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Mapping of the radio frequency magnetic field with a MR snapshot FLASH technique.

A fast method to measure the radio frequency magnetic field intensity distribution during magnetic resonance examinations within objects or patients is proposed. Using a snapshot FLASH sequence, several images are obtained with different transmitter amplitudes for the single prepulse prior to the imaging sequence. The signal intensity at each pixel within a selected slice is diminished by this prepulse, unless the pulse angle is 0 degrees or a multiple of 360 degrees. This condition can be used to measure that transmitter amplitude Umax for each pixel which causes an excitation of 360 degrees by the prepulse. The values of Umax can be visualized in an image and are inversely proportional to the radio frequency magnetic field strength at each position within the image. The method can also be used for in-vivo measurements, where it may be difficult to realize prepulses with sufficient high flip angles. In these cases, signal corresponding to a 180 degree prepulse can be used for calculating Umax.

Electromagnetic Fields↗

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes observed up to 20 MeV.

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) from Earth's upper atmosphere have been detected with the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) satellite. The gamma-ray spectra typically extend up to 10 to 20 megaelectron volts (MeV); a simple bremsstrahlung model suggests that most of the electrons that produce the gamma rays have energies on the order of 20 to 40 MeV. RHESSI detects 10 to 20 TGFs per month, corresponding to approximately 50 per day globally, perhaps many more if they are beamed. Both the frequency of occurrence and maximum photon energy are more than an order of magnitude higher than previously known for these events.

Journal Article↗

Renewable hydrogen from nonvolatile fuels by reactive flash volatilization.

Droplets of nonvolatile fuels such as soy oil and glucose-water solutions can be flash evaporated by catalytic partial oxidation to produce hydrogen in high yields with a total time in the reactor of less than 50 milliseconds. Pyrolysis, coupled with catalytic oxidation of the fuels and their fragments upon impact with a hot rhodium-cerium catalyst surface, avoids the formation of deactivating carbon layers on the catalyst. The catalytic reactions of these products generate approximately 1 megawatt of heat per square meter, which maintains the catalyst surface above 800 degrees C at high drop impact rates. At these temperatures, heavy fuels can be catalytically transformed directly into hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other small molecules in very short contact times without the formation of carbon.

Journal Article↗

Resetting the sporulation rhythm in Pilobolus with short light flashes of high intensity.

The "clock-controlled" endogenous sporulation rhythm in the fungusPilobolus sphaerosporus has been investigated as part of a comparative study aimed at elucidating characteristic common features of circadian ((1)) rhythms. Pilobolus was chosen for inclusion in this study because of its demonstrated rhythm and sensitivity to light, and because it is a relatively simple plant. It has been shown that a single, high-intensity, 1/2000 second light flash will completely reset (shift the phase of) a rhythm persisting in continuous dim red light at constant temperature, and that one or more transient cycles occur before the phase shift is complete. The significance of these results is discussed.

Circadian Rhythm↗

CORTICAL EVOKED POTENTIALS AND PERCEPTION OF PAIRED FLASHES.

Digital computer techniques have been employed to extract cortical evoked potentials to paired visual stimuli. Changes in the evoked potentials have been related to perceptual phenomena varying as a function of the interval between flashes. Evoked potentials to paired stimuli, which gave rise to perceptual interactions, could be approximated by algebraic summation of the responses to the stimuli when presented separately.

Electroencephalography↗

Three-dimensional readout of flash x-ray images of living sperm in water by atomic-force microscopy.

The imaging of living specimens in water by x-ray microscopy can be greatly enhanced with the use of an intense flash x-ray source and sophisticated technologies for reading x-ray images. A subnanosecond [corrected] x-ray pulse from a laser-produced plasma was used to record the x-ray image of living sea urchin sperm in an x-ray resist. The resist relief was visualized at high resolution by atomic-force microscopy. Internal structure of the sperm head was evident, and the carbon density in a flagellum was estimated from the relief height.

Animals↗

Octopamine receptors, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, and neural control of firefly flashing.

An adenylate cyclase activated as much as 25-fold by low concentrations of octopamine has been identified in the firefly lantern. The relative potency of octopamine and various other amines in stimulating this enzyme, and effects of antagonists in blocking octopamine activation, correlate well with the known effects of these agents in affecting light production. In addition to suggesting a role for adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (or pyrophosphate) in the neural control of firefly flashing, identification of this potent enzyme should facilitate the characterization of phenylethylamine receptors in excitable tissue.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Anomalous polarization profiles in sunspots: possible origin of umbral flashes

We present time-series spectropolarimetric observations of sunspots in the Ca II infrared triplet lines, which show a periodic occurrence of anomalous, asymmetric, circular polarization profiles in the umbral chromosphere. The profiles may be caused by the periodic development of an unresolved atmospheric component in a downward flowing magnetized environment. This active component with upward directed velocities as high as 10 kilometers per second is connected to the umbral flash (UF) phenomenon. We can explain the observations with a semiempirical model of the chromospheric oscillation and of the sunspot magnetized atmospheric plasma during a UF event.

Journal Article↗

Flashing superluminal components in the jet of the radio galaxy 3C120

A 16-month sequence of radio images of the active galaxy 3C120 with the Very Long Baseline Array reveals a region in the relativistic jet where superluminal components flash on and off over time scales of months, while the polarization angle rotates. This can be explained by interaction between the jet and an interstellar cloud located about 8 parsecs from the center of the galaxy. The cloud, which rotates the polarization direction and possibly eclipses a section of the jet, represents a "missing link" between the ultradense broad-emission-line clouds closer to the center and the lower density narrow-emission-line clouds seen on kiloparsec scales.

Journal Article↗

Fluorimetric Detection of a Bacillus stearothermophilus Spore-Bound Enzyme, alpha-d-Glucosidase, for Rapid Indication of Flash Sterilization Failure.

A biological indicator based on fluorimetric detection within 60 min of a Bacillus stearothermophilus spore-bound enzyme, alpha-d-glucosidase, has been developed. Results indicate that the enzyme survived slightly longer than spores observed after 24 h of incubation. The new system shows promise for evaluating flash sterilization cycles within 60 min compared with conventional 24-h systems.

Journal Article↗

An observation on flash evoked cortical potentials and Qigong meditation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional state of the cerebral cortex during Qigong meditation with flash visual evoked potentials (F-VEPs) recorded from the occipital scalp in four groups of adults. The first group included 14 subjects who had exercised in Neiyang Gong for 0.5-5.5 years. The second group was composed of 12 subjects who had practiced Neiyang Gong for only 0.5-3 months. Eleven subjects who had never practiced Qigong before made up the third group and served as control. Eleven Qigong practitioners constituted the fourth group. It was found that F-VEP amplitudes were increased in the first group and decreased in the fourth group with the exception of one subject during Qigong meditation. No significant changes were found in the second group and controls. The results were discussed and it is shown that Qigong mediation may have either facilitative or inhibitory effects on the visual cortex depending on the Qigong methods practiced by different individuals.

Adult↗

Flash photolysis studies of excitation-contraction coupling, regulation, and contraction in smooth muscle.

1. Flash photolysis of caged compounds of phenylephrine, inositol 1, 4, 5 trisphosphate (InsP3), GTP gamma S, ATP, and CTP has been successfully used to study excitation-contraction coupling, contractile regulation, and contraction in smooth muscle. Major processes explored with this method were (a) the delay between agonist-receptor interaction and contraction and between the rise in InsP3, Ca2+ release and contraction; (b) the effect of myosin light chain phosphorylation on the rate of force development and the respective contributions of phosphorylation and crossbridge kinetics to differences between phasic and tonic smooth muscles; (c) the kinetics of the crossbridge cycle. We have also reviewed recent results obtained by other methods and bearing on the mechanisms of pharmacomechanical Ca2+ release and modulation of the Ca2+ sensitivity of the regulatory/contractile apparatus. 2. The long delay (1.5 at 22 degrees C) following activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors through photolysis of caged phenylephrine and the high Q10 of this process are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of phospholipase C is the major mechanism of alpha-adrenergic pharmacomechanical Ca2+ release. 3. The delay between photolysis of caged InsP3 and Ca2+ release is short: 30 ms or less, while the latency of contraction is significant (0.3-0.5 s at 22 degrees C) and similar to the lag between the rise in [Ca2+]i and force development in intact smooth muscles. The latency of contraction following photolysis of caged ATP in permeabilized muscles in rigor, in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin, is similar, about 0.2-0.5 s at 22 degrees C. 4. In muscles in which the myosin light chains are maintained in a phosphorylated state during rigor, photolysis of caged ATP initiates contractions with a short delay (10 ms or less). This result and those summarized above (2 and 3) suggest that the major portion of the delay between agonist-receptor interaction and contraction is due to activation of phospholipase C and InsP3 production, and about 0.2-0.5 s of the delay (22 degrees C) can be ascribed to prephosphorylation reactions between Ca2+, calmodulin, and myosin light chain kinase, and/or to mechanical processes, or to the chemical kinetics of two-step reactions. 5. Force development from rigor, initiated by photolysis of caged ATP in the presence of Ca2(+)-calmodulin, is rate-limited by myosin light chain phosphorylation; it is significantly accelerated if the myosin light chains are already phosphorylated prior to photolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Small hepatocellular carcinoma and cavernous hemangioma: differentiation with dynamic FLASH MR imaging with Gd-DTPA.

Forty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 22) or cavernous hemangioma (diameter, 3 cm or less) (n = 18) were examined with serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T with the fast low-angle shot (FLASH) technique and an intravenously administered bolus injection of 0.05 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA. Two images per minute were obtained for 5 minutes, and one per minute thereafter until about 10 minutes. Dynamic MR studies revealed five criteria for differentiating these tumors. With HCC there was a hyperintense mass before contrast material enhancement (32%), peak contrast enhancement at about 10 seconds after injection (55%), slight to moderate peak contrast enhancement (73%), absent or minimal delayed enhancement (100%), and, at morphologic study, a capsule or nodules-in-nodule appearance (59%). With hemangioma there was a hypointense mass before contrast enhancement (72%), peak contrast enhancement more than 2 minutes after injection (72%), marked peak contrast enhancement (83%), moderate to marked delayed enhancement (100%), and, at morphologic study, spreading phenomenon (39%). Seventy-seven percent of HCCs and 83% of hemangiomas satisfied three or more criteria and thus could be differentiated from each other with certainty.

Adult↗

Suppression of pineal multiunit response to flash after habenular lesion in quail.

Habenular nuclei were completely destroyed in male photostimulated and nonphotostimulated quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Lesion of the nuclei habenulae led to a markedly increased pineal multiunit activity (MUA) pattern in both long and short daily photoperiods compared to control values. Intact, as well as habenular lesioned birds, showed a lower level of pineal MUA under long-day rearing than under short-day rearing. The decrease in pineal firing rates found in controls under repetitive flash-light stimulations was suppressed in quail bearing habenular lesions. Data are compared to results obtained in sympathectomized and blinded birds. It is suggested that some acute photic information might reach the pineal organ through retinal receptors and habenular pathways. However chronic influence of lighting on pineal MUA, mediated by the retina, does not seem to involve habenular or cervical sympathetic pathways in quail.

Action Potentials↗

Flash photolysis of caged nitric oxide inhibits proximal tubular fluid reabsorption in free-flow nephron.

A nonobstructing optical method was developed to measure proximal tubular fluid reabsorption in rat nephron at 0.25 Hz. The effects of uncaging luminal nitric oxide (NO) on proximal tubular reabsorption were investigated with this method. Proximal fluid reabsorption rate was calculated as the difference of tubular flow measured simultaneously at two locations (0.8-1.8 mm apart) along a convoluted proximal tubule. Tubular flow was estimated on the basis of the propagating velocity of fluorescent dextran pulses in the lumen. Changes in local tubular flow induced by intratubular perfusion were detected simultaneously along the proximal tubule, indicating that local tubular flow can be monitored in multiple sites along a tubule. The estimated tubular reabsorption rate was 5.52 +/- 0.38 nl.min(-1).mm(-1) (n = 20). Flash photolysis of luminal caged NO (potassium nitrosylpentachlororuthenate) was induced with a 30-Hz UV nitrogen-pulsed laser. Release of NO from caged NO into the proximal tubule was confirmed by monitoring intracellular NO concentration using a cell-permeant NO-sensitive fluorescent dye (DAF-FM). Emission of DAF-FM was proportional to the number of laser pulses used for uncaging. Photolysis of luminal caged NO induced a dose-dependent inhibition of proximal tubular reabsorption without activating tubuloglomerular feedback, whereas uncaging of intracellular cGMP in the proximal tubule decreased tubular flow. Coupling of this novel method to measure reabsorption with photolysis of caged signaling molecules provides a new paradigm to study tubular reabsorption with ambient tubular flow.

Absorption↗

Responses of primate visual cortical neurons to stimuli presented by flash, saccade, blink, and external darkening.

Our visual experience constitutes an unending chain of transient events, including those caused by saccadic eye movements, by blinks, and by localized or global changes in the external world. The categorical perception of objects is maintained across different classes of transient events, suggesting that the neural circuitry underlying visual perception responds to different transient events in a similar manner. However, different sorts of transients do have different perceptual impacts: for example, the sudden changes in a scene due to a saccade or a blink do not disturb our perceptual continuity of a visual scene as much as an external change does. We recorded the responses of 103 single visual cortical neurons in two rhesus monkeys (V1: n = 38, V2: n = 19, V3V/VP: n = 30, V4V: n = 16) to the onset and offset of a visual stimulus that was elicited by four different conditions: 1) stimulus flashed on and off while the eyes remain fixed; 2) stimulus turned on and off along with the entire scene (external darkening); 3) stimulus constant, onset and offset induced by rapid saccadic eye movements; and 4) offset induced by an eyeblink. For most neurons the onset and offset of a visual stimulus elicited qualitatively similar responses regardless of condition. We found no systematic effect of different conditions across the neuronal population. Previously we have shown that when the visual scene is occluded by a blink V1 neuronal firing declines in a similar manner as when the external scene is darkened and the eyes left open. Here we show that this is also the case in V2, V3V/VP, and V4V. However, for a substantial minority of neurons, the response varied strongly as a function of the transient event. This overall pattern was the same in all four cortical areas studied here. We hypothesize that most neurons in visual cortex constitute a passive "filter bank", analyzing the scene for specific details regardless of condition. However, there are neurons that respond in a qualitatively different manner depending on how a stimulus is presented, and we hypothesize that these signals may be important for determining the perceptual salience of a visual event.

Animals↗

Human head-free gaze saccades to targets flashed before gaze-pursuit are spatially accurate.

Previous studies have shown that accurate saccades can be generated, in the dark, that compensate for movements of the visual axis that result from movements of either the eyes alone or the head alone that intervene between target presentation and saccade onset. We have carried out experiments with human subjects to test whether gaze saccades (gaze = eye-in-space = eye-in-head + head-in-space) can be generated that compensate for smooth pursuit movements of gaze that intervene between target onset and gaze-saccade onset. In both head-unrestrained (head-free) and -restrained (head-fixed) conditions, subjects were asked to make gaze shifts, in the dark, to the remembered location of a briefly flashed target. On most trials, during the memory period, the subjects carried out intervening head-free gaze pursuit or head-fixed ocular pursuit along the horizontal meridian. On the remaining (control) trials, subjects did not carry out intervening pursuit movements during the memory period; this was the classical memory-guided saccade task. We found that the subjects accurately compensated for intervening movements of the visual axis in both the head-free and head-fixed conditions. We conclude that the human gaze-motor system is able to monitor on-line changes in gaze position and add them to initial retinal error, to program spatially accurate gaze saccades.

Adult↗

Effects of cholinergic drugs on neocortical EEG and flash-visual evoked potentials in the mouse.

The effects of single intraperitoneal injection of two cholinesterase inhibitors, physostigmine (PHY; 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0. 1, 0.2 mg/kg) and heptylphysostigmine (HEP; 0.5, 2, 6 mg/kg) on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and flash visual evoked potentials (f-VEP) in the occipital cortex were compared in DBA/2 mice. EEG spectral analysis of awake periods showed that PHY at all doses and HEP at 2 mg/kg induced an increase of power in the 4.25- to 7-Hz frequency band. Furthermore, PHY at the higher doses and HEP at all doses induced a decrease of power in the 7.25- to 12-Hz frequency band, while the lower doses of PHY (0.01, 0.025 mg/kg) produced an increase of this band. EEG effects elicited by the two drugs were similar, when doses displaying analogous biochemical effects (acetylcholinesterase inhibition) were used (i.e. 0.01 and 0. 025 mg/kg of PHY versus 0.5 and 2 mg/kg of HEP). PHY and HEP induced similar changes in f-VEPs. Amplitudes of early and late components (P1N1, N1P2, P4N4 and particularly N1P3) were enhanced, while amplitudes of middle components were depressed after all doses. The peak latency measures were generally delayed, even though, after the lower doses, a trend to a latency reduction was evident in late components. This finding might indicate a possible effect on stimulus speed diffusion by 'low therapeutic' doses, analogous to the ones used in men. Our data show that both drugs are effective in modifying EEG and f-VEP parameters connected with brain cholinergic function, although in a very narrow dose range.

Animals↗