characterize swallowing temporality, and (iii) investigate the effect of aging and dysphagia on the quantified variables using sequence analyses measures. (2) Method: Forty-three participants (17 young adults, 15 older adults, and 11 dysphagic adults) underwent B-mode ultrasound swallowing examinations at the mid-sagittal plane of the submental region. The onset, maximum, and offset states of hyoid bone displacement, geniohyoid muscle contraction, and tongue base retraction were identified and sorted to form sequences which were analyzed using an inventory of sequence analytic techniques; namely, overlap coefficients, Shannon entropy, and longest common subsequence algorithms. (3) Results: The concurrency of movement sequence was found to be significantly impacted by aging and dysphagia. Swallowing sequence variability was also found to be reduced with age and the presence of dysphagia (H(2) = 52.253, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.260). Four obligatory sequences were identified, and high adherence was also indicated in two previously reported pairs. These results provided preliminary support for the validity of sequence analyses for quantifying swallowing sequence temporality. (4) Conclusions: A systemic conceptualization of human deglutition permits a multi-level quantitative analysis of swallowing physiology. Sequence analyses are a set of promising quantitative measurement techniques for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) swallowing examinations and outcome measures for swallowing rehabilitation and evaluation of associated physiological conditions, such as sarcopenia. Findings in the current study revealed physiological differences among healthy young, healthy older, and dysphagic adults. They also helped lay the groundwork for future AI-assisted dysphagia assessment and outcome measures using POCUSs. Arguably, the proposed conceptualization and analyses are also modality-independent measures that can potentially be generalized for other instrumental swallowing assessment modalities.

Advances in clinical research on glucagon.

We are now celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of an important pancreatic hormone, glucagon. Glucagon is historically described as a diabetogenic hormone elevating glucose levels via increases in insulin resistance and hepatic gluconeogenesis. The more recently identified actions of glucagon include not only its pathophysiologic effects on glucose metabolism but also its significant roles in amino-acid metabolism in the liver. The possibility that abnormalities in α-cells' secretion of glucagon in metabolic disorders are a compensatory adaptation for the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis is another current issue. However, the clinical research concerning glucagon has been considerably behind the advances in basic research due to the lack of suitable methodology for obtaining precise measurements of plasma glucagon levels in humans. The precise physiology of glucagon secretory dynamics in individuals with metabolic dysfunction (including diabetes) has been clarified since the development in 2014 of a quantitative measurement technique for glucagon. In this review, we summarize the advances in the clinical research concerning glucagon, including those of our studies and the relevant literature.

Abstract 1528: Flowcytometric based approach to investigate prostate tumor microenvironment

Abstract Prostate cancer (PC) and its tumor microenvironment (TME) are heterogenous and evolving along with the treatment patients are exposed to. Modelling of the TME represents an attractive approach to understand how PC evolves and spreads. Flow cytometry is a technique for quantitative measurement of single cell profiling based on the cell surface as well as intracellular markers. We designed a flowcytometric based approach to investigate the interplay between the PC cells and immune cells in a direct coculture. Cells are fluorescently tagged with a cell tracer and the analysis is performed separately on the adherent and non-adherent cells. To optimize the readout method, we investigate the interplay between Jurkat cells and PC cells (LNCaP) as well as immortalized prostate epithelial cell models modified to mimic early events in prostate carcinogenesis (RWPE-1 cells overexpressing androgen receptor, RWPE-1-AR, and having PTEN deletion, RWPE-1-AR-PTENdel).Jurkat (suspension culture) cocultured with LNCaP (adherent culture) exhibited 40% decrease in viability but only 30% of LNCaP dying cell in the floating population compared to LNcaP only which is 60%. When Jurkat were activated using Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), we observed an increase in LNCaP cell death. Jurkat viability was not impacted in presence of RWPE-1 neither when exposed to RWPE1-AR-PTENdel. In summary our Flowcytometric-based approach will help to understand the interplay between immune cells and prostate cancer cells. Citation Format: karishma sajnani, Sini Eerola, Konsta Kukkonen, Hanna Rauhala, Tapio Visakorpi, Alfonso Urbanucci. Flowcytometric based approach to investigate prostate tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1528.

Shining Light in Mechanobiology: Optical Tweezers, Scissors, and Beyond.

Mechanobiology helps us to decipher cell and tissue functions by looking at changes in their mechanical properties that contribute to development, cell differentiation, physiology, and disease. Mechanobiology sits at the interface of biology, physics and engineering. One of the key technologies that enables characterization of properties of cells and tissue is microscopy. Combining microscopy with other quantitative measurement techniques such as optical tweezers and scissors, gives a very powerful tool for unraveling the intricacies of mechanobiology enabling measurement of forces, torques and displacements at play. We review the field of some light based studies of mechanobiology and optical detection of signal transduction ranging from optical micromanipulation-optical tweezers and scissors, advanced fluorescence techniques and optogenentics. In the current perspective paper, we concentrate our efforts on elucidating interesting measurements of forces, torques, positions, viscoelastic properties, and optogenetics inside and outside a cell attained when using structured light in combination with optical tweezers and scissors. We give perspective on the field concentrating on the use of structured light in imaging in combination with tweezers and scissors pointing out how novel developments in quantum imaging in combination with tweezers and scissors can bring to this fast growing field.

Acoustic measurements of photosynthetically formed gas bubble distributions in Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows

The formation of gas bubbles on seagrass leaves commonly occurs during periods of high productivity in many aquatic ecosystems. Gas bubbles produced by seagrass meadows and subsequently released to the atmosphere can be a major component of primary production that is not quantified by measurements of dissolved oxygen. Acoustic propagation measurements have been explored as a possible tool for estimating photosynthetically relevant properties in situ. However, a lack of knowledge of bubble densities and size distributions has hindered acoustic attenuation as a quantitative measurement technique. Here we explore using measurements of acoustic backscattering from gas bubbles in and above Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows as a more direct method for estimating bubble densities and size distributions. Acoustic backscattering data for this study was collected in September 2023 in Biodola Bay, Elba Island, Italy, using 1i–16 kHz linear frequency modulated pulses. Inversions of the broadband acoustic data yielded log-normal bubble size distributions with mean sizes between 0.4 and 0.5 mm in agreement with previously reported values. Estimated bubble densities yielded predicted attenuations in line with those found by propagation experiments. Results demonstrate the possible use of direct acoustic backscattering measurements as a supplement to dissolved oxygen measurements to better estimate rates of gas production which in turn can be used to better understand seagrass ecosystem properties, such as productivity and health.

Quantitative Measurement Technique for Anodic Corrosion of BDD Advanced Oxidation Electrodes.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation (EAO) systems are of significant interest due to their ability to treat a wide range of organic contaminants in water. Boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have found considerable use in EAO. Despite their popularity, no laboratory scale method exists to quantify anodic corrosion of BDD electrodes under EAO conditions; all are qualitative using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy. In this work, we present a new method which can be used to quantify average corrosion rates as a function of solution composition, current density, and BDD material properties over relatively short time periods. The method uses white light interferometry (WLI), in conjunction with BDD electrodes integrated into a 3D-printed flow cell, to measure three-dimensional changes in the surface structure due to corrosion over a 72 h period. It is equally applicable to both thin film and thicker, freestanding BDD. A further advantage of WLI is that it lends itself to large area measurements; data are collected herein for 1 cm diameter disk electrodes. Using WLI, corrosion rates as low as 1 nm h-1 can be measured. This enables unequivocal demonstration that organics in the EAO solution are not a prerequisite for BDD anodic corrosion. However, they do increase the corrosion rates. In particular, we quantify that addition of 1 M acetic acid to 0.5 M potassium sulfate results in the average corrosion rate increasing ∼60 times. In the same solution, microcrystalline thin film BDD is also found to corrode ∼twice as fast compared to freestanding polished BDD, attributed to the presence of increased sp2 carbon content. This methodology also represents an important step forward in the prediction of BDD electrode lifetimes for a wide range of EAO applications.

Abstract TP139: Revascularization Improves Vascular Hemodynamics in Pediatric Moyamoya Patients

Introduction: Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) reflects the change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to vasodilation. Studies have demonstrated that impaired CVR was associated with a higher risk of acute stroke in patients with intracranial vasculopathy and that bypass surgeries can reduce the risk of strokes. Moyamoya disease is a progress cerebrovascular disorder that begins during childhood. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a quantitative MRI technique for non-invasive CBF and CVR measurement; ASL with multiple delays can also measure arterial transit time (ATT). Here, we compare the CBF, CVR, and ATT in pediatric Moyamoya patients before and after bypass using multi-delay ASL. Hypothesis: CVR will increase significantly after bypass surgeries. Methods: Imaging data were acquired from 22 Moyamoya patients (11 months - 18 years, 14 females) using a 3T MRI system. All patients had unilateral or bilateral occlusion at ACA, MCA and/or PCA. Multi-delay ASL data (7 delays) were acquired at baseline and 15 minutes after acetazolamide administration. CBF and ATT were computed using the general kinetic model. CVR was computed as the percentage of CBF change compared with baseline CBF. Flow territories (right and left ACA, MCA, and PCA) were defined using the Harvard-Oxford atlases. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare the mean CVR, CBF, and ATT changes before and after bypass surgeries. Results: The figure shows the hemodynamic maps of an example patients. Overall, CVR and CBF in the affected regions increased after bypass; ATT in these regions decreased after bypass. For this cohort, our analysis showed that CVR of the affected regions increased significantly by 68% and ATT reduced significantly by 10.7% measured by multi-delay ASL, implying improved circulation and lower risk for strokes. Discussion: Multi-delay ASL was effective to detect improved CVR and reduced ATT in pediatric Moyamoya patients after bypass surgeries.

Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency among Hausa and Fulani ethnics in Kano, North-West Nigeria

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase catalyzes the rate-determining step in the pentose phosphate pathway. Its activity is a key determinant of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate to oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH-to-NADP+) ratio in the cytoplasm and thus contributes to the replenishment of the antioxidant glutathione system. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is a common X-linked human enzyme defect of red blood cells. Individuals with this gene defect appear normal until exposed to oxidative stress which induces haemolysis but it is infrequently taken into consideration in health practices. Aim: The present work was designed to determine the frequency of occurrence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency among Hausa and Fulani ethnics. Material and methods: Cross-sectional comparative study in which 5 mL of venous blood samples were collected from 1000 individuals (596 males and 404 females) all of whom gave informed consent were screened for G-6-PD-deficiency by qualitative methaemoglobin reduction and quantitative enzyme activity measurement techniques. Results: Glucose-6-phoshate dehydrogenase deficiency was found in 194 (19.4%) of participants studied. Of these 10.3% were Fulani and 22.2% were Hausa with mean G-6-PD enzyme activity of 2.5 IU/gHb in a range from 1.4 to 2.4 IU/gHb. G-6-PD deficiency was found in 121 of 596 (20.3%) males and 73 of 404 (18.1%) females screened. Conclusions: These results suggest high occurrence of phenotypic G-6-PD deficiency in Hausa ethnics of Kano with lower enzyme status among males living with G-6-PD deficiency.

Comparison of colorimetric, fluorometric, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assays for acetyl-coenzyme A

Acetyl-Coenzyme A is a central metabolite in catabolic and anabolic pathways as well as the acyl donor for acetylation reactions. Multiple quantitative measurement techniques for acetyl-CoA have been reported, including commercially available kits. Comparisons between techniques for acetyl-CoA measurement have not been reported. This lack of comparability between assays makes context-specific assay selection and interpretation of results reporting changes in acetyl-CoA metabolism difficult. We compared commercially available colorimetric ELISA and fluorometric enzymatic-based kits to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based assays using tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The colorimetric ELISA kit did not produce interpretable results even with commercially available pure standards. The fluorometric enzymatic kit produced comparable results to the LC-MS-based assays depending on matrix and extraction. LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS assays produced well-aligned results, especially when incorporating stable isotope-labeled internal standards. In addition, we demonstrated the multiplexing capability of the LC-HRMS assay by measuring a suite of short-chain acyl-CoAs in a variety of acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and patient cells.

Management of irreparable subscapularis tears: Current concepts

Primary repair of acute subscapularis (SSC) tears provides excellent results, but tendon retraction, muscle atrophy, fatty infiltration, and humeral head migration may render a more chronic tear irreparable. These irreparable SSC tears present a diagnostic and treatment challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Careful physical examination and imaging evaluation can help to distinguish those with reparable versus irreparable tears, but they are still not very reliable due to the methodological limitations of current evidence. Therefore, future research using 3D and quantitative measurement techniques is necessary to better predict the irreparability of the SSC.When conservative treatment of an irreparable SSC tear fails, reversed shoulder arthroplasty has been established as the preferred treatment option for older, low-demand patients with arthropathy, providing reliable improvements in pain and function. In younger patients without significant arthropathy, musculotendinous transfers are the treatment of choice. The pectoralis major transfer is historically the most frequently performed procedure and provides improved range of motion and pain relief, but fails to adequately restore strength and shoulder function. The latissimus dorsi transfer has gained increased interest over the last few years due to its biomechanical superiority, and early clinical studies suggest improved outcomes as well. More recently, anterior capsular reconstruction has been proposed as an alternative to musculotendinous transfers, but clinical data are completely lacking. Future high-quality randomised controlled trials are necessary to reliably compare the different musculotendinous transfers and anterior capsular reconstruction.

Investigation on flash boiling phase change characteristics of two-dimensional slit nozzles using backlit light attenuation with multi-component fuels

Flash boiling atomization is an important topic in fuel preparation and fuel processing with the emergence of alternative fuels or zero-carbon fuels. The phase change of the fuel is crucial in determining the atomization performance since the phase change both affects the primary breakup and the evaporation of the fuel sprays. Typically, it is considered that the superheat index and injector nozzle designs are critical parameters in determining flash boiling spray behavior and tendency. However, the definition of superheat index is not applicable to multi-component fuels that are more commonly seen in fuel applications, such as gasoline and diesel fuels. Furthermore, no consensus has been reached on the mechanisms of flash boiling atomization. This investigation aims to address some of the key issues with optically transparent, two-dimensional slit nozzles with varied geometries. A two-dimension expansion chamber is connected to the nozzle so that the phase change occurred in the near-field downstream of the nozzle exit can be clearly visualized as well. A single-component fuel of pentane and three multi-component fuel surrogates were tested under different fuel temperatures and high-speed measurements were conducted to reveal the two-phase flow patterns and characteristics. The results show that a modified superheat index using the bubble point pressure is well-suited for multi-component fuel applications. The light attenuation in the expansion chamber correlates very well with the phase change characteristics theoretically and experimentally, that could be used as an important basis to develop a quantitative measurement technique for near-field flash boiling spray atomization.

(Invited) Quantitative Measurement of the Safety Performance of Li-Ion Batteries

Safety is one of the essential requirements that should be taken into account and prioritized in the course of the development phases of lithium secondary batteries for any commercial applications. Even though different safety test standards exist to simulate the electric, mechanical, and thermal abuse conditions, there are only limited methods that can be used to quantify the safety performance of the cell.This study aims to compare the quantitative measurement techniques of safety evaluation and identify the methods to define the design parameters influencing the eventual safety performance of the full cells. The nail penetration, hot box, ARC (Accelerated Rate Calorimeter) and overcharging test are performed using the pouch cells (1-3 Ah) with different cell designs and aging conditions.It is found that hot box and nail penetration results are well correlated with the OCV (open circuit voltage) of the cells, suggesting that the OCV threshold can be used as a new quantitative indicator of the safety performance. Using this indicator, the cells having different P/E (power-to-energy ratio) designs and different electrolyte formulations are compared to identify the conditions to promote the safety performance of the cells. Figure 1

3D Morphology Measurement for Blastocyst Evaluation From "All Angles".

Measuring the 3D morphology of spherical cell aggregates is required in both biology and medicine. Traditional methods either use fluorescent labeling, which cause cell toxicity and are unsuitable for clinical treatment, or use 2D images to roughly estimate 3D morphology. To overcome these limitations, this paper presents a quantitative label-free 3D morphology measurement technique using multi-view images. This technique, for the first time, enables the morphological evaluation of a blastocyst (Day 5 embryo) from "all angles" for IVF treatment. In this technique, a spherical rotation scale invariant feature transform (SR-SIFT) is proposed to address feature distortions for the rotation matrix calculation of the multi-view images. U-Net with generalized Dice loss is used to segment individual trophectoderm (TE) cells and the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst. Based on the rotation matrices and the segmentation results, the 3D morphological parameters of the entire blastocyst were quantified. Experimental results showed that the error of rotation angle was less than 1 °, the Dice was 95.6% for TE segmentation and 92.3% for ICM segmentation, and the overall measurement error of clinically defined blastocyst parameters was less than 6.7%.

Experimental investigation on non-buoyant and buoyant flow mixing in a horizontally aligned T-junction at isothermal conditions

Periodically occurring temperature fluctuations in nuclear power piping systems have been linked to cracking and coolant leakage accidents. T-junctions where hot and cold fluids mix are particularly vulnerable. To study thermal mixing flow phenomena, an isothermal operating test bench was built using a sugar respectively a salt solution to model the cold fluid in the T-junction configuration. The experiments aimed to predict the flow phenomena of mixed fluids with different fluid densities. Different types of investigations of non-buoyant and buoyant flow mixing were conducted using qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques, such as flow visualization, planar laser-induced fluorescence method, and wire mesh sensor measurements. Jet-formation and mixing behavior (up- and downstream) were characterized by the momentum ratio and a Richardson number. Additionally, non-buoyant flow conditions as well as buoyant flow with unstable/stable stratification have been summarized and clustered in non-dimensional flow maps. Results showed that wall- and deflecting-jet formations are a risk pattern for thermal fatigue. These were identified based on mean and fluctuating mixing scalar distribution as well as spectral analysis of the mixing scalar fluctuations. The peak frequencies in the non-buoyant case were linked to the axial motion of the Kármán-like vortices, while in the buoyant mixing case, the shear layer vortices resulting from Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities were responsible.

The effect of coordination, concentration, and motivation on the skills of scoop and chair rhythmic gymnastics on students of sman 39 jakarta

This study aims to determine the direct and indirect effects, as well as the simultaneous effect of exogenous variables with endogenous variables. The research method used is an associative quantitative approach, with test and measurement techniques. Data analysis technique using path analysis approach (Path Analysis). The population in this study is students of XII MIPA / IPS, SMAN 39 Jakarta, as many as 2 classes there are 72 students. The sampling technique in this research is total sampling. So the total sample in this study is 72 people. The instrument variable sensi exercise is measured by the sensi exercise test, the coordination variable used the Focus Light test, the concentration variable was measured by the Concentration Grid Test and the motivation variable is measured by the motivation questionnaire. The results of this study are the direct effect of variable X1 on Y 3 = 1.3% The direct effect of variable X2 on Y = 16.9%. The direct effect of variable X3 on Y 28.8% The direct effect of variable X1 on X3 =38.3%. The direct effect of the X2 variable on X3 is 45.3%. The indirect effect of variable X1 on Y through X3 = 2.076. The indirect effect of variable X2 on Y through X3 is 2.08. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there are direct and indirect effects on the variables of coordination, concentration, motivation on sensi gymnastics.

The calculation of light element impurity ([formula omitted], n) yield curves in a PuO[formula omitted] matrix and associated specific yield coefficients: Influence of the reaction cross sections

Most of the Pu separated from irradiated commercial nuclear fuel is stored as PuO 2. The primary quantitative nondestructive measurement technique used to verify the amount of Pu in storage containers is passive neutron correlation counting. An important physical property of the oxide material is the ratio, α, of the rate of (α, n) neutrons produced inside the item to the rate of neutrons produced by spontaneous fission. This ratio influences the precision of the correlated counting method and affects the interpretation of the data because of how it changes both the primary total neutron production rate and the rate of induced fission events taking place inside the item. In addition to the main O(α, n) contribution, additional contributions come from α-particle interactions with light element impurities that are inevitably present. In this work, we calculate specific (α, n) yield coefficients, expressed in units of neutrons per second per gram of α-emitting nuclide per part per million by mass of the specified impurity element distributed in a pure PuO 2 matrix, for some key α-emitting actinides commonly present in reprocessed Pu (238–242Pu+241Am). These coefficients are directly applicable to nuclear safeguards verification work in which the α ratio is often calculated from the Pu-isotopic composition and chemical information obtained by other means. They also provide a convenient up-to-date reference set against which values generated by other methods can be compared. Results are presented for impurities with atomic number from 3 to 17 inclusive, plus K and Fe. In most cases, these coefficients are not expected to change by more than 5%–10% at any time in the future. However, as new data become available, changes as large as 20% may be needed for some targets (e.g., F). The present yield calculations are limited by the general shortage of quality experimental total (α, n) reaction cross section data, which, together with unexplained variation between determinations, means that an objective and coherent evaluation is not possible. The situation is even less satisfactory for the partial differential cross section needed to calculate neutron spectra.

Dual-wavelength and double-field-of-view quantitative phase microscopy using a Fresnel bi-prism

We present a novel stable quantitative phase measurement technique for extending the imaging area sensing with the capability of recording two wavelengths in a single shot. For this purpose, each wavelength is separated into three beams using a Fresnel bi-prism and they interfere in the CCD camera by a simple optic alignment. The final pattern created in the camera with the six beam contained both wavelengths information that their field of view is extended two times. The feasibility of this technique is experimentally demonstrated by dispersion measurement of silica beads using two wavelengths image of two different areas of silica beads with a single image sensor.

Is There a Place for Medicinal Cannabis in Treating Patients with Sleep Disorders? What We Know so Far.

The legalization of cannabis for medicinal, and in some countries, recreational, purposes in addition to growth in the cannabis industry has meant that cannabis use and interest in the area has increased rapidly over the past 20 years. Treatment of poor sleep and sleep disorders are two of the most common reasons for the current use of medicinal cannabis. However, evidence for the role of medical cannabis in the treatment of sleep disorders has not been clearly established, thus making it challenging for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding efficacy and safety. This narrative review summarizes the highest quality clinical evidence currently available in relation to the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of sleep disorders including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, nightmare disorder and narcolepsy. A summary of the effect of cannabis on sleep quality and architecture is also presented. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of medicinal cannabis as an effective and safe treatment option for any sleep disorder. Nevertheless, emerging evidence is promising and warrants further investigation using standardized cannabinoid products and validated quantitative measurement techniques.