Proton radiography as an electromagnetic field and density perturbation diagnostic (invited)

Laser driven proton beams have been used to diagnose transient fields and density perturbations in laser produced plasmas. Grid deflectometry techniques have been applied to proton radiography to obtain precise measurements of proton beam angles caused by electromagnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. Application of proton radiography to laser driven implosions has demonstrated that density conditions in compressed media can be diagnosed with million electron volt protons. This data has shown that proton radiography can provide unique insight into transient electromagnetic fields in super critical density plasmas and provide a density perturbation diagnostics in compressed matter.

High-energy electron beam production by femtosecond laser interactions with exploding-foil plasmas

The interaction of an ultraintense, 30-fs laser pulse with a preformed plasma was investigated as a method of producing a beam of high-energy electrons. We used thin foil targets that are exploded by the laser amplified spontaneous emission preceding the main pulse. Optical diagnostics show that the main pulse interacts with a plasma whose density is well below the critical density. By varying the foil thickness, we were able to obtain a substantial emission of electrons in a narrow cone along the laser direction with a typical energy well above the laser ponderomotive potential. These results are explained in terms of wake-field acceleration.

Secondary prevention in the clinical management of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Core components, standards and outcome measures for referral and delivery.

Despite major improvements in diagnostics and interventional therapies, cardiovascular diseases remain a major health care and socio-economic burden both in western and developing countries, in which this burden is increasing in close correlation to economic growth. Health authorities and the general population have started to recognize that the fight against these diseases can only be won if their burden is faced by increasing our investment on interventions in lifestyle changes and prevention. There is an overwhelming evidence of the efficacy of secondary prevention initiatives including cardiac rehabilitation in terms of reduction in morbidity and mortality. However, secondary prevention is still too poorly implemented in clinical practice, often only on selected populations and over a limited period of time. The development of systematic and full comprehensive preventive programmes is warranted, integrated in the organization of national health systems. Furthermore, systematic monitoring of the process of delivery and outcomes is a necessity. Cardiology and secondary prevention, including cardiac rehabilitation, have evolved almost independently of each other and although each makes a unique contribution it is now time to join forces under the banner of preventive cardiology and create a comprehensive model that optimizes long term outcomes for patients and reduces the future burden on health care services. These are the aims that the Cardiac Rehabilitation Section of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation has foreseen to promote secondary preventive cardiology in clinical practice.

Bacteriophages as anti-infective agents: recent developments and regulatory challenges.

The biennial meeting on 'Exploiting Bacteriophages for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Medicine', held in London, UK, on 20 January 2012, and chaired by George Salmond (University of Cambridge, UK) hosted over 50 participants representing 13 countries. The highly multidisciplinary meeting covered a diverse range of topics, reflecting the current expansion of interest in this field, including the use of bacteriophages as the source of biochemical reagents for molecular biology, bacteriophages for the treatment of human and animal diseases, bacteriophage-based diagnostics and therapeutic delivery technologies and necessity for, and regulatory challenges associated with, robust clinical trials of phage-based therapeutics. This report focuses on a number of presentations from the meeting relating to cutting-edge research on bacteriophages as anti-infective agents.

Synthesis of spherical ultra-high-surface-area monodisperse amphipathic polymer sponges in the low-micrometer size range

Spherical, ultra-high specific surface area monodisperse polymer particles with diameters in the low micrometer size range are disclosed for the first time. The polymer particles are able to sorb significant levels of both hydrocarbon solvents and water, acting in effect as amphipathic micro-sponges. Exciting possibilities for exploitation of the particles in chromatography, diagnostics, sensors, delivery vehicles and catalysis are suggested.

X-shooting Herbig Ae/Be stars: Accretion probed by near-infrared He I emission

The Herbig Ae/Be stars are intermediate mass pre-main sequence stars that bridge the gap between the low mass T Tauri stars and the Massive Young Stellar Objects. In this mass range, the acting star forming mechanism switches from magnetically controlled accretion to an as yet unknown mechanism, but which is likely to be direct disk accretion onto the star. We observed a large sample of Herbig Ae/Be stars with X-shooter to address this issue from a multi-wavelength perspective. It is the largest such study to date, not only because of the number of objects involved, but also because of the large wavelength coverage from the blue to the near-infrared. This allows many accretion diagnostics to be studied simultaneously. By correlating the various properties with mass, temperature and age, we aim to determine where and whether the magnetically controlled mass accretion mechanism halts and the proposed direct disk accretion takes over. Here, we will give an overview of the background, present some observations and discuss our initial results. We will introduce a new accretion diagnostic for the research of Herbig Ae/Be stars, the HeI 1.083 µm line. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Refined Magnetoseismological Technique for the Solar Corona

We present a step-by-step guide of a refined magnetoseismological technique for plasma diagnostics in the Sun’s corona. Recently developed MHD wave theory which models a coronal loop as an expanding magnetic flux tube with an arbitrary longitudinal plasma density profile is applied to TRACE observations of fast kink
oscillations. The theory predicts that using the observed ratio of the first overtone and fundamental mode to predict the plasma density scale height and not taking account of loop expansion will lead to an overestimation of scale height. For the first time, the size of this correction is quantified directly from observation and for the particular case study presented here, it is found that the overestimation is approximately by a factor of 2.

Gold Nanoparticles-Coated SU-8 for Sensitive Fluorescence-Based Detections of DNA

SU-8 epoxy-based negative photoresist has been extensively employed as a structural material for fabrication of numerous biological microelectro-mechanical systems (Bio-MEMS) or lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. However, SU-8 has a high autofluorescence level that limits sensitivity of microdevices that use fluorescence as the predominant detection workhorse. Here, we show that deposition of a thin gold nanoparticles layer onto the SU-8 surface significantly reduces the autofluorescence of the coated SU-8 surface by as much as 81% compared to bare SU-8. Furthermore, DNA probes can easily be immobilized on the Au surface with high thermal stability. These improvements enabled sensitive DNA detection by simple DNA hybridization down to 1 nM (a two orders of magnitude improvement) or by solid-phase PCR with sub-picomolar sensitivity. The approach is simple and easy to perform, making it suitable for various Bio-MEMs and LOC devices that use SU-8 as a structural material.

Molecular and clinicopathological markers of prognosis in breast cancer

A vast body of research in breast cancer prognostication has accumulated. Yet despite this, patients within current prognostic categories may have significantly different outcomes. There is a need to more accurately divide those cancer types associated with an excellent prognosis from those requiring more aggressive therapy. Gene expression array studies have revealed the numerous molecular breast cancer subtypes that are associated with differing outcomes. Furthermore, as next generation technologies evolve and further reveal the complexities of breast cancer, it is likely that existing prognostic approaches will become progressively refined. Future prognostication in breast cancer requires a morphomolecular, multifaceted approach involving the assessment of anatomical disease extent and levels of protein, DNA and RNA expression. One of the major challenges in prognostication will be the integration of potential assays into existing clinical systems and identification of appropriate patient subgroups for analysis.

Immunohistochemistry in the era of personalised medicine

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a central role in the histopathological classification of diseases, including cancer. More recently, the importance of immunohistochemical staining is increasing. IHC usage in diagnostics is invaluable; however, the genetic and therapeutic significance of biomarker immunostaining has become equally relevant.