Time resolved laser spectroscopy in the VUV spectral region is applied to investigate the (n=5-8) 3d(10) 4snp P-1(1) series of neutral zinc. The natural lifetimes of this series were measured by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. We find tau(n=5)=11.7(9) ns, tau(n=6)=80(8) ns, tau(n=7)=179(20) ns and tau(n=8)=356 (35) ns. These results are compared with a theoretical calculation.

We present a systematic study of the angular distributions of high-order harmonics generated with a femtosecond Cr:LiSrAlF6 laser. We investigate the influence of different parameters, namely laser intensity, nonlinear order, nature of the gas and position of the laser focus relative to the generating medium. We show that when the laser is focused before the atomic medium, harmonics with regular s

Autologous dermal fibroblasts may be useful in the treatment of diabetic skin wounds. We hypothesized that cultured fibroblasts or cultured keratinocytes would not only survive in a hyperglycemic wound environment but also enhance the rate of re-epithelialization. We previously developed a new porcine model of delayed cutaneous wound healing in the diabetic pig. Full thickness wounds were created

A new study has identified a large number of open chromatin regions harboring active regulatory elements in human pancreatic islets. A type 2 diabetes-associated SNP in TCF7L2 was found to be located in a region of allele-specific open chromatin and shows allele-specific enhancer activity, suggesting a potential mechanism for this disease association.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoid (CB) receptors may be involved in the control of bladder function; the role of CB receptor subtypes in micturition has not been established. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cannabinor, a novel CB2 receptor agonist, on rat bladder function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Sprague Dawley rats were used. Distribution of CB2 receptors in sensory and cholin

BACKGROUND: Subclinical myocardial injury has been reported in newborns with fetal weights < 2 SDs for gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction might affect cardiac function and coronary flow (CF). METHODS: Seventeen newborns with intrauterine growth restriction and 15 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Blood flow in the umbilical artery and maternal uterine artery wa

Many problems concerning resource management in modern communication systems can be simplified to queueing models under Markovian assumptions. The computation of the optimal policy is however often hindered by the curse of dimensionality especially for models that support multiple traffic or job classes. The research focus naturally turns to computationally efficient bounds and high performance he

The result of a search for the world's second type II (doubly-even and self-dual) convolutional code is reported. A rate R=4/8, 16-state, time-invariant, convolutional code with free distance dfree=8 was found to be type II. The initial part of its weight spectrum is better than that of the Golay convolutional code (GCC). Generator matrices and path weight enumerators for some other type II convol

This article presents a reading of two Greek Marian hymns written in the centuries after the Ephesus Council: the Annunciation Hymn by Romanos the Melodist, which is the earliest extant Annunciation hymn we have, and the well-known Akathistos Hymn. Many scholars believe the latter to be a fifth century composition, and not – as have been claimed by such important scholars as Constantinos A. Trypan

Popular Abstract in English Nowadays, the majority of energy production comes from combustion which is universally linked to daily human activities. Public awakening of the environmental effects of combustion pollution evokes extensive research activities in improving combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant production. Development of combustion processes also includes the use of renewable bioThe work presented in the thesis concerns the developments of laser-based diagnostics and its application to the study of turbulent premixed combustion. The diagnostic developments, mainly concerned with planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), are intended to provide instantaneous visualization of the key species originating from the combustion processes involved in the burning of hydrocarbons

Background Union of a scaphoid fracture is difficult to assess on a standard series of radiographs. An unnecessary and prolonged immobilization is inconvenient and may impair functional outcome. Although operative treatment permits early mobilization, its influence on time to union is still uncertain. Purpose To assess union of scaphoid waist fractures based on computed tomography (CT) scan at 6 w