How do I remove the space before Depth... in my LaTex table?

[Mapes]

Hi folks,

Quick LaTex question: the following code produces a space before "Depth..." in the second row. How on Earth do I make it go away?

\begin{table}
\centering
\caption{Possible definitions of critical depth or thickness for traction-exerting cells on 2-D substrates.}
\vspace{0.05 in}
\begin{footnotesize}
\begin{raggedright}
\begin{tabular}{|p{4in} p{2in} |}
\hline \rule{0pt}{3ex}
& Effect of increasing \\
Definition & substrate stiffness \\[3pt]
\hline \rule{0pt}{3ex}
Depth at which a certain strain $\epsilon_{xx}$ exists [Krishnan et al] & Decrease $\left(\propto\!\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates adhesion site displacement by a certain percentage (characterized by $U_1$)& Independent $\left(\propto a\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates adhesion site distortion by a certain percentage (characterized by $U_2$)& Independent $\left(\propto a\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates cell traction force microscopy measurements by a certain percentage & Independent $\left(\propto r\right)$\\[3pt]
Coating thickness that maintains a certain cell behavior & Increase\\[3pt]
\hline
\end{tabular}
\label{table:definitions}
\end{raggedright}
\end{footnotesize}
\end{table}

Thanks for your help.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Just take out \rule{0pt}{3ex} before it.

 

[Mapes]

No doubt, this removes the annoying space. But it also removes a most desirable horizontal line and the associated leading under it.

 

[Mapes]

Ugh, I knew I would figure it out as soon as I posted. Simply removing the carriage space after \rule{0pt}{3ex} removes the problem. The corrected code is below. CRGreathouse, thanks for your suggestion.

\begin{table}
\centering
\caption{Possible definitions of critical depth or thickness for traction-exerting cells on 2-D substrates.}
\vspace{0.05 in}
\begin{footnotesize}
\begin{raggedright}
\begin{tabular}{|p{4in} p{2in} |}
\hline \rule{0pt}{3ex}
& Effect of increasing \\
Definition & substrate stiffness \\[3pt]
\hline \rule{0pt}{3ex}Depth at which a certain strain $\epsilon_{xx}$ exists [Krishnan et al] & Decrease $\left(\propto\!\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates adhesion site displacement by a certain percentage (characterized by $U_1$)& Independent $\left(\propto a\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates adhesion site distortion by a certain percentage (characterized by $U_2$)& Independent $\left(\propto a\right)$ \\[3pt]
Coating thickness that attenuates cell traction force microscopy measurements by a certain percentage & Independent $\left(\propto r\right)$\\[3pt]
Coating thickness that maintains a certain cell behavior & Increase\\[3pt]
\hline
\end{tabular}
\label{table:definitions}
\end{raggedright}
\end{footnotesize}
\end{table}