Complex Resonant Scattering Behavior in the Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Microscopy of Single Gold Nanorods.

Diffraction patterns observed in surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) microscopy measurements of single gold nanorods (AuNRs) exhibit a complex behavior at wavelengths near the longitudinal plasmonic resonance band. SPRI microscopy measurements at 814 nm from AuNRs in three samples with resonance extinction maxima at 670, 816, and 980 nm reveal a variety of diffraction patterns with central peaks that are either positive, negative, or biphasic. A unitless ratio parameter MR (-1 ≤ MR ≤ 1) is created to describe the distribution of diffraction patterns. A purely negative (MR = -1) central peak is observed for 30%, 57%, and 98% of the diffraction patterns in the 670, 816, and 980 nm samples, respectively. These results along with a theoretical modeling of the diffraction patterns with an anisotropic complex scattering coefficient suggests that this behavior only occurs for AuNRs when the laser wavelength used in SPRI experiments is shorter than the AuNR plasmonic resonance maxima, that is, in the anomalous dispersion region.

Journey of Hope program outcomes.

Families of persons with mental illness often benefit from participating in interventions which provide education and support. The present study describes outcomes reported by 424 families who participated in one such intervention, the Journey of Hope (JOH) program. Hierarchical regression analyses found that program outcomes-increased knowledge of the causes and treatment of mental illness, increased understanding of the mental health service system, and improved morale-were predictive of one another. JOH therefore may provide families with the knowledge and support they need to strengthen their ability to cope with their relative's mental illness.

The effect of hyperthyroidism on Müller's muscle contractility in rats.

The objective of this study was to determine if hyperthyroidism affects the responses of Müller's muscle to alpha-1 adrenoceptor agonists and consequently, if these responses might explain thyroid eyelid retraction. Sprague-Dawley adult rats (n = 37) were divided into control and treated groups and given either placebo or intraperitoneal triiodothyronine (250 micrograms/kg/d) for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. A suture was passed through their upper eyelid and connected to a force transducer that measured Müller's muscle contractions. Responses to phenylephrine (0.015-0.61 mmol) were compared with respect to peak amplitude and 50% duration of action. Mean maximum force values [+/-1 standard error of the mean (SEM)] in response to phenylephrine were 1.254 +/- 0.071 gr for controls and 0.963 +/- 0.062 gr for thyroid-treated subjects (p = 0.005). Mean 50% duration of response values (+/-1 SEM) were 9.143 +/- 1.108 min for controls and 5.763 +/- 0.973 min for thyroid-treated subjects (p = 0.014). Hyperthyroid rats had a significantly lower Müller's muscle response amplitude than control rats; however, duration of response was not significantly different between the groups. We believe that hyperthyroidism caused intrinsic changes in Müller's muscle that resulted in eyelid retraction. Based on hypotheses discussed in this article, we expect that further studies will localize these changes to the thyroid hormone receptor on Müller's muscle or calcium-triggered intracellular second messengers. Clinical significance would then be the ability to treat hyperthyroid eyelid retraction with drugs. This study provides the first evidence of functional impairment of Müller's muscle due to hyperthyroidism in an animal model.