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The paper presents principal approaches to diagnosing the structure-forming skeleton of a complex optical field. Analysis of optical field singularity algorithms, depending on intensity discretization and image resolution, has been carried out. An optimal approach is chosen, which allows us to get much closer to the solution of the phase problem of localization speckle-field special points. The use of a “window” 2D Hilbert transform for reconstruction of the phase distribution of the intensity of a speckle field is proposed. It is shown that the advantage of this approach consists in the invariance of a phase map to a position change of the kernel of transformation and in a possibility to reconstruct the structure-forming elements of the skeleton of an optical field, including singular points and saddle points. We demonstrate the possibility to reconstruct the equi-phase lines within a narrow confidence interval and introduce an additional algorithm for solving the phase problem for random 2D intensity distributions.

An optical model for generalized optical anisotropy of polycrystalline networks of albumin and globulin liquor of the human brain has been suggested. The polarization-phase method for spatial and frequency differentiation of linear and circular birefringence coordinate distributions has been analytically substantiated. A set of criteria documenting the dynamics of polarization-phase images of liquor polycrystalline films has been identified in determining time of death.

The piezoelectric photoacoustics application possibility for polycrystalline structure formation has been considered. The accent was on research and transient modeling with pulse laser irradiation. A mathematical model for the given setup with a single laser impulse was developed. The results of mathematical modeling were experimentally tested on cement samples.

The motion of light scattering particles of the Mie and Rayleigh micro- and nano-range type in the inhomogeneously-polarized optical field, with allowance made for the Brownian movement, is analysed in the paper. The spatial modulation of polarization in the observation plane determines the spatial modulation of the volume energy density. That is why the velocity and the resulting optical force, which cause the motion of the testing particles, change according to the degree of coherence of the interacting fields. The influence of the forces which arise in the viscous medium and cause the Brownian movement upon the mechanisms of manipulating and trapping testing particles by the optical field is studied.

This paper discusses simulation of speckle-field dynamics during coherent light scattering by a cement surface in the process of hydration. Cement particles are represented by the spheres whose sizes and reflection indices are changing during the hydration process. The study of intensity fluctuations of scattered coherent radiation is a suitable technique for the analysis of both fast and slow processes of mineral binder hydration and formation of polycrystalline structures in the process of hardening. The results of simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data.

The use of the method of field polarization modulation for defining the degree of coherence of circularly polarized waves is offered. The role of the reference circularly polarized wave in transforming the spatial distribution of polarization into the depth of visibility modulation of the resulting distribution, which can be metrologically estimated and analyzed, is demonstrated.

The use of the method of field polarization modulation for defining the degree of coherence of circularly polarized waves is offered. The role of the reference circularly polarized wave in transforming the spatial distribution of polarization into the depth of visibility modulation of the resulting distribution, which can be metrologically estimated and analyzed, is demonstrated.

The use of the method of field polarization modulation for defining the degree of coherence of circularly polarized waves is offered. The role of the reference circularly polarized wave in transforming the spatial distribution of polarization into the depth of visibility modulation of the resulting distribution which can be metrologically estimated and analyzed is demonstrated.

This article considers the discussion and rejection of a social insurance model of funding for the British National Health Service. Specifically it asks why the hospital contributory scheme movement had so little impact on policy debates in the 1940s. We argue that at the start of the policy-making process serious consideration was given to the incorporation of this mode of funding, not least because the contributory schemes, with some ten million members, played a major role in financing existing voluntary hospital provision. Early sections describe the growth and nature of the schemes, noting that, despite their large working-class constituency and the presence of labour movement representatives amongst their leadership, they remained peripheral to discussion of reform in the interwar period. We then trace the emergence of the proposal for an insurance-based ‘hotel charge’ in civil servants' discussions about hospital funding following the Beveridge Report. Officials, however, remained sceptical about the contributory schemes' capacity to deliver a comprehensive and efficient funding mechanism, given their lack of uniformity, the gaps in their coverage, and the limited progress of reciprocal arrangements between them. Finally, we note the ineffectiveness of the British Hospital Contributory Schemes Association as a player in the policy community. Its leadership had no clear strategy for influencing events and was reluctant to deploy pressure group tactics such as lobbying through the press or parliament. Crucially, the movement was divided internally between those members who supported the voluntary system and others who welcomed a publicly funded health service.

AbstractBackground: Fissured tongue (FT), geographic tongue (GT) and median rhomboid glossitis (MRG) are frequently misdiagnosed and overtreated. FT is a relatively common variant of the tongue that includes numerous grooves or fissures on the dorsum of the tongue, while GT usually appears as areas of atrophy and raised white borders. MRG is an erythematous patch of atrophic papillae located in the central area of the dorsum of the tongue. The prevalence of these lesions varies among different ethnic groups. However, their occurrence among the adult Israeli Jewish population of different ethnic origins is unknown. Objective: To examine the prevalence of benign tongue lesions among adult Israeli Jewish urban, rural and industrial populations of different ethnic origins. Methods: A total of 2,464 healthy Israeli adults were clinically examined and divided into three ethnic groups, Ashkenazi, Sephardic or Eastern, based on place of birth of both parents. The prevalences of FT, GT and MRG were evaluated. FT was subdivided according to four subtypes: mild, moderate, typical and central. Results: The prevalence of FT was 30.5%. The most prevalent, typical FT, grooves over one third of the dorsal tongue, was noted in 11.5% of the study group. GT and MRG were found in 12.7 and 2.4% of the study population, respectively. A strong correlation was found between the occurrence of FT and GT, and a gradual increase in prevalence of FT and GT was noted with age. MRG decreased with age. Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of FT, GT and MRG among the different ethnic groups, ethnic background probably plays some role in its occurrence.Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Objectives.After hematopoietic cell transplantation, a variety of complications can occur, including chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with 25% to 70% of these involving the oral cavity. Those lesions, as well as oral involvement of autoimmune mucocutaneous diseases, might present as painful, erythematous, and ulcerative oral lesions. Management includes topical and systemic immunosuppressive agents, including systemic azathioprine (AZA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical AZA in chronic oral GVHD and in oral autoimmune diseases in a series of patients. Methods.Four men and 2 women with GVHD and 2 men with autoimmune vesiculo-ulcerative oral lesions were treated with topical AZA. A rinse of 5 mL of 5 mg/mL AZA in methylcellulose were rinsed 3 to 4 times daily for over 1 minute and expectorated, or a gel in the same concentration in 3% methylcellulose was topically applied. The outcome was evaluated separately for total ulcer size, assessment of the erythema, and severity of pain by using a visual analogue scale. Global estimated improvements represented a proportional combined improvement of ulcers, erythema, and pain. Results And Conclusions.The mean estimated global improvement for 6 patients with GVHD who used AZA rinse was 60% in a mean of 16.67 weeks. Ulcers improved by 58%, erythema by 55%, and pain was reduced by 63%. Two patients with oral lesions of vesiculo-ulcerative diseases (1 AZA rinse and 1 topical gel) improved by 95% and 96%, respectively, in 3 months. One patient with GVHD applied topical AZA gel in addition to mouthrinses, and a 29% estimated global improvement was achieved in addition to 50% of improvement achieved with AZA mouthrinses. The observed effect of topical AZA suggests that it can be used for management of oral immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, and for patients who are provided with systemic immunosuppressives it can allow control of oral findings with lower systemic dosing. The therapeutic potential of topical AZA as mouthrinse versus topical applications and the most effective concentration should be further investigated. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001;91:56-61)

Gustafson's method for age determination from teeth is based on the evaluation of ground sections of teeth. Six age-associated parameters are evaluated in the ground section and are compared to a regression curve of age versus the age-associated changes. Two of these changes, transparency of radicular dentin and secondary dentin, have the highest correlation with age. The evaluation of these parameters only from thin (0.25-mm) ground sections may lead to an artificially high “secondary dentin value” and “transparent dentin value.” These artifacts may be caused by the attempt to include the whole pulp chamber and root canal in a 0.25-mm-thick ground section and by an accidental overgrinding of the apical area of the root, respectively. These artifacts were encountered occasionally even in ground sections prepared by highly trained personnel and became more frequent in ground sections prepared by a person who, though trained, did not use this technique daily. A modification of the data-collecting method is suggested to make possible the use of thick (1.0-mm) ground sections for the evaluation of most of the aging criteria, thereby eliminating the possible inaccuracies in the preparation and evaluation of the thin (0.25-mm) ground sections.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) has a multiple-site involvement, with the buccal mucosa being the most prevalent. A possible relationship between OLP and the risk of malignancies in the involved site is documented. The characteristics of OLP have been studied in different populations; however, no similar studies have been conducted in any Jewish population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the natural history of OLP in Israeli Jewish patients. Data were collected from 157 charts of patients with histologically confirmed OLP. No evidence suggesting a connection between OLP and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking, alcohol use, or positive Candida culture was found. Skin involvement of lichen planus was found in one fifth of the patients. Symptomatic OLP was noted in half of the patients, mainly in those with the erosive form. In 65% of the patients with symptoms, improvement by more than 50% was shown within 2 weeks of steroid use. The transformation rate of 1.3% of OLP into malignancy was observed in the entire group. A constant follow-up for contributing symptoms and for early diagnosis of suspected transformed lesions is of utmost importance.

Intra-oral soft tissue sarcoma is a rare disease. We reviewed a tumour registry over a 45 year period, between January 1951 and January 1997, and identified a total of 11 250 head and neck cancers in British Columbia. Of the head and neck cancers, there were 139 cases (1.24%) of sarcoma; and of these, there were only 16 cases (0.14%) of intra-oral soft tissue sarcoma. The initial presentation of intra-oral soft tissue sarcoma is most often as an asymptomatic mass and discomfort is reported by less than one half of the patients. The commonest lesion identified was rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). In this review, we identified 2 unique cases, 1 case of intra-oral hemangiopericytoma and 1 case of oral carcinosarcoma. The prognosis remains poor. Treatment includes wide surgical excision which may be supplemented with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The tongue is an uncommon site for the deposition of @b-2-microglobulin amyloid. A case is presented of nodular amyloidosis of the tongue in a patient having prolonged hemodialysis. The lesions were small, firm, yellowish nodules on the lateral aspect of the tongue and were shown to be deposits of @b-2-microglobulin amyloid. The pathogenesis and differential diagnosis are discussed.

Torus palatinus (TP) represents a benign anatomic variation. It has been suggested that genetic factors play a leading role in its occurrence. The purpose of the present study was to determine, by segregation analysis, the inheritance of TP. Data were collected from members of 37 randomly selected Israel Jewish families and analyzed using the segregation analysis. Vertical transmission of TP was found in 19 families suggesting autosomal dominant transmission, which was supported by the results of the segregation analysis test. A significantly higher number of affected offspring (60.3%) was observed compared to the expected figure (50%) for an autosomal dominant trait with full penetrance. This is explained by the high gene frequency of TP and the relatively high proportion of homozygous parents. Am. J. Med. Genet. 75:138–140, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.