OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interobserver agreement of ultrasonographic assessment of finger and toe joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by 2 investigators with different medical backgrounds. METHODS: Ultrasonography and clinical examination were performed on 150 small joints of 30 patients with active RA. A General Electric LOGIQ 500 ultrasound unit with a 7-13-MHz linear array transducer was used. In each patient, 5 preselected small joints (second and third metacarpophalangeal, second proximal interphalangeal, first and second metatarsophalangeal) were examined independently on the same day by 2 ultrasound investigators (an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist and a rheumatologist with limited ultrasound training). Joint effusion, synovial thickening, bone erosions, and power Doppler signal were evaluated in accordance with an introduced 4-grade semiquantitative scoring system, on ...
The effect of ultrasound waves, airflow and combined ultrasound with the airflow on the thermal instability suppression of a hollow needle-to-plate electrical discharge was studied experimentally. To evaluate the thermal instability suppression we used the V-A characteristics of the discharge in stationary air, with ultrasound applied in stationary air, and finally when the airflow was supplied into the discharge through the needle without and with ultrasound application. To illustrate the effect of ultrasound, airflow and combined ultrasound with airflow on the discharge thermal instability suppression we also studied the discharge ozone production. We found that in stationary air the application of ultrasound only slightly suppresses thermal instability. A substantial increase of ozone generation was not detected. ...
A novel method for non-destructive intramuscular fat (IMF) estimation via spectral ultrasound backscatter analysis of signals obtained from pig carcasses early post mortem is described. A commercial hand-held ultrasound device (center frequency: 2.7MHz) was modified to focus the sound beam to the longissimus muscle at the 2nd/3rd last rib. Time-resolved ultrasound backscatter signals of loin muscle were recorded 45minp.m. on 82 pig carcass sides. Backfat width (d"B"F=18.9+/-3.8mm) and muscle attenuation (@a"m"u"s"c"l"e=.77+/-.15dBMHz^-^1cm^-^1) were assessed from the measured pulse echo data. Other propagation properties of skin, backfat and muscle tissue obtained in a previous investigation were incorporated into the signal pre-processing to minimize parameter estimation artifacts. Spectr...
The goal of ultrasonic molecular imaging is the detection of targeted contrast agents bound to receptors on endothelial cells. We propose imaging methods that can distinguish adherent microbubbles...Full Text Available
This study deals with the application of wavelet analysis to detection and characterization of defects from eddy-current and ultrasonic testing signals of a low signal-to-noise ratio. Presented in this paper are the methods for processing eddy-current testing signals of heat exchanger tubes of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant. The results of processing eddy-current testing signals of tube test pieces with artificial flaws show that the flaw signals corrupted by noise and/or non-defect signals can be effectively detected and characterized by using the wavelet methods. (author)
In principle four different methods (ultrasound, microwaves, {gamma}-radiation and x-rays) are available for the non-destructive testing of refractories. Three of these methods, i.e. ultrasound, microwaves and {gamma}-radiation, are in use by different producers of AZS materials to carry out the quality control of their products. This paper will compare the three methods on the basis of the physical properties, present the existing devices, and show the advantages as well as the limits of the different methods. {gamma}-radiography, the oldest method in use, has one main disadvantage, which is the requirement of protection against radioactive radiation. Furthermore, while cracks and cavities can be detected with this method, structural changes can not be monitored. Therefore, the ultrasonic method was developed that allows to detect variations of porosity and grain size as well as cracks and voids when ...
Ultrasound tomography is an attractive imaging method for the detection of breast cancer. The complex anatomy of the breast with its different spatial scales and material property contrasts make accurate reconstructions very challenging. This paper proposes a hybrid approach whereby Travel-of-Flight and Diffraction Tomography are combined together to achieve high-resolution and high-accuracy sound-speed reconstructions. The method is validated with several numerical phantoms.
17 patients with chronic aortic dissection were examined by MRI. In 12 patients, comparison between gradient echo sequences and SE sequences was possible. Gradient echo sequences, unlike SE sequences, permitted evaluation of flow in the true and false lumen, reliable differentiation between thrombus and flowing blood and clear delination of the intimal flap. An additional comparison between transoesophageal ultrasound and MRT in 15 patients showed significant advantages in favour of MRI. In three patients MRI was able to detect more proximal origins of the dissection. Moreover, MRI allowed evaluation of the major aortic branches and their relation to the dissection; this was not possible with ultrasound. MRI plays an important role in the follow-up of chronic aortic dissections. (orig.).
This paper is concerned with the real time automatic discriminating of flaws from two categories; i. cracks (planar defect) and ii. Non-cracks (volumetric defect such as cluster porosity and slag) using pulse-echo ultrasound. The raw ultrasonic flaws signal were collected from a computerized robotic plane scanning system over the whole of each reflector as the primary source of data. The signal is then filtered and the analysis in both time and frequency domain were executed to obtain the selected feature. The real time feature analysis techniques measured the number of peaks, maximum index, pulse duration, rise time and fall time. The obtained features could be used to distinguish between quantitatively classified flaws by using various tools in artificial intelligence such as neural networks. The proposed algorithm and complete system were implemented in a computer software developed using Microsoft Visual BASIC 6.0 ...
The cross-coupled interferometer is a new design for interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Similar to the baseline gravitational wave detectors proposed for Advanced LIGO, it uses long-arm cavities in which the signal is generated. The signal fields are then extracted from the arm cavities with an additional cavity behind the long-arm cavities. The tuning of this signal extraction cavity and the parallel tuning of the signal recycling mirror can be used to optimize the peak frequency and the bandwidth of the detector independently. If we replace the signal recycling mirror by a small cavity, it is possible to amplify signals in two different frequency bands.
Infrared (IR, 880 nm) stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signal was observed from quartz at room temperature. The characteristics of the signal such as its response to {gamma}-ray irradiation, thermal stability and thermal assistance energy show that the signal originates from different traps than those responsible for the luminescence signal stimulated by green light (GL, 514 nm). The IRSL signal's short lifetime (18 days at 15 deg. C) may have been the reason why it was not detected in previous experiments. The decay of the IR signal after GL illumination was observed. The thermoluminescence at 76 deg. C was enhanced after IR illumination.
We present a thorough analysis of single atom detection using optical cavities. The large set of parameters that influence the signal-to-noise ratio for cavity detection is considered, with an emphasis on detunings, probe power, cavity finesse and photon detection schemes. Real device operating restrictions for single photon counting modules and standard photodiodes are included in our discussion, with heterodyne detection emerging as the clearly favourable technique, particularly for detuned detection at high power.
In embodiments, spectroscopic monitor monitors modulated light signals to detect low levels of contaminants and other compounds in the presence of background interference. The monitor uses a spectrometer that includes a transmissive modulator capable of causing different frequency ranges to move onto and off of the detector. The different ranges can include those with the desired signal and those selected to subtract background contributions from those with the desired signal. Embodiments of the system are particularly useful for monitoring metal concentrations in combustion effluent.
For the evaluation of diseases of salivary origin, ultrasound and/or sialography is recommended instead of MRI. In cases of salivary tumor, ultrasound may be helpful in delineating superficial tumors. For small tumors no further imaging is needed. When dealing with a large tumor or a tumor in the deep lobe of the parotid gland, MRI is the preferred imaging method. Not only does MRI provide a large variety of soft tissue signal differences, but also the multiplanar facilities are helpful in delineating the extent of the tumor, whether located in the submandibular, sublingual, or parotid gland. Skull base invasion is often well seen by MRI. Subtle changes may be missed and in those cases CT is recommended to exclude or prove destruction of the skull base. For the evaluation of patients presenting with a recurrent pleomorphic adenoma, MRI is recommended in all patients. MRI delineates the extent and number of recurrent tumors ...
The effect of spatial auditory information on a listener's ability to detect, identify, and monitor multiple simultaneous speech signals was evaluated using virtual audio technology. Factorial combinations of three variables - the number of localized spee...
The focus of this study is on the preparatory detection of uncertain net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission changes (also termed emission signals) under the Kyoto Protocol. The crucial question to be addressed is: How well do we need to know net emissions if we want to detect a specified emission signal after a given time? No restrictions exist as to what concerns the net emitter, which may be any GHG source or sink. Annex I countries are chosen as net emitters, simply for reasons of data availability and because of the excellent possibility of comparing net emitters (inter-country comparison). The countries' emissions - in an increasing number of cases even their uncertainties - are available permitting the application of preparatory signaldetection techniques, which are suited to address the aforementioned question. We currently discuss four ...
The techniques in order to measure the depth of defect in weldment and structure accurately have been developed. Many researches have made efforts to develop the methods for the accurate depth sizing of defect. TOFD is known as the most accurate method of various methods for measuring depth sizing. However, there is a possibility to miss defects because of the limitation of beam coverage for the ultrasound incident angle. In this study, the results for detectability and depth sizing using phased array ultrasonic technique for thick body were compared with those of conventional TOFD technique. It was experimentally confirmed that the phased array ultrasonic TOFD technique gives good detectability and accurate depth measurement for the various types of defects. The phased array ultrasonic TOFD technique developed in this study will contribute to increase the inspection reliability in thick component such as the pressure ...
A method and device have been provided for distinguishing Africanized honeybees from European honeybees. The method is based on the discovery of a distinct difference in the acoustical signatures of these two species of honeybees in flight. The European honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 210 to 240 Hz range while the Africanized honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 260 to 290 Hz range. The acoustic signal produced by honeybees is analyzed by means of a detecting device to quickly determine the honeybee species through the detection of the presence of frequencies in one of these distinct ranges. The device includes a microphone for acoustical signaldetection which feeds the detectedsignal into a frequency analyzer which is designed to detect the presence of either of the known ...
We present two cases of fetal neck masses that were initially diagnosed by ultrasound and further evaluated with prenatal MRI. MRI findings aided in further delineating the neck masses, increasing confidence in the final diagnosis (cervical teratoma and cystic hygroma). With the fetal airway typically filled with fluid that is of high signal on T2-weighted sequences, MRI images in three planes could identify whether the fetal larynx and trachea were partially or completely compressed by the neck tumor. This information was particularly useful in determining if a controlled delivery such as ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) was necessary and aided the surgeons in planning their approach to establishing airway control in the delivery room. (orig.)
This paper presents a new approach to improve the in silico modeling of ultrasound transducer arrays. While current simulation tools accurately predict the theoretical element...Full Text Available
The vigilance reinforcement hypothesis (VRH) asserts that errors in signaldetection tasks are partially explained by operant reinforcement and extinction processes. VRH predictions were tested with a computerized baggage screening task. Our experiment evaluated the effects of signal schedule (extinction vs. variable interval 6 min) and visual field complexity (dial vs. baggage x-ray) on search behavior rates. There was a main effect for signal schedule [F (1, 20) = 14.0, p = 0.001, p[subscript rep] = 0.99], but no effects for field complexity or interaction. The VRH suggests that performance errors in visual screening work may be reduced through operant conditioning of search behaviors by intensive management of artificially planted signals. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)
Objective: To compare the efficiency of dual energy subtraction and conventional direct digital radiography in signaldetecting ability. Methods: 200 plastic balls which were 4 mm in diameter were taken as signals and were placed on a 10 cm thick plastic board and the right upper thorax of a healthy volunteer. The signals were examined by DES and CDR separately and were estimated by 3 radiologists with 5-value-differentiation method. ROC curve analysis was made by ROC kit software. Results: when signals on plastic board were detected by CDR and DES, ROC curve analysis indicated that there was no significant difference (P=0.4851 > 0.05, two-tailed) between the area under the ROC curves of the two methods (Az=0.9931 for CDR and Az=0.9879 for DES). The difference was significant (P=0.0002 <0.01, two-tailed) between the area under the ROC curves of CDR and DES ...
Objective: To compare the enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with that on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients with pathologically proven hilar cholangiocarcinomas were evaluated by both low mechanical index CEUS and CECT. The enhancement feature of the tumor, portal vein infiltration, and lesion conspicuity on them was investigated. Results: In the arterial phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hyperenhancement, isoenhancement, and hypoenhancement, were 14 (43.8%), 14 (43.8%), and 4 (12.6%), on CEUS, and 12 (37.5%), 9 (28.1%), and 11 (34.4%), on CECT (P = 0.162). In portal phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hypoenhancement, isoenhancement, and hyperenhancement were 30 (93.8%), 1 (3.1%), and 1 (3.1%), on CEUS, and 23 (71.9%), 8 (25.0%), and 1 (3.1%), on CECT (P = 0.046). The detection rates for portal vein infiltration were 84.2% ...
This paper describes detection of electro-discharged machine (EDM) defects in magnetic steam generator (SG) tubes of Monju fast breeder reactor (FBR). The EDM defects are located under support plate (SP), on the outer tube surface and they are detected by a remote field eddy current probe. Using the experimental measurements and a multi frequency algorithm, the defect signal can be extracted from the SP signal. The parameters of the multi-frequency algorithm were calculated by comparing SP measurements with two-dimensional finite element simulations (FEM). (author)
Two cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), in which ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) studies detected an atypical hemorrhagic pattern associated with an intrahepatic arterio venous malformation (AVM) around the growths, are presented. In both cases, histology demonstrated a very early regenerative stage and necrotic-hemorrhagic areas within the lesions. In these cases, the analysis of radiological findings, surgical specimens and histology seemed to confirm the pathogenetic hypothesis suggested by Wanless: in normal liver parenchyma, a ``blood steal`` phenomenon due to congenital or acquired intrahepatic AVM could cause ischemic damage, appearing as a hemorrhagic necrotic area, the extent of which depends on the degree of residual portal supply. (orig.)
Speech perception integrates auditory and visual information. This is evidenced by the McGurk illusion where seeing the talking face influences the auditory phonetic percept and by the audiovisual detection advantage where seeing the talking face influences the detectability of the acoustic speech signal. Here, we show that identification of phonetic content and detection can be dissociated as speech-specific and non-specific audiovisual integration effects. To this end, we employed synthetically modified stimuli, sine wave speech (SWS), which is an impoverished speech signal that only observers informed of its speech-like nature recognize as speech. While the McGurk illusion only occurred for informed observers, the audiovisual detection advantage occurred for na?ve observers as well. Thi...
In this paper, four different types of pulsed eddy current (PEC) probe are designed and their performance of detecting wall thickness reduction is compared. By using the backward difference method in time and the finite element method in space, PEC signals from various thickness and materials are numerically calculated and three features of the signal are selected. Since PEC signals and features are obtained by various types and sizes of probe, the comparison is made through the normalized features which reflect the sensitivity of the feature to thickness reduction. The normalized features indicate that the shielded reflection probe provides the best sensitivity to wall thickness reduction for all three signal features. Results show that the best sensitivity to thickness reduction is achieved by the peak value, but also suggest that the time to peak can be a good candidate because ...
The experimental technique used for detection of subcooled boiling through analysis of the fluctuation contained in pressure transducer signals is presented. This work was partly conducted at the Institut fuer Kerntechnik und zertoerungsfreie Pruefverfahren von Hannover (IKPH, Germany) in a thermal-hydraulic circuit with one electrically heated rod with annular geometry test section. Piezo resistive pressure sensors are used for onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) and onset of fully developed boiling (OFDB) detection using spectral analysis/ signal correlation techniques. Experimental results are interpreted by phenomenological analysis of these two points and compared with existing correlation. The results allow to conclude that this technique is adequate for the detection and monitoring of the ONB and OFDB. (author)
The experimental technique used for detection of subcooled boiling through analysis of the fluctuation contained in pressure transducer signals is presented. This work was partly conducted at the Institut fuer Kerntechnik und zertoerungsfreie Pruefverfahren von Hannover (IKPH, Germany) in a thermal-hydraulic circuit with one electrically heated rod with annular geometry test section. Piezo resistive pressure sensors are used for onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) and onset of fully developed boiling (OFDB) detection using spectral analysis/ signal correlation techniques. Experimental results are interpreted by phenomenological analysis of these two points and compared with existing correlation. The results allow to conclude that this technique is adequate for the detection and monitoring of the ONB and OFDB. (author)
The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of parathyroid scintigraphy in histological estimation for secondary hyperparathyroidism (2HPT) using Tc-99m sestamibi or Tc-99m tetrofosmin. Tc-99m sestamibi (MIBI) and Tc-99m tetrofosmin (Tetro) parathyroid imaging following double-phase study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound were performed on 14 patients with 2HPT. All patients underwent parathyroidectomy. The uptake of two tracers in parathyroid areas was compared with the histopathologic findings. Forty-nine parathyroid glands were surgically explored and histologically proven to be hyperplastic. Of these, 42 were diagnosed with nodular type (N-type) hyperplasia, and 7 with diffuse type (D-type) hyperplasia. MIBI and Tetro parathyroid imagings detected 34 and 35 parathyroid glands, respectively. The sensitivity of MIBI was determined to be 76.2% (32/42) for N-type, and 28.6% (2/7) for D-type. The sensitivity of ...
Purpose To investigate the sensitivity and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for restaging the mediastinum after induction chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with tissue-proven stage IIIA-N2 disease who were treated with induction chemotherapy and who had undergone mediastinal restaging by EBUS-TBNA were reviewed. On the basis of computed tomography, 58 patients were classified as having stable disease and 66 were judged to have had a partial response. All patients subsequently underwent thoracotomy with attempted curative resection and a lymph node dissection regardless of EBUS-TBNA findings. Results Persistent nodal metastases were detected by using EBUS-TBNA in 89 patients (72%). Of the 35 patients in whom no metastases were assessed by EBUS-TBNA, 28 were found to have residual stage IIIA-N2 ...
An ultrasensitive laser-induced fluorescence detector was used with capillary electrophoresis for the study of 5-carboxy-tetramethylrhodamine. The raw signal from the detector provided roughly...Full Text Available
Acoustic lenses are employed in a variety of applications, from biomedical imaging and surgery to defense systems and damage detection in materials. Focused acoustic signals, for example, enable ultrasonic...Full Text Available
Fault symptoms of running gearboxes must be detected as early as possible to avoid serious accidents. Diverse advanced methods are developed for this challenging task. However, for multiwavelet transforms, the fixed basis functions independent of the input dynamic response signals will possibly reduce the accuracy of fault diagnosis. Meanwhile, for multiwavelet denoising technique, the universal threshold denoising tends to overkill important but weak features in gear fault diagnosis. To overcome the shortcoming, a novel method incorporating customized (i.e., signal-based) multiwavelet lifting schemes with sliding window denoising is proposed in this paper. On the basis of Hermite spline interpolation, various vector prediction and update operators with the desirable properties of biorthogonality, symmetry, short support and vanishing moments are constructed. The customized lifting-based multiwavelets for feature matching ...
The utility of a two-photon optical fiber fluorescence probe (TPOFF) for sensing and quantifying tumor fluorescent signals was tested in vivo. Xenograft tumors were developed in athymic mice using MCA207...Full Text Available
A confocal microscopy imaging system was devised to selectively detect Second harmonic signals generated by biological tissues. Several types of biological tissues were examined using this imaging system, including human teeth, bovine blood vessels, and chicken skin. All these tissues generated strong second harmonic signals. There is considerable evidence that the source of these signals in tissue is collagen. Collagen, the predominant component of most tissues, is known to have second order nonlinear susceptibility. This technique may have diagnostic usefulness in pathophysiological conditions characterized by changes in collagen structure including malignant transformation of nevi, progression of diabetic complications, and abnormalities in wound healing.
A possibility is considered or reducing the surface heterogeneity effect of an item being tested on the result of radiation flaw detection by means of signal delay of one of detectors in a two-channel radiometric flaw detector. The exposure of a translationally moving item has been studied as well as an external exposure of a rotating hollow item.
An eddy current inspection has been applied for a pre-service and in-service examination of a steam generator in nuclear power plants. The experience from the inspection of steam generators showed that many plants had an excessive number of tubes with eddy current noise signals over several hundreds, which originated from manufacturing anomalies. The plants in U.S suffered significant downstream inspection costs, history reviews, and diagnostic testing because some signals resembled flaws and others masked a flaw. These lessens learned resulted in issuing the guidelines for steam generator tubing specifications and repair, in order to reduce the number of anomalous signals in the tubes and also to provide the requirement of a signal to noise ratio by applying a field type examination with bobbin coil eddy current probes at a manufacturing process. Besides the noise signals of a ...
Objective: To explore the feasibility of real-time monitoring exposure dose and image quality by using the data stored in the DICOM image archive of direct digital radiography system. Methods: Model TO. 16 was exposed, the current increased gradually from 0.5 to 125 mAs. The displayed number of model A( diameter 11.1 mm), D (diameter 4.0 mm) and J( diameter 0.7 mm) were recorded, and the detect factors (H_T) was also calculated. Images were sent to workstation before the end of DR examination. An automatic procedure was implemented to extract dose data and exposure parameters from the DICOM header file. Maximum, minimum and 3rd quartile values were preinstalled. Mean values exceeding the threshold trigger alarm signal to guide radiologist to explore the cause. Results: When the current of point A was less than 10 mAs and the current of point D and J were less than 16 mAs, the detect factor (H_T) increased with the rise of ...
The long-range correlation properties in the hourly time variability of geochemical signals measured in a 70 m depth well at Triponzo (Umbria region), are investigated by the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). DFA is a data processing method that allows for the detection of scaling behaviors in observational time series even in the presence of non-stationarities. The procedure adopted has allowed for the unambiguous identification of possible correlations among the recorded signals and local earthquakes.
Object: To limit the discharge amount of reactor water in a primary system at the time of scram to prevent excessive outflow of reactor water outside the system. Structure: A signal from an upper limit position indicator detects the fact that control rods are completely inserted when the reactor is urgently stopped and the detectionsignal causes a valve in an outflow line of the discharge water from a control rod driving mechanism to be closed to limit the amount of discharge flown into the scram discharge vessel, thus preventing outflow of reactor water in the primary system after the scram has been initiated. (Kamimura, M.).
The authors report a case of a cephalopagus conjoined twin that was diagnosed at 29 weeks of gestation despite the mother having had two ultrasounds done previously. The fetus had one head and face,...Full Text Available
We investigate a method for gene delivery to vascular smooth muscle cells using ultrasound triggered delivery of plasmid DNA from electrostatically coupled cationic microbubbles. Microbubbles...Full Text Available
Although ultrasound arrays were exploited in photoacoustic imaging to improve imaging speed, ultrasound-array-based optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) has never been achieved...Full Text Available
A bladder neck obstruction was suspected after ultrasound investigation at 16 weeks' gestation. Evaluation of protein content in the amniotic fluid, fetal ascites, and fluid from the overdistended bladder...Full Text Available
Previous ultrasound elasticity imaging experiments supported a generally accepted concept that the hardness of deep venous thrombi increases with thrombus aging. Results also showed that this...Full Text Available
Although previous intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) radiofrequency-based analysis data showed acceptable reproducibility for plaque composition, measurements are not easily obtained, particularly that...Full Text Available
The detection and estimation of gravitational wave (GW) signals belonging to a parameterized family of waveforms requires, in general, the numerical maximization of a data-dependent function of the signal parameters. Due to noise in the data, the function to be maximized is often highly multi-modal with numerous local maxima. Searching for the global maximum then becomes computationally expensive, which in turn can limit the scientific scope of the search. Stochastic optimization is one possible approach to reducing computational costs in such applications. We report results from a first investigation of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method in this context. The method is applied to a testbed motivated by the problem of detection and estimation of a binary inspiral signal. Our results show that PSO works well in the presence of high multi-modality, making it a viable ...
Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of ...
In order to evaluate dynamic behavior of underground cracks, analysis and detection were attempted on multiple acoustic emission (AE) events. The multiple AE is a phenomenon in which multiple AE signals generated by underground cracks developed in an extremely short time interval are superimposed, and observed as one AE event. The multiple AE signal consists of two AE signals, whereas the second P-wave is supposed to have been inputted before the first S-wave is inputted. The first P-wave is inputted first, where linear three-dimensional particle movements are observed, but the movements are made random due to scattering and sensor characteristics. When the second P-wave is inputted, the linear particle movements are observed again, but are superimposed with the existing input signals and become multiple AE, which creates poor S/N ratio. The multiple AE ...
Although infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals in feldspars can be bleached rapidly by sunlight, there could still be a small amount of IRSL signal remaining in sediment grains if they have experienced only relatively short sunlight exposure before deposition. This remaining signal results in a ''remnant dose'' stored in the grain and is important for young samples but negligible for old samples. Several methods have been introduced to detect insufficient bleaching, and some of them can provide information on the extent of the bleaching. Others can only distinguish between samples bleached for a very long time and for a short time. Empirical methods are introduced to evaluate the possible values of equivalent dose accumulated since the grains were deposited. These methods involve the analysis of the equivalent doses and the natural IRSL signals obtained using single-disc ...
The problem of passively tracking a moving signal source has importance in a variety of applications such as radar, sonar, seismology, and radio astronomy. In many applications, only limited information is available about the signal source. It will be assumed here that only the signals which are detected by the sensors and the velocity of the source signal are known. The objective of this document is to present a program which passively tracks a target using an array of sensors. This program is available in MATLAB, version 3.5. The algorithm which is implemented consists of three main parts: time delay estimation, passive localization, and data post processing. Each of these parts are discussed, and the mathematical foundation for their solution given. Following, this the organization of the program is presented, and an example of its usage is given.
In this study, a miniature fiber-optic radiation detector has been developed using a water-equivalent organic scintillator for electron beam therapy dosimetry. Usually, two kinds of light signals such as fluorescent and Cherenkov lights are generated in a fiber-optic radiation detector when a high-energy electron beam is irradiated. The fluorescent light signal is produced in the scintillator and is transmitted through a plastic optical fiber to a remote light-measuring device such as a PMT or a photodiode. The Cherenkov light could be also produced in the plastic optical fiber itself and be detected by a light-measuring device. Therefore, it could cause problems or limit the accuracy of the detection of a fluorescent light signal that is proportional to dose. The objectives of this study are to measure, characterize and eliminate Cherenkov light generated in a plastic optical fiber ...
An electrochemical detection method for analyzing sequence-specific DNA using gold nanoparticle DNA probes and subsequent signal amplification step by silver enhancement is described. The assay relies on the electrostatic adsorption of target oligonucleotides onto the sensing surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and its hybridization to the gold nanoparticle-labeled oligonucleotides DNA probe. After silver deposition onto gold nanoparticles, binding events between probe and target were monitored by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signal of the large number of silver atoms anchored on the hybrids at the electrode surface. The signal intensity difference permits to distinguish between the match of two perfectly matched DNA strands and the near-perfect match where just one base pair was wrong. Coupled with this 'nanoparticle-promoted' reduction of silver ...
A method and apparatus is provided for detecting explosives by thermal imaging. The explosive material is subjected to a high energy wave which can be either a sound wave or an electromagnetic wave which will initiate a chemical reaction in the explosive material which chemical reaction will produce heat. The heat is then sensed by a thermal imaging device which will provide a signal to a computing device which will alert a user of the apparatus to the possibility of an explosive device being present.
We identify emission lines of post-iron peak elements in very high signal-to-noise spectra of a sample of planetary nebulae. Analysis of lines from ions of Kr and Xe reveals enhancements in most of the PNe, in agreement with the theories of s-process in AGB star. Surprisingly, we did not detect lines from Br even though s-process calculations indicate that it should be produced with Kr at detectable levels.
Waveform correlation detectors compare a signal template with successive windows of a continuous data stream and report a detection when the correlation coefficient, or some comparable detection statistic, exceeds a specified threshold. Since correlation detectors exploit the fine structure of the full waveform, they are exquisitely sensitive when compared to power (STA/LTA) detectors. The drawback of correlation detectors is that they require complete knowledge of the signal to be detected, which limits such methods to instances of seismicity in which a very similar signal has already been observed by every station used. Such instances include earthquake swarms, aftershock sequences, repeating industrial seismicity, and many other forms of controlled explosions. The reduction in the detection threshold is even greater when the techniques ...
Purpose: To permit accurate detection of sodium leakage by distinguishing between variations in the overflow tank level due to changes in sodium temperature accompanying changes in the power level or operating state of a liquid metal sodium cooled fast breeder, and a reduction in power level due to duct leakage. Constitution: The volume of sodium in the primary cooling system is roughly estimated from the temperatures of hot and cold legs, and the duct leak preset level with respect to the sodium liquid level within an overflow tank when the plant is normal is varied according to the state of the plant. More particularly, the volume of sodium within the overflow tank is calculated on the basis of a signal representing the liquid level detected by a liquid level gauge in the overflow tank and a signal representing the temperature detected by hot leg and cold leg thermometers, thereby ...
The influence of low-frequency electromagnetic field irradiating by high-voltage transmission lines on signal transduction of cell in spleen cells of the rates have been studied by molecular-biology techniques. The spleen cells are extracted from skilled rates, which are exposed in the electromagnetic field of high-voltage transmission lines with 4000 V/m and 0.09-0.1 G about 400 days. The quantity or level of phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) in JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway of spleen cells, which are stimulated and unstimulated by IL-2, respectively, are detected by the immunoblotting and immunobiochemistry. The results show that the expression of phospho-STAT3 in spleen cell stimulated by IL-2 differ not from that in the unstimulated cell. The former is significantly large than the latter. This shows that signal transduction of ...
For a long time, signal processing applications, and most particularly detection and parameter estimation methods, have relied on the limiting behaviour of test statistics and estimators, as the number n of observations of a population grows large comparatively to the population size N, i.e. n>>N. Modern technological and societal advances now demand the study of sometimes extremely large populations, while simultaneously requiring fast signal processing due to accelerated system dynamics; this results in not-so-large practical ratios n/N, sometimes even smaller than one. A disruptive change in classical signal processing methods has therefore been initiated in the past ten years, mostly spurred by the field of large dimensional random matrix theory. The early literature in random matrix theory for signal processing applications is however scarce and highly technical. This ...
Remote detection of chemicals using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) utilizing DIAL (Differential Absorption LIDAR) is now a standard detection technique for both military and civilian activities. We have developed a novel nonlinear optical phase conjugation system that can reduce the effects of speckle noise and atmospheric turbulence on DIAL remote detection systems. We have shown numerically and experimentally that it is possible to increase the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for LIDAR systems under certain conditions using optical phase conjugation. This increase in S/N can result in more accurate detection of chemical effluents while simultaneously reducing the time necessary to acquire this information.
We have tested the suitability of a new single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol for estimating the equivalent dose (D_e) in polymineral fine grains extracted from colluvia from various sites in Germany. First, we report the behaviour of three OSL signals: (i) blue-stimulated, (ii) infrared-stimulated luminescence, and (iii) blue-stimulated luminescence following infrared (IR) stimulation, using a near-UV (290-380 nm) detection window in each case. For these three signals, there is a significant change in sensitivity with regeneration cycle; this change can be compensated for using the response to a fixed test dose after each natural or regenerated measurement. The source of the three luminescence signals is then investigated using pulse-anneal and elevated-temperature experiments. Fading tests on laboratory-induced signals show that although the IR signals ...
The solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare type of exocrine pancreatic neoplasm. SPT predominantly affects young women and female children, and is usually discovered incidentally. This tumor is generally benign with a low incidence of malignancy. A 13-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with a few weeks' history of mild abdominal pain and jaundice. On physical examination, there was no palpable mass. The laboratory tests showed increased SR, CRP, high bilirubin, amylase and lipase serum levels. Ultrasound imaging revealed a solid lesion in the region of the pancreatic head. On MRI, precise tumor localization in the head of the pancreas with pancreatic duct dilatation and compression of the common bile duct were visualized. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and cholecystectomy was performed with good clinical outcome. Microscopic and immunohistochemical studies indicated that tumor cells were typical of SPT without any signs of malignancy. After ...
SommarioScopo Valutare limpatto clinico negli anni dellecografia intraoperatoria (IOUS) nella identificazione delle metastasi epatiche rispetto alle altre metodiche di imaging. Materiali e metodi risultati delle ecografie intraoperatorie effettuate per lidentificazione delle metastasi epatiche in un periodo compreso tra gli anni 2000 e 2006 sono stati retrospettivamente revisionati e comparati con le metodiche di imaging preoperatorio: Ecografia (US), Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e/o Risonanza Magnetica (RM). Tutti i casi sono stati patologicamente provati. Sono stati calcolati per anno i casi discordanti in termini di presenza/assenza di lesione focale epatica. Il confronto statistico e stato effettuato con il test di McNemar. Un valore del p<0,05 e stato considerato statisticamente sig...
Object: To control the average liquid level of each steam generator at a constant level irrespective of the flow rate of sodium thereby to decrease change in the retained amount of sodium and at the same time to improve the load response characteristic. Construction: A method for decreasing to as large an extent as possible a change in the amount of sodium retained in a steam generator due to change in the flow rate, which comprises the steps of detecting the main recirculating flow rate of liquid sodium by the use of a sodium flow rate detector, amplifying the detected flow rate signal depending upon the ratio between the flow rates respectively in a super-heater and a re-heater (distribution ratio), delivering the amplified signal to a function generator which generates a liquid level setting signal for maintaining the respective average liquid levels of the super-heater and the ...
Previous investigations have shown promising results in using the directional cross-correlation method to estimate velocity vectors. The velocity vector estimate provides information on both velocity direction and magnitude. The direction is estimated by beamforming signals along directions in the range $[0^{\\circ}; 180^{\\circ}[$ and identifying the direction that produces the largest correlation across emissions. An estimate of the velocity magnitude is obtained from the spatial shift between signals beamformed along the estimated direction. This paper expands these investigations to include estimations of the vector velocities of a larger region by combining the estimations along several scan lines. In combination with a B-mode image, the vector velocities are displayed as an image of the investigated region with a color indicating the magnitude, and arrows showing the direction of the flow. Using the RASMUS experimental ...
The micropulse lidar (MPL) is a ground-based optical remote sensing system designed primarily to determine the altitude of clouds overhead. The physical principle is the same as for radar. Pulses of energy are transmitted into the atmosphere; the energy scattered back to the transceiver is collected and measured as a time-resolved signal. From the time delay between each outgoing transmitted pulse and the backscattered signal, the distance to the scatterer is infered. Besides real-time detection of clouds, post-processing of the lidar return can also characterize the extent and properties of aerosol or other particle-laden regions.
A multiple sampling dE/dx counter using a multiwire proportional chamber equipped with catbode pads was constructed for the multiple detection of dE/dx values along a particle trajectory. For low-energy particles this counter was proved to be useful as a Bragg-curve detector. At relativistic energies around E=14.6 GeV/nucleon good particle identification was obtained by cathode pad signals as well as anode signals for the range of projectile fragments from Z=1 (minimum ionization) up to a beam charge of Z=14. (orig.).
The Heard Island Feasibility Test (HIFT) demonstrated that coded acoustic signals could be detected at ranges up to 18,000 km with currently available source technology. This paper describes one component of the HIFT where a large aperture vertical line array was deployed to record the signals transmitted from Heard Island. We have performed four analysis Of the VLA receptions, of the Heard Island signals. All four suggest the presence of higher order modes. The frequency- vertical wavenumber analysis and the modal beamforming indicate that mode 3 has the highest amplitude while the modal fitting suggests that made 5--6 are largest. It is difficult to resolve the differences since the SNR at the VLA, nearly 18,000 km with a transmission loss of around 145 dB, is quite low. Individual arrivals could not be distinguished because of the long integration time necessitated by the low SNR.
MRI findings in 13 patients with monolateral parotid tumor were compared with US, sialographic and CT findings. MRI did not allow an accurate diagnosis in 2 patients with diffuse chronic parotitis. MRI was superior to CT in 1 case in defining the intraglandular site of the lesion, and in 2 patients in showing the extraglandular involvement. MRI proved to be superior to CT thanks to its contrast resolution and to multiplanar imaging. MRI high contrast resolution made it possible to demonstrate neoplastic lesions of 4 mm in diameter. The lesion has low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted. Parotid tumors cannot be characterized by signal intensity alone: only morphology allows to discriminate between benign and malignant lesions. To conclude, US is a screening method, while MRI is helpful in detecting multifocal lesions and in evaluating the tumor extent.
Multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (MF-DXA) has been developed to detect the long-range power-law cross-correlation of considered signals in the presence of non-stationarity. However, crossovers arising from extrinsic periodic trends make the scaling behavior difficult to analyze. We introduce a Fourier filtering method to eliminate the trend effects and systematically investigate the multifractal cross-correlation of simulated and real traffic signals. The crossover locations are found approximately corresponding to the periods of underlying trend. Traffic velocity on one road and flows on adjacent roads show strong cross-correlation. They also present weak multifractality after periodic trends are removed. The traffic velocity and flow are cross-correlated in opposite directions which is accordant to their actual evolution.
We have measured time-resolved laser-induced incandescence of flame-generated soot under high-vacuum conditions (4.1?10?6 mbar) at an excitation wavelength of 532 nm with laser fluences spanning 0.06?0.5 J/cm2. We generated soot in an ethylene/air diffusion flame, introduced it into the vacuum system with an aerodynamic lens, heated it using a pulsed laser with a spatially homogeneous and temporally smooth laser profile, and recorded LII temporal profiles at 685 nm. At low laser fluences LII signal decay rates are slow, and LII signals persist beyond the residence time of the soot particles in the detection region. At these fluences, the temporal maximum of the LII signal increases nearly linearly with increasing laser fluence until reaching a plateau at ?0.18?J/cm2. At higher fluences, th...
The detection of a stochastic background of gravitational waves could significantly impact our understanding of the physical processes that shaped the early Universe. The challenge lies in separating the cosmological signal from other stochastic processes such as instrument noise and astrophysical foregrounds. One approach is to build two or more detectors and cross correlate their output, thereby enhancing the common gravitational wave signal relative to the uncorrelated instrument noise. When only one detector is available, as will likely be the case with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), alternative analysis techniques must be developed. Here we show that models of the noise and signal transfer functions can be used to tease apart the gravitational and instrument noise contributions. We discuss the role of gravitational wave insensitive "null channels" formed from particular combinations ...
The detection of explosives is a notoriously difficult problem, especially at stand-off distances, due to their (generally) low vapor pressure, environmental and matrix interferences, and packaging. We are exploring optimal dynamic detection to exploit the best capabilities of recent advances in laser technology and recent discoveries in optimal shaping of laser pulses for control of molecular processes to significantly enhance the standoff detection of explosives. The core of the ODD-Ex technique is the introduction of optimally shaped laser pulses to simultaneously enhance sensitivity of explosives signatures while reducing the influence of noise and the signals from background interferents in the field (increase selectivity). These goals are being addressed by operating in an optimal nonlinear fashion, typically with a single shaped laser pulse inherently containing within it coherently locked ...
With steam generator check testing, the numerous types of defect not only have to be detected reliably but also to be identified correctly and classified according to depth. A priori, no signals are provided by the physical eddy-current mechanism, i.e. the disturbance of an excited eddy-current field by a defect, which will allow unambiguous identification and classification of the defects. The task, therefore, consists in designing the eddy-current method in terms of measurement technology in such a way as to obtain useful detection, identification and classification by a translation of the signals as simple and as save as possible. Internal through-flow wils and internal rotating probes were examined for their suitability to fulfill this three-pronged task with steam generator inspection.
With steam generator check testing, the numerous types of defect not only have to be detected reliably but also to be identified correctly and classified according to depth. A priori, no signals are provided by the physical eddy-current mechanism, i.e. the disturbance of an excited eddy-current field by a defect, which will allow unambiguous identification and classification of the defects. The task, therefore, consists in designing the eddy-current method in terms of measurement technology in such a way as to obtain useful detection, identification and classification by a translation of the signals as simple and as save as possible. Internal through-flow wils and internal rotating probes were examined for their suitability to fulfill this three-pronged task with steam generator inspection. (orig./RW).
Abstract Bioluminescent bacteria have been used for many years for biotoxicological analysis. One of the main concerns with this microorganism is the low experimental repeatability when subjected to external factors. The aim of the present study was to obtain accurate, sensitive, and repeatable measurements with stable signals (during the detection and over days) for application in a water-analysis device for the detection of pollutants. Growth conditions were tested and optimized. An optimal freeze-drying procedure for the constitutive bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri and Photobacterium phosphoreum was developed. The luminescence stability after rehydration was also investigated. Freeze drying was found to be a critical process in survival and signal stability of luminescent bacter...
Fault symptoms of running gearboxes must be detected as early as possible to avoid serious accidents. Diverse advanced methods are developed for this challenging task. However, for multiwavelet transforms, the fixed basis functions independent of the input dynamic response signals will possibly reduce the accuracy of fault diagnosis. Meanwhile, for multiwavelet denoising technique, the universal threshold denoising tends to overkill important but weak features in gear fault diagnosis. To overcome the shortcoming, a novel method incorporating customized (i.e., signal-based) multiwavelet lifting schemes with sliding window denoising is proposed in this paper. On the basis of Hermite spline interpolation, various vector prediction and update operators with the desirable properties of biorthog...
Geometrically anisotropic eddy current probes are a type of separate function probes especially fit to the detection of defects showing a preferential direction. This kind of flaw induces a coupling between the transmitter and the receiver by guiding eddy currents from the one to the other. On the other hand, this coupling will be almost non-existent in the presence of defects or spurious effects not displaying this geometrical particularity. Basic studies on an elementary two-coil set-up allow the acknowledgment of the intrinsic qualities of such probes: good signal-to-noise ratio, influence field practically constant on the whole defect length, ability to detect bridged defects, insensitivity to lift off. These results can be improved by achieving multicoils probes adapted to different kinds of problems. An application to continuous casting slabs testing yields very interesting results in the ...
An anisotropic power spectrum will have a clear signature in the 21cm radiation from high- redshift hydrogen. We calculate the expected power spectrum of the intensity fluctuations in neutral hydrogen from before the epoch of reionization, and predict the accuracy to which future experiments could constrain a quadrupole anisotropy in the power spectrum. We find that the Square Kilometer Array will have marginal detection abilities for this signal at z~17 if the process of reionization has not yet started; reionization could enhance the detectability substantially. Pushing to higher redshifts and higher sensitivity will allow highly precise (percent level) measurements of anisotropy.
This paper presents a novel design methodology, based on shaping the system frequency response, for the generation of an appropriate residual signal that is sensitive to sensor faults in the presence of model uncertainty and exogenous unknown (unmeasured) disturbances. An integrated feedback controller design and robust frequency-based fault detection approach is proposed for Single-Input/Single-Output systems. The effciency of the proposed method is demonstrated on a Single Machine Innite Bus (SMIB) power system that achieves a coordinate power system stabilizer with satisfactory sensor fault detection capabilities.
The electromagnetic properties of a prototype gravitational wave detector, based on two coupled superconducting microwave cavities, were tested. The radio-frequency (rf) detection system was carefully analysed. With the use of piezoelectric crystals small harmonic displacements of the cavity walls were induced and the parametric conversion of the electromagnetic field inside the cavities explored. Experimental results of bandwidth and sensitivity of the parametric converter versus stored energy and voltage applied to the piezoelectric crystal are reported. A rf control loop, developed to stabilize phase changes on signal paths, gave a 125 dBc rejection of the drive mode on a time scale of 1 h.
All-optical envelope detection of a 5 GHz 200 Mbit/s modulated radio frequency signal is achieved using a 650 nm resonant cavity light emitting diode. Error-free transmission is achieved over a 50 m-long link of 1 mm diameter graded index polymer optical fibre (POF). The presented system has potential applications in low cost and low complexity short range wireless and wireline POF-based transmission links.
Sep 19, 2011 ... (The whispering voice, on the other hand, was the latest in ultrasound directed audio technology from the firm Audio Spotlight.) The NASA ...
ObjectiveAngiography remains a critical component for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic intervention in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The goal of this study...Full Text Available
... mammography or on ultrasound but not found on physical examination, we consider them non-palpable or not ... lot of this. We send every patient for physical therapy, no matter what type of reconstruction we ...
Objective. To compare turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) with standard T1-weighted (T1-W) and T2-weighted (T2-W) MR sequences in the very early detection of acute osteomyelitis in children. Materials and methods. In 15 children with osteomyelitis, 15 sets of T1-W spin-echo (SE) (TR/TE, 400-640/12-17), T2-W turbo spin-echo (TSE) (TR/TE/ETL, 3290-4465/112-120/11), and TIRM (TR/TE/TI, 4000-6120/60/160) images were acquired with a 1.0-T magnet. Contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios and percentage of signal between lesion and normal bone marrow were analysed with a computer-assisted image analysing system in a region of interest (ROI). Results. In 13 of 15 patients, the absolute signal enhancement in a ROI on the TIRM images was better than on the T1-W SE and T2-W TSE images and in 14 of 15 cases, C/N ratios were also better on the TIRM images than on the other sequences. In the other cases, the TIRM signal ...
It is shown that the existence of faster-than-light signals (tachyons) would imply the existence (and detectability) of a privileged inertial frame and that one can avoid all problems with reversed-time order only by using absolute synchronization instead of the standard one. The connection between these results and the EPR-paradox is discussed.
We discuss optimal detection of fast radio transients from astrophysical objects while taking into account the effects of propagation through intervening ionized media, including dispersion, scattering and scintillation.Our analysis applies to the giant-pulse phenomenon exhibited by some pulsars, for which we show examples, and to radio pulses from other astrophysical sources, such as prompt radio emission from gamma-ray burst sources and modulated signals from extra-terrestrial civilizations.
Heterodyne detection with a point-contact Josephson junction has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The measured performance of the device at 36 GHz is in good agreement with the theory. By operating vanadium point contacts at 1.4 K, the authors have achieved a single-sideband (SSB) mixer noise temperature of 54 K with a conversion gain of 1.35 and a signal bandwidth on the order of 1 GHz. A potentially impressive performance for these devices at submillimeter wavelengths can be extrapolated from the results.
Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostics system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of ...
Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of ...
A new method is being developed to quickly screen for the human exposure potential to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorines (OCs). The development involves two key elements: identifying suitable signals that represent intracellular changes that are specific to PAH and OC exposure, and constructing a device to guide the biological cell growth so that signals from individual cells are consistent and reproducible. We are completing the identification of suitable signals by using synchrotron radiation-based (SR) Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm-1). Distinct changes have been observed in the IR spectra after treatment of human cells in culture medium with PAHs and OCs. The potential use of this method for detecting exposure to PAHs and OCs has been tested and compared to a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) ...
The tidal motion of the ocean water through the ambient magnetic field, generates secondary electric field. This motionally induced electric field can be detected in the sea or inland and has a potential for electrical soundings of the Earth. A first goal of the paper is to gain an understanding of the global distribution of the electric signal due to tidal ocean flow. We simulate the electric signals for two tidal constituents - lunar semidiurnal (M2) and diurnal (O1) tides. We assume a realistic Earth's conductivity model with a surface thin shell and 1-D mantle underneath. Simulations demonstrate that in some coastal regions the amplitudes of the electric field can reach 100 mV/km and 10 mV/km for M2 and O1 tides respectively. The changes of lithosphere resistance produce detectable changes in the tidal electric signals. We show that our predictions are in a good agreement with ...
A marine propulsion system is a very complicated system composed of many mechanical components. As a result, the vibration signal of a gearbox in the system is strongly coupled with the vibration signatures of other components including a diesel engine and main shaft. It is therefore imperative to assess the coupling effect on diagnostic reliability in the process of gear fault diagnosis. For this reason, a fault detection and diagnosis method based on bispectrum analysis and artificial neural networks (ANNs) was proposed for the gearbox with consideration given to the impact of the other components in marine propulsion systems. To monitor the gear conditions, the bispectrum analysis was first employed to detect gear faults. The amplitude-frequency plots containing gear characteristic sign...
With the aim to study and to improve LIBS capability for detecting residues of energetic compounds in air surrounding, nine types of explosives and some potential interferents, placed in small quantities on a metallic support, were interrogated by a laser. Shot-to-shot behavior of the line intensities relative to the sample constituents was studied. The detected plasma was not stoichiometric and the line intensities, as well as their ratios, were changing even for an order of magnitude from one sampling point to another, particularly in the case of aromatic compounds. We explained some sources of such LIBS signal's behavior and this allowed us to establish a data processing procedure, which leads to a good linearization among the data sets. In this way, it was possible to determine some re...
A simple and efficient method for characterization of multidimensional Gaussian states is suggested and experimentally demonstrated. Our scheme shows analogies with tomography of finite dimensional quantum states, with the covariance matrix playing the role of the density matrix and homodyne detection providing Stern-Gerlach-like projections. The major difference stems from a different character of relevant noises: while the statistics of Stern-Gerlach-like measurements is governed by binomial statistics, the detection of quadrature variances correspond to chi-square statistics. For Gaussian and near Gaussian states the suggested method provides, compared to standard tomography techniques, more stable and reliable reconstructions. In addition, by putting together reconstruction methods for Gaussian and arbitrary states, we obtain a tool to detect the non-Gaussian character of optical signals.
The present investigation was aimed to assess the usefulness of biliary agents scintigraphy in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to ascertain the relationship between the uptake of these agents and the degree of HCC differentiation. Forty-four patients with this hepatic cancer were included in the study. Liver scans were performed 20 min and 3 hr after the administration of 99mTc diisopropyliminodiacetic acid (DISIDA). DISIDA scintigraphy could not be assessed in six cases. In 16 (42%) out of the remaining 38 patients, the tumor exhibited equal or greater radioactivity uptake than the surrounding liver. In six out of these 16 patients, tumor uptake was apparent in the early and delayed hepatic scans, while in the other ten subjects radioactivity uptake by the HCC could only be detected in the 3-hr delayed scans. In the remaining 22 patients, HCC appeared as a cold area. Tumor location by this technique did not differ from that observed by ...
There is an urgent need to improve the reliability of screening cargo containers for illicit nuclear material that may be hidden there for terrorist purposes. A screening system is described for detection of fissionable material hidden in maritime cargo containers. The system makes use of a low intensity neutron beam for producing fission; and the detection of the abundant high-energy #gamma# rays emitted in the #beta#-decay of short-lived fission products and #beta#-delayed neutrons. The abundance of the delayed #gamma# rays is almost an order of magnitude larger than that of the delayed neutrons normally used to detect fission and they are emitted on about the same time scale as the delayed neutrons, i.e., #approx#1 min. The energy and temporal distributions of the delayed #gamma# rays provide a unique signature of fission. Because of their high energy, these delayed #gamma# rays penetrate loW--Z cargoes much more readily ...
Ultrasound examinations for foetal brain abnormalities have been a part of the routine antenatal screening programme in the UK for many years. In utero brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now being used increasingly successfully to clarify abnormal ultrasound findings, often resulting in a change of diagnosis or treatment plan. Interpretation requires an understanding of foetal brain development, malformations and acquired diseases. In this paper we will outline the technique of foetal MRI, relevant aspects of brain development and provide illustrated examples of foetal brain pathology.
Background/AimsAlthough endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been introduced and its use has been increasing in Korea, there have not been many reports...Full Text Available
BackgroundCardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows volumetric carotid plaque measurement that has advantage over 2-dimensional ultrasound (US) intima-media thickness (IMT)...Full Text Available
Differentiating a benign from a malignant lesion by information such as density data, or signal intensities or echo gradients, is not possible with CT, nor MRI, nor ultrasonography. Only some lesions show characteristic signs. Inflammations cannot be difscriminated from malignant tumors. CTs of small tumors in particular are so poor in contrast that it is much more difficult to detect tumors or discriminate them from other lesions, as compared to MR images or ultrasonographs. CT does not detect surface tumors, but is more sensitive than MRI or US in detecting discrete cortical bone lesions. The same applies to small calcified tumors. MRI however is most sensitive in detecting tumor volumes in the yellow marrow, and is the best modality for evaluation of extraossal extension of tumors. CT yields better results than MRI if applied for simultaneous screening of lymph node metastases in ...
Quantitative digital imaging, using planar laser light scattering techniques is being developed for the analysis of turbulent and reacting flows. Quantitative image data, implying both a direct relation to flowfield variables as well as sufficient signal and spatial dynamic range, can be readily processed to yield two-dimensional distributions of flowfield scalars and in turn two-dimensional images of gradients and turbulence scales. Much of the development of imaging techniques to date has concentrated on understanding the requisite molecular spectroscopy and collision dynamics to be able to determine how flowfield variable information is encoded into the measured signal. From this standpoint the image is seen as a collection of single point measurements. The present effort aims at realizing necessary improvements in signal and spatial dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution in the ...
Because of the chaotic nature of the corrosion process and the complexity of the electrochemical noise signals that are generated, there is no generally accepted method of measuring and interpreting these signals that allows the consistent detection and identification of sustained localized pitting (SLP) as compared to general corrosion. We have reexamined electrochemical noise analysis (ENA) of localized corrosion using different hardware, signal collection, and signal processing designs than those used in conventional ENA techniques. The new data acquisition system was designed to identify and monitor the progress of SLP by analyzing the power spectral density (PSD) of the trend of the corrosion current noise level (CNL) and potential noise level (PNL). Each CNL and PNL data point was calculated from the root-mean- square value of the ac components of current and potential ...
An ultrasonic signal processing technique is applied to multi-mode arrival time estimation from Lamb waveforms. The basic tool is a simplified time-scale projection called a dynamic wavelet fingerprint (DWFP) which enables direct observation of the variation of features of interest in non-stationary ultrasonic signals. The DWFP technique was used to automatically detect and evaluate each candidate through-transmitted Lamb mode. The area of the dynamic wavelet fingerprint was then used as a feature to distinguish false modes caused by noise and other interference from the true modes of interest. The set of estimated arrival times were then used as inputs for tomographic reconstruction. The Lamb wave tomography images generated with these estimated arrival times were able to indicate different defects in aluminum plates.
A detailed discussion of airborne CO{sub 2}, DIAL measurements obtained from the first joint N-ABLE field campaign at INEL is presented. System performance characteristics, including return signal strength, averaging statistics, and temporal correlation as well as multi-line DIAL spectral data are discussed. In particular, we review data acquisition and analysis strategies pertinent to chemical detection from a moving platform, such as range determination and correction, and return signal processing (waveform vs. box-car integration, baseline correction). We also report observed effects and variations due to near-field light scattering, pointing and tracking stability, and stack-release plume dynamics.
Ionizing radiation has been used to treat poultry to remove harmful microorganisms, mainly Salmonella, which contaminates chicken, goose and other fresh and frozen poultry. This microorganism is sensitive to low dose radiation. Thus, irradiating these foods with doses between 1 to 7 kGy results in a large reduction of bacteria. Since it is necessary to determine whether irradiation has occurred and to what extend, this work studied the signal produced by ionizing radiation within the hard crystalline matrix of chicken`s bone to establish a control method. Chicken`s drumsticks were irradiated and bones separated from flesh were lyophilized and milled. ESR spectrum was then obtained. The ESR signal increased linearly with dose over the range 0.25 to 8.0 kGy. Free radicals evaluated during 30 days after irradiation showed stable in this period. (Author).
A marine propulsion system is a very complicated system composed of many mechanical components. As a result, the vibration signal of a gearbox in the system is strongly coupled with the vibration signatures of other components including a diesel engine and main shaft. It is therefore imperative to assess the coupling effect on diagnostic reliability in the process of gear fault diagnosis. For this reason, a fault detection and diagnosis method based on bispectrum analysis and artificial neural networks (ANNs) was proposed for the gearbox with consideration given to the impact of the other components in marine propulsion systems. To monitor the gear conditions, the bispectrum analysis was first employed to detect gear faults. The amplitude-frequency plots containing gear characteristic signals were then attained based on the bispectrum technique, which could be regarded as an index actualizing forepart ...
Purpose: Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) is a new technique based on a rotational angiographic acquisition able to display arterial vessels in a 3D rendering mode. The system was mainly developed for neuroradiological evaluations but preliminary extracranial experiences have also been reported. The aim of our work was to compare the results of three-dimensional angiography of the carotid arteries done with high-flow injection of contrast medium from the aortic arch with the results of selective angiography. Materials and methods: Twenty patients underwent digital angiography of the supra-aortic vessels in order to quantify a stenosis of the carotid bifurcations previously detected at Doppler Ultrasound. Examinations were performed with the Philips Integris Allura system provided with the rotational angiography (RA) tool connected to a workstation for three-dimensional reconstruction able to display vessels in a 3D fashion ...
Background: Pleural biopsy and cytology are standard procedures for the investigation of pleural disease. Recent medical literature has suggested that image-guided pleural biopsy shows improved sensitivity for the diagnosis of pleural malignancy, when compared with the more commonly performed reverse bevel needle biopsy such as Abrams' needle. In our centre there has been an increasing trend towards performing image-guided pleural biopsies, and to our knowledge there is no large published series documenting the complication rate and diagnostic yield. Methods: The radiology and pathology databases were searched for all image-guided [computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US)] pleural biopsies from January 2001 to December 2004. All imaging and histology were reviewed, and final diagnostic information about patients was obtained from the respiratory multidisciplinary team database and patient notes. A record was made of complications following biopsy, presence of ...
Measurement of redshifted 21-cm emission from neutral hydrogen promises to be the most effective method for studying the reionisation history of hydrogen and, indirectly, the first galaxies. These studies will be limited not by raw sensitivity to the signal, but rather, by bright foreground radiation from Galactic and extragalactic radio sources and the Galactic continuum. In addition, leakage due to gain errors and non-ideal feeds conspire to further contaminate low-frequency radio obsevations. This leakage leads to a portion of the complex linear polarisation signal finding its way into Stokes I, and inhibits the detection of the non-polarised cosmological signal from the epoch of reionisation. In this work, we show that rotation measure synthesis can be used to recover the signature of cosmic hydrogen reionisation in the presence of contamination by polarised foregrounds. To achieve this, we apply ...
The fault signature can be revealed by vibration analysis in machine fault detection and diagnosis. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is a self-adaptive method that can decompose a vibration signal into informative intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). This paper addresses the improvement of the weakness of the traditional EMD algorithm and presents a new midpoint-based EMD method for effective fault signature analysis of a rotating machine. In the proposed method, geometrical midpoints of successive extrema are employed to estimate the local mean of an analyzed signal. Signal decomposition is then self-adaptively performed to achieve IMFs through removal of the midpoint-based local means. The representative IMF containing fault information is selected for identifying the fault signature. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by means of simulation and an application to gear fault diagnosis. ...
The volume of cortical activation as detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the visual cortex has previously been shown to be reduced following optic neuritis (ON). In order to understand the cause of this change, we studied the cortical activation, both the size of the activated area and the signal change following ON, and compared the results with results of neuroophthalmological testing. We studied nine patients with previous acute ON and 10 healthy persons served as controls using fMRI with visual stimulation. In addition to a reduced activated volume, patients showed a reduced blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal increase and a greater asymmetry in the visual cortex, compared with controls. The volume of visual cortical activation was significantly correlated to the result of the contrast sensitivity test. The BOLD signal increase correlated significantly to both the ...
We estimate binary compact object merger detection rates for LIGO, including the binaries formed in ellipticals long ago. Specifically, we convolve hundreds of model realizations of elliptical- and spiral-galaxy population syntheses with a model for elliptical- and spiral-galaxy star formation history as a function of redshift. Our results favor local merger rate densities of 4\\times 10^{-3} {Mpc}^{-3}{Myr}^{-1} for binary black holes (BH), 3\\times 10^{-2} {Mpc}^{-3}{Myr}^{-1} for binary neutron stars (NS), and 10^{-2} {Mpc}^{-3}{Myr}^{-1} for BH-NS binaries. Mergers in elliptical galaxies are a significant fraction of our total estimate for BH-BH and BH-NS detection rates; NS-NS detection rates are dominated by the contribution from spiral galaxies. Using only models that reproduce current observations of Galactic NS-NS binaries, we find slightly higher rates for NS-NS and largely similar ranges for BH-NS and BH-BH ...
Purpose Skilled placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) has a profound impact on patient well-being and costs of care. The use of ultrasound-guided methods and prescribed training for cannulation skills are evidence-based practice recommendations. The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of PICC instruction on the acquisition of applied skills. Methods Residents were randomly assigned to one of two groups (N?=?16/16) of this blind-rater study and were trained to perform ultrasound-guided PICC cannulation using either simulation or apprenticeship methods. All residents were assessed placing a PICC in applied clinical patient care. Results Residents who completed simulation training had significantly better transfer of skills to applied clinical practice than ...
The growth of silver chloride nanoparticles on ancient textile was achieved by sequential dipping steps in alternating bath of potassium chloride and silver nitrate under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the AgCl nanoparticles has been studied. These systems depicted a decrease in the particles size accompanying a decrease in the sequential dipping steps. The samples were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. XRD analyses indicated that the prepared AgCl nanoparticles on fiber were crystalline. The textile samples containing AgCl nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity.
Objectives To investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of measurements of nasal bone length using a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in the first trimester. Methods In a prospective study, 118 consecutive pregnant women attending for Down syndrome screening at 11-13 + 6 weeks were recruited. They had successful fetal nasal bone measurement by two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound by four operators. Three-dimensional volumes were recorded in the mid-sagittal plane of fetal profile by the fifth operator and examined using multiplanar techniques. Another independent investigator randomly compared his measurements with one of the four operators. Results In the subsequent 3D examination, the nasal bone length could be examined in 94 cases (79.7%). The mean difference between the 2D and 3D mea...
A prospective comparative study with pathology was performed to assess the clinical value of Computed Tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for nodal staging in lung cancer. A total of 329 nodal stations were dissected or sampled and 755 lymph nodes were examined at histology. On a pre-station basis, CT had greater sensitivity (74%) than EUS (56%), but EUS was more specific (83% versus 93%). The accuracy rates of the two techniques were similar. In conclusion, endoscopic ultrasound should be part of a routine preoperative diagnostic approach to non-small-cell lung cancer., because of its high specificity. Results can be improved when EUS and CT are combined., which suggests that these imaging modalities should be used together in selected patients for the noninvasive staging of non-small-cell lung cancer to identify local lymphatic spread.
The study investigated the luminescence behaviour of natural olivine to discuss the potential for Cenozoic (quaternary) dating. The UV-blue thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of irradiated olivines have a resolved peak at 190 deg. C and other peaks at higher temperature at lower dose levels, and broad signals around 275-310 and 375-400 deg. C at higher dose levels. The UV-blue TL increases with additional laboratory dose to {approx}1.6kGy within a plateau temperature region, suggesting the possibility of dosimetry and Cenozoic dating. Both infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and blue light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) were detected from laboratory-irradiated olivines although the BLSL was weaker than the IRSL. Furthermore, post-BL IRSL was detected but post-IR BLSL was not observed. Therefore, IR stimulation is recommended for optically stimulated luminescence measurements with natural olivine. The growth of the IRSL ...
Optical measurement of the Doppler shift of laser backscatter, using a near-IR, visible, or ultraviolet laser, is potentially more robust and field reliable than coherent, heterodyne measurement with an IR laser. The direct measurement of the displacement of Fabry-Perot interference fringes is possible, but entails expensive, technically challenging, imaging detectors. The 'edge technique' permits Doppler shift measurements with relatively simple detectors and detector electronics, and has been implemented with Fabry-Perot etalons and with atomic line filters. Simple analytical models of the fringe imaging and edge detection techniques are presented, permitting ready calculation of the potential performance of either, for various atmospheric conditions and for various lidar hardware configurations. The predictions of the analytical models are confirmed by computer models, which in turn allow more detailed considerations of complicating factors such as solar ...
A newly developed 220 Mbps free-space 4-ary pulse position modulation (PPM) direct detection optical communication system is described. High speed GaAs integrated circuits were used to construct the PPM encoder and receiver electronic circuits. Both PPM slot and word timing recovery were provided in the PPM receiver. The optical transmitter consisted of an AlGaAs laser diode (Mitsubishi ML5702A, lambda=821nm) and a high speed driver unit. The photodetector consisted of a silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) (RCA30902S) preceded by an optical interference filter (delta lambda=10nm). Preliminary tests showed that the self-synchronized PPM receiver could achieve a receiver bit error rate of less than 10(exp -6) at 25 nW average received optical signal power or 360 photons per transmitted information bit. The relatively poor receiver sensitivity was believed to be caused by the insufficient electronic bandwidth of the APD preamplifier and the poor ...
Yet designed to measure charged component of the cosmic rays, the foreseen Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) could also release {gamma}-ray studies, in the energy range from GeV to TeV, using the tracker system, for {gamma}-rays converted in e{sup +}e{sup -} pair, and the electromagnetic calorimeter. In the first part of the thesis are described the calibrations and the performances of the engineering model of the calorimeter, obtained from the analysis of data taken during a test-beam performed at CERN in July 2002. In the second part of the thesis, the AMS-02 discovery potential for {gamma}-astrophysics is presented. While exposure maps of the {gamma}--sky are computed for one year of data taking with the {gamma}--detectors, the acceptance of the calorimeter is obtained from Monte-Carlo simulations. The AMS-02 potential is then estimated for signals from the Vela pulsar and for some supersymmetric signals from the Galactic Center. (author)
In our evaluation we utilized the Asahi Mark-J NMR-CT system, with a resistive vertical quadrupolar electromagnet (0.1 Tesla) and a proton resonance frequency of 4.5 MHz. Our main imaging methods are the inversion-recovery or IR, saturation-recovery, or SR, and calculated T/sub 1/. Difference, or D images, constructed by subtracting the data of the IR signal from that of the SR signal, have also been obtained in some cases. The system allows averaging of raw data. Hybrid images were constructed from two or more images to obtain clear definition of areas of interest. By using the hybrid image, several tissues of different relaxation times can be shown in the same image. Application in our study of the newly developed hybrid image indicates its importance in the detection and diagnosis of lesion, especially the detection of the differentiation of an edematous lesion from a tumor, and also abnormal fluid ...
We report a simple method for the label-free detection of double-stranded DNA using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We prepared cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped silver nanoparticles and a DNA-nanoparticle complex by adding silver nanoparticles to {lambda}-DNA solutions. In the present study, the utilization of CTAB-capped silver nanoparticles facilitates the electrostatic interaction between DNA molecules and silver nanoparticles; at the same time, the introduction of DNA avoids adding aggregating agent for the formation of nanoparticle aggregates to obtain large enhancement of DNA, because the DNA acts as both the probe molecules and aggregating agent of Ag nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies show that the morphology of DNA-Ag nanoparticle complexes seems to be determined by the concentrations of the DNA and the nanoparticles. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies show that the morphology of the complexes plays a ...
The Galactic Exoplanet Survey Telescope (GEST) will observe a 2 square degree field in the Galactic bulge to search for extra-solar planets using a gravitational lensing technique. This gravitational lensing technique is the only method employing currently available technology that can detect Earth-mass planets at high signal-to-noise, and can measure the frequency of terrestrial planets as a function of Galactic position. GEST's sensitivity extends down to the mass of Mars, and it can detect hundreds of terrestrial planets with semi-major axes ranging from 0.7 AU to infinity. GEST will be the first truly comprehensive survey of the Galaxy for planets like those in our own Solar System.
This research deals with in the study of the use of innovating magnetic sensors in eddy current non destructive inspection. The author reports an analysis survey of magnetic sensor performances. This survey enables the selection of magnetic sensor technologies used in non destructive inspection. He presents the state-of-the-art of eddy current probes exploiting the qualities of innovating magnetic sensors, and describes the methods enabling the use of these magnetic sensors in non destructive testing. Two main applications of innovating magnetic sensors are identified: the detection of very small defects by means of magneto-resistive sensors, and the detection of deep defects by means of giant magneto-impedances. Based on the use of modelling, optimization, signal processing tools, probes are manufactured for these both applications.
A data analysis based on an artificial neural network classifier is proposed to identify cosmic ray antiprotons detected with the CAPRICE silicon-tungsten imaging calorimeter against electron background in the energy range 1.2-4.0 GeV. A set of new physical variables, describing the events inside the calorimeter on the base of their different patterns, are introduced in order to discriminate between hadronic and electromagnetic showers. The ability of the artificial neural network classifier to perform a careful multidimensional analysis gives the possibility to identify antiprotons with an electron rejection 408{+-}85 (stat) at 95.0{+-}0.2 (stat)% of signaldetection efficiency. The high accuracy achieved by this method improves substantially the efficiency in the evaluation of the cosmic ray antiproton spectrum. (orig.).
Abstract A miniaturized spatial temperature gradient CE system with automated sample introduction for DNA mutation detection was established. Continuous electrokinetic sample injection was achieved by combining an automated slotted vial array sample introduction device to the spatial temperature gradient CE system. The temperature gradient was produced by a radiative heating system with a single graphite block heater, and the stability of the temperature gradient was investigated. The temperature variation of each measure point was 0.12 0.21% RSD (n=7) within 6 h. A 14 cm Teflon AF coated silica capillary was used both as the separation channel and as the liquid core waveguide tube of fluorescence signal. Under a temperature gradient from 54.8 to 59.5 C, a low range control mutation standa...
In the present paper we estimate the effect of sodium in the in-service inspection of non-magnetic steam generators tubes using eddy current technique and eddy current probes based on a differential double bobbin coil configuration. Experimental measurements of defects signals in steam generator tubes of fast breeder reactor are compared with simulations results of a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element code to validate a reliable electromagnetic model of the system (eddy current coils, steam generator tube, defect) when there is no sodium on the outer steam generator tube surface. The electromagnetic code is used to evaluate the sodium band and sodium layer signals when a defect is located under steam generator support plate. Using a multi-frequency algorithm, its parameters are determined in the 'no sodium condition' (there is no sodium on the outer steam generator tube surface), defects signal is enhanced during ...
We propose using large Air Cerenkov Telescopes (ACT's) to search for optical, pulsed signals from extra-terrestrial intelligence. Such dishes collect tens of photons from a nanosecond-scale pulse of isotropic equivalent power of tens of solar luminosities at a distance of 100 pc. The field of view for giant ACT's can be on the order of ten square degrees, and they will be able to monitor 10 to 10$^2$ stars simultaneously for nanosecond pulses of about 6th mag or brighter. Using the Earth's diameter as a baseline, orbital motion of the planet could be detected by timing the pulse arrival times.
A method to achieve NMR of dilute samples in the earth's magnetic field by applying para-hydrogen induced polarization is presented. Maximum achievable polarization enhancements were calculated by numerically simulating the experiment and compared to the experimental results and to the thermal equilibrium in the earth's magnetic field. Simultaneous 19F and 1H NMR detection on a sub-milliliter sample of a fluorinated alkyne at millimolar concentration (1018 nuclear spins) was realized with just one single scan. A highly resolved spectrum with a signal/noise ratio higher than 50:1 was obtained without using an auxiliary magnet or any form of radio frequency shielding.
We present the efficient technique to extract the signal of the intermediate mass Higgs boson from the backgrounds at future {gamma}{gamma} colliders. For a clear Higgs detection, it is important to fit the original electron accelerator energy depending on the Higgs mass, to set the polarization of the photon beams and to apply the efficient b quark tagging method. we demonstrate the extraction of information of Higgs parameters and the new physics from the observable physical quantities. It is clearly shown that a future {gamma}{gamma} collider will have a rich potential for study on the new physics, as well as the Higgs physics. (author).
We present the efficient technique to extract the signal of the intermediate mass Higgs boson from the backgrounds at future #gamma##gamma# colliders. For a clear Higgs detection, it is important to fit the original electron accelerator energy depending on the Higgs mass, to set the polarization of the photon beams and to apply the efficient b quark tagging method. we demonstrate the extraction of information of Higgs parameters and the new physics from the observable physical quantities. It is clearly shown that a future #gamma##gamma# collider will have a rich potential for study on the new physics, as well as the Higgs physics. (author).
The theoretical alignment limit for focused ion beam (FIB) implantation was deduced from the calculated resolution for the detection of an alignment mark. The alignment resolution varies with the signal to noise ratio and there is an optimum current which gives the best resolution. The alignment resolution epsilon/sub sigma/ is approximately 0.006 ..mu..m for a 160 keV Si/sup ++/ beam from our FIB implanter. The measured alignment error is approximately 0.06 ..mu..m and the main reason of this discrepancy is vibration. The ultimate limit on the alignment error can be reached through improvements in the implanter system.
A method, system and a radiation detector system for use therein are provided for determining the depth distribution of radiation-emitting material distributed in a source medium, such as a contaminated field, without the need to take samples, such as extensive soil samples, to determine the depth distribution. The system includes a portable detector assembly with an x-ray or gamma-ray detector having a detector axis for detecting the emitted radiation. The radiation may be naturally-emitted by the material, such as gamma-ray-emitting radionuclides, or emitted when the material is struck by other radiation. The assembly also includes a hollow collimator in which the detector is positioned. The collimator causes the emitted radiation to bend toward the detector as rays parallel to the detector axis of the detector. The collimator may be a hollow cylinder positioned so that its central axis is perpendicular to the upper surface of the large area source when ...
The aim of the paper is to review the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemodialysis vascular access and complications in renal transplantation. The evaluation of patients with hemodialysis vascular access is complex. It includes the radiology/ultrasound (US) evaluation of the peripheral veins of the upper extremities with venous mapping and the evaluation of the central vein prior to the access placement and radiological detection and treatment of the stenosis and thrombosis in misfunctional dialysis fistulas. Preoperative screening enables the identification of a suitable vessel to create a hemodynamically-sound dialysis fistula. Clinical and radiological detection of the hemodynamically significant stenosis or occlusion demands fistulography and endovascular treatment. Endovascular prophylactic dilatation of stenosis greater than 50% with associated clinical abnormalities such as flow-rate reduction ...
Femur fractures typically affect elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities. Pain control can be difficult, requiring intensive nursing and physician care as elderly patients may manifest cardiovascular...Full Text Available
Advances in neuroscience have resulted in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic agents for potential use in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the ability to deliver the...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe aim of the present article was to evaluate whether angiogenic parameters as assessed by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound (TVCD) may predict those prognostic factors...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVES: To define a method for measurement of the cross sectional area and volume of the quadriceps femoris muscle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in conjunction with stereology, and to compare...Full Text Available
A 30-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Kaposi's sarcoma had a palpable thyroid mass and cervical lymphadenopathy. Nuclear medicine and ultrasound scans revealed multiple thyroid nodules. Results of biopsy showed Kaposi's sarcoma metastatic to the thyroid.
Percutaneous coronary intervention can be associated with distal embolization of thrombotic material causing myocardial necrosis and infarction.We discuss the role of intravascular imaging to...Full Text Available
Endovascular surgery is a new multidisciplinary field that applies the recently innovated techniques of angioscopy, intraluminal ultrasound, balloon angioplasty, laser, mechanical atherectomy, and stents....Full Text Available
Background:During transurethral resection surgery (TUR), accidental stimulation of the obturator nerve can cause violent adductor contraction, leading to serious intraoperative...Full Text Available
BackgroundLifestyle, genetics and environmental factors are established determinants of bone density. We aimed to describe the bone characteristics of competitive top-ranked Nigerian...Full Text Available
An 11-year-old mare presented 36 hours after foaling with a ruptured bladder. Uroperitoneum was diagnosed on ultrasound and from the creatinine concentration of the peritoneal fluid. Bladder endoscopy...Full Text Available
To study the utility of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) in case of suspected appendicitis. To determine the diagnostic yield in terms of different clinical contexts and patient characteristics. to assess the costs and benefits of introducing these techniques and propose a protocol for their use. Negative appendectomies, complications and length of hospital stay in a group of 152 patients with suspected appendicitis who underwent ultrasound and CT were compared with those of 180 patients who underwent appendectomy during the same time period, but had not been selected for the first group: these patients costs for each group were calculated. In the first group, the diagnostic value of the clinical signs was also evaluated. The reliability of the clinical signs was limited, while the results with ultrasound and CT were excellent. The incidence of negative appendectomy was 9.6% in the study group and 12.2% in the ...
Aims. We attempt to detect starlight reflected from the hot Jupiter orbiting the main-sequence star Tau Boo, in order to determine the albedo of the planetary atmosphere, the orbital inclination of the planetary system and the exact mass of the planetary companion. Methods. We analyze high-precision, high-resolution spectra, collected over two half nights using UVES at the VLT/UT2, by way of data synthesis. We interpret our data using two different atmospheric models for hot Jupiters. Results. Although a weak candidate signal appears near the most probable radial velocity amplitude, its statistical significance is insufficient for us to claim a detection. However, this feature agrees very well with a completely independently obtained result by another research group, which searched for reflected light from Tau Boo b. As a consequence of the non-detection of reflected light, we place upper limits to the ...
Bluestein's Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), commonly called the Chirp-Z Transform (CZT), is a little-known algorithm that offers engineers a high-resolution FFT combined with the ability to specify bandwidth. In the field of digital signal processing, engineers are always challenged to detect tones, frequencies, signatures, or some telltale sign that signifies a condition that must be indicated, ignored, or controlled. One of these challenges is to detect specific frequencies, for instance when looking for tones from telephones or detecting 60-Hz noise on power lines. The Goertzel algorithm described in Embedded Systems Programming, September 2002, offered a powerful tool toward finding specific frequencies faster than the FFT.Another challenge involves analyzing a range of frequencies, such as recording frequency response measurements, matching voice patterns, or displaying spectrum information ...
The effect of reference signals on performance in a visual vigilance task was studied under three conditions. Reference signals were presented on the same display as the real signals. In condition 1 (control), no reference signals were displayed. Sugbject...
The object and the purpose of the present work was to develop, to assemble and to start running a new TOF (time of flight) mass spectrometer for imaging SNMS analytic which is optimized for the analysis of highly molecular secondary ions. The most important purpose was the characterization of the TOF mass spectrometer. The obtained mass spectra of indium, tantalum and silver clusters reflect the excellent properties of the TOF mass spectrometer for the detection of large clusters with good detection efficiency up to masses of 16000 amu. The possibility of the deflection of selected saturated atom and cluster peaks serves for further improvement of the detection efficiency for large molecules. The accessible mass resolution was determined to be of the order of m/{delta}m=1000 in the high mass region. Numerous measurements were carried out to characterize the useful yield of this spectrometer. For a best possible adaptation ...
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of synthetic stishovite was investigated for a future dating technique of meteor impact craters. Luminescence around 330 nm was measured on the #gamma#-ray irradiated stishovite under two stimulating light sources of infrared laser (830 nm) and blue light emitting diode set (470 nm). Thermoluminescence (TL) studies before and after the OSL measurements showed the intensities around 100-200 deg. C and 220-350 deg. C to increase and those around 350-450 deg. C to decrease. This indicates that a part of deep-trapped charges excited during the OSL measurements were retrapped by shallower traps. The infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) after the TL measurement up to 450 deg. C could not be detected, while the blue light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) after TL had about one-tenth of the intensity before TL. This indicates that a part of the charges in shallower traps were detrapped thermally and returned to the deeper traps ...
Objective: To assess dynamic MRI with Gd-DTPA enhancement for evaluating inflammatory changes in the subacromial bursa. Design and patients: We detected the signal intensity changes in dynamic MRI of the subacromial bursa, and confirmed these macroscopically by arthroscopy and histologically. The signal intensity was measured using built-in software, and the enhancement ratio (E ratio) was calculated from dynamic MR images. In addition, as a parameter of the rate of the increase in the signal intensity from 0 to 80 s, the mean increase per second in the E ratio was obtained as the coefficient of enhancement (CE). The correlation was studied of the E ratio and CE with the arthroscopic findings (redness, villous formation, thickening and adhesion), and of the E ratio and CE with the histological findings (capillary proliferation, papillary hyperplasia, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration) of the ...
Red light stimulates germination in the spores of Onoclea sensibilis L. Phytochrome is confirmed to be the photoreceptor pigment in the germination response by demonstrating red-far-red photoreversibility. External Ca/sup 2 +/ is required for this response with a threshold at a submicromolar concentration. Red light stimulates an increase in the total concentration of intracellular calcium in the spores as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Subsequent exposure to far-red light inhibits the red light-induced increase in intracellular calcium. The majority of the increase occurs 5 minutes after the onset of irradiation. The calcium-antagonist, La/sup 3 +/ inhibits both germination and the red light-induced increase in intracellular calcium. Using /sup 31/P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the author tested the hypothesis that a sustained increase in intracellular pH contributes to the signal transduction chain. He never ...
Subtractive imaging in confocal fluorescence light microscopy is based on the subtraction of a suitably weighted widefield image from a confocal image. An approximation to a widefield image can be obtained by detection with an opened confocal pinhole. The subtraction of images enhances the resolution in-plane as well as along the optic axis. Due to the linearity of the approach, the effect of subtractive imaging in Fourier-space corresponds to a reduction of low spatial frequency contributions leading to a relative enhancement of the high frequencies. Along the direction of the optic axis this also results in an improved sectioning. Image processing can achieve a similar effect. However, a 3D volume dataset must be acquired and processed, yielding a result essentially identical to subtractive imaging but superior in signal-to-noise ratio. The latter can be increased further with the technique of weighted averaging in Fourier-space. A comparison ...
The present work reports on Raman and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) vibrational fingerprints of ?-carotene and haemoglobin in fresh whole blood (i.e. right after blood test) with different laser excitations, i.e. visible (514 nm) and near-infrared (NIR, 785 nm). The use of colloidal silver nanoparticles significantly increases the Raman signal, thus providing a clear SERS spectrum of blood. The collected spectra have been examined and marker bands of ?-carotene and of the haem prosthetic group of haemoglobin have been found. In particular, the fundamental features of ?-carotene (514 nm excitation), blood proteins and haem molecules (785 nm excitation) were recognized and assigned. Moreover haemoglobin SERS signals can be identified and related with its oxygenation state (oxy-haemoglobin). The data reported show the prospects of Raman and SERS techniques to detect important bio-molecules in a whole blood sample ...
Observations of anisotropies in the brightness temperature of the 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen from the period before reionization would shed light on the dawn of the first stars and galaxies. In this paper, we use large-scale semi-numerical simulations to analyse the imprint on the 21 cm signal of spatial fluctuations in the Lyman-alpha flux arising from the clustering of the first galaxies. We show that an experiment like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) can probe this signal at the onset of reionization giving us important information about the UV emission spectra of the first stars and characterizing their host galaxies. SKA-pathfinders with ~ 10% of the full collecting area should be capable of making a statistical detection of the 21 cm power spectrum at redshifts $z\\lesssim 20$. We then show that the SKA should be able to measure the three dimensional power spectrum as a function of the angle with the line of ...
Dose reconstruction is a process that re-creates the treatment-time dose deposited in a patient provided there is knowledge of the delivered energy fluence and the patient's anatomy at the time of treatment. A method for reconstructing dose is presented. The process starts with delivery verification, in which the incident energy fluence from a treatment is computed using the exit detector signal and a transfer matrix to convert the detector signal to energy fluence. With the verified energy fluence and a CT image of the patient in the treatment position, the treatment-time dose distribution is computed using any model-based algorithm such as convolution/superposition or Monte Carlo. The accuracy of dose reconstruction and the ability of the process to reveal delivery errors are presented. Regarding accuracy, a reconstructed dose distribution was compared with a measured film distribution for a simulated breast treatment carried out on a thorax ...
Three test instruments are being evaluated to determine the feasibility of using photoacoustic technology for measuring unburned carbon in fly ash. The first test instrument is a single microwave frequency system previously constructed to measure photoacoustic signals in an off-line configuration. A second off-line instrument was constructed based in part on lessons learned with the first instrument, but which also expands the capabilities of the first instrument. Improvements include a control loop to allow more constant microwave power output and an ability to operate over a range of microwave frequencies. The third instrument, the on-line version of the fly ash monitor, has been designed, constructed, and initial efficiency tests have been conducted on the monitor's electrical components. This quarter focused on improving the signal strength of the accelerometer by increasing the power level of the microwaves that induced the ...
This thesis reports on the fabrication and test of a new gaseous detector with a very large number of readout channels. This detector is intended for measuring the tracks of charged particles with an unprecedented sensitivity to single electrons of almost 100 %. It combines a metal grid for signal amplification called the Micromegas with a pixel readout chip as signal collecting anode and is dubbed GridPix. GridPix is a potential candidate for a sub-detector at a future electron linear collider (ILC) foreseen to work in parallel with the LHC around 2020--2030. The tracking capability of GridPix is best exploited if the Micromegas is integrated on the pixel chip. This integrated grid is called InGrid and is precisely fabricated by wafer post-processing. The various steps of the fabrication process and the measurements of its gain, energy resolution and ion back-flow property are reported in this document. Studies of the response of the complete ...
The demonstration test of a power system stabilizer, employing a fuzzy theory, in the two hydroelectric power stations of Kyusyu Electric Power Co., Inc. is described. The PSS inputs auxiliary signals to the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) of a generator and generates an electric torque in the direction opposite to the operating direction of a generator to enhance the damping effect and improve the system stability. Usually, the change in the slide information of a generator is detected, and the phase adjustment is performed so that the damping is the optimum value. However, since the damping is optimized in the specific system state, no complete damping may be obtained when the system state is changed. A fuzzy theory was thus applied for the control operation part. In a secondary fuzzy PSS, the velocity and acceleration were calculated from the slide information of a generator to produce a control signal. In the third ...
Bacteriophage M13 mp10 DNA were irradiated with near-UV light in the presence of tetracycline derivatives and primed with synthetic oligonucleotide to be used for DNA synthesis using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase. Chain terminations were observed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mapped precisely. All the synthesis stops occurred before or at the level of guanine residues, showing that the photoreaction mediated by tetracycline derivatives led to a preferential alteration of guanine residues. These lesions were demonstrated to be induced in DNA through a pathway involving singlet oxygen. Tetracycline derivatives also photoinduced the breakage of the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone monitored by the conversion of supercoiled phi X174 DNA to a relaxed form. This lesion was shown to be initiated by hydroxyl radicals. The production of this free radical has been confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping experiments using ...
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited disorder characterized by the presence of cortical tubers, the majority of which are solid and show high signal on FLAIR images. Low-signal tubers are less frequent. To evaluate cystic cortical tubers in patients with TSC on the basis of their appearance on FLAIR images. MR examinations of 73 patients were retrospectively reviewed and 17 children (aged 25 days to 12.3 years) with a typical cyst-like tubers were selected for further analysis. The age of the patients, the number of lesions, and the shape and MR intensity were analyzed. Cyst-like cortical tubers were detected in 82% of children below 7 years of age and in 18% of those older then 7 years (P=0.00086). Most of the cystic lesions were of the shrunken type (72%), the expansile type being less frequently seen (28%). FLAIR images confirm the cystic character of some of the cortical tubers in TSC patients although the ...
To detect the gravitational-wave signal from binary neutron stars and extract information about the equation of state of matter at nuclear density, it is necessary to match the signal with a bank of accurate templates. We have performed the longest (to date) general-relativistic simulations of binary neutron stars with different compactnesses and used them to constrain a tidal extension of the effective-one-body model so that it reproduces the numerical waveforms accurately and essentially up to the merger. The typical errors in the phase over the $\\simeq 22$ gravitational-wave cycles are $\\Delta \\phi\\simeq \\pm 0.24$ rad, thus with relative phase errors $\\Delta \\phi/\\phi \\simeq 0.2%$. We also show that with a single choice of parameters, the effective-one-body approach is able to reproduce all of the numerically-computed phase evolutions, in contrast with what found when adopting a tidally corrected post-Newtonian ...
Eddy current testing (ECT) method is widely used as the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the various kinds of material degradation occurring in nuclear power plants (NPPs) components including steam generator (SG) tubes. Detection of any defects or flaws in the steam generator tubes in the early stage is very important in maintenance of NPP for its primary role as the pressure boundary with thin wall thickness. Although the ECT technique provides lots of information for a SG management, it has a generic problem in its reliability due to a low ability in detect of small defects and some difficulty in a signal analysis. For the improvement of these shortcomings in conventional ECT, profile-MRPC (motorized rotating pancake coil) ECT technology was developed in KAERI. The key of this new technology is the development of new eddy current probes, designated as a diagnostic probe (D-probe). The D-probe is furnished with a ...
Eddy current testing (ECT) method is widely used as the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the various kinds of material degradation occurring in nuclear power plants (NPPs) components including steam generator (SG) tubes. Detection of any defects or flaws in the steam generator tubes in the early stage is very important in maintenance of NPP for its primary role as the pressure boundary with thin wall thickness. Although the ECT technique provides lots of information for a SG management, it has a generic problem in its reliability due to a low ability in detect of small defects and some difficulty in a signal analysis. For the improvement of these shortcomings in conventional ECT, profile-MRPC (motorized rotating pancake coil) ECT technology was developed in KAERI. The key of this new technology is the development of new eddy current probes, designated as a diagnostic probe (D-probe). The D-probe is furnished with a ...
Conventional eddy current bobbin probes are known to be ineffectual in detecting circumferential cracks in tubing. Multi-pancake and/or rotating pancake probes are required to detect circumferential cracks. It has recently been demonstrated in CANDU steam generator tubes, with deformation, ferromagnetic deposits, and copper deposits, that multi-channel probes with transmit-receive (T/R) coils are superior to those using surface impedance coils. Unlike rotating probes, the design of a new probe denoted as C3 permits fast, single-scan inspection of a full-length tube at inspection speeds comparable to conventional bobbin probes. Since 1992, the probe has been used routinely for steam generator in-service inspection at 4 CANDU plants. Defective tubes have been plugged and the units returned to service, and they continue to operate without leaks. This paper describes the basic features of T/R surface probes. Two-dimensional voltage diagrams showing ...
Conventional eddy current bobbin probes are known to be ineffectual in detecting circumferential cracks in tubing. Multi-pancake and/or rotating pancake probes are required to detect circumferential cracks. It has recently been demonstrated in CANDU steam generator tubes, with deformation, ferromagnetic deposits, and copper deposits, that multi-channel probes with transmit-receive (T/R) coils are superior to those using surface impedance coils. Unlike rotating probes, the design of a new probe denoted as C3 permits fast, single-scan inspection of a full-length tube at inspection speeds comparable to conventional bobbin probes. Since 1992, the probe has been used routinely for steam generator in-service inspection at 4 CANDU plants. Defective tubes have been plugged and the units returned to service, and they continue to operate without leaks. This paper describes the basic features of T/R surface probes. Two-dimensional voltage diagrams showing ...
In the last two decades, due to increased inspection demands, eddy current instrumentation has advanced from single-frequency, single-output instruments to multifrequency, computer-aided systems. This has significantly increased the scope of eddy current testing, but, unfortunately, it has also increased the cost and complexity of inspections. In addition, this approach has not always improved defect detectability or signal-to-noise. Most eddy current testing applications are still performed with impedance probes, which have well known limitations. However, recent research at AECL has led to improved eddy current inspections through the design and development of transmit-receive (T/R) probes. T/R eddy current probes, with laterally displaced transmit and receive coils, present a number of advantages over impedance probes. They have improved signal-to-noise ratio in the presence of variable lift-off compared to impedance ...
The R and D were carried out of a detecting system for measurement of data on the bottom of geothermal well, data transmission and signal processing, and an analysis system for well drilling trajectory control and well assessment while geothermal well drilling based on the data obtained by the detecting system. The paper reported the results of the technology development in fiscal 1996. In the development of the detecting system, improvement/design were conducted on a mud pulse generator constituting sonde, well bottom signal processing equipment, mode switch and inclined information sensor, and the system equivalent to the actual one was manufactured to conduct a running test at high temperature/pressure. Moreover, a test to confirm heat resistance of electronic parts was made for further improvement in heat resistance of the sonde, in order to obtain the data. In the development ...
In areas where radiation dose monitoring has not been performed, it is essential to use material available in the environment be able to rapidly assess doses to individuals for immediate emergency medical care or for general estimation of the radiological consequences. It was shown that certain types of telephone cards containing microchips have the potential to be used as individual radiation dosimeters in emergency situations to detect doses over 250 mGy by luminescence measurements. In order to understand the dosimetric properties of chip cards, the components obtained from INFINIEON Company at various stages of production were used for luminescence measurements. It is found that the protecting layer used above the chips so called 'globe top' is the main source of radiation induced signal in chip cards. The globe top produced by INFINIEON at that stage is found to contain SiO2 and Epoxy. In order to improve the dosimetric properties of the ...
In this paper a new procedure, addressed as Interpolation Damage Detecting Method (IDDM), is investigated as a possible mean for early detection and location of light damage in a structure struck by an earthquake. Damage is defined in terms of the accuracy of a spline function in interpolating the operational mode shapes (ODS) of the structure. At a certain location a decrease (statistically meaningful) of accuracy, with respect to a reference configuration, points out a localized variation of the operational shapes thus revealing the existence of damage. In this paper, the proposed method is applied to a numerical model of a multistory frame, simulating a damaged condition through a reduction of the story stiffness. Several damage scenarios have been considered and the results indicate the effectiveness of the method to assess and localize damage for the case of concentrated damage and for low to medium levels of noise in the recorded ...
Very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) observations of a sample of selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) were performed between January 2005 and April 2007 with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), an array of imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes. Significant detections are reported elsewhere for many of these objects. Here, integral flux upper limits for twelve candidate very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) gamma-ray emitters are presented. In addition, results from HESS observations of four known VHE-bright AGN are given although no significant signal is measured. For three of these AGN (1ES 1101-232, 1ES 1218+304, and Mkn 501) simultaneous data were taken with the Suzaku X-ray satellite.
Objectives Clinical PET/MR requires the use of patient positioning aids to immobilize and support patients for the duration of the combined examination. Ancillary immobilization devices contribute to overall attenuation of the PET signal, but are not detected with conventional MR sequences and, hence, are ignored in standard MR-based attenuation correction (MR-AC). We report on the quantitative effect of not accounting for the attenuation of patient positioning aids in combined PET/MR imaging. Methods We used phantom and patient data acquired with positioning aids on a PET/CT scanner (Biograph 16, HI-REZ) to mimic PET/MR imaging conditions. Reference CT-based attenuation maps were generated from measured (original) CT transmission images (origCT-AC). We also created MR-like attenuation map...
The Baikal Neutrino Telescope has been operating in its NT200 configuration since April, 1998. The telescope has been upgraded in April, 2005, to the 10 Mton scale detector NT200+. It's main physics goal is the detection of signals from high energy neutrino cascades. NT200+ reaches a 3-year sensitivity of 2 \\times 10^{-7}cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}GeV for an all-flavor diffuse cosmic E^{-2} neutrino flux for energies 10^2 TeV \\div 10^5 TeV. Desgin and sensitivity of NT200+ are described. NT200+ is forming the basic building block of a future km3-scale (Gigaton-Volume) Baikal Telescope. Research and development work on that next stage detector has started.
The feasibility of using of current-biased superconducting strips for radiation detection is investigated. Narrow Ta strips are exposed to 5.5 MeV [alpha]-particle radiation and the rise-time of the induced voltage pulses is measured as function of temperature and bias current. The rise-time of the voltage signal strongly depends on the site on the strip which is hit by the [alpha]-particle. In order to determine the spatial resolution of a superconducting strip detector, position-sensitive measurements were performed. The maximum lateral resolution estimated so far is 25[mu]m in a 7[mu]m wide, 340 nm thick and 0.6 mm long Ta-strip. (orig.)
Measurements have been made of certain parameters relevant to the operation of electron-counting detectors. An experimental chamber consisting of a uniform-field drift tube and a coaxial proportional counter thas been employed to obtain data, at very low drift fields (E/p<0.02 V/cm Torr), on electron mobility and lifetimes in a range of gas mixtures. These mixtures included argon, methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Measurements of single-electron spectra showed that, unexpectedly for the standard gas mixtures employed, useful departure from an exponential spectrum was not possible without the production of cathode secondaries. Although the present studies employed only the counter electrical signal the information obtained should be directly relevant to the operation of practical light-pulse systems. Examples of electron-counting spectra for soft X-rays are shown. (orig.).
The future e"+e"- linear colliders can also operate in the e#gamma# or #gamma##gamma# modes. In the context of the top-color assisted technicolor (TC2) model, we study the single charged top-pion production process #gamma##gamma# #-># tb-bar#PI#_t"-. The results show that the production rates can reach the level of tens fb with reasonable parameter values. So one can expect that enough signals could be produced in future high-energy linear collider experiments. Furthermore, the flavor-changing (FC) decay mode #PI#_t"- #-># bc-bar is the best channel to detect the charged top pion due to the clean standard model background. With a large number of events and the clean background, the charged top pion should be observable at future linear colliders operating in #gamma##gamma# mode at the TeV energy scale
Object: To permit a valve operation test to be periodically made during plant operation without causing variations in plant power by detecting flow control valve defect on the basis of a valve aperture alteration instruction. Structure: Step signals which are equal in absolute value and opposite in sign are coupled to the input side of flow controllers provided on the recycling loops of two or more recycling flow control systems. With these inputs the aperture of the flow control valve on one side is increased (or reduced) while the aperture of the valve on the other side is reduced (or increased). As a result, the recycling flow rate in the loop on one side is increased (or reduced) while that on the other side is reduced (or increased). Whether the valve is normally operating or not is confirmed by checking the recycling flow rate and valve aperture. (Nakamura, S.).
We present the effects of heavy CP-even (H) and CP-odd (A) Higgs bosons on the production cross section of the process {gamma}{gamma}{yields}tt at the energy around the mass poles of the Higgs bosons. It is found that interference between H and A with small mass gap, as well as the ones between Higgs bosons and continuum, contributes to the cross section, if the photon beams are polarized and if we observe the helicity of the top quarks. It is demonstrated in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model that the H and A contributions can be sizable at future {gamma}{gamma} colliders for small values of tan {beta}. The methods to measure the CP-parity of the Higgs boson are also presented. The statistical significance of detecting the Higgs signals and measuring the Higgs CP-parity is evaluated. (orig.)
We present the effects of heavy CP-even (H) and CP-odd (A) Higgs bosons on the production cross section of the process #gamma##gamma##->#tt at the energy around the mass poles of the Higgs bosons. It is found that interference between H and A with small mass gap, as well as the ones between Higgs bosons and continuum, contributes to the cross section, if the photon beams are polarized and if we observe the helicity of the top quarks. It is demonstrated in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model that the H and A contributions can be sizable at future #gamma##gamma# colliders for small values of tan #beta#. The methods to measure the CP-parity of the Higgs boson are also presented. The statistical significance of detecting the Higgs signals and measuring the Higgs CP-parity is evaluated. (orig.)
Stress chemiluminescence (SCL) is a novel technique for monitoring aging reactions of polymeric materials under stress. A special apparatus for detecting the chemiluminescence of solid polymers has been designed and built. There is a correlation between an enhanced chemiluminescence signal at low levels of applied stress and subsequent premature mechanical failure of samples of tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylenedianiline (TGMDA) cured with 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) the most commonly used epoxy in high performance fiber composites. Chemiluminescence data from silicone cushions is used to validate accelerated aging tests and preliminary results from Kevlar fibers are reported. The technique will be extended to other polymeric materials including fiber composites. 22 references, 7 figures, 1 table.
We investigate the possibility of implementing a given projection measurement using linear optics and arbitrarily fast feedforward based on the continuous detection of photons. In particular, we systematically derive the so-called Dolinar scheme that achieves the minimum-error discrimination of binary coherent states. Moreover, we show that the Dolinar-type approach can also be applied to projection measurements in the regime of photonic-qubit signals. Our results demonstrate that for implementing a projection measurement with linear optics, in principle, unit success probability may be approached even without the use of expensive entangled auxiliary states, as they are needed in all known (near-)deterministic linear-optics proposals.
Purpose: To obtain stabilized operation by preventing over heat in emergency cooling pumps upon accidents of flow regulators. Constitution: A pressure suppression chamber pool and a pressure vessel are communicated to each other with a pipeway and the water in the suppression pool is charged by a charging pump to the pipeway. The pipeway is interposed with an emergency cooling pump so as to feed water in the pipeway to the pressure vessel and a water source and the emergency cooling pumps are connected by way of a closed pipeway. Further, the closed pipeway and the pipeway interposed with the charging pump are communicated to each other by way of a connecting pipeway, to which are interposed an instrument for detecting the increase in the temperature of the emergency cooling pumps due to abnormality in the closed pipe (such as troubles in flow regulators) and outputting control signals and an electrically actuated valve controlled by a control ...
For the efficient operation of a cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) system utilized with a continuous-wave (cw) laser, we numerically analyze the coupling efficiency of a cw laser to a ringdown cavity in terms of changes in the scanning rate, the laser linewidth, and the mirror reflectivity. We also demonstrate a new simple design for a CRDS system that can produce a CRDS signal with only a piezoelectric transducer (PZT), without the acousto-optic modulator that is usually adopted to switch off the cw laser beam that enters the cavity. Furthermore, we investigate the feasibility of the cw CRDS technique with a fast-scanning PZT by recording a CRDS spectrum of acetylene overtones. The detection sensitivity that corresponds to the noise-equivalent absorption is found to be approximately 3 x 10(-9)/cm. PMID:18305817
An alternative utilization is presented for the gaseous ionization chamber in the detection of energetic heavy ions, which is called Bragg Curve Spectroscopy (BCS). Conceptually, BCS involves using the maximum data available from the Bragg curve of the stopping heavy ion (HI) for purposes of identifying the particle and measuring its energy. A detector has been designed that measures the Bragg curve with high precision. From the Bragg curve the range from the length of the track, the total energy from the integral of the specific ionization over the track, the dE/dx from the specific ionization at the beginning of the track, and the Bragg peak from the maximum of the specific ionization of the HI are determined. This last signal measures the atomic number, Z, of the HI unambiguously.
We consider a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) multiple access channel (MAC), where the channel between each transmitter and the receiver is modeled by the doubly-scattering channel model. Based on novel techniques from random matrix theory, we derive deterministic approximations of the mutual information, the signal-to-noise-plus-interference-ratio (SINR) at the output of the minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) detector and the sum-rate with MMSE detection which are almost surely tight in the large system limit. Moreover, we derive the asymptotically optimal transmit covariance matrices. Our simulation results show that the asymptotic analysis provides very close approximations for realistic system dimensions.
Since the commissioning of the first 10 strings of the AMANDA neutrino telescope, more than nine years of data has been collected. The proof of principle of high-energy neutrino detection in ice is established. No positive signal of an extra-terrestrial high-energy neutrino flux have been found so far. However, the most stringent upper limits to the flux of cosmic neutrinos-respectively, diffuse, point like or associated with gamma-ray bursts-have been presented. A sample of 3329 up-going muon tracks, representing the largest statistics ever of high-energy neutrino induced events, has been collected between 2000 and 2003. A coincidence of neutrino with an anomalous high-energy gamma-ray flare has been observed from the direction of the Blazar 1ES1959+650-although the observation were not conclusive. Selected results of data taken with the AMANDA detector are here reported.
A large area Bragg curve spectroscopy (BCS) detector and a position sensitive parallel grid avalanche counter have been developed to study heavy ion reactions, such as inelastic excitations and few nucleon transfer reactions near the Coulomb barrier. Reasonably good resolutions have been achieved for energy, atomic number and angle. A theoretical investigation on the mass dependence of the Bragg peak signal from the BCS detector, shows that there is a negligible mass dependence related to the geometry of the detector. The mass number of the heavy ions which cannot be obtained by the above method, has been identified by detecting the corresponding characteristic gamma rays from the product nuclei with two large solid angle gamma ray detectors. (orig.)
A large area Bragg curve spectroscopy (BCS) detector and a position sensitive parallel grid avalanche counter have been developed to study heavy ion reactions, such as inelastic excitations and few nucleon transfer reactions near the Coulomb barrier. Reasonably good resolutions have been achieved for energy, atomic number and angle. A theoretical investigation on the mass dependence of the Bragg peak signal from the BCS detector, shows that there is a negligible mass dependence related to the geometry of the detector. The mass number of the heavy ions which cannot be obtained by the above method, has been identified by detecting the corresponding characteristic gamma rays from the product nuclei with two large solid angle gamma ray detectors. (orig.).
The purpose of this project was to design, build, and characterize the performance of a volume breast ultrasound (VBUS) scanner that images the pendant breast. VBUS scanner design includes a: 1) clinical ultrasound scanner and transducer; 2) scanning table with a hole for the pendant breast; 3) rotational gantry; 4) probe mounting assembly; 5) compressionless breast stabilization device; 6) acquisition, control, reconstruction, and display software. Performance assessment characterized a variety of parameters including: spatial resolution, uniformity, and distortion using high and low contrast test objects in both horizontal and vertical scanning modes. The VBUS scanner modules have been constructed and initial performance evaluated. Approximately 300 scans are acquired over 360 degrees in 18 seconds. Reconstruction requires 25 ms per slice. Test object images depicted hyper- and hypo-echoic masses and demonstrated good resolution, soft tissue ...
A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves ...
A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves ...
Fabrication of diffused titanium optical guides on a LiNbO/sub 3/ crystal substrate requires precise quality assurance. Light couplers in particular must be positioned within micron specifications. This requirement is the reason that the width of lines detected during microscopic inspection of the crystal is such an important parameter for quality evaluation. To assist in the inspection of these optical guides, a line width estimation program has been developed for an IBM PC based microscope inspection system. A digital image processing approach is used to develop an algorithm which can be tailored by the user for specific signal and noise characteristics. Default filter parameters, which can be updated and saved interactively by the user, are stored in a file on disk. The final program can be executed stand-alone or through a commercially available, menu-driven, image processing software package. Details concerning the implementation of this ...
Hot gas trapped in a dark matter halo will produce a decrement in the surface brightness of the microwave background, the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect. While massive clusters produce the strongest central SZ decrements, we point out that a local galaxy halo, specifically the halo of M31, may be one of the brightest integrated SZ sources in the sky. For various realistic gas distributions consistent with current X-ray limits, we show that the integrated SZ decrement from M31 will be comparable to decrements already detected in more distant sources, provided its halo contains an appreciable quantity of hot gas. A measurement of this decrement would provide direct information on the mass, spatial distribution and thermodynamic state of hot gas in a low-mass halo, and could place important constraints on current models of galaxy formation. Detecting such an extended (~ 10 degree), low-amplitude signal will be challenging, but ...
Anti-proton and positron Galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectra are among the key targets for indirect detection of dark matter (DM). The boost factors, corresponding to an enhancement of the signal|linked to the clumpiness properties of the dark matter distribution|, have been taken as high as thousands in the past. The dramatic impact of these boost factors for indirect detection of antiparticles, for instance with the PAMELA satellite or the coming AMS-02 experiment, asks for their detailed calculation. We take into account the state-of-the-art results of high resolution N-body dark matter simulations to calculate the most likely energy dependent boost factors|linked to the GCR propagation properties|, for anti-protons and positrons. The results from extreme, but still possible, configurations of the clumpy dark matter component is also discussed. Starting from the mass and space distributions of sub-halos, the anti-proton ...
Anisotropy has been investigated using S-wave as a technique for detecting fractures. In this study, fundamental experiments were carried out with slightly changing the measuring conditions at a place where anisotropy was expected. This paper describes the fundamental data acquisition of anisotropy analysis using S-wave, and a part of the results. The experiments were conducted on the agricultural road in Yamadera district, Matsuyama-machi, Yamagata Prefecture. Two flat unpaved roads meeting at right angles were used as traverse lines. In this place, several reflection surfaces were certainly detected by P-wave, and anisotropy of S-wave was confirmed from the velocity of refracted wave of S-wave. Data were processed for individual traverse lines meeting at right angles. Firstly, signal sweeping, correlation, and vertical superposition were made. Six kinds of data were prepared, i.e., three-component receiving records of ...
Abnormal intracellular deposition of aggregated ?-synuclein is the characteristic feature of a number of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Although ?-synuclein is typically known as a cytosolic protein, a small amount is secreted by exocytosis in both monomeric and aggregated forms. The extracellular forms of ?-synuclein in human body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood plasma, might be a diagnostic target for PD and related diseases. Here, we characterized a new set of monoclonal antibodies against ?-synuclein, and using different combinations of antibodies, we established ELISA systems to specifically detect human ?-synuclein, mouse and human ?-synuclein together, and multimeric forms of ?-synuclein in biological samples. By employing the Tyramide signal amplification method, the sensitivity of the assay was significantly improved to detect a concentration as low as ?12.5 pg/ml. ...
Full text: The isotopic assay instrument under development at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is capable of rapid prescreening to detect small and rare particles containing high concentrations of uranium in a heterogeneous sample. The isotopic measurement concept is based on laser vaporization of solid samples followed by sensitive isotope-specific detection using either uranium atomic fluorescence emission or uranium atomic absorbance. Both isotopes are measured concurrently, following a single ablation laser pulse using two external-cavity violet diode lasers. The simultaneous measurement of both isotopes enables the correlation of the fluorescence and absorbance signals on a shot-to-shot basis. This measurement approach demonstrated negligible channel crosstalk between isotopes. Scanning the heterogeneous samples provides high-resolution imagery of sample isotopic fluorescence and absorbance. Isotopically ...
In this work, the antibacterial effect of fluoroquinolones (FQs) upon Escherichia coli (E.coli) was measured with and without application of 40kHz ultrasound (US) stimulation. The research results demonstrated that simultaneous application of 40kHz US apparently enhanced the antibacterial effectiveness of FQs. That is, the synergistic effect was observed and the bacterial viability was reduced when FQs and US were combined. In addition, various influencing factors, such as FQs drug concentration, US irradiation time and solution temperature, on the inhibition of E.coli were also investigated. The antibacterial activity was enhanced apparently with increasing of FQs drug concentration, US irradiation time and solution temperature. Furthermore, we discussed preliminarily the mechanism of US ...
Background: Mechanisms underlying the association between myocardial bridge (MB)-stenting and in-stent restenosis (ISR) are still unclear. Objective: To assess the impact of MB on ISR using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Methods: In the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial, 100 left anterior descending artery (LAD) culprit lesions (79 treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents [PES] and 21 treated with bare metal stents) were imaged with serial IVUS immediately postprocedure and at 13 months. Results: At baseline the LAD stent extended into the MB segment beyond the culprit lesion in seven patients (MB-stent group). In the remaining 93 patients the LAD stent was implanted only in the culprit lesion without extending into t...
Background This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and follow-up results of endoscopic papilletomy (ESP) with pancreatic and biliary duct stent placement for ampullary tumors. The therapeutic approach to benign ampullary tumors remains unsettled. The ESP procedure is a curative treatment option for benign papillary tumors, but ESP raises concerns about a relatively high risk for procedure-related complications such as pancreatitis. A pancreatic stent may protect against complications. Methods Between September 2000 and June 2008, 36 patients with ampullary tumors confined to the mucosa and no intraductal tumor growth underwent ESP. The preprocedural diagnostic tools included endoscopic ultrasound, transpapillary intraductal ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancr...
Calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) assessment is a safe and reliable method for evaluating skeletal status. Until now, considerable data have been accumulated on the distribution of QUS in Caucasian populations, whereas such data are still insufficient in Asian populations, especially in Chinese mainland. The present study aimed to obtain the distribution characteristic of calcaneus QUS in healthy Chinese women, and to further investigate the distribution of low bone mass by QUS stiffness index (SI). This study included 2,498 healthy Chinese females aged 10-87 yr. The QUS exhibited a characteristic mild rise and then fall pattern with increasing age. Age, body height, and weight were significant influencing factors on SI, especially age and weight. The prevalence of osteoporosis detec...
The steam generator (SG) is one of the most critical components of the heat transfer system in nuclear generation stations. Testing the structural integrity of SG tubing and SG internals is a key element of the fitness-for-service assessments to assure the safe and continuous operation of nuclear power plants. Recent eddy current (ET) inspections of two nuclear power plants revealed degradation of some of the tube support plate (TSP) structures, which was also confirmed by visual inspection. The phenomena was described as metal loss, caused by flow-accelerated corrosion of the carbon steel trefoil support plate and varying from minor to complete loss of the ligaments. This loss of TSP ligaments results in lack of support for the adjacent tubes making them more susceptible to fretting-wear damage and fatigue cracking. A signal analysis method, based on the responses at low frequency of two types of eddy current probes, has been developed to assess the degree of ...
This paper presented a technique to compensate for distorted secondary currents. Since current distortion can cause operating time delays in protective relays, attempts are made to minimize current transformer (CT) saturation by choosing a CT with a voltage rating that is at least twice that required for the maximum steady-state symmetrical fault current. However, the possibility of saturation still exists because of the DC component of an asymmetrical fault current and the remanent flux in a CT core. An advanced algorithm for the compensation of the distorted signal due to CT saturation was proposed. The secondary current can be expressed as the linear combination of sinusoidal and exponential signals, if no saturation occurs. In this study, the algorithm first utilized the third difference function for detecting the start and end of saturation in real-time. The AR model-based FIR filter and the least mean square curve ...
In this thesis, the potential to discover supersymmetric signatures in both e"+e"- and #gamma##gamma# colliders evaluated with a Monte Carlo analysis, is discussed. The analysis was focused on the detection of muons, essentially. First, we study the detection of #mu#"+_R#mu#"-_R in e"-e"+ collisions, whose purpose is the measurement of the #mu#_R mass. It was found that an uncertainty of 0.11 GeV (stat) can be achieved. Under the assumption of the real conditions of the ILC photon collider, a study covering the detection of #mu#"+_R#mu#"-_R and #mu#"+_L#mu#"-_L pairs for #sq root#(s_e_"-_e_"+)=0.5 and 0.6 TeV was performed. According to the simulation, a statistical error for the branching ratios of #mu#"#+-#_L#->##chi#"0_1#mu#"#+-# of 0.98% and #mu#"#+-#_L#->##chi#"0_2#mu#"#+-# of 3.97% can be reached. In order to judge the Monte Carlo results, we have used a technique based on a multidimensional fit to evaluate the ...
This paper presents a mathematical model that calculates eddy current signals from laterally spaced transmit-receive pancake coils. This model was validated by comparing calculations with laboratory measurements and it has been applied to evaluating design variations in X-Probe eddy current array coils. This model was used to quantify detection capabilities of probe designs with different numbers of coils. The current standard X-Probe design for 13 mm (0.5 inch) diameter steam generator tubes uses 3 rows of coils with 8 coils per row. This design is commonly referred to as the '8 coil X-Probe'. A significant improvement in detection capability was predicted for an X-Probe with 12 coils per row (called the '12 coil X-Probe') detecting short circumferential crack-like flaws. Based on these calculations, a prototype 12 coil X-Probe was constructed and used in laboratory ...
A new generation of transmit-receive single-pass probes, denoted as C6 or X probe, was field tested during the Gentilly II, 2000 steam generator tube inspection. This probe has a performance equivalent to rotating probes and can be used for tubesheet and full-length inspection at an inspection speed equivalent to that of bobbin probes. Existing C3 transmit-receive probes have been demonstrated to be effective in detecting circumferential cracks. The C5 probe can detect both circumferential and axial cracks and volumetric defects but cannot discriminate between them. The C6 probe expands on the capabilities of both probes in a single probe head. It can simultaneously detect and discriminate between circumferential and axial cracks to satisfy different plugging criteria. It has excellent coverage, good defect detectability, and improved sizing and characterization. Probe data is displayed in C-scan format ...
The aim of this work was to develop a method to distinguish between different ion formation processes and to determine the influence of these processes on the total number of detected monatomic ions of a certain element. A vector/matrix-formalism was developed, which describes the physical processes of sputtering, ion formation, mass separation and detection in laser-SNMS. In the framework of the method developed, based on this theoretic formalism, changes in the secondary flux contribution of the respective element were observed by comparing the detected monatomic ion yield obtained in specifically aligned (SIMS and) laser-SNMS experiments. The yields resulting from these experiments were used to calculate characteristic numbers to compare the flux composition from different surfaces. The potential of the method was demonstrated for the elements boron, iron and gadolinium by investigating the changes in the flux ...
Consistent application of a newly developed coincidence technique to determine activation products in the operation and demolition of nuclear facilities results in very new perspectives in contamination monitoring and clearance measurement of plant components. In particular, it is possible to avoid the critical spread of point-source Co-60 contamination, the so-called hot particles. The CCM (Cobalt Coincidence Measurement) technique includes the coincident detection of prompt-prompt gamma cascades with "6"0Co and other activation products ("1"1"0"mAg, "1"2"4Sb, "2"2Na) with low mass-specific limits for unrestricted clearance. Special features of the technique are the short measurement times, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, and focusing in space achieved. Compared to conventional integral gamma-measurements, the signal-to-background ratio can be improved by 1-2 orders of magnitude. The method can be employed especially ...
Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) emitted from the mould species Penicillium expansum, P. chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, A. fumigatus, A. niger and Cladosporium cladosporoides were analyzed by means of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and GCMS. The mould species were cultivated on the synthetic agar dichloran chloramphenicol (DG 18) and on wet wall paper. The production of MVOCs was monitored over several weeks to detect changes in the emission rates between the initial stage and later periods of growth. The cultivation on the synthetic agar resulted in MVOC patterns with a wide variety of signals. In contrast, the growth on wet wall paper led to changed MVOC patterns with less signals. The emission rates were drastically reduced. Components emitted by all six fungi species on wall paper were 2-pentanol and 2-pentanone. 1-Octen-3-ol was emitted by five fungi species. 2-Pentanol was only ...
Details of a novel intelligent pipeline anomaly location system were presented. The system was based on the emission and reception of extra low frequencies(ELF) disposed close to a pipeline that were then logged in the memory of an in-line inspection (ILI) tool to provide a more precise reference than time-based above-ground marker systems for the location of pipeline anomalies. The system consisted of 2 pairs of transmitter (TX) and receiving (RX) circuits working at low and varied frequencies. An additional module was installed in the front section of an ILI tool, which contained a frequency transmitter whose signals are transmitted through cabling to an external transmitter and retransmitted simultaneously to a receiver installed in the rear section of an additional module of the tool in order to guarantee that the signal recorded by the tool corresponded to the smart location system. The system was used to detect ...
Cancer is a severe threat to human health. Early detection is considered the best way to increase the chance for survival. While the traditional cancer detection method, biopsy, is invasive, noninvasive optical diagnostic techniques are revolutionizing the way that cancer is diagnosed. Reflectance spectroscopy is one of these optical spectroscopy techniques showing promise as a diagnostic tool for pre-cancer detection. When a neoplasia occurs in tissue, morphologic and biochemical changes happen in the tissue, which in turn results in the change of optical properties and reflectance spectroscopy. Therefore, a pre-cancer can be detected by extracting optical properties from reflectance spectroscopy. This dissertation described the construction of a fiberoptic based reflectance system and the development of a series of modeling studies. This research is aimed at establishing an improved understanding of ...
This patent describes improvement in a system for stabilizing the operation of an electrical generator connected to a power distribution network of the type including a power system stabilizer for providing an oscillation signal having a value which normally represents generator oscillations and a modulator circuit responsive to input signals including the oscillation signal to provide a modulated output signal for varying generator excitation, means for checking for operational integrity of the power system stabilizer. It comprises: means for applying, to the power system stabilizer, a test signal of known amplitude and frequency, the test signal simulating generator oscillations and serving to produce a simulated oscillation signal for employment as the oscillation signal, means to store representations of time related ...
Negative frequency has a physical meaning, the complete description of a frequency signal is a rotating complex signal, in complete description, positive frequency signal exp(iwt) and negative frequency signal exp(-iwt) is two distinguishable and independent frequency signals. Because the real-carrier modulation and demodulation do not distinguish positive and negative frequency, so half of the spectrum resources and signal energy are wasted. The complex-carrier modulation uses the distinguishable positive frequency signal exp(iwt) and negative frequency signal exp(-iwt) as the carrier signals, they can carry different information, so the spectrum resources is full used, the complex-carrier demodulation does not lose signal energy, so the spectrum efficiency is improved.
High-intensity contact ultrasound (HICU) under MRI guidance may provide minimally invasive treatment of endocavitary digestive tumors in the esophagus, colon or rectum. In this study, a miniature receive-only coil was integrated into an endoscopic ultrasound applicator to offer high-resolution MRI guidance of thermotherapy. A cylindrical plastic support with an incorporated single element flat transducer (9.45 MHz, water cooling tip) was made and equipped with a rectangular RF loop coil surrounding the active element. The integrated coil provided significantly higher sensitivity than a four-element extracorporeal phased array coil, and the standard deviation of the MR thermometry (SDT) improved up to a factor of 7 at 10 mm depth in tissue. High-resolution morphological images (T1w-TFE and IR-T1w-TSE with a voxel size of 0.25 x 0.25 x 3 mm3) and accurate thermometry data (the PRFS method with a voxel size of 0.5 x 0.5 x 5 mm3, 2.2 s/image, 0.3 ...
This case report presents the prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins at 7 weeks and 6 days’ gestation according to the last menstrual period and 6 weeks and 4 days’ gestation according...Full Text Available
The high spatial resolution of state-of-the-art commercial satellite imagery provides a good basis for recognising and monitoring even small-scale structural changes within nuclear facilities and for planning of routine and/or challenge inspections of nuclear sites. Despite the advantages of the improved spatial resolution some problems exist that may make the interpretation of the changes more difficult: Firstly, the results of the change analysis can be very complex and unclear at a glance. Secondly, shadow formation and off-nadir images due to different sensor and solar conditions at the acquisition times can cause false signals or overlap real changes. In view to the fast-growing amount of data from different sensor types there are then some requirements of an effective change detection procedure for safeguards purposes: i. The techniques involved should possess a certain amount of robustness in terms of small misregistration errors, ...
Object: To smoothly control automatic water supply for realizing stable operation of a nuclear reactor by providing a flow rate limiting signal selection circuit and a preferential circuit in a water supply control device for a nuclear reactor wherein the speed of a recirculation pump may be changed in two-steps. Structure: Opening angle signals for a water supply regulating valve are controlled by a nuclear reactor water level signal, a vapor flow rate signal and a supplied water flow rate signal through an adder and an adjuster in response to a predetermined water level setting signal. When the water in the reactor is maintained at a predetermined level, a selection circuit receives a water pump condition signal for selecting one of the signals from a supplied water rate limiting signal generator ...
Airbag pressure vessels for the north-American market mainly are made by forging and by the use of steel alloys. In Europe aluminum alloys are common and the manufacturing process is extrusion of circular blanks - made from cold rolled plates - in a form applying a 100 t press at room temperature. Then by heat treatment the strength/hardness of the material is properly adjusted and after that the pressure vessel parts have to be continuously inspected with an inspection and handling cycle time of 3 s. Inspection of the axis-symmetric parts is asked for surface breaking extrusion defects as well as for surface parallel delaminations in the bulk volume. Furthermore, the material strength is a quality characteristic that has to be nondestructively registered and documented. The inspection is performed by eddy current probes and an EMAT, of which the eddy current impedance measurements are used for surface breaking extrusion defect detection and sizing (single ...
The Candu 6 reactor assembly consists of an array of 380 pressure tubes, which are installed horizontally in a large cylindrical vessel, the Calandria, containing the low pressure heavy water moderator. The pressure tube is located inside calandria tube and the annulus between these tubes, which forms a closed loop with CO{sub 2} gas recirculating, is called the Annulus Gas System (AGS). It is designed to give an alarm to the operator even for a small pressure tube leak by a very sensitive dew point meter so that he can take a preventive action for the pressure tbe rupture incident. To judge whether the operator action time is enough or not in the design of Wolsung 2, 3, and 4, the Leak Before Break (LBB) assessment is required for the analysis of the pressure tube failure accident. In order to provide the required data for the LBB assessment of Wolsung Units 2, 3, 4, a series of leak detection capability tests was performed by injecting controlled rates of heavy ...
The security of ports and transportation is of utmost importance for the development of economy and the security of a nation. Among the necessary actions to ensure the security of ports and borders, the inspection of containers is one of the most time consuming and expensive procedures. Potential threats are the illegal traffic of radioactive materials that could be employed for the construction of weapons, as uranium and plutonium. New techniques for the inspections of containers should be fast, allow the detection and identification of dangerous materials, and be non-invasive, to reduce costs and delays. We propose to build a large surface photon and neutron detector based on plastic scintillator to identify the presence of fissile or fertile material inside a container. The detector consists of scintillator bars, wrapped in thin foils of reflecting material containing gadolinium for neutron capture and arranged in planes separated by few-millimeter-thick lead ...
The security of ports and transportation is of utmost importance for the development of economy and the security of a nation. Among the necessary actions to ensure the security of ports and borders, the inspection of containers is one of the most time consuming and expensive procedures. Potential threats are the illegal traffic of radioactive materials that could be employed for the construction of weapons, as uranium and plutonium. New techniques for the inspections of containers should be fast, allow the detection and identification of dangerous materials, and be non-invasive, to reduce costs and delays. We propose to build a large surface photon and neutron detector based on plastic scintillator to identify the presence of fissile or fertile material inside a container. The detector consists of scintillator bars, wrapped in thin foils of reflecting material containing gadolinium for neutron capture and arranged in planes separated by few-millimeter-thick lead ...
Interkingdom signaling is established in the gastrointestinal tract in that human hormones trigger responses in bacteria; here, we show that the corollary is true, that a specific bacterial signal,...Full Text Available
Sexually-selected communication signals can be used by competing males to settle contests without incurring the costs of fighting. Steroid regulation of these signals can render them as reliable...Full Text Available
The genomic viral RNA (vRNA) segments of influenza A virus contain specific packaging signals at their termini that overlap the coding regions. To further characterize cis-acting signals...Full Text Available
Colour television is examined as an attempt to imitate the human visual system in image formation, spectral sensitivities, adaptation, contrast effects, signal processing, signal modulation, signal...Full Text Available
We study the high-energy emission of the Galactic black hole candidate GX 339-4 using INTEGRAL/SPI and simultaneous RXTE/PCA data. By the end of January 2007, when it reached its peak luminosity in hard X-rays, the source was in a bright hard state. The SPI data from this period show a good signal to noise ratio, allowing a detailed study of the spectral energy distribution up to several hundred keV. As a main result, we report on the detection of a variable hard spectral feature (>150 keV) which represents a significant excess with respect to the cutoff power law shape of the spectrum. The SPI data suggest that the intensity of this feature is positively correlated with the 25 - 50 keV luminosity of the source and the associated variability time scale is shorter than 7 hours. The simultaneous PCA data, however, show no significant change in the spectral shape, indicating that the source is not undergoing a canonical state transition. We ...
We report on the first measurements of the z-dependent evolution of electron-beam microbunching as revealed through coherent transition radiation (CTR) measurements in a visible self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser experiment. The increase in microbunching was detected by tracking the growth of the visible CTR signals as generated from insertable metal mirrors/foils after each of the last three undulators. The same optical imaging diagnostics that were used to track the z-dependent intensity of the undulator radiation (UR) were also used to track the electron beam/CTR information. Angular distribution, beam size, and intensity data were obtained after each of the last three undulators in the five-undulator series, and spectral information was obtained after the last undulator. The exponential growth rate of the CTR was found to be very similar to that of the UR and consistent with simulations using the code GENESIS.
We report on the first measurements of the z-dependent evolution of electron-beam microbunching as revealed through coherent transition radiation (CTR) measurements in a visible self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser experiment. The increase in microbunching was detected by tracking the growth of the visible CTR signals as generated from insertable metal mirrors/foils after each of the last three undulators. The same optical imaging diagnostics that were used to track the z-dependent intensity of the undulator radiation (UR) were also used to track the electron beam/CTR information. Angular distribution, beam size, and intensity data were obtained after each of the last three undulators in the five-undulator series, and spectral information was obtained after the last undulator. The exponential growth rate of the CTR was found to be very similar to that of the UR and consistent with simulations using the code GENESIS.
The CPHR individual monitoring service acquired an automatic RADOS TLD system to improve its capacities to satisfy the increasing needs of their national customers. The TLD system consists of: two automatic TLD reader, model DOSACUS, a TLD irradiator and personal dosimeters card including slide and holders. The dosimeters were composed by this personal dosimeters card and LiF:Mg,Cu,P (model GR-200) detectors. These readers provide to detectors a constant temperature readout cycle using hot nitrogen gas. In order to evaluate the performance characteristics of the system, different performance tests recommended by the IEC 1066 standard were carried out. Important dosimetric characteristics evaluated were batch homogeneity, reproducibility, detection threshold, energy dependence, residual signal and fading. The results of the tests showed good performance characteristics of the system. (Author)
The electromagnetic properties that present hydrogen and other nucleus of agro-alimentary products, have allowed widely use of magnetic resonance (MR) to study the composition and internal structure of these biological materials in a micro and macroscopic scale, in a nondestructive way. In this paper the physical principles, basic equipment to measure the MR signals and the MR imaging of any biological sample, are explained. It is also shown a review of the main agro-alimentary applications, emphasizing in the use of this principle to examine the internal quality of fruits and vegetables. In these products, the MR has been used to detect and follow the evolution of different factors that determine the internal quality after harvesting, during storage and after post harvesting processes. The main studies that have been conducted with MR in harvested products are about physiological disorders that take place during storage and conservation of ...
Because of the equivalence principle, a global measurement is necessary to distinguish gravity from acceleration of the reference frame. A gravity gradiometer is therefore an essential instrument needed for precision tests of gravity laws and for applications in gravity survey and inertial navigation. Superconductivity and SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) technology can be used to obtain a gravity gradiometer with very high sensitivity and stability. A superconducting gravity gradiometer has been developed for a null test of the gravitational inverse-square law and space-borne geodesy. Here we present a complete theoretical model of this instrument. Starting from dynamical equations for the device, we derive transfer functions, a common mode rejection characteristic, and an error model of the superconducting instrument. Since a gradiometer must detect a very weak differential gravity signal in the midst of large platform ...
This paper describes recent measurements of the subcritical neutron multiplication factor using the /sup 252/Cf source-driven neutron noise analysis method. This work was supported by a program of collaboration between the United States Department of Energy and the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan related to the development of fast breeder technology. The experiment reported consists of a configuration of two interacting tanks of uranyl nitrate aqueous solution with different uranium concentrations in each tank. The /sup 252/Cf-source-driven neutron noise analysis method obtains the subcriticality from the signals of three detectors: the first, a parallel plate ionization chamber with /sup 252/Cf electroplated on one of its plates that is located in or near the system containing the fissile material, and produces an electrical pulse for every spontaneous fission that occurs and thereby serves as a timed source of fission neutrons; and ...
This report of progress and future objectives timetable is based on an included schematic of goals and objectives and the project abstract which is included as Appendix 1. Five matters are summarized in the order of (1) novel methods of calcified bone confocal microscopy and reconstruction image analysis of decalcified beagle and human cortical bone serial sections, (2) macroscopic cross-correlation of beagle and human cortical and cancellous bone fractions with CT analysis, (3) guidance to the most radiobiologically important skeletal regions of interest with the just completed {sup 90}Sr bone tumor map from life time beagle studies, (4) deposition patterns of radioactive agents that participate in apatite crystal nucleation processes in bone and leave radiation-excited electrons trapped in bone mineral, and (5) the budget period timetable. The discovery that beta particles from {sup 166}Ho (T{sub {1/2}} =26 hr, {beta}{sub max} = 1.8 MeV) phosphonic acid bone agents leave ...
The future e{sup +}e{sup -} linear colliders can also operate in the e{gamma} or {gamma}{gamma} modes. In the context of the top-color assisted technicolor (TC2) model, we study the single charged top-pion production process {gamma}{gamma} {yields} tb-bar{pi}{sub t}{sup -}. The results show that the production rates can reach the level of tens fb with reasonable parameter values. So one can expect that enough signals could be produced in future high-energy linear collider experiments. Furthermore, the flavor-changing (FC) decay mode {pi}{sub t}{sup -} {yields} bc-bar is the best channel to detect the charged top pion due to the clean standard model background. With a large number of events and the clean background, the charged top pion should be observable at future linear colliders operating in {gamma}{gamma} mode at the TeV energy scale.
Sandia National Laboratories has recently developed two major field test capabilities for unattended ground sensor systems at the Department of energy`s Nevada Test Site (NTS). The first capability utilizes the NTS large area, varied terrain, and intrasite communications systems for testing sensors for detecting and tracking vehicular traffic. Sensor and ground truth data can be collected at either of two secure control centers. This system also includes an automated ground truth capability that consists of differential Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers on test vehicles and live TV coverage of critical road sections. Finally there is a high-speed, secure computer network link between the control centers and the Air Force`s Theater Air Command and Control Simulation Facility in Albuquerque NM. The second capability is Bunker 2-300. It is a facility for evaluating advanced sensor systems for monitoring activities in underground cut-and-cover facilities. ...
Helically coiled tubes of steam generators (SG) in FBR are boundaries between sodium and water/steam. Therefore, to assure the integrity of tubes, it is necessary to inspect the tubes nondestructively for in service or after a sodium-water reaction accident. In order to make it possible to conduct in-service inspection of SG tubes, we have studied on eddy current probes and probe inserting methods. As for the probe inserting method, IHI designed a fluid driving type which consists of a model probe and signal cable with float balls and driven by air pressure force. Presented in this paper is the authors' report, which describes the fluid driving type as an effective method to insert an eddy current probe into helically coiled tubes. The outline of the test results is as follows: 1. It was possible to insert the probe into 65 meter length helically coiled tubes. 2. We could detected, as anticipated, a defect (outer circumferential wall thinning ...
As with science, so with security--in both arenas, the extraordinary sensitivity of cryogenic sensors enables high-confidence detection and high-precision measurement even of the faintest signals. Science applications are more mature, but several national and international security applications have been identified where cryogenic detectors have high potential payoff. International safeguards and nuclear forensics are areas needing new technology and methods to boost speed, sensitivity, precision and accuracy. Successfully applied, improved nuclear materials analysis will help constrain nuclear materials diversion pathways and contribute to treaty verification. Cryogenic microcalorimeter detectors for X-ray, gamma-ray, neutron, and alpha-particle spectrometry are under development with these aims in mind. In each case the unsurpassed energy resolution of microcalorimeters reveals previously invisible spectral features of nuclear materials. ...
The uncoupling protein (UCP) is a proton/anion transporter found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of brown adipocyte. Although UCP has nor been detected in mitochondria from any other tissue, it shares structural and catalytic properties with several other mitochondrial carrier proteins. Although UCP was discovered only recently it is one of the most extensively studied mitochondrial carrier proteins.More recently, the mouse, rat, and human genes encoding for UCP have been isolated and sequenced. The availability of these various tools has led to several significant observations. UCP gene expression is strongly controlled at the level of transcription by signals that are activated after the stimulation of brown adipocytes by norepinephrine. The comparison of UCP gene with the genes encoding the adenine nucleotide translocator revealed the existence of structural and evolutionary homologies. Moreover, in humans the UCP gene and one form of ...
We present measurements of the transmission of radio/microwave pulses through salt in the Cote Blanche salt mine operated by the North American Salt Company in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. These results are from data taken in the southwestern region of the 1500 ft. (457 m) deep level of the mine on our third and most recent visit to the mine. We transmitted and received a fast, high-power, broadband pulse from within three vertical boreholes that were drilled to depths of 100 ft. (30 m) and 200 ft. below the 1500 ft. level using three different pairs of dipole antennas whose bandwidths span 125 to 900 MHz. By measuring the relative strength of the received pulses between boreholes with separations of 50 m and 169 m, we deduce the attenuation of the signal attributed to the salt medium. We fit the frequency dependence of the attenuation to a power law and find the best fit field attenuation lengths to be 93 \\pm 7 m at 150 MHz, 63 \\pm 3 m at 300 MHz, and 36 \\pm 2 m ...
A discussion of how stress and strain affect the quantities which can be measured in an NQR experiment shows that, for stresses of the magnitude to be expected at depths up to about 10,000 feet, quadrupole coupling constants will fall in the range of 1 to 10 kHz for both the sodium and chloride ions in NaCl. The most promising system involves pulsed nuclear double resonance detection; and alterative is to observe the quadrupolar splitting of the NMR signal. Choices to be made in the measurement and mapping techniques are discussed. The well-known perturbation of the homogenous stress field in the neighborhood of a borehole is shown to be advantageous from the point of view of obtaining directional information on the stress. Construction and operation of a borehole stress sensor are considered. The NQR technique seems feasible for measuring the magnitude and direction of underground stress with a resolution of about 25 psi, or 2.5% at 1000 psi. ...
Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement, whether primary by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus - HIV - itself, or secondary (toxoplasmosis or lymphoma) is remarkably frequent in AIDS, in 40 to 70% of cases, depending upon the author. In order to study the natural history of this illness, a cohort of 25 asymptomatic seropositive patients have been established. Every 6 months these patients undergo biological and clinical examinations, as well as Magnetic Resonance brain scans. After two examinations at a 6 month's interval, the first results are reported. Out of these 25 cases, 9 present anomalies: One patient with diffuse cerebral atrophy and 8 others with high signal intensity areas on T2 weighted sequences, like those of the Multiple Sclerosis. No relationship could be demonstrated between the existence of these lesions and various criteria such as age, sex, risk factors and T4 cells count. The nature of these lesions is not lear. They certainly indicate early ...
Laser frequency stabilization giving a 500-Hz Allan deviation for a 2-ms integration time with drift reduced to 7 kHz/min over several minutes was achieved at 1536 nm in the optical communication band. A continuously regenerated spectral hole in the inhomogeneously broadened "4I_1_5_/_2(1)#->#"4I_1_3_/_2(1) optical absorption of an Er"3"+:Y_2SiO_5 crystal was used as the short-term frequency reference, while a variation on the locking technique allowed simultaneous use of the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line as a long-term reference. The reported frequency stability was achieved without vibration isolation. Spectral hole burning frequency stabilization provides ideal laser sources for high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time optical signal processing, and a range of applications requiring ultra-narrow-band light sources or coherent detection; the time scale for stability and the compatibility with spectral hole burning devices make ...
We used the recuperation effect (see also 'Recuperation of infrared stimulated luminescence of feldspars' in this issue) for investigating the connection between infrared- and greenlight-stimulated luminescence (IRSL and GLSL) of feldspars by performing a 'double-bleach recuperation' experiment. A diode system was used for infrared (IR) stimulation, and a filtered-light unit for greenlight (GL) stimulation. Powdered feldspar samples (2 mg each) of known chemical characterisation from a mineral collection were used. After beta-irradiation with 180 Gy and storage in the dark for several weeks feldspar aliquots were bleached down to a residual level of {approx}1% of the initial level, first with IR and subsequently with GL. For both stimulations, detection of the stimulated luminescence was carried out in the near ultraviolet region (around 260-360 nm, peaked at 340 nm). Other aliquots were bleached in reverse order (1st GL, 2nd ...
We used the recuperation effect (see also 'Recuperation of infrared stimulated luminescence of feldspars' in this issue) for investigating the connection between infrared- and greenlight-stimulated luminescence (IRSL and GLSL) of feldspars by performing a 'double-bleach recuperation' experiment. A diode system was used for infrared (IR) stimulation, and a filtered-light unit for greenlight (GL) stimulation. Powdered feldspar samples (2 mg each) of known chemical characterisation from a mineral collection were used. After beta-irradiation with 180 Gy and storage in the dark for several weeks feldspar aliquots were bleached down to a residual level of #approx#1% of the initial level, first with IR and subsequently with GL. For both stimulations, detection of the stimulated luminescence was carried out in the near ultraviolet region (around 260-360 nm, peaked at 340 nm). Other aliquots were bleached in reverse order (1st GL, 2nd IR). These bleaching sequences were ...
Large capacity adjustable speed machines (ASMs) at pumped storage power station have been put into full operation and the operating characteristics of ASM have been highly evaluated from the view point of power system operation. The output power (input power) of ASM can be controlled very quickly by applying a vector control scheme to the excitation control. This quick responsive feature of ASM can make it possible to improve the stability of the neighbor sub-power system. For improvement of transient stability, the output power of ASM is reduced very quickly in order to control the acceleration of neighbor generators during and after transmission line faults. For improvement of dynamic stability, the output power of ASM is modulated in accordance with the stabilizing signalsdetected from the swing of generator rotor or the power flow fluctuation on the transmission line. This paper describes the design concepts and method of control system ...
To elucidate the mechanism of sunlight-induced skin damage, guinea pigs exposed to UV light (280-320 nm, UV B, 4J/cm"2) and a homogenate of the epidermis was examined by means of the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test. Three hours after the exposure, TBA-malondialdehyde adducts had increased while glutathione reductase activity had decreased, indicating lipid peroxidation. To detect the initial species, spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was applied to a suspension of illuminated epidermal cells (0.5 J/cm"2). An ESR signal obtained only with irradiation comprised a 1 : 2 : 2 : 1 quartet [a (N) =a (#beta#H) =1.49 mT] attributable to a spin adduct of hydroxyl radicals. These results suggest that sunlight exposure of skin may lead to hydroxyl radical generation and simultaneous lipid peroxidation. (author).
Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living amoeba found in soil, freshwater, and marine environments and an important predator of bacteria. Acanthamoeba castellanii is also an opportunistic pathogen of clinical interest, responsible for several distinct diseases in humans. In order to provide a genomic platform for the study of this ubiquitous and important protist, we generated a sequence survey of approximately 0.5 x coverage of the genome. The data predict that A. castellanii exhibits a greater biosynthetic capacity than the free-living Dictyostelium discoideum and the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, providing an explanation for the ability of A. castellanii to inhabit adversity of environments. Alginate lyase may provide access to bacteria within biofilms by breaking down the biofilm matrix, and polyhydroxybutyrate depolymerase may facilitate utilization of the bacterial storage compound polyhydroxybutyrate as a food source. Enzymes for the synthesis and breakdown of cellulose were ...
A crack fault is one of the damage modes most frequently occurring in gears. Identifying different crack levels, especially for early cracks is a challenge in gear fault diagnosis. This paper aims to propose a method to classify the different levels of gear cracks automatically and reliably. In this method, feature parameters in time domain, specially designed for gear damage detection and in frequency domain are extracted to characterize the gear conditions. A two-stage feature selection and weighting technique (TFSWT) via Euclidean distance evaluation technique (EDET) is presented and adopted to select sensitive features and remove fault-unrelated features. A weighted K nearest neighbor (WKNN) classification algorithm is utilized to identify the gear crack levels. The gear crack experiments were conducted and the vibration signals were captured from the gears under different loads and motor speeds. The proposed method is applied to ...
Very soon a new generation of reactor and accelerator neutrino oscillation experiments - Double Chooz, Daya Bay, Reno and T2K - will seek for oscillation signals generated by the mixing parameter theta_13. The knowledge of this angle is a fundamental milestone to optimize further experiments aimed at detecting CP violation in the neutrino sector. Leptonic CP violation is a key phenomenon that has profound implications in particle physics and cosmology but it is clearly out of reach for the aforementioned experiments. Since late 90's, a world-wide activity is in progress to design facilities that can access CP violation in neutrino oscillation and perform high precision measurements of the lepton counterpart of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. In this paper the status of these studies will be summarized, focusing on the options that are best suited to exploit existing European facilities (firstly CERN and the INFN Gran Sasso Laboratories) ...
In an existent emergency reactor core cooling device, if a ruptures should occure in a pipeline of a gravitational dropping type reactor core cooling system pool (GDCS) due to some or other causes, a portion of GDCS pool water was flown out of the ruptured port and could not be used for reactor core cooling. Then, a difference pressure detector is disposed to a GDCS pipeline at the inlet of a reactor pressure vessel. When it is judged by the detector, that coolants flow to the outside of the injection pipeline, an injection value disposed to the GDCS pipeline is closed by the difference pressure signal. Even if a rupture should occur on the side of the pressure vessel at downstream to the check value of the GDCS pipeline, since backflow is caused at the pressure container inlet of the GDCS pipeline with the rupture port, the rupture is detected by the difference pressure detector to close the injection valve. Therefore, loss of the GDCS pool ...
APEX (ATLAS Positron EXperiment), a collaborative effort of ANL, FSU, MSU/NSCL, Princeton, Queen`s, Rochester, Washington and Yale, is an experiment to study positron and electron production in very heavy ion collisions. The electrons and positrons are detected with two detector arrays, each consisting of 216 1 mm thick Si PIN diodes, and their energy and time-of-flight are measured. The number of detectors and limited space made it necessary to develop a system that could efficiently process and transfer signals from the detectors to the charge sensing ADC`s and data readout electronics as well as monitor the condition of the detectors. The discussion will cover the electronics designed for the Si detectors, including the charge amplifier, ``Mother board`` for the charge amplifiers, 8 channel Shaper, 16 channel Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD), 16 channel Peak-to-FERA (PTF) and the integration of the CFD and PTF with Charge sensing ADC`s. ...
Ionising radiation induces stable free radicals in chicken bones and in the shell of chicken eggs which can be detected, by the electrons spin resonance (ESR) technique, well beyond the shelf-life of the food and can be used for dosimetry. The method usually adopted to evaluate ``a posteriori`` the dose given during the ionising radiation treatment of food, is the dose additive method. To assess the dose, the ESR signal amplitude of the irradiated food (bone or egg shell in the present case) is measured and then the dose-effect relationship is obtained by re-irradiating the sample with some additive doses (usually of 1 kGy). The dose-effect curve is back-extrapolated and the initial given dose determined. At the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS), Rome, Italy, a research programme was approved two years ago aimed to, (1) study new methodological approaches for ESR dose assessment, and (2) analyse the factors which may influence the ESR readout ...
This paper proposes a new pattern recognition system employing optical joint transform correlation (JTC) technique which offers a great number of advantages over similar digital techniques, including very fast operation, simple architecture and capability of updating the reference image in real time. The proposed JTC technique incorporates a synthetic discriminant function (SDF) of the target image estimated from different training images to make the pattern recognition performance invariant to noise and distortion. It then involves four different phase-shifted versions of the same target SDF reference image, which are individually joint transform correlated with the given input scene. When the correlation signals are combined, it produces a single cross-correlation peak corresponding to each potential target present in the given input scene. The proposed technique also includes a fringe-adjusted filter to generate a delta-like correlation peak with high ...
We developed a new breast surface coil for the supine position. The subjects consisted of 9 patients with breast cancer varying from 46 to 60 years of age (average: 52). The cancer image of the SPGR (CE+) method was compared with that of the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR (CE+)) method and that of the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR with fat-saturation (CE+)) method in the sagittal section after injection of Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg). Quantitative analyses were performed before and after injection of Gd-DTPA in 6 patients. Three patients were excluded from the quantitative analyses owing to the clear detection of tumors in the fat tissue. Signal intensity measurements were systematically performed in each region of interest (ROI), i.e. the cancer lesion, the surrounding mammary gland. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between the lesions using the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR (CE+)), and the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR with fat-saturation (CE+)) methods and the lesions using the SPGR ...
Heat transfer tubes of a primary pressurized water cooled (PPWC) in the high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) form the reactor pressure boundary of the primary coolant, therefore are important from the viewpoint of safety. To establish inspection techniques for the heat transfer tubes of the PPWC, an automatic inspection system was developed. The system employs a bobbin coil probe, a rotating probe for eddy current testing (ECT) and a rotating probe for ultrasonic testing (UT). Nondestructive test of a half of the heat transfer tubes of the PPWC was carried out by the automatic inspection system during reactor shutdown period of the HTTR (about 55% in the maximum reactor power in this paper). The nondestructive test results showed that the maximum signal-to-noise ratio was 1.8 in ECT. Pattern and phase of Lissajous wave, which were obtained for the heat transfer tube of the PPWC, were different from those obtained for the artificially defected tube. In ...
Antideuterons are among the most promising galactic cosmic ray-related targets for dark matter indirect detection. Currently only upper limits exist on the flux, but the development of new experiments, such as GAPS and AMS-02, provides exciting perspectives for a positive measurement in the near future. In this Paper, we present a novel and updated calculation of both the secondary and primary antideuteron fluxes. We employ a two-zone diffusion model which successfully reproduces cosmic-ray nuclear data and the observed antiproton flux. We review the nuclear and astrophysical uncertainties and provide an up to date secondary (i.e. background) antideuteron flux. The primary (i.e. signal) contribution is calculated for generic WIMPs annihilating in the galactic halo: we explicitly consider and quantify the various sources of uncertainty in the theoretical evaluations. Propagation uncertainties, as is the case of antiprotons, are sizeable. ...
The aim of this study was to search for a sorbent that could act as an extraction phase and as a support for solid-matrix time-resolved luminescence (SMTRL). Four potential sorbents were investigated for this purpose using tetracycline (TC) as a model analyte. Sorbents prepared from C18 silica gel or calcium cross-linked pectin gel were able to extract TC from dilute solutions. Europium(III)-TC complex adsorbed on the surface of C18 generated the most intense TRL signal when measured at {lambda}{sub ex} = 388 nm and {lambda}{sub em} = 615 nm. This method achieved a 1 ng/ml limit of detection (LOD) with a 100 {mu}l sample solution in a repeated spotting mode. Hyphenation of sorbent extraction and SMTRL was demonstrated using C18. This method is suitable for screening of TC in foods or aqueous solutions and can be extended to other luminescent lanthanide-chelating analytes in physiological or environmental samples.
A simple one-step method to fabricate hierarchically porous TiO2/Pd composite hollow spheres without any template was developed by using solvothermal treatment. Pd nanoparticles (2-5 nm) were well dispersed in the mesopores of the TiO2 hollow spheres via in-situ reduction. In our experiment, polyvinylpyrrolidone played an important role in the synthetic process as the reducing agent and the connective material between TiO2 and Pd nanoparticles. HF species generated from solvothermal reaction leaded to the formation of TiO2 hollow spheres and Ostwald ripening was another main factor that affected the size and structure of the hollow spheres. The as-prepared TiO2/Pd composite hollow spheres exhibited high electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H2O2. The sensitivity was about 226.72 ?A mM-1 cm-2 with a detection limit of 3.81 ?M at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. These results made the hierarchically porous TiO2/Pd composite a promising ...
The rate of the oxygen-exchange reaction in an aqueous solution of a heterocyclic oxygen compound, 2,4,6-trimethylpyrylium perchlorate, was quantitated. The /sup 18/O isotope effect in /sup 13/C NMR spectroscopy affords a direct, continuous, and relatively simple analysis of the reaction and was used to obtain data on the incorporation of /sup 18/O from solvent H/sub 2//sup 18/O into the pyrylium salt. Due to the low solubility of this salt in aqueous solutions, 2,4,6-trimethyl(2-/sup 13/C)pyrylium perchlorate and 2,4,6-trimethyl(2,6-/sup 13/C/sub 2/)pyrylium perchlorate were synthesized to facilitate the acquisition of the data on an NTC-200 spectrometer operating at 50.31 MHz. Upon incorporation of /sup 18/O into the pyrylium salt, the /sup 13/C NMR signal of the directly bonded carbon atom is shifted upfield 0.038 ppm. A /sup 13/C isotope effect is also detected in the doubly /sup 13/C-enriched pyrylium salt where the /sup 13/C NMR ...
An electronic computer circuit is described for producing an output voltage proportional to the product or quotient of tbe voltages of a pair of input signals. ln essence, the disclosed invention provides a computer having two channels adapted to receive separate input signals and each having amplifiers with like fixed amplification factors and like negatlve feedback amplifiers. One of the channels receives a constant signal for comparison purposes, whereby a difference signal is produced to control the amplification factors of the variable feedback amplifiers. The output of the other channel is thereby proportional to the product or quotient of input signals depending upon the relation of input to fixed signals in the first mentioned channel.
The proton beam has an advantage of the sharp dose falloff in dose distribution called Bragg peak while conventional radiation therapy modalities such as photons exhibit considerable amount of exit dose. To take advantage of this property it is important to know the exact location of the distal dose falloff. An error can cause overdose to the normal tissue or underdose to the tumor volume. The only way of finding out the dose distribution in-situ in particle therapy is to measure the gammas produced by nuclear reactions with tissue materials. Two kinds of gammas can be used: one is prompt gamma and the other is coincident gamma from the positron-emission isotopes. We chose to detect prompt gammas, and developed a prompt gamma scanning system (PGS). The proton beams of the proton therapy facility at National Cancer Center were used. The gamma distribution was compared to the dose distribution measured by an ionization chamber at three different energies of 100, 150, ...
X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) was used to probe the existence of induced magnetic moments in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films in which yttrium is partly substituted with lanthanum, lutetium or bismuth. Spin polarization of the 4d states of yttrium and of the 5d states of lanthanum or lutetium was clearly demonstrated. Angular momentum resolved d-DOS of yttrium and lanthanun was shown to be split by the crystal field, the two resolved substructures having opposite magnetic polarization. The existence of a weak orbital moment involving the 6p states of bismuth was definitely established with the detection of a small XMCD signal at the Bi M{sub 1}-edge. Difference spectra also enhanced the visibility of subtle changes in the Fe K-edge XMCD spectra of YIG and {l_brace}Y, Bi{r_brace}IG films. Weak natural X-ray linear dichroism signatures were systematically observed with all iron garnet films and with a bulk YIG single crystal cut ...
Machine condition monitoring (MCM) has the capability to predict equipment maintenance needs which can reduce forced down-time and facilitate the avoidance of catastrophic failures and the consequential secondary damage. It can be used to allow confident deferral of routine maintenance, and improve equipment performance, availability, reliability and safety. In order to capitalize on the potential benefits of MCM directed toward power transformers two types of vibration tests were conducted on transformers owned and operated by Cargill Inc. and IES Utilities at the Bridgeport corn plant in Eddyville, Iowa. These tests involved collecting vibration signals from the transformer tank walls during transformer energization at no-load and during steady state operation at various loads. These vibration signals were then used to detect deterioration of internal mechanical integrity. Both types of tests conducted on the transformers ...
In this work, we use lasers to enhance possibilities of laser desorption methods and to optimize coating procedure for capillary electrophoresis (CE). We use several different instrumental arrangements to characterize matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALD) at atmospheric pressure and in vacuum. In imaging mode, 488-nm argon-ion laser beam is deflected by two acousto-optic deflectors to scan plumes desorbed at atmospheric pressure via absorption. All absorbing species, including neutral molecules, are monitored. Interesting features, e.g. differences between the initial plume and subsequent plumes desorbed from the same spot, or the formation of two plumes from one laser shot are observed. Total plume absorbance can be correlated with the acoustic signal generated by the desorption event. A model equation for the plume velocity as a function of time is proposed. Alternatively, the use of a static laser beam for observation enables reliable determination of plume ...
Sensory systems must form stable representations of the external environment in the presence of self-induced variations in sensory signals. It is also possible that the variations themselves may provide...Full Text Available
... Extracellular Signaling through the Microenvironment: A Hypothesis Relating Carcinogenesis, Bystander Effects, and Genomic InstabilityMary Helen Barcellos-Hoff1a ... ...
Animal communication theory predicts that low-frequency cheating should be common in generally honest signalling systems. However, perhaps because cheats are designed to go undetected, there are few...Full Text Available
Phosphorylation is one of the most frequent modifications in intracellular signaling and is implicated in many processes ranging from transcriptional control to signal transduction in innate immunity....Full Text Available
BackgroundAmino-terminal signal peptides (SPs) are short regions that guide the targeting of secretory proteins to the correct subcellular compartments in the cell. They are cleaved...Full Text Available
Intramuscular hermorrhage was induced by injecting autologous blood into the paraspinal muscle of 8 rabbits. In order to evaluate the time-dependent changes of hemorrhage observed on MRI, the animals were imaged at different stages of blood resolution at 0.02 tesla (T), and control examined with ultrasound using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. Six inversion recovery sequences (TR=1 000 ms. TE=30 ms, and TI=18, 48, 148, 201, 302, and 398 ms) were used for the invivo calculation of T1 relaxation times. IR 1 000 (398)/30 imaging was performed before and after the Gd-DOTA administration. The hemorrhage was evident on MR images throughout the study, especially on the T2 weighted (SE 1 000/100) images. MRI showed the healing lesion longer than ultrasound. The T1 relaxation time increased during the time of resolution. Lesions on days 4 to 7 enhanced in intensity after the injection of Gd-DOTA. (orig.).
For good image quality using ultrasound inverse scattering, one alternately solves the well-posed forward scattering equation for an estimated total field and the ill-posed inverse scattering equation for the desired object property function. In estimating the total field, error or noise contaminates the coefficients of both matrix and data of the inverse scattering equation. Previous work on ill-posed inverse ultrasonic scattering commonly used Tikhonov regularization, which considers error only in the data. The solution so obtained is not precise enough to reconstruct the quantitative internal structure of a large or high-contrast object. This paper adopts the truncated total least squares method, simultaneously considering error and noise on both sides of the inverse scattering equation, and compares it with the classical Tikhonov regularization. We show that it can substantially improve reconstruction fit and image quality when the inverse scattering equation ...
A 1.5-year-old male Belgian Malinosis Military Working Dog presented with a 1-month history of intermittent hematuria. Diagnostic ultrasound and contrast radiography demonstrated large blood clots in the urinary bladder and a filling defect in the right renal pelvis. At surgery, clotted blood was present in the right ureter and bladder. Following right nephrectomy, the dog returned to training. One month later, elevations in urea nitrogen and creatinine were noted. Hematuria recurred at 3 months and the dog was found dead in its kennel. Necropsy showed a blood-filled left renal pelvis and ureter. PMID:1454185
A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+ immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+ onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL sensors based on both titania-Nafion composite films without CNT and pure Nafion films. The present ...
A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+}) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+} immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+} onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL sensors based on both titania-Nafion composite films without CNT ...
In the past, Condition Monitoring Systems (CMS) still showed weaknesses during the employment in the damage diagnosis and/or early failure detection of damages of roller bearings in transmissions of wind power plants. This is not only due to the insufficient consideration of the variable frequency of the wind power plants during the internal processing. The presently used methods of analysis result from the communication technology and are used successfully for years at frequency solid systems. Usually, only too few information are at the disposal to the supplier of CMS in order to parametrize their systems on the respective application particularly. An exact knowledge of the internal structure of the object to be diagnosed is compellingly necessary for a successful diagnosis so that a loadable statement based on the acquired measuring data base becomes possible. Furthermore, one must clarify the borders of the presently used systems. The theory of these systems is ...
Culex mosquitoes introduce the pathogens responsible for filariasis, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and other diseases into humans. Currently, traps baited with oviposition semiochemicals play an important role in detection efforts and could provide an environmentally friendly approach to controlling their populations. The odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the female's antenna play a crucial, if yet imperfectly understood, role in sensing oviposition cues. Here, we report the X-ray crystallography and NMR 3D structures of OBP1 for Culex quinquefasciatus (CquiOBP1) bound to an oviposition pheromone (5R,6S)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide (MOP). In both studies, CquiOBP1 had the same overall six-helix structure seen in other insect OBPs, but a detailed analysis revealed an important previously undescribed feature. There are two models for OBP-mediated signal transduction: (i) direct release of the pheromone from an internal binding ...
The paper considered the vibration signals of rotating equipment as cyclo stationary signals through analyzing the features of this kind of signals. Based on the analytic method of cyclic spectrum density, the paper pointed out that the impact frequency could be extracted effectively with the help of scanning cyclic frequency domain. The validity of the method of cyclic spectrum density is proved by simulating signals and the method is applied to the diagnosis of rolling bearings. (authors)
The generalized demodulation time-frequency analysis is a novel signal processing method, which is particularly suitable for the processing of multi-component amplitude-modulated and frequency-modulated (AM-FM) signals as it can decompose a multi-component signal into a set of single-component signals whose instantaneous frequencies own physical meaning. While fault occurs in gear, the vibration signals measured from gearbox would exactly display AM-FM characteristics. Therefore, targeting the modulation feature of gear vibration signal in run-ups and run-downs, a fault diagnosis method in which generalized demodulation time-frequency analysis and envelope order spectrum technique are combined is put forward and applied to the transient analysis of gear vibration signal. Firstly the multi-...
An average of 9 million gallons per day of oil-contaminated ballast water off loaded from tankers are treated at the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Ballast Water Treatment Facility at the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in Port Valdez, Alaska. This paper focuses on the results of 2 Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council monitoring programs which detail changes in the chemical composition of treated ballast water as it moves from tankers through the facility and subsequently traces the effluent hydrocarbons into the receiving environment of Port Valdez. The treatment facility involves gravity separation tanks, dissolved air flotation cells and biological treatment tanks. Effluent containing traces of volatile aromatics, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, low levels of oil, saturated hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is being continuously discharged to Port Valdez. Because of the extremely large average flow rate, low ...
We report on a recent search for {bar {nu}}{sub e} appearance from stopped {pi}{sup +} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{nu}{sub {mu}} and {mu}{sup +} {yields} e{sup +}{nu}{sub e}{bar {nu}}{sub {mu}} decay made by the LAMPF experiment E645. The appearance of {bar {nu}}{sub e} may occur from {bar {nu}}{sub {mu}} {yields} {bar {nu}}{sub e}, {nu}{sub e} {yields} {bar {nu}}{sub eL}, or {nu}{sub {mu}} {yields} {bar {nu}}{sub eL} oscillations. Appearance may also occur from rare {mu}{sup +} {yields} e{sup +}{bar {nu}}{sub e}{nu}{sub {mu}} decay, which is allowed by a multiplicative lepton charge conservation law. The neutrino energies range from E{sub {nu}} = 0 to 52.8MeV. The neutrino detector, which is located 26.1 meters from the neutrino source, consists of a segmented liquid scintillator and proportional drift tube central detector surrounded by both active and passive shielding. The central detector detects {bar {nu}}{sub e} through the {bar {nu}}{sub e}p {yields} ne{sup +} ...
Differentiating a benign from a malignant lesion by information such as density data, or signal intensities or echo gradients, is not possible with CT, nor MRI, nor ultrasonography. Only some lesions show characteristic signs. Inflammations cannot be difscriminated from malignant tumors. CTs of small tumors in particular are so poor in contrast that it is much more difficult to detect tumors or discriminate them from other lesions, as compared to MR images or ultrasonographs. CT does not detect surface tumors, but is more sensitive than MRI or US in detecting discrete cortical bone lesions. The same applies to small calcified tumors. MRI however is most sensitive in detecting tumor volumes in the yellow marrow, and is the best modality for evaluation of extraossal extension of tumors. CT yields better results than MRI if applied for simultaneous screening of lymph node metastases in ...
The differences are highlighted of various aspects of behaviour of the luminescence signal from feldspar when stimulated by green light and when stimulated by infrared radiation. In respect of bleaching, a comparison is made of the influence of white light (daylight) on the two stimulated luminescence signals, as well as a comparison of the influence of infrared exposure on the green-stimulated signal with the influence of green exposure on the infrared-stimulated signal. The influence of preheating on the two stimulated signals is also compared. Light-emitting diode systems were used for both green and infrared stimulation. The observations are considered in relation to the mechanism relevant to green- and infrared-stimulated luminescence from feldspar. (author).
The differences are highlighted of various aspects of behaviour of the luminescence signal from feldspar when stimulated by green light and when stimulated by infrared radiation. In respect of bleaching, a comparison is made of the influence of white light (daylight) on the two stimulated luminescence signals, as well as a comparison of the influence of infrared exposure on the green-stimulated signal with the influence of green exposure on the infrared-stimulated signal. The influence of preheating on the two stimulated signals is also compared. Light-emitting diode systems were used for both green and infrared stimulation. The observations are considered in relation to the mechanism relevant to green- and infrared-stimulated luminescence from feldspar. (author).
We present a case of cerebral aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient. The MRI signal characteristics were compared with the histologic findings. Irregular low-signal zones were demonstrated between the wall of the abscess and the central necrosis on T2-weighted images; the pathology specimen revealed concentrated iron in these transitional zones but no hemosiderin. Iron is an essential element for the growth of fungal hyphae. The low-signal zones may represent the areas where there was active proliferation of aspergillus, and the unique location of the low signal may be a helpful imaging characteristic for the diagnosis of an aspergillus abscess. (orig.)
We create realistic, full-sky, half-arcminute resolution simulations of the microwave sky matched to the most recent astrophysical observations. The primary purpose of these simulations is to test the data reduction pipeline for the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) experiment; however, we have widened the frequency coverage beyond the ACT bands and utilized the easily accessible HEALPix map format to make these simulations applicable to other current and near future microwave background experiments. Some of the novel features of these simulations are that the radio and infrared galaxy populations are correlated with the galaxy cluster and group populations, the primordial microwave background is lensed by the dark matter structure in the simulation via a ray-tracing code, the contribution to the thermal and kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) signals from galaxy clusters, groups, and the intergalactic medium has been included, and the gas prescription to ...
When gear fault occurs, the vibration signals always display non-stationary behavior. Therefore time-frequency analysis has become the well-accepted technique for vibration-based gear fault diagnosis. This paper presents the application of a new time-frequency signal processing technique, the Hilbert spectrum based on the maximal overlap discrete wavelet packet transform (MODWPT), to the analysis of simulation signals and gear fault vibration signals measured by the acceleration sensor fixed on the bearing house. As long as the decomposition scale and disjoint dyadic decomposition are chosen suitably, the original signal could be decomposed into a set of monocomponent signals whose instantaneous amplitude and instantaneous frequency own physical meaning. After the instantaneous amplitude a...
The generalized demodulation time-frequency analysis is a novel signal processing method, which is particularly suitable for the processing of multi-component amplitude-modulated and frequency-modulated (AM-FM) signals as it can decompose a multi-component signal into a set of single-component signals whose instantaneous frequencies own physical meaning. While fault occurs in gear, the vibration signals measured from gearbox would exactly display AM-FM characteristics. Therefore, targeting the modulation feature of gear vibration signal in run-ups and run-downs, a fault diagnosis method in which generalized demodulation time-frequency analysis and envelope order spectrum technique are combined is put forward and applied to the transient analysis of gear vibration signal. Firstly the multi-component vibration signal of ...
The history of explosives vapor detection includes almost every detection strategy known to man. Initial attempts to utilize these techniques were dismal failures. However, with the development of the Electron Capture Detector (ECD), the first promising detection of explosives vapors became possible. The present commercial explosives detectors detect the higher vapor pressure materials but not the whole spectrum. This paper describes the basic properties of explosives molecules and our research to utilize these properties for increased detection sensitivity.
The Polarized Gamma-ray Observer (PoGOLite) is a balloon-borne instrument that will measure gamma-ray polarization in the energy range 25-80 keV from astronomical sources such as pulsars, accretion discs and jets from active galactic nuclei. The two additional parameters provided by such observations, polarization angle and degree, will allow these objects to be studied in a new way, providing information about their emission mechanisms and geometries. The instrument measures azimuthal scattering angles of photons within a close packed array of phoswich detector cells (PDCs) based on coincident detection of Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption. Each PDC comprises three different scintillating components and combines photon detection, active collimation and bottom anticoincidence into one single unit. The three parts are viewed by a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and pulse shape discrimination is used to identify ...
Radiation exposure control is one of the most important aspects in any nuclear facility . It encompasses continuous monitoring of the various areas of the facility to detect any increase in the radiation level and/or the air activity level beyond preset limits and alarm the O and M personnel working in these areas. Detection and measurement of radiation level and the air activity level is carried out by a number of monitors installed in the areas. These monitors include Area Gamma Monitors, Continuous Air Monitors, Pu-In-Air Monitors, Criticality Monitors etc. Traditionally, these measurements are displayed and recorded on a Central Radiation Protection Console(CRPC), which is located in the central control room of the facility. This methodology suffers from the shortcoming that any worker required to enter a work area will have to inquire about the radiation status of the area either from the CRPC or will get to know the same directly from the ...
Growing evidence suggests the Wnt family of secreted glycoproteins and their associated signaling pathways, linked to development, are recapitulated during wound repair and regeneration events. However,...Full Text Available
The realization that there existed a G-protein coupled signal transduction mechanism developed gradually and was initially the result of an ill fated quest for uncovering the mechanism of action...Full Text Available
BackgroundNFκB signaling is of paramount importance in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and inflammatory responses during human development and homeostasis, as...Full Text Available
Cilia are important cellular structures that have been implicated in a variety of signaling cascades. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for and against a link between cilia and both the...Full Text Available
The likelihood that past experience will produce correct guides to current practice depends on the signal-to-noise ratio for the clinical problem of interest. If the signal-to-noise ratio is high, the...Full Text Available
Taste cells use multiple signaling mechanisms to generate appropriate cellular responses to discrete taste stimuli. Some taste stimuli activate G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that cause calcium...Full Text Available
Papers are presented in the areas of: Medical Technologies; Non-Destructive Evaluation; Applications of Signal/Image Processing; Laser Guide Star and Adaptive Optics; Computational Electromagnetic, Acoustics and Optics; Micro-Impulse Radar Processing; Optical Applications; TANGO Space Shuttle.
In this study we compared the molecular signalling elicited by rexinoids, selective retinoid X receptor (RXR)-activators, in several organs (i.e. liver, kidney,...Full Text Available
Computer-aided diagnosis of neural diseases from EEG signals (or other physiological signals that can be treated as time series, e.g., MEG) is an emerging field that has gained much attention in past...Full Text Available
During the past decade elevated phospholipase D (PLD) activity has been reported in virtually all cancers where it has been examined. PLD catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to generate...Full Text Available
An optical flow gradient algorithm was applied to spontaneously forming networks of neurons and glia in culture imaged by fluorescence optical microscopy in order to map functional calcium signaling...Full Text Available
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) expansion is regulated by intrinsic signaling pathways activated by cytokines. The intracellular kinase JAK2 plays an essential role in cytokine signaling,...Full Text Available
Host cells use metabolic signaling through the LXRα nuclear receptor to defend against Listeria monocytogenes infection. 25-Hydroxycholesterol is a natural ligand of LXRs that...Full Text Available
Mammals possess multiple insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins (IGFBPs), and related proteins, that modulate the activity of insulin/IGF signalling (IIS), a conserved neuroendocrine signalling...Full Text Available
Hematopoiesis is the cumulative result of intricately regulated signaling pathways that are mediated by cytokines and their receptors. Studies conducted over the past 10 to 15 years have revealed that...Full Text Available
In this study, we aimed to demonstrate whether spontaneous fluctuations in the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal derived from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reflect...Full Text Available
The receptors for IGF-I (IGF-IR) and insulin (IR) have been implicated in physiological cardiac growth, but it is unknown whether IGF-IR or IR signaling are critically required. We generated mice with...Full Text Available
The murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) M33 gene is conserved among all betaherpesviruses and encodes a homologue of seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMR) with the capacity for constitutive signaling. Previous...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe scent from receptive female mice functions as a signal, which stimulates male mice to search for potential mating partners. This searching behavior is coupled with...Full Text Available
IntroductionTyrosine phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pStat3) is expressed in numerous cancers and is required for mediating tumorigenesis. Autocrine...Full Text Available
Cytokinins are distributed through the vascular system and trigger responses of target cells via receptor-mediated signal transduction. Perception and transduction of the signal can occur at the plasma...Full Text Available
Experimental studies have demonstrated that not only dopaminergic signaling but also glutamatergic/NMDA receptor signaling play indispensable roles in the development of methamphetamine psychosis. Our...Full Text Available
On the problem of alarm when parts are falling in nuclear power plant, the artificial neural network (ANN) alarm method based on the signal time-frequency characteristics was developed. The method was realized by the improved BP algorithm, and demonstrated with the data from simulation experiments
Predation is generally thought to constrain sexual selection by female choice and limit the evolution of conspicuous sexual signals. Under high predation risk, females usually become less choosy, because...Full Text Available
...2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Battery or power supply with respect to relay...Signal Systems Standards § 236.206 Battery or power supply with respect to relay; location. The battery or power supply for each signal...
AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the percutaneous use of the new nitinol SMARTeR stents in patients with biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four stents were placed in three patients percutaneously under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. RESULTS: The deployment of the stents was successful in all three patients. All stents maintained their patency and position after short-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: The nitinol SMARTeR stent is useful in the management of patients with biliary obstruction although accurate placement across the ampulla was found to be technically more difficult than with the Wallstent. Larger, long-term follow-up studies are required to evaluate the long-term patency of these new devices.
In previous work, on cooling from 300 K to 10 K the elastic moduli for both #alpha#- and #delta#-Pu dropped 30%. This large change may reflect effects of 5f-electron localization. In this work, the elastic moduli at ambient temperature of several Pu-Ga alloys were measured using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). The strong temperature dependence of the bulk and shear modulus and the temperature independence of Poisson's ratio was confirmed and the upper temperature limit for #alpha#-Pu was extended to 360 K. Measurements of the time dependence of the shear moduli of Pu and Pu-2.36 at.% Ga were determined with high precision as a function of time and temperature. Using a model for time dependence of point defects, we determined the exponential time constant at ambient temperature for such variations. The low temperature results are consistent with Fluss .
Abstract Suspension of solids in stirred reactor is widely used for catalytic reactions, dissolution, etc. Quality of solid suspension is an important parameter required for the reliable design, optimum performance, and scale up of the system. Quality of suspension depends on local characteristics of solid velocity and hold up profiles. The present work was focused on investigating quality of solid suspension using ultrasound velocity profiler (UVP) measurements and CFD simulations. The slip velocity measurements carried out with UVP were used to evaluate different drag correlations used in CFD simulations. Results discussed in this work would be useful for extending the applications of CFD models for simulating large stirred slurry reactors.
Opinion statement Because a minority of patients with D-transposition of the great arteries are diagnosed in utero by ultrasound, most present after delivery with cyanosis. In the absence of apparent lung disease, cyanotic neonates suspected of having a cardiac lesion should be immediately transferred to an intensive care unit at a pediatric tertiary care center for monitoring, resuscitation, and to define the cardiac anatomy and physiology. A prostaglandin E-1 infusion is usually initiated to maintain ductal patency and promote intra-cardiac mixing. In the past, balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) was routinely performed to enlarge the atrial septal defect and improve intra-cardiac mixing while the infants awaited surgery. Recent literature has reported an increase risk of stroke in neonates ...
Objective To report the clinical response to image-guided percutaneous cryotherapy (IPC) for the palliative management of localized metastases in patients with gynecologic malignancies. Methods Institutional review board approval and patient consent were obtained. Gynecologic oncology patients were identified from our institution's cryotherapy database from August 2003 to August 2007. Cryotherapy was performed with 2.4?mm diameter probes (Endocare, Irvine, CA) with ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT) guidance under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. Follow-up was conducted by imaging studies and clinical encounters, using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST criteria). Results Twenty-eight ablation sessions were performed for 41 metastatic foci in 15 patients w...
Abstract In this brief report, we have described the fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) in a 60-year-old female patient. The patient complained of fever and heaviness of left upper abdomen. Ultrasound-guided FNAC of the spleen showed immature lymphoid cells, and a diagnosis of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of spleen was offered. Subsequently, the patient underwent splenectomy and wedge biopsy of liver that confirmed the cytological diagnosis. The lymphoma cells were positive for CD3 immunostain. Primary hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma is a rare entity and may often pose diagnostic problems on FNAC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fetal MRI examines non-invasively the unborn fetus. Ultrafast MRI sequences effectively suppress fetal motion. Multiple case reports and studies have shown that fetal MRI is particularly helpful in the evaluation of the central nervous system. The high contrast-to-noise ratio, the high spatial resolution, the multiplanar capabilities, the large field of view and the simultaneous visualisation of fetal and maternal structures have proven to be advantageous. Fetal MRI is particularly helpful in the evaluation of the normal and pathological development of the brain. Despite the fact that no side effects have been reported or are to be expected, the use of MRI during pregnancy is still limited to the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging contrast media are not to be used as it passes the placenta. Ultrasound remains the primary screening modality for fetal pathology; fetal MRI can serve as an adjunct or second-line imaging modality. ...
Background: Superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap has a great advantage over other flaps of the area, that is, readily non-existent donor-site problems. The main reason why the SIEA flap has never been extensively used in breast reconstruction is the small diameter and variable anatomy of its donor artery. This study presents a possibility of enlarging the SIEA diameter using the delay-phenomenon mechanism. Methods: A prospective clinical study of 26 patients was undertaken. Prior to surgery, ultrasound examinations were performed, measuring the diameter of SIEA and the velocity of blood flow in SIEA. The ipsilateral deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) was then ligated in all patients who had a measurable SIEA preoperatively. Two weeks later, measurements were repeated. The...
Objective To demonstrate clinical features of a patient subgroup presenting with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) without polycystic ovary morphology. Design Retrospective study. Setting Hospital-based IVF center. Patient(s) In the present study, 876 PCOS patients were selected from women who visited the Reproductive Medicine Center at Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, between September 2004 and October 2006. Women with PCOS were divided into two groups based on ultrasound image: group A, PCOS patients with classic polycystic ovary (n = 800); group B, PCOS patients without polycystic ovary morphology (n = 76). The following available data were analyzed in the large cohort of women: body height, weight, waistline, hip circumference, hirsutism scores, family history, serum s...
Until April 2007 the Major Atmospheric Gamma ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescope used a 300 MSamples/s flash analog-to-digital converter (FADC) system to sample the shaped photomultiplier tube (PMT) signals produced by the captured Cherenkov photons of air showers. Different algorithms to reconstruct the signal from the read-out samples (extractors) have been implemented and are described and compared. Criteria based on the obtained charge and time resolution/bias are defined and used to judge the different extractors, by applying them to calibration, cosmic and pedestal signals. The achievable charge and time resolution have been derived as functions of the number of incident photo-electrons.
The application of various signal processing methods to extract energy storage information from plasma diamagnetism sensors occurring during physics experiments on the Tandom Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U) is discussed. We show how these processing techniques can be used to decrease the uncertainty in the corresponding sensor measurements. The algorithms suggested are implemented using SIG, an interactive signal processing package developed at LLNL.
We obtain a simple derivation of the optimal quantum state estimation of a two-level system using the no-signaling principle. In particular, we show that the no-signaling principle determines the unique form of the guessing probability, independently to a given figure of merit such as the fidelity or the information gain. This proves that optimal measurements for a two-level quantum system is the same for almost all figures of merit.
Extracellular ATP has been proposed as a paracrine signal in rodent islets, but it is unclear what role ATP plays in human islets. We now show the presence of an ATP signaling pathway that enhances...Full Text Available
In this work a study of simulation of the gamma graphic studies that are carried out in human esophagus in the Dept. of Nuclear Medicine of the 'Celestino Hernandez Robau Hospital of Santa Clara is presented. For the investigation tubular reactors were used and sting-response techniques with radioactive tracer of Technetium 99 metastable to a concentration of 1 mCi and several flows were applied. The distribution curves of residences times were obtained, those that respond to an equation of the type: Y = A + B exp (- exp((x-C)/D)) - ((x-C/D)+1). They were also carried out, optimizations studies of the doses of the radioactive to give to the patients from 1 mCi (that is the one used in studies) up to 0,5 mCi, and the influences on the obtained distributions of residence time were analyzed. It was confirmed the possibility to lower the doses with clear information of the signal. It was also carried out a simulation of the attenuation of the radiations that ...
Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) are three dimensional cell culture systems induced by suspension culture. MCTS are widely used in cancer research because of their similarity to solid tumors. CaSki cells are derived from a metastatic cervical cancer containing human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16). Cell death of CaSki cells in MCTS has been previously reported, and our model is used to better characterize the mechanisms of cell death of HPV16-positive keratinocytes. In this study, we found that apoptosis of CaSki cells was induced by suspension culture along with the formation of MCTS after 24 h of incubation. In suspended CaSki cells, monoclonal antibodies blocking E-cadherin function inhibited MCTS formation and suppressed suspension-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot for E-cadherin detected upregulation of the authentic 120 kDa band from MCTS of CaSki cells as well as a shorter 100 kDa band. Addition of EGF, whose receptor is known to form ...
A novel continuous powder introduction microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry method (CPI-MIP-AES) has been developed for trace determination of metals in ground and tap water samples after preconcentration on activated carbon. The experimental setup consisted of integrated rectangular cavity TE_1_0_1 and vertically positioned plasma torch. The technical arrangement of the sample introduction system has been designed based on the fluidized bed concept. The satisfactory signal stability required for sequential analysis was attained owing to the vertical plasma configuration, as well as the plasma gas flow rate compatibility with sample introduction flow rate. The elements of interest (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) were preconcentrated in a batch procedure at pH 8-8.5 after addition of activated carbon and then, after filtering and drying of the activated carbon suspension, introduced to the MIP by the CPI system. An enrichment factor of about 1000-fold ...
A gene designated BRCA1, implicated in the susceptibility to early-onset familial breast cancer, has recently been localized to chromosome 17q12-q21. To date, the order of DNA markers mapped within this region has been based on genetic linkage analysis. The authors report the use of multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization to establish a physically based map of five polymorphic DNA markers and 10 cloned genes spanning this region. Three cosmid clones and Alu-PCR-Generated products derived from 12 yeast artificial chromosome clones representing each of these markers were used in two-color mapping experiments to determine an initial proximity of markers relative to each other on metaphase chromosomes. Interphase mapping was then employed to determine the order and orientation of closely spaced loci by direct visualization of fluorescent signals following hybridization of three probes, each detected in a different color. Statistical analysis ...
Full text: Nuclear material is subjected to chemical processing throughout the entire fuel cycle. Traces of the chemical reagents and solvents are left behind in the nuclear material. So far essentially metallic impurities or light elements have been investigated for their potential in providing clues on the type of process they originate from. In the present investigation, the applicability of anions for attributing nuclear material to a certain chemical process has been investigated. Anions (e.g. nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, chloride) originate from acids or salt solutions that are used for processing of solutions containing uranium or plutonium. The study presented in this paper focuses on yellow cake samples originating from different mines applying different chemical processes for leaching, dissolving and precipitating the uranium. Consequently, the anionic patterns should be different. The concentrations of different anionic species were measured by ion chromatography using ...
The potentiodynamic polarization measurement of 254SMO stainless steel (UNS 31254) was conducted in 3.5% NaCl solutions with pH ranging from 0.1 to 5. The results indicated that this stainless steel offered excellent pitting corrosion resistance in corrosive environments. Further, it also exhibited various features on the polarization curves in different pH solutions. The electrochemical constant-potential passivation treatment performed at different pH followed by XPS analysis revealed that the primary constituents of the outermost layer of the passive films formed in the weak (pH 5) and strong (pH 0.8) acid solutions are iron oxides and Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Cr(OH){sub 3}, respectively. Molybdenum oxides, primarily in the six-valence state, existed in the outermost layer of the passive film. Only very weak signals corresponding to that of nickel oxides were detected in the film formed in the weak acid (pH 5) solution. The ICP-MS analyses ...
The potentiodynamic polarization measurement of 254SMO stainless steel (UNS 31254) was conducted in 3.5% NaCl solutions with pH ranging from 0.1 to 5. The results indicated that this stainless steel offered excellent pitting corrosion resistance in corrosive environments. Further, it also exhibited various features on the polarization curves in different pH solutions. The electrochemical constant-potential passivation treatment performed at different pH followed by XPS analysis revealed that the primary constituents of the outermost layer of the passive films formed in the weak (pH 5) and strong (pH 0.8) acid solutions are iron oxides and Cr_2O_3 and Cr(OH)_3, respectively. Molybdenum oxides, primarily in the six-valence state, existed in the outermost layer of the passive film. Only very weak signals corresponding to that of nickel oxides were detected in the film formed in the weak acid (pH 5) solution. The ICP-MS analyses indicated selective ...
The purpose of this study was to correlate MR imaging findings with pathology in experimental hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury, which has similar pathology to diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Seventeen Yorkshire pigs were studied. These animals were exposed to more than 80% oxygen for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours in a sealed cage. The lungs were removed and inflated with air infused through the trachea, and then examined by both MRI and high-resolution CT (HRCT). T1-weighted spin-echo (T1WSE), T2-weighted fast (T2WFSE), and half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) sequences were performed. Severity in MR findings and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) on MR images were well correlated with pathological scores. CT values were also correlated well with pathologic scores. Abnormal SNR values were obtained from a pathological score of 5, whereas abnormal CT values were obtained from a pathological score of 15. Furthermore, significant differences in SNR were ...
Higgs mediated flavor violating electromagnetic interactions, induced at the one-loop level by a nondiagonal Hf_if_j vertex, with f_i and f_j charged leptons or quarks, are studied within the context of a completely general effective Yukawa sector that comprises SU_L(2)xU_Y(1)-invariant operators of up to dimension-six. Exact formulae for the one-loop #gamma#f_if_j and #gamma##gamma#f_if_j couplings are presented and their related processes used to study the phenomena of Higgs mediated lepton flavor violation. The experimental limit on the #mu##->#e#gamma# decay is used to derive a bound on the branching ratio of the #mu##->#e#gamma##gamma# transition, which is 6 orders of magnitude stronger than the current experimental limit. Previous results on the #tau##->##mu##gamma# and #tau##->##mu##gamma##gamma# decays are reproduced. The possibility of detectingsignals of lepton flavor violation at #gamma##gamma# colliders is explored ...
Ewing's sarcoma is a small round-cell tumor typically arising in the bones, rarely in soft tissues, of children and adolescents. Ewing's sarcoma has retained the most unfavorable prognosis of all primary musculoskeletal tumors. Prior to the use of multi-drug chemotherapy, long-term survival was less than 10%. The development of multi-disciplinary therapy with chemotherapy, irradiation, and surgery has increased current long-term survival rates in most clinical centers to greater than 50%. In addition, the preferred method of tumor resection has changed; limb salvage has nearly replaced amputation of the affected limb. Limb salvage procedures can be performed in place of amputation without compromising patient survival rates. Recent studies have revealed that the pathognomonic translocations involving the EWS gene on chromosome 22 and an ETS-type gene, which is most commonly the Fli1 gene on chromosome 11, are implicated in more than 95% of Ewing's sarcomas, primitive neuroectodermal ...
Exogenous adenosine 5{prime}-triphosphate (ATP) mobilized intracellular calcium in human carcinoma A43l cells and in Swiss 3T3 and 3T6 mouse fibroblasts by increasing inositol trisphosphate similar to well down growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), bradykinin (BK), serum). Calcium mobilization was examined by video imaging of fura-2 fluorescence is single cells, following the radioactive isotope {sup 45}Ca, and monitoring the decrease in fluorescence of cells loaded with chlortetracycline. Uridine 5{prime}-triphosphate, but not other nucleotides, mimicked ATP. Single-cell analysis revealed synchronous responses in 10 sec to ATP, BK or serum, while PDGF (3T3) and EGF (A431) produced slower signals with significant cell-to-cell variation. PDGF desensitized 3T3 cells to ATP and BK added 100 sec later but ATP or BK did not desensitized to PDGF. Homologous desensitization was seen with all agonists. Heterologous ...
January, 1992, to October, 1995, sixty-four patients with advanced head and neck cancer underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery using myocutaneous or revascularized flaps; in the same period, all patients were consecutively examined with CT and MRI. Myocutaneous flaps were used in 26 patients: 12 flaps were tubular and 14 linear. Revascularized flaps were used in 38 patients: to repair a large defect in 26 patients (14 latissimus dorsi flaps and 12 temporal muscle flaps) and to repair an oral damage in 12 patients (5 revascularized radial and 7 jejunal flaps). CT and MR images of myocutaneous flaps showed the flaps as fatty areas, repairing large surgical defects, hypodense at CT and hyperintense at MRI, with no post-contrast enhancement. The appearance of revascularized flaps at CT and MRI depends on the characteristics of the structure used to repair the surgical defect: jejunal and radial flaps appeared as mostly fatty thickened layers with both imaging methods. Temporal and ...
January, 1992, to October, 1995, sixty-four patients with advanced head and neck cancer underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery using myocutaneous or revascularized flaps; in the same period, all patients were consecutively examined with CT and MRI. Myocutaneous flaps were used in 26 patients: 12 flaps were tubular and 14 linear. Revascularized flaps were used in 38 patients: to repair a large defect in 26 patients (14 latissimus dorsi flaps and 12 temporal muscle flaps) and to repair an oral damage in 12 patients (5 revascularized radial and 7 jejunal flaps). CT and MR images of myocutaneous flaps showed the flaps as fatty areas, repairing large surgical defects, hypodense at CT and hyperintense at MRI, with no post-contrast enhancement. The appearance of revascularized flaps at CT and MRI depends on the characteristics of the structure used to repair the surgical defect: jejunal and radial flaps appeared as mostly fatty thickened layers with both imaging methods. Temporal and ...
This project is a follow-up of the first development of a 500 kV HVDC airblast circuit breaker (EPRI project 1507-3). The objective was to increase the current interrupting capability from 2200 A to 4000 A and shorten its fault clearing time. A high current 500 kV HVDC circuit breaker has been built using the passive commutation circuit. The breaker is modular in construction and can be designed for a wide variety of system conditions. More than 400 current interruptions were carried out successfully. Tests have shown that this circuit breaker is capable of interrupting more than 4000 A dc. Practical breakers with current interrupting capability of even 5500 A dc could be built. The circuit breaker operation and the fault-clearing process can be materially speeded up if the trip signal is given as soon as the fault is detected and without waiting for the current levels to come down in response to converter control action. The new dc breakers ...
The staging of patients with multiple myeloma demands sensitive imaging methods for the assessment of the skeletal system. MRI allows for direct visualization of the bone marrow which exhibits five different infiltration patterns in multiple myeloma: 1. normal appearance of the bone marrow, 2. focal involvement, 3. homogeneous diffuse infiltration, 4. combined diffuse and focal infiltration, 5. ''salt and pepper'' pattern with inhomogeneous bone marrow signals due to multiple fat islands. The combination of T1w-SE and STIR sequences is best suited for detecting all infiltration patterns and for the differential diagnoses e. g. hemangiomas. With parallel imaging in MRI, acquisition times can be markedly reduced and whole-body screening of the bone marrow can be achieved within 30 min. MRI is superior to radiography for the detection of focal as well as diffuse infiltration. Multidetector ...
Cyclic spectral analysis is a signal processing technique designed to deal with stochastic signals whose statistics vary periodically with time. Pulsar radio emission is a textbook example of this signal class, known as cyclostationary signals. In this paper, we discuss the application of cyclic spectral analysis methods to pulsar data, and compare the results with the traditional filterbank approaches used for almost all pulsar observations to date. In contrast to standard methods, the cyclic spectrum preserves phase information of the radio signal. This feature allows us to determine the impulse response of the interstellar medium and the intrinsic, unscattered pulse profile directly from a single observation. We illustrate these new analysis techniques using real data from an observation of the millisecond pulsar B1937+21.
To assess the efficacy and resulting complications of tetracycline sclerotherapy in renal, hepatic, ovarian, and perivesical cysts. We retrospectively reviewed 23 cases of benign cysts (16 renal, 4 hepatic, 2 ovarian, and 1 perivesical) in 22 patients in whom the condition was diagnosed or confirmed by either ultrasound, CT, or cytology, and who underwent percutaneous tetracycline sclerotherapy. Using a 21-gauge Chiba needle, the target cyst was punctured under ultrasound guidance. Prior to the injection of 1500 mg of tetracycline diluted in 5 ml of normal saline, almost all the cystic content was aspirated, and at the end of the procedure the tetracycline was left in the cyst. During a period of between 3 and 22 months, 18 of the 23 cases were followed up. In six of the 18 cases followed up, the cysts either decreased in size by 10%, or collapsed completely. In seven cases a collapse of over 50% was noted, and in the remaining five the cyst ...
Purpose: For planning the therapeutic strategies and estimating the prognosis in esophageal cancer, N-staging is very important. To date, MRI still is of minor importance as imaging modality of the mediastinum despite promising developments in the past, like ECG-gating or 'averaging' sequences, e.g. LOTA (Long-term averaging), which facilitate mediastinal and thoracic MR-imaging. In a prospective approach, the value of MRI based N-staging was examined with respect to LOTA-sequences. Material and Methods: Within from weeks prior to esophagectomy, standardized MRI of the esophagus was performed in 15 patients (10 squamous-cell-carcinomas and 5 adenocarcinomas) using a 1.5 T whole body scanner. Imaging quality was classified based on depiction of aortic wall or tracheal wall layers. Criteria for malignant infiltration were a diameter of more than 15 mm or a round appearance of a lymph node together with GD-DTPA enhancement. All data were blinded and separately read by two radiologists. ...
The aim of this work is to investigate the acoustic wave generation by pulsed and periodically modulated ion beams in different solid materials depending on the beam parameters and to demonstrate the possibility to apply an intensity modulated focused ion beam (FIB) for acoustic emission and for nondestructive investigation of the internal structure of materials on a microscopic scale. The combination of a FIB and an ultrasound microscope in one device can provide the opportunity of nondestructive investigation, production and modification of micro- and nanostructures simultaneously. This work consists of the two main experimental parts. In the first part the process of elastic wave generation during the irradiation of metallic samples by a pulsed beam of energetic ions was investigated in an energy range from 1.5 to 10 MeV and pulse durations of 0.5-5 #mu#s, applying ions with different masses, e.g. oxygen, silicon and gold, in charge states from 1"+ to 4"+. The ...
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder, for which various conservative treatment options are available. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of the various conservative treatment options for relieving the symptoms of CTS. Computer-aided searches of MEDLINE (1/1966 to 3/2000), EMBASE (1/1988 to 2/2000) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (2000, issue 1) were conducted, together with reference checking. Included were randomised controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of conservative treatment options in a study population of CTS patients, with a full report published in English, German, French or Dutch. Two reviewers independently selected the studies. Fourteen randomised controlled trials were included in the review. Assessment of methodological quality and data-extraction was independently performed by two reviewers. A rating system, based on the number of studies and their methodological quality and findings, was used to determine the strength ...
The purpose of this study was to develop a simple motion measurement system with magnetic resonance (MR) compatibility and safety. The motion measurement system proposed here can measure 5-DoF motion signals without deteriorating the MR images, and it has no effect on the intense and homogeneous main magnetic field, the temporal-gradient magnetic field (which varies rapidly with time), the transceiver radio frequency (RF) coil, and the RF pulse during MR data acquisition. A three-axis accelerometer and a two-axis gyroscope were used to measure 5-DoF motion signals, and Velcro was used to attach a sensor module to a finger or wrist. To minimize the interference between the MR imaging system and the motion measurement system, nonmagnetic materials were used for all electric circuit components in an MR shield room. To remove the effect of RF pulse, an amplifier, modulation circuit, and power supply were located in a shielded case, which was made ...
Aim: Today, MRI is an integral part of the presurgical evaluation of patients suffering from partial epilepsy. These patients frequently show focal morphological abnormalities with potential epileptogenic character and surgical resection of these lesions is associated with superior postsurgical outcome as to seizure frequency. Apart from easily detectable defects, such as post-traumatic lesions or cerebral infarction, as wide variety of mainly small abnormalities can be detected using MRI. Methods: In this study, 484 patients suffering from partial epilepsy of temporal or frontal onset were evaluated for the incidence of different lesions in this population. Results: All lesions found were included without evaluating their potential epileptogenicity, which remains to be proven using other procedures (EEG, SPECT, PET, etc.). Involvement of the hippocampal formation was a major finding in temporal lobe epilepsy, which could be ...
Behavioral detection of a low-frequency (40 Hz) vibratory dipole at source distances of 1.5–24 cm was measured by classically conditioned respiratory suppression in goldfish (Carassius...Full Text Available
Bone metastases of an Ewing's sarcoma were detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), when bone scan, CT and plain films were still normal. This is due to the ability of MRI to detect intramedullary metastases before involvement of the cortex. (Auth.).
Since current microbiology methods are not suitable to detect Clostridium perfringens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, we developed a PCR assay to detect toxin-encoding...Full Text Available
Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) has been used extensively to detect genetic variation. We used this method to detect and identify Yersinia pestis KIM5 ciprofloxacin-resistant...Full Text Available
Here we describe the fabrication, optimization, and application of a microfluidic device that integrates microdialysis (MD) sampling, microchip electrophoresis (ME), and electrochemical detection...Full Text Available
on this technology has beenproposedas a payload on SpaceStation Freedom to be launched in the near future [1]. Direct detection 4-ary pulse position modula- ...
Due to the serovar diversity in Haemophilus (H.) parasuis, it is difficult to develop a universal serological method for detection of this pathogen....Full Text Available
Microcalcifications in mammogram have been mainly targeted as a reliable earliest sign of breast cancer and their early detection is vital to improve its prognosis. Since their size is very small and may be easily overlooked by the examining radiologist, computer-based detection output can assist the radiologist to improve the diagnostic accuracy. In this paper, we have proposed an algorithm for detecting microcalcification in mammogram. The proposed microcalcification detection algorithm involves mammogram quality enhancement using multirresolution analysis based on the dyadic wavelet transform and microcalcification detection by fuzzy shell clustering. It may be possible to detect nodular components such as microcalcification accurately by introducing shape information. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for microcalcification ...
Palladium chloride films have been found to be useful as ... when suitably prepared palladium chlo- ride films are exposed ... Like the palladium chloride ( PdCl2) ...
BackgroundAutofluorescence bronchoscopy is more sensitive than conventional bronchoscopy for detecting early airway mucosal lesions. Decreased specificity can lead...Full Text Available
Functional activation of {beta}-catenin/Tcf signaling plays an important role in early events in carcinogenesis. We examined the effect of naringenin against {beta}-catenin/Tcf signaling in gastric cancer cells. Reporter gene assay showed that naringenin inhibited {beta}-catenin/Tcf signaling efficiently. In addition, the inhibition of {beta}-catenin/Tcf signaling by naringenin in HEK293 cells transiently transfected with constitutively mutant {beta}-catenin gene, whose product is not phosphorylated by GSK3{beta}, indicates that its inhibitory mechanism was related to {beta}-catenin itself or downstream components. To investigate the precise inhibitory mechanism, we performed immunofluorescence, Western blot, and EMSA. As a result, our data revealed that the {beta}-catenin distribution and the levels of nuclear {beta}-catenin and Tcf-4 proteins were unchanged after naringenin treatment. Moreover, the ...
MRI, ultrasonography and angiography were performed on 24 cases with small renal cell carcinoma, and data were compared with pathological architecture type. An average diameter of cancer was 20.8 mm (10-30 mm). Each tumor was pathologically classified into four architecture types: alveolar type (15 cases), papillary type (5 cases), tubular type (3 cases) and cystic type (1 case). In comparison with renal cortex alveolar type renal cell carcinoma showed equal or low signal in T1-weighted images and equal or high signal in T2-weighted images. Papillary and tubular types showed high signal in T1-weighted images, and low signal in T2-weighted images. In alveolar type, many cases showed equal echo in ultrasonography and hypervascularity in angiography, and in papillary and tubular types, many cases showed high echo and hypovascularity. There were many cases with papillary type small cell carcinoma which ...
Wnt signaling negatively regulates adipocyte differentiation, and ectopic expression of Wnt-1 in 3T3-L1 cells induces several downstream molecules of Wnt signaling, including Wnt-1 inducible signaling pathway protein (WISP)-2. In this study, we examined the role of WISP-2 in the process of adipocyte differentiation using an in vitro cell culture system. In the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, WISP-2 expression was observed in growing cells and declined thereafter. In the mitotic clonal expansion phase of adipocyte differentiation, WISP-2 expression was transiently down-regulated concurrently with up-regulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein d expression. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells in the differentiation medium with lithium, an activator of Wnt signaling, inhibited the differentiation pro...
This paper addresses the problem of blind separation of convolutive mixtures of BPSK and circular linearly modulated signals with unknown (and possibly different) baud rates and carrier frequencies. In previous works, we established that the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) is able to extract a source from a convolutive mixture of circular linearly modulated signals. We extend the analysis of the extraction capabilities of the CMA when the mixing also contains BPSK signals. We prove that if the various source signals do not share any non zero cyclic frequency nor any non conjugate cyclic frequencies, the local minima of the constant modulus cost function are separating filters. Unfortunately, the minimization of the Godard cost function generally fails when considering BPSK signals that have the same rates and the same carrier frequencies. This failure is due to the existence of ...
The work presented here demonstrates the ability of proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) to perform fast-response measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (including methanol, acetonitrile, acetaldehyde, acetone, PAN-type compounds, alpha- and beta-pinene, nopinone and pinonaldehyde) at the pptv level and its versatile applicability in the field of environmental trace gas analysis. Laboratory and field experiments including various calibration techniques and intercomparisons with other measurement techniques such as gas chromatography, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy were performed providing a first characterization of the PTR-MS instrument performance (sensitivity, detection limit, precision, accuracy). Typically a detection limit (S/N=2) of 50 pptv for a 10 s signal integration time, a precision of 5 % and an accuracy in the range between 10 ...
Traffic jams have become very serious at multiforked road intersections, and conventional pre-timed controls are less effective in such situations. In this article, a new traffic signal control system for multi-forked roads is proposed. First, the cellular automaton (CA) model is used to develop a traffic simulator for multi-forked roads. Next, a stochastic model of a traffic jam is built up. In addition, a new traffic signal control algorithm is designed using the optimization technique and a genetic algorithm (GA). Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is shown using actual traffic data with a traffic simulator.
This paper describes a signal simulator which is designed to calibrate eddy current probes. By using simultaneously an excitation coil and an electrically conducting plane, the simulator can emulate signals which correspond to spot welds with different flaws. The presence of a conducting plane allows a wide variation of the amplitude and phase of the excitation coil voltage during the calibration of a probe. A mathematical model for the simulator is derived and used to study the variation of the impedance change upon the parameters of the probe. Numerical computation shows that the impedance change depends in an important way on the frequency of the excitation coil current.
We consider the impact of a 4th generation on Higgs to $\\gamma\\gamma$ and $WW,ZZ$ signals and demonstrate that the Tevatron and LHC have essentially eliminated the possibility of a 4th generation if the Higgs is SM-like and has mass below 200 GeV. We also show that the absence of enhanced Higgs signals in current data sets in the $\\gamma\\gamma$ and $WW,ZZ$ final states can strongly constrain (almost eliminate) the possibility of a 4th generation in two-Higgs-doublet models of type II (in the MSSM).
A computerised glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) analysis was applied to the main dosimetric peak of #alpha#-Al_2O_3:C in order to study the effects of light on the glow curve shape. It was shown that both the light-induced signal and the light-induced fading effects tend to shift the main dosimetric peak to higher temperatures and at the same time change its shape. Furthermore it was confirmed that the magnitude of the light-induced signal depends on radiation history and, by increasing the duration of light exposure, the magnitude of the light-induced signal reaches a plateau, thereby implying the saturation of the phototransfer process. (author).
The liver is a primary target of growth hormone (GH). GH signals are mediated by the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). Here, we focus on recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 signaling in hepatic physiology and pathophysiology. We discuss roles of the GH-STAT5 axis in body growth, lipid metabolism, and the cell cycle pertaining to hepatosteatosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, we discuss recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 in sex-specific gene expression and bile acid, steroid, and drug metabolism.
Here we examine Fe speciation within Fe-encrusted biofilms formed during 2-month seafloor incubations of sulfide mineral assemblages at the Main Endeavor Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The biofilms were distributed heterogeneously across the surface of the incubated sulfide and composed primarily of particles with a twisted stalk morphology resembling those produced by some aerobic Fe-oxidizing microorganisms. Our objectives were to determine the form of biofilm-associated Fe, and identify the sulfide minerals associated with microbial growth. We used micro-focused synchrotron-radiation X-ray fluorescence mapping (mu XRF), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (mu EXAFS), and X-ray diffraction (mu XRD) in conjunction with focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning, and highresolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The chemical and mineralogical composition of an Fe-encrusted biofilm was queried at different spatial scales, and the spatial relationship between primary sulfide and ...
... The acousto-optic device have a 30 MHz 1 ... coherent systems including compact non-coherent optical ... a relatively simple phase switching approach. ...
The Bragg-curve detector of the parallel plate ionization chamber type generates a signal that is a distorted replica of the original Bragg-curve. In result of this distortion, the signal peak height is not only a function of the atomic number of the heavy ion, as it is often stated, but also of the particle mass. This mass effect was studied with the aid of computer simulation, and it was found to be dependent on the Frisch grid to anode gap width and on the detector gas. The charge resolution of the detector is affected very significantly by this mass dependence of the signal peak height. Therefore, a careful selection of the detector gas and the grid to anode gap width is necessary, if good charge resolution over a wide range of heavy ions is required. (orig.).
SUMMARYTestosterone and estrogen are essential for male behaviors in vertebrates. How these two signaling pathways interact to control masculinization of the brain and behavior...Full Text Available
Humans, like other animals, are exposed to a continuous stream of signals, which are dynamic, multimodal, extended, and time varying in nature. This complex input space must be transduced and sampled...Full Text Available
Myriad genetic and epigenetic alterations are required to drive normal cells toward malignant transformation. These somatic events commandeer many signaling pathways that cooperate to endow aspiring...Full Text Available
We argue that the tachyons which exist in some string models are a signal of deconfinement. We compare the deconfinement temperature obtained from Monte Carlo calculations with some string models. (orig.).
We argue that the tachyons which exist in some string models are a signal of deconfinement. We compare the deconfinement temperature obtained from Monte Carlo calculations with some string models. (orig.).
Knowledge about retinal photoreceptor signal transduction and the visual cycle required for normal eyesight has expanded exponentially over the past decade. Substantial progress in human genetics...Full Text Available
R/V Laurence M. Gould LMG0303 - Development of a luminescence dating capability for Antarctic glaciomarine sediments: Tests of signal zeroing at the ...
Synthetic polymers and nanomaterials display selective phenotypic effects in cells and in the body that affect signal transduction mechanisms involved in inflammation, differentiation, proliferation,...Full Text Available
... switching off all the pixels causes all the spectrum lines to disappear (top of Figure 6), next, that switching off one ... Acousto-optic spectrum analyser ...
Diverse cell polarity networks require positive feedback for locally amplifying distributions of signalling molecules at the plasma membrane1. Additional...Full Text Available
The temporal synchrony of auditory and visual signals is known to affect the perception of an external event, yet it is unclear what neural mechanisms underlie the influence of temporal synchrony...Full Text Available
The KDP crystal was 10 cm long and cut such that the c-axis was 50.3* to the normal of its input face. We selected for study idler and signal beams ...
The kinetic energy transferred to some elements by an electron of kinetic energy 100 to 400 kV is discussed. The displacement rates are compared to the signal generation. (DCL)
The Bragg-curve detector of the parallel plate ionization chamber type generates a signal that is a distorted replica of the original Bragg-curve. In result of this distortion, the signal peak height is not only a function of the atomic number of the heavy ion, as it is often stated, but also of the particle mass. This mass effect was studied with the aid of computer simulation, and it was found to be dependent on the Frisch grid to anode gap width and on the detector gas. The charge resolution of the detector is affected very significantly by this mass dependence of the signal peak height. Therefore, a careful selection of the detector gas and the grid to anode gap width is necessary, if good charge resolution over a wide range of heavy ions is required.
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling has been shown to regulate lung epithelial development but its influence on mesenchymal differentiation has been poorly investigated. To study the role of mesenchymal FGF signaling in the differentiation of the mesenchyme and its impact on epithelial morphogenesis, we took advantage of Fgfr2c+/? mice, which due to a splicing switch express Fgfr2b in mesenchymal tissues and manifest Apert syndrome-like phenotypes. Using a set of in vivo and in vitro studies, we show that an autocrine FGF10?FGFR2b signaling loop is established in the mutant lung mesenchyme, which has several consequences. It prevents the entry of the smooth muscle progenitors into the smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage and results in reduced fibronectin and elastin deposition. Levels of...
This paper studies the effect upon the thermoluminescence (TL) signal of four feldspar samples of exposing them to infrared stimulation, as occurs during infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measurement. Together with pulse annealing measurements these results are used to show which part of the TL signal is removed by exposure to IR and which part is directly related to the IRSL signal that is observed. When the samples are preheated prior to measurement in order to remove any low-temperature (< 200"oC) TL signals, a linear relationship is observed between the amount of TL that is lost and the IRSL light sum that is produced. The IRSL light sum is consistently four times larger than the amount of TL that is lost. Three possible explanations are proposed for this, but no conclusive evidence could be obtained to support any of them. A close similarity is observed in the pulse annealing results and ...
In animal models, single-gene mutations in genes involved in insulin/IGF and target of rapamycin signalling pathways extend lifespan to a considerable extent. The genetic, genomic and epigenetic influences...Full Text Available
Past movement on faults can be dated by measurement of the intensity of ESR signals in quartz. These signals are reset by local lattice deformation and local frictional heating on grain contacts at the time of fault movement. The ESR signals then trow back as a result of bombardment by ionizing radiation from surrounding rocks. The age is obtained from the ratio of the equivalent dose, needed to produce the observed signal, to the dose rate. Fine grains are more completely reset during faulting, and a plot of age vs grain size shows a plateau for grains below critical size : these grains are presumed to have been completely zeroed by the last fault activity. We carried out ESR dating of fault rocks collected from the Yangsan fault system. ESR dates from the this fault system range from 870 to 240 ka. Results of this research suggest that long-term cyclic fault activity continued into the pleistocene.
The importance of cancer metabolism has been appreciated for many years, but the intricacies of how metabolic pathways interconnect with oncogenic signaling are not fully understood. With a clear understanding...Full Text Available
Digital audio sampling is explained, and some of its implications in digital sound applications are discussed. Digital sound equipment is rapidly replacing analog recording devices as the state-of-the-art in audio technology. The philosophy of digital recording involves doing away with the continuously variable analog waveforms and turning the patterns into numbers. A digital recording device rapidly samples the incoming sounds, quantifying the signal into a series of numerical values (binary codes). Although digital sound eliminates many of the traditional analog problems, digital signal processing presents key problems in sampling rates and synchronization. Careful control is necessary to check signals through each step in the audio chain. The advantages of digital audio processing include increased signal-to-noise ratio, no flutter, transparent generation of copies, and sound manipulation. These ...
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) agonistic screams are graded vocal signals that are produced in a context-specific manner. Screams given by aggressors and victims can be discriminated...Full Text Available
... a Networked Embedded Sensing Toolkit (MSR Sense ... edging due to mis-registration than the ... Langrebe, Signal theory in multisensor remote sensing ...
CAAX proteins are widely involved in global cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and carcinogenesis. As an important modulator of biological activity, signal transduction via protein...Full Text Available
Chemoreceptors are crucial components in the bacterial sensory systems that mediate chemotaxis. Chemotactic responses exhibit exquisite sensitivity, extensive dynamic range and precise adaptation....Full Text Available
Readout integrated circuits (ROICs) for focal plane arrays (FPAs) have become increasingly complex to meet the needs of modern infrared systems. BAE Systems has pioneered a number of advanced signal processing architectures for FPA ROICs. Demonstrated signal processing capabilities of BAE Systems FPAs include analog-to-digital conversion, offset subtraction, individual pixel automatic gain compensation, transient noise suppression, on-FPA defect deselection, reconfigurable pixels, spatial neural network processing and subframe noise averaging. BAE Systems FPA advanced signal processing is not just for demonstrations, but is used in many of their deliverable FPAs, improving real system performance.
Varying load can cause changes in a measured gearbox vibration signal. However, conventional techniques for fault diagnosis are based on the assumption that changes in vibration signal are only caused by deterioration of the gearbox. There is a need to develop a technique to provide accurate state indicator of gearbox under fluctuating load conditions. This paper presents an approach to gear fault diagnosis based on complex Morlet continuous wavelet transform under this condition. Gear motion residual signal, which represents the departure of time synchronously averaged signal from the average tooth-meshing vibration, is analyzed as source data due to its lower sensitiveness to the alternating load condition. A fault growth parameter based on the amplitude of wavelet transform is proposed ...
Of 1850 patients with cholelithiasis diagnosed in the past 17 years, 1116 female and 734 male, 598 patients (32.3%) presented with one or more of three major symptoms, i.e., abdominal pain, fever and jaundice, whereas the remainder (67.7%) had none of these symptoms. The proportion of the asymptomatic patients was similar in all age groups, being around 70%. Only 20 per cent of 680 asymptomatic patients, followed for 10 to 17 years (median 13.3 years), developed biliary symptoms. Older patients over 70 years of age had a higher rate of change to the symptomatic group, as compared with younger patients under 70, 29.5% vs. 19.3%, respectively. During this period, carcinoma of the gallbladder developed in one of the asymptomatic patients (0.1%). Oral dissolution therapy was successful in only 4.2 per cent of attempted cases and associated with a recurrence rate of as high as 20%. We conclude that asymptomatic gallstone patients should only be followed up by ultrasound ...
In this paper, we put forward a systematic method to analyze, control and evaluate the safety issues of medical robotics. We created a safety model that consists of three axes to analyze safety factors. Software and hardware are the two material axes. The third axis is the policy that controls all phases of design, production, testing and application of the robot system. The policy was defined as hazard identification and safety insurance control (HISIC) that includes seven principles: definitions and requirements, hazard identification, safety insurance control, safety critical limits, monitoring and control, verification and validation, system log and documentation. HISIC was implemented in the development of a robot for urological applications that was known as URObot. The URObot is a universal robot with different modules adaptable for 3D ultrasound image-guided interstitial laser coagulation, radiation seed implantation, laser resection, and electrical ...
The mortality in undrained abdominal abscesses is high with a mortality rate ranging between 45 and 100%. The outcome in abdominal abscesses, however, has improved due to advances in image guided percutaneous interventional techniques. The main indications for the catheter drainage include treatment or palliation of sepsis associated with an infected fluid collection, and alleviation of the symptoms that may be caused by fluid collections by virtue of their size, like pancreatic pseudocele or lymphocele. The single liver abscesses may be drained with ultrasound guidance only, whereas the multiple abscesses usually require computed tomography (CT) guidance and placement of multiple catheters. The pancreatic abscesses are generally drained routinely and urgently. Non-infected pancreatic pseudocysts may be simply observed unless they are symptomatic or cause problems such as pain or obstruction of the biliary or the gastrointestinal tract. Percutaneous routes that ...
Fiber delivered laser pulses emulsify thrombus by mechanical stresses that include a combination of pressure, tension and shear stress. Laser radiation is delivered to the locality of a thrombus and the radiation is absorbed by blood, blood dot, or other present materials. The combination of a leading pressure wave and subsequent vapor bubble cause efficient, emulsification of thrombus. Operating the laser in a low average power mode alleviates potential thermal complications. The laser is operated in a high repetition rate mode to take advantage of ultrasound frequency effects of thrombus dissolution as well as to decrease the total procedure time. Specific parameter ranges for operation are described. The device includes optical fibers surrounding a lumen intended for flow of a cooling agent. The fibers may be arranged concentrically around the lumen to deliver radiation and heat over as large an area as possible. An alternative design approach incorporates the ...
The diagnostic imaging findings in hepatic amoebiasis and the capabilities of percutaneous drainage have already been described but some debate is open on both diagnosis and treatment. It is reported the experience with the ultrasound (US) and Computed Tomography (CT) studies of the hepatic amoebic abscess and its management. [Italian] I reperti con diagnostica per immagini nell'amebiasi epatica e le possibilita' del drenaggio percutaneo sono stati gia' illustrati; esistono tuttavia controversie sul piano sia diagnostico che terapeutico. Obiettivo di questo lavoro e' quello di riportare l'esperienza personale nella diagnostica con ecografia e tomografia computerizzata (TC) e nel trattamento degli ascessi amebici del fegato.
Materials and methods: 12 patients with 22 coronary bypass grafts underwent intraoperative flow quantification using the transit time ultrasound method. These values were compared to postoperative MR phase shift measurements. Flow measurements were performed preoperatively in 28 coronary arteries of 20 patients. For flow measurement, we used a velocity-encoded k-space segmented gradient echo sequence with a temporal resolution of 110 or 125 ms, respectively. 6-8 pase shift images could be acquired during one cardiac cycle. Results: There was a significant correlation between intraoperative and flow measurements using velocity-encoded MR imaging (r=0.76, p<0.0001, t-test). Flow volumes determined by MR imaging were systematically larger than those determined by the transit time ultrasound method. Mean flow in coronary arteries was reduced in severely stenosed vessels (>70%) compared to normal vessels. Intra- and interobserver ...
The nature and relationship of methane to coal mines is discussed and sources of information are outlined. Methods of gas analysis in general and methods for the detection of methane in use in coal mines are described. Methods of remote detection of gases and those that have application for use in underground coal mining operations are discussed. The report represents recommendations on remote methane detection systems that may find application in underground coal mines. (20 refs.)
Samples of fat coal-E, its roof sandstone-A and blind coal-W from two coal mines in Hebei Province of China were brought to the laboratory to study the features of infrared thermal images and radiation temperature in the course of uni-axial load and uni-axial cycle load. To check the results of infrared remote sensing detection, two other methods, acoustic emission detection and electrical resistance detection were also used. The AGA-782 thermalvision detected change of the temperature field of the samples` surfaces. The study showed that: (1) coal rocks and sandstone in the course of loading have three types of infrared thermal image features and three types of infrared radiation temperature features; (2) infrared detection is comparable with acoustic emission detection and electrical resistance detection. Generally, the infrared ...
A method to deduce the 2 x 2 transport matrix for coupled heat and particle transport in Tokamaks is proposed. The method applies to perturbative experiments, and is based on a Fourier transform of the measured signals of temperature and density. By analyzing different linear combinations of temperature and density, the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the transport matrix are determined. The method is tested for a number of illustrative cases using simulated data, and the sensitivity to noise on the signals is evaluated. (author).
The rates of synthesis of a class of both secreted and intracellular degradative enzymes in Bacillus subtilis are controlled by a signal transduction pathway defined by at least four regulatory genes:...Full Text Available
The Epstein-Barr virus protein, LMP1, is a functional mimic of the cellular receptor CD40, but signals to B lymphocytes in an amplified and sustained manner compared to CD40. LMP1 contributes...Full Text Available
A micro-computer based fuzzy logic power system stabilizer is applied to a micro-machine system to investigate its efficiency in real time control. The stabilizing signal is determined by using measured speed or real power signals at every sampling time to damp the system oscillations. The results show the proposed stabilizer improves the system damping effectively subject to various types of disturbances.
Object: To prevent a sudden drop in the level of a coolant in a annular pipe encased within a downcomer pipe. Structure: The coolant levels in annular pipes encased within downcomer pipes are simultaneously measured by level gauges which generate signals representative of coolant levels. The signals are fed to a level control system which will actuate valves to regulate the cover gas pressure in order to average the level differences among the annular pipes in different downcomer pipes. (Kamimura, M.).
Luminescence stimulated from feldspars using wavelengths in the infrared region can be applied to the dating of sedimentary grains. Reported stimulation spectra are very similar for a wide range of feldspars, but their emission spectra show greater variation. For accurate dating it is critical that unstable infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals are removed from the laboratory-irradiated grains. Several approaches to isolate a thermally stable signal are described. (author).
This paper describes the implementations of a fuzzy logic based self-tuned controller to improve the stability of electric power systems. The stabilizing signal is computed using the standard fuzzy membership function depending on the speed/acceleration state of the generator in the phase plane. The performance of the proposed stabilizer is demonstrated by practical implementation using a digital signal processor mounted on a PC-AT. Results of the experimental tests on a physical model of a power system are presented.
This book contains nomographs for analysis and design of signalized intersections and thoroughly explains how to use them. The nomographs simplify and reduce the work that otherwise would have to be done by hand. The nomograph method for computing capacity has a significant advantage over computerized methods: it provides insight into the interaction between the various factors in the solution process for design analysis.
BackgroundAberrant CD40 ligand (CD154) expression occurs on both T cells and B cells in human lupus patients, which is suggested to enhance B cell CD40 signaling and play a role...Full Text Available
The ζ chain-associated 70-kDa protein (ZAP-70) of tyrosine kinase plays a critical role in T cell receptor-mediated signal transduction and the immune response. A high level of ZAP-70 expression...Full Text Available