O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a influência da irradiação com lasers de alta intensidade antes da obturação de canais radiculares com cimentos endodônticos resinosos no selamento apical. Raízes permanentes humanas (n=168) foram endodonticamente tratadas e, então, divididas aleatoriamente em quatro grupos experimentais (n=42), de acordo com o tratamento dentinário subsequente. Os grupos foram: GØ (controle) sem tratamento adicional; GN irradiado com o laser de Nd:YAG (1,5 W, 100 mJ, 15 Hz); GD irradiado com o laser de diodo (2,5 W em modo contínuo); GE irradiado com o laser de Er:YAG (1 W, 100 mJ, 10 Hz). Dois espécimes de cada grupo foram preparados para avaliação em microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) convencional para observação morfológica da superfície dentinária apical. Os espécimes remanescentes de cada grupo foram aleatoriamente divididos em quatro subgrupos (n=10), de acordo com o cimento obturador utilizado (AH Plus, EndoREZ®, Epiphany® ou Epiphany SE®). Para a análise de infiltração, os espécimes foram imersos em solução amoniacal de nitrato de prata a 50 % (pH=9,5) por 24 horas. Os valores de infiltração apical, em mm, foram comparados pela ANOVA, seguido pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Cinco secções de cada subgrupo foram aleatoriamente selecionadas e analisadas em MEV em modo ambiental para avaliar a adaptação e penetração do material obturador nas paredes dentinárias. As imagens em MEV ambiental foram classificadas em escores por três avaliadores calibrados. A concordância interexaminadores foi confirmada pelo teste Kappa e os escores foram comparados pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis (p<0.05). No grupo controle, o cimento EndoREZ® apresentou infiltração de nitrato de prata significantemente menor que todos os outros cimentos (p<0,05), com exceção do Epiphany®. A irradiação com os lasers de Nd:YAG e de diodo diminuiu a infiltração média dos subgrupos obturados com o cimento AH Plus (p<0,05). A irradiação com o laser de Nd:YAG levou a um aumento do nível de infiltração nos subgrupos obturados com EndoREZ® e Epiphany SE®. A adaptação, bem como a penetração dos cimentos, não foram prejudicadas pela prévia irradiação com laser dos canais radiculares, independentemente do laser utilizado. / The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of intracanal high intensity laser irradiation prior to root canal filling with resin based endodontic sealers on the apical sealing. Human dental roots (n=168) were endodontically treated and then randomly divided into four experimental groups (n=42), according to the further dentin surface treatment. The groups were: control (GØ) received no further treatment; GN irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (1.5 W, 100 mJ, 15 Hz); GD irradiated with diode laser (2.5 W in continuous way) and GE irradiated with Er:YAG laser (1 W, 100 mJ, 10 Hz). Two specimens of each group were prepared for conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological observation of the apical dentin surface. The remaining specimens of each group were randomly divided into four subgroups (n=10), according to the sealer used for dental root filling as follows: AH Plus, EndoREZ®, Epiphany® or Epiphany SE®. For leakage analysis, the specimens were immersed into 50 % silver nitrate ammoniacal solution (pH = 9.5) for 24 hours. The values of apical leakage, in mm, were compared by ANOVA followed by Tukeys test (p<0,05). Five sections of each subgroup were randomly selected and analyzed using environmental SEM in order to evaluate the adaptation and penetration of the filling material into the dentin walls. The environmental SEM images were scored by three calibrated examiners. The inter-examiners agreement was confirmed by Kappa test and the scores were compared by Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). At the control group, the EndoREZ® sealer led to significantly smaller silver nitrate leakage in comparison to the others sealers (p<0,05), except by Epiphany®. The irradiation with Nd:YAG and diode lasers reduced the mean leakage of the subgroups filled with AH Plus sealer (p<0,05). Nd:YAG laser irradiation led to a leakage level increase of the subgroups filled with EndoREZ® and Epiphany SE®. The adaptation as well as sealer penetration were not impaired by the root canal prior laser irradiation, independently of the laser used.

Brain diseases including neurological disorders and tumors remain undertreated due to the challenge in accessing the brain, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricting drug delivery, which also profoundly limits the development of pharmacological treatment. Focused ultrasound (FUS) with acoustic agents including microbubbles and nanodroplets remains as the only method to open the BBB noninvasively, locally, and transiently to assist drug delivery. For an ideal medical system to serve a broad patient population, it requires precise and flexible targeting with simulation to personalize treatment, real-time monitoring to ensure safety and effectiveness, and rapid application, as repetitive pharmacological treatment is often required. Since none of current systems fulfills all the requirements, here we designed a neuronavigation-guided FUS system with protocol assessed in in vivo mice, in vivo non-human primates, and human skulls from in silico preplanning, online FUS treatment and real-time acoustic monitoring and mapping, to post-treatment assessment using MRI. Both sedate and awake non-human primates were evaluated with total treatment time averaging 30 min and 3-mm targeting accuracy in cerebral cortex and subcortical structures. The FUS system developed would enable transcranial FUS in patients with high accuracy and independent of MRI guidance.

HIFU is the upcoming technology for noninvasive or minimally invasive tumor ablation via the localized acoustic energy deposition at the focal region within the tumor target. The presence of cavitation bubbles had been shown to improve the therapeutic effect of HIFU. In this study, we have investigated the effect of HIFU on temperature rise and cavitation bubble activity in ethanol-treated porcine liver and kidney tissues. We have also explored changes in the viability and proliferation rate of HepG2, SW1376, and FB1 cancer cells with their exposure to ethanol and HIFU. Tissues were submerged in 95% ethanol for five hours and then exposed to HIFU generated by a 1.1 MHz transducer or injected into focal spot before HIFU exposure. Cavitation events were measured by a passive cavitation detection technique for a range of acoustic power from 1.17 W to 20.52 W. The temperature around the focal zone was measured by type K or type E thermocouples embedded in the samples. In experiments with cancer cells, 2.7 millions cells were treated with concentration of ethanol at concentration 2%, 4%, 10%, 25%, and 50% and the cell were exposed to HIFU with power of 2.73 W, 8.72 W, and 12.0 W for 30 seconds. Our data show that the treatment of tissues with ethanol reduces the threshold power for inertial cavitation and increases the temperature rise. The exposure of cancer cells to various HIFU power only showed a higher number of viable cells 24 to 72 hours after HIFU exposure. On the other hand, both the viability and proliferation rate were significantly decreased in cells treated with ethanol and then HIFU at 8.7 W and 12.0 W even at ethanol concentration of 2 and 4 percent. In conclusion, the results of our study indicate that percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and HIFU have a synergistic effect on cancer cells ablation. / acase@tulane.edu

Oxidation in oils and muscle foods has been studied for many years to understand its mechanism and furthermore to control and manage it. A series of different processing steps or different packaging techniques can alter oxidative stability. The objective of the current study was to examine oxidative stability of processed oil and to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide generating mineral on quality of beef and chicken under different storage conditions. In Study 1 (Chapter 3), the effect of ultrasound on oxidative stability of interesterified soybean oil and soybean oil was examined. Sonication did not affect oxidation rate until the oils were highly oxidized. Sonicated interesterified soybean oil exhibited a slightly but significantly lower oxidation rate than non-sonicated oil during long-term storage, while sonication of non-interesterified soybean oil led to a significantly higher oxidation rate than in non-sonicated soybean oil after induction period. In Study 2 (Chapter 4), the feasibility of trona as a CO2 producing product in a model system and in modified atmosphere packaging of beef steaks was investigated. Trona was able to generate more carbon dioxide than sodium bicarbonate with salicylic acid in model systems. Steaks stored with trona/acid mixture had similar color stability and delayed lipid oxidation compared to those stored in high oxygen packaging. In Study 3 (Chapter 5), the effect of packets containing trona and acid placed in a simulated self serve retail case and closed butcher case on the quality of ground beef was studied. Mineral packets did not affect color, lipid oxidation, or microbial growth of ground beef since there was not a sufficient amount of moisture to generate CO2 effectively. In Study 4 (Chapter 6), the quality of chicken breast/thigh portions stored with mineral packets was compared to those without mineral packets during extended storage, and mineral packets had an antimicrobial effect of CO2 only on day 15. In conclusion, high intensity ultrasound did not affect the rate of oxidation of oil until the oil had already become noticeably rancid, and mineral packets containing trona and an acid with low water solubility can be used as CO2 generating sachet if sufficient moisture is given.

Training studies involving competitive runners and road cyclists have shown substantial gains in sprint and endurance performance when sessions of high-intensity interval training were added to their usual training in the competitive phase of a season. Further research has shown large performance benefits in sprint and endurance power (7 - 9%) when cyclists combined explosive single-leg jumps with cycling-specific high-intensity interval training during a competitive season. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of the jumps to the gains in performance in competitive cyclists in a randomized control trial.The training protocol for the control group was based on previous experimental work in which the control group (n=8) completed cycle specific interval training followed by a series of explosive single-leg jumps. The experimental group (n=7) carried out the same cycle specific interval training but did not participate in the explosive single-leg jumps. While the current study did not use a true control group, the investigation was carried out in the knowledge that a combination of high intensity interval cycling and explosive single-leg jumps causes changes positive changes in performance. Participants took part in 10 x 30-min sessions consisting four sets of high intensity intermittent cycling (4 x 30-s maximum efforts at 50 - 60 min-1 alternating with 30-s recovery). Between each set of 4 x 30 s sprints the control (ballistic) group carried out one set of explosive single-leg jumps (20 for each leg), while the experimental (continuous) group cycled for 20 s at 50 - 60 min-1.Before and after the training period all cyclists completed an incremental peak power test for assessment of VO2max, lactate threshold, exercise economy and peak power, a 30 s Wingate sprint test and a 20 km time-trial. Relative to the control group the percent mean changes (±90% confidence limits) in the experimental group were: power at 4-mM lactate, -4.2 (±6.3); VO2max, -3.1 (±3.7); mean time-trial power, -0.7 (± 4.7); peak incremental power, -1.7; (±5.0); power at 80% max heart rate, -2.8; (±5.6); Wingate peak power, -4.2; (±7.8). We conclude that high-intensity training may improve performance but the combination of high-intensity training and explosive resistance training in the competitive phase is likely to produce greater gains in trained cyclists than high intensity cycling alone.

Beam profile monitors provide position and ux distribution information to facilitate the configuration of an experimental apparatus and are an important component of any accelerator facilities beam diagnostic system. Nuclear physics experiments typically involve the incidence of high energy particles or gamma-rays on some target material and the detection of the products of the ensuing interactions. Therefore, knowing the profile of the incident radiation beam is desirable. To address the need for a profile monitor for the High-Intensity Gamma-Ray Source, development of a CCD-based gamma-ray beam profiler was undertaken. The profiler consisted of plastic scintillator, a lens system and a Starlight Express MX5 CCD camera, all contained within a light tight box. The scintillation pattern, created by the interaction between the incident gamma-rays and the scintillator, could be focused onto the CCD. Simulations were used to determine the amount of power that would be absorbed for different beam energies and scintillator thicknesses. The use of a converter material, placed directly against the scintillator to improve power deposition, was also investigated. The system was tested in order to and the camera noise characteristics, the optical resolution and magnification and the systems responsivity to power absorption in the scintillator. Using a 137Cs source, preliminary beam proles were obtained. By combining the results of the testing and simulation, predictions of the required length of exposure were made. It was determined that a beam with a flux of 10^6/s and a diameter of 2.5 cm could be profiled, using 6.0 mm of plastic scintillator and 0.6 mm of iron converter, to within 5% error per 0.64 mm x 0.91 mm resolving unit, in less than 1 minute.

Beam profile monitors provide position and ux distribution information to facilitate the configuration of an experimental apparatus and are an important component of any accelerator facilities beam diagnostic system. Nuclear physics experiments typically involve the incidence of high energy particles or gamma-rays on some target material and the detection of the products of the ensuing interactions. Therefore, knowing the profile of the incident radiation beam is desirable. To address the need for a profile monitor for the High-Intensity Gamma-Ray Source, development of a CCD-based gamma-ray beam profiler was undertaken. The profiler consisted of plastic scintillator, a lens system and a Starlight Express MX5 CCD camera, all contained within a light tight box. The scintillation pattern, created by the interaction between the incident gamma-rays and the scintillator, could be focused onto the CCD. Simulations were used to determine the amount of power that would be absorbed for different beam energies and scintillator thicknesses. The use of a converter material, placed directly against the scintillator to improve power deposition, was also investigated. The system was tested in order to and the camera noise characteristics, the optical resolution and magnification and the systems responsivity to power absorption in the scintillator. Using a 137Cs source, preliminary beam proles were obtained. By combining the results of the testing and simulation, predictions of the required length of exposure were made. It was determined that a beam with a flux of 10^6/s and a diameter of 2.5 cm could be profiled, using 6.0 mm of plastic scintillator and 0.6 mm of iron converter, to within 5% error per 0.64 mm x 0.91 mm resolving unit, in less than 1 minute.

No description available.

The thesis deals with the development and characterization of new light sources, which are mandatory for applications in atomic and molecular spectroscopy, medical and biological imaging or industrial production. For that purpose, the employment of interactions of high intensity ultra-short laser pulses with gaseous media offers a rich variety of physical effects which can be exploited. The effects are characterized by a nonlinear dependency on the present light fields. Therefore, accurate modeling of the nonlinearities of the gas is crucial. In general, the nonlinearities are due to the electronic response of the gas atoms to the light field and one distinguishes between the response of bound and ionized electrons. The first part investigates laser pulse self compression, where the consideration of a purely bound electron response is sufficient. We apply an exotic setup with an negative Kerr nonlinearity in order to avoid spatial collapse of the beam on the cost of dealing with an highly dispersive nonlinearity. Analytical analysis and numerical simulations prove the possibility of laser pulse compression in such setups and reveals a new compression scheme, where the usually disturbing dispersion of the nonlinaerity is responsible for compression. Dealing with tera-Hertz generation by focusing an ionizing two-color laser pulse into gas, the second part exploits a medium nonlinearity caused by ionized electrons. We reveal in a mixed analytical and numerical analysis the underlying physical mechanism for THz generation: ionized electrons build up a current, which radiates. Thereby, the the two-color nature of the input laser is crucial for the emitted radiation to be in the tera-Hertz range. Combining this physical model with a pulse propagation equation allows us to achieve remarkable agreement with experimental measurements. Finally, the third part deals with nonlinearities from bound as well from ionized electrons on a fundamental level. We advance beyond phenomenological models for responses of bound and ionized electrons and quantum mechanically model the interaction of an ultra-short laser pulse with a gas. Already the simplest case of one dimensional hydrogen reveals basic features. For low intensities, the Kerr nonlinearity excellently describes the response of bound electrons. For increasing intensity, ionization becomes important and the response from ionized electrons is the governing one for high intensities. This quantum mechanical correct modeling allows us to explain saturation and change of sing of the nonlinear refractive index and to deduce suited approximate models for optical nonlinearities.

Training studies involving competitive runners and road cyclists have shown substantial gains in sprint and endurance performance when sessions of high-intensity interval training were added to their usual training in the competitive phase of a season. Further research has shown large performance benefits in sprint and endurance power (7 - 9%) when cyclists combined explosive single-leg jumps with cycling-specific high-intensity interval training during a competitive season. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of the jumps to the gains in performance in competitive cyclists in a randomized control trial.The training protocol for the control group was based on previous experimental work in which the control group (n=8) completed cycle specific interval training followed by a series of explosive single-leg jumps. The experimental group (n=7) carried out the same cycle specific interval training but did not participate in the explosive single-leg jumps. While the current study did not use a true control group, the investigation was carried out in the knowledge that a combination of high intensity interval cycling and explosive single-leg jumps causes changes positive changes in performance. Participants took part in 10 x 30-min sessions consisting four sets of high intensity intermittent cycling (4 x 30-s maximum efforts at 50 - 60 min-1 alternating with 30-s recovery). Between each set of 4 x 30 s sprints the control (ballistic) group carried out one set of explosive single-leg jumps (20 for each leg), while the experimental (continuous) group cycled for 20 s at 50 - 60 min-1.Before and after the training period all cyclists completed an incremental peak power test for assessment of VO2max, lactate threshold, exercise economy and peak power, a 30 s Wingate sprint test and a 20 km time-trial. Relative to the control group the percent mean changes (±90% confidence limits) in the experimental group were: power at 4-mM lactate, -4.2 (±6.3); VO2max, -3.1 (±3.7); mean time-trial power, -0.7 (± 4.7); peak incremental power, -1.7; (±5.0); power at 80% max heart rate, -2.8; (±5.6); Wingate peak power, -4.2; (±7.8). We conclude that high-intensity training may improve performance but the combination of high-intensity training and explosive resistance training in the competitive phase is likely to produce greater gains in trained cyclists than high intensity cycling alone.