Background-Coronary flow velocity varies widely between individuals, even at rest. Because of this variation, indices with less apparent deviation, such as the ratio of hyperemic to resting velocity (coronary flow reserve), have been more commonly studied. We tested the hypothesis that the flow continuity principle could be used to model resting coronary flow, and we examined the resulting velocity relationship. Methods and Results-We studied coronary velocity in 59 patients using a Doppler wire to measure resting and hyperemic average peak velocities in the left anterior descending artery. Quantitative techniques were used to calculate lumen cross-sectional area and the lengths of all distal coronary branches. Branch lengths were used to estimate regional left ventricular mass. We then calculated the ratio of lumen area to regional mass (A/m). Regional perfusion was estimated from the double product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure.

Photoluminescence ͑PL͒ spectra of as-made porous Si samples were obtained in a wide peak-wavelength range. After exposure to air or coupling with C 60 molecules, the PL peak shifts to a pinning wavelength within the range of 610-630 nm. This pinning wavelength is almost independent of the size of the original porous Si nanocrystallites and both redshifting and blueshifting can occur for different sizes. A self-consistent effectivemass calculation shows that the SivO binding states are responsible for the radiation of this pinning wavelength and the blueshift for the large nanocrystallites is due to the additional potential modulation within the Si nanocrystallite by the long-range Coulomb interaction of oxygen ions.

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Perhaps the most striking feature of billfishes is the extreme elongation of the premaxillary bones forming their rostra. Surprisingly, the exact role of this structure in feeding is still controversial. The goal of this study is to investigate the use of the rostrum from a functional, biomechanical and morphological standpoint to ultimately infer its possible role during feeding. Using beam theory, experimental and theoretical loading tests were performed on the rostra from two morphologically different billfish, the blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and the swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Two loading regimes were applied (dorsoventral and lateral) to simulate possible striking behaviors. Histological samples and material properties of the rostra were obtained along their lengths to further characterize structure and mechanical performance. Intraspecific results show similar stress distributions for most regions of the rostra, suggesting that this structure may be designed to withstand continuous loadings with no particular region of stress concentration. Although material stiffness increased distally, flexural stiffness increased proximally owing to higher second moment of area. The blue marlin rostrum was stiffer and resisted considerably higher loads for both loading planes compared with that of the swordfish. However, when a continuous load along the rostrum was considered, simulating the rostrum swinging through the water, swordfish exhibited lower stress and drag during lateral loading. Our combined results suggest that the swordfish rostrum is suited for lateral swiping to incapacitate their prey, whereas the blue marlin rostrum is better suited to strike prey from a wider variety of directions.

Si-based Er-doped Si nanostructures were fabricated for exploring efficient light emission from Er ions and Si nanocrystallites. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that Si nanocrystallites are spherically embedded in the SiO 2 matrix. Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis indicates that the Er centers are distributed at the surfaces of nanocrystallites surrounded by the SiO 2 matrix. Lowfrequency Raman scattering investigation shows that Lamb's theory can be adopted to exactly calculate the surface vibration frequencies from acoustic phonons confined in spherical Si nanocrystallites and the matrix effects are negligible.