High-performance compression and double cryptography based on compressive ghost imaging with the fast Fourier transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leihong, Zhang; Zilan, Pan; Luying, Wu; Xiuhua, Ma

2016-11-01

To solve the problem that large images can hardly be retrieved for stringent hardware restrictions and the security level is low, a method based on compressive ghost imaging (CGI) with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is proposed, named FFT-CGI. Initially, the information is encrypted by the sender with FFT, and the FFT-coded image is encrypted by the system of CGI with a secret key. Then the receiver decrypts the image with the aid of compressive sensing (CS) and FFT. Simulation results are given to verify the feasibility, security, and compression of the proposed encryption scheme. The experiment suggests the method can improve the quality of large images compared with conventional ghost imaging and achieve the imaging for large-sized images, further the amount of data transmitted largely reduced because of the combination of compressive sensing and FFT, and improve the security level of ghost images through ciphertext-only attack (COA), chosen-plaintext attack (CPA), and noise attack. This technique can be immediately applied to encryption and data storage with the advantages of high security, fast transmission, and high quality of reconstructed information.

Differences in perceptions and fast food eating behaviours between Indians living in high- and low-income neighbourhoods of Chandigarh, India

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Increased density of fast food restaurants is associated with increased prevalence of obesity in developed countries. However, less is known about this relationship in developing countries undergoing rapid urbanization and how differences in neighbourhood income affect the patronage of fast food outlets. The purpose of the study is to explore the differences in fast food preferences, perceptions, and patronage between Indians living in high- and low-income neighbourhoods. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 204 men and women (35 to 65 years in age) from high- and low-income neighbourhoods who completed a questionnaire on fast food consumption. The questionnaire asked participants to define fast food and to provide reasons for and frequency of visits to fast food restaurants. The differences were analyzed using Chi square and t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results Participants from a high-income neighbourhood were more likely to perceive Western -style fast food as fast food, while people from the low-income neighbourhood were more likely to identify food sold by street vendors as fast food (p <0.001). Furthermore, compared to participants from the high-income neighbourhood, people from the low-income neighbourhood were more likely to report buying food from street vendors while less likely to dine out at both fast food and non-fast food restaurants (p<0.001). Although the high-income neighbourhood group was more likely to report enjoying eating at fast food restaurants than their low-income neighbourhood counterparts, there were no significant differences in the reasons for visiting fast food restaurants (convenience, price, social enjoyment, and quality of meals) between the two groups. Both groups preferred home cooked over restaurant meals, and they recognized that home cooked food was healthier. Conclusions Overall, consumption of fast food was low. People from a high-income neighbourhood dined out more frequently and were more likely to perceive Western-style food as fast food compared to their counterparts from the low-income neighbourhood. PMID:23289746

High Quality 3D Photonics using Nano Imprint Lithography of Fast Sol-gel Materials.

PubMed

Bar-On, Ofer; Brenner, Philipp; Siegle, Tobias; Gvishi, Raz; Kalt, Heinz; Lemmer, Uli; Scheuer, Jacob

2018-05-18

A method for the realization of low-loss integrated optical components is proposed and demonstrated. This approach is simple, fast, inexpensive, scalable for mass production, and compatible with both 2D and 3D geometries. The process is based on a novel dual-step soft nano imprint lithography process for producing devices with smooth surfaces, combined with fast sol-gel technology providing highly transparent materials. As a concrete example, this approach is demonstrated on a micro ring resonator made by direct laser writing (DLW) to achieve a quality factor improvement from one hundred thousand to more than 3 million. To the best of our knowledge this also sets a Q-factor record for UV-curable integrated micro-ring resonators. The process supports the integration of many types of materials such as light-emitting, electro-optic, piezo-electric, and can be readily applied to a wide variety of devices such as waveguides, lenses, diffractive elements and more.

An ultrasonic system for determining papaya physiological properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Sallehuddin; Ramli, Azlin; Yunus, Mohd Amri Md

2015-05-01

There is an increasing need for high quality fruit. As such it is important to have a fast, accurate and reliable method for measuring and monitoring the quality of fruit from the field to the consumer. This paper presents an investigation on the use of a non-destructive ultrasonic system which can be used to measure the quality of papaya.

Observation of a high-quality quasi-periodic rapidly propagating wave train using SDO/AIA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nisticò, G.; Pascoe, D. J.; Nakariakov, V. M.

2014-09-01

Context. We present a new event of quasi-periodic wave trains observed in EUV wavebands that rapidly propagate away from an active region after a flare. Aims: We measured the parameters of a wave train observed on 7 December 2013 after an M1.2 flare, such as the phase speeds, periods and wavelengths, in relationship to the local coronal environment and the energy sources. Methods: We compared our observations with a numerical simulation of fast magnetoacoustic waves that undergo dispersive evolution and leakage in a coronal loop embedded in a potential magnetic field. Results: The wave train is observed to propagate as several arc-shaped intensity disturbances for almost half an hour, with a speed greater than 1000 km s-1 and a period of about 1 min. The wave train followed two different patterns of propagation, in accordance with the magnetic structure of the active region. The oscillatory signal is found to be of high-quality, i.e. there is a large number (10 or more) of subsequent wave fronts observed. The observations are found to be consistent with the numerical simulation of a fast wave train generated by a localised impulsive energy release. Conclusions: Transverse structuring in the corona can efficiently create and guide high-quality quasi-periodic propagating fast wave trains. The movies are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

[Fast food promotes weight gain].

PubMed

Stender, Steen; Dyerberg, Jørn; Astrup, Arne V

2007-05-07

The total amounts of fat in a fast food menu consisting of French fries and fried Chicken Nuggets from McDonald's and KFC, respectively, bought in 35 different countries vary from 41 to 71 gram. In most countries the menu contained unacceptably high amounts of industrially-produced trans fat which contributes to an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease, weight gain, abdominal fat accumulation and type 2 diabetes. The quality of the ingredients in fast food ought to be better and the size of the portions smaller and less energy-dense so that frequent fast food meals do not increase the risk of obesity and diseases among customers.

Diet Quality Is Linked to Insulin Resistance among Adults in China.

PubMed

Wang, Zhihong; Adair, Linda S; Cai, Jianwen; Gordon-Larsen, Penny; Siega-Riz, Anna Maria; Zhang, Bing; Popkin, Barry M

2017-11-01

Background: Little is known about the impact of Chinese diet quality changes on diabetes-related markers. Objective: The present study examined the association of changes in overall diet quality with various biomarkers of diabetes among adults in China. Methods: The current analysis used longitudinal diet data from 1991 to 2006 and fasting blood samples from 2009 for 4734 adults aged 18-65 y from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary intake was assessed by using 3 consecutive 24-h recalls and household food weighing. The tailored Alternative Healthy Eating Index (tAHEI) was adapted from the 2010 Harvard Alternative Healthy Eating Index to measure overall diet quality. We categorized baseline tAHEI scores into tertiles and annual changes in the scores into 5 levels (high decrease, low decrease, maintain, low increase, and high increase). We performed mixed-effects regressions to assess the associations between baseline scores and changes in the tAHEI scores and diabetes or insulin markers. Results: Adults with high baseline tAHEI scores tended to be male, older, of lower socioeconomic status, and with higher physical activity levels. After adjustment for all of the covariates, insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were 5.1% (95% CI: -0.100, -0.002) and 5.7% (95% CI: -0.113, -0.001) lower, respectively, for adults with high compared with low baseline tAHEI scores and 8.6% (95% CI: -0.155, -0.017) and 9.8% (95% CI: -0.177, -0.018) lower, respectively, for adults with a high increase in score compared with the "maintain" category. Null associations were observed between baseline scores and changes in the scores and fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and diabetes prevalence. Conclusions: Baseline and changes in diet quality were independently associated with lower HOMA-IR and plasma insulin but not with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c in Chinese adults. Prospective studies on overall diet quality in relation to diabetes markers and risk of diabetes are needed. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

Family functioning and quality of parent-adolescent relationship: cross-sectional associations with adolescent weight-related behaviors and weight status.

PubMed

Haines, Jess; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L; Horton, Nicholas J; Kleinman, Ken; Bauer, Katherine W; Davison, Kirsten K; Walton, Kathryn; Austin, S Bryn; Field, Alison E; Gillman, Matthew W

2016-06-14

Little is known about how factors within the general family environment are associated with weight and related behaviors among adolescents/young adults. We studied 3768 females and 2614 males, 14-24 years old in 2011, participating in the Growing Up Today Study 2. We used generalized mixed models to examine cross-sectional associations of family functioning and quality of mother- and father-adolescent relationship with adolescent/young adult weight status, disordered eating, intake of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages, screen time, physical activity, and sleep duration. In all models, we included participant's age and family structure. Eighty percent of participants reported high family functioning and 60% and 50% of participants reported high-quality mother and father relationship, respectively. Among both males and females, high family functioning was associated with lower odds of disordered eating (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] females = 0.53; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.45-0.63; AOR males = 0.48; CI = 0.39-0.60), insufficient physical activity, i.e., less than 1 h/day, (AOR females = 0.74; CI = 0.61-0.89; AOR males = 0.73; CI = 0.58-0.92), and insufficient sleep, i.e., less than 7 h/day, (AOR females = 0.56; CI = 0.45-0.68; AOR males = 0.65; CI 0.5-0.85). High family functioning was also associated with lower odds of being overweight/obese (AOR = 0.73; CI = 0.60-0.88) and eating fast food one or more times/week (AOR = 0.74; CI = 0.61-0.89) among females only. Among females, high-quality mother and father relationship were both associated with lower odds of being overweight/obese and disordered eating, eating fast food, and insufficient sleep and the magnitude of associations were similar for mother and father relationship quality (AOR range 0.61-0.84). Among males, high-quality mother and father relationship were both associated with lower odds of disordered eating, insufficient physical activity and insufficient sleep, but only father relationship quality was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity. Adolescents/young adults reporting high family functioning and more positive relationships with their parents reported better weight-related behaviors. For weight status, females appear to be affected equally by the quality of their relationship with both parents, whereas males may be more affected by their relationship with fathers.

Fast and high resolution thermal detector based on an aluminum nitride piezoelectric microelectromechanical resonator with an integrated suspended heat absorbing element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Yu; Rinaldi, Matteo

2013-03-01

This letter presents a miniaturized, fast, and high resolution thermal detector, in which a heat absorbing element and a temperature sensitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator are perfectly overlapped but separated by a microscale air gap. This unique design guarantees efficient and fast (˜10s μs) heat transfer from the absorbing element to the temperature sensitive device and enables high resolution thermal power detection (˜nW), thanks to the low noise performance of the high quality factor (Q = 2305) MEMS resonant thermal detector. A device prototype was fabricated, and its detection capabilities were experimentally characterized. A thermal power as low as 150 nW was experimentally measured, and a noise equivalent power of 6.5 nW/Hz1/2 was extracted. A device thermal time constant of only 350 μs was measured (smallest ever reported for MEMS resonant thermal detectors), indicating the great potential of the proposed technology for the implementation of ultra-fast and high resolution un-cooled resonant thermal detectors.

Characteristics of fast-food/takeaway-food and restaurant/café-food consumers among New Zealand adults.

PubMed

Smith, Claire; Gray, Andrew Robert; Fleming, Elizabeth Ann; Parnell, Winsome Ruth

2014-10-01

To investigate: (i) the percentage of the New Zealand (NZ) population reporting fast food/takeaway food and restaurant/café food per day; (ii) examine demographic factors associated with their use; (iii) quantify their contribution to energy intake; and (iv) describe the specific types of foods reported from both sources. Twenty-four hour diet recalls from the cross-sectional 2008/09 NZ Adult Nutrition Survey were used to identify fast-food and restaurant-food consumers. NZ households. Adults aged 15 years and older (n 4721). Overall 28 % reported consuming at least one fast food and 14 % a restaurant food within the 24 h diet recall. Fast-food consumption was not associated with level of education or an area-based measure of socio-economic status, but a higher education was positively associated with restaurant-food consumption. Individual factors such as ethnicity, household size, age, sex and marital status were found to be important influences on the use of fast food and restaurant food. Fast-food consumption was more prevalent among participants living in urban areas, young adults (19-30 years) and Māori compared with NZ European and Others. The most frequently reported fast foods were bread-based dishes, potatoes (including fries) and non-alcoholic beverages. Given the high reported consumption of fast food by young adults, health promotion initiatives both to improve the nutritional quality of fast-food menus and to encourage healthier food choices would likely make a large impact on the overall diet quality of this group.

Automated update, revision, and quality control of the maize genome annotations using MAKER-P improves the B73 RefGen_v3 gene models and identifies new genes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The large size and relative complexity of many plant genomes make creation, quality control, and dissemination of high-quality gene structure annotations challenging. In response, we have developed MAKER-P, a fast and easy-to-use genome annotation engine for plants. Here, we report the use of MAKER-...

Multistatic Array Sampling Scheme for Fast Near-Field Image Reconstruction

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

1 Multistatic Array Sampling Scheme for Fast Near-Field Image Reconstruction William F. Moulder, James D. Krieger, Denise T. Maurais-Galejs, Huy...described and validated experimentally with the formation of high quality microwave images. It is further shown that the scheme is more than two orders of... scheme (wherein transmitters and receivers are co-located) which require NTNR transmit-receive elements to achieve the same sampling. The second

AfterQC: automatic filtering, trimming, error removing and quality control for fastq data.

PubMed

Chen, Shifu; Huang, Tanxiao; Zhou, Yanqing; Han, Yue; Xu, Mingyan; Gu, Jia

2017-03-14

Some applications, especially those clinical applications requiring high accuracy of sequencing data, usually have to face the troubles caused by unavoidable sequencing errors. Several tools have been proposed to profile the sequencing quality, but few of them can quantify or correct the sequencing errors. This unmet requirement motivated us to develop AfterQC, a tool with functions to profile sequencing errors and correct most of them, plus highly automated quality control and data filtering features. Different from most tools, AfterQC analyses the overlapping of paired sequences for pair-end sequencing data. Based on overlapping analysis, AfterQC can detect and cut adapters, and furthermore it gives a novel function to correct wrong bases in the overlapping regions. Another new feature is to detect and visualise sequencing bubbles, which can be commonly found on the flowcell lanes and may raise sequencing errors. Besides normal per cycle quality and base content plotting, AfterQC also provides features like polyX (a long sub-sequence of a same base X) filtering, automatic trimming and K-MER based strand bias profiling. For each single or pair of FastQ files, AfterQC filters out bad reads, detects and eliminates sequencer's bubble effects, trims reads at front and tail, detects the sequencing errors and corrects part of them, and finally outputs clean data and generates HTML reports with interactive figures. AfterQC can run in batch mode with multiprocess support, it can run with a single FastQ file, a single pair of FastQ files (for pair-end sequencing), or a folder for all included FastQ files to be processed automatically. Based on overlapping analysis, AfterQC can estimate the sequencing error rate and profile the error transform distribution. The results of our error profiling tests show that the error distribution is highly platform dependent. Much more than just another new quality control (QC) tool, AfterQC is able to perform quality control, data filtering, error profiling and base correction automatically. Experimental results show that AfterQC can help to eliminate the sequencing errors for pair-end sequencing data to provide much cleaner outputs, and consequently help to reduce the false-positive variants, especially for the low-frequency somatic mutations. While providing rich configurable options, AfterQC can detect and set all the options automatically and require no argument in most cases.

Fast Whole-Engine Stirling Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyson, Rodger W.; Wilson, Scott D.; Tew, Roy C.; Demko, Rikako

2006-01-01

This presentation discusses the simulation approach to whole-engine for physical consistency, REV regenerator modeling, grid layering for smoothness, and quality, conjugate heat transfer method adjustment, high-speed low cost parallel cluster, and debugging.

The effects of various diets on glycemic outcomes during pregnancy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ha, Vanessa; Bonner, Ashley J; Jadoo, Jaynendr K; Beyene, Joseph; Anand, Sonia S; de Souza, Russell J

2017-01-01

Evidence to support dietary modifications to improve glycemia during pregnancy is limited, and the benefits of diet beyond limiting gestational weight gain is unclear. Therefore, a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials was conducted to compare the effects of various common diets, stratified by the addition of gestational weight gain advice, on fasting glucose and insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in pregnant women. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane database, and reference lists of published studies were searched through April 2017. Randomized trials directly comparing two or more diets for ≥2-weeks were eligible. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed for fasting glucose. Owing to a lack of similar dietary comparisons, a standard pairwise meta-analysis for the other glycemic outcomes was performed. The certainty of the pooled effect estimates was assessed using the GRADE tool. Twenty-one trials (1,865 participants) were included. In general, when given alongside gestational weight gain advice, fasting glucose improved in most diets compared to diets that gave gestational weight gain advice only. However, fasting glucose increased in high unsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids diets. In the absence of gestational weight gain advice, fasting glucose improved in DASH-style diets compared to standard of care. Although most were non-significant, similar trends were observed for these same diets for the other glycemic outcomes. Dietary comparisons ranged from moderate to very low in quality of evidence. Alongside with gestational weight gain advice, most diets, with the exception of a high unsaturated or a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet, demonstrated a fasting glucose improvement compared with gestational weight gain advice only. When gestational weight gain advice was not given, the DASH-style diet appeared optimal on fasting glucose. However, a small number of trials were identified and most dietary comparisons were underpowered to detect differences in glycemic outcomes. Further studies that are high in quality and adequately powered are needed to confirm these findings. PROSPERO CRD42015026008.

The effects of various diets on glycemic outcomes during pregnancy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Ha, Vanessa; Bonner, Ashley J.; Jadoo, Jaynendr K.; Beyene, Joseph; Anand, Sonia S.

2017-01-01

Aims Evidence to support dietary modifications to improve glycemia during pregnancy is limited, and the benefits of diet beyond limiting gestational weight gain is unclear. Therefore, a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials was conducted to compare the effects of various common diets, stratified by the addition of gestational weight gain advice, on fasting glucose and insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in pregnant women. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane database, and reference lists of published studies were searched through April 2017. Randomized trials directly comparing two or more diets for ≥2-weeks were eligible. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed for fasting glucose. Owing to a lack of similar dietary comparisons, a standard pairwise meta-analysis for the other glycemic outcomes was performed. The certainty of the pooled effect estimates was assessed using the GRADE tool. Results Twenty-one trials (1,865 participants) were included. In general, when given alongside gestational weight gain advice, fasting glucose improved in most diets compared to diets that gave gestational weight gain advice only. However, fasting glucose increased in high unsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids diets. In the absence of gestational weight gain advice, fasting glucose improved in DASH-style diets compared to standard of care. Although most were non-significant, similar trends were observed for these same diets for the other glycemic outcomes. Dietary comparisons ranged from moderate to very low in quality of evidence. Conclusion/Interpretation Alongside with gestational weight gain advice, most diets, with the exception of a high unsaturated or a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet, demonstrated a fasting glucose improvement compared with gestational weight gain advice only. When gestational weight gain advice was not given, the DASH-style diet appeared optimal on fasting glucose. However, a small number of trials were identified and most dietary comparisons were underpowered to detect differences in glycemic outcomes. Further studies that are high in quality and adequately powered are needed to confirm these findings. Registration PROSPERO CRD42015026008 PMID:28771519

DOGMA: domain-based transcriptome and proteome quality assessment.

PubMed

Dohmen, Elias; Kremer, Lukas P M; Bornberg-Bauer, Erich; Kemena, Carsten

2016-09-01

Genome studies have become cheaper and easier than ever before, due to the decreased costs of high-throughput sequencing and the free availability of analysis software. However, the quality of genome or transcriptome assemblies can vary a lot. Therefore, quality assessment of assemblies and annotations are crucial aspects of genome analysis pipelines. We developed DOGMA, a program for fast and easy quality assessment of transcriptome and proteome data based on conserved protein domains. DOGMA measures the completeness of a given transcriptome or proteome and provides information about domain content for further analysis. DOGMA provides a very fast way to do quality assessment within seconds. DOGMA is implemented in Python and published under GNU GPL v.3 license. The source code is available on https://ebbgit.uni-muenster.de/domainWorld/DOGMA/ CONTACTS: e.dohmen@wwu.de or c.kemena@wwu.de Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

[Evaluation of the quality of poultry meat and its processing for vacuum packaging].

PubMed

Swiderski, F; Russel, S; Waszkiewicz-Robak, B; Cholewińska, E

1997-01-01

The aim of study was to evaluate the quality of poultry meat, roasted and smoked chicken and poultry pie packing under low and high vacuum. All investigated products were stored at +4 degrees C and evaluated by microbiological analysis. It was showed that packing under low and high vacuum inhibited development of aerobic microorganisms, proteolytic bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Vacuum-packaged storage of poultry meat and its products stimulated activity of anaerobic, nonsporeforming bacteria. The fast spoilage of fresh poultry meat was observed both under vacuum and conventional storage. The microbiology quality of poultry products depended on technology of production and microbiological quality of raw material.

Fast food: unfriendly and unhealthy.

PubMed

Stender, S; Dyerberg, J; Astrup, A

2007-06-01

Although nutrition experts might be able to navigate the menus of fast-food restaurant chains, and based on the nutritional information, compose apparently 'healthy' meals, there are still many reasons why frequent fast-food consumption at most chains is unhealthy and contributes to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Fast food generally has a high-energy density, which, together with large portion sizes, induces over consumption of calories. In addition, we have found it to be a myth that the typical fast-food meal is the same worldwide. Chemical analyses of 74 samples of fast-food menus consisting of French fries and fried chicken (nuggets/hot wings) bought in McDonalds and KFC outlets in 35 countries in 2005-2006 showed that the total fat content of the same menu varies from 41 to 65 g at McDonalds and from 42 to 74 g at KFC. In addition, fast food from major chains in most countries still contains unacceptably high levels of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (IP-TFA). IP-TFA have powerful biological effects and may contribute to increased weight gain, abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. The food quality and portion size need to be improved before it is safe to eat frequently at most fast-food chains.

An Enhanced K-Means Algorithm for Water Quality Analysis of The Haihe River in China.

PubMed

Zou, Hui; Zou, Zhihong; Wang, Xiaojing

2015-11-12

The increase and the complexity of data caused by the uncertain environment is today's reality. In order to identify water quality effectively and reliably, this paper presents a modified fast clustering algorithm for water quality analysis. The algorithm has adopted a varying weights K-means cluster algorithm to analyze water monitoring data. The varying weights scheme was the best weighting indicator selected by a modified indicator weight self-adjustment algorithm based on K-means, which is named MIWAS-K-means. The new clustering algorithm avoids the margin of the iteration not being calculated in some cases. With the fast clustering analysis, we can identify the quality of water samples. The algorithm is applied in water quality analysis of the Haihe River (China) data obtained by the monitoring network over a period of eight years (2006-2013) with four indicators at seven different sites (2078 samples). Both the theoretical and simulated results demonstrate that the algorithm is efficient and reliable for water quality analysis of the Haihe River. In addition, the algorithm can be applied to more complex data matrices with high dimensionality.

High-power direct diode laser output by spectral beam combining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Hao; Meng, Huicheng; Ruan, Xu; Du, Weichuan; Wang, Zhao

2018-03-01

We demonstrate a spectral beam combining scheme based on multiple mini-bar stacks, which have more diode laser combining elements, to increase the combined diode laser power and realize equal beam quality in both the fast and slow axes. A spectral beam combining diode laser output of 1130 W is achieved with an operating current of 75 A. When a 9.6 X de-magnifying telescope is introduced between the output mirror and the diffraction grating, to restrain cross-talk among diode laser emitters, a 710 W spectral beam combining diode laser output is achieved at the operating current of 70 A, and the beam quality on the fast and slow axes of the combined beam is about 7.5 mm mrad and 7.3 mm mrad respectively. The power reduction is caused by the existence of a couple resonator between the rear facet of the diode laser and the fast axis collimation lens, and it should be eliminated by using diode laser chips with higher front facet transmission efficiency and a fast axis collimation lens with lower residual reflectivity.

[Fast Detection of Camellia Sinensis Growth Process and Tea Quality Informations with Spectral Technology: A Review].

PubMed

Peng, Ji-yu; Song, Xing-lin; Liu, Fei; Bao, Yi-dan; He, Yong

2016-03-01

The research achievements and trends of spectral technology in fast detection of Camellia sinensis growth process information and tea quality information were being reviewed. Spectral technology is a kind of fast, nondestructive, efficient detection technology, which mainly contains infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The rapid detection of Camellia sinensis growth process information and tea quality is helpful to realize the informatization and automation of tea production and ensure the tea quality and safety. This paper provides a review on its applications containing the detection of tea (Camellia sinensis) growing status(nitrogen, chlorophyll, diseases and insect pest), the discrimination of tea varieties, the grade discrimination of tea, the detection of tea internal quality (catechins, total polyphenols, caffeine, amino acid, pesticide residual and so on), the quality evaluation of tea beverage and tea by-product, the machinery of tea quality determination and discrimination. This paper briefly introduces the trends of the technology of the determination of tea growth process information, sensor and industrial application. In conclusion, spectral technology showed high potential to detect Camellia sinensis growth process information, to predict tea internal quality and to classify tea varieties and grades. Suitable chemometrics and preprocessing methods is helpful to improve the performance of the model and get rid of redundancy, which provides the possibility to develop the portable machinery. Future work is to develop the portable machinery and on-line detection system is recommended to improve the further application. The application and research achievement of spectral technology concerning about tea were outlined in this paper for the first time, which contained Camellia sinensis growth, tea production, the quality and safety of tea and by-produce and so on, as well as some problems to be solved and its future applicability in modern tea industrial.

A fast, programmable hardware architecture for spaceborne SAR processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, J. R.; Cumming, I. G.; Lim, J.; Wedding, R. M.

1983-01-01

The launch of spaceborne SARs during the 1980's is discussed. The satellite SARs require high quality and high throughput ground processors. Compression ratios in range and azimuth of greater than 500 and 150 respectively lead to frequency domain processing and data computation rates in excess of 2000 million real operations per second for C-band SARs under consideration. Various hardware architectures are examined and two promising candidates and proceeds to recommend a fast, programmable hardware architecture for spaceborne SAR processing are selected. Modularity and programmability are introduced as desirable attributes for the purpose of HTSP hardware selection.

A revision of the subtract-with-borrow random number generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sibidanov, Alexei

2017-12-01

The most popular and widely used subtract-with-borrow generator, also known as RANLUX, is reimplemented as a linear congruential generator using large integer arithmetic with the modulus size of 576 bits. Modern computers, as well as the specific structure of the modulus inferred from RANLUX, allow for the development of a fast modular multiplication - the core of the procedure. This was previously believed to be slow and have too high cost in terms of computing resources. Our tests show a significant gain in generation speed which is comparable with other fast, high quality random number generators. An additional feature is the fast skipping of generator states leading to a seeding scheme which guarantees the uniqueness of random number sequences. Licensing provisions: GPLv3 Programming language: C++, C, Assembler

FBCOT: a fast block coding option for JPEG 2000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taubman, David; Naman, Aous; Mathew, Reji

2017-09-01

Based on the EBCOT algorithm, JPEG 2000 finds application in many fields, including high performance scientific, geospatial and video coding applications. Beyond digital cinema, JPEG 2000 is also attractive for low-latency video communications. The main obstacle for some of these applications is the relatively high computational complexity of the block coder, especially at high bit-rates. This paper proposes a drop-in replacement for the JPEG 2000 block coding algorithm, achieving much higher encoding and decoding throughputs, with only modest loss in coding efficiency (typically < 0.5dB). The algorithm provides only limited quality/SNR scalability, but offers truly reversible transcoding to/from any standard JPEG 2000 block bit-stream. The proposed FAST block coder can be used with EBCOT's post-compression RD-optimization methodology, allowing a target compressed bit-rate to be achieved even at low latencies, leading to the name FBCOT (Fast Block Coding with Optimized Truncation).

Fast-food menu offerings vary in dietary quality, but are consistently poor.

PubMed

Kirkpatrick, Sharon I; Reedy, Jill; Kahle, Lisa L; Harris, Jennifer L; Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam; Krebs-Smith, Susan M

2014-04-01

To evaluate five popular fast-food chains' menus in relation to dietary guidance. Menus posted on chains' websites were coded using the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies and MyPyramid Equivalents Database to enable Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores to be assigned. Dollar or value and kids' menus and sets of items promoted as healthy or nutritious were also assessed. Five popular fast-food chains in the USA. Not applicable. Full menus scored lower than 50 out of 100 possible points on the HEI-2005. Scores for Total Fruit, Whole Grains and Sodium were particularly dismal. Compared with full menus, scores on dollar or value menus were 3 points higher on average, whereas kids' menus scored 10 points higher on average. Three chains marketed subsets of items as healthy or nutritious; these scored 17 points higher on average compared with the full menus. No menu or subset of menu items received a score higher than 72 out of 100 points. The poor quality of fast-food menus is a concern in light of increasing away-from-home eating, aggressive marketing to children and minorities, and the tendency for fast-food restaurants to be located in low-income and minority areas. The addition of fruits, vegetables and legumes; replacement of refined with whole grains; and reformulation of offerings high in sodium, solid fats and added sugars are potential strategies to improve fast-food offerings. The HEI may be a useful metric for ongoing monitoring of fast-food menus.

Are high energy proton beams ideal for AB-BNCT? A brief discussion from the viewpoint of fast neutron contamination control.

PubMed

Lee, Pei-Yi; Liu, Yuan-Hao; Jiang, Shiang-Huei

2014-06-01

High energy proton beam (>8MeV) is favorable for producing neutrons with high yield. However, the produced neutrons are of high energies. These high energy neutrons can cause severe fast neutron contamination and degrade the BNCT treatment quality if they are not appropriately moderated. Hence, this study aims to briefly discuss the issue, from the viewpoint of fast neutron contamination control, whether high energy proton beam is ideal for AB-BNCT or not. In this study, D2O, PbF4, CaF2, and Fluental(™) were used standalone as moderator materials to slow down 1-, 6-, and 10-MeV parallelly incident neutrons. From the calculated results, we concluded that neutrons produced by high energy proton beam could not be easily moderated by a single moderator to an acceptable contamination level and still with reasonable epithermal neutron beam intensity. Hence, much more complicated and sophisticated designs of beam shaping assembly have to be developed when using high energy proton beams. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Smart light random memory sprays Retinex: a fast Retinex implementation for high-quality brightness adjustment and color correction.

PubMed

Banić, Nikola; Lončarić, Sven

2015-11-01

Removing the influence of illumination on image colors and adjusting the brightness across the scene are important image enhancement problems. This is achieved by applying adequate color constancy and brightness adjustment methods. One of the earliest models to deal with both of these problems was the Retinex theory. Some of the Retinex implementations tend to give high-quality results by performing local operations, but they are computationally relatively slow. One of the recent Retinex implementations is light random sprays Retinex (LRSR). In this paper, a new method is proposed for brightness adjustment and color correction that overcomes the main disadvantages of LRSR. There are three main contributions of this paper. First, a concept of memory sprays is proposed to reduce the number of LRSR's per-pixel operations to a constant regardless of the parameter values, thereby enabling a fast Retinex-based local image enhancement. Second, an effective remapping of image intensities is proposed that results in significantly higher quality. Third, the problem of LRSR's halo effect is significantly reduced by using an alternative illumination processing method. The proposed method enables a fast Retinex-based image enhancement by processing Retinex paths in a constant number of steps regardless of the path size. Due to the halo effect removal and remapping of the resulting intensities, the method outperforms many of the well-known image enhancement methods in terms of resulting image quality. The results are presented and discussed. It is shown that the proposed method outperforms most of the tested methods in terms of image brightness adjustment, color correction, and computational speed.

Fast, Automated, Photo realistic, 3D Modeling of Building Interiors

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-12

project, we developed two algorithmic pipelines for GPS-denied indoor mobile 3D mapping using an ambulatory backpack system. By mounting scanning...equipment on a backpack system, a human operator can traverse the interior of a building to produce a high-quality 3D reconstruction. In each of our...Unlimited UU UU UU UU 12-09-2016 1-May-2011 30-Jun-2015 Final Report: Fast, Automated, Photo-realistic, 3D Modeling of Building Interiors (ATTN

System for evaluating weld quality using eddy currents

DOEpatents

Todorov, Evgueni I.; Hay, Jacob

2017-12-12

Electromagnetic and eddy current techniques for fast automated real-time and near real-time inspection and monitoring systems for high production rate joining processes. An eddy current system, array and method for the fast examination of welds to detect anomalies such as missed seam (MS) and lack of penetration (LOP) the system, array and methods capable of detecting and sizing surface and slightly subsurface flaws at various orientations in connection with at least the first and second weld pass.

Intramuscular variations of proteome and muscle fiber type distribution in semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles associated with pork quality.

PubMed

Kim, Gap-Don; Yang, Han-Sul; Jeong, Jin-Yeon

2018-04-01

Proteome analysis was performed to understand intramuscular variations in muscle fiber distribution in semimembranosus (SM) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles associated with pork quality. Fifteen SM and ST muscles were separated into dark and light portions. The relative area of oxidative fiber was higher (P < .0001) in dark portion than that in light portion, while glycolytic fiber types were distributed primarily (P < .01) in light portions regardless of muscle types. Myosin-1, myosin-4, troponin complex (fast), myosin light chains, and metabolic enzymes responsible for fast-twitch glycolytic types were overexpressed in light portions (P < .05). However, myosin-2, myosin-7, myoglobin, and mitochondrial oxidative metabolic enzymes were closely related to slow-twitch oxidative fibers. These resulted in high pH, redness, and tenderness but low lightness and drip loss of pork quality. In conclusion, differentially expressed muscle proteins are associated with fiber type (oxidative vs. glycolytic) distribution, resulting in intramuscular variations of pork quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diet and metabolic state are the main factors determining concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in female polar bears from Svalbard.

PubMed

Tartu, Sabrina; Bourgeon, Sophie; Aars, Jon; Andersen, Magnus; Lone, Karen; Jenssen, Bjørn Munro; Polder, Anuschka; Thiemann, Gregory W; Torget, Vidar; Welker, Jeffrey M; Routti, Heli

2017-10-01

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been detected in organisms worldwide, including Polar Regions. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus), the top predator of Arctic marine ecosystems, accumulates high concentrations of PFASs, which may be harmful to their health. The aim of this study was to investigate which factors (habitat quality, season, year, diet, metabolic state [i.e. feeding/fasting], breeding status and age) predict PFAS concentrations in female polar bears captured on Svalbard (Norway). We analysed two perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs: PFHxS and PFOS) and C 8 -C 13 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) in 112 plasma samples obtained in April and September 2012-2013. Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios (δ 15 N, δ 13 C) in red blood cells and plasma, and fatty acid profiles in adipose tissue were used as proxies for diet. We determined habitat quality based on movement patterns, capture position and resource selection functions, which are models that predict the probability of use of a resource unit. Plasma urea to creatinine ratios were used as proxies for metabolic state (i.e. feeding or fasting state). Results were obtained from a conditional model averaging of 42 general linear mixed models. Diet was the most important predictor of PFAS concentrations. PFAS concentrations were positively related to trophic level and marine diet input. High PFAS concentrations in females feeding on the eastern part of Svalbard, where the habitat quality was higher than on the western coast, were likely related to diet and possibly to abiotic factors. Concentrations of PFSAs and C 8 -C 10 PFCAs were higher in fasting than in feeding polar bears and PFOS was higher in females with cubs of the year than in solitary females. Our findings suggest that female polar bears that are exposed to the highest levels of PFAS are those 1) feeding on high trophic level sea ice-associated prey, 2) fasting and 3) with small cubs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gaze-Aware Streaming Solutions for the Next Generation of Mobile VR Experiences.

PubMed

Lungaro, Pietro; Sjoberg, Rickard; Valero, Alfredo Jose Fanghella; Mittal, Ashutosh; Tollmar, Konrad

2018-04-01

This paper presents a novel approach to content delivery for video streaming services. It exploits information from connected eye-trackers embedded in the next generation of VR Head Mounted Displays (HMDs). The proposed solution aims to deliver high visual quality, in real time, around the users' fixations points while lowering the quality everywhere else. The goal of the proposed approach is to substantially reduce the overall bandwidth requirements for supporting VR video experiences while delivering high levels of user perceived quality. The prerequisites to achieve these results are: (1) mechanisms that can cope with different degrees of latency in the system and (2) solutions that support fast adaptation of video quality in different parts of a frame, without requiring a large increase in bitrate. A novel codec configuration, capable of supporting near-instantaneous video quality adaptation in specific portions of a video frame, is presented. The proposed method exploits in-built properties of HEVC encoders and while it introduces a moderate amount of error, these errors are indetectable by users. Fast adaptation is the key to enable gaze-aware streaming and its reduction in bandwidth. A testbed implementing gaze-aware streaming, together with a prototype HMD with in-built eye tracker, is presented and was used for testing with real users. The studies quantified the bandwidth savings achievable by the proposed approach and characterize the relationships between Quality of Experience (QoE) and network latency. The results showed that up to 83% less bandwidth is required to deliver high QoE levels to the users, as compared to conventional solutions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gonzalez-Esquer, C. Raul; Twary, Scott N.; Hovde, Blake T.

Picochlorum soloecismus is a halotolerant, fast-growing, and moderate-lipid-producing microalga that is being evaluated as a renewable feedstock for biofuel production. Herein, we report on an improved high-quality draft assembly and annotation for the nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes of P. soloecismus DOE 101.

Graphene Synthesis and Characterization

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-08

for synthesis electrochemical. - A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (EVO MA from Carl Zeiss). 6 6. RESULTS AND...5, 2332-2339, 2011, High-Quality Thin graphene films from fast electrochemical exfoliation. [13] Da Hee Jung , Cheong Kang, Ji Eun Nam, Jin-Seok Kim

Sensory and rapid instrumental methods as a combined tool for quality control of cooked ham.

PubMed

Barbieri, Sara; Soglia, Francesca; Palagano, Rosa; Tesini, Federica; Bendini, Alessandra; Petracci, Massimiliano; Cavani, Claudio; Gallina Toschi, Tullia

2016-11-01

In this preliminary investigation, different commercial categories of Italian cooked pork hams have been characterized using an integrated approach based on both sensory and fast instrumental measurements. For these purposes, Italian products belonging to different categories (cooked ham, "selected" cooked ham and "high quality" cooked ham) were evaluated by sensory descriptive analysis and by the application of rapid tools such as image analysis by an "electronic eye" and texture analyzer. The panel of trained assessors identified and evaluated 10 sensory descriptors able to define the quality of the products. Statistical analysis highlighted that sensory characteristics related to appearance and texture were the most significant in discriminating samples belonged to the highest (high quality cooked hams) and the lowest (cooked hams) quality of the product whereas the selected cooked hams, showed intermediate characteristics. In particular, high quality samples were characterized, above all, by the highest intensity of pink intensity, typical appearance and cohesiveness, and, at the same time, by the lowest intensity of juiciness; standard cooked ham samples showed the lowest intensity of all visual attributes and the highest value of juiciness, whereas the intermediate category (selected cooked ham) was not discriminated from the other. Also physical-rheological parameters measured by electronic eye and texture analyzer were effective in classifying samples. In particular, the PLS model built with data obtained from the electronic eye showed a satisfactory performance in terms of prediction of the pink intensity and presence of fat attributes evaluated during the sensory visual phase. This study can be considered a first application of this combined approach that could represent a suitable and fast method to verify if the meat product purchased by consumer match its description in terms of compliance with the claimed quality.

Health effects of intermittent fasting: hormesis or harm? A systematic review.

PubMed

Horne, Benjamin D; Muhlestein, Joseph B; Anderson, Jeffrey L

2015-08-01

Intermittent fasting, alternate-day fasting, and other forms of periodic caloric desistance are gaining popularity in the lay press and among animal research scientists. Whether clinical evidence exists for or is strong enough to support the use of such dietary regimens as health interventions is unclear. This review sought to identify rigorous, clinically relevant research studies that provide high-quality evidence that therapeutic fasting regimens are clinically beneficial to humans. A systematic review of the published literature through January 2015 was performed by using sensitive search strategies to identify randomized controlled clinical trials that evaluated the effects of fasting on either clinically relevant surrogate outcomes (e.g., weight, cholesterol) or actual clinical event endpoints [e.g., diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD)] and any other studies that evaluated the effects of fasting on clinical event outcomes. Three randomized controlled clinical trials of fasting in humans were identified, and the results were published in 5 articles, all of which evaluated the effects of fasting on surrogate outcomes. Improvements in weight and other risk-related outcomes were found in the 3 trials. Two observational clinical outcomes studies in humans were found in which fasting was associated with a lower prevalence of CAD or diabetes diagnosis. No randomized controlled trials of fasting for clinical outcomes were identified. Clinical research studies of fasting with robust designs and high levels of clinical evidence are sparse in the literature. Whereas the few randomized controlled trials and observational clinical outcomes studies support the existence of a health benefit from fasting, substantial further research in humans is needed before the use of fasting as a health intervention can be recommended. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Fast and accurate de novo genome assembly from long uncorrected reads

PubMed Central

Vaser, Robert; Sović, Ivan; Nagarajan, Niranjan

2017-01-01

The assembly of long reads from Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore Technologies typically requires resource-intensive error-correction and consensus-generation steps to obtain high-quality assemblies. We show that the error-correction step can be omitted and that high-quality consensus sequences can be generated efficiently with a SIMD-accelerated, partial-order alignment–based, stand-alone consensus module called Racon. Based on tests with PacBio and Oxford Nanopore data sets, we show that Racon coupled with miniasm enables consensus genomes with similar or better quality than state-of-the-art methods while being an order of magnitude faster. PMID:28100585

Effects of prolonged fasting on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Etemadifar, Masoud; Sayahi, Farnaz; Alroughani, Raed; Toghianifar, Nafiseh; Akbari, Mojtaba; Nasr, Zahra

2016-06-01

Fasting is one of the recommended worships of several great religions in the world. During the month of Ramadan, circadian rhythm and pattern of eating changes result in physiological, biochemical and hormonal changes in the body. Many Muslims with medical conditions ask their physicians about the feasibility and safety of fasting during Ramadan. In this study, we aim to assess the effect of Ramadan fasting on the quality of life and fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients according to McDonald's criteria who had mild disability (EDSS score ≤3) were included in this study. Fatigue and quality of life were were assessed using the validated Persian versions of modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS) and multiple sclerosis quality of life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaires, respectively. 218 patients (150 females and 68 males) were enrolled in our study. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean total score of MSIF before and after fasting (25.50 ± 13.81 versus 26.94 ± 16.65; p = 0.58). The mean physical health and mental health composites of quality of life increased significantly after fasting (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003 respectively). Despite the observed lack of favorable effects on fatigue, our results showed increased quality of life of MS patients once Ramadan has ended. Whether this is specifically related to Ramadan-related fasting deserves further testing in appropriately designed larger prospective clinical studies.

Key Factors for a High-Quality Peritoneal Dialysis Program — The Role of the PD Team and Continuous Quality Improvement

PubMed Central

Fang, Wei; Ni, Zhaohui; Qian, Jiaqi

2014-01-01

The proportion of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) has increased very fast in China over the last decade. Renji Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, is a recognized high-quality PD unit with a high PD utilization rate, excellent patient and technique survival (1-year and 5-year patient survival rate of 93% and 71%, and 1-year and 5-year technique survival of 96% and 82%, respectively), low peritonitis rate and a well-documented good quality of life of the treated patients. We believe that a dedicated and experienced PD team, a structured patient training program, continuous patient support, establishing and utilizing standardized protocols, starting PD with low dialysis dose, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and continuous quality improvement (CQI) are the key factors underlying this successful PD program. PMID:24962961

An Enhanced K-Means Algorithm for Water Quality Analysis of The Haihe River in China

PubMed Central

Zou, Hui; Zou, Zhihong; Wang, Xiaojing

2015-01-01

The increase and the complexity of data caused by the uncertain environment is today’s reality. In order to identify water quality effectively and reliably, this paper presents a modified fast clustering algorithm for water quality analysis. The algorithm has adopted a varying weights K-means cluster algorithm to analyze water monitoring data. The varying weights scheme was the best weighting indicator selected by a modified indicator weight self-adjustment algorithm based on K-means, which is named MIWAS-K-means. The new clustering algorithm avoids the margin of the iteration not being calculated in some cases. With the fast clustering analysis, we can identify the quality of water samples. The algorithm is applied in water quality analysis of the Haihe River (China) data obtained by the monitoring network over a period of eight years (2006–2013) with four indicators at seven different sites (2078 samples). Both the theoretical and simulated results demonstrate that the algorithm is efficient and reliable for water quality analysis of the Haihe River. In addition, the algorithm can be applied to more complex data matrices with high dimensionality. PMID:26569283

Fast-food menu offerings vary in dietary quality, but are consistently poor

PubMed Central

Kirkpatrick, Sharon I; Reedy, Jill; Kahle, Lisa L; Harris, Jennifer L; Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam; Krebs-Smith, Susan M

2013-01-01

Objective To evaluate five popular fast-food chains’ menus in relation to dietary guidance. Design Menus posted on chains’ websites were coded using the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies and MyPyramid Equivalents Database to enable Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores to be assigned. Dollar or value and kids’ menus and sets of items promoted as healthy or nutritious were also assessed. Setting Five popular fast-food chains in the USA. Subjects Not applicable. Results Full menus scored lower than 50 out of 100 possible points on the HEI-2005. Scores for Total Fruit, Whole Grains and Sodium were particularly dismal. Compared with full menus, scores on dollar or value menus were 3 points higher on average, whereas kids’ menus scored 10 points higher on average. Three chains marketed subsets of items as healthy or nutritious; these scored 17 points higher on average compared with the full menus. No menu or subset of menu items received a score higher than 72 out of 100 points. Conclusions The poor quality of fast-food menus is a concern in light of increasing away-from-home eating, aggressive marketing to children and minorities, and the tendency for fast-food restaurants to be located in low-income and minority areas. The addition of fruits, vegetables and legumes; replacement of refined with whole grains; and reformulation of offerings high in sodium, solid fats and added sugars are potential strategies to improve fast-food offerings. The HEI may be a useful metric for ongoing monitoring of fast-food menus. PMID:23317511

Scalable graphene production from ethanol decomposition by microwave argon plasma torch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melero, C.; Rincón, R.; Muñoz, J.; Zhang, G.; Sun, S.; Perez, A.; Royuela, O.; González-Gago, C.; Calzada, M. D.

2018-01-01

A fast, efficient and simple method is presented for the production of high quality graphene on a large scale by using an atmospheric pressure plasma-based technique. This technique allows to obtain high quality graphene in powder in just one step, without the use of neither metal catalysts and nor specific substrate during the process. Moreover, the cost for graphene production is significantly reduced since the ethanol used as carbon source can be obtained from the fermentation of agricultural industries. The process provides an additional benefit contributing to the revalorization of waste in the production of a high-value added product like graphene. Thus, this work demonstrates the features of plasma technology as a low cost, efficient, clean and environmentally friendly route for production of high-quality graphene.

JPRS Report, Science & Technology, China

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-31

below) are as is a functional cooling source for high -Tc supercon- follows: in the fast operating mode, system frequency ducting devices. Applications...with EIMAC quality standards, and agreed that chamber and pulse magnetic field. Employing a high - the products could bear the EIMAC trademark for...calculations show that operate in a high -order mode, and provide a very high the grating, as a frequency -scan antenna, can produce output power and

[Evaluation of the quality of medical care in primary care patients with metabolic syndrome].

PubMed

Modrego Navarro, Angel; Ramírez Espinosa, Manuel; Fustero Fernández, Mariví; Tarraga López, Pedro Juan; Bastida Calvo, José Carlos; Torras Tohà, Núria

2009-08-01

As there is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the overweight population, their cardiovascular risk is also high and the review system in Spain appears to be inadequate. The present study was carried out to evaluate the quality of the medical care of these patients. Epidemiological, cross-sectional and multicenter study. A total of 138 primary care general practitioners from all over Spain included outpatients of both sexes, > 18 years old, with body mass index > or = 25 and with biochemical data from the last 6 months for fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL-c and blood pressure. Self-evaluation, retrospective, internal and with data processing. Principal determinations: Degree of compliance of 12 evaluation criteria and description of MS factors. A total of 2,280 patients were analysed. MS prevalence was 53.2%. Biochemical data were significantly higher in patients with MS and the most prevalent risk factors were: triglycerides > 150 (49.6%), systolic blood pressure > 140 (40.8%), fasting glucose > or = 126 (38.4%). Poor compliance of a few but relevant criteria was responsible for a high percentage of errors in the medical care quality. Introduction of improvement activities in patients with MS in primary care is essential in the management and prevention of cardiovascular complications.

CdS-Nanowires Flexible Photo-detector with Ag-Nanowires Electrode Based on Non-transfer Process

PubMed Central

Pei, Yanli; Pei, Ruihan; Liang, Xiaoci; Wang, Yuhao; Liu, Ling; Chen, Haibiao; Liang, Jun

2016-01-01

In this study, UV-visible flexible resistivity-type photo-detectors were demonstrated with CdS-nanowires (NWs) percolation network channel and Ag-NWs percolation network electrode. The devices were fabricated on Mixed Cellulose Esters (MCE) membrane using a lithographic filtration method combined with a facile non-transfer process. The photo-detectors demonstrated strong adhesion, fast response time, fast decay time, and high photo sensitivity. The high performance could be attributed to the high quality single crystalline CdS-NWs, encapsulation of NWs in MCE matrix and excellent interconnection of the NWs. Furthermore, the sensing performance was maintained even the device was bent at an angle of 90°. This research may pave the way for the facile fabrication of flexible photo-detectors with high performances. PMID:26899726

Non-destructive fraud detection in rosehip oil by MIR spectroscopy and chemometrics.

PubMed

Santana, Felipe Bachion de; Gontijo, Lucas Caixeta; Mitsutake, Hery; Mazivila, Sarmento Júnior; Souza, Leticia Maria de; Borges Neto, Waldomiro

2016-10-15

Rosehip oil (Rosa eglanteria L.) is an important oil in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, due to its high added value, it is liable to adulteration with other cheaper or lower quality oils. With this perspective, this work provides a new simple, fast and accurate methodology using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) as a means to discriminate authentic rosehip oil from adulterated rosehip oil containing soybean, corn and sunflower oils in different proportions. The model showed excellent sensitivity and specificity with 100% correct classification. Therefore, the developed methodology is a viable alternative for use in the laboratory and industry for standard quality analysis of rosehip oil since it is fast, accurate and non-destructive. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A simple, fast, and inexpensive CTAB-PVP-silica based method for genomic DNA isolation from single, small insect larvae and pupae.

PubMed

Huanca-Mamani, W; Rivera-Cabello, D; Maita-Maita, J

2015-07-17

In this study, we report a modified CTAB-PVP method combined with silicon dioxide (silica) treatment for the extraction of high quality genomic DNA from a single larva or pupa. This method efficiently obtains DNA from small specimens, which is difficult and challenging because of the small amount of starting tissue. Maceration with liquid nitrogen, phenol treatment, and the ethanol precipitation step are eliminated using this methodology. The A260/A280 absorbance ratios of the isolated DNA were approximately 1.8, suggesting that the DNA is pure and can be used for further molecular analysis. The quality of the isolated DNA permits molecular applications and represents a fast, cheap, and effective alternative method for laboratories with low budgets.

Time-resolved Fast Neutron Radiography of Air-water Two-phase Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zboray, Robert; Dangendorf, Volker; Mor, Ilan; Tittelmeier, Kai; Bromberger, Benjamin; Prasser, Horst-Michael

Neutron imaging, in general, is a useful technique for visualizing low-Z materials (such as water or plastics) obscured by high-Z materials. However, when significant amounts of both materials are present and full-bodied samples have to be examined, cold and thermal neutrons rapidly reach their applicability limit as the samples become opaque. In such cases one can benefit from the high penetrating power of fast neutrons. In this work we demonstrate the feasibility of time-resolved, fast neutron radiography of generic air-water two-phase flows in a 1.5 cm thick flow channel with Aluminum walls and rectangular cross section. The experiments have been carried out at the high-intensity, white-beam facility of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany. Exposure times down to 3.33 ms have been achieved at reasonable image quality and acceptable motion artifacts. Different two-phase flow regimes such as bubbly slug and churn flows have been examined. Two-phase flow parameters like the volumetric gas fraction, bubble size and bubble velocities have been measured.

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Changjun; Wang, Huamin; Karim, Ayman M.

2014-11-21

Increasing energy demand, especially in the transportation sector, and soaring CO2 emissions necessitate the exploitation of renewable sources of energy. Despite the large variety of new energy Q3 carriers, liquid hydrocarbon still appears to be the most attractive and feasible form of transportation fuel taking into account the energy density, stability and existing infrastructure. Biomass is an abundant, renewable source of energy; however, utilizing it in a cost-effective way is still a substantial challenge. Lignocellulose is composed of three major biopolymers, namely cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Fast pyrolysis of biomass is recognized as an efficient and feasible process to selectivelymore » convert lignocellulose into a liquid fuel—bio-oil. However bio-oil from fast pyrolysis contains a large amount of oxygen, distributed in hundreds of oxygenates. These oxygenates are the cause of many negative properties, such as low heating values, high corrosiveness, high viscosity, and instability; they also greatly Q4 limit the application of bio-oil particularly as transportation fuel. Hydrocarbons derived from biomass are most attractive because of their high energy density and compatibility with the existing infrastructure. Thus, converting lignocellulose into transportation fuels via catalytic fast pyrolysis has attracted much attention. Many studies related to catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass have been published. The main challenge of this process is the development of active and stable catalysts that can deal with a large variety of decomposition intermediates from lignocellulose. This review starts with the current understanding of the chemistry in fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose and focuses on the development of catalysts in catalytic fast pyrolysis. Recent progress in the experimental studies on catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass is also summarized with the emphasis on bio-oil yields and quality.« less

Integrated Biorefining: Coproduction of Renewable Resol Biopolymer for Aqueous Stream Valorization

DOE PAGES

Wilson, A. Nolan; Price, Mariel J.; Mukarakate, Calvin; ...

2017-07-13

Phenol-formaldehyde resins are major material classes that are used in a range of applications including composites, adhesives, foams, electronics, and insulation. While efforts have been made to produce renewable resins, there has yet to be an approach that offers potential for economic viability and meets all critical quality metrics. This failure can be attributed largely to the use of phenol and cresol homologues and to high separation costs. In this work, the use of phenol, cresol, and alkyl phenols derived from the aqueous phase generated from catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass to produce a high-quality biobased resin is demonstrated. Production,more » through catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP), separation, through distillation and adsorption unit operations, and synthesis, through typical resol chemistry, produced a resin with properties, such as curing kinetics and molecular weight, competitive with petroleum-derived resin. In conclusion, this work explores a pathway to value-added coproducts from a CFP waste stream, which has the potential to improve the economic viability of biofuels production.« less

Integrated Biorefining: Coproduction of Renewable Resol Biopolymer for Aqueous Stream Valorization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, A. Nolan; Price, Mariel J.; Mukarakate, Calvin

Phenol-formaldehyde resins are major material classes that are used in a range of applications including composites, adhesives, foams, electronics, and insulation. While efforts have been made to produce renewable resins, there has yet to be an approach that offers potential for economic viability and meets all critical quality metrics. This failure can be attributed largely to the use of phenol and cresol homologues and to high separation costs. In this work, the use of phenol, cresol, and alkyl phenols derived from the aqueous phase generated from catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass to produce a high-quality biobased resin is demonstrated. Production,more » through catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP), separation, through distillation and adsorption unit operations, and synthesis, through typical resol chemistry, produced a resin with properties, such as curing kinetics and molecular weight, competitive with petroleum-derived resin. In conclusion, this work explores a pathway to value-added coproducts from a CFP waste stream, which has the potential to improve the economic viability of biofuels production.« less

A fast cross-validation method for alignment of electron tomography images based on Beer-Lambert law.

PubMed

Yan, Rui; Edwards, Thomas J; Pankratz, Logan M; Kuhn, Richard J; Lanman, Jason K; Liu, Jun; Jiang, Wen

2015-11-01

In electron tomography, accurate alignment of tilt series is an essential step in attaining high-resolution 3D reconstructions. Nevertheless, quantitative assessment of alignment quality has remained a challenging issue, even though many alignment methods have been reported. Here, we report a fast and accurate method, tomoAlignEval, based on the Beer-Lambert law, for the evaluation of alignment quality. Our method is able to globally estimate the alignment accuracy by measuring the goodness of log-linear relationship of the beam intensity attenuations at different tilt angles. Extensive tests with experimental data demonstrated its robust performance with stained and cryo samples. Our method is not only significantly faster but also more sensitive than measurements of tomogram resolution using Fourier shell correlation method (FSCe/o). From these tests, we also conclude that while current alignment methods are sufficiently accurate for stained samples, inaccurate alignments remain a major limitation for high resolution cryo-electron tomography. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A fast cross-validation method for alignment of electron tomography images based on Beer-Lambert law

PubMed Central

Yan, Rui; Edwards, Thomas J.; Pankratz, Logan M.; Kuhn, Richard J.; Lanman, Jason K.; Liu, Jun; Jiang, Wen

2015-01-01

In electron tomography, accurate alignment of tilt series is an essential step in attaining high-resolution 3D reconstructions. Nevertheless, quantitative assessment of alignment quality has remained a challenging issue, even though many alignment methods have been reported. Here, we report a fast and accurate method, tomoAlignEval, based on the Beer-Lambert law, for the evaluation of alignment quality. Our method is able to globally estimate the alignment accuracy by measuring the goodness of log-linear relationship of the beam intensity attenuations at different tilt angles. Extensive tests with experimental data demonstrated its robust performance with stained and cryo samples. Our method is not only significantly faster but also more sensitive than measurements of tomogram resolution using Fourier shell correlation method (FSCe/o). From these tests, we also conclude that while current alignment methods are sufficiently accurate for stained samples, inaccurate alignments remain a major limitation for high resolution cryo-electron tomography. PMID:26455556

Clean, fast and preserving normal anatomy: "the Helsinki revolution" in microneurosurgery.

PubMed

Velasquez, Joham C; Lau, Jane; Kozyrev, Danil; Sharafeddin, Fransua; Colasanti, Roberto; Luostarinen, Teemu; Hernesniemi, Juha

2016-03-01

After the senior author took chairmanship in Helsinki University Hospital in, he led the department into making neurosurgical operations much faster, safer and workflow more efficient, and at the same time maintaining high surgical quality and results. The aim was to describe the philosophies and style of Helsinki Microneurosurgery. The philosophies of Helsinki Neurosurgery are categorized into two concepts: The operation room TEAM concept and the main principle "Simple, clean, fast and respecting the normal anatomy". The way to be efficient is to find good methods based on logic, reason and experience. Specific and systematic procedures before the microneurosurgery followed by high quality skills under the microscope are of utmost importance. Moreover, intraoperatively, neuroanesthesia has to provide good surgical conditions. Today, Helsinki University Central hospital Department of Neurosurgery has an annual workflow 3500 neurosurgical operations. We believe that microneurosurgical treatment remains to be important for years ahead, and neurosurgeons of great hearts, minds and skills are welcomed all over the world.

Fast and robust wavelet-based dynamic range compression and contrast enhancement model with color restoration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Unaldi, Numan; Asari, Vijayan K.; Rahman, Zia-ur

2009-05-01

Recently we proposed a wavelet-based dynamic range compression algorithm to improve the visual quality of digital images captured from high dynamic range scenes with non-uniform lighting conditions. The fast image enhancement algorithm that provides dynamic range compression, while preserving the local contrast and tonal rendition, is also a good candidate for real time video processing applications. Although the colors of the enhanced images produced by the proposed algorithm are consistent with the colors of the original image, the proposed algorithm fails to produce color constant results for some "pathological" scenes that have very strong spectral characteristics in a single band. The linear color restoration process is the main reason for this drawback. Hence, a different approach is required for the final color restoration process. In this paper the latest version of the proposed algorithm, which deals with this issue is presented. The results obtained by applying the algorithm to numerous natural images show strong robustness and high image quality.

Chemometric applications to assess quality and critical parameters of virgin and extra-virgin olive oil. A review.

PubMed

Gómez-Caravaca, Ana M; Maggio, Rubén M; Cerretani, Lorenzo

2016-03-24

Today virgin and extra-virgin olive oil (VOO and EVOO) are food with a large number of analytical tests planned to ensure its quality and genuineness. Almost all official methods demand high use of reagents and manpower. Because of that, analytical development in this area is continuously evolving. Therefore, this review focuses on analytical methods for EVOO/VOO which use fast and smart approaches based on chemometric techniques in order to reduce time of analysis, reagent consumption, high cost equipment and manpower. Experimental approaches of chemometrics coupled with fast analytical techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence, vibrational spectroscopies (NIR, MIR and Raman fluorescence), NMR spectroscopy, and other more complex techniques like chromatography, calorimetry and electrochemical techniques applied to EVOO/VOO production and analysis have been discussed throughout this work. The advantages and drawbacks of this association have also been highlighted. Chemometrics has been evidenced as a powerful tool for the oil industry. In fact, it has been shown how chemometrics can be implemented all along the different steps of EVOO/VOO production: raw material input control, monitoring during process and quality control of final product. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-resolved fast-neutron radiography of air-water two-phase flows in a rectangular channel by an improved detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zboray, Robert; Dangendorf, Volker; Mor, Ilan; Bromberger, Benjamin; Tittelmeier, Kai

2015-07-01

In a previous work, we have demonstrated the feasibility of high-frame-rate, fast-neutron radiography of generic air-water two-phase flows in a 1.5 cm thick, rectangular flow channel. The experiments have been carried out at the high-intensity, white-beam facility of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany, using an multi-frame, time-resolved detector developed for fast neutron resonance radiography. The results were however not fully optimal and therefore we have decided to modify the detector and optimize it for the given application, which is described in the present work. Furthermore, we managed to improve the image post-processing methodology and the noise suppression. Using the tailored detector and the improved post-processing, significant increase in the image quality and an order of magnitude lower exposure times, down to 3.33 ms, have been achieved with minimized motion artifacts. Similar to the previous study, different two-phase flow regimes such as bubbly slug and churn flows have been examined. The enhanced imaging quality enables an improved prediction of two-phase flow parameters like the instantaneous volumetric gas fraction, bubble size, and bubble velocities. Instantaneous velocity fields around the gas enclosures can also be more robustly predicted using optical flow methods as previously.

High-intensity interval training or continuous training, combined or not with fasting, in obese or overweight women with cardiometabolic risk factors: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

PubMed Central

Van Bavel, Diogo; de Moraes, Roger; Tibiriça, Eduardo V

2018-01-01

Introduction Physical inactivity and increased caloric intake play important roles in the pathophysiology of obesity. Increasing physical activity and modifying eating behaviours are first-line interventions, frequently hampered by lack of time to exercise and difficulties in coping with different diets. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a time-efficient method compared with moderate-intensity continuous training (CT). Conversely, diets with a fasting component may be more effective than other complex and restrictive diets, as it essentially limits caloric intake to a specified period without major diet composition changes. Therefore, the combination of HIIT and fasting may provide incremental benefits in terms of effectiveness and time efficiency in obese and sedentary populations. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of HIIT versus CT, combined or not with fasting, on microcirculatory function, cardiometabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in a population of sedentary overweight or obese women with cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods and analysis Sedentary women aged 30–50 years, with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and cardiometabolic risk factors, will be randomised to HIIT performed in the fasting state, HIIT performed in the fed state, CT in the fasting state or CT in the fed state. Cardiometabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life and microvascular function (cutaneous capillary density and microvascular reactivity evaluated by laser speckle contrast imaging) will be evaluated before initiation of the interventions and 16 weeks thereafter. Ethics and dissemination The trial complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the local ethics committee (Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). All patients provide written informed consent before enrolment and randomisation. The study’s results will be disseminated to the healthcare community by publications and presentations at scientific meetings. Trial registration number NCT03236285. PMID:29705753

Low-dose 4D cardiac imaging in small animals using dual source micro-CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holbrook, M.; Clark, D. P.; Badea, C. T.

2018-01-01

Micro-CT is widely used in preclinical studies, generating substantial interest in extending its capabilities in functional imaging applications such as blood perfusion and cardiac function. However, imaging cardiac structure and function in mice is challenging due to their small size and rapid heart rate. To overcome these challenges, we propose and compare improvements on two strategies for cardiac gating in dual-source, preclinical micro-CT: fast prospective gating (PG) and uncorrelated retrospective gating (RG). These sampling strategies combined with a sophisticated iterative image reconstruction algorithm provide faster acquisitions and high image quality in low-dose 4D (i.e. 3D  +  Time) cardiac micro-CT. Fast PG is performed under continuous subject rotation which results in interleaved projection angles between cardiac phases. Thus, fast PG provides a well-sampled temporal average image for use as a prior in iterative reconstruction. Uncorrelated RG incorporates random delays during sampling to prevent correlations between heart rate and sampling rate. We have performed both simulations and animal studies to validate these new sampling protocols. Sampling times for 1000 projections using fast PG and RG were 2 and 3 min, respectively, and the total dose was 170 mGy each. Reconstructions were performed using a 4D iterative reconstruction technique based on the split Bregman method. To examine undersampling robustness, subsets of 500 and 250 projections were also used for reconstruction. Both sampling strategies in conjunction with our iterative reconstruction method are capable of resolving cardiac phases and provide high image quality. In general, for equal numbers of projections, fast PG shows fewer errors than RG and is more robust to undersampling. Our results indicate that only 1000-projection based reconstruction with fast PG satisfies a 5% error criterion in left ventricular volume estimation. These methods promise low-dose imaging with a wide range of preclinical applications in cardiac imaging.

High resolution T2(*)-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 Tesla using PROPELLER-EPI.

PubMed

Krämer, Martin; Reichenbach, Jürgen R

2014-05-01

We report the application of PROPELLER-EPI for high resolution T2(*)-weighted imaging with sub-millimeter in-plane resolution on a clinical 3 Tesla scanner. Periodically rotated blades of a long-axis PROPELLER-EPI sequence were acquired with fast gradient echo readout and acquisition matrix of 320 × 50 per blade. Images were reconstructed by using 2D-gridding, phase and geometric distortion correction and compensation of resonance frequency drifts that occurred during extended measurements. To characterize these resonance frequency offsets, short FID calibration measurements were added to the PROPELLER-EPI sequence. Functional PROPELLER-EPI was performed with volunteers using a simple block design of right handed finger tapping. Results indicate that PROPELLER-EPI can be employed for fast, high resolution T2(*)-weighted imaging provided geometric distortions and possible resonance frequency drifts are properly corrected. Even small resonance frequency drifts below 10 Hz as well as non-corrected geometric distortions degraded image quality substantially. In the initial fMRI experiment image quality and signal-to-noise ratio was sufficient for obtaining high resolution functional activation maps. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Fast-food consumers in Singapore: demographic profile, diet quality and weight status.

PubMed

Whitton, Clare; Ma, Yi; Bastian, Amber Carla; Fen Chan, Mei; Chew, Ling

2014-08-01

To determine the demographic profile of fast-food consumers among adult Singapore residents and ascertain whether fast-food consumption frequency is associated with diet quality and weight status. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey including an FFQ and anthropometric measures. Participants were grouped based on their fast-food consumption frequency as non-consumer, occasional consumer or regular consumer, with regular defined as at least once per week. Individuals living in the community in Singapore. Singapore residents (n 1627) aged 18-69 years of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicity. Proportions of regular fast-food consumers were higher in younger age groups, higher income groups and middle education level groups. Mean daily energy intake was positively associated with fast-food consumption frequency (non-consumers 9636 kJ (2303 kcal); occasional consumers 11 159 kJ (2667 kcal); regular consumers 13 100 kJ (3131 kcal); P for trend < 0·001). Fast-food consumers were more likely to exceed the RDA for energy, fat and saturated fat, and less likely to meet wholegrain and fruit recommendations. Both regular consumers (OR = 1·24; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·51) and occasional consumers (OR = 1·52; 95 % CI 1·32, 1·77) were more likely to have a waist:hip ratio indicating abdominal obesity. Occasional consumers were more likely to have a BMI ≥ 23·0 kg/m2 (OR = 1·19; 95 % CI 1·04, 1·37), whereas regular consumers were less likely (OR = 0·76; 95 % CI 0·64, 0·91) to have an 'at-risk' BMI. Fast-food consumption is most prevalent in young adults, high income and middle education level groups. Frequent fast-food consumption in Singapore is associated with unfavourable dietary and nutrient profiles and abdominal obesity.

High-resolution smile measurement and control of wavelength-locked QCW and CW laser diode bars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenkrantz, Etai; Yanson, Dan; Klumel, Genady; Blonder, Moshe; Rappaport, Noam; Peleg, Ophir

2018-02-01

High-power linewidth-narrowed applications of laser diode arrays demand high beam quality in the fast, or vertical, axis. This requires very high fast-axis collimation (FAC) quality with sub-mrad angular errors, especially where laser diode bars are wavelength-locked by a volume Bragg grating (VBG) to achieve high pumping efficiency in solid-state and fiber lasers. The micron-scale height deviation of emitters in a bar against the FAC lens causes the so-called smile effect with variable beam pointing errors and wavelength locking degradation. We report a bar smile imaging setup allowing FAC-free smile measurement in both QCW and CW modes. By Gaussian beam simulation, we establish optimum smile imaging conditions to obtain high resolution and accuracy with well-resolved emitter images. We then investigate the changes in the smile shape and magnitude under thermal stresses such as variable duty cycles in QCW mode and, ultimately, CW operation. Our smile measurement setup provides useful insights into the smile behavior and correlation between the bar collimation in QCW mode and operating conditions under CW pumping. With relaxed alignment tolerances afforded by our measurement setup, we can screen bars for smile compliance and potential VBG lockability prior to assembly, with benefits in both lower manufacturing costs and higher yield.

Rotating single-shot acquisition (RoSA) with composite reconstruction for fast high-resolution diffusion imaging.

PubMed

Wen, Qiuting; Kodiweera, Chandana; Dale, Brian M; Shivraman, Giri; Wu, Yu-Chien

2018-01-01

To accelerate high-resolution diffusion imaging, rotating single-shot acquisition (RoSA) with composite reconstruction is proposed. Acceleration was achieved by acquiring only one rotating single-shot blade per diffusion direction, and high-resolution diffusion-weighted (DW) images were reconstructed by using similarities of neighboring DW images. A parallel imaging technique was implemented in RoSA to further improve the image quality and acquisition speed. RoSA performance was evaluated by simulation and human experiments. A brain tensor phantom was developed to determine an optimal blade size and rotation angle by considering similarity in DW images, off-resonance effects, and k-space coverage. With the optimal parameters, RoSA MR pulse sequence and reconstruction algorithm were developed to acquire human brain data. For comparison, multishot echo planar imaging (EPI) and conventional single-shot EPI sequences were performed with matched scan time, resolution, field of view, and diffusion directions. The simulation indicated an optimal blade size of 48 × 256 and a 30 ° rotation angle. For 1 × 1 mm 2 in-plane resolution, RoSA was 12 times faster than the multishot acquisition with comparable image quality. With the same acquisition time as SS-EPI, RoSA provided superior image quality and minimum geometric distortion. RoSA offers fast, high-quality, high-resolution diffusion images. The composite image reconstruction is model-free and compatible with various diffusion computation approaches including parametric and nonparametric analyses. Magn Reson Med 79:264-275, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Water quality modelling of Jadro spring.

PubMed

Margeta, J; Fistanic, I

2004-01-01

Management of water quality in karst is a specific problem. Water generally moves very fast by infiltration processes but far more by concentrated flows through fissures and openings in karst. This enables the entire surface pollution to be transferred fast and without filtration into groundwater springs. A typical example is the Jadro spring. Changes in water quality at the spring are sudden, but short. Turbidity as a major water quality problem for the karst springs regularly exceeds allowable standards. Former practice in problem solving has been reduced to intensive water disinfection in periods of great turbidity without analyses of disinfection by-products risks for water users. The main prerequisite for water quality control and an optimization of water disinfection is the knowledge of raw water quality and nature of occurrence. The analysis of monitoring data and their functional relationship with hydrological parameters enables establishment of a stochastic model that will help obtain better information on turbidity in different periods of the year. Using the model a great number of average monthly and extreme daily values are generated. By statistical analyses of these data possibility of occurrence of high turbidity in certain months is obtained. This information can be used for designing expert system for water quality management of karst springs. Thus, the time series model becomes a valuable tool in management of drinking water quality of the Jadro spring.

A new and fast method for preparing high quality lambda DNA suitable for sequencing.

PubMed Central

Manfioletti, G; Schneider, C

1988-01-01

A method is described for the rapid purification of high quality lambda DNA. The method can be used from either liquid or plate lysates and on a small scale or a large scale. It relies on the preadsobtion of all polyanions present in the lysate to an "insoluble" anion-exchange matrix (DEAE or TEAE). Phage particles are then disrupted by combined treatment with EDTA/proteinase K and the resulting DNA is precipitated by the addition of the cationic detergent cetyl (or hexadecyl)-trimethyl ammonium bromide-CTAB ("soluble" anion-exchange matrix). The precipitated CTAB-DNA complex is then exchanged to Na-DNA and ethanol precipitated. The resultant purified DNA is suitable for enzymatic reactions and provides a high quality template for dideoxy-sequence analysis. Images PMID:2966928

Evaluation of the low dose cardiac CT imaging using ASIR technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Jiahua; Hsieh, Jiang; Deubig, Amy; Sainath, Paavana; Crandall, Peter

2010-04-01

Today Cardiac imaging is one of the key driving forces for the research and development activities of Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. It requires high spatial and temporal resolution and is often associated with high radiation dose. The newly introduced ASIR technique presents an efficient method that offers the dose reduction benefits while maintaining image quality and providing fast reconstruction speed. This paper discusses the study of image quality of the ASIR technique for Cardiac CT imaging. Phantoms as well as clinical data have been evaluated to demonstrate the effectiveness of ASIR technique for Cardiac CT applications.

De novo lipogenesis is suppressed during fasting but upregulated at population decline in cyclic voles.

PubMed

Nieminen, Petteri; Rouvinen-Watt, Kirsti; Harris, Lora; Huitu, Otso; Henttonen, Heikki; Mustonen, Anne-Mari

2016-04-01

Arvicolines are susceptible to the development of fatty liver during short-term fasting. We examined the potential role of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) (i) in the development of fasting-induced fatty liver and (ii) during a population cycle by measuring the mRNA expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Laboratory voles (Microtus oeconomus and Microtus arvalis) were fed or fasted for 12 or 18 h and their liver mRNA levels were determined. Both species showed decreased mRNA expression of ACC1 and FAS during fasting. This suggests that DNL does not participate in the development of fatty liver in voles, different from human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In wild bank voles (Myodes glareolus), the mRNA levels of the genes of interest were higher during the population decline compared to the increase phase. In conclusion, DNL was suppressed during acute fasting but upregulated during a long-term population decline-a period of purported scarcity of high-quality food. © 2016 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

The effect of Ramadan fasting on quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients' disease activity, health quality of life and lipid profile: a pilot study.

PubMed

Goharifar, Hamid; Faezi, Seyedeh Tahereh; Paragomi, Pedram; Montazeri, Ali; Banihashemi, Arash Tehrani; Akhlaghkhah, Maryam; Abdollahi, Bahar Sadeghi; Kamazani, Zahra; Akbarian, Mahmood

2015-08-01

SLE is a common autoimmune disease with considerable morbidity. Ramadan fasting is a religious custom Muslims regularly practice. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on SLE patients' disease activity, health quality of life and lipid profile. We conducted this case control study as a pilot study in 40 quiescent SLE patients, 21 cases who decided to fast and 19 controls who decided not to have Ramadan fasting between August and November 2009 in lupus unit of Rheumatology Research Center in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. They were assessed for SLE Disease Activity Index, lipid profile and quality of life with Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey, 1 day before Ramadan, the day after and 3 months after Ramadan fasting. After 24.1 ± 5.4 (mean ± SD) days of fasting, anti-ds DNA increased for 0.34 ± 0.41 mmol/dL in cases versus 0.07 ± 0.31 in controls (P = 0.026). Likewise C3 increased more dramatically in cases (16.8 ± 17.5 vs. 2.3 ± 13.2 mg/dL, P = 0.006). Three months after fasting, anti-ds DNA was still increased 0.28 ± 0.46 mmol/dL in cases while a 0.02 ± 0.43 mmol/dL drop in controls was detected (P = 0.04). On the contrary, C3 returned to baseline. These changes were not accompanied with significant changes in disease activity and health quality of life. Ramadan fasting had no effect on lipid profile except for delayed total cholesterol decrease in cases in comparison with controls (16.4 ± 29.4 decrease vs. 4.6 ± 23.9 mg/dL decrease, P = 0.018). Ramadan fasting probably has no detrimental effect on SLE patients' disease activity and their quality of life in the quiescent phase of disease.

[Effect of nutritional status of the donor on the quality of hepatic graft. Value of restoration of glycogenic reserves of the donor].

PubMed

Pattou, F; Boudjema, K; Kerr-Conte, J; Wolf, P; Jaeck, D; Cinqualbre, J

1992-01-01

Initial function of the graft is an essential factor for successful liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the nutritional status of the donor on hepatic graft quality at reperfusion. Livers (n = 41) were taken from pigs normally fed or fasted for 24 h or fasted for 24 h and conditioned for 2 hours with a solution containing glucose, fructose and glutamine. The quality of liver grafts was evaluated using an original, blood-free isolated perfusion model, after 8 h cold storage, or after 15 min warm ischemia performed prior to harvesting. The hepatic concentration of glycogen and ATP, measured from in vivo biopsies, was decreased in fasted animals (P less than 0.05 vs fed) and restored by nutritional conditioning (P less than 0.05 vs fasted). At the time of reperfusion following 8 h cold ischemia, the liberation of aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase was elevated in livers coming from fasted animals (P less than 0.05 vs fed) and restored to fed levels after nutritional conditioning (P less than 0.01 vs fasted). After 15 min of warm ischemia, the bile secretion during the reperfusion period was decreased in the 24 h fasted livers (P less than 0.01 vs fed) and reestablished after nutritional conditioning (P less than 0.01 vs fasted). Perfusion of the donor liver, in the 2 h preceding harvest, with a solution of glucose plus neoglucogenic precursors enhances the quality of the liver graft at the time of reperfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kpejigaou: an indigenous, high-protein, low-fat, cowpea-based griddled food proposed for coastal West Africa.

PubMed

Amonsou, Eric Oscar; Sakyi-Dawson, Esther; Saalia, Firibu Kwesi; Houssou, Paul

2008-12-01

Griddled cowpea paste foods have high nutritional potential because they are low in fat but high in protein. A good understanding of process and product characteristics of kpejigaou is necessary to improve its quality and enhance acceptability. To describe the product, evaluate critical variables in traditional processing, and determine consumer quality criteria and preferences for kpejigaou. A survey of kpejigaou processing was carried out among processors and regular consumers of kpejigaou. Kpejigaou is flat and circular in shape, with uniform thickness and porous structure. The production process of kpejigaou was found to be simple and rapid, but the quality of the finished product varied among processors and among batches. Critical processing variables affecting quality were dehulling of the cowpeas, type of griddling equipment, and griddling temperature. Texture (sponginess) is the most important quality index that determines the preference and acceptability of kpejigaou by consumers. Traditionally processed kpejigaou does not meet current standards for high-quality foods. This study provides the basis for efforts to standardize the kpejigaou process to ensure consistent product quality and enhance the acceptability of kpejigaou among consumers. Kpejigaou has a potential for success if marketed as a low-fat, nutritious fast food.

[Single shot fast spin echo sequence MRI cholangiopancreatography].

PubMed

Lefèvre, F; Crouzet, P; Gaucher, H; Chapuis, F; Béot, S; Boccaccini, H; Bazin, C; Régent, D

1998-05-01

To assess the value of single shot fast spin echo MR sequence (SS-FSE) in the morphological analysis of the biliary tree and pancreatic ducts and to compare its accuracy with other imaging methods. 95 consecutive patients referred for clinical and/or biological suspicion of biliary obstruction were explored with MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). All patients were explored with a Signa 1.5 T GE MR unit, with High Gradient Field Strength and Torso Phased Array Coil. Biliary ducts were explored with SS-FSE sequence, coronal and oblique coronal 20 mm thick slices on a 256 x 256 matrix. Total acquisition time was 1 second. Native pictures were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to clinical information. In case of disagreement, a third radiologist's judgement was requested. In 88 cases, MRCP results were compared with direct biligraphy methods. In all cases, MRCP produced high quality images without MIP or other post-processing methods. For detection of biliary tree distensions, the concordance value of MRCP was over 91% (Kappa 0.82). For detection of biliary tree and/or pancreatic duct obstruction, MR sensitivity was 100% and specificity 91%. The overall diagnostic concordance value of MRCP was > or = 93%. Difficulties in MRCP were caused by functional diseases or benign stenosis. MRCP accurately diagnosed all lithiasic obstructions starting from a stone size of 3 mm. MRCP produces fastly high-quality images. As it is totally safe, it can be proposed as a first intention method in biliopancreatic duct explorations.

46 CFR 160.156-15 - Production inspections, tests, quality control, and conformance of rescue boats and fast rescue...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... materials are as per the plans approved under § 160.156-13(h) of this subpart. (2) Post assembly tests and... 46 Shipping 6 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Production inspections, tests, quality control, and... inspections, tests, quality control, and conformance of rescue boats and fast rescue boats. (a) Unless the...

46 CFR 160.156-15 - Production inspections, tests, quality control, and conformance of rescue boats and fast rescue...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... materials are as per the plans approved under § 160.156-13(h) of this subpart. (2) Post assembly tests and... 46 Shipping 6 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Production inspections, tests, quality control, and... inspections, tests, quality control, and conformance of rescue boats and fast rescue boats. (a) Unless the...

Frequency of consumption at fast-food restaurants is associated with dietary intake in overweight and obese women recruited from financially disadvantaged neighborhoods

PubMed Central

Wilcox, Sara; Sharpe, Patricia A.; Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle; Granner, Michelle; Baruth, Meghan

2013-01-01

Fast-food restaurants are more prevalent in lower income and predominately African American neighborhoods, where consumption of fast-food is also higher. In general populations, fast-food consumption is related to less healthy dietary intake. This cross-sectional study examined the hypotheses that greater fast-food consumption is associated with less healthy dietary intake and poorer diet quality in overweight and obese women (N=196, 25–51 years, 87% African American) recruited from financially disadvantaged Census tracts. Dietary intake and diet quality (Alternate Healthy Eating Index, AHEI) were assessed via three 24-hour dietary recalls. Linear regression models tested the association between fast-food consumption and each outcome (Model 1). Model 2 added sociodemographics and physical activity. Model 3 added total caloric intake. Fast-food consumption was significantly associated with total caloric intake; total intake of meat, grains, sweetened beverages, dairy, fiber, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar; and percent of calories from total fat, saturated fat, and trans fatty acids. Statistically significant associations remained in Model 2 but most were not significant in Model 3. Fast-food consumption was not associated with diet quality (AHEI) in any model. In this at-risk sample, fast-food consumption was associated with more negative dietary practices. Significant associations generally disappeared when controlling for total caloric intake, suggesting that women who eat more fast-food have higher total caloric intakes as a result of increased consumption of unhealthy rather than healthy foods. PMID:23890353

An efficient fast response and high-gain solar-blind flexible ultraviolet photodetector employing hybrid geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Amreen A.; Pal, Arup R.; Patil, Dinkar S.

2014-05-01

We report high performance flexible hybrid ultraviolet photodetector with solar-blind sensitivity using nanocomposite film of plasma polymerized aniline-titanium dioxide. A facile solvent-free plasma technique is used to synthesize superior quality hybrid material with high yield. The hybrid photodetector exhibited high photoconductive gain of the order of ˜105 and fast speed with response and recovery time of 22.87 ms and 34.23 ms. This is an excellent result towards getting a balance in the response speed and photoconductive gain trade-off of the photodetectors reported so far. In addition, the device has the advantages of enhanced photosensitivity ((Ilight - Idark)/Idark) of the order of ˜102 and high responsivity of ˜104 AW-1. All the merits substantiates that, to prepare hybrid material, plasma based method holds potential to be an easy way for realizing large scale nanostructured photodetectors for practical applications.

The Healthy Beverage Index Is Associated with Reduced Cardiometabolic Risk in US Adults: A Preliminary Analysis.

PubMed

Duffey, Kiyah J; Davy, Brenda M

2015-10-01

Beverage recommendations exist, but few evaluate overall beverage intake quality. Our objective was to develop a scoring algorithm for assessing beverage intake quality among US adults (aged ≥19 years), and to examine the association between overall beverage quality and cardiometabolic risk. We developed a scoring algorithm, similar to the Healthy Eating Index-2010, using recommendations for total beverage energy, meeting fluid requirements, and consuming within recommended limits for beverage subgroups (eg, low-fat milk, fruit juice). Multiple scoring systems were evaluated. The final scoring system, which consisted of 10 components, was applied to the average of 2 days of 24-hour dietary intake data for adults (aged ≥19 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2010. Poisson regression models stratified by sex and body mass index multivariables were used to examine the cross-sectional association between the Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) score and cardiometabolic outcomes. The 10-item index had a mean±standard deviation score of 63±16 from a possible 100 points. Each 10-point higher HBI score was associated with lower odds ratios for hypertension (men and women); high fasting insulin level, high fasting glucose level, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (women and overweight/obese men), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (women), and high C-reactive protein level (men). We found positive associations between higher HBI scores and more favorable lipid profiles; hypertension risk; and, among men, C-reactive protein levels. These preliminary results suggest that the HBI could be a valuable tool to evaluate overall beverage intake quality in adults. More research is needed to understand whether improvements in beverage quality and, thus, HBI score, are associated with beneficial changes in health. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in the nutritional quality of fast-food items marketed at restaurants, 2010 v. 2013.

PubMed

Soo, Jackie; Harris, Jennifer L; Davison, Kirsten K; Williams, David R; Roberto, Christina A

2018-03-27

To examine the nutritional quality of menu items promoted in four (US) fast-food restaurant chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell) in 2010 and 2013. Menu items pictured on signs and menu boards were recorded at 400 fast-food restaurants across the USA. The Nutrient Profile Index (NPI) was used to calculate overall nutrition scores for items (higher scores indicate greater nutritional quality) and was dichotomized to denote healthier v. less healthy items. Changes over time in NPI scores and energy of promoted foods and beverages were analysed using linear regression. Four hundred fast-food restaurants (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell; 100 locations per chain). NPI of fast-food items marketed at fast-food restaurants. Promoted foods and beverages on general menu boards and signs remained below the 'healthier' cut-off at both time points. On general menu boards, pictured items became modestly healthier from 2010 to 2013, increasing (mean (se)) by 3·08 (0·16) NPI score points (P<0·001) and decreasing (mean (se)) by 130 (15) kJ (31·1 (3·65) kcal; P<0·001). This pattern was evident in all chains except Taco Bell, where pictured items increased in energy. Foods and beverages pictured on the kids' section showed the greatest nutritional improvements. Although promoted foods on general menu boards and signs improved in nutritional quality, beverages remained the same or became worse. Foods, and to a lesser extent, beverages, promoted on menu boards and signs in fast-food restaurants showed limited improvements in nutritional quality in 2013 v. 2010.

Fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight: cross-sectional and prospective associations in a community sample of working adults.

PubMed

Barnes, Timothy L; French, Simone A; Mitchell, Nathan R; Wolfson, Julian

2016-04-01

To examine the association between fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight in a community sample of working adults. Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of anthropometric, survey and dietary data from adults recruited to participate in a worksite nutrition intervention. Participants self-reported frequency of fast-food consumption per week. Nutrient intakes and diet quality, using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), were computed from dietary recalls collected at baseline and 6 months. Metropolitan medical complex, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Two hundred adults, aged 18-60 years. Cross-sectionally, fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher daily total energy intake (β=72·5, P=0·005), empty calories (β=0·40, P=0·006) and BMI (β=0·73, P=0·011), and lower HEI-2010 score (β=-1·23, P=0·012), total vegetables (β=-0·14, P=0·004), whole grains (β=-0·39, P=0·005), fibre (β=-0·83, P=0·002), Mg (β=-6·99, P=0·019) and K (β=-57·5, P=0·016). Over 6 months, change in fast-food consumption was not significantly associated with changes in energy intake or BMI, but was significantly inversely associated with total intake of vegetables (β=-0·14, P=0·034). Frequency of fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher energy intake and poorer diet quality cross-sectionally. Six-month change in fast-food intake was small, and not significantly associated with overall diet quality or BMI.

Fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight: cross-sectional and prospective associations in a community sample of working adults

PubMed Central

Barnes, Timothy L; French, Simone A; Mitchell, Nathan R; Wolfson, Julian

2018-01-01

Objective To examine the association between fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight in a community sample of working adults. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of anthropometric, survey and dietary data from adults recruited to participate in a worksite nutrition intervention. Participants self-reported frequency of fast-food consumption per week. Nutrient intakes and diet quality, using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), were computed from dietary recalls collected at baseline and 6 months. Setting Metropolitan medical complex, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Subjects Two hundred adults, aged 18–60 years. Results Cross-sectionally, fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher daily total energy intake (β = 72·5, P = 0·005), empty calories (β = 0·40, P = 0·006) and BMI (β = 0·73, P =0·011), and lower HEI-2010 score (β = −1·23, P =0·012), total vegetables (β = −0·14, P =0·004), whole grains (β = −0·39, P =0·005), fibre (β = −0·83, P =0·002), Mg (β = −6·99, P =0·019) and K (β = −57·5, P =0·016). Over 6 months, change in fast-food consumption was not significantly associated with changes in energy intake or BMI, but was significantly inversely associated with total intake of vegetables (β = −0·14, P =0·034). Conclusions Frequency of fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher energy intake and poorer diet quality cross-sectionally. Six-month change in fast-food intake was small, and not significantly associated with overall diet quality or BMI. PMID:26074150

Flux-tunable heat sink for quantum electric circuits.

PubMed

Partanen, M; Tan, K Y; Masuda, S; Govenius, J; Lake, R E; Jenei, M; Grönberg, L; Hassel, J; Simbierowicz, S; Vesterinen, V; Tuorila, J; Ala-Nissila, T; Möttönen, M

2018-04-20

Superconducting microwave circuits show great potential for practical quantum technological applications such as quantum information processing. However, fast and on-demand initialization of the quantum degrees of freedom in these devices remains a challenge. Here, we experimentally implement a tunable heat sink that is potentially suitable for the initialization of superconducting qubits. Our device consists of two coupled resonators. The first resonator has a high quality factor and a fixed frequency whereas the second resonator is designed to have a low quality factor and a tunable resonance frequency. We engineer the low quality factor using an on-chip resistor and the frequency tunability using a superconducting quantum interference device. When the two resonators are in resonance, the photons in the high-quality resonator can be efficiently dissipated. We show that the corresponding loaded quality factor can be tuned from above 10 5 down to a few thousand at 10 GHz in good quantitative agreement with our theoretical model.

Ramadan fasting in patients with a stoma: a prospective study of quality of life and nutritional status.

PubMed

Altuntas, Yunus E; Gezen, Fazli C; Sahoniz, Turgut; Kement, Metin; Aydin, Halime; Sahin, Fatma; Okkabaz, Nuri; Oncel, Mustafa

2013-05-01

Ramadan fasting is an Islamic obligation for healthy Muslims after the age of puberty. Persons with an acute or chronic disease may be excused from this obligation; the degree of the disease is an important parameter for not fasting. Little is known about the effect of fasting on persons with a stoma. A prospective study was conducted among 56 patients with a cancer-related fecal stoma (33 [58.9%] male, mean age 55.9 ± 13.1 years) over two periods of Ramadan to analyze the effect of fasting 15 to 16 hours on nutritional and metabolic status and quality of life. Eligible patients were divided into two groups: fasting (n = 14) and nonfasting (n = 42). Demographic and stoma information, as well as disease and treatmentrelated variables, were evaluated. Participants completed cancer patient and colorectal cancer patient quality-of-life instruments and rated their religious orientation. Laboratory tests (blood urea nitrogen, creatinin, cholesterol, prealbumin, albumin, and transferrin) were performed 1 to 3 weeks before Ramadan, and questionnaires and tests were repeated 1 to 3 weeks after Ramadan in people who fasted. Demographic parameters, including religious orientation scale scores, were similar between fasting and nonfasting groups. Patients in the fasting group had significantly higher albumin levels (4.6 ± 0.2 versus 4.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.001), prealbumin levels (27.6 ± 7.4 versus 21.3 ± 8.5, P = 0.018), and global health status scores (81.5 ± 16.7 versus 68.3 ± 20.1, P = 0.030) than patients in the nonfasting group. Patients who fasted also had their stoma for a longer period of time than patients in the nonfasting group (average 9 months [range 3-87 months] in the fasting versus 4.5 months [range 3-36 months] in the nonfasting group, P = 0.084), and the proportion of patients with a permanent stoma was higher in the fasting group than in the nonfasting group (P = 0.051). Ramadan fasting had almost no influence on quality of life. Fasting lowered prealbumin levels (27.6 ± 7.4 versus 21.2 ± 4.4; P = 0.046), but did not adversely affect other nutritional or global health status variables. Most patients in the fasting group (13, 92.9%) stated they would feel sad if they were not fasting. The results of this study suggest that although fasting may decrease prealbumin levels, persons with a stoma and good nutritional status may decide for themselves whether to fast.

Conducting an acute intense interval exercise session during the Ramadan fasting month: what is the optimal time of the day?

PubMed

Aziz, Abdul Rashid; Chia, Michael Yong Hwa; Low, Chee Yong; Slater, Gary John; Png, Weileen; Teh, Kong Chuan

2012-10-01

This study examines the effects of Ramadan fasting on performance during an intense exercise session performed at three different times of the day, i.e., 08:00, 18:00, and 21:00 h. The purpose was to determine the optimal time of the day to perform an acute high-intensity interval exercise during the Ramadan fasting month. After familiarization, nine trained athletes performed six 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) cycle bouts followed by a time-to-exhaustion (T(exh)) cycle on six separate randomized and counterbalanced occasions. The three time-of-day nonfasting (control, CON) exercise sessions were performed before the Ramadan month, and the three corresponding time-of-day Ramadan fasting (RAM) exercise sessions were performed during the Ramadan month. Note that the 21:00 h session during Ramadan month was conducted in the nonfasted state after the breaking of the day's fast. Total work (TW) completed during the six WAnT bouts was significantly lower during RAM compared to CON for the 08:00 and 18:00 h (p < .017; effect size [d] = .55 [small] and .39 [small], respectively) sessions, but not for the 21:00 h (p = .03, d = .18 [trivial]) session. The T(exh) cycle duration was significantly shorter during RAM than CON in the 18:00 (p < .017, d = .93 [moderate]) session, but not in the 08:00 (p = .03, d = .57 [small]) and 21:00 h (p = .96, d = .02 [trivial]) sessions. In conclusion, Ramadan fasting had a small to moderate, negative impact on quality of performance during an acute high-intensity exercise session, particularly during the period of the daytime fast. The optimal time to conduct an acute high-intensity exercise session during the Ramadan fasting month is in the evening, after the breaking of the day's fast.

Proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools and adolescent obesity.

PubMed

Davis, Brennan; Carpenter, Christopher

2009-03-01

We examined the relationship between fast-food restaurants near schools and obesity among middle and high school students in California. We used geocoded data (obtained from the 2002-2005 California Healthy Kids Survey) on over 500,000 youths and multivariate regression models to estimate associations between adolescent obesity and proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools. We found that students with fast-food restaurants near (within one half mile of) their schools (1) consumed fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, (2) consumed more servings of soda, and (3) were more likely to be overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02, 1.10) or obese (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.12) than were youths whose schools were not near fast-food restaurants, after we controlled for student- and school-level characteristics. The result was unique to eating at fast-food restaurants (compared with other nearby establishments) and was not observed for another risky behavior (smoking). Exposure to poor-quality food environments has important effects on adolescent eating patterns and overweight. Policy interventions limiting the proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools could help reduce adolescent obesity.

Proximity of Fast-Food Restaurants to Schools and Adolescent Obesity

PubMed Central

Carpenter, Christopher

2009-01-01

Objectives. We examined the relationship between fast-food restaurants near schools and obesity among middle and high school students in California. Methods. We used geocoded data (obtained from the 2002–2005 California Healthy Kids Survey) on over 500 000 youths and multivariate regression models to estimate associations between adolescent obesity and proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools. Results. We found that students with fast-food restaurants near (within one half mile of) their schools (1) consumed fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, (2) consumed more servings of soda, and (3) were more likely to be overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02, 1.10) or obese (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.12) than were youths whose schools were not near fast-food restaurants, after we controlled for student- and school-level characteristics. The result was unique to eating at fast-food restaurants (compared with other nearby establishments) and was not observed for another risky behavior (smoking). Conclusions. Exposure to poor-quality food environments has important effects on adolescent eating patterns and overweight. Policy interventions limiting the proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools could help reduce adolescent obesity. PMID:19106421

Fast Neutron Tomography of Low-Z Object in High-Z Material Shielding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babai, Ruth Weiss; Sabo-Napadensky, Iris; Bar, Doron; Mor, Ilan; Tamim, Noam; Dangendorf, Volker; Tittelmeier, Kai; Bromberger, Benjamin; Weierganz, Mathias

The technique and first results of Fast Neutron Tomography (FNCT) experiments are presented which are performed at the accelerator facility of PTB, Germany. A high-intensity neutron beam of broad spectral distribution with an average energy of 5.5 MeV, was produced by 11.5 MeV deuterons impinging upon a thick beryllium target. The capability of FNCT for high contrast imaging of low-Z materials embedded in thick high-Z shielding materials is demonstrated, which is superior to more conventional high-energy X-ray imaging techniques. For demonstrating the method special test objects were prepared: One consisted of an assembled polyethylene cylinder with holes of various diameters and directions drilled in its surface and inner parts. The plastic phantom was inserted into lead cylinders of different thicknesses. The detector system consisted of a plastic scintillator along with a dedicated optics, image-intensifier and a CCD camera. Two scintillator screens were compared: a bulk plastic scintillator screen and a fibres optical scintillator screen. The tomographic scans were taken in two geometrical configurations: cone beam and semi-fan beam configuration. The image quality favours the semi-fan beam configuration which on the other hand is more time consuming The obtained tomographic images and a comparison of the imaging quality between the different experimental conditions will be presented.

Fast decomposition of two ultrasound longitudinal waves in cancellous bone using a phase rotation parameter for bone quality assessment: Simulation study.

PubMed

Taki, Hirofumi; Nagatani, Yoshiki; Matsukawa, Mami; Kanai, Hiroshi; Izumi, Shin-Ichi

2017-10-01

Ultrasound signals that pass through cancellous bone may be considered to consist of two longitudinal waves, which are called fast and slow waves. Accurate decomposition of these fast and slow waves is considered to be highly beneficial in determination of the characteristics of cancellous bone. In the present study, a fast decomposition method using a wave transfer function with a phase rotation parameter was applied to received signals that have passed through bovine bone specimens with various bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) ratios in a simulation study, where the elastic finite-difference time-domain method is used and the ultrasound wave propagated parallel to the bone axes. The proposed method succeeded to decompose both fast and slow waves accurately; the normalized residual intensity was less than -19.5 dB when the specimen thickness ranged from 4 to 7 mm and the BV/TV value ranged from 0.144 to 0.226. There was a strong relationship between the phase rotation value and the BV/TV value. The ratio of the peak envelope amplitude of the decomposed fast wave to that of the slow wave increased monotonically with increasing BV/TV ratio, indicating the high performance of the proposed method in estimation of the BV/TV value in cancellous bone.

Ground reaction force, spinal kinematics and their relationship to lower back pain and injury in cricket fast bowling: A review.

PubMed

Senington, Billy; Lee, Raymond Y; Williams, Jonathan Mark

2018-03-09

Fast bowlers display a high risk of lower back injury and pain. Studies report factors that may increase this risk, however exact mechanisms remain unclear. To provide a contemporary analysis of literature, up to April 2016, regarding fast bowling, spinal kinematics, ground reaction force (GRF), lower back pain (LBP) and pathology. Key terms including biomechanics, bowling, spine and injury were searched within MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscuss, Science Citation Index, OAIster, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Science Direct and Scopus. Following application of inclusion criteria, 56 studies (reduced from 140) were appraised for quality and pooled for further analysis. Twelve times greater risk of lumbar injury was reported in bowlers displaying excessive shoulder counter-rotation (SCR), however SCR is a surrogate measure which may not describe actual spinal movement. Little is known about LBP specifically. Weighted averages of 5.8 ± 1.3 times body weight (BW) vertically and 3.2 ± 1.1 BW horizontally were calculated for peak GRF during fast bowling. No quantitative synthesis of kinematic data was possible due to heterogeneity of reported results. Fast bowling is highly injurious especially with excessive SCR. Studies adopted similar methodologies, constrained to laboratory settings. Future studies should focus on methods to determine biomechanics during live play.

Fitting relationship between the beam quality β factor of high-energy laser and the wavefront aberration of laser beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Zhong-Ye; Zhang, Xiao-Fang

2018-01-01

The mathematical relation between the beam quality β factor of high-energy laser and the wavefront aberration of laser beam is important in beam quality control theory of the high-energy laser weapon system. In order to obtain this mathematical relation, numerical simulation is used in the research. Firstly, the Zernike representations of typically distorted atmospheric wavefront aberrations caused by the Kolmogoroff turbulence are generated. And then, the corresponding beam quality β factors of the different distorted wavefronts are calculated numerically through fast Fourier transform. Thus, the statistical distribution rule between the beam quality β factors of high-energy laser and the wavefront aberrations of the beam can be established by the calculated results. Finally, curve fitting method is chosen to establish the mathematical fitting relationship of these two parameters. And the result of the curve fitting shows that there is a quadratic curve relation between the beam quality β factor of high-energy laser and the wavefront aberration of laser beam. And in this paper, 3 fitting curves, in which the wavefront aberrations are consisted of Zernike Polynomials of 20, 36, 60 orders individually, are established to express the relationship between the beam quality β factor and atmospheric wavefront aberrations with different spatial frequency.

Enhanced video indirect ophthalmoscopy (VIO) via robust mosaicing.

PubMed

Estrada, Rolando; Tomasi, Carlo; Cabrera, Michelle T; Wallace, David K; Freedman, Sharon F; Farsiu, Sina

2011-10-01

Indirect ophthalmoscopy (IO) is the standard of care for evaluation of the neonatal retina. When recorded on video from a head-mounted camera, IO images have low quality and narrow Field of View (FOV). We present an image fusion methodology for converting a video IO recording into a single, high quality, wide-FOV mosaic that seamlessly blends the best frames in the video. To this end, we have developed fast and robust algorithms for automatic evaluation of video quality, artifact detection and removal, vessel mapping, registration, and multi-frame image fusion. Our experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Fast mapping algorithm of lighting spectrum and GPS coordinates for a large area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chih-Wei; Hsu, Ke-Fang; Hwang, Jung-Min

2016-09-01

In this study, we propose a fast rebuild technology for evaluating light quality in large areas. Outdoor light quality, which is measured by illuminance uniformity and the color rendering index, is difficult to conform after improvement. We develop an algorithm for a lighting quality mapping system and coordinates using a micro spectrometer and GPS tracker integrated with a quadcopter or unmanned aerial vehicle. After cruising at a constant altitude, lighting quality data is transmitted and immediately mapped to evaluate the light quality in a large area.

Evaluation of fast highly undersampled contrast-enhanced MR angiography (sparse CE-MRA) in intracranial applications - initial study.

PubMed

Gratz, Marcel; Schlamann, Marc; Goericke, Sophia; Maderwald, Stefan; Quick, Harald H

2017-03-01

To assess the image quality of sparsely sampled contrast-enhanced MR angiography (sparse CE-MRA) providing high spatial resolution and whole-head coverage. Twenty-three patients scheduled for contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the head, (N = 19 with intracranial pathologies, N = 9 with vascular diseases), were included. Sparse CE-MRA at 3 Tesla was conducted using a single dose of contrast agent. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the data regarding vascular visibility and diagnostic value of overall 24 parameters and vascular segments on a 5-point ordinary scale (5 = very good, 1 = insufficient vascular visibility). Contrast bolus timing and the resulting arterio-venous overlap was also evaluated. Where available (N = 9), sparse CE-MRA was compared to intracranial Time-of-Flight MRA. The overall rating across all patients for sparse CE-MRA was 3.50 ± 1.07. Direct influence of the contrast bolus timing on the resulting image quality was observed. Overall mean vascular visibility and image quality across different features was rated good to intermediate (3.56 ± 0.95). The average performance of intracranial Time-of-Flight was rated 3.84 ± 0.87 across all patients and 3.54 ± 0.62 across all features. Sparse CE-MRA provides high-quality 3D MRA with high spatial resolution and whole-head coverage within short acquisition time. Accurate contrast bolus timing is mandatory. • Sparse CE-MRA enables fast vascular imaging with full brain coverage. • Volumes with sub-millimetre resolution can be acquired within 10 seconds. • Reader's ratings are good to intermediate and dependent on contrast bolus timing. • The method provides an excellent overview and allows screening for vascular pathologies.

Adsorption detection for polylysine biomolecules based on high-Q silica capillary whispering gallery mode microresonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jixuan; Liu, Bo; Zhang, Hao; Song, Binbin

2017-11-01

A silica-capillary-based whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonator has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated for the real-time monitoring of the polylysine adsorption process. The spectral characteristics of the WGM resonance dips with high quality factor and good wavelength selectivity have been investigated to evaluate the dynamic process for the binding of polylysine with a capillary surface. The WGM transmission spectrum shows a regular shift with increments of observation time, which could be exploited for the analysis of the polylysine adsorption process. The proposed WGM microresonator system possesses desirable qualities such as high sensitivity, fast response, label-free method, high detection resolution and compactness, which could find promising applications in histology and related bioengineering areas.

Affordable and accurate large-scale hybrid-functional calculations on GPU-accelerated supercomputers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratcliff, Laura E.; Degomme, A.; Flores-Livas, José A.; Goedecker, Stefan; Genovese, Luigi

2018-03-01

Performing high accuracy hybrid functional calculations for condensed matter systems containing a large number of atoms is at present computationally very demanding or even out of reach if high quality basis sets are used. We present a highly optimized multiple graphics processing unit implementation of the exact exchange operator which allows one to perform fast hybrid functional density-functional theory (DFT) calculations with systematic basis sets without additional approximations for up to a thousand atoms. With this method hybrid DFT calculations of high quality become accessible on state-of-the-art supercomputers within a time-to-solution that is of the same order of magnitude as traditional semilocal-GGA functionals. The method is implemented in a portable open-source library.

Applicability of refractometry for fast routine checking of hospital preparations.

PubMed

Hendrickx, Stijn; Verón, Aurora Monteagudo; Van Schepdael, Ann; Adams, Erwin

2016-04-30

Quality control of hospital pharmacy formulations is of the utmost importance to ensure constant quality and to avoid potential mistakes before administration to the patient. In this study we investigated the applicability of refractometry as a fast, inexpensive and easy-to-use quality control measurement. Refractive indices (RI) of a multitude of different hospital formulations with varying concentrations of active compound were measured. The samples consisted of a number of binary aqueous solutions (one compound in water), complex aqueous solutions (multiple compounds in water or in a constant matrix), two suspensions and one emulsion. For all these formulations, linear regression analysis was performed, quality control limits determined and accuracy and repeatability were checked. Subsequently, actual hospital pharmacy samples were analyzed to check whether they were within the specified limits. For both binary and complex aqueous formulations, repeatability was good and a linear correlation for all samples could be observed on condition that the concentration of the active compound was sufficiently high. The refractometer was not sensitive enough for solutions of folic acid and levothyroxine, which had too low a concentration of active compound. Due to lack of homogeneity and light scattering, emulsions and suspensions do not seem suitable for quality control by refractometry. A mathematical equation was generated to predict the refractive index of an aqueous solution containing clonidine HCl as active compound. Values calculated from the equation were compared with measured values and deviations of all samples were found to be lower than 1.3%. In order to use refractometry in a hospital pharmacy for quality control of multicomponent samples, additional intermediate measurements would be required, to overcome the fact that refractometry is not compound specific. In conclusion, we found that refractometry could potentially be useful for daily, fast quality measurements of relatively concentrated binary and more complex aqueous solutions in the hospital pharmacy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Hierarchical and Distributed Approach for Mapping Large Applications to Heterogeneous Grids using Genetic Algorithms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanyal, Soumya; Jain, Amit; Das, Sajal K.; Biswas, Rupak

2003-01-01

In this paper, we propose a distributed approach for mapping a single large application to a heterogeneous grid environment. To minimize the execution time of the parallel application, we distribute the mapping overhead to the available nodes of the grid. This approach not only provides a fast mapping of tasks to resources but is also scalable. We adopt a hierarchical grid model and accomplish the job of mapping tasks to this topology using a scheduler tree. Results show that our three-phase algorithm provides high quality mappings, and is fast and scalable.

Fast gas spectroscopy using pulsed quantum cascade lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beyer, T.; Braun, M.; Lambrecht, A.

2003-03-01

Laser spectroscopy has found many industrial applications, e.g., control of automotive exhaust and process monitoring. The midinfrared region is of special interest because it has stronger absorption lines compared to the near infrared (NIR). However, in the NIR high quality reliable laser sources, detectors, and passive optical components are available. A quantum cascade laser could change this situation if fundamental advantages can be exploited with compact and reliable systems. It will be shown that, using pulsed lasers and available fast detectors, lower residual sensitivity levels than in corresponding NIR systems can be achieved. The stability is sufficient for industrial applications.

Complete Quantum Control of a Single Silicon-Vacancy Center in a Diamond Nanopillar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jingyuan Linda; Lagoudakis, Konstantinos G.; Tzeng, Yan-Kai; Dory, Constantin; Radulaski, Marina; Kelaita, Yousif; Shen, Zhi-Xun; Melosh, Nicholas A.; Chu, Steven; Vuckovic, Jelena

Coherent quantum control of a quantum bit (qubit) is an important step towards its use in a quantum network. SiV- center in diamond offers excellent physical qualities such as low inhomogeneous broadening, fast photon emission, and a large Debye-Waller factor, while the fast spin manipulation and techniques to extend the spin coherence time are under active investigation. Here, we demonstrate full coherent control over the state of a single SiV- center in a diamond nanopillar using ultrafast optical pulses. The high quality of the chemical vapor deposition grown SiV- centers allows us to coherently manipulate and quasi-resonantly read out the state of the single SiV- center. Moreover, the SiV- centers being coherently controlled are integrated into diamond nanopillar arrays in a site-controlled, individually addressable manner with high yield, low strain, and high spectral stability, which paves the way for scalable on chip optically accessible quantum system in a quantum photonic network. Financial support is provided by the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences through Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) under contract DE-AC02-76SF00515.

Global sensitivity analysis for urban water quality modelling: Terminology, convergence and comparison of different methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanrolleghem, Peter A.; Mannina, Giorgio; Cosenza, Alida; Neumann, Marc B.

2015-03-01

Sensitivity analysis represents an important step in improving the understanding and use of environmental models. Indeed, by means of global sensitivity analysis (GSA), modellers may identify both important (factor prioritisation) and non-influential (factor fixing) model factors. No general rule has yet been defined for verifying the convergence of the GSA methods. In order to fill this gap this paper presents a convergence analysis of three widely used GSA methods (SRC, Extended FAST and Morris screening) for an urban drainage stormwater quality-quantity model. After the convergence was achieved the results of each method were compared. In particular, a discussion on peculiarities, applicability, and reliability of the three methods is presented. Moreover, a graphical Venn diagram based classification scheme and a precise terminology for better identifying important, interacting and non-influential factors for each method is proposed. In terms of convergence, it was shown that sensitivity indices related to factors of the quantity model achieve convergence faster. Results for the Morris screening method deviated considerably from the other methods. Factors related to the quality model require a much higher number of simulations than the number suggested in literature for achieving convergence with this method. In fact, the results have shown that the term "screening" is improperly used as the method may exclude important factors from further analysis. Moreover, for the presented application the convergence analysis shows more stable sensitivity coefficients for the Extended-FAST method compared to SRC and Morris screening. Substantial agreement in terms of factor fixing was found between the Morris screening and Extended FAST methods. In general, the water quality related factors exhibited more important interactions than factors related to water quantity. Furthermore, in contrast to water quantity model outputs, water quality model outputs were found to be characterised by high non-linearity.

Low-dose fixed-target serial synchrotron crystallography.

PubMed

Owen, Robin L; Axford, Danny; Sherrell, Darren A; Kuo, Anling; Ernst, Oliver P; Schulz, Eike C; Miller, R J Dwayne; Mueller-Werkmeister, Henrike M

2017-04-01

The development of serial crystallography has been driven by the sample requirements imposed by X-ray free-electron lasers. Serial techniques are now being exploited at synchrotrons. Using a fixed-target approach to high-throughput serial sampling, it is demonstrated that high-quality data can be collected from myoglobin crystals, allowing room-temperature, low-dose structure determination. The combination of fixed-target arrays and a fast, accurate translation system allows high-throughput serial data collection at high hit rates and with low sample consumption.

Frequency of consumption at fast-food restaurants is associated with dietary intake in overweight and obese women recruited from financially disadvantaged neighborhoods.

PubMed

Wilcox, Sara; Sharpe, Patricia A; Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle; Granner, Michelle; Baruth, Meghan

2013-08-01

Fast-food restaurants are more prevalent in lower-income and predominately African American neighborhoods, where consumption of fast food is also higher. In general populations, fast-food consumption is related to less healthy dietary intake. This cross-sectional study examined the hypotheses that greater fast-food consumption is associated with less healthy dietary intake and poorer diet quality in overweight and obese women (n = 196, 25-51 years, 87% African American) recruited from financially disadvantaged Census tracts. Dietary intake and diet quality (Alternate Healthy Eating Index) were assessed via three 24-hour dietary recalls. Linear regression models tested the association between fast-food consumption and each outcome (model 1). Model 2 added sociodemographics and physical activity. Model 3 added total caloric intake. Fast-food consumption was significantly associated with total caloric intake; total intake of meat, grains, sweetened beverages, dairy, fiber, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar; and percent of calories from total fat, saturated fat, and trans-fatty acids. Statistically significant associations remained in model 2, but most were not significant in model 3. Fast-food consumption was not associated with diet quality (Alternate Healthy Eating Index) in any model. In this at-risk sample, fast-food consumption was associated with more negative dietary practices. Significant associations generally disappeared when controlling for total caloric intake, suggesting that women who eat more fast food have higher total caloric intakes as a result of increased consumption of unhealthy rather than healthy foods. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of Cross Section Library and Application Programming Interface (API)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, C. H.; Marin-Lafleche, A.; Smith, M. A.

2014-04-09

The goal of NEAMS neutronics is to develop a high-fidelity deterministic neutron transport code termed PROTEUS for use on all reactor types of interest, but focused primarily on sodium-cooled fast reactors. While PROTEUS-SN has demonstrated good accuracy for homogeneous fast reactor problems and partially heterogeneous fast reactor problems, the simulation results were not satisfactory when applied on fully heterogeneous thermal problems like the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). This is mainly attributed to the quality of cross section data for heterogeneous geometries since the conventional cross section generation approach does not work accurately for such irregular and complex geometries. Therefore, onemore » of the NEAMS neutronics tasks since FY12 has been the development of a procedure to generate appropriate cross sections for a heterogeneous geometry core.« less

Evaluation of noise and blur effects with SIRT-FISTA-TV reconstruction algorithm: Application to fast environmental transmission electron tomography.

PubMed

Banjak, Hussein; Grenier, Thomas; Epicier, Thierry; Koneti, Siddardha; Roiban, Lucian; Gay, Anne-Sophie; Magnin, Isabelle; Peyrin, Françoise; Maxim, Voichita

2018-06-01

Fast tomography in Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy (ETEM) is of a great interest for in situ experiments where it allows to observe 3D real-time evolution of nanomaterials under operating conditions. In this context, we are working on speeding up the acquisition step to a few seconds mainly with applications on nanocatalysts. In order to accomplish such rapid acquisitions of the required tilt series of projections, a modern 4K high-speed camera is used, that can capture up to 100 images per second in a 2K binning mode. However, due to the fast rotation of the sample during the tilt procedure, noise and blur effects may occur in many projections which in turn would lead to poor quality reconstructions. Blurred projections make classical reconstruction algorithms inappropriate and require the use of prior information. In this work, a regularized algebraic reconstruction algorithm named SIRT-FISTA-TV is proposed. The performance of this algorithm using blurred data is studied by means of a numerical blur introduced into simulated images series to mimic possible mechanical instabilities/drifts during fast acquisitions. We also present reconstruction results from noisy data to show the robustness of the algorithm to noise. Finally, we show reconstructions with experimental datasets and we demonstrate the interest of fast tomography with an ultra-fast acquisition performed under environmental conditions, i.e. gas and temperature, in the ETEM. Compared to classically used SIRT and SART approaches, our proposed SIRT-FISTA-TV reconstruction algorithm provides higher quality tomograms allowing easier segmentation of the reconstructed volume for a better final processing and analysis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mary, a Pipeline to Aid Discovery of Optical Transients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreoni, I.; Jacobs, C.; Hegarty, S.; Pritchard, T.; Cooke, J.; Ryder, S.

2017-09-01

The ability to quickly detect transient sources in optical images and trigger multi-wavelength follow up is key for the discovery of fast transients. These include events rare and difficult to detect such as kilonovae, supernova shock breakout, and `orphan' Gamma-ray Burst afterglows. We present the Mary pipeline, a (mostly) automated tool to discover transients during high-cadenced observations with the Dark Energy Camera at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). The observations are part of the `Deeper Wider Faster' programme, a multi-facility, multi-wavelength programme designed to discover fast transients, including counterparts to Fast Radio Bursts and gravitational waves. Our tests of the Mary pipeline on Dark Energy Camera images return a false positive rate of 2.2% and a missed fraction of 3.4% obtained in less than 2 min, which proves the pipeline to be suitable for rapid and high-quality transient searches. The pipeline can be adapted to search for transients in data obtained with imagers other than Dark Energy Camera.

SPIM-fluid: open source light-sheet based platform for high-throughput imaging

PubMed Central

Gualda, Emilio J.; Pereira, Hugo; Vale, Tiago; Estrada, Marta Falcão; Brito, Catarina; Moreno, Nuno

2015-01-01

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy has recently emerged as the technique of choice for obtaining high quality 3D images of whole organisms/embryos with low photodamage and fast acquisition rates. Here we present an open source unified implementation based on Arduino and Micromanager, which is capable of operating Light Sheet Microscopes for automatized 3D high-throughput imaging on three-dimensional cell cultures and model organisms like zebrafish, oriented to massive drug screening. PMID:26601007

Nuclear, Chloroplast, and Mitochondrial Genome Sequences of the Prospective Microalgal Biofuel Strain Picochlorum soloecismus

DOE PAGES

Gonzalez-Esquer, C. Raul; Twary, Scott N.; Hovde, Blake T.; ...

2018-01-25

Picochlorum soloecismus is a halotolerant, fast-growing, and moderate-lipid-producing microalga that is being evaluated as a renewable feedstock for biofuel production. Herein, we report on an improved high-quality draft assembly and annotation for the nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes of P. soloecismus DOE 101.

Energy-dense liquid fuel intermediates by pyrolysis of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) shrub and bagasse

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Guayule is a perennial shrub grown in the southwestern United States that is used to produce high quality, natural rubber latex. However, only about 10% of the plant material is used for latex production; the remaining biomass, called bagasse, can be used for renewable fuel production. Fast pyroly...

Professional Development in Career and Technical Education. In Brief: Fast Facts for Policy and Practice No. 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maurer, Matthew J.

The continuous transformation of career and technical education (CTE) practitioners' roles that has resulted from reforms, technological advances, and new certification requirements has necessitated the creation of learner-centered professional development (PD) programs. Numerous schools nationwide have succeeded in developing high-quality,…

A Reproducible Approach of Preparing High-Quality Overdoped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ Single Crystals by Oxygen Annealing and Quenching Method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yu-Xiao; Zhao, Lin; Gu, Gen-Da

2016-06-01

Here, we report a reproducible approach in preparing high-quality overdoped Bi 2Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ (Bi2212) single crystals by annealing Bi2212 crystals in high oxygen pressure followed by a fast quenching. High-quality overdoped and heavily overdoped Bi2212 single crystals are obtained by controlling the annealing oxygen pressure. Furthermore, we find that, beyond a limit of oxygen pressure that can achieve most heavily overdoped Bi2212 with a T c ~63 K, the annealed Bi2212 begins to decompose. This accounts for the existence of the hole-doping limit and thus the T c limit in the heavily overdoped region of Bi2212more » by the oxygen annealing process. Our results provide a reliable way in preparing high-quality overdoped and heavily overdoped Bi2212 crystals that are important for studies of the physical properties, electronic structure and superconductivity mechanism of the cuprate superconductors.« less

Fast image interpolation for motion estimation using graphics hardware

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, Francis; Kokaram, Anil

2004-05-01

Motion estimation and compensation is the key to high quality video coding. Block matching motion estimation is used in most video codecs, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263 and H.26L. Motion estimation is also a key component in the digital restoration of archived video and for post-production and special effects in the movie industry. Sub-pixel accurate motion vectors can improve the quality of the vector field and lead to more efficient video coding. However sub-pixel accuracy requires interpolation of the image data. Image interpolation is a key requirement of many image processing algorithms. Often interpolation can be a bottleneck in these applications, especially in motion estimation due to the large number pixels involved. In this paper we propose using commodity computer graphics hardware for fast image interpolation. We use the full search block matching algorithm to illustrate the problems and limitations of using graphics hardware in this way.

The Electromagnetic Calorimeter of the future PANDA Detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Novotny, Rainer

2006-10-27

Experiments with a cooled antiproton beam at the future accelerator facility FAIR at GSI, Darmstadt, will be performed with the 4{pi} detector PANDA comprising a high resolution, compact and fast homogeneous electromagnetic calorimeter to detect photons between 10MeV and 10GeV energy inside a superconducting solenoid (2T). The target calorimeter comprises more than 20,000 PbWO4 crystals of significantly enhanced quality read-out with large area avalanche photodiodes at an operating temperature of -25 degree sign C. The paper describes the quality of PWO-II and illustrates the future performance based on response measurements with high-energy photons.

dBBQs: dataBase of Bacterial Quality scores.

PubMed

Wanchai, Visanu; Patumcharoenpol, Preecha; Nookaew, Intawat; Ussery, David

2017-12-28

It is well-known that genome sequencing technologies are becoming significantly cheaper and faster. As a result of this, the exponential growth in sequencing data in public databases allows us to explore ever growing large collections of genome sequences. However, it is less known that the majority of available sequenced genome sequences in public databases are not complete, drafts of varying qualities. We have calculated quality scores for around 100,000 bacterial genomes from all major genome repositories and put them in a fast and easy-to-use database. Prokaryotic genomic data from all sources were collected and combined to make a non-redundant set of bacterial genomes. The genome quality score for each was calculated by four different measurements: assembly quality, number of rRNA and tRNA genes, and the occurrence of conserved functional domains. The dataBase of Bacterial Quality scores (dBBQs) was designed to store and retrieve quality scores. It offers fast searching and download features which the result can be used for further analysis. In addition, the search results are shown in interactive JavaScript chart framework using DC.js. The analysis of quality scores across major public genome databases find that around 68% of the genomes are of acceptable quality for many uses. dBBQs (available at http://arc-gem.uams.edu/dbbqs ) provides genome quality scores for all available prokaryotic genome sequences with a user-friendly Web-interface. These scores can be used as cut-offs to get a high-quality set of genomes for testing bioinformatics tools or improving the analysis. Moreover, all data of the four measurements that were combined to make the quality score for each genome, which can potentially be used for further analysis. dBBQs will be updated regularly and is freely use for non-commercial purpose.

Barriers to avoiding fast-food consumption in an environment supportive of unhealthy eating.

PubMed

Thornton, Lukar E; Jeffery, Robert W; Crawford, David A

2013-12-01

To investigate factors (ability, motivation and the environment) that act as barriers to limiting fast-food consumption in women who live in an environment that is supportive of poor eating habits. Cross-sectional study using self-reports of individual-level data and objectively measured environmental data. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with frequency of fast-food consumption. Socio-economically disadvantaged areas in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Women (n 932) from thirty-two socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods living within 3 km of six or more fast-food restaurants. Women were randomly sampled in 2007–2008 as part of baseline data collection for the Resilience for Eating and Activity Despite Inequality (READI) study. Consuming low amounts of fast food was less likely in women with lower perceived ability to shop for and cook healthy foods, lower frequency of family dining, lower family support for healthy eating, more women acquaintances who eat fast food regularly and who lived further from the nearest supermarket. When modelled with the other significant factors, a lower perceived shopping ability, mid levels of family support and living further from the nearest supermarket remained significant. Among those who did not perceive fruits and vegetables to be of high quality, less frequent fast-food consumption was further reduced for those with the lowest confidence in their shopping ability. Interventions designed to improve women's ability and opportunities to shop for healthy foods may be of value in making those who live in high-risk environments better able to eat healthily.

Self-Calibrating Wave-Encoded Variable-Density Single-Shot Fast Spin Echo Imaging.

PubMed

Chen, Feiyu; Taviani, Valentina; Tamir, Jonathan I; Cheng, Joseph Y; Zhang, Tao; Song, Qiong; Hargreaves, Brian A; Pauly, John M; Vasanawala, Shreyas S

2018-04-01

It is highly desirable in clinical abdominal MR scans to accelerate single-shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) imaging and reduce blurring due to T 2 decay and partial-Fourier acquisition. To develop and investigate the clinical feasibility of wave-encoded variable-density SSFSE imaging for improved image quality and scan time reduction. Prospective controlled clinical trial. With Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, the proposed method was assessed on 20 consecutive adult patients (10 male, 10 female, range, 24-84 years). A wave-encoded variable-density SSFSE sequence was developed for clinical 3.0T abdominal scans to enable high acceleration (3.5×) with full-Fourier acquisitions by: 1) introducing wave encoding with self-refocusing gradient waveforms to improve acquisition efficiency; 2) developing self-calibrated estimation of wave-encoding point-spread function and coil sensitivity to improve motion robustness; and 3) incorporating a parallel imaging and compressed sensing reconstruction to reconstruct highly accelerated datasets. Image quality was compared pairwise with standard Cartesian acquisition independently and blindly by two radiologists on a scale from -2 to 2 for noise, contrast, confidence, sharpness, and artifacts. The average ratio of scan time between these two approaches was also compared. A Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with a P value under 0.05 considered statistically significant. Wave-encoded variable-density SSFSE significantly reduced the perceived noise level and improved the sharpness of the abdominal wall and the kidneys compared with standard acquisition (mean scores 0.8, 1.2, and 0.8, respectively, P < 0.003). No significant difference was observed in relation to other features (P = 0.11). An average of 21% decrease in scan time was achieved using the proposed method. Wave-encoded variable-density sampling SSFSE achieves improved image quality with clinically relevant echo time and reduced scan time, thus providing a fast and robust approach for clinical SSFSE imaging. 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 6 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:954-966. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Development and quality evaluation of quick cooking dhal-A convenience product.

PubMed

Sethi, Shruti; Samuel, D V K; Khan, Islam

2014-03-01

Owing to rapid urbanization and more women joining the workforce, use of ready-to-eat and ready-to-use convenience foods is gaining increasing popularity. Women require dhal that cooks fast and increases in volume when cooked. In an attempt to prepare quick cooking dhal from pigeon pea, variety UPAS 120 was milled, pre-treated with sodium chloride solution (1%), flaked and dried. The quick cooking dhal was packed in three packaging materials, namely, high molecular weight high density polyethylene (HMHDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and laminated pouches. The quality evaluation of the prepared flakes with respect to the cooking quality attributes, changes in proximate composition, free fatty acid (FFA) and peroxide value (PV) were carried out during storage at ambient temperature (8-36°C) at regular intervals for a period of 10 months. During storage, quick cooking dhal packed in laminated pouches performed better than samples stored in other pouches with respect to the changes in the overall quality and acceptability of the product.

High-intensity interval training or continuous training, combined or not with fasting, in obese or overweight women with cardiometabolic risk factors: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

De Lorenzo, Andrea; Van Bavel, Diogo; de Moraes, Roger; Tibiriça, Eduardo V

2018-04-28

Physical inactivity and increased caloric intake play important roles in the pathophysiology of obesity. Increasing physical activity and modifying eating behaviours are first-line interventions, frequently hampered by lack of time to exercise and difficulties in coping with different diets. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a time-efficient method compared with moderate-intensity continuous training (CT). Conversely, diets with a fasting component may be more effective than other complex and restrictive diets, as it essentially limits caloric intake to a specified period without major diet composition changes. Therefore, the combination of HIIT and fasting may provide incremental benefits in terms of effectiveness and time efficiency in obese and sedentary populations. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of HIIT versus CT, combined or not with fasting, on microcirculatory function, cardiometabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in a population of sedentary overweight or obese women with cardiometabolic risk factors. Sedentary women aged 30-50 years, with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 and cardiometabolic risk factors, will be randomised to HIIT performed in the fasting state, HIIT performed in the fed state, CT in the fasting state or CT in the fed state. Cardiometabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life and microvascular function (cutaneous capillary density and microvascular reactivity evaluated by laser speckle contrast imaging) will be evaluated before initiation of the interventions and 16 weeks thereafter. The trial complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the local ethics committee (Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). All patients provide written informed consent before enrolment and randomisation. The study's results will be disseminated to the healthcare community by publications and presentations at scientific meetings. NCT03236285. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

FQC Dashboard: integrates FastQC results into a web-based, interactive, and extensible FASTQ quality control tool

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Joseph; Pirrung, Meg; McCue, Lee Ann

FQC is software that facilitates quality control of FASTQ files by carrying out a QC protocol using FastQC, parsing results, and aggregating quality metrics into an interactive dashboard designed to richly summarize individual sequencing runs. The dashboard groups samples in dropdowns for navigation among the data sets, utilizes human-readable configuration files to manipulate the pages and tabs, and is extensible with CSV data.

FQC Dashboard: integrates FastQC results into a web-based, interactive, and extensible FASTQ quality control tool

DOE PAGES

Brown, Joseph; Pirrung, Meg; McCue, Lee Ann

2017-06-09

FQC is software that facilitates quality control of FASTQ files by carrying out a QC protocol using FastQC, parsing results, and aggregating quality metrics into an interactive dashboard designed to richly summarize individual sequencing runs. The dashboard groups samples in dropdowns for navigation among the data sets, utilizes human-readable configuration files to manipulate the pages and tabs, and is extensible with CSV data.

Calculating the quality of public high-throughput sequencing data to obtain a suitable subset for reanalysis from the Sequence Read Archive

PubMed Central

Nakazato, Takeru; Bono, Hidemasa

2017-01-01

Abstract It is important for public data repositories to promote the reuse of archived data. In the growing field of omics science, however, the increasing number of submissions of high-throughput sequencing (HTSeq) data to public repositories prevents users from choosing a suitable data set from among the large number of search results. Repository users need to be able to set a threshold to reduce the number of results to obtain a suitable subset of high-quality data for reanalysis. We calculated the quality of sequencing data archived in a public data repository, the Sequence Read Archive (SRA), by using the quality control software FastQC. We obtained quality values for 1 171 313 experiments, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of data for reuse. We also visualized the data distribution in SRA by integrating the quality information and metadata of experiments and samples. We provide quality information of all of the archived sequencing data, which enable users to obtain sufficient quality sequencing data for reanalyses. The calculated quality data are available to the public in various formats. Our data also provide an example of enhancing the reuse of public data by adding metadata to published research data by a third party. PMID:28449062

High cortisol levels are associated with low quality food choice in type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Duong, Michelle; Cohen, Jessica I; Convit, Antonio

2012-02-01

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis control may be impaired in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Glucocorticoids increase consumption of low quality foods high in calories, sugar, and fat. We explored the relationship between cortisol levels, poor blood glucose control, and food quality choice in T2DM. Twenty-seven healthy controls were age-, gender- and education-matched to 27 T2DM participants. Standard clinical blood tests and cortisol values were measured from fasting blood samples. Participants recorded all consumed food and drink items in a consecutive 3-day food diary. Diaries were analyzed for "high quality" and "low quality" foods using a standardized method with high reliability (0.97 and 0.86, respectively). Controlling for education, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), log-transformed cortisol (LogC) predicted the percent of low quality foods (R (2) = 0.092, β = 0.360, P < 0.05), but not the percent of high quality foods chosen. Controlling for education, BMI, and LogC, HbA1C significantly predicted both the percent of low quality foods (ΔR (2) = 0.079, β = 0.348, P = 0.024) and high quality foods chosen (ΔR (2) = 0.085, β = -0.362, P = 0.022). The relationship between HbA1C and low quality food choice may be mediated by cortisol, controlling for BMI and education (P < 0.01). HbA1C displayed both an indirect (cortisol-mediated) effect (P < 0.05) and direct effect on low quality food choice (P < 0.05). The relationship between HbA1C and low quality food choice may be partially mediated by cortisol. Poor blood glucose control may cause HPA axis disruption, increased consumption of low quality foods.

Fast food intake in Canada: Differences among Canadians with diverse demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics.

PubMed

Black, Jennifer L; Billette, Jean-Michel

2015-02-03

To estimate the contribution of fast food to daily energy intake, and compare intake among Canadians with varied demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics. Using the National Cancer Institute method, nationally representative estimates of mean usual daily caloric intake from fast food were derived from 24-hour dietary recall data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.2 (n = 17,509) among participants age ≥ 2 years. Mean daily intake and relative proportion of calories derived from fast food were compared among respondents with diverse demographic (age, sex, provincial and rural/urban residence), socio-economic (income, education, food security status) and health and lifestyle characteristics (physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, vitamin/ mineral supplement use, smoking, binge drinking, body mass index (BMI), self-rated health and dietary quality). On average, Canadians reported consuming 146 kcal/day from fast food, contributing to 6.3% of usual energy intake. Intake was highest among male teenagers (248 kcal) and lowest among women ≥ 70 years of age (32 kcal). Fast food consumption was significantly higher among respondents who reported lower fruit and vegetable intake, poorer dietary quality, binge drinking, not taking vitamin/mineral supplements (adults only), and persons with higher BMI. Socio-economic status, physical activity, smoking and self-rated health were not significantly associated with fast food intake. While average Canadian fast food consumption is lower than national US estimates, intake was associated with lower dietary quality and higher BMI. Findings suggest that research and intervention strategies should focus on dietary practices of children and adolescents, whose fast food intakes are among the highest in Canada.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McMillan, Kyle; Marleau, Peter; Brubaker, Erik

In coded aperture imaging, one of the most important factors determining the quality of reconstructed images is the choice of mask/aperture pattern. In many applications, uniformly redundant arrays (URAs) are widely accepted as the optimal mask pattern. Under ideal conditions, thin and highly opaque masks, URA patterns are mathematically constructed to provide artifact-free reconstruction however, the number of URAs for a chosen number of mask elements is limited and when highly penetrating particles such as fast neutrons and high-energy gamma-rays are being imaged, the optimum is seldom achieved. In this case more robust mask patterns that provide better reconstructed imagemore » quality may exist. Through the use of heuristic optimization methods and maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) image reconstruction, we show that for both point and extended neutron sources a random mask pattern can be optimized to provide better image quality than that of a URA.« less

Influence of simethicone and fasting on the quality of abdominal ultrasonography in New Zealand White rabbits.

PubMed

da Silva, Kassy Gomes; de Andrade, Carla; Sotomaior, Cristina Santos

2017-07-17

Presence of significant quantities of gas in the intestines may hinder a proper conduction of abdominal ultrasonography. In humans, preparatory techniques are used to solve this, but measures to avoid ultrasonographic complications due to intestinal gas in rabbits have not been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of fasting and simethicone administered orally on the quality of ultrasonographic images of the gallbladder, kidneys, and jejunum in adult New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 28 adult NZW rabbits were included in a crossover design study, involving four groups: F: fasting for 4-6 h before the examination; FS: fasting and application of simethicone (20 mg/kg, orally) 20 to 30 min before the examination; S: application of simethicone 20-30 min before the examination without fasting; and C: controls without fasting and no application of simethicone. Evaluation of the ultrasonographic images was done in terms of percentage of visualization of each organ and image quality using a 3-point scoring system (unacceptable, acceptable, or excellent). The kidneys and the gallbladder were visualized at an equal frequency in all groups, while the jejunum was visualized more frequently in the FS group. The image quality scores for gallbladder, right kidney, and left kidney was similar for all groups, but for the jejunum, a higher number of images with acceptable scores was found within the FS group.

Food and beverage advertising on children's TV channels in Argentina: Frequency, duration, and nutritional quality.

PubMed

Rovirosa, Alicia; Zapata, María E; Gómez, Paula; Gotthelf, Susana; Ferrante, Daniel

2017-02-01

Food and beverage marketing has been identified as one of the determinants of unhealthy food and beverage consumption in the child population. To determine the frequency and duration of food and beverage advertising in children's programming and the nutritional quality of advertised food and beverages. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Children's cable and broadcast channel programming was recorded in two periods: over the week and on the weekend. The type, quantity, and duration of commercials were recorded. The nutritional quality of advertised food and beverages was analyzed. A total of 402.3 hours of children's programming were recorded. In total, 3711 commercials were identified. Among these, 20.9% corresponded to food and beverages, i.e., an average of 1.9 ± 1.0 commercials per hour or equivalent to 0.68 ± 0.36 min/hour. Dairy products, candies, and fast-food meals were the most advertised food products. Only a third of advertised food and beverages (35.8%) were categorized as healthy as per the nutrient profiling system. Based on the traffic light labeling system, 50% of advertised food and beverages were high in sugar, 25% were high in saturated fat, and approximately 15% were high in sodium or fat. Food and beverage advertising accounted for 20% of television advertising time. The most advertised products were dairy products, followed by candies and sweet snacks, fast-food meals, and beverages. Two-thirds of advertised food and beverages were considered unhealthy. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría

Genetic diversity and selection of common bean lines based on technological quality and biofortification.

PubMed

Steckling, S de M; Ribeiro, N D; Arns, F D; Mezzomo, H C; Possobom, M T D F

2017-03-22

The development of common bean cultivars with high technological quality that are biofortified with minerals, is required to meet the demand for food with health benefits. The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether common bean genotypes differ in terms of technological and mineral biofortification traits, to study the correlations between these characters, to analyze the genetic dissimilarity of common bean genotypes, and to select superior lines for these traits. For this, 14 common bean genotypes were evaluated in experiments conducted in three growing seasons in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A significant genotype x environment interaction was observed for technological quality (mass of 100 grains and cooking time) and biofortification traits (concentration of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper). Positive correlation estimates were obtained between phosphorus and potassium (r = 0.575), iron and zinc (r = 0.641), copper and iron (r = 0.729), and copper and phosphorus (r = 0.533). In the main component cluster analysis, four groups of genotypes were formed. The following lines are recommended for selection: LP 11-363 for fast-cooking, CNFC 11 948 for high iron concentration, and LEC 03-14 for high potassium, phosphorus, and calcium concentrations in grains. Common bean lines with high phosphorus and iron concentrations in grains can be indirectly selected based on higher potassium, copper, and zinc concentrations. Controlled crossings between LP 11-363 x CNFC 11 948 and LP 11-363 x LEC 03-14 are recommended to obtain segregating lines that are fast-cooking and biofortified with minerals.

MetaSensing's FastGBSAR: ground based radar for deformation monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rödelsperger, Sabine; Meta, Adriano

2014-10-01

The continuous monitoring of ground deformation and structural movement has become an important task in engineering. MetaSensing introduces a novel sensor system, the Fast Ground Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (FastGBSAR), based on innovative technologies that have already been successfully applied to airborne SAR applications. The FastGBSAR allows the remote sensing of deformations of a slope or infrastructure from up to a distance of 4 km. The FastGBSAR can be setup in two different configurations: in Real Aperture Radar (RAR) mode it is capable of accurately measuring displacements along a linear range profile, ideal for monitoring vibrations of structures like bridges and towers (displacement accuracy up to 0.01 mm). Modal parameters can be determined within half an hour. Alternatively, in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) configuration it produces two-dimensional displacement images with an acquisition time of less than 5 seconds, ideal for monitoring areal structures like dams, landslides and open pit mines (displacement accuracy up to 0.1 mm). The MetaSensing FastGBSAR is the first ground based SAR instrument on the market able to produce two-dimensional deformation maps with this high acquisition rate. By that, deformation time series with a high temporal and spatial resolution can be generated, giving detailed information useful to determine the deformation mechanisms involved and eventually to predict an incoming failure. The system is fully portable and can be quickly installed on bedrock or a basement. The data acquisition and processing can be fully automated leading to a low effort in instrument operation and maintenance. Due to the short acquisition time of FastGBSAR, the coherence between two acquisitions is very high and the phase unwrapping is simplified enormously. This yields a high density of resolution cells with good quality and high reliability of the acquired deformations. The deformation maps can directly be used as input into an Early Warning system, to determine the state and danger of a slope or structure. In this paper, the technical principles of the instrument are described and case studies of different monitoring tasks are presented.

Quality by Design: Multidimensional exploration of the design space in high performance liquid chromatography method development for better robustness before validation.

PubMed

Monks, K; Molnár, I; Rieger, H-J; Bogáti, B; Szabó, E

2012-04-06

Robust HPLC separations lead to fewer analysis failures and better method transfer as well as providing an assurance of quality. This work presents the systematic development of an optimal, robust, fast UHPLC method for the simultaneous assay of two APIs of an eye drop sample and their impurities, in accordance with Quality by Design principles. Chromatography software is employed to effectively generate design spaces (Method Operable Design Regions), which are subsequently employed to determine the final method conditions and to evaluate robustness prior to validation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Halavanau, Aliaksei; Eddy, Nathan; Edstrom, Dean

Superconducting linacs are capable of producing intense, ultra-stable, high-quality electron beams that have widespread application in Science and Industry. Many current and planned projects employ 1.3-GHz 9-cell superconducting cavities of the TESLA design*. In the present paper we discuss the transverse-focusing properties of such a cavity and non-ideal transverse-map effects introduced by field asymmetries in the vicinity of the input and high-order-mode radiofrequency (RF) couplers**. We especially consider the case of a cavity located downstream of an RF-gun in a setup similar to the photoinjector of the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility. Preliminary experimental measurements of the CC2more » cavity transverse matrix were carried out at the FAST facility. The results are discussed and compared with analytical and numerical simulations.« less

Intermittent fasting preserves beta-cell mass in obesity-induced diabetes via the autophagy-lysosome pathway.

PubMed

Liu, Haiyan; Javaheri, Ali; Godar, Rebecca J; Murphy, John; Ma, Xiucui; Rohatgi, Nidhi; Mahadevan, Jana; Hyrc, Krzysztof; Saftig, Paul; Marshall, Connie; McDaniel, Michael L; Remedi, Maria S; Razani, Babak; Urano, Fumihiko; Diwan, Abhinav

2017-01-01

Obesity-induced diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and progressive beta cell failure. In islets of mice with obesity-induced diabetes, we observe increased beta cell death and impaired autophagic flux. We hypothesized that intermittent fasting, a clinically sustainable therapeutic strategy, stimulates autophagic flux to ameliorate obesity-induced diabetes. Our data show that despite continued high-fat intake, intermittent fasting restores autophagic flux in islets and improves glucose tolerance by enhancing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, beta cell survival, and nuclear expression of NEUROG3, a marker of pancreatic regeneration. In contrast, intermittent fasting does not rescue beta-cell death or induce NEUROG3 expression in obese mice with lysosomal dysfunction secondary to deficiency of the lysosomal membrane protein, LAMP2 or haplo-insufficiency of BECN1/Beclin 1, a protein critical for autophagosome formation. Moreover, intermittent fasting is sufficient to provoke beta cell death in nonobese lamp2 null mice, attesting to a critical role for lysosome function in beta cell homeostasis under fasting conditions. Beta cells in intermittently-fasted LAMP2- or BECN1-deficient mice exhibit markers of autophagic failure with accumulation of damaged mitochondria and upregulation of oxidative stress. Thus, intermittent fasting preserves organelle quality via the autophagy-lysosome pathway to enhance beta cell survival and stimulates markers of regeneration in obesity-induced diabetes.

Fast online Monte Carlo-based IMRT planning for the MRI linear accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bol, G. H.; Hissoiny, S.; Lagendijk, J. J. W.; Raaymakers, B. W.

2012-03-01

The MRI accelerator, a combination of a 6 MV linear accelerator with a 1.5 T MRI, facilitates continuous patient anatomy updates regarding translations, rotations and deformations of targets and organs at risk. Accounting for these demands high speed, online intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) re-optimization. In this paper, a fast IMRT optimization system is described which combines a GPU-based Monte Carlo dose calculation engine for online beamlet generation and a fast inverse dose optimization algorithm. Tightly conformal IMRT plans are generated for four phantom cases and two clinical cases (cervix and kidney) in the presence of the magnetic fields of 0 and 1.5 T. We show that for the presented cases the beamlet generation and optimization routines are fast enough for online IMRT planning. Furthermore, there is no influence of the magnetic field on plan quality and complexity, and equal optimization constraints at 0 and 1.5 T lead to almost identical dose distributions.

TH-C-18A-12: Evaluation of the Impact of Body Size and Tube Output Limits in the Optimization of Fast Scanning with High-Pitch Dual Source CT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramirez Giraldo, J; Mileto, A.; Hurwitz, L.

2014-06-15

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of body size and tube power limits in the optimization of fast scanning with high-pitch dual source CT (DSCT). Methods: A previously validated MERCURY phantom, made of polyethylene, with circular cross-section of diameters 16, 23, 30 and 37cm, and connected through tapered sections, was scanned using a second generation DSCT system. The DSCT operates with two independently controlled x-ray tube generators offering up to 200 kW power reserve (100 kW per tube). The entire length of the phantom (42cm) was scanned with two protocols using: A)Standard single-source CT (SSCT) protocol with pitch of 0.8, andmore » B) DSCT protocol with high-pitch values ranging from 1.6 to 3.2 (0.2 steps). All scans used 120 kVp with 150 quality reference mAs using automatic exposure control. Scanner radiation output (CTDIvol) and effective mAs values were extracted retrospectively from DICOM files for each slice. Image noise was recorded. All variables were assessed relative to phantom diameter. Results: With standard-pitch SSCT, the scanner radiation output (and tube-current) were progressively adapted with increasing size, from 6 mGy (120 mAs) up to 15 mGy (270 mAs) from the thinnest (16cm) to the thickest diameter (37 cm), respectively. By comparison, using high-pitch (3.2), the scanner output was bounded at about 8 mGy (140 mAs), independent of phantom diameter. Although relative to standard-pitch, the high-pitch led to lower radiation output for the same scan, the image noise was higher, particularly for larger diameters. To match the radiation output adaptation of standard-pitch, a high-pitch mode of 1.6 was needed, with the advantage of scanning twice as fast. Conclusion: To maximize the benefits of fast scanning with high-pitch DSCT, the body size and tube power limits of the system need to be considered such that a good balance between speed of acquisition and image quality are warranted. JCRG is an employee of Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc.« less

Internet-Based Resources Frequently Provide Inaccurate and Out-of-Date Recommendations on Preoperative Fasting: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Roughead, Taren; Sewell, Darreul; Ryerson, Christopher J; Fisher, Jolene H; Flexman, Alana M

2016-12-01

Preoperative fasting is important to avoid morbidity and surgery delays, yet recommendations available on the Internet may be inaccurate. Our objectives were to describe the characteristics and recommendations of Internet resources on preoperative fasting and assess the quality and readability of these websites. We searched the Internet for common search terms on preoperative fasting using Google® search engines from 4 English-speaking countries (Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom). We screened the first 30 websites from each search and extracted data from unique websites that provided recommendations on preoperative fasting. Website quality was assessed using validated tools (JAMA Benchmark criteria, DISCERN score, and Health on the Net Foundation code [HONcode] certification). Readability was scored using the Flesch Reading Ease score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. A total of 87 websites were included in the analysis. A total of 48 websites (55%) provided at least 1 recommendation that contradicted established guidelines. Websites from health care institutions were most likely to make inaccurate recommendations (61%). Only 17% of websites encouraged preoperative hydration. Quality and readability were poor, with a median JAMA Benchmark score of 1 (interquartile range 0-3), mean DISCERN score 39.8 (SD 12.5), mean reading ease score 49 (SD 15), and mean grade level of 10.6 (SD 2.7). HONcode certification was infrequent (10%). Anesthesia society websites and scientific articles had higher DISCERN scores but worse readability compared with websites from health care institutions. Online fasting recommendations are frequently inconsistent with current guidelines, particularly among health care institution websites. The poor quality and readability of Internet resources on preoperative fasting may confuse patients.

Fasting Plasma Glucose, Self-Appraised Diet Quality and Depressive Symptoms: A US-Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Hoare, Erin; Dash, Sarah R; Varsamis, Pia; Jennings, Garry L; Kingwell, Bronwyn A

2017-12-07

Depression and type 2 diabetes (T2D) contribute significantly to global burden of disease and often co-occur. Underpinning type 2 diabetes is poor glycaemic control and glucose is also an obligatory substrate for brain metabolism, with potential implications for cognition, motivation and mood. This research aimed to examine the relationships between fasting plasma glucose and depressive symptoms in a large, population representative sample of US adults, controlling for other demographic and lifestyle behavioural risk factors. Using the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, this study first investigated the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and mental disorders at a population-level, accounting for demographic, health behavioural and weight-related factors known to co-occur with both type 2 diabetes and mental disorders. Depressive symptoms were derived from the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Fasting plasma glucose was obtained through medical examination and demographic (age, household income, sex) and health characteristics (perceived diet quality, daily time sedentary) were self-reported. Body mass index was calculated from objectively measured height and weight. In the univariate model, higher fasting plasma glucose was associated with greater depressive symptoms among females ( b = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.43, p < 0.05), but not males. In the final fully adjusted model, the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and depressive symptoms was non-significant for both males and females. Of all independent variables, self-appraised diet quality was strongly and significantly associated with depressive symptoms and this remained significant when individuals with diabetes were excluded. Although diet quality was self-reported based on individuals' perceptions, these findings are consistent with a role for poor diet in the relationship between fasting plasma glucose and depressive symptoms.

Mobile "Comfort" Zones: Overcoming Barriers to Enable Facilitated Learning in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holley, Debbie; Sentance, Sue

2015-01-01

The affordances of mobile technologies are well documented (Vavoula (2004); Wali (2008); Pachler et al (2010); Cook (2011); Sharples (2013). Linked with the rapid expansion of the "SMART" phones, where users access fast/high quality information, new opportunities are offered to engage students at a time/place of their own choosing. Our…

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis System in the Classroom: Detection of DNA Strand Breaks through the Alteration of Plasmid Topology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Mattos, J. C. P.; Dantas, F. J. S.; Caldeira-de-Araujo, A.; Moraes, M. O.

2004-01-01

Good quality scientific teaching depends on the ability of researchers to translate laboratory experiments into high school and undergraduate classes, bridging the advanced and basic science with common knowledge. A fast-growing field in biomedical sciences is oxidative stress, which has been associated to several diseases, including cancer and…

The performance of the γ-ray tracking array GRETINA for γ-ray spectroscopy with fast beams of rare isotopes

DOE PAGES

Weisshaar, D.; Bazin, D.; Bender, P. C.; ...

2016-12-03

The gamma-ray tracking array GRETINA was coupled to the S800 magnetic spectrometer for spectroscopy with fast beams of rare isotopes at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. We describe the technical details of this powerful setup and report on GRETINA's performance achieved with source and in-beam measurements. The gamma-ray multiplicity encountered in experiments with fast beams is usually low, allowing for a simplified and efficient treatment of the data in the gamma-ray analysis in terms of Doppler reconstruction and spectral quality. Finally, the results reported in this work were obtained from GRETINA consisting ofmore » 8 detector modules hosting four high-purity germanium crystals each. Currently, GRETINA consists of 10 detector modules.« less

Miniaturized video-microscopy system for near real-time water quality biomonitoring using microfluidic chip-based devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yushi; Nigam, Abhimanyu; Campana, Olivia; Nugegoda, Dayanthi; Wlodkowic, Donald

2016-12-01

Biomonitoring studies apply biological responses of sensitive biomonitor organisms to rapidly detect adverse environmental changes such as presence of physic-chemical stressors and toxins. Behavioral responses such as changes in swimming patterns of small aquatic invertebrates are emerging as sensitive endpoints to monitor aquatic pollution. Although behavioral responses do not deliver information on an exact type or the intensity of toxicants present in water samples, they could provide orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than lethal endpoints such as mortality. Despite the advantages of behavioral biotests performed on sentinel organisms, their wider application in real-time and near realtime biomonitoring of water quality is limited by the lack of dedicated and automated video-microscopy systems. Current behavioral analysis systems rely mostly on static test conditions and manual procedures that are time-consuming and labor intensive. Tracking and precise quantification of locomotory activities of multiple small aquatic organisms requires high-resolution optical data recording. This is often problematic due to small size of fast moving animals and limitations of culture vessels that are not specially designed for video data recording. In this work, we capitalized on recent advances in miniaturized CMOS cameras, high resolution optics and biomicrofluidic technologies to develop near real-time water quality sensing using locomotory activities of small marine invertebrates. We present proof-of-concept integration of high-resolution time-resolved video recording system and high-throughput miniaturized perfusion biomicrofluidic platform for optical tracking of nauplii of marine crustacean Artemia franciscana. Preliminary data demonstrate that Artemia sp. exhibits rapid alterations of swimming patterns in response to toxicant exposure. The combination of video-microscopy and biomicrofluidic platform facilitated straightforward recording of fast moving objects. We envisage that prospectively such system can be scaled up to perform high-throughput water quality sensing in a robotic biomonitoring facility.

Returning nurses to the workforce: developing a fast track back program.

PubMed

Burns, Helen K; Sakraida, Teresa J; Englert, Nadine C; Hoffmann, Rosemary L; Tuite, Patricia; Foley, Susan M

2006-01-01

Fast Track Back: Re-entry into Nursing Practice program. Describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a state-of-the-art re-entry program facilitating the return of licensed nonpracticing RNs to the workforce through a quality education program that retools them for the workforce in the areas of pharmacology, skill development using the latest technology, practice standards, and nursing issues. The program consists of didactic content taught via classroom, Internet, skills laboratory, and high fidelity human simulated technology and a clinical component. The program is a mechanism that enables re-entry nurses to improve skills and competencies necessary to practice in today's healthcare environment.

Flow visualization by mobile phone cameras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cierpka, Christian; Hain, Rainer; Buchmann, Nicolas A.

2016-06-01

Mobile smart phones were completely changing people's communication within the last ten years. However, these devices do not only offer communication through different channels but also devices and applications for fun and recreation. In this respect, mobile phone cameras include now relatively fast (up to 240 Hz) cameras to capture high-speed videos of sport events or other fast processes. The article therefore explores the possibility to make use of this development and the wide spread availability of these cameras in the terms of velocity measurements for industrial or technical applications and fluid dynamics education in high schools and at universities. The requirements for a simplistic PIV (particle image velocimetry) system are discussed. A model experiment of a free water jet was used to prove the concept and shed some light on the achievable quality and determine bottle necks by comparing the results obtained with a mobile phone camera with data taken by a high-speed camera suited for scientific experiments.

Probiotic supplementation and fast freezing to improve quality attributes and oxidation stability of frozen chicken breast muscle

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of probiotic supplementation and fast freezing on quality attributes and oxidation stability of frozen/thawed chicken breast meat. Broilers were fed with a basal diet or the basal diet plus 250 ppm Sporulin (three strains of Bacillus subtilis)...

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Validation Study Designs. CEELO FastFacts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schilder, D.

2013-01-01

In this "Fast Facts," a state has received Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge funds and is seeking information to inform the design of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) validation study. The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) responds that according to Resnick (2012), validation of a QRIS is an…

Novel, simple and fast automated synthesis of 18F-choline in a single Synthera module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Litman, Y.; Pace, P.; Silva, L.; Hormigo, C.; Caro, R.; Gutierrez, H.; Bastianello, M.; Casale, G.

2012-12-01

The aim of this work is to develop a method to produce 18F-Fluorocholine in a single Synthera module with high yield, quality and reproducibility. We give special importance to the details of the drying and distillation procedures. After 5 syntheses we report a decay corrected yield of (27 ± 2) % (mean ± S.D.). The radiochemical purity was > 95%, and the other quality control parameters were within the specifications. Product 18F-fluorocholine was administrated to 17 humans with no observed side-effects.

AGU Journals Increase Speed and Impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warner, Mary

2014-08-01

Fast publication and high quality and impact are important for effective dissemination of geoscience research. With this in mind, AGU's journal editors and staff, along with staff at our publishing partner, Wiley, have been working to increase both the speed of publication and the impact of the research published in our 18 peer-reviewed journals while maintaining our commitment to quality. Significant progress continues to be made on both fronts, as evidenced by the most recent publication times and the 2013 release of the Journal Citation Reports®, which was issued by Thomson Reuters on 29 July.

Operation quality assessment model for video conference system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Bangshi; Qi, Feng; Shao, Sujie; Wang, Ying; Li, Weijian

2018-01-01

Video conference system has become an important support platform for smart grid operation and management, its operation quality is gradually concerning grid enterprise. First, the evaluation indicator system covering network, business and operation maintenance aspects was established on basis of video conference system's operation statistics. Then, the operation quality assessment model combining genetic algorithm with regularized BP neural network was proposed, which outputs operation quality level of the system within a time period and provides company manager with some optimization advice. The simulation results show that the proposed evaluation model offers the advantages of fast convergence and high prediction accuracy in contrast with regularized BP neural network, and its generalization ability is superior to LM-BP neural network and Bayesian BP neural network.

Fast-track cardiac care for adult cardiac surgical patients.

PubMed

Zhu, Fang; Lee, Anna; Chee, Yee Eot

2012-10-17

Fast-track cardiac care is a complex intervention involving several components of care during cardiac anaesthesia and in the postoperative period, all with the ultimate aim of early extubation after surgery, to reduce the length of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital. Safe and effective fast-track cardiac care may reduce hospital costs. This is an update of a Cochrane review published in 2003. To update the evidence on the safety and effectiveness of fast-track cardiac care compared to conventional (not fast-track) care in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2012, Issue 3), MEDLINE (January 1966 to April 2012), EMBASE (January 1980 to April 2012), CINAHL (January 1982 to April 2012), and ISI Web of Science (January 2003 to April 2012). We searched reference lists of articles and contacted experts in the field. All randomized controlled trials of adult cardiac surgical patients (coronary artery bypass grafts, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement) that compared fast-track cardiac care and conventional (not fast-track) care groups were included. We focused on the following fast-track interventions that were designed for early extubation after surgery, administration of low-dose opioid based general anaesthesia during cardiac surgery and the use of a time-directed extubation protocol after surgery. The primary outcome was the risk of mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, reintubation within 24 hours of surgery, time to extubation, length of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital, quality of life after surgery and hospital costs. Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted the data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. We used a random-effects model and reported relative risk (RR), mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Twenty-five trials involving 4118 patients were included in the review. There were two studies with a low risk of bias and nine studies with a high risk of bias. There were no differences in the risk of mortality within the first year after surgery between low-dose versus high-dose opioid based general anaesthesia groups (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.18) and between early extubation protocol versus usual care groups (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.75).There were no significant differences between low-dose versus high-dose opioid based anaesthesia groups for postoperative complications: myocardial infarction (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.99), reintubation (RR 1.77, 95% CI 0.38 to 8.27), acute renal failure (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.33 to 4.33), major bleeding (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.44), and stroke (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.36 to 3.78). Compared to the usual care, there were no significant differences in the risk of postoperative complications associated with early extubation: myocardial infarction (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.60), reintubation (RR 1.91, 95% CI 0.90 to 4.07), acute renal failure (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.19 to 3.10), major bleeding (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.44), stroke (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.46), major sepsis (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 19.75) and wound infection (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.83).Although there were high levels of heterogeneity, both low-dose opioid anaesthesia and the use of time-directed extubation protocols were associated with reductions in the time to extubation (3.0 to 10.5 hours) and in the length of stay in the intensive care unit (0.4 to 8.7 hours). However, these fast-track care interventions were not associated with reductions in the total length of stay in hospital. One high quality cost-effectiveness analysis included in a randomized controlled trial showed that early extubation was likely to be cost-effective. The use of low-dose opioid based general anaesthesia and time-directed protocols for fast-track interventions have similar risks of mortality and major postoperative complications to conventional (not fast-track) care, and therefore appear to be safe in patients considered to be at low to moderate risk. These fast-track interventions reduced the time to extubation and shortened the length of stay in the intensive care unit, but did not reduce the length of stay in the hospital.

Controllable Edge Oxidation and Bubbling Exfoliation Enable the Fabrication of High Quality Water Dispersible Graphene

PubMed Central

Tian, Suyun; Sun, Jing; Yang, Siwei; He, Peng; Wang, Gang; Di, Zengfeng; Ding, Guqiao; Xie, Xiaoming; Jiang, Mianheng

2016-01-01

Despite significant progresses made on mass production of chemically exfoliated graphene, the quality, cost and environmental friendliness remain major challenges for its market penetration. Here, we present a fast and green exfoliation strategy for large scale production of high quality water dispersible few layer graphene through a controllable edge oxidation and localized gas bubbling process. Mild edge oxidation guarantees that the pristine sp2 lattice is largely intact and the edges are functionalized with hydrophilic groups, giving rise to high conductivity and good water dispersibility at the same time. The aqueous concentration can be as high as 5.0 mg mL−1, which is an order of magnitude higher than previously reports. The water soluble graphene can be directly spray-coated on various substrates, and the back-gated field effect transistor give hole and electron mobility of ~496 and ~676 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. These results achieved are expected to expedite various applications of graphene. PMID:27666869

Controllable Edge Oxidation and Bubbling Exfoliation Enable the Fabrication of High Quality Water Dispersible Graphene.

PubMed

Tian, Suyun; Sun, Jing; Yang, Siwei; He, Peng; Wang, Gang; Di, Zengfeng; Ding, Guqiao; Xie, Xiaoming; Jiang, Mianheng

2016-09-26

Despite significant progresses made on mass production of chemically exfoliated graphene, the quality, cost and environmental friendliness remain major challenges for its market penetration. Here, we present a fast and green exfoliation strategy for large scale production of high quality water dispersible few layer graphene through a controllable edge oxidation and localized gas bubbling process. Mild edge oxidation guarantees that the pristine sp 2 lattice is largely intact and the edges are functionalized with hydrophilic groups, giving rise to high conductivity and good water dispersibility at the same time. The aqueous concentration can be as high as 5.0 mg mL -1 , which is an order of magnitude higher than previously reports. The water soluble graphene can be directly spray-coated on various substrates, and the back-gated field effect transistor give hole and electron mobility of ~496 and ~676 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , respectively. These results achieved are expected to expedite various applications of graphene.

Controllable Edge Oxidation and Bubbling Exfoliation Enable the Fabrication of High Quality Water Dispersible Graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Suyun; Sun, Jing; Yang, Siwei; He, Peng; Wang, Gang; di, Zengfeng; Ding, Guqiao; Xie, Xiaoming; Jiang, Mianheng

2016-09-01

Despite significant progresses made on mass production of chemically exfoliated graphene, the quality, cost and environmental friendliness remain major challenges for its market penetration. Here, we present a fast and green exfoliation strategy for large scale production of high quality water dispersible few layer graphene through a controllable edge oxidation and localized gas bubbling process. Mild edge oxidation guarantees that the pristine sp2 lattice is largely intact and the edges are functionalized with hydrophilic groups, giving rise to high conductivity and good water dispersibility at the same time. The aqueous concentration can be as high as 5.0 mg mL-1, which is an order of magnitude higher than previously reports. The water soluble graphene can be directly spray-coated on various substrates, and the back-gated field effect transistor give hole and electron mobility of ~496 and ~676 cm2 V-1 s-1, respectively. These results achieved are expected to expedite various applications of graphene.

Objective assessment of obesogenic environments in youth: geographic information system methods and spatial findings from the Neighborhood Impact on Kids study.

PubMed

Frank, Lawrence D; Saelens, Brian E; Chapman, James; Sallis, James F; Kerr, Jacqueline; Glanz, Karen; Couch, Sarah C; Learnihan, Vincent; Zhou, Chuan; Colburn, Trina; Cain, Kelli L

2012-05-01

GIS-based walkability measures designed to explain active travel fail to capture "playability" and proximity to healthy food. These constructs should be considered when measuring potential child obesogenic environments. The aim of this study was to describe the development of GIS-based multicomponent physical activity and nutrition environment indicators of child obesogenic environments in the San Diego and Seattle regions. Block group-level walkability (street connectivity, residential density, land-use mix, and retail floor area ratio) measures were constructed in each region. Multiple sources were used to enumerate parks (∼900-1600 per region) and food establishments (∼10,000 per region). Physical activity environments were evaluated on the basis of walkability and presence and quality of parks. Nutrition environments were evaluated based on presence and density of fast-food restaurants and distance to supermarkets. Four neighborhood types were defined using high/low cut points for physical activity and nutrition environments defined through an iterative process dependent on regional counts of fast-food outlets and overall distance to parks and grocery stores from census block groups where youth live. To identify sufficient numbers of children aged 6-11 years, high physical activity environment block groups had at least one high-quality park within 0.25 miles and were above median walkability, whereas low physical activity environment groups had no parks and were below median walkability. High nutrition environment block groups had a supermarket within 0.5 miles, and fewer than 16 (Seattle) and 31 (San Diego) fast-food restaurants within 0.5 miles. Low nutrition environments had either no supermarket, or a supermarket and more than 16 (Seattle) and 31 (San Diego) fast-food restaurants within 0.5 miles. Income, educational attainment, and ethnicity varied across physical activity and nutrition environments. These approaches to defining neighborhood environments can be used to study physical activity, nutrition, and obesity outcomes. Findings presented in a companion paper validate these GIS methods for measuring obesogenic environments. Copyright © 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved.

TRIIG - Time-lapse reproduction of images through interactive graphics. [digital processing of quality hard copy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckner, J. D.; Council, H. W.; Edwards, T. R.

1974-01-01

Description of the hardware and software implementing the system of time-lapse reproduction of images through interactive graphics (TRIIG). The system produces a quality hard copy of processed images in a fast and inexpensive manner. This capability allows for optimal development of processing software through the rapid viewing of many image frames in an interactive mode. Three critical optical devices are used to reproduce an image: an Optronics photo reader/writer, the Adage Graphics Terminal, and Polaroid Type 57 high speed film. Typical sources of digitized images are observation satellites, such as ERTS or Mariner, computer coupled electron microscopes for high-magnification studies, or computer coupled X-ray devices for medical research.

2000W high beam quality diode laser for direct materials processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Wen-bin; Liu, You-qiang; Cao, Yin-hua; Gao, Jing; Pan, Fei; Wang, Zhi-yong

2011-11-01

This article describes high beam quality and kilowatt-class diode laser system for direct materials processing, using optical design software ZEMAX® to simulate the diode laser optical path, including the beam shaping, collimation, coupling, focus, etc.. In the experiment, the diode laser stack of 808nm and the diode laser stack of 915nm were used for the wavelength coupling, which were built vertical stacks up to 16 bars. The threshold current of the stack is 6.4A, the operating current is 85A and the output power is 1280W. Through experiments, after collimating the diode laser beam with micro-lenses, the fast axis BPP of the stack is less than 60mm.mrad, and the slow-axis BPP of the stack is less than 75mm.mrad. After shaping the laser beam and improving the beam quality, the fast axis BPP of the stack is still 60mm.mrad, and the slow-axis BPP of the stack is less than 19mm.mrad. After wavelength coupling and focusing, ultimately the power of 2150W was obtained, focal spot size of 1.5mm * 1.2mm with focal length 300mm. The laser power density is 1.2×105W/cm2, and that can be used for metal remelting, alloying, cladding and welding. The total optical coupling conversion efficiency is 84%, and the total electrical - optical conversion efficiency is 50%.

Fast high resolution reconstruction in multi-slice and multi-view cMRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velasco Toledo, Nelson; Romero Castro, Eduardo

2015-01-01

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is an useful tool in diagnosis, prognosis and research since it functionally tracks the heart structure. Although useful, this imaging technique is limited in spatial resolution because heart is a constant moving organ, also there are other non controled conditions such as patient movements and volumetric changes during apnea periods when data is acquired, those conditions limit the time to capture high quality information. This paper presents a very fast and simple strategy to reconstruct high resolution 3D images from a set of low resolution series of 2D images. The strategy is based on an information reallocation algorithm which uses the DICOM header to relocate voxel intensities in a regular grid. An interpolation method is applied to fill empty places with estimated data, the interpolation resamples the low resolution information to estimate the missing information. As a final step a gaussian filter that denoises the final result. A reconstructed image evaluation is performed using as a reference a super-resolution reconstructed image. The evaluation reveals that the method maintains the general heart structure with a small loss in detailed information (edge sharpening and blurring), some artifacts related with input information quality are detected. The proposed method requires low time and computational resources.

Calculating the quality of public high-throughput sequencing data to obtain a suitable subset for reanalysis from the Sequence Read Archive.

PubMed

Ohta, Tazro; Nakazato, Takeru; Bono, Hidemasa

2017-06-01

It is important for public data repositories to promote the reuse of archived data. In the growing field of omics science, however, the increasing number of submissions of high-throughput sequencing (HTSeq) data to public repositories prevents users from choosing a suitable data set from among the large number of search results. Repository users need to be able to set a threshold to reduce the number of results to obtain a suitable subset of high-quality data for reanalysis. We calculated the quality of sequencing data archived in a public data repository, the Sequence Read Archive (SRA), by using the quality control software FastQC. We obtained quality values for 1 171 313 experiments, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of data for reuse. We also visualized the data distribution in SRA by integrating the quality information and metadata of experiments and samples. We provide quality information of all of the archived sequencing data, which enable users to obtain sufficient quality sequencing data for reanalyses. The calculated quality data are available to the public in various formats. Our data also provide an example of enhancing the reuse of public data by adding metadata to published research data by a third party. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

2.1 μm high-power laser diode beam combining(Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berrou, Antoine P. C.; Elder, Ian F.; Lamb, Robert A.; Esser, M. J. Daniel

2016-10-01

Laser power and brightness scaling, in "eye safe" atmospheric transmission windows, is driving laser system research and development. High power lasers with good beam quality, at wavelength around 2.1 µm, are necessary for optical countermeasure applications. For such applications, focusing on efficiency and compactness of the system is mandatory. In order to cope with these requirements, one must consider the use of laser diodes which emit directly in the desired spectral region. The challenge for these diodes is to maintain a good beam quality factor as the output power increases. 2 µm diodes with excellent beam quality in both axes are available with output powers of 100 mW. Therefore, in order to reach multi-watt of average output power, broad-area single emitters and beam combining becomes relevant. Different solutions have been implemented in the 1.9 to 2 µm wavelength range, one of which is to stack multiple emitter bars reaching more than one hundred watt, while another is a fibre coupled diode module. The beam propagation factor of these systems is too high for long atmospheric propagation applications. Here we describe preliminary results on non-coherent beam combining of 2.1 µm high power Fabry-Perot GaSb laser diodes supplied by Brolis Semiconductors Ltd. First we evaluated single mode diodes (143 mW) with good beam quality (M2 < 1.5 for slow axis and < 1.1 for fast axis). Then we characterized broad-area single emitter diodes (808 mW) with an electrical-to-optical efficiency of 19 %. The emitter width was 90 µm with a cavity length of 1.5 mm. In our experiments we found that the slow axis multimode output beam consisted of two symmetric lobes with a total full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence angle of 25 degrees, corresponding to a calculated beam quality factor of M2 = 25. The fast axis divergence was specified to be 44 degrees, with an expected beam quality factor close to the diffraction limit, which informed our selection of collimation lenses used in the experiment. We evaluated two broadband (1.8 - 3 µm) AR coated Geltech aspheric lenses with focal lengths of 1.87 mm and 4 mm, with numerical apertures of 0.85 and 0.56, respectively, as an initial collimation lens, followed by an additional cylindrical lens of focal length 100 mm for fully collimating the slow axis. Using D-shaped gold-coated mirrors, multiple single emitter beams are stacked in the fast axis direction with the objective that the combined beam has a beam propagation factor in the stacking direction close to the beam propagation factor of the slow axis of a single emitter, e.g. M2 of 20 to 25 in both axes. We further found that the output beam of a single emitter is highly linearly polarized along the slow axis, making it feasible to implement polarization beam combining techniques to increase the beam power by a factor two while maintaining the same beam quality. Along with full beam characterization, a power scaling strategy towards a multi-watt output power beam combining laser system will be presented.

Advanced industrial fluorescence metrology used for qualification of high quality optical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engel, Axel; Becker, Hans-Juergen; Sohr, Oliver; Haspel, Rainer; Rupertus, Volker

2003-11-01

Schott Glas is developing and producing the optical material for various specialized applications in telecommunication, biomedical, optical, and micro lithography technology. The requirements on quality for optical materials are extremely high and still increasing. For example in micro lithography applications the impurities of the material are specified to be in the low ppb range. Usually the impurities in the lower ppb range are determined using analytical methods like LA ICP-MS and Neutron Activation Analysis. On the other hand absorption and laser resistivity of optical material is qualified with optical methods like precision spectral photometers and in-situ transmission measurements having UV lasers. Analytical methods have the drawback that they are time consuming and rather expensive, whereas the sensitivity for the absorption method will not be sufficient to characterize the future needs (coefficient much below 10-3 cm-1). In order to achieve the current and future quality requirements a Jobin Yvon FLUOROLOG 3.22 fluorescence spectrometer is employed to enable fast and precise qualification and analysis. The main advantage of this setup is the combination of highest sensitivity (more than one order of magnitude higher sensitivity that state of the art UV absorption spectroscopy) and fast measurement and evaluation cycles (several minutes compared to several hours necessary for chemical analytics). An overview is given for spectral characteristics and using specified standards. Moreover correlations to the material qualities are shown. In particular we have investigated the elementary fluorescence and absorption of rare earth element impurities as well as defects induced luminescence originated by impurities.

Note: A rigid piezo motor with large output force and an effective method to reduce sliding friction force.

PubMed

Guo, Ying; Hou, Yubin; Lu, Qingyou

2014-05-01

We present a completely practical TunaDrive piezo motor. It consists of a central piezo stack sandwiched by two arm piezo stacks and two leg piezo stacks, respectively, which is then sandwiched and spring-clamped by a pair of parallel polished sapphire rods. It works by alternatively fast expanding and contracting the arm/leg stacks while slowly expanding/contracting the central stack simultaneously. The key point is that sufficiently fast expanding and contracting a limb stack can make its two sliding friction forces well cancel, resulting in the total sliding friction force is <10% of the total static friction force, which can help increase output force greatly. The piezo motor's high compactness, precision, and output force make it perfect in building a high-quality harsh-condition (vibration resistant) atomic resolution scanning probe microscope.

Fast digital zooming system using directionally adaptive image interpolation and restoration.

PubMed

Kang, Wonseok; Jeon, Jaehwan; Yu, Soohwan; Paik, Joonki

2014-01-01

This paper presents a fast digital zooming system for mobile consumer cameras using directionally adaptive image interpolation and restoration methods. The proposed interpolation algorithm performs edge refinement along the initially estimated edge orientation using directionally steerable filters. Either the directionally weighted linear or adaptive cubic-spline interpolation filter is then selectively used according to the refined edge orientation for removing jagged artifacts in the slanted edge region. A novel image restoration algorithm is also presented for removing blurring artifacts caused by the linear or cubic-spline interpolation using the directionally adaptive truncated constrained least squares (TCLS) filter. Both proposed steerable filter-based interpolation and the TCLS-based restoration filters have a finite impulse response (FIR) structure for real time processing in an image signal processing (ISP) chain. Experimental results show that the proposed digital zooming system provides high-quality magnified images with FIR filter-based fast computational structure.

Ultra-fast LuI{sub 3}:Ce scintillators for hard x-ray imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marton, Zsolt, E-mail: zmarton@rmdinc.com; Miller, Stuart R.; Ovechkina, Elena

We have developed ultra-fast cerium-coped lutetium-iodide (LuI{sub 3}:Ce) films thermally evaporated as polycrystalline, structured scintillator using hot wall epitaxy (HWE) method. The films have shown a 13 ns decay compared to the 28 ns reported for crystals. The fast speed coupled with its high density (∼5.6 g/cm{sup 3}), high effective atomic number (59.7), and the fact that it can be vapor deposited in a columnar form makes LuI{sub 3}:Ce an attractive candidate for high frame rate, high-resolution, hard X-ray imaging. In crystal form, LuI{sub 3}:Ce has demonstrated bright (>100,000 photons/MeV) green (540 nm) emission, which is well matched to commercialmore » CCD/CMOS sensors and is critical for maintaining high signal to noise ratio in light starved applications. Here, we report on the scintillation properties of films and those for corresponding crystalline material. The vapor grown films were integrated into a high-speed CMOS imager to demonstrate high-speed radiography capability. The films were also tested at Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory beamline 1-ID under hard X-ray irradiation. The data show a factor of four higher efficiency than the reference LuAG:Ce scintillators, high image quality, and linearity of scintillation response over a wide energy range. The films were employed to perform hard X-ray microtomography, the results of which will also be discussed.« less

Vitamin D Improves Selected Metabolic Parameters but Not Neuropsychological or Quality of Life Indices in OSA: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Kerley, Conor P; Hutchinson, Katrina; Bramham, Jessica; McGowan, Aisling; Faul, John; Cormican, Liam

2017-01-15

Our group and others have reported a high rate of vitamin D deficiency in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where vitamin D levels (25(OH) D) correlate negatively with OSA severity and some of its associated metabolic alterations. Data regarding vitamin D supplementation in OSA are lacking. We wanted to evaluate the effect of vitamin D 3 supplementation on OSA symptoms and metabolic parameters. We conducted a pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of daily supplementation with 4,000 IU vitamin D 3 (D3) or placebo (PL). We studied 19 Caucasian adults (14 male, mean age 55 y, mean body mass index [BMI] 30.4 kg/m 2 ) with OSA. Fifteen patients were stable on continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy, whereas four were CPAP naïve. Assessments were completed at baseline and after 15 weeks of supplementation. Outcomes included sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), quality of life (Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Inventory), fatigue (fatigue severity scale) and neuropsychological function (trail making test and Connor's Continuous Performance Test II). In addition, we assessed biochemical indices of vitamin D status (25(OH)D, calcium), inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), lipids (total cholesterol [low-density and high-density lipoprotein]) and glycemic indices (fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test). There was no change in BMI, medication, or CPAP usage. Although there was no change in neuropsychological or quality of life indices, we observed a significant increase in 25(OH)D (p = 0.00001) and significant decreases in both low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.04) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (p = 0.037) as well as trends toward decreased fasting glucose (p = 0.09) and increased high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.07) in the D 3 group compared to PL. Vitamin D 3 supplementation increased vitamin D levels and decreased metabolic markers compared to placebo. Larger trials are required. © 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Positive attitudes toward organic, local, and sustainable foods are associated with higher dietary quality among young adults

PubMed Central

Laska, Melissa N.; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne; Story, Mary

2012-01-01

Scant evidence is available on the relationship between preferences for organic, local, sustainable, and non-processed foods (i.e., alternative food production practices) and dietary quality. This cross-sectional study examined the characteristics and dietary behaviors (e.g., consumption of fruit, vegetables, fast food, etc.) of young adults who reported placing low, moderate, or high importance on alternative food production practices. A diverse sample of 1,201 students at a two-year community college and a four-year public university in the Twin Cities, MN, completed the Student Health and Wellness Study survey in spring 2010. Chi-square tests examined differences in attitudes across demographic characteristics. Linear regression adjusted dietary intake across attitudes. About half (49%) of young adults placed moderate to high importance on alternative production practices, and few demographic differences across attitudes were found. Young adults who placed high importance on alternative production practices consumed 1.3 greater servings of fruits and vegetables (p<0.001), more dietary fiber (p<0.001), fewer added sugars (p<0.001) and less fat (p=0.025) than those who placed low importance on these practices. Young adults who placed high importance on alternative food production practices also consumed breakfast about one more day per week and fast food half as often as those who placed low importance on these practices (p<0.001). Study findings suggest that nutrition messaging around social and environmental implications of food production practices may be well received by this age group. Experimental studies are needed to investigate whether attitudes toward alternative production practices can be manipulated to improve dietary quality. PMID:23260729

Accelerating an Ordered-Subset Low-Dose X-Ray Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction with a Power Factor and Total Variation Minimization.

PubMed

Huang, Hsuan-Ming; Hsiao, Ing-Tsung

2016-01-01

In recent years, there has been increased interest in low-dose X-ray cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in many fields, including dentistry, guided radiotherapy and small animal imaging. Despite reducing the radiation dose, low-dose CBCT has not gained widespread acceptance in routine clinical practice. In addition to performing more evaluation studies, developing a fast and high-quality reconstruction algorithm is required. In this work, we propose an iterative reconstruction method that accelerates ordered-subsets (OS) reconstruction using a power factor. Furthermore, we combine it with the total-variation (TV) minimization method. Both simulation and phantom studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method can accelerate conventional OS methods, greatly increase the convergence speed in early iterations. Moreover, applying the TV minimization to the power acceleration scheme can further improve the image quality while preserving the fast convergence rate.

Hall-Effect Based Semi-Fast AC On-Board Charging Equipment for Electric Vehicles

PubMed Central

Milanés-Montero, María Isabel; Gallardo-Lozano, Javier; Romero-Cadaval, Enrique; González-Romera, Eva

2011-01-01

The expected increase in the penetration of electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) will produce unbalanced conditions, reactive power consumption and current harmonics drawn by the battery charging equipment, causing a great impact on the power quality of the future smart grid. A single-phase semi-fast electric vehicle battery charger is proposed in this paper. This ac on-board charging equipment can operate in grid-to-vehicle (G2V) mode, and also in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode, transferring the battery energy to the grid when the vehicle is parked. The charger is controlled with a Perfect Harmonic Cancellation (PHC) strategy, contributing to improve the grid power quality, since the current demanded or injected has no harmonic content and a high power factor. Hall-effect current and voltage transducers have been used in the sensor stage to carry out this control strategy. Experimental results with a laboratory prototype are presented. PMID:22163697

Hall-effect based semi-fast AC on-board charging equipment for electric vehicles.

PubMed

Milanés-Montero, María Isabel; Gallardo-Lozano, Javier; Romero-Cadaval, Enrique; González-Romera, Eva

2011-01-01

The expected increase in the penetration of electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) will produce unbalanced conditions, reactive power consumption and current harmonics drawn by the battery charging equipment, causing a great impact on the power quality of the future smart grid. A single-phase semi-fast electric vehicle battery charger is proposed in this paper. This ac on-board charging equipment can operate in grid-to-vehicle (G2V) mode, and also in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode, transferring the battery energy to the grid when the vehicle is parked. The charger is controlled with a Perfect Harmonic Cancellation (PHC) strategy, contributing to improve the grid power quality, since the current demanded or injected has no harmonic content and a high power factor. Hall-effect current and voltage transducers have been used in the sensor stage to carry out this control strategy. Experimental results with a laboratory prototype are presented.

Fast segmentation of stained nuclei in terabyte-scale, time resolved 3D microscopy image stacks.

PubMed

Stegmaier, Johannes; Otte, Jens C; Kobitski, Andrei; Bartschat, Andreas; Garcia, Ariel; Nienhaus, G Ulrich; Strähle, Uwe; Mikut, Ralf

2014-01-01

Automated analysis of multi-dimensional microscopy images has become an integral part of modern research in life science. Most available algorithms that provide sufficient segmentation quality, however, are infeasible for a large amount of data due to their high complexity. In this contribution we present a fast parallelized segmentation method that is especially suited for the extraction of stained nuclei from microscopy images, e.g., of developing zebrafish embryos. The idea is to transform the input image based on gradient and normal directions in the proximity of detected seed points such that it can be handled by straightforward global thresholding like Otsu's method. We evaluate the quality of the obtained segmentation results on a set of real and simulated benchmark images in 2D and 3D and show the algorithm's superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms. We achieve an up to ten-fold decrease in processing times, allowing us to process large data sets while still providing reasonable segmentation results.

Accelerating an Ordered-Subset Low-Dose X-Ray Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction with a Power Factor and Total Variation Minimization

PubMed Central

Huang, Hsuan-Ming; Hsiao, Ing-Tsung

2016-01-01

In recent years, there has been increased interest in low-dose X-ray cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in many fields, including dentistry, guided radiotherapy and small animal imaging. Despite reducing the radiation dose, low-dose CBCT has not gained widespread acceptance in routine clinical practice. In addition to performing more evaluation studies, developing a fast and high-quality reconstruction algorithm is required. In this work, we propose an iterative reconstruction method that accelerates ordered-subsets (OS) reconstruction using a power factor. Furthermore, we combine it with the total-variation (TV) minimization method. Both simulation and phantom studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method can accelerate conventional OS methods, greatly increase the convergence speed in early iterations. Moreover, applying the TV minimization to the power acceleration scheme can further improve the image quality while preserving the fast convergence rate. PMID:27073853

The Effect of Social Integration on Outcomes after Major Lower Extremity Amputation

PubMed Central

Hawkins, Alexander T.; Pallangyo, Anthony J.; Herman, Ayesiga M.; Schaumeier, Maria J.; Smith, Ann D.; Hevelone, Nathanael D.; Crandell, David M.; Nguyen, Louis

2016-01-01

Objective Major lower extremity amputation is a common procedure that results in a profound change in a patient's life. We sought to determine the association between social support and outcomes after amputation. We hypothesized that patients with greater social support will have better post amputation outcomes. Methods From November 2011 to May 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study. Social integration was measured by the social integration subset of the Short Form (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). Systemic social support was assessed by comparing a US and Tanzanian population. Walking function was measured using the 6MWT and quality of life (QoL) was measured using the EQ-5D. Results 102 major lower extremity amputees were recruited. 63 patients were enrolled in the US with a mean age of 58.0. Forty-two (67%) were male. Patients with low social integration were more likely to be unable to ambulate (no walk 39% vs. slow walk 23% vs. fast walk 10%; P=.01) and those with high social integration were more likely to be fast walkers (no walk 10% vs. slow walk 59% vs. fast walk 74%; P=.01). This relationship persisted in a multivariable analysis. Increasing social integration scores were also positively associated with increasing quality of life scores in a multivariable analysis (β .002; SE .0008; P = .02). In comparing the US population with the Tanzanian cohort (39 subjects), there were no significant differences between functional or quality of life outcomes in the systemic social support analysis. Conclusions In the US population, increased social integration is associated with both improved function and quality of life outcomes among major lower extremity amputees. Systemic social support, as measured by comparing the US population with a Tanzanian population, was not associated with improved function or quality of life outcomes. In the US, steps should be taken to identify and aid amputees with poor social integration. PMID:26474508

Comparing an accelerated 3D fast spin-echo sequence (CS-SPACE) for knee 3-T magnetic resonance imaging with traditional 3D fast spin-echo (SPACE) and routine 2D sequences.

PubMed

Altahawi, Faysal F; Blount, Kevin J; Morley, Nicholas P; Raithel, Esther; Omar, Imran M

2017-01-01

To compare a faster, new, high-resolution accelerated 3D-fast-spin-echo (3D-FSE) acquisition sequence (CS-SPACE) to traditional 2D and high-resolution 3D sequences for knee 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty patients received knee MRIs that included routine 2D (T1, PD ± FS, T2-FS; 0.5 × 0.5 × 3 mm 3 ; ∼10 min), traditional 3D FSE (SPACE-PD-FS; 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 mm 3 ; ∼7.5 min), and accelerated 3D-FSE prototype (CS-SPACE-PD-FS; 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 mm 3 ; ∼5 min) acquisitions on a 3-T MRI system (Siemens MAGNETOM Skyra). Three musculoskeletal radiologists (MSKRs) prospectively and independently reviewed the studies with graded surveys comparing image and diagnostic quality. Tissue-specific signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were also compared. MSKR-perceived diagnostic quality of cartilage was significantly higher for CS-SPACE than for SPACE and 2D sequences (p < 0.001). Assessment of diagnostic quality of menisci and synovial fluid was higher for CS-SPACE than for SPACE (p < 0.001). CS-SPACE was not significantly different from SPACE but had lower assessments than 2D sequences for evaluation of bones, ligaments, muscles, and fat (p ≤ 0.004). 3D sequences had higher spatial resolution, but lower overall assessed contrast (p < 0.001). Overall image quality from CS-SPACE was assessed as higher than SPACE (p = 0.007), but lower than 2D sequences (p < 0.001). Compared to SPACE, CS-SPACE had higher fluid SNR and CNR against all other tissues (all p < 0.001). The CS-SPACE prototype allows for faster isotropic acquisitions of knee MRIs over currently used protocols. High fluid-to-cartilage CNR and higher spatial resolution over routine 2D sequences may present a valuable role for CS-SPACE in the evaluation of cartilage and menisci.

Fast and precise dense grid size measurement method based on coaxial dual optical imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jiping; Peng, Xiang; Yu, Jiping; Hao, Jian; Diao, Yan; Song, Tao; Li, Ameng; Lu, Xiaowei

2015-10-01

Test sieves with dense grid structure are widely used in many fields, accurate gird size calibration is rather critical for success of grading analysis and test sieving. But traditional calibration methods suffer from the disadvantages of low measurement efficiency and shortage of sampling number of grids which could lead to quality judgment risk. Here, a fast and precise test sieve inspection method is presented. Firstly, a coaxial imaging system with low and high optical magnification probe is designed to capture the grid images of the test sieve. Then, a scaling ratio between low and high magnification probes can be obtained by the corresponding grids in captured images. With this, all grid dimensions in low magnification image can be obtained by measuring few corresponding grids in high magnification image with high accuracy. Finally, by scanning the stage of the tri-axis platform of the measuring apparatus, whole surface of the test sieve can be quickly inspected. Experiment results show that the proposed method can measure the test sieves with higher efficiency compare to traditional methods, which can measure 0.15 million grids (gird size 0.1mm) within only 60 seconds, and it can measure grid size range from 20μm to 5mm precisely. In a word, the presented method can calibrate the grid size of test sieve automatically with high efficiency and accuracy. By which, surface evaluation based on statistical method can be effectively implemented, and the quality judgment will be more reasonable.

Image processing for grazing incidence fast atom diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debiossac, Maxime; Roncin, Philippe

2016-09-01

Grazing incidence fast atom diffraction (GIFAD, or FAD) has developed as a surface sensitive technique. Compared with thermal energies helium diffraction (TEAS or HAS), GIFAD is less sensitive to thermal decoherence but also more demanding in terms of surface coherence, the mean distance between defects. Such high quality surfaces can be obtained from freshly cleaved crystals or in a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) chamber where a GIFAD setup has been installed allowing in situ operation. Based on recent publications by Atkinson et al. (2014) and Debiossac et al. (2014), the paper describes in detail the basic steps needed to measure the relative intensities of the diffraction spots. Care is taken to outline the underlying physical assumptions.

Fast and efficient molecule detection in localization-based super-resolution microscopy by parallel adaptive histogram equalization.

PubMed

Li, Yiming; Ishitsuka, Yuji; Hedde, Per Niklas; Nienhaus, G Ulrich

2013-06-25

In localization-based super-resolution microscopy, individual fluorescent markers are stochastically photoactivated and subsequently localized within a series of camera frames, yielding a final image with a resolution far beyond the diffraction limit. Yet, before localization can be performed, the subregions within the frames where the individual molecules are present have to be identified-oftentimes in the presence of high background. In this work, we address the importance of reliable molecule identification for the quality of the final reconstructed super-resolution image. We present a fast and robust algorithm (a-livePALM) that vastly improves the molecule detection efficiency while minimizing false assignments that can lead to image artifacts.

Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery.

PubMed

Smith, Mark D; McCall, John; Plank, Lindsay; Herbison, G Peter; Soop, Mattias; Nygren, Jonas

2014-08-14

Preoperative carbohydrate treatments have been widely adopted as part of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) or fast-track surgery protocols. Although fast-track surgery protocols have been widely investigated and have been shown to be associated with improved postoperative outcomes, some individual constituents of these protocols, including preoperative carbohydrate treatment, have not been subject to such robust analysis. To assess the effects of preoperative carbohydrate treatment, compared with placebo or preoperative fasting, on postoperative recovery and insulin resistance in adult patients undergoing elective surgery. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2014, Issue 3), MEDLINE (January 1946 to March 2014), EMBASE (January 1947 to March 2014), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (January 1980 to March 2014) and Web of Science (January 1900 to March 2014) databases. We did not apply language restrictions in the literature search. We searched reference lists of relevant articles and contacted known authors in the field to identify unpublished data. We included all randomized controlled trials of preoperative carbohydrate treatment compared with placebo or traditional preoperative fasting in adult study participants undergoing elective surgery. Treatment groups needed to receive at least 45 g of carbohydrates within four hours before surgery or anaesthesia start time. Data were abstracted independently by at least two review authors, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Data were abstracted and documented pro forma and were entered into RevMan 5.2 for analysis. Quality assessment was performed independently by two review authors according to the standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. When available data were insufficient for quality assessment or data analysis, trial authors were contacted to request needed information. We collected trial data on complication rates and aspiration pneumonitis. We included 27 trials involving 1976 participants Trials were conducted in Europe, China, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand and involved patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery (18), orthopaedic surgery (4), cardiac surgery (4) and thyroidectomy (1). Twelve studies were limited to participants with an American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade of I-II or I-III.A total of 17 trials contained at least one domain judged to be at high risk of bias, and only two studies were judged to be at low risk of bias across all domains. Of greatest concern was the risk of bias associated with inadequate blinding, as most of the outcomes assessed by this review were subjective. Only six trials were judged to be at low risk of bias because of blinding.In 19 trials including 1351 participants, preoperative carbohydrate treatment was associated with shortened length of hospital stay compared with placebo or fasting (by 0.30 days; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56 to 0.04; very low-quality evidence). No significant effect on length of stay was noted when preoperative carbohydrate treatment was compared with placebo (14 trials including 867 participants; mean difference -0.13 days; 95% CI -0.38 to 0.12). Based on two trials including 86 participants, preoperative carbohydrate treatment was also associated with shortened time to passage of flatus when compared with placebo or fasting (by 0.39 days; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.07), as well as increased postoperative peripheral insulin sensitivity (three trials including 41 participants; mean increase in glucose infusion rate measured by hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp of 0.76 mg/kg/min; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.29; high-quality evidence).As reported by 14 trials involving 913 participants, preoperative carbohydrate treatment was not associated with an increase or a decrease in the risk of postoperative complications compared with placebo or fasting (risk ratio of complications 0.98, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.11; low-quality evidence). Aspiration pneumonitis was not reported in any patients, regardless of treatment group allocation. Preoperative carbohydrate treatment was associated with a small reduction in length of hospital stay when compared with placebo or fasting in adult patients undergoing elective surgery. It was found that preoperative carbohydrate treatment did not increase or decrease postoperative complication rates when compared with placebo or fasting. Lack of adequate blinding in many studies may have contributed to observed treatment effects for these subjective outcomes, which are subject to possible biases.

High-speed ultrafast laser machining with tertiary beam positioning (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chuan; Zhang, Haibin

2017-03-01

For an industrial laser application, high process throughput and low average cost of ownership are critical to commercial success. Benefiting from high peak power, nonlinear absorption and small-achievable spot size, ultrafast lasers offer advantages of minimal heat affected zone, great taper and sidewall quality, and small via capability that exceeds the limits of their predecessors in via drilling for electronic packaging. In the past decade, ultrafast lasers have both grown in power and reduced in cost. For example, recently, disk and fiber technology have both shown stable operation in the 50W to 200W range, mostly at high repetition rate (beyond 500 kHz) that helps avoid detrimental nonlinear effects. However, to effectively and efficiently scale the throughput with the fast-growing power capability of the ultrafast lasers while keeping the beneficial laser-material interactions is very challenging, mainly because of the bottleneck imposed by the inertia-related acceleration limit and servo gain bandwidth when only stages and galvanometers are being used. On the other side, inertia-free scanning solutions like acoustic optics and electronic optical deflectors have small scan field, and therefore not suitable for large-panel processing. Our recent system developments combine stages, galvanometers, and AODs into a coordinated tertiary architecture for high bandwidth and meanwhile large field beam positioning. Synchronized three-level movements allow extremely fast local speed and continuous motion over the whole stage travel range. We present the via drilling results from such ultrafast system with up to 3MHz pulse to pulse random access, enabling high quality low cost ultrafast machining with emerging high average power laser sources.

Incorporation of rapid thermodynamic data in fragment-based drug discovery.

PubMed

Kobe, Akihiro; Caaveiro, Jose M M; Tashiro, Shinya; Kajihara, Daisuke; Kikkawa, Masato; Mitani, Tomoya; Tsumoto, Kouhei

2013-03-14

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years. We introduce SITE (single-injection thermal extinction), a novel thermodynamic methodology that selects high-quality hits early in FBDD. SITE is a fast calorimetric competitive assay suitable for automation that captures the essence of isothermal titration calorimetry but using significantly fewer resources. We describe the principles of SITE and identify a novel family of fragment inhibitors of the enzyme ketosteroid isomerase displaying high values of enthalpic efficiency.

[Laparoscopic "fast-track" sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis disease in Germany. Results of a prospective quality assurance program].

PubMed

Tsilimparis, N; Haase, O; Wendling, P; Kipfmüller, K; Schmid, M; Engemann, R; Schwenk, W

2010-09-01

The natural course of sigmoid colon diverticulitis during conservative therapy and the assessment of the perioperative morbidity after sigmoid colon resection are differently evaluated by surgeons and gastroenterologists. The "fast-track" rehabilitation accelerates the reconvalescence and reduces the rate of postoperative general complications after colorectal surgery. The results of the laparoscopic "Fast-track" sigmoidectomy should be examined within a quality assurance program to better evaluate the perioperative risks following surgical management of diverticulitis. A prospective data collection within the voluntary quality assurance program "fast-track" Kolon II was performed. All participating clinics agreed on a multimodal, evidence-based standard perioperative treatment in terms of a "fast-track" rehabilitation for elective operations for sigmoid diverticulitis. Data from 846 patients undergoing laparoscopic "fast-track" sigmoid colon resection in 23 surgical departments in Germany were collected and evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 63 years (range 23 - 91). 203 patients (24 %) had severe co-morbidities (ASA classification III - IV). A conversion to conventional open surgery was necessary in 51 cases (6 %). Complications occurred in 93 patients (11 %). 76 patients suffered a surgical complication (8.9 %) and 32 patients (3.8 %) a general complication. Two patients died postoperatively due to multi-organ failure following anastomotic leaks. The patients took solid food in median on day 1 after surgery (range, 0 - 5) and passed stool on day 2 (range, 0 - 22). Predefined discharge criteria (free of pain on oral medication, normal oral feeding, stool) were met on day 4 (range, 1 - 58) and the patients were discharged on day 7 (range, 3 - 72). The 30-day re-admission rate was 3.9 %. Patients undergoing laparoscopic "fast-track" sigmoidectomy had a low rate of general complications and had a rapid reconvalescence with a short postoperative in-patient treatment as documented in a german quality assurance program. Copyright Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart . New York.

Heart failure - discharge

MedlinePlus

... Avoid fatty foods. Stay away from fast-food restaurants. Avoid some prepared and frozen foods. Learn fast ... A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among ...

Catalytic conversion of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to biofuels in supercritical alcohols over zeolites.

PubMed

Yang, Le; Ma, Rui; Ma, Zewei; Li, Yongdan

2016-06-01

Microalgae have been considered as the feedstock for the third generation biofuels production, given its high lipid content and fast productivity. Herein, a catalytic approach for microalgae liquefaction to biocrude is examined in a temperature range of 250-300°C in methanol and ethanol over zeolites. Higher biocrude yield was achieved in ethanol and at lower temperatures, while better quality biocrude with higher light biocrude ratio and lower average molecular weight (Mw) was favored in methanol and at higher temperatures. Application of zeolites improves the biocrude quality significantly. Among the catalysts, HY shows the strongest acidity and performs the best to produce high quality biocrude. Solid residues have been extensively explored with thermal gravity analysis and elemental analysis. It is reported for the first time that up to 99wt.% of sulfur is deposited in the solid residue at 250°C for both solvents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low-temperature magnetotransport in Si/SiGe heterostructures on 300 mm Si wafers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scappucci, Giordano; Yeoh, L.; Sabbagh, D.; Sammak, A.; Boter, J.; Droulers, G.; Kalhor, N.; Brousse, D.; Veldhorst, M.; Vandersypen, L. M. K.; Thomas, N.; Roberts, J.; Pillarisetty, R.; Amin, P.; George, H. C.; Singh, K. J.; Clarke, J. S.

Undoped Si/SiGe heterostructures are a promising material stack for the development of spin qubits in silicon. To deploy a qubit into high volume manufacturing in a quantum computer requires stringent control over substrate uniformity and quality. Electron mobility and valley splitting are two key electrical metrics of substrate quality relevant for qubits. Here we present low-temperature magnetotransport measurements of strained Si quantum wells with mobilities in excess of 100000 cm2/Vs fabricated on 300 mm wafers within the framework of advanced semiconductor manufacturing. These results are benchmarked against the results obtained in Si quantum wells deposited on 100 mm Si wafers in an academic research environment. To ensure rapid progress in quantum wells quality we have implemented fast feedback loops from materials growth, to heterostructure FET fabrication, and low temperature characterisation. On this topic we will present recent progress in developing a cryogenic platform for high-throughput magnetotransport measurements.

Study of ceramic products and processing techniques in space. [using computerized simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Markworth, A. J.; Oldfield, W.

1974-01-01

An analysis of the solidification kinetics of beta alumina in a zero-gravity environment was carried out, using computer-simulation techniques, in order to assess the feasibility of producing high-quality single crystals of this material in space. The two coupled transport processes included were movement of the solid-liquid interface and diffusion of sodium atoms in the melt. Results of the simulation indicate that appreciable crystal-growth rates can be attained in space. Considerations were also made of the advantages offered by high-quality single crystals of beta alumina for use as a solid electrolyte; these clearly indicate that space-grown materials are superior in many respects to analogous terrestrially-grown crystals. Likewise, economic considerations, based on the rapidly expanding technological applications for beta alumina and related fast ionic conductors, reveal that the many superior qualities of space-grown material justify the added expense and experimental detail associated with space processing.

Ramadan Fasting and Patients with Cancer: State-of-the-Art and Future Prospects.

PubMed

Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Briki, Walid; Khabbache, Hicham; Rammouz, Ismail; Chamari, Karim; Demaj, Taned; Re, Tania Simona; Zouhir, Mohamed

2016-01-01

Ramadan fasting represents one of the five pillars of the Islam creed. Even though some subjects (among which patients) are exempted from observing this religious duty, they may be eager to share this particular moment of the year with their family and peers. However, there are no guidelines or standardized protocols that can help physicians to properly address the issue of patients with cancer fasting in Ramadan and correctly advising them. Moreover, in a more interconnected and globalized society, in which more and more Muslim patients live in the Western countries, this topic is of high interest also for the general practitioner. For this purpose, we carried out a systematic review on the subject. Our main findings are that (1) very few studies have been carried out, addressing this issue, (2) evidence concerning quality of life and compliance to treatment is contrasting and scarce, and (3) generally speaking, few patients ask their physicians whether they can safely fast or not. For these reasons, further research should be performed, given the relevance and importance of this topic.

Ramadan Fasting and Patients with Cancer: State-of-the-Art and Future Prospects

PubMed Central

Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Briki, Walid; Khabbache, Hicham; Rammouz, Ismail; Chamari, Karim; Demaj, Taned; Re, Tania Simona; Zouhir, Mohamed

2016-01-01

Ramadan fasting represents one of the five pillars of the Islam creed. Even though some subjects (among which patients) are exempted from observing this religious duty, they may be eager to share this particular moment of the year with their family and peers. However, there are no guidelines or standardized protocols that can help physicians to properly address the issue of patients with cancer fasting in Ramadan and correctly advising them. Moreover, in a more interconnected and globalized society, in which more and more Muslim patients live in the Western countries, this topic is of high interest also for the general practitioner. For this purpose, we carried out a systematic review on the subject. Our main findings are that (1) very few studies have been carried out, addressing this issue, (2) evidence concerning quality of life and compliance to treatment is contrasting and scarce, and (3) generally speaking, few patients ask their physicians whether they can safely fast or not. For these reasons, further research should be performed, given the relevance and importance of this topic. PMID:26904505

Laser-based fast-neutron spectroscopy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomerantz, Ishay; Kishon, Itay; Kleinschmidt, Annika; Schanz, Victor A.; Tebartz, Alexandra; Fernández, Juan Carlos; Gautier, Donald C.; Johnson, Randall Philip; Shimada, Tsutomu; Wurden, Glen Anthony; Roth, Markus

2017-05-01

Great progress has been made in recent years in realizing compact, laser-based neutron generators. These devices, however, are inapplicable for conducting energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography because of the electromagnetic noise produced by the interaction of a strong laser field with matter. To overcome this limitation, we developed a novel neutron time-of-flight detector, largely immune to electromagnetic noise. The detector is based on plastic scintillator, only a few mm in size, which is coupled to a silicon photo-multiplier by a long optical fiber. I will present results we obtained at the Trident Laser Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory during the summer of 2016. Using this detector, we recorded high resolution, low-background fast neutron spectra generated by the interaction of laser accelerated deuterons with Beryllium. The quality of these spectra was sufficient to resolve the unique neutron absorption spectra of different elements and thus it is the first demonstration of laser-based fast neutron spectroscopy. I will discuss how this achievement paves the way to realizing compact neutron radiography systems for research, security, and commercial applications.

Investigation of trapping levels in p-type Zn3P2 nanowires using transport and optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lombardi, G. A.; de Oliveira, F. M.; Teodoro, M. D.; Chiquito, A. J.

2018-05-01

Here, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of high-quality Zn3P2 nanowires via chemical vapour deposition. Structural and morphological characterization studies revealed a reliable growth process of long, uniform, and single-crystalline nanowires. From temperature dependent transport and photoluminescence measurements, we have observed the contribution of different acceptor levels (15, 50, 70, 90, and 197 meV) to the conduction mechanisms. These levels were associated with zinc vacancies and phosphorous interstitial atoms which assigned a p-type character to this semiconductor. From time resolved photoluminescence experiments, a 91 ps lifetime decay was found. Such a fast lifetime decay is in agreement with the exciton transition along the bulk emission from high quality crystalline nanowires.

Caloric Intake from Fast Food among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief. Number 213

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vikraman, Sundeep; Fryar, Cheryl D.; Ogden, Cynthia L.

2015-01-01

Consumption of fast food has been linked to weight gain in adults. Fast food has also been associated with higher caloric intake and poorer diet quality in children and adolescents. From 1994 through 2006, caloric intake from fast food increased from 10% to 13% among children aged 2-18 years. This report presents the most recent data on the…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Halavanau, A.; Eddy, N.; Edstrom, D.

Superconducting linacs are capable of producing intense, ultra-stable, high-quality electron beams that have widespread applications in Science and Industry. Many project are based on the 1.3-GHz TESLA-type superconducting cavity. In this paper we provide an update on a recent experiment aimed at measuring the transfer matrix of a TESLA cavity at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility. The results are discussed and compared with analytical and numerical simulations.

Fast and Focused: Accelerated Degree Programs Keep Students Locked in on Learning. Lumina Foundation Focus™. Fall 2013

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giegerich, Steve

2013-01-01

Employers point to a large and growing "skills gap," saying thousands of jobs are already going unfilled because applicants lack the skills and knowledge they need. Forecasters say that, by the end of this decade, two-thirds of all jobs will require some form of high-quality postsecondary credential such as a degree or certificate. The…

High-resolution, high-sensitivity, ground-based solar spectropolarimetry with a new fast imaging polarimeter. I. Prototype characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iglesias, F. A.; Feller, A.; Nagaraju, K.; Solanki, S. K.

2016-05-01

Context. Remote sensing of weak and small-scale solar magnetic fields is of utmost relevance when attempting to respond to a number of important open questions in solar physics. This requires the acquisition of spectropolarimetric data with high spatial resolution (~10-1 arcsec) and low noise (10-3 to 10-5 of the continuum intensity). The main limitations to obtain these measurements from the ground, are the degradation of the image resolution produced by atmospheric seeing and the seeing-induced crosstalk (SIC). Aims: We introduce the prototype of the Fast Solar Polarimeter (FSP), a new ground-based, high-cadence polarimeter that tackles the above-mentioned limitations by producing data that are optimally suited for the application of post-facto image restoration, and by operating at a modulation frequency of 100 Hz to reduce SIC. Methods: We describe the instrument in depth, including the fast pnCCD camera employed, the achromatic modulator package, the main calibration steps, the effects of the modulation frequency on the levels of seeing-induced spurious signals, and the effect of the camera properties on the image restoration quality. Results: The pnCCD camera reaches 400 fps while keeping a high duty cycle (98.6%) and very low noise (4.94 e- rms). The modulator is optimized to have high (>80%) total polarimetric efficiency in the visible spectral range. This allows FSP to acquire 100 photon-noise-limited, full-Stokes measurements per second. We found that the seeing induced signals that are present in narrow-band, non-modulated, quiet-sun measurements are (a) lower than the noise (7 × 10-5) after integrating 7.66 min, (b) lower than the noise (2.3 × 10-4) after integrating 1.16 min and (c) slightly above the noise (4 × 10-3) after restoring case (b) by means of a multi-object multi-frame blind deconvolution. In addition, we demonstrate that by using only narrow-band images (with low S/N of 13.9) of an active region, we can obtain one complete set of high-quality restored measurements about every 2 s.

Comprehensive Performance Study of Magneto Cantilevers as a Candidate Model for Biological Sensors used in Lab-on-a-Chip Applications

PubMed Central

Saberkari, Hamidreza; Ghavifekr, Habib Badri; Shamsi, Mousa

2015-01-01

In recent years, demand for biological sensors which are capable of fast and accurate detection of minor amounts of pathogens in real-time form has been intensified. Acoustic wave (AW) devices whose performance is determined by mass sensitivity parameters and quality factor are used in biological sensors as platforms with high quality. Yet, current AW devices are facing many challenges such as the low value of their quality factor in practical applications and also their difficulty to use in liquids. The main focus of this article is to study on the magnetostrictive sensors which include milli/microcantilever (MSMC) type. In comparison with AW devices, MSMC has a lot of advantages; (1) its actuation and sensing unit is wirelessly controlled. (2) Its fabrication process is easy. (3) It works well in liquids. (4) It has a high-quality factor (in the air > 500). Simulation results demonstrate that the amount of quality factor depends on environment properties (density and viscosity), MSMC geometry, and its resonant behavior of harmonic modes. PMID:26120566

Effect of tree nuts on glycemic control in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled dietary trials.

PubMed

Viguiliouk, Effie; Kendall, Cyril W C; Blanco Mejia, Sonia; Cozma, Adrian I; Ha, Vanessa; Mirrahimi, Arash; Jayalath, Viranda H; Augustin, Livia S A; Chiavaroli, Laura; Leiter, Lawrence A; de Souza, Russell J; Jenkins, David J A; Sievenpiper, John L

2014-01-01

Tree nut consumption has been associated with reduced diabetes risk, however, results from randomized trials on glycemic control have been inconsistent. To provide better evidence for diabetes guidelines development, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of tree nuts on markers of glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases through 6 April 2014. Randomized controlled trials ≥3 weeks conducted in individuals with diabetes that compare the effect of diets emphasizing tree nuts to isocaloric diets without tree nuts on HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Two independent reviewer's extracted relevant data and assessed study quality and risk of bias. Data were pooled by the generic inverse variance method and expressed as mean differences (MD) with 95% CI's. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q-statistic) and quantified (I2). Twelve trials (n = 450) were included. Diets emphasizing tree nuts at a median dose of 56 g/d significantly lowered HbA1c (MD = -0.07% [95% CI:-0.10, -0.03%]; P = 0.0003) and fasting glucose (MD = -0.15 mmol/L [95% CI: -0.27, -0.02 mmol/L]; P = 0.03) compared with control diets. No significant treatment effects were observed for fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, however the direction of effect favoured tree nuts. Majority of trials were of short duration and poor quality. Pooled analyses show that tree nuts improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, supporting their inclusion in a healthy diet. Owing to the uncertainties in our analyses there is a need for longer, higher quality trials with a focus on using nuts to displace high-glycemic index carbohydrates. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01630980.

Effect of Tree Nuts on Glycemic Control in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Dietary Trials

PubMed Central

Viguiliouk, Effie; Kendall, Cyril W. C.; Blanco Mejia, Sonia; Cozma, Adrian I.; Ha, Vanessa; Mirrahimi, Arash; Jayalath, Viranda H.; Augustin, Livia S. A.; Chiavaroli, Laura; Leiter, Lawrence A.; de Souza, Russell J.; Jenkins, David J. A.; Sievenpiper, John L.

2014-01-01

Background Tree nut consumption has been associated with reduced diabetes risk, however, results from randomized trials on glycemic control have been inconsistent. Objective To provide better evidence for diabetes guidelines development, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of tree nuts on markers of glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. Data Sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases through 6 April 2014. Study Selection Randomized controlled trials ≥3 weeks conducted in individuals with diabetes that compare the effect of diets emphasizing tree nuts to isocaloric diets without tree nuts on HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two independent reviewer’s extracted relevant data and assessed study quality and risk of bias. Data were pooled by the generic inverse variance method and expressed as mean differences (MD) with 95% CI’s. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q-statistic) and quantified (I2). Results Twelve trials (n = 450) were included. Diets emphasizing tree nuts at a median dose of 56 g/d significantly lowered HbA1c (MD = −0.07% [95% CI:−0.10, −0.03%]; P = 0.0003) and fasting glucose (MD = −0.15 mmol/L [95% CI: −0.27, −0.02 mmol/L]; P = 0.03) compared with control diets. No significant treatment effects were observed for fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, however the direction of effect favoured tree nuts. Limitations Majority of trials were of short duration and poor quality. Conclusions Pooled analyses show that tree nuts improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, supporting their inclusion in a healthy diet. Owing to the uncertainties in our analyses there is a need for longer, higher quality trials with a focus on using nuts to displace high-glycemic index carbohydrates. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01630980 PMID:25076495

Ultrasmooth Perovskite Film via Mixed Anti-Solvent Strategy with Improved Efficiency.

PubMed

Yu, Yu; Yang, Songwang; Lei, Lei; Cao, Qipeng; Shao, Jun; Zhang, Sheng; Liu, Yan

2017-02-01

Most antisolvents employed in previous research were miscible with perovskite precursor solution. They always led to fast formation of perovskite even if the intermediate stage existed, which was not beneficial to obtain high quality perovskite films and made the formation process less controllable. In this work, a novel ethyl ether/n-hexane mixed antisolvent (MAS) was used to achieve high nucleation density and slow down the formation process of perovskite, producing films with improved orientation of grains and ultrasmooth surfaces. These high quality films exhibited efficient charge transport at the interface of perovskite/hole transport material and perovskite solar cells based on these films showed greatly improved performance with the best power conversion efficiency of 17.08%. This work also proposed a selection principle of MAS and showed that solvent engineering by designing the mixed antisolvent system can lead to the fabrication of high-performance perovskite solar cells.

Calibration and validation of a spar-type floating offshore wind turbine model using the FAST dynamic simulation tool

DOE PAGES

Browning, J. R.; Jonkman, J.; Robertson, A.; ...

2014-12-16

In this study, high-quality computer simulations are required when designing floating wind turbines because of the complex dynamic responses that are inherent with a high number of degrees of freedom and variable metocean conditions. In 2007, the FAST wind turbine simulation tool, developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), was expanded to include capabilities that are suitable for modeling floating offshore wind turbines. In an effort to validate FAST and other offshore wind energy modeling tools, DOE funded the DeepCwind project that tested three prototype floating wind turbines at 1/50 th scalemore » in a wave basin, including a semisubmersible, a tension-leg platform, and a spar buoy. This paper describes the use of the results of the spar wave basin tests to calibrate and validate the FAST offshore floating simulation tool, and presents some initial results of simulated dynamic responses of the spar to several combinations of wind and sea states. Wave basin tests with the spar attached to a scale model of the NREL 5-megawatt reference wind turbine were performed at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands under the DeepCwind project. This project included free-decay tests, tests with steady or turbulent wind and still water (both periodic and irregular waves with no wind), and combined wind/wave tests. The resulting data from the 1/50th model was scaled using Froude scaling to full size and used to calibrate and validate a full-size simulated model in FAST. Results of the model calibration and validation include successes, subtleties, and limitations of both wave basin testing and FAST modeling capabilities.« less

Note: A rigid piezo motor with large output force and an effective method to reduce sliding friction force

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Ying; Lu, Qingyou, E-mail: qxl@ustc.edu.cn; Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026

2014-05-15

We present a completely practical TunaDrive piezo motor. It consists of a central piezo stack sandwiched by two arm piezo stacks and two leg piezo stacks, respectively, which is then sandwiched and spring-clamped by a pair of parallel polished sapphire rods. It works by alternatively fast expanding and contracting the arm/leg stacks while slowly expanding/contracting the central stack simultaneously. The key point is that sufficiently fast expanding and contracting a limb stack can make its two sliding friction forces well cancel, resulting in the total sliding friction force is <10% of the total static friction force, which can help increasemore » output force greatly. The piezo motor's high compactness, precision, and output force make it perfect in building a high-quality harsh-condition (vibration resistant) atomic resolution scanning probe microscope.« less

SFM Technique and Focus Stacking for Digital Documentation of Archaeological Artifacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clini, P.; Frapiccini, N.; Mengoni, M.; Nespeca, R.; Ruggeri, L.

2016-06-01

Digital documentation and high-quality 3D representation are always more requested in many disciplines and areas due to the large amount of technologies and data available for fast, detailed and quick documentation. This work aims to investigate the area of medium and small sized artefacts and presents a fast and low cost acquisition system that guarantees the creation of 3D models with an high level of detail, making the digitalization of cultural heritage a simply and fast procedure. The 3D models of the artefacts are created with the photogrammetric technique Structure From Motion that makes it possible to obtain, in addition to three-dimensional models, high-definition images for a deepened study and understanding of the artefacts. For the survey of small objects (only few centimetres) it is used a macro lens and the focus stacking, a photographic technique that consists in capturing a stack of images at different focus planes for each camera pose so that is possible to obtain a final image with a higher depth of field. The acquisition with focus stacking technique has been finally validated with an acquisition with laser triangulation scanner Minolta that demonstrates the validity compatible with the allowable error in relation to the expected precision.

High brightness gamma-ray production at Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mihalcea, Daniel; Jacobson, B.; Murokh, A.

Electron beams with energies of the order of a few 100's of MeV and low transverse emittance, in combination with powerful infrared lasers, allow for the production of high quality gamma rays through Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS). At Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility, a 300 MeV beam will be used to generate gamma rays with maximum photon energies of up to ~1.5 MeV and brightness of the order of 10 21 photons/[s-(mm-mrad) 2- 0.1%BW]. Due to the low electron-beam transverse emittance, the relative bandwidth of the scattered radiation is expected to be ≤ 1%. A key challenge towardmore » the production of high radiation dose and brightness is to enhance the energy of the infrared 3 ps laser pulses to the joule level. Finally, in this contribution, we present the plans for the experimental setup, along with comprehensive numerical simulations of the ICS process.« less

Scheduling algorithms for automatic control systems for technological processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernigovskiy, A. S.; Tsarev, R. Yu; Kapulin, D. V.

2017-01-01

Wide use of automatic process control systems and the usage of high-performance systems containing a number of computers (processors) give opportunities for creation of high-quality and fast production that increases competitiveness of an enterprise. Exact and fast calculations, control computation, and processing of the big data arrays - all of this requires the high level of productivity and, at the same time, minimum time of data handling and result receiving. In order to reach the best time, it is necessary not only to use computing resources optimally, but also to design and develop the software so that time gain will be maximal. For this purpose task (jobs or operations), scheduling techniques for the multi-machine/multiprocessor systems are applied. Some of basic task scheduling methods for the multi-machine process control systems are considered in this paper, their advantages and disadvantages come to light, and also some usage considerations, in case of the software for automatic process control systems developing, are made.

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy at High Magnetic Field with Fast Magic-Angle Spinning.

PubMed

Jaudzems, Kristaps; Bertarello, Andrea; Chaudhari, Sachin R; Pica, Andrea; Cala-De Paepe, Diane; Barbet-Massin, Emeline; Pell, Andrew J; Akopjana, Inara; Kotelovica, Svetlana; Gajan, David; Ouari, Olivier; Tars, Kaspars; Pintacuda, Guido; Lesage, Anne

2018-06-18

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a powerful way to overcome the sensitivity limitation of magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR experiments. However, the resolution of the DNP NMR spectra of proteins is compromised by severe line broadening associated with the necessity to perform experiments at cryogenic temperatures and in the presence of paramagnetic radicals. High-quality DNP-enhanced NMR spectra of the Acinetobacter phage 205 (AP205) nucleocapsid can be obtained by combining high magnetic field (800 MHz) and fast MAS (40 kHz). These conditions yield enhanced resolution and long coherence lifetimes allowing the acquisition of resolved 2D correlation spectra and of previously unfeasible scalar-based experiments. This enables the assignment of aromatic resonances of the AP205 coat protein and its packaged RNA, as well as the detection of long-range contacts, which are not observed at room temperature, opening new possibilities for structure determination. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

High brightness gamma-ray production at Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility

DOE PAGES

Mihalcea, Daniel; Jacobson, B.; Murokh, A.; ...

2017-03-01

Electron beams with energies of the order of a few 100's of MeV and low transverse emittance, in combination with powerful infrared lasers, allow for the production of high quality gamma rays through Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS). At Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility, a 300 MeV beam will be used to generate gamma rays with maximum photon energies of up to ~1.5 MeV and brightness of the order of 10 21 photons/[s-(mm-mrad) 2- 0.1%BW]. Due to the low electron-beam transverse emittance, the relative bandwidth of the scattered radiation is expected to be ≤ 1%. A key challenge towardmore » the production of high radiation dose and brightness is to enhance the energy of the infrared 3 ps laser pulses to the joule level. Finally, in this contribution, we present the plans for the experimental setup, along with comprehensive numerical simulations of the ICS process.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carpenter, Daniel; Westover, Tyler; Howe, Daniel

Here, we report here on an experimental study to produce refinery-ready fuel blendstocks via catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (upgrading) of pyrolysis oil using several biomass feedstocks and various blends. Blends were tested along with the pure materials to determine the effect of blending on product yields and qualities. Within experimental error, oil yields from fast pyrolysis and upgrading are shown to be linear functions of the blend components. Switchgrass exhibited lower fast pyrolysis and upgrading yields than the woody samples, which included clean pine, oriented strand board (OSB), and a mix of pinon and juniper (PJ). The notable exception was PJ, formore » which the poor upgrading yield of 18% was likely associated with the very high viscosity of the PJ fast pyrolysis oil (947 cp). The highest fast pyrolysis yield (54% dry basis) was obtained from clean pine, while the highest upgrading yield (50%) was obtained from a blend of 80% clean pine and 20% OSB (CP 8OSB 2). For switchgrass, reducing the fast pyrolysis temperature to 450 degrees C resulted in a significant increase to the pyrolysis oil yield and reduced hydrogen consumption during hydrotreating, but did not directly affect the hydrotreating oil yield. The water content of fast pyrolysis oils was also observed to increase linearly with the summed content of potassium and sodium, ranging from 21% for clean pine to 37% for switchgrass. Multiple linear regression models demonstrate that fast pyrolysis is strongly dependent upon the contents lignin and volatile matter as well as the sum of potassium and sodium.« less

[The 18F-FDG myocardial metabolic imaging in twenty seven pilots with regular aerobic training].

PubMed

Fang, Ting-Zheng; Zhu, Jia-Rui; Chuan, Ling; Zhao, Wen-Rui; Xu, Gen-Xiang; Yang, Min-Fu; He, Zuo-Xiang

2009-02-01

To evaluate the characteristics of myocardial (18)F-FDG imaging in pilots with regular aerobic exercise training. Twenty seven healthy male pilots with regular aerobic exercise training were included in this study. The subjects were divided into fasting (n = 17) or non-fasting group (n = 10). Fluorine-18-labeled deoxyglucose and Tc-99m-sestamibi dual-nuclide myocardial imaging were obtained at rest and at target heart rate during bicycle ergometer test. The exercise and rest myocardial perfusion imaging were analyzed for myocardial ischemia presence. The myocardial metabolism imaging was analyzed with the visual semi-quantitative analyses model of seventeen segments. The secondary-extreme heart rate (195-age) was achieved in all subjects. There was no myocardial ischemia in all perfusion imaging. In the visual qualitative analyses, four myocardial metabolism imaging failed in the fasting group while one failed in the non-fasting group (P > 0.05). In the visual semi-quantitative analyses, myocardial metabolism imaging scores at rest or exercise in all segments were similar between two groups (P > 0.05). In the fasting group, the myocardial metabolism imaging scores during exercise were significantly higher than those at rest in 6 segments (P < 0.05). In the non-fasting group, the scores of 3 exercise myocardial metabolism imaging were significantly higher than those at rest (P < 0.05). Satisfactory high-quality myocardial metabolism imaging could be obtained at fasting and exercise situations in subjects with regular aerobic exercise.

A head-mounted compressive three-dimensional display system with polarization-dependent focus switching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Chang-Kun; Moon, Seokil; Lee, Byounghyo; Jeong, Youngmo; Lee, Byoungho

2016-10-01

A head-mounted compressive three-dimensional (3D) display system is proposed by combining polarization beam splitter (PBS), fast switching polarization rotator and micro display with high pixel density. According to the polarization state of the image controlled by polarization rotator, optical path of image in the PBS can be divided into transmitted and reflected components. Since optical paths of each image are spatially separated, it is possible to independently focus both images at different depth positions. Transmitted p-polarized and reflected s-polarized images can be focused by convex lens and mirror, respectively. When the focal lengths of the convex lens and mirror are properly determined, two image planes can be located in intended positions. The geometrical relationship is easily modulated by replacement of the components. The fast switching of polarization realizes the real-time operation of multi-focal image planes with a single display panel. Since it is possible to conserve the device characteristic of single panel, the high image quality, reliability and uniformity can be retained. For generating 3D images, layer images for compressive light field display between two image planes are calculated. Since the display panel with high pixel density is adopted, high quality 3D images are reconstructed. In addition, image degradation by diffraction between physically stacked display panels can be mitigated. Simple optical configuration of the proposed system is implemented and the feasibility of the proposed method is verified through experiments.

Catalytic hydroprocessing of fast pyrolysis oils: Impact of biomass feedstock on process efficiency

DOE PAGES

Carpenter, Daniel; Westover, Tyler; Howe, Daniel; ...

2016-12-01

Here, we report here on an experimental study to produce refinery-ready fuel blendstocks via catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (upgrading) of pyrolysis oil using several biomass feedstocks and various blends. Blends were tested along with the pure materials to determine the effect of blending on product yields and qualities. Within experimental error, oil yields from fast pyrolysis and upgrading are shown to be linear functions of the blend components. Switchgrass exhibited lower fast pyrolysis and upgrading yields than the woody samples, which included clean pine, oriented strand board (OSB), and a mix of pinon and juniper (PJ). The notable exception was PJ, formore » which the poor upgrading yield of 18% was likely associated with the very high viscosity of the PJ fast pyrolysis oil (947 cp). The highest fast pyrolysis yield (54% dry basis) was obtained from clean pine, while the highest upgrading yield (50%) was obtained from a blend of 80% clean pine and 20% OSB (CP 8OSB 2). For switchgrass, reducing the fast pyrolysis temperature to 450 degrees C resulted in a significant increase to the pyrolysis oil yield and reduced hydrogen consumption during hydrotreating, but did not directly affect the hydrotreating oil yield. The water content of fast pyrolysis oils was also observed to increase linearly with the summed content of potassium and sodium, ranging from 21% for clean pine to 37% for switchgrass. Multiple linear regression models demonstrate that fast pyrolysis is strongly dependent upon the contents lignin and volatile matter as well as the sum of potassium and sodium.« less

Optimizing biomass feedstock blends with respect to cost, supply, and quality for catalyzed and uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thompson, Vicki S.; Aston, John E.; Lacey, Jeffrey A.

Here, biomass cost, quality and quantity are important parameters to consider when choosing feedstocks and locations for biorefineries. Biomass cost is dependent upon type, location, quantities available in a given area and logistics costs as well the quality needed for the biorefinery. Biomass quality depends upon type, growth conditions, weather, harvesting methods, storage conditions as well as any preprocessing methods used to improve quality. Biomass quantity depends heavily on location as well as growth conditions, weather, harvesting methods and storage conditions. This study examines how all three of these parameters affect the biomass mixture that is needed in a biomassmore » depot or biorefinery to achieve the lowest cost with the highest quality and at the quantities needed for biorefinery operation. Four biomass depots were proposed in South Carolina that would each process the predominant type of biomass available in that area and each produce 200,000 tons of feedstock per year. These depots would then feed a centrally located 800,000 ton biorefinery that would convert the feedstocks to pyrolysis oil using either catalyzed or uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis. The four depots each needed to produce different blends of biomass based upon the quantities available to them but still meet the minimum quality requirements for the biorefinery. Costs were minimized by using waste biomass resources such as construction and demolition waste, logging residues and forest residuals. Depending upon the quality specification required by the biorefinery, it was necessary to utilize preprocessing methods such as air classification and acid leaching to upgrade biomass quality. In the case of uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis, all four depots could produce biomass blends that were lower cost than the the preferred pyrolysis feedstock, clean pine, and meet quality and quantity specifications. For catalyzed fast pyrolysis, three of the four depots were able to produce blends that met both quality and quantity specifications at minimum cost. The fourth depot would not be able to produce a blend meeting specifications without increasing the supply radius for the depot.« less

Optimizing biomass feedstock blends with respect to cost, supply, and quality for catalyzed and uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis applications

DOE PAGES

Thompson, Vicki S.; Aston, John E.; Lacey, Jeffrey A.; ...

2017-05-24

Here, biomass cost, quality and quantity are important parameters to consider when choosing feedstocks and locations for biorefineries. Biomass cost is dependent upon type, location, quantities available in a given area and logistics costs as well the quality needed for the biorefinery. Biomass quality depends upon type, growth conditions, weather, harvesting methods, storage conditions as well as any preprocessing methods used to improve quality. Biomass quantity depends heavily on location as well as growth conditions, weather, harvesting methods and storage conditions. This study examines how all three of these parameters affect the biomass mixture that is needed in a biomassmore » depot or biorefinery to achieve the lowest cost with the highest quality and at the quantities needed for biorefinery operation. Four biomass depots were proposed in South Carolina that would each process the predominant type of biomass available in that area and each produce 200,000 tons of feedstock per year. These depots would then feed a centrally located 800,000 ton biorefinery that would convert the feedstocks to pyrolysis oil using either catalyzed or uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis. The four depots each needed to produce different blends of biomass based upon the quantities available to them but still meet the minimum quality requirements for the biorefinery. Costs were minimized by using waste biomass resources such as construction and demolition waste, logging residues and forest residuals. Depending upon the quality specification required by the biorefinery, it was necessary to utilize preprocessing methods such as air classification and acid leaching to upgrade biomass quality. In the case of uncatalyzed fast pyrolysis, all four depots could produce biomass blends that were lower cost than the the preferred pyrolysis feedstock, clean pine, and meet quality and quantity specifications. For catalyzed fast pyrolysis, three of the four depots were able to produce blends that met both quality and quantity specifications at minimum cost. The fourth depot would not be able to produce a blend meeting specifications without increasing the supply radius for the depot.« less

The impact of menu energy labelling across socioeconomic groups: A systematic review.

PubMed

Sarink, Danja; Peeters, Anna; Freak-Poli, Rosanne; Beauchamp, Alison; Woods, Julie; Ball, Kylie; Backholer, Kathryn

2016-04-01

Menu energy labelling at point of purchase is gaining traction worldwide, yet the potential impact for different socioeconomic groups is unclear. We aimed to summarise evidence on the effectiveness of menu energy labelling by socioeconomic position (SEP). A systematic search for papers published to September 2015 was conducted using terms for labelling, food outlets, and SEP. Quality of studies was assessed. Results were summarised across stages of an intervention logic pathway. Eighteen papers were identified. Of twelve studies reporting the effect of menu energy labelling in low SEP populations, six reported on purchase outcomes. All but one of these reported no positive effect of the policy for this population. Two of the five studies that compared purchase outcomes of menu labelling across SEP groups reported that the policy was effective overall. These two studies reported either a significant decline in fast food calories purchased from consumers in high (but not low) SEP neighbourhoods or a significantly greater decline in calories purchased among consumers visiting stores in higher SEP neighbourhoods post policy implementation. None of the included papers reached the highest quality score. The current evidence describing the impact of menu energy labelling within or across SEP is limited in quantity and quality. Of the two studies that reported a positive benefit of menu energy labelling overall, both identified a greater effect on fast food purchases among consumers visiting stores in high compared to low SEP neighbourhoods. It is difficult to know whether the absence of effectiveness reported in low SEP populations represents a true lack of effectiveness or is a result of a more general lack of policy effectiveness or the limited quality of the reviewed studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How do season, on-farm fasting interval and lairage period affect swine welfare, carcass and meat quality traits?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalla Costa, Filipe Antonio; Dalla Costa, Osmar Antonio; Coldebella, Arlei; de Lima, Gustavo Júlio Mello Monteiro; Ferraudo, Antonio Sérgio

2018-03-01

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of different combinations of on-farm fasting intervals (8, 12, 16, 20 h) and 1.5 h of transport plus lairage periods (1, 3, 6 h) at different seasons (summer/winter) on blood stress parameters (cortisol and lactate), stomach content and weight, skin lesion and meat quality in a total of 960 pigs from eight farms. Blood lactate levels were greater in the summer (P < 0.001) and stomach content was affected (P < 0.05) by season, on-farm fasting interval (P < 0.001), lairage time (P < 0.0001). Stomach content weight reduces as the total feed withdrawal time increases up to on-farm fasting of 17 and 1 h of lairage. Stomach content can be influenced by feed and water in different ways according to treatments. Only 8 h of on-farm fasting is not enough to empty stomachs from feed content. However, an on-farm fasting period of 16 h or longer can also increase the occurrence of more water in the stomachs. Carcass lesions caused by fighting were greater (P ≤ 0.005) in the winter, mainly after 3 and 6 h of lairage (P ≤ 0.005). Loin and ham pHu was lower (P ≤ 0.05) for pigs slaughtered after 6 h of lairage during the summer. The application of 12 h of on-farm fasting with 6 h of lairage seemed to be best combination to reduce stomach content weight (feed and water). In the winter, shorter lairage period can be used to reduce percentage of skin lesions and better pork quality traits in pigs.

DE-NE0008277_PROTEUS final technical report 2018

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Enqvist, Andreas

This project details re-evaluations of experiments of gas-cooled fast reactor (GCFR) core designs performed in the 1970s at the PROTEUS reactor and create a series of International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project (IRPhEP) benchmarks. Currently there are no gas-cooled fast reactor (GCFR) experiments available in the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments (IRPhEP Handbook). These experiments are excellent candidates for reanalysis and development of multiple benchmarks because these experiments provide high-quality integral nuclear data relevant to the validation and refinement of thorium, neptunium, uranium, plutonium, iron, and graphite cross sections. It would be cost prohibitive to reproduce suchmore » a comprehensive suite of experimental data to support any future GCFR endeavors.« less

Producing High-Quality Titanium Alloy by a Cost-Effective Route Combining Fast Heating and Hot Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fei; Raynova, Stella; Singh, Ajit; Zhao, Qinyang; Romero, Carlos; Bolzoni, Leandro

2018-02-01

Powder metallurgy is a very attractive method for producing titanium alloys, which can be near-net-shape formed and have freedom in composition selection. However, applications are still limited due to product affordability. In this paper, we will discuss a possible cost-effective route, combining fast heating and hot processing, to produce titanium alloys with similar or even better mechanical properties than that of ingot metallurgy titanium alloys. Two titanium alloys, Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr (Ti-5553) and Ti-5Fe, were successfully produced from HDH titanium powder and other master alloy powders using the proposed processing route. The effect of the processing route on microstructural variation and mechanical properties have been discussed.

Identification of Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli outbreak isolates by a novel data analysis tool after matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Christner, Martin; Dressler, Dirk; Andrian, Mark; Reule, Claudia; Petrini, Orlando

2017-01-01

The fast and reliable characterization of bacterial and fungal pathogens plays an important role in infectious disease control and tracking of outbreak agents. DNA based methods are the gold standard for epidemiological investigations, but they are still comparatively expensive and time-consuming. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a fast, reliable and cost-effective technique now routinely used to identify clinically relevant human pathogens. It has been used for subspecies differentiation and typing, but its use for epidemiological tasks, e. g. for outbreak investigations, is often hampered by the complexity of data analysis. We have analysed publicly available MALDI-TOF mass spectra from a large outbreak of Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli in northern Germany using a general purpose software tool for the analysis of complex biological data. The software was challenged with depauperate spectra and reduced learning group sizes to mimic poor spectrum quality and scarcity of reference spectra at the onset of an outbreak. With high quality formic acid extraction spectra, the software's built in classifier accurately identified outbreak related strains using as few as 10 reference spectra (99.8% sensitivity, 98.0% specificity). Selective variation of processing parameters showed impaired marker peak detection and reduced classification accuracy in samples with high background noise or artificially reduced peak counts. However, the software consistently identified mass signals suitable for a highly reliable marker peak based classification approach (100% sensitivity, 99.5% specificity) even from low quality direct deposition spectra. The study demonstrates that general purpose data analysis tools can effectively be used for the analysis of bacterial mass spectra.

GRAPPA reconstructed wave-CAIPI MP-RAGE at 7 Tesla.

PubMed

Schwarz, Jolanda M; Pracht, Eberhard D; Brenner, Daniel; Reuter, Martin; Stöcker, Tony

2018-04-16

The aim of this project was to develop a GRAPPA-based reconstruction for wave-CAIPI data. Wave-CAIPI fully exploits the 3D coil sensitivity variations by combining corkscrew k-space trajectories with CAIPIRINHA sampling. It reduces artifacts and limits reconstruction induced spatially varying noise enhancement. The GRAPPA-based wave-CAIPI method is robust and does not depend on the accuracy of coil sensitivity estimations. We developed a GRAPPA-based, noniterative wave-CAIPI reconstruction algorithm utilizing multiple GRAPPA kernels. For data acquisition, we implemented a fast 3D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo wave-CAIPI sequence tailored for ultra-high field application. The imaging results were evaluated by comparing the g-factor and the root mean square error to Cartesian CAIPIRINHA acquisitions. Additionally, to assess the performance of subcortical segmentations (calculated by FreeSurfer), the data were analyzed across five subjects. Sixteen-fold accelerated whole brain magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo data (1 mm isotropic resolution) were acquired in 40 seconds at 7T. A clear improvement in image quality compared to Cartesian CAIPIRINHA sampling was observed. For the chosen imaging protocol, the results of 16-fold accelerated wave-CAIPI acquisitions were comparable to results of 12-fold accelerated Cartesian CAIPIRINHA. In comparison to the originally proposed SENSitivity Encoding reconstruction of Wave-CAIPI data, the GRAPPA approach provided similar image quality. High-quality, wave-CAIPI magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo images can be reconstructed by means of a GRAPPA-based reconstruction algorithm. Even for high acceleration factors, the noniterative reconstruction is robust and does not require coil sensitivity estimations. By altering the aliasing pattern, ultra-fast whole-brain structural imaging becomes feasible. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Quality of diet is associated with insulin resistance in the Cree (Eeyouch) indigenous population of northern Québec.

PubMed

Johnson-Down, L; Labonte, M E; Martin, I D; Tsuji, L J S; Nieboer, E; Dewailly, E; Egeland, G; Lucas, M

2015-01-01

Indigenous people worldwide have a greater disease burden than their non-aboriginal counterparts with health challenges that include increased obesity and higher prevalence of diabetes. We investigate the relationships of dietary patterns with nutritional biomarkers, selected environmental contaminants and measures of insulin resistance in the Cree (Eeyouch) of northern Québec Canada. The cross-sectional 'Nituuchischaayihitaau Aschii: A Multi-Community Environment-and-Health Study in Eeyou Istchee' recruited 835 adult participants (≥18 y) from 7 communities in the James Bay region of northern Québec. The three dietary patterns identified by principal component analysis (PCA) were: inland and coastal patterns with loadings on traditional foods, and a junk food pattern with high-fat and high-sugar foods. We investigated dietary patterns scores (in quantiles) in relation with nutritional biomarkers, environmental contaminants, anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used as surrogate markers of insulin resistance. ANCOVA ascertained relationships between dietary patterns relationship and outcomes. Greater scores for the traditional patterns were associated with higher levels of n-3 fatty acids, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (P trend <0.001). Higher scores for the junk food pattern were associated with lower levels of PCBs and Vitamin D, but higher fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR. Our results suggest that poor diet quality accompanied greater insulin resistance. Impacts of diet quality on insulin resistance, as a sign of metabolism perturbation, deserve more attention in this indigenous population with high rates of obesity and diabetes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vacuum Deposition From A Welding Torch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poorman, R. M.

1993-01-01

Process derived from arc welding produces films of high quality. Modified gas/tungsten-arc welding process developed for use in outer space. Welding apparatus in process includes hollow tungsten electrode through which inert gas flows so arc struck between electrode and workpiece in vacuum of space. Offers advantages of fast deposition, possibility of applying directional impetus to flow of materials, very low pressure at surface being coated, and inert environment.

Molecular-level characterization of the structure and the surface chemistry of periodic mesoporous organosilicates using DNP-surface enhanced NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Grüning, Wolfram R; Rossini, Aaron J; Zagdoun, Alexandre; Gajan, David; Lesage, Anne; Emsley, Lyndon; Copéret, Christophe

2013-08-28

We present the molecular level characterization of a phenylpyridine-based periodic mesoporous organosilicate and its post-functionalized organometallic derivatives through the fast acquisition of high quality natural isotopic abundance 1D (13)C, (15)N, and (29)Si and 2D (1)H-(13)C and (1)H-(29)Si solid-state NMR spectra enhanced with dynamic nuclear polarization.

Simultaneous Synchrotron WAXD and Fast Scanning (Chip) Calorimetry: On the (Isothermal) Crystallization of HDPE and PA11 at High Supercoolings and Cooling Rates up to 200 °C s(-1).

PubMed

Baeten, Dorien; Mathot, Vincent B F; Pijpers, Thijs F J; Verkinderen, Olivier; Portale, Giuseppe; Van Puyvelde, Peter; Goderis, Bart

2015-06-01

An experimental setup, making use of a Flash DSC 1 prototype, is presented in which materials can be studied simultaneously by fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and synchrotron wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Accumulation of multiple, identical measurements results in high quality, millisecond WAXD patterns. Patterns at every degree during the crystallization and melting of high density polyethylene at FSC typical scanning rates from 20 up to 200 °C s(-1) are discussed in terms of the temperature and scanning rate dependent material crystallinities and crystal densities. Interestingly, the combined approach reveals FSC thermal lag issues, for which can be corrected. For polyamide 11, isothermal solidification at high supercooling yields a mesomorphic phase in less than a second, whereas at very low supercooling crystals are obtained. At intermediate supercooling, mixtures of mesomorphic and crystalline material are generated at a ratio proportional to the supercooling. This ratio is constant over the isothermal solidification time. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Experimental and numerical investigation of the Fast-SAGD process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Hyundon

The SAGD process has been tested in the field, and is now in a commercial stage in Western Canadian oil sands areas. The Fast-SAGD method can partly solve the drilling difficulty and reduce costs in a SAGD operation requiring paired parallel wells one above the other. This method also enhances the thermal efficiency in the reservoir. In this research, the reservoir parameters and operating conditions for the SAGD and Fast-SAGD processes are investigated by numerical simulation in the three Alberta oil sands areas. Scaled physical model experiments, which are operated by an automated process control system, are conducted under high temperature and high pressure conditions. The results of the study indicate that the shallow Athabasca-type reservoir, which is thick with high permeability (high kxh), is a good candidate for SAGD application, whereas Cold Lake- and Peace River-type reservoirs, which are thin with low permeability, are not as good candidates for conventional SAGD implementation. The simulation results indicate improved energy efficiency and productivity in most cases for the Fast-SAGD process; in those cases, the project economics were enhanced compared to the SAGD process. Both Cold Lake- and Peace River-type reservoirs are good candidates for a Fast-SAGD application rather than a conventional SAGD application. This new process demonstrates improved efficiency and lower costs for extracting heavy oil from these important reservoirs. A new economic indicator, called simple thermal efficiency parameter (STEP), was developed and validated to evaluate the performance of a SAGD project. STEP is based on cumulative steam-oil ratio (CSOR), calendar day oil rate (CDOR) and recovery factor (RF) for the time prior to the steam-oil ratio (SOR) attaining 4. STEP can be used as a financial metric quantitatively as well as qualitatively for this type of thermal project. An automated process control system was set-up and validated, and has the capability of controlling and handling steam injection processes like the steam-assisted gravity drainage process. The results of these preliminary experiments showed the overall cumulative oil production to be larger in the Fast-SAGD case, but end-point CSOR to be lower in the SAGD case. History matching results indicated that the steam quality was as low as 0.3 in the SAGD experiments, and even lower in the Fast-SAGD experiments after starting the CSS.

[Computer aided design and manufacture of the porcelain fused to metal crown].

PubMed

Nie, Xin; Cheng, Xiaosheng; Dai, Ning; Yu, Qing; Hao, Guodong; Sun, Quanping

2009-04-01

In order to satisfy the current demand for fast and high-quality prosthodontics, we have carried out a research in the fabrication process of the porcelain fused to metal crown on molar with CAD/CAM technology. Firstly, we get the data of the surface mesh on preparation teeth through a 3D-optical grating measuring system. Then, we reconstruct the 3D-model crown with the computer-aided design software which was developed by ourselves. Finally, with the 3D-model data, we produce a metallic crown on a high-speed CNC carving machine. The result has proved that the metallic crown can match the preparation teeth ideally. The fabrication process is reliable and efficient, and the restoration is precise and steady in quality.

Design of a Holonic Control Architecture for Distributed Sensor Management

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

Tracking tasks require only intermit - tent access to the sensors to maintain a given track quality. The higher the specified quality, the more often...resolution of the sensor (i.e., sensor mode), which can be adjusted to compensate for fast moving targets tracked over long ranges, or slower moving...but provides higher data update rates that are beneficial when tracking fast agile targets (i.e., a fighter). Table A.2 illustrates the dependence of

Investigation of Possible Wellbore Cement Failures During Hydraulic Fracturing Operations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Jihoon; Moridis, George

2014-11-01

We model and assess the possibility of shear failure, using the Mohr-Coulomb model ? along the vertical well by employing a rigorous coupled flow-geomechanic analysis. To this end, we vary the values of cohesion between the well casing and the surrounding cement to representing different quality levels of the cementing operation (low cohesion corresponds to low-quality cement and/or incomplete cementing). The simulation results show that there is very little fracturing when the cement is of high quality.. Conversely, incomplete cementing and/or weak cement can causes significant shear failure and the evolution of long fractures/cracks along the vertical well. Specifically, lowmore » cohesion between the well and cemented areas can cause significant shear failure along the well, but the same cohesion as the cemented zone does not cause shear failure. When the hydraulic fracturing pressure is high, low cohesion of the cement can causes fast propagation of shear failure and of the resulting fracture/crack, but a high-quality cement with no weak zones exhibits limited shear failure that is concentrated near the bottom of the vertical part of the well. Thus, high-quality cement and complete cementing along the vertical well appears to be the strongest protection against shear failure of the wellbore cement and, consequently, against contamination hazards to drinking water aquifers during hydraulic fracturing operations.« less

Designing a Broadband Pump for High-Quality Micro-Lasers via Modified Net Radiation Method.

PubMed

Nechayev, Sergey; Reusswig, Philip D; Baldo, Marc A; Rotschild, Carmel

2016-12-07

High-quality micro-lasers are key ingredients in non-linear optics, communication, sensing and low-threshold solar-pumped lasers. However, such micro-lasers exhibit negligible absorption of free-space broadband pump light. Recently, this limitation was lifted by cascade energy transfer, in which the absorption and quality factor are modulated with wavelength, enabling non-resonant pumping of high-quality micro-lasers and solar-pumped laser to operate at record low solar concentration. Here, we present a generic theoretical framework for modeling the absorption, emission and energy transfer of incoherent radiation between cascade sensitizer and laser gain media. Our model is based on linear equations of the modified net radiation method and is therefore robust, fast converging and has low complexity. We apply this formalism to compute the optimal parameters of low-threshold solar-pumped lasers. It is revealed that the interplay between the absorption and self-absorption of such lasers defines the optimal pump absorption below the maximal value, which is in contrast to conventional lasers for which full pump absorption is desired. Numerical results are compared to experimental data on a sensitized Nd 3+ :YAG cavity, and quantitative agreement with theoretical models is found. Our work modularizes the gain and sensitizing components and paves the way for the optimal design of broadband-pumped high-quality micro-lasers and efficient solar-pumped lasers.

Designing a Broadband Pump for High-Quality Micro-Lasers via Modified Net Radiation Method

PubMed Central

Nechayev, Sergey; Reusswig, Philip D.; Baldo, Marc A.; Rotschild, Carmel

2016-01-01

High-quality micro-lasers are key ingredients in non-linear optics, communication, sensing and low-threshold solar-pumped lasers. However, such micro-lasers exhibit negligible absorption of free-space broadband pump light. Recently, this limitation was lifted by cascade energy transfer, in which the absorption and quality factor are modulated with wavelength, enabling non-resonant pumping of high-quality micro-lasers and solar-pumped laser to operate at record low solar concentration. Here, we present a generic theoretical framework for modeling the absorption, emission and energy transfer of incoherent radiation between cascade sensitizer and laser gain media. Our model is based on linear equations of the modified net radiation method and is therefore robust, fast converging and has low complexity. We apply this formalism to compute the optimal parameters of low-threshold solar-pumped lasers. It is revealed that the interplay between the absorption and self-absorption of such lasers defines the optimal pump absorption below the maximal value, which is in contrast to conventional lasers for which full pump absorption is desired. Numerical results are compared to experimental data on a sensitized Nd3+:YAG cavity, and quantitative agreement with theoretical models is found. Our work modularizes the gain and sensitizing components and paves the way for the optimal design of broadband-pumped high-quality micro-lasers and efficient solar-pumped lasers. PMID:27924844

Extra projection data identification method for fast-continuous-rotation industrial cone-beam CT.

PubMed

Yang, Min; Duan, Shengling; Duan, Jinghui; Wang, Xiaolong; Li, Xingdong; Meng, Fanyong; Zhang, Jianhai

2013-01-01

Fast-continuous-rotation is an effective measure to improve the scanning speed and decrease the radiation dose for cone-beam CT. However, because of acceleration and deceleration of the motor, as well as the response lag of the scanning control terminals to the host PC, uneven-distributed and redundant projections are inevitably created, which seriously decrease the quality of the reconstruction images. In this paper, we first analyzed the aspects of the theoretical sequence chart of the fast-continuous-rotation mode. Then, an optimized sequence chart was proposed by extending the rotation angle span to ensure the effective 2π-span projections were situated in the stable rotation stage. In order to match the rotation angle with the projection image accurately, structure similarity (SSIM) index was used as a control parameter for extraction of the effective projection sequence which was exactly the complete projection data for image reconstruction. The experimental results showed that SSIM based method had a high accuracy of projection view locating and was easy to realize.

Complicated seismic anisotropy beneath south-central Mongolia and its geodynamic implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiang, Zhengyang; Wu, Qingju; Li, Yonghua; Gao, Mengtan; Demberel, Sodnomsambuu; Ulzibat, Munkhuu; Sukhbaatar, Usnikh; Flesch, Lucy M.

2017-05-01

Two years of high-quality broadband seismic data from 69 temporary stations deployed in south-central Mongolia provide an opportunity to study the anisotropy-forming mechanisms in this area. The majority of shear wave splitting observations determined from the analysis of teleseismic SKS phase are characterized by NW-SE trending fast directions with large splitting delay times (greater than 2.0 s at six stations), which is inferred to be generated by active asthenospheric flow. The variation of the fast direction may be associated with deflection of asthenosphere around the deep Siberian cratonic keel at the base of the lithosphere. Several of the NE-SW trending fast directions with relatively small delay times observed in the Gobi Desert are parallel to the strike of the main faults and sutures, which may represent lithospheric deformation. In addition, it is inferred that small-scale hot mantle upwelling is responsible for generating a cluster of null measurements observed on the south of the Hentiy Mountain.

Effect of torrefaction on structure and fast pyrolysis behavior of corncobs.

PubMed

Zheng, Anqing; Zhao, Zengli; Chang, Sheng; Huang, Zhen; Wang, Xiaobo; He, Fang; Li, Haibin

2013-01-01

Pretreatment of corncobs using torrefaction was conducted in an auger reactor at 250-300 °C and residence times of 10-60 min. The torrefied corncobs were fast pyrolyzed in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor at 470 °C to obtain high-quality bio-oil. The heating value and pH of the bio-oil improved when the torrefaction as pretreatment was applied; however, increasing bio-oil yield penalties were observed with increasing torrefaction severity. Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and quantitative solid (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR) analysis of torrefied corncobs showed that the devolatilization, crosslinking and charring of corncobs during torrefaction could be responsible for the bio-oil yield penalties. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the acetic acid and furfural contents of the bio-oil decreased with torrefaction temperature or residence time. The results showed that torrefaction is an effective method of pretreatment for improving bio-oil quality if the crosslinking and charring of biomass can be restricted. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fast Segmentation of Stained Nuclei in Terabyte-Scale, Time Resolved 3D Microscopy Image Stacks

PubMed Central

Stegmaier, Johannes; Otte, Jens C.; Kobitski, Andrei; Bartschat, Andreas; Garcia, Ariel; Nienhaus, G. Ulrich; Strähle, Uwe; Mikut, Ralf

2014-01-01

Automated analysis of multi-dimensional microscopy images has become an integral part of modern research in life science. Most available algorithms that provide sufficient segmentation quality, however, are infeasible for a large amount of data due to their high complexity. In this contribution we present a fast parallelized segmentation method that is especially suited for the extraction of stained nuclei from microscopy images, e.g., of developing zebrafish embryos. The idea is to transform the input image based on gradient and normal directions in the proximity of detected seed points such that it can be handled by straightforward global thresholding like Otsu’s method. We evaluate the quality of the obtained segmentation results on a set of real and simulated benchmark images in 2D and 3D and show the algorithm’s superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms. We achieve an up to ten-fold decrease in processing times, allowing us to process large data sets while still providing reasonable segmentation results. PMID:24587204

Effect of process parameters on formability of laser melting deposited 12CrNi2 alloy steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Qian; Dong, Shiyun; Kang, Xueliang; Yan, Shixing; Men, Ping

2018-03-01

As a new rapid prototyping technology, the laser melting deposition technology not only has the advantages of fast forming, high efficiency, but also free control in the design and production chain. Therefore, it has drawn extensive attention from community.With the continuous improvement of steel performance requirements, high performance low-carbon alloy steel is gradually integrated into high-tech fields such as aerospace, high-speed train and armored equipment.However, it is necessary to further explore and optimize the difficult process of laser melting deposited alloy steel parts to achieve the performance and shape control.This article took the orthogonal experiment on alloy steel powder by laser melting deposition ,and revealed the influence rule of the laser power, scanning speed, powder gas flow on the quality of the sample than the dilution rate, surface morphology and microstructure analysis were carried out.Finally, under the optimum technological parameters, the Excellent surface quality of the alloy steel forming part with high density, no pore and cracks was obtained.

Support for equatorial anisotropy of Earth's inner-inner core from seismic interferometry at low latitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tao; Song, Xiaodong

2018-03-01

Anisotropy of Earth's inner core provides a key role to understand its evolution and the Earth's magnetic field. Recently, using autocorrelations from earthquake's coda, we found an equatorial anisotropy of the inner-inner core (IIC), in apparent contrast to the polar anisotropy of the outer-inner core (OIC). To reduce the influence of the polar anisotropy and reduce possible contaminations from the large Fresnel zone of the PKIKP2 and PKIIKP2 phases at low frequencies, we processed coda noise of large earthquakes (10,000-40,000 s after magnitude ≥7.0) from stations at low latitudes (within ±35°) during 1990-2013. Using a number of improved procedures of both autocorrelation and cross-correlation, we extracted 52 array-stacked high-quality empirical Green's functions (EGFs), an increase of over 60% from our previous study. The high-quality data allow us to measure the relative arrival times by automatic waveform cross correlation. The results show large variation (∼10.9 s) in the differential times between the PKIKP2 and PKIIKP2 phases. The estimated influence of the Fresnel zone is insignificant (<1.1 s), compared to the observed data variation and measurement uncertainty. The observed time residuals match very well previous IIC model with a quasi-equatorial fast axis (near Central America and the Southeast Asia) and the spatial pattern from the low-latitude measurements is similar to the previous global dataset, including the fast axis and two low-velocity open rings, thus providing further support for the equatorial anisotropy model of the IIC. Speculations for the shift of the fast axis between the OIC and the IIC include: change of deformation regimes during the inner core history, change of geomagnetic field, and a proto-inner core.

Comparative mass spectrometry & nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic approaches for nutraceuticals quality control analysis: a brief review.

PubMed

Farag, Mohamed A

2014-01-01

The number of botanical dietary supplements in the market has recently increased primarily due to increased health awareness. Standardization and quality control of the constituents of these plant extracts is an important topic, particularly when such ingredients are used long term as dietary supplements, or in cases where higher doses are marketed as drugs. The development of fast, comprehensive, and effective untargeted analytical methods for plant extracts is of high interest. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry are the most informative tools, each of which enables high-throughput and global analysis of hundreds of metabolites in a single step. Although only one of the two techniques is utilized in the majority of plant metabolomics applications, there is a growing interest in combining the data from both platforms to effectively unravel the complexity of plant samples. The application of combined MS and NMR in the quality control of nutraceuticals forms the major part of this review. Finally I will look at the future developments and perspectives of these two technologies for the quality control of herbal materials.

Software Quality Control at Belle II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritter, M.; Kuhr, T.; Hauth, T.; Gebard, T.; Kristof, M.; Pulvermacher, C.; Belle Software Group, II

2017-10-01

Over the last seven years the software stack of the next generation B factory experiment Belle II has grown to over one million lines of C++ and Python code, counting only the part included in offline software releases. There are several thousand commits to the central repository by about 100 individual developers per year. To keep a coherent software stack of high quality that it can be sustained and used efficiently for data acquisition, simulation, reconstruction, and analysis over the lifetime of the Belle II experiment is a challenge. A set of tools is employed to monitor the quality of the software and provide fast feedback to the developers. They are integrated in a machinery that is controlled by a buildbot master and automates the quality checks. The tools include different compilers, cppcheck, the clang static analyzer, valgrind memcheck, doxygen, a geometry overlap checker, a check for missing or extra library links, unit tests, steering file level tests, a sophisticated high-level validation suite, and an issue tracker. The technological development infrastructure is complemented by organizational means to coordinate the development.

[Application of Fourier amplitude sensitivity test in Chinese healthy volunteer population pharmacokinetic model of tacrolimus].

PubMed

Guan, Zheng; Zhang, Guan-min; Ma, Ping; Liu, Li-hong; Zhou, Tian-yan; Lu, Wei

2010-07-01

In this study, we evaluated the influence of different variance from each of the parameters on the output of tacrolimus population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model in Chinese healthy volunteers, using Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (FAST). Besides, we estimated the index of sensitivity within whole course of blood sampling, designed different sampling times, and evaluated the quality of parameters' and the efficiency of prediction. It was observed that besides CL1/F, the index of sensitivity for all of the other four parameters (V1/F, V2/F, CL2/F and k(a)) in tacrolimus PopPK model showed relatively high level and changed fast with the time passing. With the increase of the variance of k(a), its indices of sensitivity increased obviously, associated with significant decrease in sensitivity index for the other parameters, and obvious change in peak time as well. According to the simulation of NONMEM and the comparison among different fitting results, we found that the sampling time points designed according to FAST surpassed the other time points. It suggests that FAST can access the sensitivities of model parameters effectively, and assist the design of clinical sampling times and the construction of PopPK model.

Design of collimating and rearrangement systems of laser diode array beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Runmei; Fang, Tao; Fu, Rulian; Yao, Jianquan

2015-10-01

To improve the laser diode output beam quality, micro-cylindrical lens and the step-type lens combination are designed. The former is used to collimate beam in fast-axis direction, while the latter plays a role in the slow-axis of splitting and the rearrangement. The micro-column semi-elliptical lens is made with the drops of spherical zoom lensin electric field and with the help of the material properties of light-cured production, which can reduce the reflection of the front surface and total reflection loss of the after. The divergence angle in the fast axis is compressed to roughly the same as that in the slow-axis direction; Stepped lens splits compressed long strip beam in the slow axis, with parallelogram style of level equidistant and rearrange in the fast axis direction. The spot in the slow axis gets smaller and the spot becomes larger in the fast axis. At last divergence angle and the beam spot achieve balanced in the fast axis and slow axis, optical parameters BPP integrates approximate the same, and beam quality can be improved.

Elasticity and Anelasticity of Materials from Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinogeikin, S. V.; Smith, J.; Lin, C.; Bai, L.; Rod, E.; Shen, G.

2014-12-01

Recent advances in synchrotron sources, x-ray optics, area detectors, and sample environment control have enabled many time-resolved experimental techniques for studying materials at extreme pressure and temperature conditions. The High Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT) at the Advanced Photon Source has made a sustained effort to develop and assemble a powerful collection of high-pressure apparatus for time-resolved research, and considerable time has been invested in developing techniques for collecting high-quality time-resolved x-ray scattering data. In this talk we will outline recently developed capabilities at HPCAT for studying elasticity and anelasticity of minerals using fast compression and cyclic compression-decompression. A few recent studies will be highlighted. For example, with fast x-ray area detectors having millisecond time resolution, accurate thermal equations of state of materials at temperatures up to 1000K and megabar pressures can be collected in a matter of seconds using membrane-driven diamond anvil cells (DAC), yielding unprecedented time and pressure resolution of true isotherms. Short duration of the experiments eliminates temperature variation during the experiments and in general allows volume measurements at higher pressures and temperatures. Alternatively, high-frequency (kilohertz range) radial diffraction measurements in a panoramic DAC combined with fast, precise cyclic loading/unloading by piezo drive could provide the short time scale necessary for studying rheology of minerals from the elastic response and lattice relaxation as a function of pressure, temperature and strain rate. Finally, we consider some possible future applications for time-resolved high-pressure, high-temperature research of mantle minerals.

Dose-response and relative biological effectiveness of fast neutrons: induction of apoptosis and inhibition of neurogenesis in the hippocampus of adult mice.

PubMed

Yang, Miyoung; Kim, Joong-Sun; Song, Myoung-Sub; Kim, Jong-Choon; Shin, Taekyun; Lee, Seung-Sook; Kim, Sung-Ho; Moon, Changjong

2010-06-01

Our study compared the effects of high linear energy transfer (LET) fast neutrons on the induction of apoptosis and reduction of neurogenesis in the hippocampus of adult ICR mice with those of low-LET (60)Co gamma-rays, to evaluate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of fast neutrons in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). The mice were exposed to 35 MeV fast neutrons or (60)Co gamma-rays. We evaluated acutely the incidence of apoptosis and expression of Ki-67 (a protein marker for cell proliferation originally defined by the monoclonal antibody Kiel-67) and doublecortin (DCX: an immature progenitor neuron marker) in the hippocampus after a single whole-body irradiation. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic nuclei in the DG increased and both Ki-67- and DCX-positive cells declined in a dose-dependent pattern, with fast neutrons or gamma-rays. In the hippocampus, which showed an apoptosis frequency between 2 and 8 per DG, the RBE of fast neutrons was approximately 1.9. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of fast neutrons on the expression frequencies of Ki-67 (4-8) and DCX (8-32) were approximately 3.2 and 2.5 times, respectively, the effects of gamma-rays at the same dose. Increased apoptotic cell death and decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampal DG were seen in a dose-dependent pattern after exposure to fast neutrons and gamma-rays. In addition, the different rate of hippocampal neurogenesis between different radiation qualities may be an index of RBE.

Lot quality assurance sampling of sputum acid-fast bacillus smears for assessing sputum smear microscopy centers.

PubMed

Selvakumar, N; Murthy, B N; Prabhakaran, E; Sivagamasundari, S; Vasanthan, Samuel; Perumal, M; Govindaraju, R; Chauhan, L S; Wares, Fraser; Santha, T; Narayanan, P R

2005-02-01

Assessment of 12 microscopy centers in a tuberculosis unit by blinded checking of eight sputum smears selected by using a lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) method and by unblinded checking of all positive and five negative slides, among the slides examined in a month in a microscopy centre, revealed that the LQAS method can be implemented in the field to monitor the performance of acid-fast bacillus microscopy centers in national tuberculosis control programs.

Lot Quality Assurance Sampling of Sputum Acid-Fast Bacillus Smears for Assessing Sputum Smear Microscopy Centers

PubMed Central

Selvakumar, N.; Murthy, B. N.; Prabhakaran, E.; Sivagamasundari, S.; Vasanthan, Samuel; Perumal, M.; Govindaraju, R.; Chauhan, L. S.; Wares, Fraser; Santha, T.; Narayanan, P. R.

2005-01-01

Assessment of 12 microscopy centers in a tuberculosis unit by blinded checking of eight sputum smears selected by using a lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) method and by unblinded checking of all positive and five negative slides, among the slides examined in a month in a microscopy centre, revealed that the LQAS method can be implemented in the field to monitor the performance of acid-fast bacillus microscopy centers in national tuberculosis control programs. PMID:15695704

Improving iris recognition performance using segmentation, quality enhancement, match score fusion, and indexing.

PubMed

Vatsa, Mayank; Singh, Richa; Noore, Afzel

2008-08-01

This paper proposes algorithms for iris segmentation, quality enhancement, match score fusion, and indexing to improve both the accuracy and the speed of iris recognition. A curve evolution approach is proposed to effectively segment a nonideal iris image using the modified Mumford-Shah functional. Different enhancement algorithms are concurrently applied on the segmented iris image to produce multiple enhanced versions of the iris image. A support-vector-machine-based learning algorithm selects locally enhanced regions from each globally enhanced image and combines these good-quality regions to create a single high-quality iris image. Two distinct features are extracted from the high-quality iris image. The global textural feature is extracted using the 1-D log polar Gabor transform, and the local topological feature is extracted using Euler numbers. An intelligent fusion algorithm combines the textural and topological matching scores to further improve the iris recognition performance and reduce the false rejection rate, whereas an indexing algorithm enables fast and accurate iris identification. The verification and identification performance of the proposed algorithms is validated and compared with other algorithms using the CASIA Version 3, ICE 2005, and UBIRIS iris databases.

Hydrological connectivity in the karst critical zone: an integrated approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, X.; Zhang, Z.; Soulsby, C.; Cheng, Q.; Binley, A. M.; Tao, M.

2017-12-01

Spatial heterogeneity in the subsurface is high, evidenced by specific landform features (sinkholes, caves etc.) and resulting in high variability of hydrological processes in space and time. This includes complex exchange of various flow sources (e.g. hillslope springs and depression aquifers) and fast conduit flow and slow fracture flow. In this paper we integrate various "state-of-the-art" methods to understand the structure and function of this understudied critical zone environment. Geophysical, hydrometric and hydrogeochemical tools are used to characterize the hydrological connectivity of the cockpit karst critical zone in a small catchment of Chenqi, Guizhou province, China. Geophysical surveys, using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), identified the complex conduit networks that link flows between hillslopes and depressions. Statistical time series analysis of water tables and discharge responses at hillslope springs and in depression wells and underground channels showed different threshold responses of hillslope and depression flows. This reflected the differing relative contribution of fast and slow flow paths during rainfall events of varying magnitude in the hillslope epikarst and depression aquifer in dry and wet periods. This showed that the hillslope epikarst receives a high proportion of rainfall recharge and is thus a main water resource in the catchment during the drought period. In contrast, the depression aquifer receives fast, concentrated hillslope flows during large rainfall events during the wet period, resulting in the filling of depression conduits and frequent flooding. Hydrological tracer studies using water temperatures and stable water isotopes (δD and δ18O) corroborated this and provided quantitative information of the mixing proportions of various flow sources and insights into water travel times. This revealed how higher contributions of event "new" water (from hillslope springs and depression conduits displaces "old" pre-event water primarily from low permeability fissures and fractures), particularly during heavy rainfall. As the various water sources have contrasting water quality characteristics, these mixing and exchange processes have important implications for understanding and managing water quality in karst waters.

Multicast Parametric Synchronous Sampling

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

enhancement in a parametric mixer device. Fig. 4 shows the principle of generating uniform, high quality replicas extending over previously un-attainable...critical part of the MPASS architecture and is responsible for the direct and continuous acquisition of data across all of the multicast signal copies...ii) ability to copy THz signals with impunity to tens of replicas ; (iii) all-optical delays > 1.9 us; (iv) 10’s of THz-fast all-optical sampling of

Data Driven Quality Improvement of Health Professions Education: Design and Development of CLUE - An Interactive Curriculum Data Visualization Tool.

PubMed

Canning, Claire Ann; Loe, Alan; Cockett, Kathryn Jane; Gagnon, Paul; Zary, Nabil

2017-01-01

Curriculum Mapping and dynamic visualization is quickly becoming an integral aspect of quality improvement in support of innovations which drive curriculum quality assurance processes in medical education. CLUE (Curriculum Explorer) a highly interactive, engaging and independent platform was developed to support curriculum transparency, enhance student engagement, and enable granular search and display. Reflecting a design based approach to meet the needs of the school's varied stakeholders, CLUE employs an iterative and reflective approach to drive the evolution of its platform, as it seeks to accommodate the ever-changing needs of our stakeholders in the fast pace world of medicine and medical education today. CLUE exists independent of institutional systems and in this way, is uniquely positioned to deliver a data driven quality improvement resource, easily adaptable for use by any member of our health care professions.

An examination of the role of perceived support and employee commitment in employee-customer encounters.

PubMed

Vandenberghe, Christian; Bentein, Kathleen; Michon, Richard; Chebat, Jean-Charles; Tremblay, Michel; Fils, Jean-François

2007-07-01

The authors examined the relationships between perceived organizational support, organizational commitment, commitment to customers, and service quality in a fast-food firm. The research design matched customer responses with individual employees' attitudes, making this study a true test of the service provider-customer encounter. On the basis of a sample of matched employee-customer data (N = 133), hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that perceived organizational support had both a unit-level and an employee-level effect on 1 dimension of service quality: helping behavior. Contrary to affective organizational commitment, affective commitment to customers enhanced service quality. The 2 sub-dimensions of continuance commitment to the organization--perceived high sacrifice and perceived lack of alternatives--exerted effects opposite in sign: The former fostered service quality, whereas the latter reduced it. The implications of these findings are discussed within the context of research on employee-customer encounters.

Corrections on energy spectrum and scatterings for fast neutron radiography at NECTAR facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shu-Quan; Bücherl, Thomas; Li, Hang; Zou, Yu-Bin; Lu, Yuan-Rong; Guo, Zhi-Yu

2013-11-01

Distortions caused by the neutron spectrum and scattered neutrons are major problems in fast neutron radiography and should be considered for improving the image quality. This paper puts emphasis on the removal of these image distortions and deviations for fast neutron radiography performed at the NECTAR facility of the research reactor FRM- II in Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. The NECTAR energy spectrum is analyzed and established to modify the influence caused by the neutron spectrum, and the Point Scattered Function (PScF) simulated by the Monte-Carlo program MCNPX is used to evaluate scattering effects from the object and improve image quality. Good analysis results prove the sound effects of the above two corrections.

The effects of short-term fasting on quality of life and tolerance to chemotherapy in patients with breast and ovarian cancer: a randomized cross-over pilot study.

PubMed

Bauersfeld, Stephan P; Kessler, Christian S; Wischnewsky, Manfred; Jaensch, Annette; Steckhan, Nico; Stange, Rainer; Kunz, Barbara; Brückner, Barbara; Sehouli, Jalid; Michalsen, Andreas

2018-04-27

This pilot trial aimed to study the feasibility and effects on quality of life (QOL) and well-being of short-term fasting (STF) during chemotherapy in patients with gynecological cancer. In an individually-randomized cross-over trial patients with gynecological cancer, 4 to 6 planned chemotherapy cycles were included. Thirty-four patients were randomized to STF in the first half of chemotherapies followed by normocaloric diet (group A;n = 18) or vice versa (group B;n = 16). Fasting started 36 h before and ended 24 h after chemotherapy (60 h-fasting period). QOL was assessed by the FACIT-measurement system. The chemotherapy-induced reduction of QOL was less than the Minimally Important Difference (MID; FACT-G = 5) with STF but greater than the MID for non-fasted periods. The mean chemotherapy-induced deterioration of total FACIT-F was 10.4 ± 5.3 for fasted and 27.0 ± 6.3 for non-fasted cycles in group A and 14.1 ± 5.6 for non-fasted and 11.0 ± 5.6 for fasted cycles in group B. There were no serious adverse effects. STF during chemotherapy is well tolerated and appears to improve QOL and fatigue during chemotherapy. Larger studies should prove the effect of STF as an adjunct to chemotherapy. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01954836 .

Developing a Low-Cost System for 3d Data Acquisition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kossieris, S.; Kourounioti, O.; Agrafiotis, P.; Georgopoulos, A.

2017-11-01

In this paper, a developed low-cost system is described, which aims to facilitate 3D documentation fast and reliably by acquiring the necessary data in outdoor environment for the 3D documentation of façades especially in the case of very narrow streets. In particular, it provides a viable solution for buildings up to 8-10m high and streets as narrow as 2m or even less. In cases like that, it is practically impossible or highly time-consuming to acquire images in a conventional way. This practice would lead to a huge number of images and long processing times. The developed system was tested in the narrow streets of a medieval village on the Greek island of Chios. There, in order to by-pass the problem of short taking distances, it was thought to use high definition action cameras together with a 360˚ camera, which are usually provided with very wide-angle lenses and are capable of acquiring images, of high definition, are rather cheap and, most importantly, extremely light. Results suggest that the system can perform fast 3D data acquisition adequate for deliverables of high quality.

MALDI-TOF MS for quality control of high protein content sport supplements.

PubMed

De Ceglie, Cristina; Calvano, Cosima D; Zambonin, Carlo G

2015-06-01

High protein content sport nutritional supplements are found as powder products containing, as ingredients, amino acids and proteins with important nutritional values as milk, soy and egg proteins. An EU Food Supplements Directive (2002) requires that supplements should be safe, both in dosages and in purity. It is important, then, to develop rapid and sensitive methods to be employed for the quality control of these substances. In this work, we apply, for the first time, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry as a fast, reproducible and sensitive method for the quality control of sport nutritional supplements based on proteins. To this aim, several commercial egg- and/or milk-based powder products have been processed by in gel or in solution digestion and analyzed in comparison to pure standard products. This strategy allowed to assess the reliability of the indications on proteins (as caseins, whey proteins and ovalbumin) declared in the label of several sport nutritional supplements. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Induction and disappearance of G2 chromatid breaks in lymphocytes after low doses of low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET fast neutrons.

PubMed

Vral, A; Thierens, H; Baeyens, A; De Ridder, L

2002-04-01

To determine by means of the G2 assay the number of chromatid breaks induced by low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons, and to compare the kinetics of chromatid break rejoining for radiations of different quality. The G2 assay was performed on blood samples of four healthy donors who were irradiated with low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons. In a first set of experiments a dose-response curve for the formation of chromatid breaks was carried out for gamma-rays and neutrons with doses ranging between 0.1 and 0.5 Gy. In a second set of experiments, the kinetics of chromatid break formation and disappearance were investigated after a dose of 0.5 Gy using post-irradiation times ranging between 0.5 and 3.5 h. For the highest dose of 0.5 Gy, the number of isochromatid breaks was also scored. No significant differences in the number of chromatid breaks were observed between low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons for the four donors at any of the doses given. The dose-response curves for the formation of chromatid breaks are linear for both radiation qualities and RBEs = 1 were obtained. Scoring of isochromatid breaks at the highest dose of 0.5 Gy revealed that high-LET neutrons were, however, more effective at inducing isochromatid breaks (RBE = 6.2). The rejoining experiments further showed that the kinetics of disappearance of chromatid breaks following irradiation with low-LET gamma-rays or high-LET neutrons were not significantly different. Half-times of 0.92 h for gamma-rays and 0.84 h for neutrons were obtained. Applying the G2 assay, the results demonstrate that at low doses of irradiation, the induction as well as the disappearance of chromatid breaks is independent of the LET of the radiation qualities used (0.24 keV x microm(-1) 60Co gamma-rays and 20 keV x microm(-1) fast neutrons). As these radiation qualities produce the same initial number of double-strand breaks, the results support the signal model that proposes that chromatid breaks are the result of an exchange process which is triggered by a single double-strand break.

Vitamin D Improves Selected Metabolic Parameters but Not Neuropsychological or Quality of Life Indices in OSA: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Kerley, Conor P.; Hutchinson, Katrina; Bramham, Jessica; McGowan, Aisling; Faul, John; Cormican, Liam

2017-01-01

Study Objectives: Our group and others have reported a high rate of vitamin D deficiency in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where vitamin D levels (25(OH) D) correlate negatively with OSA severity and some of its associated metabolic alterations. Data regarding vitamin D supplementation in OSA are lacking. We wanted to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on OSA symptoms and metabolic parameters. Methods: We conducted a pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of daily supplementation with 4,000 IU vitamin D3 (D3) or placebo (PL). We studied 19 Caucasian adults (14 male, mean age 55 y, mean body mass index [BMI] 30.4 kg/m2) with OSA. Fifteen patients were stable on continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy, whereas four were CPAP naïve. Assessments were completed at baseline and after 15 weeks of supplementation. Outcomes included sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), quality of life (Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Inventory), fatigue (fatigue severity scale) and neuropsychological function (trail making test and Connor's Continuous Performance Test II). In addition, we assessed biochemical indices of vitamin D status (25(OH)D, calcium), inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), lipids (total cholesterol [low-density and high-density lipoprotein]) and glycemic indices (fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test). Results: There was no change in BMI, medication, or CPAP usage. Although there was no change in neuropsychological or quality of life indices, we observed a significant increase in 25(OH)D (p = 0.00001) and significant decreases in both low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.04) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (p = 0.037) as well as trends toward decreased fasting glucose (p = 0.09) and increased high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.07) in the D3 group compared to PL. Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation increased vitamin D levels and decreased metabolic markers compared to placebo. Larger trials are required. Citation: Kerley CP, Hutchinson K, Bramham J, McGowan A, Faul J, Cormican L. Vitamin D Improves selected metabolic parameters but not neuropsychological or quality of life indices in OSA: a pilot study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017;13(1):19–26. PMID:27707440

Neutron temporal diagnostic for high-yield deuterium-tritium cryogenic implosions on OMEGA

DOE PAGES

Stoeckl, C.; Boni, R.; Ehrne, F.; ...

2016-05-10

A next-generation neutron temporal diagnostic (NTD) capable of recording high-quality data for the highest anticipated yield cryogenic DT implosion experiments was recently installed at the Omega Laser Facility. A high-quality measurement of the neutron production width is required to determine the hot-spot pressure achieved in inertial confinement fusion experiments—a key metric in assessing the quality of these implosions. The design of this NTD is based on a fast-rise-time plastic scintillator, which converts the neutron kinetic energy to 350- to 450-nm-wavelength light. The light from the scintillator inside the nose-cone assembly is relayed ~16 m to a streak camera in amore » well-shielded location. An ~200× reduction in neutron background was observed during the first high-yield DT cryogenic implosions compared to the current NTD installation on OMEGA. An impulse response of ~40±10 ps was measured in a dedicated experiment using hard x rays from a planar target irradiated with a 10-ps short pulse from the OMEGA EP laser. Furthermore, the measured instrument response includes contributions from the scintillator rise time, optical relay, and streak camera.« less

Neutron temporal diagnostic for high-yield deuterium–tritium cryogenic implosions on OMEGA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stoeckl, C.; Boni, R.; Ehrne, F.

A next-generation neutron temporal diagnostic (NTD) capable of recording high-quality data for the highest anticipated yield cryogenic deuterium–tritium (DT) implosion experiments was recently installed at the Omega Laser Facility. A high-quality measurement of the neutron production width is required to determine the hot-spot pressure achieved in inertial confinement fusion experiments—a key metric in assessing the quality of these implosions. The design of this NTD is based on a fast-rise-time plastic scintillator, which converts the neutron kinetic energy to 350- to 450-nm-wavelength light. The light from the scintillator inside the nose-cone assembly is relayed ∼16 m to a streak camera inmore » a well-shielded location. An ∼200× reduction in neutron background was observed during the first high-yield DT cryogenic implosions compared to the current NTD installation on OMEGA. An impulse response of ∼40 ± 10 ps was measured in a dedicated experiment using hard x-rays from a planar target irradiated with a 10-ps short pulse from the OMEGA EP laser. The measured instrument response includes contributions from the scintillator rise time, optical relay, and streak camera.« less

Neutron temporal diagnostic for high-yield deuterium-tritium cryogenic implosions on OMEGA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stoeckl, C.; Boni, R.; Ehrne, F.

A next-generation neutron temporal diagnostic (NTD) capable of recording high-quality data for the highest anticipated yield cryogenic DT implosion experiments was recently installed at the Omega Laser Facility. A high-quality measurement of the neutron production width is required to determine the hot-spot pressure achieved in inertial confinement fusion experiments—a key metric in assessing the quality of these implosions. The design of this NTD is based on a fast-rise-time plastic scintillator, which converts the neutron kinetic energy to 350- to 450-nm-wavelength light. The light from the scintillator inside the nose-cone assembly is relayed ~16 m to a streak camera in amore » well-shielded location. An ~200× reduction in neutron background was observed during the first high-yield DT cryogenic implosions compared to the current NTD installation on OMEGA. An impulse response of ~40±10 ps was measured in a dedicated experiment using hard x rays from a planar target irradiated with a 10-ps short pulse from the OMEGA EP laser. Furthermore, the measured instrument response includes contributions from the scintillator rise time, optical relay, and streak camera.« less

Influences of thermal deformation of cavity mirrors induced by high energy DF laser to beam quality under the simulated real physical circumstances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Shaoyong; Zhang, Shiqiang; He, Minbo; Zhang, Zheng; Guan, Xiaowei

2017-05-01

The positive-branch confocal unstable resonator with inhomogeneous gain medium was studied for the normal used high energy DF laser system. The fast changing process of the resonator's eigenmodes was coupled with the slow changing process of the thermal deformation of cavity mirrors. Influences of the thermal deformation of cavity mirrors to the outcoupled beam quality and transmission loss of high frequency components of high energy laser were computed. The simulations are done through programs compiled by MATLAB and GLAD software and the method of combination of finite elements and Fox-li iteration algorithm was used. Effects of thermal distortion, misaligned of cavity mirrors and inhomogeneous distribution of gain medium were introduced to simulate the real physical circumstances of laser cavity. The wavefront distribution and beam quality (including RMS of wavefront, power in the bucket, Strehl ratio, diffraction limit β, position of the beam spot center, spot size and intensity distribution in far-field ) of the distorted outcoupled beam were studied. The conclusions of the simulation agree with the experimental results. This work would supply references of wavefront correction range to the adaptive optics system of interior alleyway.

Machine vision system: a tool for quality inspection of food and agricultural products.

PubMed

Patel, Krishna Kumar; Kar, A; Jha, S N; Khan, M A

2012-04-01

Quality inspection of food and agricultural produce are difficult and labor intensive. Simultaneously, with increased expectations for food products of high quality and safety standards, the need for accurate, fast and objective quality determination of these characteristics in food products continues to grow. However, these operations generally in India are manual which is costly as well as unreliable because human decision in identifying quality factors such as appearance, flavor, nutrient, texture, etc., is inconsistent, subjective and slow. Machine vision provides one alternative for an automated, non-destructive and cost-effective technique to accomplish these requirements. This inspection approach based on image analysis and processing has found a variety of different applications in the food industry. Considerable research has highlighted its potential for the inspection and grading of fruits and vegetables, grain quality and characteristic examination and quality evaluation of other food products like bakery products, pizza, cheese, and noodles etc. The objective of this paper is to provide in depth introduction of machine vision system, its components and recent work reported on food and agricultural produce.

Determination of quality factors by microdosimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Affan, I. A. M.; Watt, D. E.

1987-03-01

The application of microdose parameters for the specification of a revised scale of quality factors which would be applicable at low doses and dose rates is examined in terms of an original proposal by Rossi. Two important modifications are suggested to enable an absolute scale of quality factors to be constructed. Allowance should be made to allow for the dependence of the saturation threshold of lineal energy on the type of heavy charged particle. Also, an artificial saturation threshold should be introduced for electron tracks as a mean of modifying the measurements made in the microdosimeter to the more realistic site sizes of nanometer dimensions. The proposed absolute scale of quality factors nicely encompasses the high RBEs of around 3 observed at low doses for tritium β rays and is consistent with the recent recommendation of the ICRP that the quality factor for fast neutrons be increased by a factor of two, assuming that there is no biological repair for the reference radiation.

Application of a Fast Separation Method for Anti-diabetics in Pharmaceuticals Using Monolithic Column: Comparative Study With Silica Based C-18 Particle Packed Column.

PubMed

Hemdan, A; Abdel-Aziz, Omar

2018-04-01

Run time is a predominant factor in HPLC for quality control laboratories especially if there is large number of samples have to be analyzed. Working at high flow rates cannot be attained with silica based particle packed column due to elevated backpressure issues. The use of monolithic column as an alternative to traditional C-18 column was tested for fast separation of pharmaceuticals, where the results were very competitive. The performance comparison of both columns was tested for separation of anti-diabetic combination containing Metformin, Pioglitazone and Glimepiride using Gliclazide as an internal standard. Working at high flow rates with less significant backpressure was obtained with the monolithic column where the run time was reduced from 6 min in traditional column to only 1 min in monolithic column with accepted resolution. The structure of the monolith contains many pores which can adapt the high flow rate of the mobile phase. Moreover, peak symmetry and equilibration time were more efficient with monolithic column.

Electrochemical Functionalization of Graphene at the Nanoscale with Self-Assembling Diazonium Salts.

PubMed

Xia, Zhenyuan; Leonardi, Francesca; Gobbi, Marco; Liu, Yi; Bellani, Vittorio; Liscio, Andrea; Kovtun, Alessandro; Li, Rongjin; Feng, Xinliang; Orgiu, Emanuele; Samorì, Paolo; Treossi, Emanuele; Palermo, Vincenzo

2016-07-26

We describe a fast and versatile method to functionalize high-quality graphene with organic molecules by exploiting the synergistic effect of supramolecular and covalent chemistry. With this goal, we designed and synthesized molecules comprising a long aliphatic chain and an aryl diazonium salt. Thanks to the long chain, these molecules physisorb from solution onto CVD graphene or bulk graphite, self-assembling in an ordered monolayer. The sample is successively transferred into an aqueous electrolyte, to block any reorganization or desorption of the monolayer. An electrochemical impulse is used to transform the diazonium group into a radical capable of grafting covalently to the substrate and transforming the physisorption into a covalent chemisorption. During covalent grafting in water, the molecules retain the ordered packing formed upon self-assembly. Our two-step approach is characterized by the independent control over the processes of immobilization of molecules on the substrate and their covalent tethering, enabling fast (t < 10 s) covalent functionalization of graphene. This strategy is highly versatile and works with many carbon-based materials including graphene deposited on silicon, plastic, and quartz as well as highly oriented pyrolytic graphite.

Cultivation, characterization, and properties of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae with different lipid contents and effect on fast pyrolysis oil composition.

PubMed

Adamakis, Ioannis-Dimosthenis; Lazaridis, Polykarpos A; Terzopoulou, Evangelia; Torofias, Stylianos; Valari, Maria; Kalaitzi, Photeini; Rousonikolos, Vasilis; Gkoutzikostas, Dimitris; Zouboulis, Anastasios; Zalidis, Georgios; Triantafyllidis, Konstantinos S

2018-06-01

A systematic study of the effect of nitrogen levels in the cultivation medium of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae grown in photobioreactor (PBR) on biomass productivity, biochemical and elemental composition, fatty acid profile, heating value (HHV), and composition of the algae-derived fast pyrolysis (bio-oil) is presented in this work. A relatively high biomass productivity and cell concentration (1.5 g of dry biomass per liter of cultivation medium and 120 × 10 6 cells/ml, respectively) were achieved after 30 h of cultivation under N-rich medium. On the other hand, the highest lipid content (ca. 36 wt.% on dry biomass) was obtained under N-depletion cultivation conditions. The medium and low N levels favored also the increased concentration of the saturated and mono-unsaturated C16:0 and C18:1(n-9) fatty acids (FA) in the lipid/oil fraction, thus providing a raw lipid feedstock that can be more efficiently converted to high-quality biodiesel or green diesel (via hydrotreatment). In terms of overall lipid productivity, taking in consideration both the biomass concentration in the medium and the content of lipids on dry biomass, the most effective system was the N-rich one. The thermal (non-catalytic) pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae produced a highly complex bio-oil composition, including fatty acids, phenolics, ethers, ketones, etc., as well as aromatics, alkanes, and nitrogen compounds (pyrroles and amides), originating from the lipid, protein, and carbohydrate fractions of the microalgae. However, the catalytic fast pyrolysis using a highly acidic ZSM-5 zeolite, afforded a bio-oil enriched in mono-aromatics (BTX), reducing at the same time significantly oxygenated compounds such as phenolics, acids, ethers, and ketones. These effects were even more pronounced in the catalytic fast pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris residual biomass (after extraction of lipids), thus showing for the first time the potential of transforming this low value by-product towards high added value platform chemicals.

FQC Dashboard: integrates FastQC results into a web-based, interactive, and extensible FASTQ quality control tool.

PubMed

Brown, Joseph; Pirrung, Meg; McCue, Lee Ann

2017-06-09

FQC is software that facilitates quality control of FASTQ files by carrying out a QC protocol using FastQC, parsing results, and aggregating quality metrics into an interactive dashboard designed to richly summarize individual sequencing runs. The dashboard groups samples in dropdowns for navigation among the data sets, utilizes human-readable configuration files to manipulate the pages and tabs, and is extensible with CSV data. FQC is implemented in Python 3 and Javascript, and is maintained under an MIT license. Documentation and source code is available at: https://github.com/pnnl/fqc . joseph.brown@pnnl.gov. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Ultra-high-throughput Production of III-V/Si Wafer for Electronic and Photonic Applications

PubMed Central

Geum, Dae-Myeong; Park, Min-Su; Lim, Ju Young; Yang, Hyun-Duk; Song, Jin Dong; Kim, Chang Zoo; Yoon, Euijoon; Kim, SangHyeon; Choi, Won Jun

2016-01-01

Si-based integrated circuits have been intensively developed over the past several decades through ultimate device scaling. However, the Si technology has reached the physical limitations of the scaling. These limitations have fuelled the search for alternative active materials (for transistors) and the introduction of optical interconnects (called “Si photonics”). A series of attempts to circumvent the Si technology limits are based on the use of III-V compound semiconductor due to their superior benefits, such as high electron mobility and direct bandgap. To use their physical properties on a Si platform, the formation of high-quality III-V films on the Si (III-V/Si) is the basic technology ; however, implementing this technology using a high-throughput process is not easy. Here, we report new concepts for an ultra-high-throughput heterogeneous integration of high-quality III-V films on the Si using the wafer bonding and epitaxial lift off (ELO) technique. We describe the ultra-fast ELO and also the re-use of the III-V donor wafer after III-V/Si formation. These approaches provide an ultra-high-throughput fabrication of III-V/Si substrates with a high-quality film, which leads to a dramatic cost reduction. As proof-of-concept devices, this paper demonstrates GaAs-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), solar cells, and hetero-junction phototransistors on Si substrates. PMID:26864968

Enhanced parent selection algorithms in mintroute protocol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ki-Il

2012-11-01

A low-rate, short-range wireless radio communication on a small device often hampers high reliability in wireless sensor networks. However, more applications are increasingly demanding high reliability. To meet this requirement, various approaches have been proposed in each viewpoint of layers. Among those, MintRoute is a well-known network layer approach to develop a new metric based on link quality for path selection towards the sink. By choosing the link with the highest measured value, it has a higher possibility to transmit a packet over the link without error. However, there are still several issues to be mentioned during operations. In this paper, we propose how to improve the MintRoute protocol through revised algorithms. They include a parent selection considering distance and level from the sink node, and a fast recovery method against failures. Simulations and analysis are performed by in order to validate the suitability of reduced end-to-end delay and fast recovery for failures, thus to enhance the reliability of communication.

Super fast detection of latent fingerprints with water soluble CdTe quantum dots.

PubMed

Cai, Kaiyang; Yang, Ruiqin; Wang, Yanji; Yu, Xuejiao; Liu, Jianjun

2013-03-10

A new method based on the use of highly fluorescent water-soluble cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) capped with mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) was explored to develop latent fingerprints. After optimized the effectiveness of QDs method contains pH value and developing time, super fast detection was achieved. Excellent fingerprint images were obtained in 1-3s after immersed the latent fingerprints into quantum dots solution on various non-porous surfaces, i.e. adhesive tape, transparent tape, aluminum foil and stainless steel. High sensitivity of the new latent fingerprints develop method was obtained by developing the fingerprints pressed on aluminum foil successively with the same finger. Compared with methyl violet and rhodamine 6G, the MSA-CdTe QDs showed the higher develop speed and fingerprint image quality. Clear image can be maintained for months by extending exposure time of CCD camera, storing fingerprints in a low temperature condition and secondary development. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fast solid-phase synthesis of large-area few-layer 1T'-MoTe2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Sheng; Chen, Lin; Zhang, Tian-Bao; Nie, Xin-Ran; Zhu, Hao; Ding, Shi-Jin; Sun, Qing-Qing; Zhang, David Wei

2017-06-01

In this study, we report on a novel approach to produce ∼12 nm thick few-layer monoclinic 1T'-MoTe2 films. The deposition method comprised sputtering of Mo, molecular beam epitaxy of Te, and rapid thermal processing to effect tellurization of the Mo into 1T'-MoTe2. The heating rate and annealing time are the critical factors. 30 °C s-1 heating rate and 2 min annealing at 470 °C were adopted in this work. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of stoichiometric 1T'-MoTe2 films, while X-ray diffraction confirmed the monoclinic polymorph. Raman spectroscopy confirmed spatial uniformity over the sample size of 1 cm × 1.5 cm. Our fast synthesis approach to realize high-quality 1T'-MoTe2 paves the way towards the large-scale application of 1T'-MoTe2 in high-performance nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.

Metabolic and Hormonal Response to a Feed-challenge Test in Lean and Overweight Dogs.

PubMed

Söder, J; Wernersson, S; Hagman, R; Karlsson, I; Malmlöf, K; Höglund, K

2016-01-01

Obese dogs risk poor life quality, creating a need for increased knowledge of metabolism in overweight dogs. Investigate postprandial metabolic and hormonal responses to a high-fat mixed-meal in dogs and responses of lean versus overweight dogs. Twenty-eight healthy intact male Labrador Retrievers were included. Prospective observational study. Twelve dogs were grouped as lean (body condition score (BCS 4-5), 10 as slightly overweight (BCS 6), and 6 as overweight (BCS 6.5-8) on a 9-point scale. After an overnight fast, urine and blood samples were collected. Dogs were then fed a high-fat mixed-meal, and blood was collected hourly for 4 hours and urine after 3 hours. Postprandial concentrations of insulin and glucagon were increased at 1 hour (both P < 0.0001), triglycerides at 2 hours (P < 0.0001), and glucose at 3 hours (P = 0.004); and all remained increased throughout the feed-challenge in all dogs. Postprandial urine cortisol/creatinine ratio was higher than fasting values (P = 0.001). Comparing between groups, there was an overall higher triglyceride response in overweight compared to lean (P = 0.001) and slightly overweight (P = 0.015) dogs. Overweight dogs also had higher fasting cortisol/creatinine ratio compared to lean dogs (P = 0.024). Postprandial responses of dogs to a high-fat mixed-meal were similar to those previously reported in people. The higher postprandial triglyceride response and fasting cortisol/creatinine ratio in the overweight dogs could be early signs of metabolic imbalance. Thus, although overweight dogs often appear healthy, metabolic alterations might be present. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Foraging behavior by Daphnia in stoichiometric gradients of food quality.

PubMed

Schatz, Greg S; McCauley, Edward

2007-10-01

Mismatches in the elemental composition of herbivores and their resources can impact herbivore growth and reproduction. In aquatic systems, the ratio of elements, such as C, P, and N, is used to characterize the food quality of algal prey. For example, large increases in the C:P ratio of edible algae can decrease rates of growth and reproduction in Daphnia. Current theory emphasizes that Daphnia utilize only assimilation and respiration processes to maintain an optimal elemental composition, yet studies of terrestrial herbivores implicate behavioral processes in coping with local variation in food quality. We tested the ability of juvenile and adult Daphnia to locate regions of high-quality food within a spatial gradient of algal prey differing in C:P ratio, while holding food density constant over space. Both juveniles and adults demonstrated similar behavior by quickly locating (i.e., <10 min) the region of high food quality. Foraging paths were centred on regions of high food quality and these differed significantly from paths of individuals exposed to a homogeneous environment of both food density and food quality. Ingestion rate experiments on algal prey of differing stoichiometric ratio show that individuals can adjust their intake rate over fast behavioral time-scales, and we use these data to examine how individuals choose foraging locations when presented with a spatial gradient that trades off food quality and food quantity. Daphnia reared under low food quality conditions chose to forage in regions of high food quality even though they could attain the same C ingestion rate elsewhere along a spatial gradient. We argue that these aspects of foraging behavior by Daphnia have important implications for how these herbivores manage their elemental composition and our understanding of the dynamics of these herbivore-plant systems in lakes and ponds where spatial variation in food quality is present.

Alternative techniques for high-resolution spectral estimation of spectrally encoded endoscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mousavi, Mahta; Duan, Lian; Javidi, Tara; Ellerbee, Audrey K.

2015-09-01

Spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) is a minimally invasive optical imaging modality capable of fast confocal imaging of internal tissue structures. Modern SEE systems use coherent sources to image deep within the tissue and data are processed similar to optical coherence tomography (OCT); however, standard processing of SEE data via the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) leads to degradation of the axial resolution as the bandwidth of the source shrinks, resulting in a well-known trade-off between speed and axial resolution. Recognizing the limitation of FFT as a general spectral estimation algorithm to only take into account samples collected by the detector, in this work we investigate alternative high-resolution spectral estimation algorithms that exploit information such as sparsity and the general region position of the bulk sample to improve the axial resolution of processed SEE data. We validate the performance of these algorithms using bothMATLAB simulations and analysis of experimental results generated from a home-built OCT system to simulate an SEE system with variable scan rates. Our results open a new door towards using non-FFT algorithms to generate higher quality (i.e., higher resolution) SEE images at correspondingly fast scan rates, resulting in systems that are more accurate and more comfortable for patients due to the reduced image time.

Rapid Total Synthesis of DARPin pE59 and RNase B. a

PubMed Central

Mong, Surin K.; Vinogradov, Alexander A.; Simon, Mark D.

2014-01-01

Here we report the convergent total synthesis of two proteins: DARPin pE59 and RNase B. a. (Barnase). Leveraging our recently developed fast flow peptide synthesis platform, we rapidly explored numerous conditions for the assembly of long polypeptides and were able to mitigate common side reactions including deletion and aspartimide products. We report general strategies for improving the synthetic quality of difficult peptide sequences with our system. High-quality protein fragments produced under optimal synthetic conditions were subjected to convergent native chemical ligation, which afforded native full-length proteins after a final desulfurization step. Both DARPin and Barnase were folded and found to be as active as their recombinant analogues. PMID:24616257

The Influence of Urban Planning Affected Static and Stable Meteorological Field on Air Pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yue; Zhang, Liyuan; Zhang, Yunwei

2018-02-01

Accompany with the rapid urbanized and industrialized process, the built-up area and the number of high-rise buildings increased fast. Urban air quality is facing with the challenge caused by the rapid increase in energy consumption, motor vehicles owned, and the city construction. Long term high precision analysis on Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has been conducted in this article, so as to explore the influence of rapid increase in urban size and tall building amount on occurrence frequency of urban static and stable meteorological conditions as well as the contribution to urban PM2.5 pollution.

Toward of a highly integrated probe for improving wireless network quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Fei; Song, Aiguo; Wu, Zhenyang; Pan, Zhiwen; You, Xiaohu

2016-10-01

Quality of service and customer perception is the focus of the telecommunications industry. This paper proposes a low-cost approach to the acquisition of terminal data, collected from LTE networks with the application of a soft probe, based on the Java language. The soft probe includes support for fast call in the form of a referenced library, and can be integrated into various Android-based applications to automatically monitor any exception event in the network. Soft probe-based acquisition of terminal data has the advantages of low cost and can be applied on large scale. Experiment shows that a soft probe can efficiently obtain terminal network data. With this method, the quality of service of LTE networks can be determined from acquired wireless data. This work contributes to efficient network optimization, and the analysis of abnormal network events.

Effects of combined traditional processing methods on the nutritional quality of beans.

PubMed

Nakitto, Aisha M; Muyonga, John H; Nakimbugwe, Dorothy

2015-05-01

Consumption of dry beans is limited by long cooking times thus high fuel requirement. The bioavailability of nutrients in beans is also limited due to presence of antinutrients such as phytates and tannins. Little research has been done on combined processing methods for production of nutritious fast cooking bean flour and the effect of combined treatments on nutritional quality of beans has not previously determined. The aim of this study was to reduce cooking time and enhance the nutritional value of dry beans. Specifically to: develop protocols for production of fast cooking bean flours and assess the effect of processing on the nutritional characteristics of the flours. Dry beans (K131 variety) were soaked for 12 h; sprouted for 48 h; dehulled and steamed for 25 and 15 min for whole and dehulled beans respectively or roasted at 170°C for 45 and 15 min for whole and dehulled beans respectively. Dehulling eliminated phytates and tannins and increased protein digestibility. In vitro protein digestibility and mineral (iron and zinc) extractability were negatively correlated with tannin and phytate content. Total available carbohydrates were highest in moist heat-treated bean flours. Overall, combined processing of beans improved the nutritional quality of dry beans and the resulting precooked flours need less cooking time compared to whole dry beans.

Effects of combined traditional processing methods on the nutritional quality of beans

PubMed Central

Nakitto, Aisha M; Muyonga, John H; Nakimbugwe, Dorothy

2015-01-01

Consumption of dry beans is limited by long cooking times thus high fuel requirement. The bioavailability of nutrients in beans is also limited due to presence of antinutrients such as phytates and tannins. Little research has been done on combined processing methods for production of nutritious fast cooking bean flour and the effect of combined treatments on nutritional quality of beans has not previously determined. The aim of this study was to reduce cooking time and enhance the nutritional value of dry beans. Specifically to: develop protocols for production of fast cooking bean flours and assess the effect of processing on the nutritional characteristics of the flours. Dry beans (K131 variety) were soaked for 12 h; sprouted for 48 h; dehulled and steamed for 25 and 15 min for whole and dehulled beans respectively or roasted at 170°C for 45 and 15 min for whole and dehulled beans respectively. Dehulling eliminated phytates and tannins and increased protein digestibility. In vitro protein digestibility and mineral (iron and zinc) extractability were negatively correlated with tannin and phytate content. Total available carbohydrates were highest in moist heat-treated bean flours. Overall, combined processing of beans improved the nutritional quality of dry beans and the resulting precooked flours need less cooking time compared to whole dry beans. PMID:25987998

Large field of view, fast and low dose multimodal phase-contrast imaging at high x-ray energy.

PubMed

Astolfo, Alberto; Endrizzi, Marco; Vittoria, Fabio A; Diemoz, Paul C; Price, Benjamin; Haig, Ian; Olivo, Alessandro

2017-05-19

X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) is an innovative imaging technique which extends the contrast capabilities of 'conventional' absorption based x-ray systems. However, so far all XPCI implementations have suffered from one or more of the following limitations: low x-ray energies, small field of view (FOV) and long acquisition times. Those limitations relegated XPCI to a 'research-only' technique with an uncertain future in terms of large scale, high impact applications. We recently succeeded in designing, realizing and testing an XPCI system, which achieves significant steps toward simultaneously overcoming these limitations. Our system combines, for the first time, large FOV, high energy and fast scanning. Importantly, it is capable of providing high image quality at low x-ray doses, compatible with or even below those currently used in medical imaging. This extends the use of XPCI to areas which were unpractical or even inaccessible to previous XPCI solutions. We expect this will enable a long overdue translation into application fields such as security screening, industrial inspections and large FOV medical radiography - all with the inherent advantages of the XPCI multimodality.

Progress, opportunities, and key fields for groundwater quality research under the impacts of human activities in China with a special focus on western China.

PubMed

Li, Peiyue; Tian, Rui; Xue, Chenyang; Wu, Jianhua

2017-05-01

Groundwater quality research is extremely important for supporting the safety of the water supply and human health in arid and semi-arid areas of China. This review article was constructed to report the latest research progress of groundwater quality in western China where groundwater quality is undergoing fast deterioration because of fast economic development and extensive anthropogenic activities. The opportunities brought by increasing public awareness of groundwater quality protection were also highlighted and discussed. To guide and promote further development of groundwater quality research in China, especially in western China, ten key groundwater quality research fields were proposed. The review shows that the intensification of human activities and the associated impacts on groundwater quality in China, especially in western China, has made groundwater quality research increasingly important, and has caught the attention of local, national, and international agencies and scholars. China has achieved some progress in groundwater quality research in terms of national and regional laws, regulations, and financial supports. The future of groundwater quality research in China, especially in western China, is promising reflected by the opportunities highlighted. The key research fields proposed in this article may also inform groundwater quality protection and management at the national and international level.

Effects of fasting and refeeding on the digestive tract of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed with Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a high protein feed source.

PubMed

Lo Cascio, Patrizia; Calabrò, Concetta; Bertuccio, Clara; Paterniti, Irene; Palombieri, Deborah; Calò, Margherita; Albergamo, Ambrogina; Salvo, Andrea; Gabriella Denaro, Maria

2017-07-01

In the present work, morphological and molecular effects of short-term feed deprivation and refeeding with Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) on zebrafish digestive tract were determined. Once elucidated the proximate composition of Spirulina feed, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses of peptide transporter (PepT1) and cholecystokinin (CCK8) were carried out in the gastrointestinal tract of zebrafish, previously morphologically investigated. Two and five fasting days caused not only morphostructural alterations, but also the downregulation of PepT1 and CCK8 proteins. Conversely, the recovery of normal morphological conditions, along with an increased PepT1 and CCK8 expression, were observed after refeeding with Spirulina. The increase of PepT1 expression in zebrafish may be responsible for the enhanced CCK8 secretion, so that both proteins may contribute to an improved digestion process during refeeding. These observations could be supported not only by compensatory mechanisms induced by fasting and refeeding but also by an higher protein quality of Spirulina-based diet.

Upper mantle dynamics of Bangladesh by splitting analysis of core-mantle refracted SKS, PKS, and SKKS phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Ashwani Kant; Bhushan, Kirti; Eken, Tuna; Singh, Arun

2018-06-01

New shear wave splitting measurements are obtained from the Bengal Basin using core-mantle refracted SKS, PKS, and SKKS phases. The splitting parameters, namely time delays (δ t) and fast polarization directions (ϕ), were estimated through analysis of 54 high-quality waveforms (⩾ 2.5 signal to noise ratio) from 30 earthquakes with magnitude ⩾ 5.5 recorded at ten seismic stations deployed over Bangladesh. No evidence of splitting was found, which indicates azimuthal isotropy beneath the region. These null measurements can be explained by either vertically dipping anisotropic fast axes or by the presence of multiple horizontal anisotropic layers with different fast polarization directions, where the combined effect results in a null characterization. The anisotropic fabric preserved from rifting episodes of Antarctica and India, subduction-related dynamics of the Indo-Burmese convergence zone, and northward movement of the Indian plate creating shear at the base of the lithosphere can explain the observed null measurements. The combined effect of all these most likely results in a strong vertical anisotropic heterogeneity, creating the observed null results.

DNA methylation assessment from human slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers

PubMed Central

Begue, Gwénaëlle; Raue, Ulrika; Jemiolo, Bozena

2017-01-01

A new application of the reduced representation bisulfite sequencing method was developed using low-DNA input to investigate the epigenetic profile of human slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers. Successful library construction was completed with as little as 15 ng of DNA, and high-quality sequencing data were obtained with 32 ng of DNA. Analysis identified 143,160 differentially methylated CpG sites across 14,046 genes. In both fiber types, selected genes predominantly expressed in slow or fast fibers were hypomethylated, which was supported by the RNA-sequencing analysis. These are the first fiber type-specific methylation data from human skeletal muscle and provide a unique platform for future research. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study validates a low-DNA input reduced representation bisulfite sequencing method for human muscle biopsy samples to investigate the methylation patterns at a fiber type-specific level. These are the first fiber type-specific methylation data reported from human skeletal muscle and thus provide initial insight into basal state differences in myosin heavy chain I and IIa muscle fibers among young, healthy men. PMID:28057818

Ramadan Fasting and the Propensity for Learning: Is There a Cause for Concern?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masismadi, Nur Adilah; Lee, Marcus J. C.; Che Muhamed, Ahmad Munir; Chia, Michael Y. H.; Aziz, Abdul Rashid

2017-01-01

The literature indicates that glucose deprivation, dehydration, decreased sleep quality and quantity, and mood changes, independently and adversely can influence cognitive functions and therefore learning. The Ramadan fast is an annual religious act undertaken by Muslims where individuals refrain from consuming food and fluid during daylight…

Monitoring microbiological changes in drinking water systems using a fast and reproducible flow cytometric method.

PubMed

Prest, E I; Hammes, F; Kötzsch, S; van Loosdrecht, M C M; Vrouwenvelder, J S

2013-12-01

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a rapid, cultivation-independent tool to assess and evaluate bacteriological quality and biological stability of water. Here we demonstrate that a stringent, reproducible staining protocol combined with fixed FCM operational and gating settings is essential for reliable quantification of bacteria and detection of changes in aquatic bacterial communities. Triplicate measurements of diverse water samples with this protocol typically showed relative standard deviation values and 95% confidence interval values below 2.5% on all the main FCM parameters. We propose a straightforward and instrument-independent method for the characterization of water samples based on the combination of bacterial cell concentration and fluorescence distribution. Analysis of the fluorescence distribution (or so-called fluorescence fingerprint) was accomplished firstly through a direct comparison of the raw FCM data and subsequently simplified by quantifying the percentage of large and brightly fluorescent high nucleic acid (HNA) content bacteria in each sample. Our approach enables fast differentiation of dissimilar bacterial communities (less than 15 min from sampling to final result), and allows accurate detection of even small changes in aquatic environments (detection above 3% change). Demonstrative studies on (a) indigenous bacterial growth in water, (b) contamination of drinking water with wastewater, (c) household drinking water stagnation and (d) mixing of two drinking water types, univocally showed that this FCM approach enables detection and quantification of relevant bacterial water quality changes with high sensitivity. This approach has the potential to be used as a new tool for application in the drinking water field, e.g. for rapid screening of the microbial water quality and stability during water treatment and distribution in networks and premise plumbing. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase-unwrapping algorithm by a rounding-least-squares approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juarez-Salazar, Rigoberto; Robledo-Sanchez, Carlos; Guerrero-Sanchez, Fermin

2014-02-01

A simple and efficient phase-unwrapping algorithm based on a rounding procedure and a global least-squares minimization is proposed. Instead of processing the gradient of the wrapped phase, this algorithm operates over the gradient of the phase jumps by a robust and noniterative scheme. Thus, the residue-spreading and over-smoothing effects are reduced. The algorithm's performance is compared with four well-known phase-unwrapping methods: minimum cost network flow (MCNF), fast Fourier transform (FFT), quality-guided, and branch-cut. A computer simulation and experimental results show that the proposed algorithm reaches a high-accuracy level than the MCNF method by a low-computing time similar to the FFT phase-unwrapping method. Moreover, since the proposed algorithm is simple, fast, and user-free, it could be used in metrological interferometric and fringe-projection automatic real-time applications.

Fast novel nonlinear optical NLC system with local response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iljin, Andrey; Residori, Stefania; Bortolozzo, Umberto

2017-06-01

Nonlinear optical performance of a novel liquid crystalline (LC) cell has been studied in two-wave mixing experiments revealing high diffraction efficiency within extremely wide intensity range, fast recording times and spatial resolution. Photo-induced modulation of the LC order parameter resulting from trans-cis isomerisation of dye molecules causes consequent changes of refractive indices of the medium (Light-Induced Order Modification, LIOM-mechanism) and is proved to be the main mechanism of optical nonlinearity. The proposed arrangement of the electric-field-stabilised homeotropic alignment hinders the LC director reorientation, prevents appearance of surface effects and ensures the optical cell quality. The LIOM-type nonlinearity, characterised with the substantially local nonlinear optical response, could also be extended for the recording of arbitrary phase profiles as requested in several applications for light-beam manipulation, recording of dynamic volume holograms and photonic lattices.

The Geography of Fast Food Outlets: A Review

PubMed Central

Fraser, Lorna K.; Edwards, Kimberly L.; Cade, Janet; Clarke, Graham P.

2010-01-01

The availability of food high in fat, salt and sugar through Fast Food (FF) or takeaway outlets, is implicated in the causal pathway for the obesity epidemic. This review aims to summarise this body of research and highlight areas for future work. Thirty three studies were found that had assessed the geography of these outlets. Fourteen studies showed a positive association between availability of FF outlets and increasing deprivation. Another 13 studies also included overweight or obesity data and showed conflicting results between obesity/overweight and FF outlet availability. There is some evidence that FF availability is associated with lower fruit and vegetable intake. There is potential for land use policies to have an influence on the location of new FF outlets. Further research should incorporate good quality data on FF consumption, weight and physical activity. PMID:20623025

Real-time multi-DSP control of three-phase current-source unity power factor PWM rectifier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiao Wang; Boon-Teck Ooi

1993-07-01

The design of a real-time multi-DSP controller for a high-quality six-valve three-phase current-source unity power factor PWM rectifier is discussed in this paper. With the decoupler preprocessor and the dynamic trilogic PWM trigger scheme, each of the three input currents can be controlled independently. Based on the a-b-c frame system model and the fast parallel computer control, the pole-placement control method is implemented successfully to achieve fast response in the ac currents. The low-frequency resonance in the ac filter L-C networks has been damped effectively. The experimental results are obtained from a 1-kVA bipolar transistor current-source PWM rectifier with amore » real-time controller using three TMS320C25 DSP's.« less

Investigation on the quality of bio-oil produced through fast pyrolysis of biomass-polymer waste mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jourabchi, S. A.; Ng, H. K.; Gan, S.; Yap, Z. Y.

2016-06-01

A high-impact poly-styrene (HIPS) was mixed with dried and ground coconut shell (CS) at equal weight percentage. Fast pyrolysis was carried out on the mixture in a fixed bed reactor over a temperature range of 573 K to 1073 K, and a nitrogen (N2) linear velocity range of 7.8x10-5 m/s to 6.7x10-2 m/s to produce bio-oil. Heat transfer and fluid dynamics of the pyrolysis process inside the reactor was visualised by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The CFD modelling was validated by experimental results and they both indicated that at temperature of 923 K and N2 linear velocity of 7.8x10-5 m/s, the maximum bio-oil yield of 52.02 wt% is achieved.

The geography of Fast Food outlets: a review.

PubMed

Fraser, Lorna K; Edwards, Kimberly L; Cade, Janet; Clarke, Graham P

2010-05-01

The availability of food high in fat, salt and sugar through Fast Food (FF) or takeaway outlets, is implicated in the causal pathway for the obesity epidemic. This review aims to summarise this body of research and highlight areas for future work. Thirty three studies were found that had assessed the geography of these outlets. Fourteen studies showed a positive association between availability of FF outlets and increasing deprivation. Another 13 studies also included overweight or obesity data and showed conflicting results between obesity/overweight and FF outlet availability. There is some evidence that FF availability is associated with lower fruit and vegetable intake. There is potential for land use policies to have an influence on the location of new FF outlets. Further research should incorporate good quality data on FF consumption, weight and physical activity.

Numerical simulation of intelligent compaction technology for construction quality control.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-01

Intelligent compaction (IC) technique is a fast-developing technology for compaction quality control and acceptance. Proof rolling using the intelligent compaction rollers after completing compaction can eectively identify : the weak spots and sig...

Fast global image smoothing based on weighted least squares.

PubMed

Min, Dongbo; Choi, Sunghwan; Lu, Jiangbo; Ham, Bumsub; Sohn, Kwanghoon; Do, Minh N

2014-12-01

This paper presents an efficient technique for performing a spatially inhomogeneous edge-preserving image smoothing, called fast global smoother. Focusing on sparse Laplacian matrices consisting of a data term and a prior term (typically defined using four or eight neighbors for 2D image), our approach efficiently solves such global objective functions. In particular, we approximate the solution of the memory-and computation-intensive large linear system, defined over a d-dimensional spatial domain, by solving a sequence of 1D subsystems. Our separable implementation enables applying a linear-time tridiagonal matrix algorithm to solve d three-point Laplacian matrices iteratively. Our approach combines the best of two paradigms, i.e., efficient edge-preserving filters and optimization-based smoothing. Our method has a comparable runtime to the fast edge-preserving filters, but its global optimization formulation overcomes many limitations of the local filtering approaches. Our method also achieves high-quality results as the state-of-the-art optimization-based techniques, but runs ∼10-30 times faster. Besides, considering the flexibility in defining an objective function, we further propose generalized fast algorithms that perform Lγ norm smoothing (0 < γ < 2) and support an aggregated (robust) data term for handling imprecise data constraints. We demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our techniques in a range of image processing and computer graphics applications.

Associations of Self-Reported Sleep Quality with Circulating Interferon Gamma-Inducible Protein 10, Interleukin 6, and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Healthy Menopausal Women

PubMed Central

Chang, Chia-Chu; Kor, Chew-Teng; Chen, Ting-Yu; Wu, Hung-Ming

2017-01-01

Introduction Sleep disturbance is very common in menopausal women and poor sleep quality has been linked to systemic inflammation. However, the impact of poor sleep quality on health outcomes of menopausal women remains unclear. This study evaluated the relationships between sleep quality and inflammation in menopausal women. Participants and design This cross-sectional study enrolled 281 healthy women aged 45 to 60 years. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to measure quality of sleep. Multiplex assays were used to measure the levels of 9 cytokines in morning fasting plasma samples. Other variables measured in this study included clinical characteristics and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Setting The study was performed at a medical center. Results The 281 participants comprised 79 (28%) perimenopausal women and 202 (72%) postmenopausal women. Global PSQI scores were positively correlated with plasma hs-CRP levels (P = 0.012) and were marginally associated with interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP10), interleukin 6 (IL6), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1β) levels. After adjusting for age, body mass index, menopause duration, and follicle stimulating hormone, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that high PSQI scores and sleep efficiency < 65% were associated with elevated plasma levels of hs-CRP, IP10, and IL6. In addition, sleep duration < 5 hours was associated with high hs-CRP levels. Conclusion Our data show that poor sleep quality and low sleep efficiency are associated with elevated levels of circulating inflammatory factors IP10, IL6 and hs-CRP and that short sleep duration is associated with high levels of hs-CRP in menopausal women. These findings provide novel evidence that poor sleep quality is linked to low-grade systemic inflammation in menopausal women. PMID:28060925

Moving graphene devices from lab to market: advanced graphene-coated nanoprobes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Fei; Vajha, Pujashree; Shi, Yuanyuan; Ji, Yanfeng; Duan, Huiling; Padovani, Andrea; Larcher, Luca; Li, Xiao Rong; Xu, Jing Juan; Lanza, Mario

2016-04-01

After more than a decade working with graphene there is still a preoccupying lack of commercial devices based on this wonder material. Here we report the use of high-quality solution-processed graphene sheets to fabricate ultra-sharp probes with superior performance. Nanoprobes are versatile tools used in many fields of science, but they can wear fast after some experiments, reducing the quality and increasing the cost of the research. As the market of nanoprobes is huge, providing a solution for this problem should be a priority for the nanotechnology industry. Our graphene-coated nanoprobes not only show enhanced lifetime, but also additional unique properties of graphene, such as hydrophobicity. Moreover, we have functionalized the surface of graphene to provide piezoelectric capability, and have fabricated a nano relay. The simplicity and low cost of this method, which can be used to coat any kind of sharp tip, make it suitable for the industry, allowing production on demand.After more than a decade working with graphene there is still a preoccupying lack of commercial devices based on this wonder material. Here we report the use of high-quality solution-processed graphene sheets to fabricate ultra-sharp probes with superior performance. Nanoprobes are versatile tools used in many fields of science, but they can wear fast after some experiments, reducing the quality and increasing the cost of the research. As the market of nanoprobes is huge, providing a solution for this problem should be a priority for the nanotechnology industry. Our graphene-coated nanoprobes not only show enhanced lifetime, but also additional unique properties of graphene, such as hydrophobicity. Moreover, we have functionalized the surface of graphene to provide piezoelectric capability, and have fabricated a nano relay. The simplicity and low cost of this method, which can be used to coat any kind of sharp tip, make it suitable for the industry, allowing production on demand. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06235g

A vision-based system for fast and accurate laser scanning in robot-assisted phonomicrosurgery.

PubMed

Dagnino, Giulio; Mattos, Leonardo S; Caldwell, Darwin G

2015-02-01

Surgical quality in phonomicrosurgery can be improved by open-loop laser control (e.g., high-speed scanning capabilities) with a robust and accurate closed-loop visual servoing systems. A new vision-based system for laser scanning control during robot-assisted phonomicrosurgery was developed and tested. Laser scanning was accomplished with a dual control strategy, which adds a vision-based trajectory correction phase to a fast open-loop laser controller. The system is designed to eliminate open-loop aiming errors caused by system calibration limitations and by the unpredictable topology of real targets. Evaluation of the new system was performed using CO(2) laser cutting trials on artificial targets and ex-vivo tissue. This system produced accuracy values corresponding to pixel resolution even when smoke created by the laser-target interaction clutters the camera view. In realistic test scenarios, trajectory following RMS errors were reduced by almost 80 % with respect to open-loop system performances, reaching mean error values around 30 μ m and maximum observed errors in the order of 60 μ m. A new vision-based laser microsurgical control system was shown to be effective and promising with significant positive potential impact on the safety and quality of laser microsurgeries.

Some aspects of analytical chemistry as applied to water quality assurance techniques for reclaimed water: The potential use of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for automated on-line fast real-time simultaneous multi-component analysis of inorganic pollutants in reclaimed water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ling, A. C.; Macpherson, L. H.; Rey, M.

1981-01-01

The potential use of isotopically excited energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry for automated on line fast real time (5 to 15 minutes) simultaneous multicomponent (up to 20) trace (1 to 10 parts per billion) analysis of inorganic pollutants in reclaimed water was examined. Three anionic elements (chromium 6, arsenic and selenium) were studied. The inherent lack of sensitivity of XRF spectrometry for these elements mandates use of a preconcentration technique and various methods were examined, including: several direct and indirect evaporation methods; ion exchange membranes; selective and nonselective precipitation; and complexation processes. It is shown tha XRF spectrometry itself is well suited for automated on line quality assurance, and can provide a nondestructive (and thus sample storage and repeat analysis capabilities) and particularly convenient analytical method. Further, the use of an isotopically excited energy dispersive unit (50 mCi Cd-109 source) coupled with a suitable preconcentration process can provide sufficient sensitivity to achieve the current mandated minimum levels of detection without the need for high power X-ray generating tubes.

Comparison of non-catalytic and catalytic fast pyrolysis of corncob in a fluidized bed reactor.

PubMed

Zhang, Huiyan; Xiao, Rui; Huang, He; Xiao, Gang

2009-02-01

Fast pyrolysis of corncob with and without catalyst was investigated in a fluidized bed to determine the effects of pyrolysis parameters (temperature, gas flow rate, static bed height and particle size) and a HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst on the product yields and the qualities of the liquid products. The result showed that the optimal conditions for liquid yield (56.8%) were a pyrolysis temperature of 550 degrees C, gas flow rate of 3.4 L/min, static bed height of 10 cm and particle size of 1.0-2.0mm. The presence of the catalyst increased the yields of non-condensable gas, water and coke, while decreased the liquid and char yields. The elemental analysis showed that more than 25% decrease in oxygen content of the collected liquid in the second condenser with HZSM-5 was observed compared with that without catalyst. The H/C, O/C molar ratios and the higher heating value of the oil fraction in the collected liquid with the catalyst were 1.511, 0.149 and 34.6 MJ/kg, respectively. It was indicated that the collected liquid in the second condenser had high qualities and might be used as transport oil.

Quality control and primo-diagnosis of transurethral bladder resections with full-field OCT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montagne, P.; Ducesne, I.; Anract, J.; Yang, C.; Sibony, M.; Beuvon, F.; Delongchamps, N. B.; Dalimier, E.

2017-02-01

Transurethral resections are commonly used for bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Cancer staging relies largely on the analysis of muscle in the resections; however, muscle presence is uncertain at the time of the resection. An extemporaneous quality control tool would be of great use to certify the presence of muscle in the resection, and potentially formulate a primo-diagnosis, in order to ensure optimum patient care. Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) offers a fast and non-destructive method of obtaining images of biological tissues at ultrahigh resolution (1μm in all 3 directions), approaching traditional histological sections. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of FFOCT for the quality control and the primo-diagnosis of transurethral bladder resections. Over 70 transurethral bladder resections were imaged with FFOCT within minutes, shortly after excision, and before histological preparation. Side-by-side comparison with histology allowed to establish reading criteria for the presence of muscle and cancer in particular. Images of 24 specimens were read blindly by three non-pathologists readers: two resident urologists and a junior bio-medical engineer, who were asked to notify the presence of muscle and tumor. Results showed that after appropriate training, 96% accuracy could be obtained on both tumour and muscle detection. FFOCT is a fast and nondestructive imaging technique that provides analysis results concordant with histology. Its implementation as a quality control and primo-diagnosis tool for transurethral bladder resections in the urology suite is feasible and lets envision high value for the patient.

Fast food, fruits and vegetables' prices’ association with dietary intakes among US adults: Is there modification by family income?

PubMed Central

Beydoun, May A.; Powell, Lisa; Wang, Youfa

2016-01-01

We examined effects of prices of fast foods (FF) and fruits and vegetables (FV) on dietary intake, body mass index (BMI) and obesity risks and whether the associations varied across groups according to their family income. Data from the US Department of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII, 1994–96) for 7,331 individuals aged 20–65 years with complete data on two 24-hr recalls were used. We computed two food price indices (FFPI and FVPI) which were linked to individuals through geocoded identifiers. Main outcomes included dietary intakes of energy, selected nutrients and food groups, fast food consumption, and diet quality measured using two indices (HEI and aMED), BMI and obesity. Interaction terms between key variables were tested in regression analyses and in further stratified analysis by family income. Higher fast food prices (FFPI) were associated with higher, fiber intake, low saturated fat, and better overall diet quality as measured by aMED. FVPI was positively associated with improved dietary quality as well in terms of lower cholesterol and sodium intakes, improved HEI and lower BMI. Most of these associations showed homogeneous strengths across income groups as evidenced by a non-significant FFPI*PIR or FVPI*PIR interaction term (p<0.10). While increasing FFPI by one standard deviation was only borderline protective against FF consumption (OR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.02), its association with other binary outcomes that were considered was non-significant. In contrast, FVPI was protective against obesity, particularly among the near poor. It was also associated with improved aMED score (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.03). Analyses of these national data suggest that changing fast food and fruit and vegetable prices may affect people’s dietary quality and to some extent their adiposity, although the present study is limited by the available food price data. PMID:18313824

Development of an X-ray imaging system to prevent scintillator degradation for white synchrotron radiation.

PubMed

Zhou, Tunhe; Wang, Hongchang; Connolley, Thomas; Scott, Steward; Baker, Nick; Sawhney, Kawal

2018-05-01

The high flux of the white X-ray beams from third-generation synchrotron light sources can significantly benefit the development of high-speed X-ray imaging, but can also bring technical challenges to existing X-ray imaging systems. One prevalent problem is that the image quality deteriorates because of dust particles accumulating on the scintillator screen during exposure to intense X-ray radiation. Here, this problem has been solved by embedding the scintillator in a flowing inert-gas environment. It is also shown that the detector maintains the quality of the captured images even after days of X-ray exposure. This modification is cost-efficient and easy to implement. Representative examples of applications using the X-ray imaging system are also provided, including fast tomography and multimodal phase-contrast imaging for biomedical and geological samples. open access.

Acoustic impulse response method as a source of undergraduate research projects and advanced laboratory experiments.

PubMed

Robertson, W M; Parker, J M

2012-03-01

A straightforward and inexpensive implementation of acoustic impulse response measurement is described utilizing the signal processing technique of coherent averaging. The technique is capable of high signal-to-noise measurements with personal computer data acquisition equipment, an amplifier/speaker, and a high quality microphone. When coupled with simple waveguide test systems fabricated from commercial PVC plumbing pipe, impulse response measurement has proven to be ideal for undergraduate research projects-often of publishable quality-or for advanced laboratory experiments. The technique provides important learning objectives for science or engineering students in areas such as interfacing and computer control of experiments; analog-to-digital conversion and sampling; time and frequency analysis using Fourier transforms; signal processing; and insight into a variety of current research areas such as acoustic bandgap materials, acoustic metamaterials, and fast and slow wave manipulation. © 2012 Acoustical Society of America

Development of an X-ray imaging system to prevent scintillator degradation for white synchrotron radiation

PubMed Central

Zhou, Tunhe; Wang, Hongchang; Scott, Steward

2018-01-01

The high flux of the white X-ray beams from third-generation synchrotron light sources can significantly benefit the development of high-speed X-ray imaging, but can also bring technical challenges to existing X-ray imaging systems. One prevalent problem is that the image quality deteriorates because of dust particles accumulating on the scintillator screen during exposure to intense X-ray radiation. Here, this problem has been solved by embedding the scintillator in a flowing inert-gas environment. It is also shown that the detector maintains the quality of the captured images even after days of X-ray exposure. This modification is cost-efficient and easy to implement. Representative examples of applications using the X-ray imaging system are also provided, including fast tomography and multimodal phase-contrast imaging for biomedical and geological samples. PMID:29714191

Hydrophobic polymers for orodispersible films: a quality by design approach.

PubMed

Borges, Ana Filipa; Silva, Branca M A; Silva, Cláudia; Coelho, Jorge F J; Simões, Sérgio

2016-10-01

To develop orodispersible films (ODF) based on hydrophobic polymers with higher stability to ordinary environmental humidity conditions without compromising their fast disintegration time. A quality by design approach was applied to screen three different formulations each one based on a different hydrophobic polymer: polyvinyl acetate, methacrylate-based copolymer and shellac. The screening formulations were characterized regarding their mechanical properties, residual water content, disintegration time and appearance, in order to find a suitable ODF formulation according to established critical quality attributes. The selected critical process parameters for the selection of appropriate ODF formulations were the percentage of the different excipients and the plasticizer type. Three hydrophobic-based matrices with fast disintegration were developed. These were generically composed by a hydrophobic polymer, a stabilizer, a disintegrant and a plasticizer. It verified that the common components within the three different formulations behave differently depending on the system/chemical environment that they were included. It was shown that it is possible to develop oral films based on hydrophobic polymers with fast disintegration time, good texture and appearance, breaking a paradigm of the ODF research field.

Research on the Problem and Countermeasures of Group-Buying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yahui; Li, Wei; Cheng, Limin

The threshold of group-buying is low, so the group-buying develops very fast. But at the same time, there are many goods which have low price and high quality service which is false to get the network users' trust. Therefore, consumers should keep a clear head and avoiding straying into the trap of business, the website of group-buying should strengthen self-construction to safeguard the consumers' interest. In addition, government needs to play its due role to protect the legitimate right of the consumers.

Near common-path optical fiber interferometer for potentially fast on-line microscale-nanoscale surface measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Xiangqian; Wang, Kaiwei; Martin, Haydn

2006-12-01

We introduce a new surface measurement method for potential online application. Compared with our previous research, the new design is a significant improvement. It also features high stability because it uses a near common-path configuration. The method should be of great benefit to advanced manufacturing, especially for quality and process control in ultraprecision manufacturing and on the production line. Proof-of-concept experiments have been successfully conducted by measuring the system repeatability and the displacements of a mirror surface.

Ecology of Floristic Quality Assessment: testing for correlations between coefficients of conservatism, species traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness

PubMed Central

Koziol, Liz; Bever, James D

2018-01-01

Abstract Many plant species are limited to habitats relatively unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance, so protecting these undisturbed habitats is essential for plant conservation. Coefficients of conservatism (C values) were developed as indicators of a species’ sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance, and these values are used in Floristic Quality Assessment as a means of assessing natural areas and ecological restoration. However, assigning of these values is subjective and improved quantitative validation of C values is needed. We tested whether there are consistent differences in life histories between species with high and low C values. To do this, we grew 54 species of tallgrass prairie plants in a greenhouse and measured traits that are associated with trade-offs on the fast-slow continuum of life-history strategies. We also grew plants with and without mycorrhizal fungi as a test of these species’ reliance on this mutualism. We compared these traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness to C values. We found that six of the nine traits we measured were correlated with C values, and together, traits predicted up to 50 % of the variation in C values. Traits including fast growth rates and greater investment in reproduction were associated with lower C values, and slow growth rates, long-lived leaves and high root:shoot ratios were associated with higher C values. Additionally, plants with high C values and a slow life history were more responsive to mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi. Overall, our results connect C values with life-history trade-offs, indicating that high C value species tend to share a suite of traits associated with a slow life history. PMID:29383232

Ecology of Floristic Quality Assessment: testing for correlations between coefficients of conservatism, species traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness.

PubMed

Bauer, Jonathan T; Koziol, Liz; Bever, James D

2018-02-01

Many plant species are limited to habitats relatively unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance, so protecting these undisturbed habitats is essential for plant conservation. Coefficients of conservatism (C values) were developed as indicators of a species' sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance, and these values are used in Floristic Quality Assessment as a means of assessing natural areas and ecological restoration. However, assigning of these values is subjective and improved quantitative validation of C values is needed. We tested whether there are consistent differences in life histories between species with high and low C values. To do this, we grew 54 species of tallgrass prairie plants in a greenhouse and measured traits that are associated with trade-offs on the fast-slow continuum of life-history strategies. We also grew plants with and without mycorrhizal fungi as a test of these species' reliance on this mutualism. We compared these traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness to C values. We found that six of the nine traits we measured were correlated with C values, and together, traits predicted up to 50 % of the variation in C values. Traits including fast growth rates and greater investment in reproduction were associated with lower C values, and slow growth rates, long-lived leaves and high root:shoot ratios were associated with higher C values. Additionally, plants with high C values and a slow life history were more responsive to mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi. Overall, our results connect C values with life-history trade-offs, indicating that high C value species tend to share a suite of traits associated with a slow life history.

Comparison of UV spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography methods for the determination of repaglinide in tablets.

PubMed

Dhole, Seema M; Khedekar, Pramod B; Amnerkar, Nikhil D

2012-07-01

Repaglinide is a miglitinide class of antidiabetic drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A fast and reliable method for the determination of repaglinide was highly desirable to support formulation screening and quality control. UV spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods were developed for determination of repaglinide in the tablet dosage form. The UV spectrum recorded between 200 400 nm using methanol as solvent and the wavelength 241 nm was selected for the determination of repaglinide. RP-HPLC analysis was carried out using Agilent TC-C18 (2) column and mobile phase composed of methanol and water (80:20 v/v, pH adjusted to 3.5 with orthophosphoric acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, specificity and ruggedness are studied as reported in the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The developed methods illustrated excellent linearity (r(2) > 0.999) in the concentration range of 5-30 μg/ml and 5-50 μg/ml for UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods, respectively. Precision (%R.S.D < 1.50) and mean recoveries were found in the range of 99.63-100.45% for UV spectrophotometric method and 99.71-100.25% for HPLC method which shows accuracy of the methods. The developed methods were found to be reliable, simple, fast, accurate and successfully used for the quality control of repaglinide as a bulk drug and in pharmaceutical formulations.

Comparison of UV spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography methods for the determination of repaglinide in tablets

PubMed Central

Dhole, Seema M.; Khedekar, Pramod B.; Amnerkar, Nikhil D.

2012-01-01

Background: Repaglinide is a miglitinide class of antidiabetic drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A fast and reliable method for the determination of repaglinide was highly desirable to support formulation screening and quality control. Objective: UV spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods were developed for determination of repaglinide in the tablet dosage form. Materials and Methods: The UV spectrum recorded between 200 400 nm using methanol as solvent and the wavelength 241 nm was selected for the determination of repaglinide. RP-HPLC analysis was carried out using Agilent TC-C18 (2) column and mobile phase composed of methanol and water (80:20 v/v, pH adjusted to 3.5 with orthophosphoric acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, specificity and ruggedness are studied as reported in the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Results: The developed methods illustrated excellent linearity (r2 > 0.999) in the concentration range of 5-30 μg/ml and 5-50 μg/ml for UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods, respectively. Precision (%R.S.D < 1.50) and mean recoveries were found in the range of 99.63-100.45% for UV spectrophotometric method and 99.71-100.25% for HPLC method which shows accuracy of the methods. Conclusion: The developed methods were found to be reliable, simple, fast, accurate and successfully used for the quality control of repaglinide as a bulk drug and in pharmaceutical formulations. PMID:23781481

Thickness-dependently enhanced photodetection performance of vertically grown SnS2 nanoflakes with large size and high production.

PubMed

Jia, Xiansheng; Tang, Chengchun; Pan, Ruhao; Long, Yun-Ze; Gu, Changzhi; Li, Junjie

2018-05-10

Photodetection based on Two-dimensional (2D) SnS2 has attracted a growing interest due to its superiority in response rate and responsivity, but high-quality growth and high performance photodetecting of 2D SnS2still face great challenges. Here, high-quality SnS2 nanoflakes with large-size and high-production are vertically grown on Si substrate by a modified CVD method, having an average size of 30 m with different thicknesses. Then a single SnS2 nanoflake-based phototransistor was fabricated to obtain a high current on/off ratio of 107 and excellent performances in photodetection, including fast response rates, low dark current, high responsivity and detectivity. Specifically, the SnS2 nanoflakes show the thickness-dependent photodetection capability and the highest responsivity of 354.4 A W-1 is obtained at the average thickness of 100.5 nm. A sensitized process using HfO2 nanolayer can further enhance the responsivity up to 1922 A W-1. Our work provides an efficient path to select SnS2 crystal samples with the optimal thickness as promising candidates for high-performance optoelectronic applications.

Effects of momentum transfer on sizing of current collectors for lithium-ion batteries during laser cutting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dongkyoung; Mazumder, Jyotirmoy

2018-02-01

One of the challenges of the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process is the sizing of electrodes with good cut surface quality. Poor cut surface quality results in internal short circuits in the cells and significant heat generation. One of the solutions that may improve the cut quality with a high cutting speed is laser cutting due to its high energy concentration, fast processing time, high precision, small heat affected zone, flexible range of laser power and contact free process. In order to utilize the advantages of laser electrode cutting, understanding the physical phenomena for each material is crucial. Thus, this study focuses on the laser cutting of current collectors, such as pure copper and aluminum. A 3D self-consistent mathematical model for the laser cutting, including fluid flow, heat transfer, recoil pressure, multiple reflections, capillary and thermo-capillary forces, and phase changes, is presented and solved numerically. Simulation results for the laser cutting are analyzed in terms of penetration time, depth, width, and absorptivity, based on these selected laser parameters. In addition, melt pool flow, melt pool geometry and temperature distribution are investigated.

Edge guided image reconstruction in linear scan CT by weighted alternating direction TV minimization.

PubMed

Cai, Ailong; Wang, Linyuan; Zhang, Hanming; Yan, Bin; Li, Lei; Xi, Xiaoqi; Li, Jianxin

2014-01-01

Linear scan computed tomography (CT) is a promising imaging configuration with high scanning efficiency while the data set is under-sampled and angularly limited for which high quality image reconstruction is challenging. In this work, an edge guided total variation minimization reconstruction (EGTVM) algorithm is developed in dealing with this problem. The proposed method is modeled on the combination of total variation (TV) regularization and iterative edge detection strategy. In the proposed method, the edge weights of intermediate reconstructions are incorporated into the TV objective function. The optimization is efficiently solved by applying alternating direction method of multipliers. A prudential and conservative edge detection strategy proposed in this paper can obtain the true edges while restricting the errors within an acceptable degree. Based on the comparison on both simulation studies and real CT data set reconstructions, EGTVM provides comparable or even better quality compared to the non-edge guided reconstruction and adaptive steepest descent-projection onto convex sets method. With the utilization of weighted alternating direction TV minimization and edge detection, EGTVM achieves fast and robust convergence and reconstructs high quality image when applied in linear scan CT with under-sampled data set.

High Resolution Eddy-Current Wire Testing Based on a Gmr Sensor-Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreutzbruck, Marc; Allweins, Kai; Strackbein, Chris; Bernau, Hendrick

2009-03-01

Increasing demands in materials quality and cost effectiveness have led to advanced standards in manufacturing technology. Especially when dealing with high quality standards in conjunction with high throughput quantitative NDE techniques are vital to provide reliable and fast quality control systems. In this work we illuminate a modern electromagnetic NDE approach using a small GMR sensor array for testing superconducting wires. Four GMR sensors are positioned around the wire. Each GMR sensor provides a field sensitivity of 200 pT/√Hz and a spatial resolution of about 100 μm. This enables us to detect under surface defects of 100 μm in size in a depth of 200 μm with a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 400. Surface defects could be detected with a SNR of up to 10,000. Besides this remarkably SNR the small extent of GMR sensors results in a spatial resolution which offers new visualisation techniques for defect localisation, defect characterization and tomography-like mapping techniques. We also report on inverse algorithms based on either a Finite Element Method or an analytical approach. These allow for accurate defect localization on the urn scale and an estimation of the defect size.

Using quality improvement methods to reduce clear fluid fasting times in children on a preoperative ward.

PubMed

Newton, Richard J G; Stuart, Grant M; Willdridge, Daniel J; Thomas, Mark

2017-08-01

We applied quality improvement (QI) methodology to identify the different aspects of why children fasted for prolonged periods in our institution. Our aim was for 75% of all children to be fasted for clear fluid for less than 4 hours. Prolonged fasting in children can increase thirst and irritability and have adverse effects on haemodynamic stability on induction. By reducing this, children may be less irritable, more comfortable and more physiologically stable, improving the preoperative experience for both children and carers. We conducted a QI project from January 2014 until August 2016 at a large tertiary pediatric teaching hospital. Baseline data and the magnitude of the problem were obtained from pilot studies. This allowed us to build a key driver diagram, a process map and conduct a failure mode and effects analysis. Using a framework of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles our key interventions primarily focused on reducing confusion over procedure start times, giving parents accurate information, empowering staff and reducing variation by allowing children to drink on arrival (up to one hour) before surgery. Prior to this project, using the 6,4,2 fasting rule for solids, breast milk, and clear fluids, respectively, 19% of children were fasted for fluid for less than 4 hours, mean fluid fasting time was 6.3 hours (SD 4.48). At the conclusion 72% of patients received a drink within 4 hours, mean fluid fasting reduced to 3.1 hours (SD 2.33). The secondary measures of aspiration (4.14:10 000) and cancellations have not increased since starting this project. By using established QI methodology we reduced the mean fluid fasting time for day admissions at our hospital to 3.1 hours and increased the proportion of children fasting for less than 4 hours from 19% to 72%. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI): towards a 14 Year Data Record and Applications in the Air Quality and Climate Domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levelt, P.; Joiner, J.; Tamminen, J.; Veefkind, P.; Bhartia, P. K.; Court, A. J.; Vlemmix, T.

2017-12-01

Keywords: emission monitoring, air quality, climate, atmospheric composition The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), launched on board of NASA's EOS-Aura spacecraft on July 15, 2004, provides unique contributions to the monitoring of the ozone layer, air quality and climate from space. With a data record of 13 years, OMI provides the longest NO2 and SO2 record from space, which is essential to understand the changes to emissions globally. The combination of urban scale resolution (13 x 24 km2 in nadir) and daily global coverage proved to be key features for the air quality community. Due to the operational Very Fast Delivery (VFD / direct readout) and Near Real Time (NRT) availability of the data, OMI also plays an important role in the early developments of operational services in the atmospheric chemistry domain. For example, OMI data is currently used operationally for improving air quality forecasts, for inverting high-resolution emission maps, the UV forecast and for volcanic plume warning systems for aviation. An overview of air quality applications, emission inventory inversions and trend analyses based on the OMI data record will be presented. An outlook will be given on the potentials of augmenting this record with the high resolution air quality measurements of TROPOMI (3,5 x 7 km2) and new satellite instrumentation entering the imaging domain, such as the TROPOLITE instrument ( 1 x 1 km2). Potential of imaging type of NO2 measurements in the the climate and air quality domain will be given, most notably on the use of high resolution NO2 measurements for pin-pointing anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

Maui-VIA: A User-Friendly Software for Visual Identification, Alignment, Correction, and Quantification of Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Data

PubMed Central

Kuich, P. Henning J. L.; Hoffmann, Nils; Kempa, Stefan

2015-01-01

A current bottleneck in GC–MS metabolomics is the processing of raw machine data into a final datamatrix that contains the quantities of identified metabolites in each sample. While there are many bioinformatics tools available to aid the initial steps of the process, their use requires both significant technical expertise and a subsequent manual validation of identifications and alignments if high data quality is desired. The manual validation is tedious and time consuming, becoming prohibitively so as sample numbers increase. We have, therefore, developed Maui-VIA, a solution based on a visual interface that allows experts and non-experts to simultaneously and quickly process, inspect, and correct large numbers of GC–MS samples. It allows for the visual inspection of identifications and alignments, facilitating a unique and, due to its visualization and keyboard shortcuts, very fast interaction with the data. Therefore, Maui-Via fills an important niche by (1) providing functionality that optimizes the component of data processing that is currently most labor intensive to save time and (2) lowering the threshold of expertise required to process GC–MS data. Maui-VIA projects are initiated with baseline-corrected raw data, peaklists, and a database of metabolite spectra and retention indices used for identification. It provides functionality for retention index calculation, a targeted library search, the visual annotation, alignment, correction interface, and metabolite quantification, as well as the export of the final datamatrix. The high quality of data produced by Maui-VIA is illustrated by its comparison to data attained manually by an expert using vendor software on a previously published dataset concerning the response of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to salt stress. In conclusion, Maui-VIA provides the opportunity for fast, confident, and high-quality data processing validation of large numbers of GC–MS samples by non-experts. PMID:25654076

Ultrafast Self-Crystallization of High-External-Quantum-Efficient Fluoride Phosphors for Warm White Light-Emitting Diodes.

PubMed

Zhou, Wenli; Fang, Mu-Huai; Lian, Shixun; Liu, Ru-Shi

2018-05-30

In this study, we used HF (as good solvent) to dissolve K 2 GeF 6 and K 2 MnF 6 and added ethanol (as poor solvent) to cause ultrafast self-crystallization of K 2 GeF 6 :Mn 4+ crystals, which had an unprecedentedly high external quantum efficiency that reached 73%. By using the red phosphor, we achieved a high-quality warm white light-emitting diode with color-rendering index of R a = 94, R9 = 95, luminous efficacy of 150 lm W -1 , and correlated color temperature at 3652 K. Furthermore, the good-poor solvent strategy can be used to fast synthesize other fluorides.

Obesogenic neighbourhoods: the impact of neighbourhood restaurants and convenience stores on adolescents' food consumption behaviours.

PubMed

He, Meizi; Tucker, Patricia; Irwin, Jennifer D; Gilliland, Jason; Larsen, Kristian; Hess, Paul

2012-12-01

To examine the relationship between the neighbourhood food environment and dietary intake among adolescents. Cross-sectional design using: (i) a geographic information system to assess characteristics of the neighbourhood food environment and neighbourhood socio-economic status; (ii) the modified Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to assess participants' overall diet quality; and (iii) generalized linear models to examine associations between HEI and home and school food environmental correlates. Mid-sized Canadian city in Ontario, Canada. Participants Grade 7 and 8 students (n 810) at twenty-one elementary schools. Students living in neighbourhoods with a lower diversity of land-use types, compared with their higher diversity counterparts, had higher HEI scores (P < 0.05). Students with more than 1 km between their home and the nearest convenience store had higher HEI scores than those living within 1 km (P < 0.01). Students attending schools with a distance further than 1 km from the nearest convenience store (P < 0.01) and fast-food outlet (P < 0.05) had higher HEI scores than those within 1 km. Those attending schools with three or more fast-food outlets within 1 km had lower HEI scores than those attending schools with no fast-food outlet in the school surroundings (P < 0.05). Close proximity to convenience stores in adolescents' home environments is associated with low HEI scores. Within adolescents' school environments, close proximity to convenience and fast-food outlets and a high density of fast-food outlets are associated with low HEI scores.

Strikingly enhanced cooling performance for a micro-cooler using unique Cu nanowire array with high electrical conductivity and fast heat transfer behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Ming; Wang, Xiuzhen; Hao, Yanming; Deng, Yuan

2017-06-01

It was found that phonons/electrons are less scattered along (1 1 1)-preferred Cu nanowires than in ordinary structure films and that the interface of Cu nanowires electrode and thermoelectric materials are more compatible. Here highly ordered, high-crystal-quality, high-density Cu nanowire array was successfully fabricated by a magnetron sputtering method. The Cu nanowire array was successfully incorporated using mask-assisted deposition technology as electrodes for thin-film thermoelectric coolers, which would greatly improve electrical/thermal transport and enhance performance of micro-coolers. The cooling performance of the micro-cooler with Cu nanowire array electrode is over 200% higher than that of the cooler with ordinary film electrode.

Modeling water quality, temperature, and flow in Link River, south-central Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sullivan, Annett B.; Rounds, Stewart A.

2016-09-09

The 2.1-km (1.3-mi) Link River connects Upper Klamath Lake to the Klamath River in south-central Oregon. A CE-QUAL-W2 flow and water-quality model of Link River was developed to provide a connection between an existing model of the upper Klamath River and any existing or future models of Upper Klamath Lake. Water-quality sampling at six locations in Link River was done during 2013–15 to support model development and to provide a better understanding of instream biogeochemical processes. The short reach and high velocities in Link River resulted in fast travel times and limited water-quality transformations, except for dissolved oxygen. Reaeration through the reach, especially at the falls in Link River, was particularly important in moderating dissolved oxygen concentrations that at times entered the reach at Link River Dam with marked supersaturation or subsaturation. This reaeration resulted in concentrations closer to saturation downstream at the mouth of Link River.

Adaptive Skin Meshes Coarsening for Biomolecular Simulation

PubMed Central

Shi, Xinwei; Koehl, Patrice

2011-01-01

In this paper, we present efficient algorithms for generating hierarchical molecular skin meshes with decreasing size and guaranteed quality. Our algorithms generate a sequence of coarse meshes for both the surfaces and the bounded volumes. Each coarser surface mesh is adaptive to the surface curvature and maintains the topology of the skin surface with guaranteed mesh quality. The corresponding tetrahedral mesh is conforming to the interface surface mesh and contains high quality tetrahedral that decompose both the interior of the molecule and the surrounding region (enclosed in a sphere). Our hierarchical tetrahedral meshes have a number of advantages that will facilitate fast and accurate multigrid PDE solvers. Firstly, the quality of both the surface triangulations and tetrahedral meshes is guaranteed. Secondly, the interface in the tetrahedral mesh is an accurate approximation of the molecular boundary. In particular, all the boundary points lie on the skin surface. Thirdly, our meshes are Delaunay meshes. Finally, the meshes are adaptive to the geometry. PMID:21779137

Using a Quality-Led Multimedia Approach for Interpersonal Communication Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labour, Michel; Leleu-Merviel, Sylvie; Vieville, Nicholas

2004-01-01

Faced with a fast changing society, the need to develop quality instructional materials to update professional skills has become a growing necessity. This article shows how certain instructional design techniques, such as the "Scenistic" approach and the SNOW analysis, can ensure the educational and the broad technical quality of interactive…

Quality assurance of temporal variability of natural decay chain and neutron induced background for low-level NORM analysis

DOE PAGES

Yoho, Michael; Porterfield, Donivan R.; Landsberger, Sheldon

2015-09-22

In this study, twenty-one high purity germanium (HPGe) background spectra were collected over 2 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A quality assurance methodology was developed to monitor spectral background levels from thermal and fast neutron flux levels and naturally occurring radioactive material decay series radionuclides. 238U decay products above 222Rn demonstrated minimal temporal variability beyond that expected from counting statistics. 238U and 232Th progeny below Rn gas displayed at most twice the expected variability. Further, an analysis of the 139 keV 74Ge(n, γ) and 691 keV 72Ge(n, n') spectral features demonstrated temporal stability for both thermal and fastmore » neutron fluxes.« less

ATLAS fast physics monitoring: TADA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabato, G.; Elsing, M.; Gumpert, C.; Kamioka, S.; Moyse, E.; Nairz, A.; Eifert, T.; ATLAS Collaboration

2017-10-01

The ATLAS experiment at the LHC has been recording data from proton-proton collisions with 13 TeV center-of-mass energy since spring 2015. The collaboration is using a fast physics monitoring framework (TADA) to automatically perform a broad range of fast searches for early signs of new physics and to monitor the data quality across the year with the full analysis level calibrations applied to the rapidly growing data. TADA is designed to provide fast feedback directly after the collected data has been fully calibrated and processed at the Tier-0. The system can monitor a large range of physics channels, offline data quality and physics performance quantities. TADA output is available on a website accessible by the whole collaboration. It gets updated twice a day with the data from newly processed runs. Hints of potentially interesting physics signals or performance issues identified in this way are reported to be followed up by physics or combined performance groups. The note reports as well about the technical aspects of TADA: the software structure to obtain the input TAG files, the framework workflow and structure, the webpage and its implementation.

Three-dimensional brain MRI for DBS patients within ultra-low radiofrequency power limits.

PubMed

Sarkar, Subhendra N; Papavassiliou, Efstathios; Hackney, David B; Alsop, David C; Shih, Ludy C; Madhuranthakam, Ananth J; Busse, Reed F; La Ruche, Susan; Bhadelia, Rafeeque A

2014-04-01

For patients with deep brain stimulators (DBS), local absorbed radiofrequency (RF) power is unknown and is much higher than what the system estimates. We developed a comprehensive, high-quality brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for DBS patients utilizing three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance sequences at very low RF power. Six patients with DBS were imaged (10 sessions) using a transmit/receive head coil at 1.5 Tesla with modified 3D sequences within ultra-low specific absorption rate (SAR) limits (0.1 W/kg) using T2 , fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1 -weighted image contrast. Tissue signal and tissue contrast from the low-SAR images were subjectively and objectively compared with routine clinical images of six age-matched controls. Low-SAR images of DBS patients demonstrated tissue contrast comparable to high-SAR images and were of diagnostic quality except for slightly reduced signal. Although preliminary, we demonstrated diagnostic quality brain MRI with optimized, volumetric sequences in DBS patients within very conservative RF safety guidelines offering a greater safety margin. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Image Improvement Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shine, R. A.

1997-05-01

Over the last decade, a repertoire of techniques have been developed and/or refined to improve the quality of high spatial resolution solar movies taken from ground based observatories. These include real time image motion corrections, frame selection, phase diversity measurements of the wavefront, and extensive post processing to partially remove atmospheric distortion. Their practical application has been made possible by the increasing availability and decreasing cost of large CCD's with fast digital readouts and high speed computer workstations with large memories. Most successful have been broad band (0.3 to 10 nm) filtergram movies which can use exposure times of 10 to 30 ms, short enough to ``freeze'' atmospheric motions. Even so, only a handful of movies with excellent image quality for more than a hour have been obtained to date. Narrowband filtergrams (about 0.01 nm), such as those required for constructing magnetograms and Dopplergrams, have been more challenging although some single images approach the quality of the best continuum images. Some promising new techniques and instruments, together with persistence and good luck, should continue the progress made in the last several years.

A Fast and Scalable Radiation Hybrid Map Construction and Integration Strategy

PubMed Central

Agarwala, Richa; Applegate, David L.; Maglott, Donna; Schuler, Gregory D.; Schäffer, Alejandro A.

2000-01-01

This paper describes a fast and scalable strategy for constructing a radiation hybrid (RH) map from data on different RH panels. The maps on each panel are then integrated to produce a single RH map for the genome. Recurring problems in using maps from several sources are that the maps use different markers, the maps do not place the overlapping markers in same order, and the objective functions for map quality are incomparable. We use methods from combinatorial optimization to develop a strategy that addresses these issues. We show that by the standard objective functions of obligate chromosome breaks and maximum likelihood, software for the traveling salesman problem produces RH maps with better quality much more quickly than using software specifically tailored for RH mapping. We use known algorithms for the longest common subsequence problem as part of our map integration strategy. We demonstrate our methods by reconstructing and integrating maps for markers typed on the Genebridge 4 (GB4) and the Stanford G3 panels publicly available from the RH database. We compare map quality of our integrated map with published maps for GB4 panel and G3 panel by considering whether markers occur in the same order on a map and in DNA sequence contigs submitted to GenBank. We find that all of the maps are inconsistent with the sequence data for at least 50% of the contigs, but our integrated maps are more consistent. The map integration strategy not only scales to multiple RH maps but also to any maps that have comparable criteria for measuring map quality. Our software improves on current technology for doing RH mapping in areas of computation time and algorithms for considering a large number of markers for mapping. The essential impediments to producing dense high-quality RH maps are data quality and panel size, not computation. PMID:10720576

Comparison of Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel and xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel FAST Version 2 for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses

PubMed Central

Lee, Chun Kiat; Lee, Hong Kai; Ng, Christopher Wei Siong; Chiu, Lily; Tang, Julian Wei-Tze; Loh, Tze Ping

2017-01-01

Owing to advancements in molecular diagnostics, recent years have seen an increasing number of laboratories adopting respiratory viral panels to detect respiratory pathogens. In December 2015, the NxTAG respiratory pathogen panel (NxTAG RPP) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We compared the clinical performance of this new assay with that of the xTAG respiratory viral panel (xTAG RVP) FAST v2 using 142 clinical samples and 12 external quality assessment samples. Discordant results were resolved by using a laboratory-developed respiratory viral panel. The NxTAG RPP achieved 100% concordant negative results and 86.6% concordant positive results. It detected one coronavirus 229E and eight influenza A/H3N2 viruses that were missed by the xTAG RVP FAST v2. On the other hand, the NxTAG RPP missed one enterovirus/rhinovirus and one metapneumovirus that were detected by FAST v2. Both panels correctly identified all the pathogens in the 12 external quality assessment samples. Overall, the NxTAG RPP demonstrated good diagnostic performance. Of note, it was better able to subtype the influenza A/H3N2 viruses compared with the xTAG RVP FAST v2. PMID:28224774

Interaction of sleep quality and sleep duration on impaired fasting glucose: a population-based cross-sectional survey in China.

PubMed

Lou, Peian; Chen, Peipei; Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Pan; Chang, Guiqiu; Zhang, Ning; Li, Ting; Qiao, Cheng

2014-03-13

To explore the interactions of sleep quality and sleep duration and their effects on impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in Chinese adults. Cross-sectional survey. Community-based investigation in Xuzhou, China. 15 145 Chinese men and women aged 18-75 years old who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to produce sleep quality categories of good, common and poor. Fasting blood glucose levels were assessed for IFG. Sleep duration was measured by average hours of sleep per night, with categories of <6, 6-8 and >8 h. The products of sleep and family history of diabetes, obesity and age were added to the logistic regression model to evaluate the addictive interaction and relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) on IFG. The attributable proportion (AP) of the interaction and the synergy index (S) were applied to evaluate the additive interaction of two factors. Bootstrap measures were used to calculate 95% CI of RERI, AP and S. The prevalence of IFG was greatest in those with poor sleep quality and short sleep duration (OR 6.37, 95% CI 4.66 to 8.67; p<0.001) compared with those who had good sleep quality and 6-8 h sleep duration, after adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for potential confounders RERI, AP and S values (and their 95% CI) were 1.69 (0.31 to 3.76), 0.42 (0.15 to 0.61) and 2.85 (2.14 to 3.92), respectively, for the interaction between poor sleep quality and short sleep duration, and 0.78 (0.12 to 1.43), 0.61 (0.26 to 0.87) and -65 (-0.94 to -0.27) for the interaction between good sleep quality and long sleep duration. The results suggest that there are additive interactions between poor sleep quality and short sleep duration.

Determinants of diet quality in pregnancy: sociodemographic, pregnancy-specific, and food environment influences.

PubMed

Nash, Danielle M; Gilliland, Jason A; Evers, Susan E; Wilk, Piotr; Campbell, M Karen

2013-01-01

To advance the knowledge of determinants of diet quality in pregnancy by focusing on both personal characteristics and the food environment. Cross-sectional study in which participants from the Prenatal Health Project were linked to a geographic dataset by home address. Access to fast food, convenience stores, and grocery stores was measured using a geographic information system (ArcGIS9.3). Pregnant women (n = 2,282) were recruited between 2002 and 2005 in London, Ontario, Canada. Dietary quality was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the Canadian Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were calculated with the predictor variables on the Canadian Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy. Pregnant women who were born in Canada, common-law, nulliparous, less physically active, smokers, more anxious, or lacking family support had lower diet quality on average. Presence of fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery stores within 500 m of participants' homes was not associated with diet quality after controlling for personal variables. The food environment does not seem to have a large influence on diet quality in pregnancy. Further research is needed to determine other potential reasons for low diet quality among pregnant women. Copyright © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behaviour therapy on depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in adults with type II diabetes mellitus: a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Huang, Chiung-Yu; Lai, Hui-Ling; Chen, Chun-I; Lu, Yung-Chuan; Li, Su-Chen; Wang, Long-Whou; Su, Yi

2016-05-01

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behavioural therapy on depressive symptoms, glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, body mass index (BMI), and health-related quality of life in type II diabetes patients. A controlled trial was conducted to compare patients who received the behavioural intervention with untreated controls on measures of health outcomes. A total of 31 intervention group participants and 30 controls were selected from patients that met the inclusion criteria from a hospital-based endocrinology outpatient department. The outcome measures including depressive symptoms, glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, BMI, and both physical and mental quality of life were collected before (T1), after (T2), and after 90 days (T3) following the intervention. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, and depressive symptoms and a significant increase in physical quality of life and mental quality of life at T2 and T3, while patients in the control group with usual care showed no changes over time. The behavioural intervention facilitated a significant improvement in psychological adjustment and glycemic control, thus strengthening diabetes control skills and leading to healthy outcomes. It is feasible that nurses and psychiatrists can deliver the behavioural intervention for diabetes patients to decrease their depressive symptoms. Sharing discussion and problem-solving experiences is particularly helpful method for self-control, and these will be beneficially influential on further research.

Multi-frame acquisition scheme for efficient energy-dispersive X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in pulsed high magnetic fields at the Fe K-edge

PubMed Central

Strohm, Cornelius; Perrin, Florian; Dominguez, Marie-Christine; Headspith, Jon; van der Linden, Peter; Mathon, Olivier

2011-01-01

Using a fast silicon strip detector, a multi-frame acquisition scheme was implemented to perform energy-dispersive X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the iron K-edge in pulsed high magnetic fields. The acquisition scheme makes use of the entire field pulse. The quality of the signal obtained from samples of ferrimagnetic erbium iron garnet allows for quantitative evaluation of the signal amplitude. Below the compensation point, two successive field-induced phase transitions and the reversal of the net magnetization of the iron sublattices in the intermediate phase were observed. PMID:21335909

Van der Waals epitaxial growth and optoelectronics of large-scale WSe2/SnS2 vertical bilayer p-n junctions.

PubMed

Yang, Tiefeng; Zheng, Biyuan; Wang, Zhen; Xu, Tao; Pan, Chen; Zou, Juan; Zhang, Xuehong; Qi, Zhaoyang; Liu, Hongjun; Feng, Yexin; Hu, Weida; Miao, Feng; Sun, Litao; Duan, Xiangfeng; Pan, Anlian

2017-12-04

High-quality two-dimensional atomic layered p-n heterostructures are essential for high-performance integrated optoelectronics. The studies to date have been largely limited to exfoliated and restacked flakes, and the controlled growth of such heterostructures remains a significant challenge. Here we report the direct van der Waals epitaxial growth of large-scale WSe 2 /SnS 2 vertical bilayer p-n junctions on SiO 2 /Si substrates, with the lateral sizes reaching up to millimeter scale. Multi-electrode field-effect transistors have been integrated on a single heterostructure bilayer. Electrical transport measurements indicate that the field-effect transistors of the junction show an ultra-low off-state leakage current of 10 -14 A and a highest on-off ratio of up to 10 7 . Optoelectronic characterizations show prominent photoresponse, with a fast response time of 500 μs, faster than all the directly grown vertical 2D heterostructures. The direct growth of high-quality van der Waals junctions marks an important step toward high-performance integrated optoelectronic devices and systems.

Compatibility of internal transport barrier with steady-state operation in the high bootstrap fraction regime on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Garofalo, Andrea M.; Gong, Xianzu; Grierson, Brian A.; ...

2015-11-16

Recent EAST/DIII-D joint experiments on the high poloidal beta tokamak regime in DIII-D have demonstrated fully noninductive operation with an internal transport barrier (ITB) at large minor radius, at normalized fusion performance increased by ≥30% relative to earlier work. The advancement was enabled by improved understanding of the “relaxation oscillations”, previously attributed to repetitive ITB collapses, and of the fast ion behavior in this regime. It was found that the “relaxation oscillations” are coupled core-edge modes 2 amenable to wall-stabilization, and that fast ion losses which previously dictated a large plasma-wall separation to avoid wall over-heating, can be reduced tomore » classical levels with sufficient plasma density. By using optimized waveforms of the plasma-wall separation and plasma density, fully noninductive plasmas have been sustained for long durations with excellent energy confinement quality, bootstrap fraction ≥ 80%, β N ≤ 4 , β P ≥ 3 , and β T ≥ 2%. Finally, these results bolster the applicability of the high poloidal beta tokamak regime toward the realization of a steady-state fusion reactor.« less

A comparative study of first-derivative spectrophotometry and column high-performance liquid chromatography applied to the determination of repaglinide in tablets and for dissolution testing.

PubMed

AlKhalidi, Bashar A; Shtaiwi, Majed; AlKhatib, Hatim S; Mohammad, Mohammad; Bustanji, Yasser

2008-01-01

A fast and reliable method for the determination of repaglinide is highly desirable to support formulation screening and quality control. A first-derivative UV spectroscopic method was developed for the determination of repaglinide in tablet dosage form and for dissolution testing. First-derivative UV absorbance was measured at 253 nm. The developed method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ) in comparison to the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) column high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The first-derivative UV spectrophotometric method showed excellent linearity [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9999] in the concentration range of 1-35 microg/mL and precision (relative standard deviation < 1.5%). The LOD and LOQ were 0.23 and 0.72 microg/mL, respectively, and good recoveries were achieved (98-101.8%). Statistical comparison of results of the first-derivative UV spectrophotometric and the USP HPLC methods using the t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the 2 methods. Additionally, the method was successfully used for the dissolution test of repaglinide and was found to be reliable, simple, fast, and inexpensive.

The effect of shift rotation on variations of cortisol, fatigue and sleep in sound engineers.

PubMed

Vangelova, Katia

2008-10-01

The aim was to study the effect of rotation direction on the time-of-day variations of cortisol, fatigue and sleep in sound engineers broadcasting in a life show. The salivary cortisol and ratings of stress, sleepiness and fatigue were followed at three hour intervals in 25 sound engineers: 13 working very fast forward-rotating shifts and 12 working very fast backward-rotating shifts. Cortisol was assessed with radioimmunological kits. The participants reported for stress symptoms and filled sleep diary. Cortisol retained the typical diurnal pattern. The rotation direction interacted with the shift significantly and as a result higher cortisol values during the morning and night shifts in the backward rotating group were found as well as worse quality of sleep. Higher salivary cortisol during morning and night shifts and worse quality of sleep in engineers working very fast backward-rotating shifts may be an indication for insufficient recovery.

Spectroscopic vector analysis for fast pattern quality monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohn, Younghoon; Ryu, Sungyoon; Lee, Chihoon; Yang, Yusin

2018-03-01

In semiconductor industry, fast and effective measurement of pattern variation has been key challenge for assuring massproduct quality. Pattern measurement techniques such as conventional CD-SEMs or Optical CDs have been extensively used, but these techniques are increasingly limited in terms of measurement throughput and time spent in modeling. In this paper we propose time effective pattern monitoring method through the direct spectrum-based approach. In this technique, a wavelength band sensitive to a specific pattern change is selected from spectroscopic ellipsometry signal scattered by pattern to be measured, and the amplitude and phase variation in the wavelength band are analyzed as a measurement index of the pattern change. This pattern change measurement technique is applied to several process steps and verified its applicability. Due to its fast and simple analysis, the methods can be adapted to the massive process variation monitoring maximizing measurement throughput.

High-Performance Sensors Based on Resistance Fluctuations of Single-Layer-Graphene Transistors.

PubMed

Amin, Kazi Rafsanjani; Bid, Aveek

2015-09-09

One of the most interesting predicted applications of graphene-monolayer-based devices is as high-quality sensors. In this article, we show, through systematic experiments, a chemical vapor sensor based on the measurement of low-frequency resistance fluctuations of single-layer-graphene field-effect-transistor devices. The sensor has extremely high sensitivity, very high specificity, high fidelity, and fast response times. The performance of the device using this scheme of measurement (which uses resistance fluctuations as the detection parameter) is more than 2 orders of magnitude better than a detection scheme in which changes in the average value of the resistance is monitored. We propose a number-density-fluctuation-based model to explain the superior characteristics of a noise-measurement-based detection scheme presented in this article.

Characterization and identification of multiple constituents in Yinhuang granules by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection.

PubMed

Liu, E-Hu; Liu, Qun; Chu, Chu; Li, Ping

2011-10-01

A fast high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with diode-array detection (DAD) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS) has been developed for the analysis of multi-constituent in Yinhuang granules, a well-known combined herbal remedy prepared from the extract mixtures of Flos Lonicerae and Radix Scutellariae. The fast HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent ZorBax SB-C(18) column (4.6×50 mm, 1.8 μm) and 0.2% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile was the optimum mobile phase for gradient elution in 17 min, which is five times faster than the performance of conventional columns packed with 5.0 μm particles. With various fragmentor voltages in TOF/MS, accurate mass measurements (<5 ppm error) for molecular ions and characteristic fragment ions represented reliable identification criteria for different constituents. A total of 28 compounds, including nine phenolic acids, three iridoid glycosides and nine saponins from Flos Lonicerae and seven flavonoids from Radix Scutellariae, were identified or tentatively characterized in the extract of Yinhuang granules. The established fast HPLC-DAD-TOF/MS method turns out to be useful and efficient for quality control of this commonly used Chinese herbal preparation. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Telemedicine support shortens length of stay after fast-track hip replacement.

PubMed

Vesterby, Martin Svoldgaard; Pedersen, Preben Ulrich; Laursen, Malene; Mikkelsen, Søren; Larsen, Jens; Søballe, Kjeld; Jørgensen, Lene Bastrup

2017-02-01

Background and purpose - Telemedicine could allow patients to be discharged more quickly after surgery and contribute to improve fast-track procedures without compromising quality, patient safety, functionality, anxiety, or other patient-perceived parameters. We investigated whether using telemedicine support (TMS) would permit hospital discharge after 1 day without loss of self-assessed quality of life, loss of functionality, increased anxiety, increased rates of re-admission, or increased rates of complications after hip replacement. Patients and methods - We performed a randomized controlled trial involving 72 Danish patients in 1 region who were referred for elective fast-track total hip replacement between August 2009 and March 2011 (654 were screened for eligibility). Half of the patients received a telemedicine solution connected to their TV. The patients were followed until 1 year after surgery. Results - Length of stay was reduced from 2.1 days (95% CI: 2.0-2.3) to 1.1 day (CI: 0.9-1.4; p < 0.001) with the TMS intervention. Health-related quality of life increased in both groups, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups. There were also no statistically significant differences between groups regarding timed up-and-go test and Oxford hip score at 3-month follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, the rates of complications and re-admissions were similar between the groups, but the number of postoperative hospital contacts was lower in the TMS group. Interpretation - Length of postoperative stay was shortened in patients with the TMS solution, without compromising patient-perceived or clinical parameters in patients undergoing elective fast-track surgery. These results indicate that telemedicine can be of value in fast-track treatment of patients undergoing total hip replacement.

Faster, More Reproducible DESI-MS for Biological Tissue Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tillner, Jocelyn; Wu, Vincen; Jones, Emrys A.; Pringle, Steven D.; Karancsi, Tamas; Dannhorn, Andreas; Veselkov, Kirill; McKenzie, James S.; Takats, Zoltan

2017-10-01

A new, more robust sprayer for desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry imaging is presented. The main source of variability in DESI is thought to be the uncontrolled variability of various geometric parameters of the sprayer, primarily the position of the solvent capillary, or more specifically, its positioning within the gas capillary or nozzle. If the solvent capillary is off-center, the sprayer becomes asymmetrical, making the geometry difficult to control and compromising reproducibility. If the stiffness, tip quality, and positioning of the capillary are improved, sprayer reproducibility can be improved by an order of magnitude. The quality of the improved sprayer and its potential for high spatial resolution imaging are demonstrated on human colorectal tissue samples by acquisition of images at pixel sizes of 100, 50, and 20 μm, which corresponds to a lateral resolution of 40-60 μm, similar to the best values published in the literature. The high sensitivity of the sprayer also allows combination with a fast scanning quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This provides up to 30 times faster DESI acquisition, reducing the overall acquisition time for a 10 mm × 10 mm rat brain sample to approximately 1 h. Although some spectral information is lost with increasing analysis speed, the resulting data can still be used to classify tissue types on the basis of a previously constructed model. This is particularly interesting for clinical applications, where fast, reliable diagnosis is required. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

PhosSA: Fast and accurate phosphorylation site assignment algorithm for mass spectrometry data.

PubMed

Saeed, Fahad; Pisitkun, Trairak; Hoffert, Jason D; Rashidian, Sara; Wang, Guanghui; Gucek, Marjan; Knepper, Mark A

2013-11-07

Phosphorylation site assignment of high throughput tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) data is one of the most common and critical aspects of phosphoproteomics. Correctly assigning phosphorylated residues helps us understand their biological significance. The design of common search algorithms (such as Sequest, Mascot etc.) do not incorporate site assignment; therefore additional algorithms are essential to assign phosphorylation sites for mass spectrometry data. The main contribution of this study is the design and implementation of a linear time and space dynamic programming strategy for phosphorylation site assignment referred to as PhosSA. The proposed algorithm uses summation of peak intensities associated with theoretical spectra as an objective function. Quality control of the assigned sites is achieved using a post-processing redundancy criteria that indicates the signal-to-noise ratio properties of the fragmented spectra. The quality assessment of the algorithm was determined using experimentally generated data sets using synthetic peptides for which phosphorylation sites were known. We report that PhosSA was able to achieve a high degree of accuracy and sensitivity with all the experimentally generated mass spectrometry data sets. The implemented algorithm is shown to be extremely fast and scalable with increasing number of spectra (we report up to 0.5 million spectra/hour on a moderate workstation). The algorithm is designed to accept results from both Sequest and Mascot search engines. An executable is freely available at http://helixweb.nih.gov/ESBL/PhosSA/ for academic research purposes.

Effects of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrates on Quality of Recovery in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong Soo; Song, Young; Kim, Ji Young; Park, Joon Seong; Yoon, Dong Sup

2018-06-18

While carbohydrate loading is an important component of enhanced patient recovery after surgery, no study has evaluated the effects of preoperative carbohydrate loading after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on patient satisfaction and overall recovery. Thus, we aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative oral carbohydrates on scores from the quality of recovery 40-item (QoR-40) questionnaire after LC. A total of 153 adults who underwent LC were randomized into three groups. Group MN-NPO was fasted from midnight until surgery. Group No-NPO received 400 mL of a carbohydrate beverage on the evening before surgery, and a morning dose of 400 mL was ingested at least 2 h before surgery. Group Placebo received the same quantity of flavored water as for group No-NPO. The quality of recovery after general anesthesia was evaluated using QoR-40 questionnaire. Intraoperative hemodynamics were also evaluated. There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of the pre- and postoperative global QoR-40 scores (P = 0.257). Group MN-NPO had an elevated heart rate compared to patients who ingested a preoperative beverage (groups No-NPO and Placebo; P = 0.0412). The preoperative carbohydrate beverage did not improve quality of recovery using the QoR-40 questionnaire after general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to placebo or conventional fasting. However, the preoperative fasting group had a consistently increased heart rate during changes in body position that induced hypotension, which is likely a result of depletion of effective intravascular volume caused by traditional fasting over 8 h. Clinical trial.gov identifier: NCT02555020.

78 FR 25482 - Notice of Revised Determination on Reconsideration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-01

...-PROGRESSIVE SOFTWARE COMPUTING, QUALITY TESTING SERVICES, INC., RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION CO. OF SOUTH JERSEY, INC..., LP, PSCI- Progressive Software Computing, Quality Testing Services, Inc., Railroad Construction Co..., ANDERSON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, BAKER PETROLITE, BAKERCORP, BELL-FAST FIRE PROTECTION INC., BOLTTECH INC...

Fast classification of hazelnut cultivars through portable infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manfredi, Marcello; Robotti, Elisa; Quasso, Fabio; Mazzucco, Eleonora; Calabrese, Giorgio; Marengo, Emilio

2018-01-01

The authentication and traceability of hazelnuts is very important for both the consumer and the food industry, to safeguard the protected varieties and the food quality. This study investigates the use of a portable FTIR spectrometer coupled to multivariate statistical analysis for the classification of raw hazelnuts. The method discriminates hazelnuts from different origins/cultivars based on differences of the signal intensities of their IR spectra. The multivariate classification methods, namely principal component analysis (PCA) followed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), with or without variable selection, allowed a very good discrimination among the groups, with PLS-DA coupled to variable selection providing the best results. Due to the fast analysis, high sensitivity, simplicity and no sample preparation, the proposed analytical methodology could be successfully used to verify the cultivar of hazelnuts, and the analysis can be performed quickly and directly on site.

Software electron counting for low-dose scanning transmission electron microscopy.

PubMed

Mittelberger, Andreas; Kramberger, Christian; Meyer, Jannik C

2018-05-01

The performance of the detector is of key importance for low-dose imaging in transmission electron microscopy, and counting every single electron can be considered as the ultimate goal. In scanning transmission electron microscopy, low-dose imaging can be realized by very fast scanning, however, this also introduces artifacts and a loss of resolution in the scan direction. We have developed a software approach to correct for artifacts introduced by fast scans, making use of a scintillator and photomultiplier response that extends over several pixels. The parameters for this correction can be directly extracted from the raw image. Finally, the images can be converted into electron counts. This approach enables low-dose imaging in the scanning transmission electron microscope via high scan speeds while retaining the image quality of artifact-free slower scans. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of aerogel capsule, bromine-doped capsule, and modified gold cone in modified target for the Fast Ignition Realization Experiment (FIREX) Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagai, Keiji; Yang, H.; Norimatsu, T.; Azechi, H.; Belkada, F.; Fujimoto, Y.; Fujimura, T.; Fujioka, K.; Fujioka, S.; Homma, H.; Ito, F.; Iwamoto, A.; Jitsuno, T.; Kaneyasu, Y.; Nakai, M.; Nemoto, N.; Saika, H.; Shimoyama, T.; Suzuki, Y.; Yamanaka, K.; Mima, K.

2009-09-01

The development of target fabrication for the Fast Ignition Realization EXperiment (FIREX) Project is described in this paper. For the first stage of the FIREX Project (FIREX-I), the previously designed target has been modified by using a bromine-doped ablator and coating the inner gold cone with a low-density material. A high-quality bromine-doped capsule without vacuoles was fabricated from bromine-doped deuterated polystyrene. The gold surface was coated with a low-density material by electrochemical plating. For the cryogenic fuel target, a brand new type of aerogel material, phloroglucinol/formaldehyde (PF), was investigated and encapsulated to meet the specifications of 500 µm diameter and 20 µm thickness, with 30 nm nanopores. Polystyrene-based low-density materials were investigated and the relationship between the crosslinker content and the nanopore structure was observed.

[Effects of a nutritional intervention in a fast-track program for a colorectal cancer surgery: systematic review].

PubMed

Wanden-Berghe, Carmina; Sanz-Valero, Javier; Arroyo-Sebastián, Antonio; Cheikh-Moussa, Kamila; Moya-Forcen, Pedro

2016-07-19

Introducción: Preoperative nutritional status (NS) has consequences on postoperative (POSTOP) recovery. Our aim was to systematically review the nutritional interventions (NI) in Fast-Track protocols for colorectal cancer surgery and assess morbidity-mortality and patient´s recovery. Systematic review of scientific literature after consulting bibliographic databases: Medline, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Institute for Scientific Information, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. MeSH Descriptors: "Colorectal Surgery", "Fast-Track", "Perioperative Care", "Nutrition Therapy" and "Enhanced recovery programme". Filters: "Humans", Adult (19+ years) and "Clinical Trial". Variables POSTOP outcomes: bowel recovery (BR), hospital stay (HS), complications and death. Selected studies, 27, had good or excellent methodological quality. From 25 to 597 patients were included. Aged between 16-94 years, men were predominant in 66.6%. NS was evaluated in 13 studies; 7 by Body Mass Index while one by Subjective Global Assessment. One presented POSTOP data. Fast-Track groups had solids, liquids or supplements (SS) in prior 2-8 hours. SS were high in carbohydrates, immune-nutrients and non-residue. Free liquids, solids and SS intake was allowed in POSTOP. Half traditional groups fasted between 3-12 hours and resumed POSTOP food intake progressively. Fast-Track groups had early BR (p < 0.01). Traditional groups had more infections episodes, deaths and a longer HS. Great variability between NI but had a common item; early intake. Although was seen patient's recovery. Future studies with detailed NI characteristics are need. Nutritional status must be assessed for a higher acknowledgement of NI impact.

Determinants of eating at local and western fast-food venues in an urban Asian population: a mixed methods approach.

PubMed

Naidoo, Nasheen; van Dam, Rob M; Ng, Sheryl; Tan, Chuen Seng; Chen, Shiqi; Lim, Jia Yi; Chan, Mei Fen; Chew, Ling; Rebello, Salome A

2017-05-25

Like several Southeast Asian countries, Singapore has a complex eating-out environment and a rising eating-out prevalence. However the determinants and drivers of eating-out in urban Asian environments are poorly understood. We examined the socio-demographic characteristics of persons who frequently ate away from home in local eateries called hawker centres and Western fast-food restaurants, using data from 1647 Singaporean adults participating in the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2010. We also assessed the underlying drivers of eating out and evaluated if these were different for eating at local eateries compared to Western fast-food restaurants using 18 focus group discussions of women (130 women). Participants reported a high eating-out frequency with 77.3% usually eating either breakfast, lunch or dinner at eateries. Main venues for eating-out included hawker centres (61.1% usually ate at least 1 of 3 daily meals at this venue) and school/workplace canteens (20.4%). A minority of participants (1.9%) reported usually eating at Western fast-food restaurants. Younger participants and those of Chinese and Malay ethnicity compared to Indians were more likely to eat at Western fast-food restaurants. Chinese and employed persons were more likely to eat at hawker centres. The ready availability of a large variety of affordable and appealing foods appeared to be a primary driver of eating out, particularly at hawker centres. Our findings highlight the growing importance of eating-out in an urban Asian population where local eating venues play a more dominant role compared with Western fast-food chains. Interventions focusing on improving the food quality at venues for eating out are important to improve the diet of urban Asian populations.

Community Integration and Quality of Life in Aphasia after Stroke.

PubMed

Lee, Hyejin; Lee, Yuna; Choi, Hyunsoo; Pyun, Sung-Bom

2015-11-01

To examine community integration and contributing factors in people with aphasia (PWA) following stroke and to investigate the relationship between community integration and quality of life (QOL). Thirty PWA and 42 age-and education-matched control subjects were involved. Main variables were as follows: socioeconomic status, mobility, and activity of daily living (ADL) (Modified Barthel Index), language function [Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test (FAST)], depression [Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)], Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) and Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39). Differences between aphasia and control groups and factors affecting community integration and QOL were analyzed. Home and social integration and productive activity were significantly decreased in the aphasia group compared to the control group; 8.5 and 18.3 points in total CIQ score, respectively. Amount of time spent outside the home and frequency of social contact were also significantly reduced in the aphasia group. Total mean score on the SAQOL-39 was 2.75±0.80 points and was significantly correlated with economic status, gait performance, ADL, depressive mood, and social domain score on the CIQ. Depression score measured by GDS was the single most important factor for the prediction of QOL, but the FAST score was significantly correlated only with the communication domain of the SAQOL-39. Community activities of PWA were very limited, and depression was highly associated with decreased community integration and QOL. Enhancing social participation and reducing emotional distress should be emphasized for rehabilitation of PWA.

Intermittent fasting in Type 2 diabetes mellitus and the risk of hypoglycaemia: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Corley, B T; Carroll, R W; Hall, R M; Weatherall, M; Parry-Strong, A; Krebs, J D

2018-05-01

To establish whether the risk of hypoglycaemia is greater with 2 consecutive days of very-low-calorie diet compared with 2 non-consecutive days of very-low-calorie diet in people with Type 2 diabetes. This was a non-blinded randomized parallel group interventional trial of intermittent fasting in adults. The participants had a BMI of 30-45 kg/m 2 , Type 2 diabetes treated with metformin and/or hypoglycaemic medications and an HbA 1c concentration of 50-86 mmol/mol (6.7-10%). The participants followed a 2092-2510-kJ diet on 2 days per week for 12 weeks. A total of 41 participants were randomized 1:1 to consecutive (n=19) or non-consecutive (n=22) day fasts, of whom 37 (n=18 and n=19, respectively) were included in the final analysis. The primary outcome was difference in the rate of hypoglycaemia between the two study arms. Secondary outcomes included change in diet, quality of life, weight, lipid, glucose and HbA 1c levels, and liver function. The mean hypoglycaemia rate was 1.4 events over 12 weeks. Fasting increased the rate of hypoglycaemia despite medication reduction (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.52). There was no difference between fasting on consecutive days and fasting on non-consecutive days (RR 1.54, 95% CI 0.35 to 6.11). Improvements in weight, HbA 1c , fasting glucose and quality of life were experienced by participants in both arms. In individuals with Type 2 diabetes on hypoglycaemic medications, fasting of any type increased the rate of hypoglycaemia. With education and medication reduction, fewer than expected hypoglycaemic events occurred. Although it was not possible to determine whether fasting on consecutive days increased the risk of hypoglycaemia, an acceptable rate was observed in both arms. © 2018 Diabetes UK.

Nutritional quality and marketing strategies of fast food children's combo meals in Guatemala.

PubMed

Mazariegos, Sofia; Chacón, Violeta; Cole, Adam; Barnoya, Joaquin

2016-01-01

Overweight and obesity prevalence in children is now on the rise in low/middle-income countries, including Guatemala. Fast food consumption is a recognized contributing factor to this rise. Fast food restaurants use health claims, toy giveaways, price incentives and fast service to promote children's combo meals. This study sought to assess the use of toy giveaways, time to delivery and price incentives as marketing strategies in fast food chain restaurants in Guatemala. In addition, we sought to compare nutritional quality of combo meals with and without health claims. We visited one restaurant from each of the 8 major fast food chains in Guatemala and purchased all children's combo meals to assess the prevalence of toy giveaways, health claims, and difference in delivery time and price between the combo meal and each meal item purchased separately. Each item was then classified as "healthy" or "less healthy" using the UK Nutrition Profile Model. Nutrition information was collected on-site, from the restaurant website, or by calling the customer service phone number. We found 114 combo meals, 21 (18.4%) of which were children's combo meals. Five (24%) had nutrition information, all were classified by our analysis as "less healthy", and three had a health claim. On average, combo meals were US$1.93 less expensive than purchasing children's meal items individually ( p  = 0.01). Time to delivery was 1.44 min faster for combo meals compared to purchasing meal items individually ( p  = 0.19). Children's fast food combo meals in Guatemala were promoted using several marketing strategies that encourage consumption, including offering toy giveaways and price incentives. In addition, nutrition information is lacking in fast food chain restaurants. Public health advocates in Guatemala should consider a comprehensive approach to encourage healthier choices within fast food restaurants including policies that require fruit and vegetable options for meal side dishes, accessible and easy to read nutrition information, and restrict the use of toy giveaways.

On the definition of adapted audio/video profiles for high-quality video calling services over LTE/4G

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ndiaye, Maty; Quinquis, Catherine; Larabi, Mohamed Chaker; Le Lay, Gwenael; Saadane, Hakim; Perrine, Clency

2014-01-01

During the last decade, the important advances and widespread availability of mobile technology (operating systems, GPUs, terminal resolution and so on) have encouraged a fast development of voice and video services like video-calling. While multimedia services have largely grown on mobile devices, the generated increase of data consumption is leading to the saturation of mobile networks. In order to provide data with high bit-rates and maintain performance as close as possible to traditional networks, the 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project) worked on a high performance standard for mobile called Long Term Evolution (LTE). In this paper, we aim at expressing recommendations related to audio and video media profiles (selection of audio and video codecs, bit-rates, frame-rates, audio and video formats) for a typical video-calling services held over LTE/4G mobile networks. These profiles are defined according to targeted devices (smartphones, tablets), so as to ensure the best possible quality of experience (QoE). Obtained results indicate that for a CIF format (352 x 288 pixels) which is usually used for smartphones, the VP8 codec provides a better image quality than the H.264 codec for low bitrates (from 128 to 384 kbps). However sequences with high motion, H.264 in slow mode is preferred. Regarding audio, better results are globally achieved using wideband codecs offering good quality except for opus codec (at 12.2 kbps).

Fast automated segmentation of multiple objects via spatially weighted shape learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandra, Shekhar S.; Dowling, Jason A.; Greer, Peter B.; Martin, Jarad; Wratten, Chris; Pichler, Peter; Fripp, Jurgen; Crozier, Stuart

2016-11-01

Active shape models (ASMs) have proved successful in automatic segmentation by using shape and appearance priors in a number of areas such as prostate segmentation, where accurate contouring is important in treatment planning for prostate cancer. The ASM approach however, is heavily reliant on a good initialisation for achieving high segmentation quality. This initialisation often requires algorithms with high computational complexity, such as three dimensional (3D) image registration. In this work, we present a fast, self-initialised ASM approach that simultaneously fits multiple objects hierarchically controlled by spatially weighted shape learning. Prominent objects are targeted initially and spatial weights are progressively adjusted so that the next (more difficult, less visible) object is simultaneously initialised using a series of weighted shape models. The scheme was validated and compared to a multi-atlas approach on 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images of 38 cancer patients and had the same (mean, median, inter-rater) Dice’s similarity coefficients of (0.79, 0.81, 0.85), while having no registration error and a computational time of 12-15 min, nearly an order of magnitude faster than the multi-atlas approach.

Fast automated segmentation of multiple objects via spatially weighted shape learning.

PubMed

Chandra, Shekhar S; Dowling, Jason A; Greer, Peter B; Martin, Jarad; Wratten, Chris; Pichler, Peter; Fripp, Jurgen; Crozier, Stuart

2016-11-21

Active shape models (ASMs) have proved successful in automatic segmentation by using shape and appearance priors in a number of areas such as prostate segmentation, where accurate contouring is important in treatment planning for prostate cancer. The ASM approach however, is heavily reliant on a good initialisation for achieving high segmentation quality. This initialisation often requires algorithms with high computational complexity, such as three dimensional (3D) image registration. In this work, we present a fast, self-initialised ASM approach that simultaneously fits multiple objects hierarchically controlled by spatially weighted shape learning. Prominent objects are targeted initially and spatial weights are progressively adjusted so that the next (more difficult, less visible) object is simultaneously initialised using a series of weighted shape models. The scheme was validated and compared to a multi-atlas approach on 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images of 38 cancer patients and had the same (mean, median, inter-rater) Dice's similarity coefficients of (0.79, 0.81, 0.85), while having no registration error and a computational time of 12-15 min, nearly an order of magnitude faster than the multi-atlas approach.

A Wavelet-based Fast Discrimination of Transformer Magnetizing Inrush Current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitayama, Masashi

Recently customers who need electricity of higher quality have been installing co-generation facilities. They can avoid voltage sags and other distribution system related disturbances by supplying electricity to important load from their generators. For another example, FRIENDS, highly reliable distribution system using semiconductor switches or storage devices based on power electronics technology, is proposed. These examples illustrates that the request for high reliability in distribution system is increasing. In order to realize these systems, fast relaying algorithms are indispensable. The author proposes a new method of detecting magnetizing inrush current using discrete wavelet transform (DWT). DWT provides the function of detecting discontinuity of current waveform. Inrush current occurs when transformer core becomes saturated. The proposed method detects spikes of DWT components derived from the discontinuity of the current waveform at both the beginning and the end of inrush current. Wavelet thresholding, one of the wavelet-based statistical modeling, was applied to detect the DWT component spikes. The proposed method is verified using experimental data using single-phase transformer and the proposed method is proved to be effective.

Innovative laser based solar cell scribing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frei, Bruno; Schneeberger, Stefan; Witte, Reiner

2011-03-01

The solar photovoltaic market is continuously growing utilizing boths crystalline silicon (c-Si) as well as thin film technologies. This growth is directly dependant on the manufacturing costs for solar cells. Factors for cost reduction are innovative ideas for an optimization of precision and throughput. Lasers are excellent tools to provide highly efficient processes with impressive accuracy. They need to be used in combination with fast and precise motion systems for a maximum gain in the manufacturing process, yielding best cost of ownership. In this article such an innovative solution is presented for laser scribing in thin film Si modules. A combination of a new glass substrate holding system combined with a fast and precise motion system is the foundation for a cost effective scribing machine. In addition, the advantages of fiber lasers in beam delivery and beam quality guarantee not only shorter setup and down times but also high resolution and reproducibility for the scribing processes P1, P2 and P3. The precision of the whole system allows to reduce the dead zone to a minimum and therefore to improve the efficiency of the modules.

Fast directional changes in the geomagnetic field recovered from archaeomagnetism of ancient Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaar, R.; Hassul, E.; Raphael, K.; Ebert, Y.; Marco, S.; Nowaczyk, N. R.; Ben-Yosef, E.; Agnon, A.

2017-12-01

Recent archaeomagnetic intensity data from the Levant revealed short-term sub-centennial changes in the geomagnetic field such as `archaeomagnetic jerks' and `geomagnetic spikes'. To fully understand the nature of these fast variations a complementary high-precision time-series of geomagnetic field direction is required. To this end we investigated 35 heat impacted archaeological objects from Israel, including cooking ovens, furnaces, and burnt walls. We combine the new dataset with previously unpublished data and construct the first archaeomagnetic compilation of Israel which, at the moment, consists of a total of 57 directions. Screening out poor quality data leaves 30 acceptable archaeomagnetic directions, 25 of which spanning the period between 1700 BCE to 400 BCE. The most striking result of this dataset is a large directional anomaly with deviation of 20°-25° from geocentric axial dipole direction during the 9th century BCE. This anomaly in field direction is contemporaneous with the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA) - a local geomagnetic anomaly over the Levant that was characterized by a high averaged geomagnetic field (nearly twice of today's field) and short decadal-scale geomagnetic spikes.

QRIS and Inclusion: Do State QRIS Standards Support the Learning Needs of All Children? CEELO FastFact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horowitz, Michelle; Squires, Jim

2014-01-01

As the country quickly builds its efforts to enhance quality in early education and care classrooms, states are implementing Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to recognize and improve the quality of programs. QRIS also provides technical support and increased financial benefits for participating programs to attain higher levels of…

Analysis of Customer Loyalty through Total Quality Service, Customer Relationship Management and Customer Satisfaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Binsar Kristian P., Feliks Anggia; Panjaitan, Hotman

2014-01-01

This research talks about total quality service and customer relationship management effects toward customer satisfaction and its impact on customer loyalty. Fast food restaurant KFC, always strives to continue to make improvements in total quality service, so that customer satisfaction can be maintained, which in turn will have an impact on…

Exploring Crustal Structure and Mantle Seismic Anisotropy Associated with the Incipient Southern and Southwestern Branches of the East African Rift System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Y.; Reed, C. A.; Gao, S. S.; Liu, K. H.; Massinque, B.; Mdala, H. S.; Chindandali, P. R. N.; Moidaki, M.; Mutamina, D. M.

2014-12-01

In spite of numerous geoscientific studies, the mechanisms responsible for the initiation and development of continental rifts are still poorly understood. The key information required to constrain various geodynamic models on rift initiation can be derived from the crust/mantle structure and anisotropy beneath incipient rifts such as the Southern and Southwestern branches of the East African Rift System. As part of a National Science Foundation funded interdisciplinary project, 50 PASSCAL broadband seismic stations were deployed across the Malawi, Luangwa, and Okavango rift zones from the summer of 2012 to the summer of 2014. Preliminary results from these 50 SAFARI (Seismic Arrays for African Rift Initiation) and adjacent stations are presented utilizing shear-wave splitting (SWS) and P-S receiver function techniques. 1109 pairs of high-quality SWS measurements, consisting of fast polarization orientations and splitting times, have been obtained from a total of 361 seismic events. The results demonstrate dominantly NE-SW fast orientations throughout Botswana as well as along the northwestern flank of the Luangwa rift valley. Meanwhile, fast orientations beneath the eastern Luangwa rift flank rotate from NNW to NNE along the western border of the Malawi rift. Stations located alongside the western Malawi rift border faults yield ENE fast orientations, with stations situated in Mozambique exhibiting more E-W orientations. In the northern extent of the study region, fast orientations parallel the trend of the Rukwa and Usangu rift basins. Receiver function results reveal that, relative to the adjacent Pan-African mobile belts, the Luangwa rift zone has a thin (30 to 35 km) crust. The crustal thickness within the Okavango rift basin is highly variable. Preliminary findings indicate a northeastward thinning along the southeast Okavango border fault system congruent with decreasing extension toward the southwest. The Vp/Vs measurements in the Okavango basin are roughly 1.75 on average, suggesting an unmodified crustal composition, while those of the Luangwa and southern Malawi rift zones are relatively high, probably suggesting ancient or ongoing magmatic emplacement. The Pan-African mobile belts enveloping the rift zones are mostly characterized by more felsic and thicker crust.

Fast Tracking School Site Acquisition: A Perspective of an Eminent Domain Attorney.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Behrens, Jerry

This paper discusses key issues in fast-tracking the acquisition of school sites in California. Discussion addresses: (1) assembling an experienced team; (2) whether the property owner is a willing or unwilling seller; (3) level of community support or opposition to the site; (4) timing and commencement of California Environmental Quality Act…

FASTQ quality control dashboard

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2016-07-25

FQCDB builds up existing open source software, FastQC, implementing a modern web interface for across parsed output of FastQC. In addition, FQCDB is extensible as a web service to include additional plots of type line, boxplot, or heatmap, across data formatted according to guidelines. The interface is also configurable via more readable JSON format, enabling customization by non-web programmers.

Fast Postmoisture Treatment of Luminescent Perovskite Films for Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes.

PubMed

Wang, Haoran; Li, Xiaomin; Yuan, Mingjian; Yang, Xuyong

2018-04-01

Despite the recent advances in the performance of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), the effects of water on the perovskite emissive layer and its electroluminescence are still unclear, even though it has been previously demonstrated that moisture has a significant impact on the quality of perovskite films in the fabrication process of perovskite solar cells and is a prerequisite for obtaining high-performance PeLEDs. Here, the effects of postmoisture on the luminescent CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 (MAPbBr 3 ) perovskite films are systematically investigated. It is found that postmoisture treatment can efficiently control the morphology and growth of perovskite films and only a fast moisture exposure at a 60% high relative humidity results in significantly improved crystallinity, carrier lifetime, and photoluminescence quantum yield of perovskite films. With the optimized moisture-treated perovskite films, a high-performance PeLED is fabricated, exhibiting a maximum current efficiency of 20.4 cd A -1 , which is an almost 20-fold enhancement when compared with perovskite films without moisture treatment. The results provide valuable insights into the moisture-assisted growth of luminescent perovskite films and will aid in the development of high-performance perovskite light-emitting devices. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of pupillary dilatation on glaucoma assessments using optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Smith, Michael; Frost, Andrew; Graham, Christopher Mark; Shaw, Steven

2007-01-01

Aims To examine the effect of pupillary dilatation on the reliability of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and optic nerve head (ONH) assessments using Stratus OCT in a glaucoma clinic. Methods Observational study of 38 patients attending a glaucoma clinic. The “fast optic disc” and “fast RNFL thickness” programs on Stratus OCT were used to measure the RNFL thickness and ONH cup to disc ratio (CDR). Two scans were done before dilatation and two after dilatation with tropicamide 1% drops. The mean values and reproducibility before and after dilatation were compared, along with the quality of scans as indicated by the “signal strength” score. Results In nine patients (23.7%) no images were obtained undilated but after dilatation examination was possible in all patients. Inability to obtain an undilated scan was associated with smaller pupil size and increasing cataract. The scan quality, as judged by the signal strength score, was higher dilated than undilated for both RNFL thickness (p = 0.011) and ONH CDR (p = 0.007). Reproducibility was higher with dilated scans for RNFL thickness but not for ONH CDR. There were significant differences between the dilated and undilated examinations for three of the five RNFL thickness variables and two of the three ONH CDR categories. Conclusions Acquisition of high quality OCT images was not possible without pupillary dilatation in about 25% of the patients. The dilated scans were more reproducible and of higher quality than the undilated scans. The two methods of examination do not appear to be interchangeable, suggesting that in follow up examinations the pupil should be in the same condition as at baseline. Pupillary dilatation is recommended before glaucoma assessments using Stratus OCT. PMID:17556429

Improvement of Base and Soil Construction Quality by Using Intelligent Compaction Technology : Final Report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-08-01

Intelligent Compaction (IC) technique is a fast-developing technology for base and soil compaction quality control. Proof-rolling subgrades and bases using IC rollers upon completion of compaction can identify the less stiff spots and significantly i...

Variations of cortisol, fatigue and sleep disturbances in sound engineers: effect of job task and fast backward-rotating shifts.

PubMed

Vangelova, Katia K

2008-01-01

The aim was to study the effect of job task and fast backward-rotating shifts on the time-of-day variations of cortisol, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in broadcasting sound engineers. The concentration of saliva cortisol and ratings of stress, sleepiness, and fatigue were followed at 3-hour intervals during the fast backward-rotating shifts in 26 sound engineers: 14 subjects from control rooms, aged 45.1 +/- 7.3 years, and 12 subjects working in direct transmissions, aged 51.7 +/- 6.0 years. Saliva cortisol was assessed using an radioimmunology kit. The participants reported for stress symptoms after the shifts and filled a sleep diary. The effects of job task, shift, and time-of-day were analyzed by tests of between-subjects effects (SPSS). Cortisol retained the typical diurnal pattern with a highly significant effect of the shift. The job task and the shift interacted significantly. Higher cortisol values during the morning and night shifts in engineers working in direct transmissions were found. Their stress ratings were also higher, as well as the ratings of sleepiness and fatigue. The quality of sleep was worse in engineers working in direct transmissions. In conclusion, our data indicate that stress and fast backward-rotating shifts in sound engineers working in direct transmissions affect physiological stress markers such as cortisol and increase sleepiness, fatigue, and sleep problems.

Away from home meals: associations with biomarkers of chronic disease and dietary intake in American adults, NHANES 2005-2010.

PubMed

Kant, A K; Whitley, M I; Graubard, B I

2015-05-01

Away from home (AFH) meals are known to be energy-dense and of poor diet quality. Both direct and indirect exposure (for example, neighborhood restaurant density) to AFH meals have been implicated as contributors to higher body weight and adverse health outcomes. To examine the association of frequency of eating AFH and fast-food meals with biomarkers of chronic disease and dietary intake. This cross-sectional study used frequency of AFH and fast-food meal and biomarker data from the NHANES 2005-2010. Information on weekly frequency of AFH and fast-food meals was collected via questionnaire during the household interview. The metabolic biomarkers examined included body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)), triglycerides, glycohemoglobin and fasting glucose (n=8314, age⩾20, National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007-2010). Biomarkers of dietary exposure included serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, E, C, B-6, B-12, folate and carotenoids (n=4162; 2005-2006). Multiple linear and logistic regression methods adjusted for complex survey methodology and covariates. American adults reported a mean of 3.9 (95% confidence interval 3.7, 4.0) AFH and 1.8 (1.6, 1.9) fast-food meals/week. Over 50% of adults reported ⩾3 AFH and >35% reported ⩾2 fast-food meals/week. The mean BMI of more frequent AFH or fast-food meal reporters was higher (Ptrend⩽0.0004). Serum concentrations of total, LDL and HDL-cholesterol were related inversely with frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05). Frequencies of fast-food meals and serum HDL-cholesterol were also related inversely (P=0.0001). Serum concentrations of all examined micronutrients (except vitamin A and lycopene) declined with increasing frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05); women and ⩾50-year olds were at higher risk. Reporters of frequent AFH and fast-food meals had higher BMI and lower concentrations of HDL-cholesterol; however, profiles of other biomarkers did not indicate higher metabolic risk. However, the serum concentrations of nutrients with mostly plant foods as sources declined with increasing AFH meal frequency.

Cluster analysis reveals seasonal variation of sperm subpopulations in extended boar semen

PubMed Central

IBĂNESCU, Iulian; LEIDING, Claus; BOLLWEIN, Heinrich

2017-01-01

This study aimed to identify motile sperm subpopulations in extended boar semen and to observe the presumptive seasonal variation in their distribution. Data from 4837 boar ejaculates collected over a two-year period were analyzed in terms of kinematic parameters by Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Individual sperm data were used to determine subgroups of motile sperm within the ejaculates using cluster analysis. Four motile sperm subpopulations (SP) were identified, with distinct movement patterns: SP1 sperm with high velocity and high linearity; SP2 sperm with high velocity but low linearity; SP3 sperm with low velocity but high linearity; and SP4 sperm with low velocity and low linearity. SP1 constituted the least overall proportion within the ejaculates (P < 0.05). Season of semen collection significantly influenced the different proportions of sperm subpopulations. Spring was characterized by similar proportions of SP1 and SP4 (NS) and higher proportions of SP3. Summer brought a decrease in both subgroups containing fast sperm (SP1 and SP2) (P < 0.05). During autumn, increases in SP2 and SP4 were recorded. Winter substantially affected the proportions of all sperm subpopulations (P < 0.05) and SP2 became the most represented subgroup, while SP1 (fast and linear) reached its highest proportion compared to other seasons. In conclusion, extended boar semen is structured in distinct motile sperm subpopulations whose proportions vary according to the season of collection. Summer and autumn seem to have a negative impact on the fast and linear subpopulation. Cluster analysis can be useful in revealing differences in semen quality that are not normally detected by classical evaluation based on mean values. PMID:29081440

A fast and efficient segmentation scheme for cell microscopic image.

PubMed

Lebrun, G; Charrier, C; Lezoray, O; Meurie, C; Cardot, H

2007-04-27

Microscopic cellular image segmentation schemes must be efficient for reliable analysis and fast to process huge quantity of images. Recent studies have focused on improving segmentation quality. Several segmentation schemes have good quality but processing time is too expensive to deal with a great number of images per day. For segmentation schemes based on pixel classification, the classifier design is crucial since it is the one which requires most of the processing time necessary to segment an image. The main contribution of this work is focused on how to reduce the complexity of decision functions produced by support vector machines (SVM) while preserving recognition rate. Vector quantization is used in order to reduce the inherent redundancy present in huge pixel databases (i.e. images with expert pixel segmentation). Hybrid color space design is also used in order to improve data set size reduction rate and recognition rate. A new decision function quality criterion is defined to select good trade-off between recognition rate and processing time of pixel decision function. The first results of this study show that fast and efficient pixel classification with SVM is possible. Moreover posterior class pixel probability estimation is easy to compute with Platt method. Then a new segmentation scheme using probabilistic pixel classification has been developed. This one has several free parameters and an automatic selection must dealt with, but criteria for evaluate segmentation quality are not well adapted for cell segmentation, especially when comparison with expert pixel segmentation must be achieved. Another important contribution in this paper is the definition of a new quality criterion for evaluation of cell segmentation. The results presented here show that the selection of free parameters of the segmentation scheme by optimisation of the new quality cell segmentation criterion produces efficient cell segmentation.

Fast food restaurants and food stores: longitudinal associations with diet in young to middle-aged adults: the CARDIA study.

PubMed

Boone-Heinonen, Janne; Gordon-Larsen, Penny; Kiefe, Catarina I; Shikany, James M; Lewis, Cora E; Popkin, Barry M

2011-07-11

A growing body of cross-sectional, small-sample research has led to policy strategies to reduce food deserts--neighborhoods with little or no access to healthy foods--by limiting fast food restaurants and small food stores and increasing access to supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods. We used 15 years of longitudinal data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a cohort of US young adults (aged 18-30 years at baseline) (n = 5115), with linked time-varying geographic information system-derived food resource measures. Using repeated measures from 4 examination periods (n = 15,854 person-examination observations) and conditional regression (conditioned on the individual), we modeled fast food consumption, diet quality, and adherence to fruit and vegetable recommendations as a function of fast food chain, supermarket, or grocery store availability (counts per population) within less than 1.00 km, 1.00 to 2.99 km, 3.00 to 4.99 km, and 5.00 to 8.05 km of respondents' homes. Models were sex stratified, controlled for individual sociodemographic characteristics and neighborhood poverty, and tested for interaction by individual-level income. Fast food consumption was related to fast food availability among low-income respondents, particularly within 1.00 to 2.99 km of home among men (coefficient, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.51). Greater supermarket availability was generally unrelated to diet quality and fruit and vegetable intake, and relationships between grocery store availability and diet outcomes were mixed. Our findings provide some evidence for zoning restrictions on fast food restaurants within 3 km of low-income residents but suggest that increased access to food stores may require complementary or alternative strategies to promote dietary behavior change.

Fast food restaurants and food stores: longitudinal associations with diet in young adults: The CARDIA Study

PubMed Central

Boone-Heinonen, Janne; Gordon-Larsen, Penny; Kiefe, Catarina I.; Shikany, James M.; Lewis, Cora E.; Popkin, Barry M.

2011-01-01

Background A growing body of cross-sectional, small-sample research has led to policy strategies to reduce food deserts – neighborhoods with little or no access to healthy foods – by limiting fast food restaurants and small food stores and increasing access to supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods. Methods We used 15 years of longitudinal data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a cohort of U.S. young adults (n=5,115, 18–30 years at baseline), with linked time-varying geographic information system-derived food resource measures. Using repeated measures from four examination periods (n=15,854 person-exam observations) and conditional regression (conditioned on the individual), we modeled fast food consumption, diet quality, and meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations as a function of fast food chain, supermarket, or grocery store availability (counts per population) within 1 kilometer (km), 1–2.9km, 3–4.9km, and 5–8km of respondents’ homes. Models were sex-stratified, controlled for individual sociodemographics and neighborhood poverty, and tested for interaction by individual-level income. Results Fast food consumption was related to fast food availability in low-income respondents, particularly within 1–2.9km of homes among men [coefficient (95% CI) up to: 0.34 (0.16, 0.51)]. Greater supermarket availability was generally unrelated to diet quality and fruit and vegetable intake and relationships between grocery store availability and diet outcomes were mixed. Conclusions Our findings provide some evidence for zoning restrictions on fast food restaurants within 3km of low-income residents, but suggest that increased access to food stores may require complementary or alternative strategies to promote dietary behavior change. PMID:21747011

A fast point-cloud computing method based on spatial symmetry of Fresnel field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiangxiang; Zhang, Kai; Shen, Chuan; Zhu, Wenliang; Wei, Sui

2017-10-01

Aiming at the great challenge for Computer Generated Hologram (CGH) duo to the production of high spatial-bandwidth product (SBP) is required in the real-time holographic video display systems. The paper is based on point-cloud method and it takes advantage of the propagating reversibility of Fresnel diffraction in the propagating direction and the fringe pattern of a point source, known as Gabor zone plate has spatial symmetry, so it can be used as a basis for fast calculation of diffraction field in CGH. A fast Fresnel CGH method based on the novel look-up table (N-LUT) method is proposed, the principle fringe patterns (PFPs) at the virtual plane is pre-calculated by the acceleration algorithm and be stored. Secondly, the Fresnel diffraction fringe pattern at dummy plane can be obtained. Finally, the Fresnel propagation from dummy plan to hologram plane. The simulation experiments and optical experiments based on Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) is setup to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method under the premise of ensuring the quality of 3D reconstruction the method proposed in the paper can be applied to shorten the computational time and improve computational efficiency.

A fast, robust pattern recognition asystem for low light level image registration and its application to retinal imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wade, Alex Robert; Fitzke, Frederick W.

1998-08-01

We describe an image processing system which we have developed to align autofluorescence and high-magnification images taken with a laser scanning ophthalmoscope. The low signal to noise ratio of these images makes pattern recognition a non-trivial task. However, once n images are aligned and averaged, the noise levels drop by a factor of n and the image quality is improved. We include examples of autofluorescence images and images of the cone photoreceptor mosaic obtained using this system.

Thermo-optic locking of a semiconductor laser to a microcavity resonance.

PubMed

McRae, T G; Lee, Kwan H; McGovern, M; Gwyther, D; Bowen, W P

2009-11-23

We experimentally demonstrate thermo-optic locking of a semiconductor laser to an integrated toroidal optical microcavity. The lock is maintained for time periods exceeding twelve hours, without requiring any electronic control systems. Fast control is achieved by optical feedback induced by scattering centers within the microcavity, with thermal locking due to optical heating maintaining constructive interference between the cavity and the laser. Furthermore, the optical feedback acts to narrow the laser linewidth, with ultra high quality microtoroid resonances offering the potential for ultralow linewidth on-chip lasers.

Rheological properties of magnetorheological fluid and its finishing application on large aperture BK7 glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C.; Wei, Q. L.; Huang, W.; Luo, Q.; He, J. G.; Tang, G. P.

2013-07-01

The CeO2 nanoparticles with modified surface and mean sizes distribution during 107.0 nm - 127.7 nm are used as abrasive in magnetorheological finishing (MRF) fluid. The slow rotation dispersion without shearing thinning is better than fast emulsification dispersion. Steady D-shaped finishing spots and high quality precise processing surface with PV=0.1λ, GRMS=0.002λ/cm, Rq=0.83 nm are obtained on a 435 mm x 435 mm BK7 glass under self-developed MRF apparatus.

DECOMP: a PDB decomposition tool on the web.

PubMed

Ordog, Rafael; Szabadka, Zoltán; Grolmusz, Vince

2009-07-27

The protein databank (PDB) contains high quality structural data for computational structural biology investigations. We have earlier described a fast tool (the decomp_pdb tool) for identifying and marking missing atoms and residues in PDB files. The tool also automatically decomposes PDB entries into separate files describing ligands and polypeptide chains. Here, we describe a web interface named DECOMP for the tool. Our program correctly identifies multi-monomer ligands, and the server also offers the preprocessed ligand-protein decomposition of the complete PDB for downloading (up to size: 5GB) AVAILABILITY: http://decomp.pitgroup.org.

Hybrid reflecting objectives for functional multiphoton microscopy in turbid media

PubMed Central

Vučinić, Dejan; Bartol, Thomas M.; Sejnowski, Terrence J.

2010-01-01

Most multiphoton imaging of biological specimens is performed using microscope objectives optimized for high image quality under wide-field illumination. We present a class of objectives designed de novo without regard for these traditional constraints, driven exclusively by the needs of fast multiphoton imaging in turbid media: the delivery of femtosecond pulses without dispersion and the efficient collection of fluorescence. We model the performance of one such design optimized for a typical brain-imaging setup and show that it can greatly outperform objectives commonly used for this task. PMID:16880851

GPU-accelerated Kernel Regression Reconstruction for Freehand 3D Ultrasound Imaging.

PubMed

Wen, Tiexiang; Li, Ling; Zhu, Qingsong; Qin, Wenjian; Gu, Jia; Yang, Feng; Xie, Yaoqin

2017-07-01

Volume reconstruction method plays an important role in improving reconstructed volumetric image quality for freehand three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging. By utilizing the capability of programmable graphics processing unit (GPU), we can achieve a real-time incremental volume reconstruction at a speed of 25-50 frames per second (fps). After incremental reconstruction and visualization, hole-filling is performed on GPU to fill remaining empty voxels. However, traditional pixel nearest neighbor-based hole-filling fails to reconstruct volume with high image quality. On the contrary, the kernel regression provides an accurate volume reconstruction method for 3D ultrasound imaging but with the cost of heavy computational complexity. In this paper, a GPU-based fast kernel regression method is proposed for high-quality volume after the incremental reconstruction of freehand ultrasound. The experimental results show that improved image quality for speckle reduction and details preservation can be obtained with the parameter setting of kernel window size of [Formula: see text] and kernel bandwidth of 1.0. The computational performance of the proposed GPU-based method can be over 200 times faster than that on central processing unit (CPU), and the volume with size of 50 million voxels in our experiment can be reconstructed within 10 seconds.

Image Quality Assessment for Fake Biometric Detection: Application to Iris, Fingerprint, and Face Recognition.

PubMed

Galbally, Javier; Marcel, Sébastien; Fierrez, Julian

2014-02-01

To ensure the actual presence of a real legitimate trait in contrast to a fake self-manufactured synthetic or reconstructed sample is a significant problem in biometric authentication, which requires the development of new and efficient protection measures. In this paper, we present a novel software-based fake detection method that can be used in multiple biometric systems to detect different types of fraudulent access attempts. The objective of the proposed system is to enhance the security of biometric recognition frameworks, by adding liveness assessment in a fast, user-friendly, and non-intrusive manner, through the use of image quality assessment. The proposed approach presents a very low degree of complexity, which makes it suitable for real-time applications, using 25 general image quality features extracted from one image (i.e., the same acquired for authentication purposes) to distinguish between legitimate and impostor samples. The experimental results, obtained on publicly available data sets of fingerprint, iris, and 2D face, show that the proposed method is highly competitive compared with other state-of-the-art approaches and that the analysis of the general image quality of real biometric samples reveals highly valuable information that may be very efficiently used to discriminate them from fake traits.

Power quality improvement by using STATCOM control scheme in wind energy generation interface to grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirmani, Sheeraz; Kumar, Brijesh

2018-01-01

“Electric Power Quality (EPQ) is a term that refers to maintaining the near sinusoidal waveform of power distribution bus voltages and currents at rated magnitude and frequency”. Today customers are more aware of the seriousness that the power quality possesses, this prompt the utilities to assure good quality of power to their customer. The power quality is basically customer centric. Increased focus of utilities toward maintaining reliable power supply by employing power quality improvement tools has reduced the power outages and black out considerably. Good power quality is the characteristic of reliable power supply. Low power factor, harmonic pollution, load imbalance, fast voltage variations are some common parameters which are used to define the power quality. If the power quality issues are not checked i.e. the parameters that define power quality doesn't fall within the predefined standards than it will lead into high electricity bill, high running cost in industries, malfunctioning of equipments, challenges in connecting renewable. Capacitor banks, FACTS devices, harmonic filters, SVC’s (static voltage compensators), STATCOM (Static-Compensator) are the solutions to achieve the power quality. The performance of Wind turbine generators is affected by poor quality power, at the same time these wind power generating plant affects the power quality negatively. This paper presents the STATCOM-BESS (battery energy storage system) system and studies its impact on the power quality in a system which consists of wind turbine generator, non linear load, hysteresis controller for controlling the operation of STATCOM and grid. The model is simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink. This scheme mitigates the power quality issues, improves voltage profile and also reduces harmonic distortion of the waveforms. BESS level out the imbalances caused in real power due to intermittent nature of wind power available due to varying wind speeds.

A singular K-space model for fast reconstruction of magnetic resonance images from undersampled data.

PubMed

Luo, Jianhua; Mou, Zhiying; Qin, Binjie; Li, Wanqing; Ogunbona, Philip; Robini, Marc C; Zhu, Yuemin

2018-07-01

Reconstructing magnetic resonance images from undersampled k-space data is a challenging problem. This paper introduces a novel method of image reconstruction from undersampled k-space data based on the concept of singularizing operators and a novel singular k-space model. Exploring the sparsity of an image in the k-space, the singular k-space model (SKM) is proposed in terms of the k-space functions of a singularizing operator. The singularizing operator is constructed by combining basic difference operators. An algorithm is developed to reliably estimate the model parameters from undersampled k-space data. The estimated parameters are then used to recover the missing k-space data through the model, subsequently achieving high-quality reconstruction of the image using inverse Fourier transform. Experiments on physical phantom and real brain MR images have shown that the proposed SKM method constantly outperforms the popular total variation (TV) and the classical zero-filling (ZF) methods regardless of the undersampling rates, the noise levels, and the image structures. For the same objective quality of the reconstructed images, the proposed method requires much less k-space data than the TV method. The SKM method is an effective method for fast MRI reconstruction from the undersampled k-space data. Graphical abstract Two Real Images and their sparsified images by singularizing operator.

Differential response of marine flagellate communities to prokaryotic food quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Corte, D.; Paredes, G.; Sintes, E.; Herndl, G. J.

2016-02-01

Marine prokaryotes play a major role in the biogeochemical cycles. The main predators of prokaryotes are heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF). HNF are thus a major link connecting dissolved organic material through prokaryotic grazing to the higher trophic levels. However, little is known about the grazing specificity of HNF on specific prokaryotic taxa. Bacterial and archaeal microbes may have different nutritive values for the HNF communities, thus affecting growth rates and community composition of HNFs. In this study we investigated the influence of prey food quality on Cafeteria roenbergensis and on a natural HNF community isolated in the northern Adriatic Sea. Two Nitrosopumilus maritimus-related strains isolated from the northern Adriatic Sea (Nitrosopumilus adriaticus, Nitrosopumilus piranensis), two Nitrosococcus strains and two fast growing marine Bacteria (Pseudomonas marina and Marinobacter algicola) were fed to the HNFs. The two fast growing bacterial strains resulted in high growth rates of Cafeteria roenbergensis and the mixed HNF community, while the two Nitrosococcus strains did not. Cafeteria roenbergensis fed on N. adriaticus but it did not graze N. piranensis, suggesting that the subtle metabolic and physiological differences between these two closely related thaumarchaeal strains affect the grazing pressure to which they are exposed. Our study also indicates that prokaryotic community composition influences the composition of the HNF community.

Fast and Simple Discriminative Analysis of Anthocyanins-Containing Berries Using LC/MS Spectral Data.

PubMed

Yang, Heejung; Kim, Hyun Woo; Kwon, Yong Soo; Kim, Ho Kyong; Sung, Sang Hyun

2017-09-01

Anthocyanins are potent antioxidant agents that protect against many degenerative diseases; however, they are unstable because they are vulnerable to external stimuli including temperature, pH and light. This vulnerability hinders the quality control of anthocyanin-containing berries using classical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical methodologies based on UV or MS chromatograms. To develop an alternative approach for the quality assessment and discrimination of anthocyanin-containing berries, we used MS spectral data acquired in a short analytical time rather than UV or MS chromatograms. Mixtures of anthocyanins were separated from other components in a short gradient time (5 min) due to their higher polarity, and the representative MS spectrum was acquired from the MS chromatogram corresponding to the mixture of anthocyanins. The chemometric data from the representative MS spectra contained reliable information for the identification and relative quantification of anthocyanins in berries with good precision and accuracy. This fast and simple methodology, which consists of a simple sample preparation method and short gradient analysis, could be applied to reliably discriminate the species and geographical origins of different anthocyanin-containing berries. These features make the technique useful for the food industry. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Use of fast neutrons for assessing sarcopenia by measuring body phosphorus: relevance to health and quality of life of the elderly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kehayias, Joseph J.; Zhuang, Hong; Doherty, Patricia L.

1997-02-01

Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of skeletal muscle with age, may lead to frailty, fractures due to falls, and reduced immunity to disease. By understanding the causes of muscle loss with age we will be able to develop ways of maintaining functional capacity and quality of life for the elderly. Elemental Partition Analysis (EPA) is a new approach to body composition assessment. A major element of the body is measured and then, by means of other measurements, is partitioned to the contributing body compartments. We developed a model for measuring total body muscle by applying the EPA method to total body phosphorus (TBP). We measure TBP by in vivo fast neutron activation analysis using the reaction 31P(n,(alpha) )28Al. The main contributors to TBP are bone and skeletal muscle. Adipose tissue and the liver contribute less than 3 percent. We use dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to evaluate the contribution of bone to TBP. COrrections are applied for the small contributions of the liver and adipose tissue to TBP to derive muscle phosphorus. The technique requires high precision measurements for both TBP and DXA. The total body radiation exposure for measuring human subjects is 0.30 mSv.

Fasting glucose and risk of colorectal cancer in the Korean Multi-center Cancer Cohort.

PubMed

Park, Hyeree; Cho, Sooyoung; Woo, Hyeongtaek; Park, Sue K; Shin, Hai-Rim; Chang, Soung-Hoon; Yoo, Keun-Young; Shin, Aesun

2017-01-01

Previous cohort studies have demonstrated a positive association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are few comparisons between DM groups categorized by fasting glucose level. This study examined associations between diabetes as defined by fasting glucose level and self-reported history of DM and CRC risk among Korean adults. Data from the Korean Multi-center Cancer Cohort between 1993 and 2005 were analyzed. The study population comprised 14,570 participants aged 20 years or older. Participants were followed until December 31, 2012 (median follow-up: 11.9 years). Among participants with high fasting glucose (≥126mg/dL), the risk of developing CRC was significantly higher (HR: 1.51 [1.02-2.25]) than among participants with low fasting glucose (<126mg/dL). Risk was not significantly higher among participants with self-reported history of DM (HR: 1.34 [0.78-2.31]). When both fasting glucose and history of DM were considered together, the risk of CRC among participants with both high fasting glucose and history of DM was 54% (HR: 1.54 [0.97-2.43]), and the risk of CRC among participants with high fasting glucose and no history of DM was 50% (HR: 1.50 [0.73-3.05]). When the first 5 years of follow-up were excluded, among participants with high fasting glucose, the risk of developing CRC was significantly higher (HR: 1.61 [1.02-2.56]) than among participants with low fasting glucose. Risk of CRC was also significantly higher among participants with high fasting glucose and no history of DM (HR: 1.69 [1.01-2.84]). High fasting glucose and self-reported history of DM were associated with increased risk of CRC in this Korean population.

FQC Dashboard: integrates FastQC results into a web-based, interactive, and extensible FASTQ quality control tool

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Joseph; Pirrung, Meg; McCue, Lee Ann

FQC is software that facilitates large-scale quality control of FASTQ files by carrying out a QC protocol, parsing results, and aggregating quality metrics within and across experiments into an interactive dashboard. The dashboard utilizes human-readable configuration files to manipulate the pages and tabs, and is extensible with CSV data.

Note: Calibration of atomic force microscope cantilevers using only their resonant frequency and quality factor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sader, John E., E-mail: jsader@unimelb.edu.au; Friend, James R.; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92122

2014-11-15

A simplified method for calibrating atomic force microscope cantilevers was recently proposed by Sader et al. [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 103705 (2012); Sec. III D] that relies solely on the resonant frequency and quality factor of the cantilever in fluid (typically air). This method eliminates the need to measure the hydrodynamic function of the cantilever, which can be time consuming given the wide range of cantilevers now available. Using laser Doppler vibrometry, we rigorously assess the accuracy of this method for a series of commercially available cantilevers and explore its performance under non-ideal conditions. This shows that the simplified methodmore » is highly accurate and can be easily implemented to perform fast, robust, and non-invasive spring constant calibration.« less

Encoder fault analysis system based on Moire fringe error signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Xu; Chen, Wei; Wan, Qiu-hua; Lu, Xin-ran; Xie, Chun-yu

2018-02-01

Aiming at the problem of any fault and wrong code in the practical application of photoelectric shaft encoder, a fast and accurate encoder fault analysis system is researched from the aspect of Moire fringe photoelectric signal processing. DSP28335 is selected as the core processor and high speed serial A/D converter acquisition card is used. And temperature measuring circuit using AD7420 is designed. Discrete data of Moire fringe error signal is collected at different temperatures and it is sent to the host computer through wireless transmission. The error signal quality index and fault type is displayed on the host computer based on the error signal identification method. The error signal quality can be used to diagnosis the state of error code through the human-machine interface.

Premenstrual syndrome and life quality in Turkish health science students.

PubMed

İşik, Hatice; Ergöl, Şule; Aynioğlu, Öner; Şahbaz, Ahmet; Kuzu, Ayşe; Uzun, Müge

2016-04-19

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the incidence of PMS, risk factors affecting PMS symptoms, and life quality in health science students. A total of 608 volunteer female students studying at the health campus of a state university in Turkey were included in the study. The participants were asked to fill out questionnaires on sociodemographic data, PMS symptoms, and SF-36 life quality tests. The overall frequency of PMS among participants was 84.5%. The average PMS and general health SF scores were 118.34 ± 37.3 and 20.03 ± 3.72, respectively. Students who had irregular breakfast, drank ≥2 cups of coffee/day, and consumed alcohol or fast food had higher PMS scores. Irregular menstruation and family history increased PMS scores and decreased life quality (P < 0.05). The life quality of the students significantly decreased as the severity of PMS increased (P < 0.001). Low body mass index, family history, irregular menstruation, bad eating habits such as fast food consumption and irregular breakfasts, and coffee and alcohol consumption increased PMS risk significantly. In order to improve their life quality, students should be informed about the symptoms, risk factors, and management options of PMS.

A Neurocomputational Account of Taxonomic Responding and Fast Mapping in Early Word Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mayor, Julien; Plunkett, Kim

2010-01-01

We present a neurocomputational model with self-organizing maps that accounts for the emergence of taxonomic responding and fast mapping in early word learning, as well as a rapid increase in the rate of acquisition of words observed in late infancy. The quality and efficiency of generalization of word-object associations is directly related to…

Good, Fast, Cheap: How Centers of Teaching and Learning Can Capitalize in Today's Resource-Constrained Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Truong, Michael H.; Juillerat, Stephanie; Gin, Deborah H. C.

2016-01-01

This article provides leaders and educational developers of Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTL) with innovative and practical strategies on how to increase their centers' capacity and impact by focusing on quality, efficiency, and cost. This "good, fast, cheap" model represents a promising way that CTL can continue to grow, scale,…

Effect of ageing time on suckling lamb meat quality resulting from different carcass chilling regimes.

PubMed

Vieira, C; Fernández, A M

2014-02-01

The effect of ageing on suckling lamb carcasses subjected to three chilling treatments was studied: Conventional (2 °C for 24h), ultra-fast (-20 °C for 3.5h then 2 °C until 24h post mortem) and slow chilling (12 °C for 7h then 2 °C until 24h post mortem) treatments. Meat quality measurements were carried out in carcasses at 24h post mortem and also after 5 days of ageing. Carcass chilling losses were not affected by a chilling regime. Aged meat showed higher cooking losses than non-aged meat (p<0.05). Sarcomere length of ultra-fast t was shorter (p<0.05) than conventional and conventional was shorter than slow chilling treatment (p<0.05), at 24h and after 5 days of ageing. Conventional and ultra-fast chilling treatments resulted in higher shear force values at 24h post mortem (p<0.05) compared to slow treatment. All treatments improved sensory scores with ageing (p<0.05), but ultra-fast chilling treatment did not attain higher values as the other two treatments. © 2013.

Nucleation and Crystal Growth of Organic-Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskites under Different Relative Humidity.

PubMed

Gao, Hao; Bao, Chunxiong; Li, Faming; Yu, Tao; Yang, Jie; Zhu, Weidong; Zhou, Xiaoxin; Fu, Gao; Zou, Zhigang

2015-05-06

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite compounds are very promising materials for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. But how to fabricate high-quality perovksite films under controlled humidity conditions is still an important issue due to their sensitivity to moisture. In this study, we investigated the influence of ambient humidity on crystallization and surface morphology of one-step spin-coated perovskite films, as well as the performance of solar cells based on these perovskite films. On the basis of experimental analyses and thin film growth theory, we conclude that the influence of ambient humidity on nucleation at spin-coating stage is quite different from that on crystal growth at annealing stage. At the spin-coating stage, high nucleation density induced by high supersaturation prefers to appear under anhydrous circumstances, resulting in layer growth and high coverage of perovskite films. But at the annealing stage, the modest supersaturation benefits formation of perovskite films with good crystallinity. The films spin-coated under low relative humidity (RH) followed by annealing under high RH show an increase of crystallinity and improved performance of devices. Therefore, a mechanism of fast nucleation followed by modest crystal growth (high supersaturation at spin-coating stage and modest supersaturation at annealing stage) is suggested in the formation of high-quality perovskite films.

Decision making in high-velocity environments: implications for healthcare.

PubMed

Stepanovich, P L; Uhrig, J D

1999-01-01

Healthcare can be considered a high-velocity environment and, as such, can benefit from research conducted in other industries regarding strategic decision making. Strategic planning is not only relevant to firms in high-velocity environments, but is also important for high performance and survival. Specifically, decision-making speed seems to be instrumental in differentiating between high and low performers; fast decision makers outperform slow decision makers. This article outlines the differences between fast and slow decision makers, identifies five paralyses that can slow decision making in healthcare, and outlines the role of a planning department in circumventing these paralyses. Executives can use the proposed planning structure to improve both the speed and quality of strategic decisions. The structure uses planning facilitators to avoid the following five paralyses: 1. Analysis. Decision makers can no longer afford the luxury of lengthy, detailed analysis but must develop real-time systems that provide appropriate, timely information. 2. Alternatives. Many alternatives (beyond the traditional two or three) need to be considered and the alternatives must be evaluated simultaneously. 3. Group Think. Decision makers must avoid limited mind-sets and autocratic leadership styles by seeking out independent, knowledgeable counselors. 4. Process. Decision makers need to resolve conflicts through "consensus with qualification," as opposed to waiting for everyone to come on board. 5. Separation. Successful implementation requires a structured process that cuts across disciplines and levels.

An Attention-Information-Based Spatial Adaptation Framework for Browsing Videos via Mobile Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Houqiang; Wang, Yi; Chen, Chang Wen

2007-12-01

With the growing popularity of personal digital assistant devices and smart phones, more and more consumers are becoming quite enthusiastic to appreciate videos via mobile devices. However, limited display size of the mobile devices has been imposing significant barriers for users to enjoy browsing high-resolution videos. In this paper, we present an attention-information-based spatial adaptation framework to address this problem. The whole framework includes two major parts: video content generation and video adaptation system. During video compression, the attention information in video sequences will be detected using an attention model and embedded into bitstreams with proposed supplement-enhanced information (SEI) structure. Furthermore, we also develop an innovative scheme to adaptively adjust quantization parameters in order to simultaneously improve the quality of overall encoding and the quality of transcoding the attention areas. When the high-resolution bitstream is transmitted to mobile users, a fast transcoding algorithm we developed earlier will be applied to generate a new bitstream for attention areas in frames. The new low-resolution bitstream containing mostly attention information, instead of the high-resolution one, will be sent to users for display on the mobile devices. Experimental results show that the proposed spatial adaptation scheme is able to improve both subjective and objective video qualities.

High-contrast imaging in the cloud with klipReduce and Findr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haug-Baltzell, Asher; Males, Jared R.; Morzinski, Katie M.; Wu, Ya-Lin; Merchant, Nirav; Lyons, Eric; Close, Laird M.

2016-08-01

Astronomical data sets are growing ever larger, and the area of high contrast imaging of exoplanets is no exception. With the advent of fast, low-noise detectors operating at 10 to 1000 Hz, huge numbers of images can be taken during a single hours-long observation. High frame rates offer several advantages, such as improved registration, frame selection, and improved speckle calibration. However, advanced image processing algorithms are computationally challenging to apply. Here we describe a parallelized, cloud-based data reduction system developed for the Magellan Adaptive Optics VisAO camera, which is capable of rapidly exploring tens of thousands of parameter sets affecting the Karhunen-Loève image processing (KLIP) algorithm to produce high-quality direct images of exoplanets. We demonstrate these capabilities with a visible wavelength high contrast data set of a hydrogen-accreting brown dwarf companion.

High serum selenium levels are associated with impaired fasting glucose and elevated fasting serum glucose in Linyi, China.

PubMed

Li, Zhe; Li, Xia; Ju, Wen; Wu, Guanrui; Yang, Xiaomei; Fu, Xiaofeng; Gao, Xibao

2018-01-01

The relationship between selenium level and impaired fasting glucose or elevated fasting serum glucose remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate these associations in China. This observational population study adopted a cluster sampling approach to enroll participants. Baseline information on selenium categories was tested using one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-populations rank tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the association between serum selenium level and impaired fasting glucose or elevated fasting serum glucose. The mean serum selenium concentration was 121.5μg/L which in a relatively high baseline Se status. Differences were observed among individuals with normal, impaired fasting glucose and elevated fasting serum glucose levels in their basic information, physical examination results and laboratory findings. After adjusting for their basic information, physical examination results and laboratory findings, compared with the low-selenium group, the high-selenium groups (124.9-143.9 and above 143.9μg/L) had ORs for elevated fasting serum glucose of 2.31 (1.37-3.90) and 2.67 (1.59-4.48), respectively (both P<0.05). A sex-difference was observed, and a significant association between selenium levels and impaired fasting glucose was observed for males but not for females. The findings of this observational study suggest that relatively high selenium levels might be positively associated with elevated fasting serum glucose and relatively high selenium levels might be positively associated with impaired fasting glucose in men. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Clustering of fast-food restaurants around schools: a novel application of spatial statistics to the study of food environments.

PubMed

Austin, S Bryn; Melly, Steven J; Sanchez, Brisa N; Patel, Aarti; Buka, Stephen; Gortmaker, Steven L

2005-09-01

We examined the concentration of fast food restaurants in areas proximal to schools to characterize school neighborhood food environments. We used geocoded databases of restaurant and school addresses to examine locational patterns of fast-food restaurants and kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in Chicago. We used the bivariate K function statistical method to quantify the degree of clustering (spatial dependence) of fast-food restaurants around school locations. The median distance from any school in Chicago to the nearest fast-food restaurant was 0.52 km, a distance that an adult can walk in little more than 5 minutes, and 78% of schools had at least 1 fast-food restaurant within 800 m. Fast-food restaurants were statistically significantly clustered in areas within a short walking distance from schools, with an estimated 3 to 4 times as many fast-food restaurants within 1.5 km from schools than would be expected if the restaurants were distributed throughout the city in a way unrelated to school locations. Fast-food restaurants are concentrated within a short walking distance from schools, exposing children to poor-quality food environments in their school neighborhoods.

Clustering of Fast-Food Restaurants Around Schools: A Novel Application of Spatial Statistics to the Study of Food Environments

PubMed Central

Austin, S. Bryn; Melly, Steven J.; Sanchez, Brisa N.; Patel, Aarti; Buka, Stephen; Gortmaker, Steven L.

2005-01-01

Objectives. We examined the concentration of fast food restaurants in areas proximal to schools to characterize school neighborhood food environments. Methods. We used geocoded databases of restaurant and school addresses to examine locational patterns of fast-food restaurants and kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in Chicago. We used the bivariate K function statistical method to quantify the degree of clustering (spatial dependence) of fast-food restaurants around school locations. Results. The median distance from any school in Chicago to the nearest fast-food restaurant was 0.52 km, a distance that an adult can walk in little more than 5 minutes, and 78% of schools had at least 1 fast-food restaurant within 800 m. Fast-food restaurants were statistically significantly clustered in areas within a short walking distance from schools, with an estimated 3 to 4 times as many fast-food restaurants within 1.5 km from schools than would be expected if the restaurants were distributed throughout the city in a way unrelated to school locations. Conclusions. Fast-food restaurants are concentrated within a short walking distance from schools, exposing children to poor-quality food environments in their school neighborhoods. PMID:16118369

[A review on studies and applications of near infrared spectroscopy technique(NIRS) in detecting quality of hay].

PubMed

Ding, Wu-Rong; Gan, You-Min; Guo, Xu-Sheng; Yang, Fu-Yu

2009-02-01

The quality of hay can directly affect the price of hay and also livestock productivity. Many kinds of methods have been developed for detecting the quality of hay and the method of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been widely used with consideration of its fast, effective and nondestructive characteristics during detecting process. In the present paper, the feasibility and effectiveness of application of NIRS to detecting hay quality were expounded. Meanwhile, the advance in the study of using NIRS to detect chemical compositions, extent of incursion by epiphyte, amount of toxicant excreted by endogenetic epiphyte and some minim components that can not be detected by using chemical methods were also introduced detailedly. Based on the review of the progresses in using NIRS to detect the quality of hay, it can be concluded that using NIRS to detect hay quality can avoid the disadvantages of time wasting, complication and high cost when using traditional chemical method. And for better utilization of NIRS in practice, some more studies still need to be implemented to further perfect and improve the utilization of NIRS for detecting forage quality, and more accurate modes and systematic analysis software need to be established in times to come.

Impaired fasting pyloric compliance in gastroparesis and the therapeutic response to pyloric dilatation.

PubMed

Gourcerol, G; Tissier, F; Melchior, C; Touchais, J Y; Huet, E; Prevost, G; Leroi, A M; Ducrotte, P

2015-02-01

Pyloric pressure and compliance have never been investigated in health nor gastroparesis. We hypothesised that pyloric pressure and/or compliance may be altered in gastroparesis. Fasting pyloric pressure and compliance were investigated in 21 healthy volunteers (HV), 27 gastroparetic patients (GP) and 5 patients who had undergone oesophagectomy without pyloroplasty as positive controls. Under videofluoroscopic control, pyloric compliance and pressure were measured by the EndoFLIP technique. Gastric emptying half time (T1/2 ) using (13) C-octanoic acid breath test, as well as symptoms and quality of life (GIQLI score) were also monitored. Mean fasting pyloric compliance was measured at 25.2 ± 2.4 mm²/mmHg in HV, and was lower both in GP (16.9 ± 2.1 mm²/mmHg; P < 0.05) and patients with oesophagectomy (10.9 ± 2.9 mm²/mmHg; P < 0.05). By contrast, fasting pyloric pressure was not different among groups. Fasting pyloric compliance and pressure correlated with T1/2 in GP (R = -0.43; P = 0.04). Fasting pyloric compliance, but not pressure, correlated with symptoms and GIQLI score. Pyloric dilation in 10 GP with low fasting pyloric compliance (<10 mm²/mmHg) increased compliance from 7.4 ± 0.4 to 20.1 ± 4.9 mm²/mmHg (P < 0.01) and improved the GIQLI score from 72.5 ± 5.5 to 89.3 ± 6.1 (P = 0.04). This prospective study assessed pyloric compliance for the first time, and showed that fasting pyloric compliance is decreased in gastroparetic patients and is associated with T1/2 , symptoms and quality of life. This suggests that pyloric compliance may be a new relevant metric in gastroparetic patients, and may be useful to target patients for pyloric dilation or botulinum toxin injection. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Synthesis of quantum dots via microreaction: structure optimization for microreactor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hongwei; Luan, Weiling; Cheng, Rui; Chu, Haijian; Tu, Shan-tung

2011-08-01

Microreactor systems existed as a powerful tool for the continuous synthesis of quantum dots. However, the lack of structure optimization for the discrete units led to empirical determination of the length scale, and the properties of the formed products varied in different cases. In this article, the optimizations for the micromixer volume and capillary diameter were presented based on the synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals (NCs). Spectra investigation revealed that the application of a small convective mixer of 36 μL led to 1/3 increase of CdSe concentration in the crude solution. The enhanced mixing of the precursors in this case was also demonstrated favorable to achieve CdSe NCs with narrow PL width. Fast heating and uniform reaction condition achieved in a narrow channel favored the preparation of high quality CdSe NCs under short residence time. However, the application of wide channel did not necessarily result in CdSe NCs with poor quality. Here, we demonstrated that high-quality CdSe NCs with narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) as 32 nm and high quantum yield (QY) 34.7% could be prepared using an 844 μm inner diameter capillary. Based on the obtained results, the scaled-up synthesis of CdSe NCs was demonstrated, and a high quantity of 0.8 g dry CdSe NCs powder (3.5 nm, σ 8.2%) was obtained within 1 h.

C-SPECT - a Clinical Cardiac SPECT/Tct Platform: Design Concepts and Performance Potential

PubMed Central

Chang, Wei; Ordonez, Caesar E.; Liang, Haoning; Li, Yusheng; Liu, Jingai

2013-01-01

Because of scarcity of photons emitted from the heart, clinical cardiac SPECT imaging is mainly limited by photon statistics. The sub-optimal detection efficiency of current SPECT systems not only limits the quality of clinical cardiac SPECT imaging but also makes more advanced potential applications difficult to be realized. We propose a high-performance system platform - C-SPECT, which has its sampling geometry optimized for detection of emitted photons in quality and quantity. The C-SPECT has a stationary C-shaped gantry that surrounds the left-front side of a patient’s thorax. The stationary C-shaped collimator and detector systems in the gantry provide effective and efficient detection and sampling of photon emission. For cardiac imaging, the C-SPECT platform could achieve 2 to 4 times the system geometric efficiency of conventional SPECT systems at the same sampling resolution. This platform also includes an integrated transmission CT for attenuation correction. The ability of C-SPECT systems to perform sequential high-quality emission and transmission imaging could bring cost-effective high-performance to clinical imaging. In addition, a C-SPECT system could provide high detection efficiency to accommodate fast acquisition rate for gated and dynamic cardiac imaging. This paper describes the design concepts and performance potential of C-SPECT, and illustrates how these concepts can be implemented in a basic system. PMID:23885129

Vision-based real-time position control of a semi-automated system for robot-assisted joint fracture surgery.

PubMed

Dagnino, Giulio; Georgilas, Ioannis; Tarassoli, Payam; Atkins, Roger; Dogramadzi, Sanja

2016-03-01

Joint fracture surgery quality can be improved by robotic system with high-accuracy and high-repeatability fracture fragment manipulation. A new real-time vision-based system for fragment manipulation during robot-assisted fracture surgery was developed and tested. The control strategy was accomplished by merging fast open-loop control with vision-based control. This two-phase process is designed to eliminate the open-loop positioning errors by closing the control loop using visual feedback provided by an optical tracking system. Evaluation of the control system accuracy was performed using robot positioning trials, and fracture reduction accuracy was tested in trials on ex vivo porcine model. The system resulted in high fracture reduction reliability with a reduction accuracy of 0.09 mm (translations) and of [Formula: see text] (rotations), maximum observed errors in the order of 0.12 mm (translations) and of [Formula: see text] (rotations), and a reduction repeatability of 0.02 mm and [Formula: see text]. The proposed vision-based system was shown to be effective and suitable for real joint fracture surgical procedures, contributing a potential improvement of their quality.

Selective Epitaxial Graphene Growth on SiC via AlN Capping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaman, Farhana; Rubio-Roy, Miguel; Moseley, Michael; Lowder, Jonathan; Doolittle, William; Berger, Claire; Dong, Rui; Meindl, James; de Heer, Walt; Georgia Institute of Technology Team

2011-03-01

Electronic-quality graphene is epitaxially grown by graphitization of carbon-face silicon carbide (SiC) by the sublimation of silicon atoms from selected regions uncapped by aluminum nitride (AlN). AlN (deposited by molecular beam epitaxy) withstands high graphitization temperatures of 1420o C, hence acting as an effective capping layer preventing the growth of graphene under it. The AlN is patterned and etched to open up windows onto the SiC surface for subsequent graphitization. Such selective epitaxial growth leads to the formation of high-quality graphene in desired patterns without the need for etching and lithographic patterning of graphene itself. No detrimental contact of the graphene with external chemicals occurs throughout the fabrication-process. The impact of process-conditions on the mobility of graphene is investigated. Graphene hall-bars were fabricated and characterized by scanning Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and transport measurements. This controlled growth of graphene in selected regions represents a viable approach to fabrication of high-mobility graphene as the channel material for fast-switching field-effect transistors.

Quantum ergonomics: shifting the paradigm of the systems agenda.

PubMed

Walker, Guy H; Salmon, Paul M; Bedinger, Melissa; Stanton, Neville A

2017-02-01

A paradigm is an accepted world view. If we do not continually question our paradigm then wider trends and movements will overtake the discipline leaving it ill adapted to future challenges. This Special Issue is an opportunity to keep systems thinking at the forefront of ergonomics theory and practice. Systems thinking prompts us to ask whether ergonomics, as a discipline, has been too timid? Too preoccupied with the resolution of immediate problems with industrial-age methods when, approaching fast, are developments which could render these operating assumptions an irrelevance. Practical case studies are presented to show how abstract systems problems can be tackled head-on to deliver highly innovative and cost-effective insights. The strategic direction of the discipline foregrounds high-quality systems problems. These are something the discipline is well able to respond to provided that the appropriate operating paradigms are selected. Practitioner Summary: High-quality systems problems are the future of the discipline. How do we convert obtuse sounding systems concepts into practical interventions? In this paper, the essence of systems thinking is distilled and practical case studies used to demonstrate the benefits of this new paradigm.

Hyperspectral microscope for in vivo imaging of microstructures and cells in tissues

DOEpatents

Demos,; Stavros, G [Livermore, CA

2011-05-17

An optical hyperspectral/multimodal imaging method and apparatus is utilized to provide high signal sensitivity for implementation of various optical imaging approaches. Such a system utilizes long working distance microscope objectives so as to enable off-axis illumination of predetermined tissue thereby allowing for excitation at any optical wavelength, simplifies design, reduces required optical elements, significantly reduces spectral noise from the optical elements and allows for fast image acquisition enabling high quality imaging in-vivo. Such a technology provides a means of detecting disease at the single cell level such as cancer, precancer, ischemic, traumatic or other type of injury, infection, or other diseases or conditions causing alterations in cells and tissue micro structures.

The viability of ADVANTG deterministic method for synthetic radiography generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bingham, Andrew; Lee, Hyoung K.

2018-07-01

Fast simulation techniques to generate synthetic radiographic images of high resolution are helpful when new radiation imaging systems are designed. However, the standard stochastic approach requires lengthy run time with poorer statistics at higher resolution. The investigation of the viability of a deterministic approach to synthetic radiography image generation was explored. The aim was to analyze a computational time decrease over the stochastic method. ADVANTG was compared to MCNP in multiple scenarios including a small radiography system prototype, to simulate high resolution radiography images. By using ADVANTG deterministic code to simulate radiography images the computational time was found to decrease 10 to 13 times compared to the MCNP stochastic approach while retaining image quality.

The effects of applying information technology on job empowerment dimensions.

PubMed

Ajami, Sima; Arab-Chadegani, Raziyeh

2014-01-01

Information Technology (IT) is known as a valuable tool for information dissemination. Today, information communication technology can be used as a powerful tool to improve employees' quality and efficiency. The increasing development of technology-based tools and their adaptation speed with human requirements has led to a new form of the learning environment and creative, active and inclusive interaction. These days, information is one of the most important power resources in every organization and accordingly, acquiring information, especially central or strategic one can help organizations to build a power base and influence others. The aim of this study was to identify the most important criteria in job empowerment using IT and also the advantages of assessing empowerment. This study was a narrative review. The literature was searched on databases and journals of Springer, Proquest, PubMed, science direct and scientific information database) with keywords including IT, empowerment and employees in the searching areas of titles, keywords, abstracts and full texts. The preliminary search resulted in 85 articles, books and conference proceedings in which published between 1983 and 2013 during July 2013. After a careful analysis of the content of each paper, a total of 40 papers and books were selected based on their relevancy. According to Ardalan Model IT plays a significant role in the fast data collection, global and fast access to a broad range of health information, a quick evaluation of information, better communication among health experts and more awareness through access to various information sources. IT leads to a better performance accompanied by higher efficiency in service providing all of which will cause more satisfaction from fast and high-quality services.

The effects of applying information technology on job empowerment dimensions

PubMed Central

Ajami, Sima; Arab-Chadegani, Raziyeh

2014-01-01

Information Technology (IT) is known as a valuable tool for information dissemination. Today, information communication technology can be used as a powerful tool to improve employees’ quality and efficiency. The increasing development of technology-based tools and their adaptation speed with human requirements has led to a new form of the learning environment and creative, active and inclusive interaction. These days, information is one of the most important power resources in every organization and accordingly, acquiring information, especially central or strategic one can help organizations to build a power base and influence others. The aim of this study was to identify the most important criteria in job empowerment using IT and also the advantages of assessing empowerment. This study was a narrative review. The literature was searched on databases and journals of Springer, Proquest, PubMed, science direct and scientific information database) with keywords including IT, empowerment and employees in the searching areas of titles, keywords, abstracts and full texts. The preliminary search resulted in 85 articles, books and conference proceedings in which published between 1983 and 2013 during July 2013. After a careful analysis of the content of each paper, a total of 40 papers and books were selected based on their relevancy. According to Ardalan Model IT plays a significant role in the fast data collection, global and fast access to a broad range of health information, a quick evaluation of information, better communication among health experts and more awareness through access to various information sources. IT leads to a better performance accompanied by higher efficiency in service providing all of which will cause more satisfaction from fast and high-quality services. PMID:25250350

Electron-beam induced nano-etching of suspended graphene

PubMed Central

Sommer, Benedikt; Sonntag, Jens; Ganczarczyk, Arkadius; Braam, Daniel; Prinz, Günther; Lorke, Axel; Geller, Martin

2015-01-01

Besides its interesting physical properties, graphene as a two-dimensional lattice of carbon atoms promises to realize devices with exceptional electronic properties, where freely suspended graphene without contact to any substrate is the ultimate, truly two-dimensional system. The practical realization of nano-devices from suspended graphene, however, relies heavily on finding a structuring method which is minimally invasive. Here, we report on the first electron beam-induced nano-etching of suspended graphene and demonstrate high-resolution etching down to ~7 nm for line-cuts into the monolayer graphene. We investigate the structural quality of the etched graphene layer using two-dimensional (2D) Raman maps and demonstrate its high electronic quality in a nano-device: A 25 nm-wide suspended graphene nanoribbon (GNR) that shows a transport gap with a corresponding energy of ~60 meV. This is an important step towards fast and reliable patterning of suspended graphene for future ballistic transport, nano-electronic and nano-mechanical devices. PMID:25586495

Determinants of carbon release from the active layer and permafrost deposits on the Tibetan Plateau

PubMed Central

Chen, Leiyi; Liang, Junyi; Qin, Shuqi; Liu, Li; Fang, Kai; Xu, Yunping; Ding, Jinzhi; Li, Fei; Luo, Yiqi; Yang, Yuanhe

2016-01-01

The sign and magnitude of permafrost carbon (C)-climate feedback are highly uncertain due to the limited understanding of the decomposability of thawing permafrost and relevant mechanistic controls over C release. Here, by combining aerobic incubation with biomarker analysis and a three-pool model, we reveal that C quality (represented by a higher amount of fast cycling C but a lower amount of recalcitrant C compounds) and normalized CO2–C release in permafrost deposits were similar or even higher than those in the active layer, demonstrating a high vulnerability of C in Tibetan upland permafrost. We also illustrate that C quality exerts the most control over CO2–C release from the active layer, whereas soil microbial abundance is more directly associated with CO2–C release after permafrost thaw. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of incorporating microbial properties into Earth System Models when predicting permafrost C dynamics under a changing environment. PMID:27703168

Effect of Ramadan fasting on fatigue, mood, sleepiness, and health-related quality of life of healthy young men in summer time in Germany: A prospective controlled study.

PubMed

Nugraha, Boya; Ghashang, Samaneh Khoshandam; Hamdan, Imad; Gutenbrunner, Christoph

2017-04-01

Muslims around the world fast during the lunar month of Ramadan. The month consists of 29 or 30 days, which vary in length depending on geographic location and the time of year. During this month, Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex from dawn until sunset. In 2015, Ramadan fell during the summer. As a result, Muslims in Germany fasted 19 h a day. Previous research has shown associations between fasting and mood enhancement. This study aimed to determine the effect of fasting on young, healthy males who fasted in Germany during Ramadan 2015. In particular, this study examined the impact of fasting on mood, fatigue, and health-related Quality of Life (QoL). This study had 2 groups: fasting group (FG; n = 25), and non-fasting group (NFG; n = 25). In FG, participants were assessed at four different points: one week before Ramadan (T1), mid Ramadan (T2), the last days of Ramadan (T3), and one week after Ramadan (T4). In NFG, participants were assessed only at T1 and T3. The results revealed that there were no significant differences between the participants in the FG and the NFG at T1 or T3 for any of the outcomes. However, participants in the FG demonstrated significant improvement from T2 to T4 in fatigue (visual analogue scale p < 0.01; fatigue severity scale:p < 0.01), mood (Beck's Depression Index-II; ANOVA; p < 0.05), and sleepiness during day time (Epworth Sleepiness Scale: ANOVA; p < 0.01). Participants in the FG also experienced significant loss of body weight (ANOVA; p < 0.001), body mass index (ANOVA; p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (ANOVA; p < 0.01) and fat free mass (ANOVA; p < 0.01). Findings demonstrate that Ramadan fasting did not significantly influence mood, fatigue and QoL, when compared to NFG. Even, it gives benefit to fasting group with regard to these parameters. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fast imaging of live organisms with sculpted light sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chmielewski, Aleksander K.; Kyrsting, Anders; Mahou, Pierre; Wayland, Matthew T.; Muresan, Leila; Evers, Jan Felix; Kaminski, Clemens F.

2015-04-01

Light-sheet microscopy is an increasingly popular technique in the life sciences due to its fast 3D imaging capability of fluorescent samples with low photo toxicity compared to confocal methods. In this work we present a new, fast, flexible and simple to implement method to optimize the illumination light-sheet to the requirement at hand. A telescope composed of two electrically tuneable lenses enables us to define thickness and position of the light-sheet independently but accurately within milliseconds, and therefore optimize image quality of the features of interest interactively. We demonstrated the practical benefit of this technique by 1) assembling large field of views from tiled single exposure each with individually optimized illumination settings; 2) sculpting the light-sheet to trace complex sample shapes within single exposures. This technique proved compatible with confocal line scanning detection, further improving image contrast and resolution. Finally, we determined the effect of light-sheet optimization in the context of scattering tissue, devising procedures for balancing image quality, field of view and acquisition speed.

Prestack depth migration for complex 2D structure using phase-screen propagators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberts, P.; Huang, Lian-Jie; Burch, C.

1997-11-01

We present results for the phase-screen propagator method applied to prestack depth migration of the Marmousi synthetic data set. The data were migrated as individual common-shot records and the resulting partial images were superposed to obtain the final complete Image. Tests were performed to determine the minimum number of frequency components required to achieve the best quality image and this in turn provided estimates of the minimum computing time. Running on a single processor SUN SPARC Ultra I, high quality images were obtained in as little as 8.7 CPU hours and adequate images were obtained in as little as 4.4more » CPU hours. Different methods were tested for choosing the reference velocity used for the background phase-shift operation and for defining the slowness perturbation screens. Although the depths of some of the steeply dipping, high-contrast features were shifted slightly the overall image quality was fairly insensitive to the choice of the reference velocity. Our jests show the phase-screen method to be a reliable and fast algorithm for imaging complex geologic structures, at least for complex 2D synthetic data where the velocity model is known.« less

Interaction of sleep quality and sleep duration on impaired fasting glucose: a population-based cross-sectional survey in China

PubMed Central

Lou, Peian; Chen, Peipei; Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Pan; Chang, Guiqiu; Zhang, Ning; Li, Ting; Qiao, Cheng

2014-01-01

Objectives To explore the interactions of sleep quality and sleep duration and their effects on impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in Chinese adults. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Community-based investigation in Xuzhou, China. Participants 15 145 Chinese men and women aged 18–75 years old who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Primary and secondary outcome measures The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to produce sleep quality categories of good, common and poor. Fasting blood glucose levels were assessed for IFG. Sleep duration was measured by average hours of sleep per night, with categories of <6, 6–8 and >8 h. The products of sleep and family history of diabetes, obesity and age were added to the logistic regression model to evaluate the addictive interaction and relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) on IFG. The attributable proportion (AP) of the interaction and the synergy index (S) were applied to evaluate the additive interaction of two factors. Bootstrap measures were used to calculate 95% CI of RERI, AP and S. Results The prevalence of IFG was greatest in those with poor sleep quality and short sleep duration (OR 6.37, 95% CI 4.66 to 8.67; p<0.001) compared with those who had good sleep quality and 6–8 h sleep duration, after adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for potential confounders RERI, AP and S values (and their 95% CI) were 1.69 (0.31 to 3.76), 0.42 (0.15 to 0.61) and 2.85 (2.14 to 3.92), respectively, for the interaction between poor sleep quality and short sleep duration, and 0.78 (0.12 to 1.43), 0.61 (0.26 to 0.87) and −65 (−0.94 to −0.27) for the interaction between good sleep quality and long sleep duration. Conclusions The results suggest that there are additive interactions between poor sleep quality and short sleep duration. PMID:24625639

A comparison of optimization algorithms for localized in vivo B0 shimming.

PubMed

Nassirpour, Sahar; Chang, Paul; Fillmer, Ariane; Henning, Anke

2018-02-01

To compare several different optimization algorithms currently used for localized in vivo B 0 shimming, and to introduce a novel, fast, and robust constrained regularized algorithm (ConsTru) for this purpose. Ten different optimization algorithms (including samples from both generic and dedicated least-squares solvers, and a novel constrained regularized inversion method) were implemented and compared for shimming in five different shimming volumes on 66 in vivo data sets from both 7 T and 9.4 T. The best algorithm was chosen to perform single-voxel spectroscopy at 9.4 T in the frontal cortex of the brain on 10 volunteers. The results of the performance tests proved that the shimming algorithm is prone to unstable solutions if it depends on the value of a starting point, and is not regularized to handle ill-conditioned problems. The ConsTru algorithm proved to be the most robust, fast, and efficient algorithm among all of the chosen algorithms. It enabled acquisition of spectra of reproducible high quality in the frontal cortex at 9.4 T. For localized in vivo B 0 shimming, the use of a dedicated linear least-squares solver instead of a generic nonlinear one is highly recommended. Among all of the linear solvers, the constrained regularized method (ConsTru) was found to be both fast and most robust. Magn Reson Med 79:1145-1156, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

A quality assurance phantom for the performance evaluation of volumetric micro-CT systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Louise Y.; Umoh, Joseph; Nikolov, Hristo N.; Pollmann, Steven I.; Lee, Ting-Yim; Holdsworth, David W.

2007-12-01

Small-animal imaging has recently become an area of increased interest because more human diseases can be modeled in transgenic and knockout rodents. As a result, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) systems are becoming more common in research laboratories, due to their ability to achieve spatial resolution as high as 10 µm, giving highly detailed anatomical information. Most recently, a volumetric cone-beam micro-CT system using a flat-panel detector (eXplore Ultra, GE Healthcare, London, ON) has been developed that combines the high resolution of micro-CT and the fast scanning speed of clinical CT, so that dynamic perfusion imaging can be performed in mice and rats, providing functional physiological information in addition to anatomical information. This and other commercially available micro-CT systems all promise to deliver precise and accurate high-resolution measurements in small animals. However, no comprehensive quality assurance phantom has been developed to evaluate the performance of these micro-CT systems on a routine basis. We have designed and fabricated a single comprehensive device for the purpose of performance evaluation of micro-CT systems. This quality assurance phantom was applied to assess multiple image-quality parameters of a current flat-panel cone-beam micro-CT system accurately and quantitatively, in terms of spatial resolution, geometric accuracy, CT number accuracy, linearity, noise and image uniformity. Our investigations show that 3D images can be obtained with a limiting spatial resolution of 2.5 mm-1 and noise of ±35 HU, using an acquisition interval of 8 s at an entrance dose of 6.4 cGy.

78 FR 18318 - U.S. Healthcare Trade Mission to Turkey

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-26

... 64. Average life expectancy is 75 years. It has a fast-growing middle class that is willing to spend more on quality goods and services, and a democratically elected government which has historically... Turkish government has made healthcare access and quality a priority. To improve healthcare access for its...

Modular Building Supplement: A Quick, Quality Solution for Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodmiller, Brian D.; Schendell, Derek G.

2003-01-01

This supplement presents three articles on modular construction that look at: "Fast Track Expansion for a New Jersey School" (involving a modular addition); "Precast Construction Helps Schools Meet Attendance Boom" (precast concrete components are quick, durable, and flexible); and "Airing HVAC Concerns" (poor indoor air quality in prefabricated…

Scientific Opportunities and Plans for FRIB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bollen, Georg

2014-09-01

FRIB, the US's ``Facility for Rare Isotope Beams'' under construction at Michigan State University will be a world-leading rare isotope beam facility. FRIB will be based on a 400 kW, 200 MeV/u heavy ion linac and provide a wide variety of high-quality beams of unstable isotopes at unprecedented intensities, opening exciting research perspectives with fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams. This talk will summarize the scientific opportunities with FRIB in the areas of nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, and the test of fundamental interaction and symmetries, as well using isotopes from FRIB for societal benefits. Design features of FRIB and the status of the ongoing construction will be presented. FRIB, the US's ``Facility for Rare Isotope Beams'' under construction at Michigan State University will be a world-leading rare isotope beam facility. FRIB will be based on a 400 kW, 200 MeV/u heavy ion linac and provide a wide variety of high-quality beams of unstable isotopes at unprecedented intensities, opening exciting research perspectives with fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams. This talk will summarize the scientific opportunities with FRIB in the areas of nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, and the test of fundamental interaction and symmetries, as well using isotopes from FRIB for societal benefits. Design features of FRIB and the status of the ongoing construction will be presented. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science under Cooperative Agreement DE-SC0000661, the State of Michigan and Michigan State University. Michigan State University designs and establishes FRIB as a DOE.

Closure methods for laparotomy incisions for preventing incisional hernias and other wound complications.

PubMed

Patel, Sunil V; Paskar, David D; Nelson, Richard L; Vedula, Satyanarayana S; Steele, Scott R

2017-11-03

Surgeons who perform laparotomy have a number of decisions to make regarding abdominal closure. Material and size of potential suture types varies widely. In addition, surgeons can choose to close the incision in anatomic layers or mass ('en masse'), as well as using either a continuous or interrupted suturing technique, of which there are different styles of each. There is ongoing debate as to which suturing techniques and suture materials are best for achieving definitive wound closure while minimising the risk of short- and long-term complications. The objectives of this review were to identify the best available suture techniques and suture materials for closure of the fascia following laparotomy incisions, by assessing the following comparisons: absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures; mass versus layered closure; continuous versus interrupted closure techniques; monofilament versus multifilament sutures; and slow absorbable versus fast absorbable sutures. Our objective was not to determine the single best combination of suture material and techniques, but to compare the individual components of abdominal closure. On 8 February 2017 we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, two trials registries, and Science Citation Index. There were no limitations based on language or date of publication. We searched the reference lists of all included studies to identify trials that our searches may have missed. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared suture materials or closure techniques, or both, for fascial closure of laparotomy incisions. We excluded trials that compared only types of skin closures, peritoneal closures or use of retention sutures. We abstracted data and assessed the risk of bias for each trial. We calculated a summary risk ratio (RR) for the outcomes assessed in the review, all of which were dichotomous. We used random-effects modelling, based on the heterogeneity seen throughout the studies and analyses. We completed subgroup analysis planned a priori for each outcome, excluding studies where interventions being compared differed by more than one component, making it impossible to determine which variable impacted on the outcome, or the possibility of a synergistic effect. We completed sensitivity analysis, excluding trials with at least one trait with high risk of bias. We assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADEpro guidelines. Fifty-five RCTs with a total of 19,174 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Included studies were heterogeneous in the type of sutures used, methods of closure and patient population. Many of the included studies reported multiple comparisons.For our primary outcome, the proportion of participants who developed incisional hernia at one year or more of follow-up, we did not find evidence that suture absorption (absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures, RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.32, moderate-quality evidence; or slow versus fast absorbable sutures, RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.06, moderate-quality evidence), closure method (mass versus layered, RR 1.92, 95% CI 0.58 to 6.35, very low-quality evidence) or closure technique (continuous versus interrupted, RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.35, moderate-quality evidence) resulted in a difference in the risk of incisional hernia. We did, however, find evidence to suggest that monofilament sutures reduced the risk of incisional hernia when compared with multifilament sutures (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.98, I 2 = 30%, moderate-quality evidence).For our secondary outcomes, we found that none of the interventions reduced the risk of wound infection, whether based on suture absorption (absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures, RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.17, moderate-quality evidence; or slow versus fast absorbable sutures, RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.57, moderate-quality evidence), closure method (mass versus layered, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.30, low-quality evidence) or closure technique (continuous versus interrupted, RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.34, moderate-quality evidence).Similarily, none of the interventions reduced the risk of wound dehiscence whether based on suture absorption (absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures, RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.10, moderate-quality evidence; or slow versus fast absorbable sutures, RR 1.55, 95% CI 0.92 to 2.61, moderate-quality evidence), closure method (mass versus layered, RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.52, moderate-quality evidence) or closure technique (continuous versus interrupted, RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.64, moderate-quality evidence).Absorbable sutures, compared with non-absorbable sutures (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.94, low-quality evidence) reduced the risk of sinus or fistula tract formation. None of the other comparisons showed a difference (slow versus fast absorbable sutures, RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.05 to 16.05, very low-quality evidence; mass versus layered, RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.15 to 1.62, low-quality evidence; continuous versus interrupted, RR 1.51, 95% CI 0.64 to 3.61, very low-quality evidence). Based on this moderate-quality body of evidence, monofilament sutures may reduce the risk of incisional hernia. Absorbable sutures may also reduce the risk of sinus or fistula tract formation, but this finding is based on low-quality evidence.We had serious concerns about the design or reporting of several of the 55 included trials. The comparator arms in many trials differed by more than one component, making it impossible to attribute differences between groups to any one component. In addition, the patient population included in many of the studies was very heterogeneous. Trials included both emergency and elective cases, different types of disease pathology (e.g. colon surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, etc.) or different types of incisions (e.g. midline, paramedian, subcostal).Consequently, larger, high-quality trials to further address this clinical challenge are warranted. Future studies should ensure that proper randomisation and allocation techniques are performed, wound assessors are blinded, and that the duration of follow-up is adequate. It is important that only one type of intervention is compared between groups. In addition, a homogeneous patient population would allow for a more accurate assessment of the interventions.

Microbial quality of soft drinks served by the dispensing machines in fast food restaurants and convenience stores in Griffin, Georgia, and surrounding areas.

PubMed

Park, Yoen Ju; Chen, Jinru

2009-12-01

This study was undertaken to evaluate the microbial quality of the soft drinks served by fast food restaurants and gas station convenience stores in Griffin, GA, and surrounding areas. The soft drinks were collected from the dispensing machines in 8 fast food restaurants or gas station convenience stores in 2005 (n = 25) and in 10 fast food restaurants or gas station convenience stores in 2006 (n = 43) and 2007 (n = 43). One hundred milliliters of each soft drink was filtered through a hydrophobic grid membrane filter. The remaining portion of the soft drink was kept at room temperature for 4 h before sampling in order to mimic the possible holding time between purchase and consumption. The membrane filters were sampled for total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts and molds. The microbial counts in the 2006 samples were numerically higher than the counts in the 2007 samples except for the average lactic acid bacteria counts, and were either significantly or numerically higher than the counts in the 2005 samples. Soft drinks sampled after the 4-h holding period had relatively higher counts than those sampled initially, with a few exceptions. Some soft drinks had over 4 log CFU/100 ml of total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, and yeast and mold cells. The study revealed the microbial quality of soft drinks served by dispensing machines in Griffin, GA, and surrounding areas, emphasizing the importance of effective sanitizing practice in retail settings.

Effect and maintenance of the SLIMMER diabetes prevention lifestyle intervention in Dutch primary healthcare: a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Duijzer, G; Haveman-Nies, A; Jansen, S C; Beek, J Ter; van Bruggen, R; Willink, M G J; Hiddink, G J; Feskens, E J M

2017-05-08

To assess the effectiveness of the SLIMMER combined dietary and physical activity lifestyle intervention on clinical and metabolic risk factors, dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life after 12 months, and to investigate whether effects sustained six months after the active intervention period ended. SLIMMER was a randomised controlled intervention, implemented in Dutch primary healthcare. In total, 316 subjects aged 40-70 years with increased risk of type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to the intervention group (10-month dietary and physical activity programme) or the control group (usual healthcare). All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and physical examination, and filled in questionnaires. Identical examinations were performed at baseline and after 12 and 18 months. Primary outcome was fasting insulin. The intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in anthropometry and glucose metabolism. After 12 and 18 months, differences between intervention and control group were -2.7 kg (95% confidence interval (CI): -3.7; -1.7) and -2.5 kg (95% CI: -3.6; -1.4) for weight, and -12.1 pmol l -1 (95% CI: -19.6; -4.6) and -8.0 pmol l -1 (95% CI: -14.7; -0.53) for fasting insulin. Furthermore, dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life improved significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group. The Dutch SLIMMER lifestyle intervention is effective in the short and long term in improving clinical and metabolic risk factors, dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life in subjects at high risk of diabetes.

Poor sleep quality is associated with increased arterial stiffness in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Osonoi, Yusuke; Mita, Tomoya; Osonoi, Takeshi; Saito, Miyoko; Tamasawa, Atsuko; Nakayama, Shiho; Someya, Yuki; Ishida, Hidenori; Kanazawa, Akio; Gosho, Masahiko; Fujitani, Yoshio; Watada, Hirotaka

2015-06-18

While poor sleep quality can worsen cardiovascular risk factors such as glucose and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the relationship between sleep quality and atherosclerosis remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this relationship. The study participants comprised 724 Japanese T2DM outpatients free of history of cardiovascular diseases. The relationships between sleep quality (assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) and various clinical and laboratory parameters were investigated. The mean PSQI was 5.1 ± 3.0 (±SD). Patients were divided into three groups based on the total PSQI score; subjects with good sleep quality (n = 462), average sleep quality (n = 185), and poor sleep quality (n = 77). In the age/gender-adjusted model, patients with poor sleep quality tended to be obese, evening type and depressed. However, other lifestyles showed no significant trends. Alanine aminotransferase, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) tended to be higher in patients with poor sleep quality. High baPWV was the only parameter that correlated with poor sleep in a model adjusted for several other lifestyle factors. Our study indicates that poor sleep quality in T2DM patients correlates with increased arterial wall stiffness, a marker of atherosclerosis and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of food on the bioavailability and tolerability of the JAK2-selective inhibitor fedratinib (SAR302503): Results from two phase I studies in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Zhang, Meng; Xu, Christine; Ma, Lei; Shamiyeh, Elias; Yin, Jianyun; von Moltke, Lisa L; Smith, William B

2015-07-01

Fedratinib (SAR302503/TG101348) is a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-selective inhibitor developed for treatment of patients with myelofibrosis. The effect of food intake on the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and tolerability of single-dose fedratinib was investigated in two Phase I studies (FED12258: 100 mg or 500 mg under fasted or fed [high-fat breakfast] conditions; ALI13451: 500 mg under fasted or fed [low- or high-fat breakfast] conditions) in healthy male subjects. At the 500 mg dose the fed:fasted ratio estimate for area under the plasma concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity was 0.96 (100 mg; high-fat/fasted), 1.19-1.24 (500 mg; high-fat/fasted), and 1.22 (500 mg; low-fat/fasted). Fedratinib 500 mg attained peak plasma concentration 4 hours after a high-fat breakfast and 2-2.5 hours after a low-fat breakfast or under fasted conditions; terminal half-life was 76-88 hours (fasted) and 73-78 hours (fed). The most frequent adverse events were mild gastrointestinal toxicities, the incidence of which decreased following a high-fat breakfast compared with both fasted and low-fat breakfast conditions (17%, 67%, and 59% of subjects, respectively, in ALI13451). In conclusion, food intake had minimal impact on the PKs of fedratinib, and the tolerability of this drug was improved when taken following a high-fat breakfast. © 2014, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

Fast food in the diet: Implications and solutions for families.

PubMed

Fulkerson, Jayne A

2018-04-06

Fast food is omnipresent in the United States (U.S.) and contributes to poor dietary quality and poor health among youth and adults alike. Children need adults to teach them good eating habits to attain and maintain good health by introducing them to healthful foods and being good role models. The fast food industry, through vast funds and advertising, contribute to challenges parents face to provide healthful foods for their families and thwart our best efforts to meet health goals. Research shows fast food consumption is influenced by lack of cooking confidence, time pressures, and perceptions of ease and convenience. We need practical strategies to help parents and children make healthier food choices. As a product of conference proceedings, this paper provides a non-exhaustive narrative summary of the fast food marketplace and marketing, the contributions of fast food to diet and health, struggles with healthful eating among families, and possible solutions of how we can help children and parents empower themselves to have healthier lives. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Quality by design approach in the development of an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method for Bexsero meningococcal group B vaccine.

PubMed

Nompari, Luca; Orlandini, Serena; Pasquini, Benedetta; Campa, Cristiana; Rovini, Michele; Del Bubba, Massimo; Furlanetto, Sandra

2018-02-01

Bexsero is the first approved vaccine for active immunization of individuals from 2 months of age and older to prevent invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. The active components of the vaccine are Neisseria Heparin Binding Antigen, factor H binding protein, Neisseria adhesin A, produced in Escherichia coli cells by recombinant DNA technology, and Outer Membrane Vesicles (expressing Porin A and Porin B), produced by fermentation of Neisseria meningitidis strain NZ98/254. All the Bexsero active components are adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide and the unadsorbed antigens content is a product critical quality attribute. In this paper the development of a fast, selective and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for the determination of the Bexsero antigens in the vaccine supernatant is presented. For the first time in the literature, the Quality by Design (QbD) principles were applied to the development of an analytical method aimed to the quality control of a vaccine product. The UHPLC method was fully developed within the QbD framework, the new paradigm of quality outlined in International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines. Critical method attributes (CMAs) were identified with the capacity factor of Neisseria Heparin Binding Antigen, antigens resolution and peak areas. After a scouting phase, aimed at selecting a suitable and fast UHPLC operative mode for the vaccine antigens separation, risk assessment tools were employed to define the critical method parameters to be considered in the screening phase. Screening designs were applied for investigating at first the effects of vial type and sample concentration, and then the effects of injection volume, column type, organic phase starting concentration, ramp time and temperature. Response Surface Methodology pointed out the presence of several significant interaction effects, and with the support of Monte-Carlo simulations led to map out the design space, at a selected probability level, for the desired CMAs. The selected working conditions gave a complete separation of the antigens in about 5min. Robustness testing was carried out by a multivariate approach and a control strategy was implemented by defining system suitability tests. The method was qualified for the analysis of the Bexsero vaccine. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ion mobility spectrometry for food quality and safety.

PubMed

Vautz, W; Zimmermann, D; Hartmann, M; Baumbach, J I; Nolte, J; Jung, J

2006-11-01

Ion mobility spectrometry is known to be a fast and sensitive technique for the detection of trace substances, and it is increasingly in demand not only for protection against explosives and chemical warfare agents, but also for new applications in medical diagnosis or process control. Generally, a gas phase sample is ionized by help of ultraviolet light, ss-radiation or partial discharges. The ions move in a weak electrical field towards a detector. During their drift they collide with a drift gas flowing in the opposite direction and, therefore, are slowed down depending on their size, shape and charge. As a result, different ions reach the detector at different drift times, which are characteristic for the ions considered. The number of ions reaching the detector are a measure of the concentration of the analyte. The method enables the identification and quantification of analytes with high sensitivity (ng l(-1) range). The selectivity can even be increased - as necessary for the analyses of complex mixtures - using pre-separation techniques such as gas chromatography or multi-capillary columns. No pre-concentration of the sample is necessary. Those characteristics of the method are preserved even in air with up to a 100% relative humidity rate. The suitability of the method for application in the field of food quality and safety - including storage, process and quality control as well as the characterization of food stuffs - was investigated in recent years for a number of representative examples, which are summarized in the following, including new studies as well: (1) the detection of metabolites from bacteria for the identification and control of their growth; (2) process control in food production - beer fermentation being an example; (3) the detection of the metabolites of mould for process control during cheese production, for quality control of raw materials or for the control of storage conditions; (4) the quality control of packaging materials during the production of polymeric materials; and (5) the characterization of products - wine being an example. The challenges of such applications were operation in humid air, fast on-line analyses of complex mixtures, high sensitivity - detection limits have to be, for example, in the range of the odour limits - and, in some cases, the necessity of mobile instrumentation. It can be shown that ion mobility spectrometry is optimally capable of fulfilling those challenges for many applications.

Simultaneous isolation of high-quality DNA, RNA, miRNA and proteins from tissues for genomic applications

PubMed Central

Peña-Llopis, Samuel; Brugarolas, James

2014-01-01

Genomic technologies have revolutionized our understanding of complex Mendelian diseases and cancer. Solid tumors present several challenges for genomic analyses, such as tumor heterogeneity and tumor contamination with surrounding stroma and infiltrating lymphocytes. We developed a protocol to (i) select tissues of high cellular purity on the basis of histological analyses of immediately flanking sections and (ii) simultaneously extract genomic DNA (gDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), noncoding RNA (ncRNA; enriched in microRNA (miRNA)) and protein from the same tissues. After tissue selection, about 12–16 extractions of DNA/RNA/protein can be obtained per day. Compared with other similar approaches, this fast and reliable methodology allowed us to identify mutations in tumors with remarkable sensitivity and to perform integrative analyses of whole-genome and exome data sets, DNA copy numbers (by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays), gene expression data (by transcriptome profiling and quantitative PCR (qPCR)) and protein levels (by western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis) from the same samples. Although we focused on renal cell carcinoma, this protocol may be adapted with minor changes to any human or animal tissue to obtain high-quality and high-yield nucleic acids and proteins. PMID:24136348

Do GIS-derived measures of fast food retailers convey perceived fast food opportunities? Implications for food environment assessment

PubMed Central

Barnes, Timothy L.; Colabianchi, Natalie; Freedman, Darcy A.; Bell, Bethany A.; Liese, Angela D.

2018-01-01

Purpose Geographic information systems (GISs) have been used to define fast food availability, with higher availability perhaps promoting poorer quality diets. Alternative measures involve perceptions; however, few studies have examined associations between GIS-derived and perceived measures of the food environment. Methods Telephone surveys of 705 participants within an eight-county region in South Carolina were analyzed using logistic regression to examine relationships between geographic presence of and distance to various types of food retailers and perceived fast food availability. Results The mean distance to the nearest fast food restaurant was 6.1 miles, with 16% of participants having a fast food restaurant within 1 mile of home. The geographic presence of and distance to all food retailer types were significantly associated with perceived availability of fast food in unadjusted models. After adjustment, only the presence of a fast food restaurant or pharmacy was significantly associated with greater odds of higher perceived availability of fast food. Greater odds of lower perceived availability of fast food were observed with the presence of a dollar store and increasing distance to the nearest supermarket or pharmacy. Conclusions Measures of fast food availability, whether objective or perceived, may not be interchangeable. Researchers should carefully decide on the appropriate measurement tool—GIS-derived or perceived—in food environment studies. PMID:27617371

Do GIS-derived measures of fast food retailers convey perceived fast food opportunities? Implications for food environment assessment.

PubMed

Barnes, Timothy L; Colabianchi, Natalie; Freedman, Darcy A; Bell, Bethany A; Liese, Angela D

2017-01-01

Geographic information systems (GISs) have been used to define fast food availability, with higher availability perhaps promoting poorer quality diets. Alternative measures involve perceptions; however, few studies have examined associations between GIS-derived and perceived measures of the food environment. Telephone surveys of 705 participants within an eight-county region in South Carolina were analyzed using logistic regression to examine relationships between geographic presence of and distance to various types of food retailers and perceived fast food availability. The mean distance to the nearest fast food restaurant was 6.1 miles, with 16% of participants having a fast food restaurant within 1 mile of home. The geographic presence of and distance to all food retailer types were significantly associated with perceived availability of fast food in unadjusted models. After adjustment, only the presence of a fast food restaurant or pharmacy was significantly associated with greater odds of higher perceived availability of fast food. Greater odds of lower perceived availability of fast food were observed with the presence of a dollar store and increasing distance to the nearest supermarket or pharmacy. Measures of fast food availability, whether objective or perceived, may not be interchangeable. Researchers should carefully decide on the appropriate measurement tool-GIS-derived or perceived-in food environment studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fast and Accurate Metadata Authoring Using Ontology-Based Recommendations.

PubMed

Martínez-Romero, Marcos; O'Connor, Martin J; Shankar, Ravi D; Panahiazar, Maryam; Willrett, Debra; Egyedi, Attila L; Gevaert, Olivier; Graybeal, John; Musen, Mark A

2017-01-01

In biomedicine, high-quality metadata are crucial for finding experimental datasets, for understanding how experiments were performed, and for reproducing those experiments. Despite the recent focus on metadata, the quality of metadata available in public repositories continues to be extremely poor. A key difficulty is that the typical metadata acquisition process is time-consuming and error prone, with weak or nonexistent support for linking metadata to ontologies. There is a pressing need for methods and tools to speed up the metadata acquisition process and to increase the quality of metadata that are entered. In this paper, we describe a methodology and set of associated tools that we developed to address this challenge. A core component of this approach is a value recommendation framework that uses analysis of previously entered metadata and ontology-based metadata specifications to help users rapidly and accurately enter their metadata. We performed an initial evaluation of this approach using metadata from a public metadata repository.

Fast and Accurate Metadata Authoring Using Ontology-Based Recommendations

PubMed Central

Martínez-Romero, Marcos; O’Connor, Martin J.; Shankar, Ravi D.; Panahiazar, Maryam; Willrett, Debra; Egyedi, Attila L.; Gevaert, Olivier; Graybeal, John; Musen, Mark A.

2017-01-01

In biomedicine, high-quality metadata are crucial for finding experimental datasets, for understanding how experiments were performed, and for reproducing those experiments. Despite the recent focus on metadata, the quality of metadata available in public repositories continues to be extremely poor. A key difficulty is that the typical metadata acquisition process is time-consuming and error prone, with weak or nonexistent support for linking metadata to ontologies. There is a pressing need for methods and tools to speed up the metadata acquisition process and to increase the quality of metadata that are entered. In this paper, we describe a methodology and set of associated tools that we developed to address this challenge. A core component of this approach is a value recommendation framework that uses analysis of previously entered metadata and ontology-based metadata specifications to help users rapidly and accurately enter their metadata. We performed an initial evaluation of this approach using metadata from a public metadata repository. PMID:29854196

Effect of α-lipoic acid on symptoms and quality of life in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.

PubMed

Agathos, Evangelos; Tentolouris, Anastasios; Eleftheriadou, Ioanna; Katsaouni, Panagiota; Nemtzas, Ioannis; Petrou, Alexandra; Papanikolaou, Christina; Tentolouris, Nikolaos

2018-05-01

Objective To examine the effect of α-lipoic acid on neuropathic symptoms in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN). Methods Patients with painful DN were treated with 600 mg/day α-lipoic acid, orally, for 40 days. Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS), Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy Screen Questionnaire (SPNSQ) and douleur neuropathique (DN)4 questionnaire scores were assessed at baseline and day 40. Quality-of-life treatment effects were assessed by Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Changes in body weight, arterial blood pressure, fasting serum glucose and lipids were also assessed. Results Out of 72 patients included, significant reductions in neuropathic symptoms were shown by reduced NSS, SPNSQ and DN4 scores at day 40 versus baseline. BPI, NPSI, and SDS in terms of work disability, social life disability, and family life disability scores were also significantly reduced. Moreover, 50% of patients rated their health condition as 'very much better' or 'much better' following α-lipoic acid administration. Fasting triglyceride levels were reduced, but no difference was found in body weight, blood pressure, fasting glucose, or other lipids at day 40 versus baseline. Conclusions A-lipoic acid administration was associated with reduced neuropathic symptoms and triglycerides, and improved quality of life.

Primary Care Providers' Knowledge and Practices of Diabetes Management During Ramadan.

PubMed

Ali, Mujtaba; Adams, Alexandra; Hossain, Md Anwar; Sutin, David; Han, Benjamin Hyun

2016-01-01

There are an estimated 3.5 million Muslims in North America. During the holy month of Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims are to fast from predawn to after sunset. While there are exemptions for older and sick adults, many adults with diabetes fast during Ramadan. However, there are risks associated with fasting and specific management considerations for patients with diabetes. We evaluated provider practices and knowledge regarding the management of patients with diabetes who fast during Ramadan. A 15-question quality improvement survey based on a literature review and the American Diabetes Association guidelines was developed and offered to providers at the outpatient primary care and geriatric clinics at an inner-city hospital in New York City. Forty-five providers completed the survey. Most respondents did not ask their Muslim patients with diabetes if they were fasting during the previous Ramadan. Knowledge of fasting practices during Ramadan was variable, and most felt uncomfortable managing patients with diabetes during Ramadan. There is room for improvement in educating providers about specific cultural and medical issues regarding fasting for patients with diabetes during Ramadan. © The Author(s) 2015.

Beam engineering for zero conicity cutting and drilling with ultra fast laser (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Letan, Amelie; Mishchik, Konstantin; Audouard, Eric; Hoenninger, Clemens; Mottay, Eric P.

2017-03-01

With the development of high average power, high repetition rate, industrial ultrafast lasers, it is now possible to achieve a high throughput with femtosecond laser processing, providing that the operating parameters are finely tuned to the application. Femtosecond lasers play a key role in these processes, due to their ability to high quality micro processing. They are able to drill high thickness holes (up to 1 mm) with arbitrary shapes, such as zero-conicity or even inversed taper, but can also perform zero-taper cutting. A clear understanding of all the processing steps necessary to optimize the processing speed is a main challenge for industrial developments. Indeed, the laser parameters are not independent of the beam steering devices. Pulses energy and repetition rate have to be precisely adjusted to the beam angle with the sample, and to the temporal and spatial sequences of pulses superposition. The purpose of the present work is to identify the role of these parameters for high aspect ratio drilling and cutting not only with experimental trials, but also with numerical estimations, using a simple engineering model based on the two temperature description of ultra-fast ablation. Assuming a nonlinear logarithmic response of the materials to ultrafast pulses, each material can be described by only two adjustable parameters. Simple assumptions allow to predict the effect of beam velocity and non-normal incident beams to estimate profile shapes and processing time.

Safer staining method for acid fast bacilli.

PubMed Central

Ellis, R C; Zabrowarny, L A

1993-01-01

To develop a method for staining acid fast bacilli which excluded highly toxic phenol from the staining solution. A lipophilic agent, a liquid organic detergent, LOC High Studs, distributed by Amway, was substituted. The acid fast bacilli stained red; nuclei, cytoplasm, and cytoplasmic elements stained blue on a clear background. These results compare very favourably with acid fast bacilli stained by the traditional method. Detergents are efficient lipophilic agents and safer to handle than phenol. The method described here stains acid fast bacilli as efficiently as traditional carbol fuchsin methods. LOC High Suds is considerably cheaper than phenol. Images PMID:7687254

Safer staining method for acid fast bacilli.

PubMed

Ellis, R C; Zabrowarny, L A

1993-06-01

To develop a method for staining acid fast bacilli which excluded highly toxic phenol from the staining solution. A lipophilic agent, a liquid organic detergent, LOC High Studs, distributed by Amway, was substituted. The acid fast bacilli stained red; nuclei, cytoplasm, and cytoplasmic elements stained blue on a clear background. These results compare very favourably with acid fast bacilli stained by the traditional method. Detergents are efficient lipophilic agents and safer to handle than phenol. The method described here stains acid fast bacilli as efficiently as traditional carbol fuchsin methods. LOC High Suds is considerably cheaper than phenol.

Emergency ultrasound-based algorithms for diagnosing blunt abdominal trauma.

PubMed

Stengel, Dirk; Rademacher, Grit; Ekkernkamp, Axel; Güthoff, Claas; Mutze, Sven

2015-09-14

Ultrasonography (performed by means of a four-quadrant, focused assessment of sonography for trauma (FAST)) is regarded as a key instrument for the initial assessment of patients with suspected blunt abdominal and thoraco-abdominal trauma in the emergency department setting. FAST has a high specificity but low sensitivity in detecting and excluding visceral injuries. Proponents of FAST argue that ultrasound-based clinical pathways enhance the speed of primary trauma assessment, reduce the number of unnecessary multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans, and enable quicker triage to surgical and non-surgical care. Given the proven accuracy, increasing availability of, and indication for, MDCT among patients with blunt abdominal and multiple injuries, we aimed to compile the best available evidence of the use of FAST-based assessment compared with other primary trauma assessment protocols. To assess the effects of diagnostic algorithms using ultrasonography including in FAST examinations in the emergency department in relation to the early, late, and overall mortality of patients with suspected blunt abdominal trauma. The most recent search was run on 30th June 2015. We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group Specialised Register, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OvidSP), EMBASE (OvidSP), ISI Web of Science (SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, CPCI-S, and CPSI-SSH), clinical trials registers, and screened reference lists. Trial authors were contacted for further information and individual patient data. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Participants were patients with blunt torso, abdominal, or multiple trauma undergoing diagnostic investigations for abdominal organ injury. The intervention was diagnostic algorithms comprising emergency ultrasonography (US). The control was diagnostic algorithms without US examinations (for example, primary computed tomography (CT) or diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL)). Outcomes were mortality, use of CT or invasive procedures (DPL, laparoscopy, laparotomy), and cost-effectiveness. Two authors (DS and CG) independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed methodological quality, and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Where possible, data were pooled and relative risks (RRs), risk differences (RDs), and weighted mean differences, each with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated by fixed-effect or random-effects models as appropriate. We identified four studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Overall, trials were of poor to moderate methodological quality. Few trial authors responded to our written inquiries seeking to resolve controversial issues and to obtain individual patient data. Strong heterogeneity amongst the trials prompted discussion between the review authors as to whether the data should or should not be pooled; we decided in favour of a quantitative synthesis to provide a rough impression about the effect sizes achievable with US-based triage algorithms. We pooled mortality data from three trials involving 1254 patients; the RR in favour of the FAST arm was 1.00 (95% CI 0.50 to 2.00). FAST-based pathways reduced the number of CT scans (random-effects model RD -0.52, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.21), but the meaning of this result was unclear. The experimental evidence justifying FAST-based clinical pathways in diagnosing patients with suspected abdominal or multiple blunt trauma remains poor. Because of strong heterogeneity between the trial results, the quantitative information provided by this review may only be used in an exploratory fashion. It is unlikely that FAST will ever be investigated by means of a confirmatory, large-scale RCT in the future. Thus, this Cochrane Review may be regarded as a review which provides the best available evidence for clinical practice guidelines and management recommendations. It can only be concluded from the few head-to-head studies that negative US scans are likely to reduce the incidence of MDCT scans which, given the low sensitivity of FAST (or reliability of negative results), may adversely affect the diagnostic yield of the trauma survey. At best, US has no negative impact on mortality or morbidity. Assuming that major blunt abdominal or multiple trauma is associated with 15% mortality and a CT-based diagnostic work-up is considered the current standard of care, 874, 3495, or 21,838 patients are needed per intervention group to demonstrate non-inferiority of FAST to CT-based algorithms with non-inferiority margins of 5%, 2.5%, and 1%, power of 90%, and a type-I error alpha of 5%.

Quality evaluation of moluodan concentrated pill using high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting coupled with chemometrics.

PubMed

Tao, Lingyan; Zhang, Qing; Wu, Yongjiang; Liu, Xuesong

2016-12-01

In this study, a fast and effective high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to obtain a fingerprint chromatogram and quantitative analysis simultaneously of four indexes including gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, albiflorin and paeoniflorin of the traditional Chinese medicine Moluodan Concentrated Pill. The method was performed by using a Waters X-bridge C 18 reversed phase column on an Agilent 1200S high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with diode array detection. The mobile phase of the high-performance liquid chromatography method was composed of 20 mmol/L phosphate solution and acetonitrile with a 1 mL/min eluent velocity, under a detection temperature of 30°C and a UV detection wavelength of 254 nm. After the methodology validation, 16 batches of Moluodan Concentrated Pill were analyzed by this high-performance liquid chromatography method and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation results were achieved by similarity analysis, principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results of these three chemometrics were in good agreement and all indicated that batch 10 and batch 16 showed significant differences with the other 14 batches. This suggested that the developed high-performance liquid chromatography method could be applied in the quality evaluation of Moluodan Concentrated Pill. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

High-speed real-time image compression based on all-optical discrete cosine transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Qiang; Chen, Hongwei; Wang, Yuxi; Chen, Minghua; Yang, Sigang; Xie, Shizhong

2017-02-01

In this paper, we present a high-speed single-pixel imaging (SPI) system based on all-optical discrete cosine transform (DCT) and demonstrate its capability to enable noninvasive imaging of flowing cells in a microfluidic channel. Through spectral shaping based on photonic time stretch (PTS) and wavelength-to-space conversion, structured illumination patterns are generated at a rate (tens of MHz) which is three orders of magnitude higher than the switching rate of a digital micromirror device (DMD) used in a conventional single-pixel camera. Using this pattern projector, high-speed image compression based on DCT can be achieved in the optical domain. In our proposed system, a high compression ratio (approximately 10:1) and a fast image reconstruction procedure are both achieved, which implicates broad applications in industrial quality control and biomedical imaging.

Sensor for In-Motion Continuous 3D Shape Measurement Based on Dual Line-Scan Cameras

PubMed Central

Sun, Bo; Zhu, Jigui; Yang, Linghui; Yang, Shourui; Guo, Yin

2016-01-01

The acquisition of three-dimensional surface data plays an increasingly important role in the industrial sector. Numerous 3D shape measurement techniques have been developed. However, there are still limitations and challenges in fast measurement of large-scale objects or high-speed moving objects. The innovative line scan technology opens up new potentialities owing to the ultra-high resolution and line rate. To this end, a sensor for in-motion continuous 3D shape measurement based on dual line-scan cameras is presented. In this paper, the principle and structure of the sensor are investigated. The image matching strategy is addressed and the matching error is analyzed. The sensor has been verified by experiments and high-quality results are obtained. PMID:27869731

Technical Requirements for the Development of Marine Steel in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Hang; Pan, Tao; Chai, Feng; Yang, Caifu

China now experiences a fast development in shipbuilding and marine steel, the self-developed steel could meet the needs among 95% domestic clients. But in the items of some special high-end products, there are still certain gaps with advanced foreign countries, and these are mainly high-quality and strong-capacity products, large-size products, low-temperature products, and anti-corrosion, anti-fatigue and high-level failure arrest products. In the present paper, some domestic research and development (R& D) results in industry have been introduced, also, it points out that to eliminate these gaps, should rely on both the tech-progress in iron and steel industry, shipbuilding, and marine steel industry, and the establishment and improvement of the R& D system in researching, manufacturing, testing, producing and application.

Community- Weighted Mean Plant Traits Predict Small Scale Distribution of Insect Root Herbivore Abundance

PubMed Central

Jeltsch, Florian; Wurst, Susanne

2015-01-01

Small scale distribution of insect root herbivores may promote plant species diversity by creating patches of different herbivore pressure. However, determinants of small scale distribution of insect root herbivores, and impact of land use intensity on their small scale distribution are largely unknown. We sampled insect root herbivores and measured vegetation parameters and soil water content along transects in grasslands of different management intensity in three regions in Germany. We calculated community-weighted mean plant traits to test whether the functional plant community composition determines the small scale distribution of insect root herbivores. To analyze spatial patterns in plant species and trait composition and insect root herbivore abundance we computed Mantel correlograms. Insect root herbivores mainly comprised click beetle (Coleoptera, Elateridae) larvae (43%) in the investigated grasslands. Total insect root herbivore numbers were positively related to community-weighted mean traits indicating high plant growth rates and biomass (specific leaf area, reproductive- and vegetative plant height), and negatively related to plant traits indicating poor tissue quality (leaf C/N ratio). Generalist Elaterid larvae, when analyzed independently, were also positively related to high plant growth rates and furthermore to root dry mass, but were not related to tissue quality. Insect root herbivore numbers were not related to plant cover, plant species richness and soil water content. Plant species composition and to a lesser extent plant trait composition displayed spatial autocorrelation, which was not influenced by land use intensity. Insect root herbivore abundance was not spatially autocorrelated. We conclude that in semi-natural grasslands with a high share of generalist insect root herbivores, insect root herbivores affiliate with large, fast growing plants, presumably because of availability of high quantities of food. Affiliation of insect root herbivores with large, fast growing plants may counteract dominance of those species, thus promoting plant diversity. PMID:26517119

Create your own stimulus: Manipulating movements according to social categories

PubMed Central

Koppensteiner, Markus; Primes, Georg; Stephan, Pia

2017-01-01

People ascribe purposeful behaviour to the movements of artificial objects and social qualities to human body motion. We investigated how people associate simple motion cues with social categories. For a first rating-experiment we converted the body movements of speakers into stick-figure animations; for a second rating-experiment we used animations of one single dot. Rating-experiments were “reversed” because we asked participants to alter the movements (i.e., vertical amplitude, horizontal amplitude, and velocity) of the stimuli according to different instructions (e.g., create a stimulus of high dominance). Participants equipped stick figures and dot animations with expansive movements to represent high dominance. Expansive and fast movements (i.e., high velocity) were mainly associated with high aggressiveness. Fast movements were also associated with low friendliness, low trustworthiness, and low competence. Overall, patterns found for stick figure and dot animations were similar indicating that certain motion cues convey social information even when only a dot and no body form is visible. The “reverse approach” we propose here makes the impact of different components directly observable. The data generated by this method offers better insights into the interplay of these components and the ways in which they form meaningful patterns. The proposed method can be extended to other types of nonverbal cues and a variety of social categories. PMID:28339490

Microwave-assisted reactive sintering and lithium ion conductivity of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 solid electrolyte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallopeau, Leopold; Bregiroux, Damien; Rousse, Gwenaëlle; Portehault, David; Stevens, Philippe; Toussaint, Gwenaëlle; Laberty-Robert, Christel

2018-02-01

Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) materials are made of a three-dimensional framework of TiO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra, which provides several positions for Li+ ions. The resulting high ionic conductivity is promising to yield electrolytes for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries. In order to elaborate dense ceramics, conventional sintering methods often use high temperature (≥1000 °C) with long dwelling times (several hours) to achieve high relative density (∼90%). In this work, an innovative synthesis and processing approach is proposed. A fast and easy processing technique called microwave-assisted reactive sintering is used to both synthesize and sinter LATP ceramics with suitable properties in one single step. Pure and crystalline LATP ceramics can be achieved in only 10 min at 890 °C starting from amorphous, compacted LATP's precursors powders. Despite a relative density of 88%, the ionic conductivity measured at ambient temperature (3.15 × 10-4 S cm-1) is among the best reported so far. The study of the activation energy for Li+ conduction confirms the high quality of the ceramic (purity and crystallinity) achieved by using this new approach, thus emphasizing its interest for making ion-conducting ceramics in a simple and fast way.

Field-to-Fuel Performance Testing of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks: An Integrated Study of the Fast Pyrolysis/Hydrotreating Pathway

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Howe, Daniel T.; Westover, Tyler; Carpenter, Daniel

2015-05-21

Feedstock composition can affect final fuel yields and quality for the fast pyrolysis and hydrotreatment upgrading pathway. However, previous studies have focused on individual unit operations rather than the integrated system. In this study, a suite of six pure lignocellulosic feedstocks (clean pine, whole pine, tulip poplar, hybrid poplar, switchgrass, and corn stover) and two blends (equal weight percentages whole pine/tulip poplar/switchgrass and whole pine/clean pine/hybrid poplar) were prepared and characterized at Idaho National Laboratory. These blends then underwent fast pyrolysis at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and hydrotreatment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Although some feedstocks showed a highmore » fast pyrolysis bio-oil yield such as tulip poplar at 57%, high yields in the hydrotreater were not always observed. Results showed overall fuel yields of 15% (switchgrass), 18% (corn stover), 23% (tulip poplar, Blend 1, Blend 2), 24% (whole pine, hybrid poplar) and 27% (clean pine). Simulated distillation of the upgraded oils indicated that the gasoline fraction varied from 39% (clean pine) to 51% (corn stover), while the diesel fraction ranged from 40% (corn stover) to 46% (tulip poplar). Little variation was seen in the jet fuel fraction at 11 to 12%. Hydrogen consumption during hydrotreating, a major factor in the economic feasibility of the integrated process, ranged from 0.051 g/g dry feed (tulip poplar) to 0.070 g/g dry feed (clean pine).« less

Selectively improving the bio-oil quality by catalytic fast pyrolysis of heavy-metal-polluted biomass: take copper (Cu) as an example.

PubMed

Liu, Wu-Jun; Tian, Ke; Jiang, Hong; Zhang, Xue-Song; Ding, Hong-Sheng; Yu, Han-Qing

2012-07-17

Heavy-metal-polluted biomass derived from phytoremediation or biosorption is widespread and difficult to be disposed of. In this work, simultaneous conversion of the waste woody biomass into bio-oil and recovery of Cu in a fast pyrolysis reactor were investigated. The results show that Cu can effectively catalyze the thermo-decomposition of biomass. Both the yield and high heating value (HHV) of the Cu-polluted fir sawdust biomass (Cu-FSD) derived bio-oil are significantly improved compared with those of the fir sawdust (FSD) derived bio-oil. The results of UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectra of bio-oil indicate pyrolytic lignin is further decomposed into small-molecular aromatic compounds by the catalysis of Cu, which is in agreement with the GC-MS results that the fractions of C7-C10 compounds in the bio-oil significantly increase. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of the migration and transformation of Cu in the fast pyrolysis process show that more than 91% of the total Cu in the Cu-FSD is enriched in the char in the form of zerovalent Cu with a face-centered cubic crystalline phase. This study gives insight into catalytic fast pyrolysis of heavy metals, and demonstrates the technical feasibility of an eco-friendly process for disposal of heavy-metal-polluted biomass.

A prospective audit of preprocedural fasting practices on a transplant ward: when fasting becomes starving.

PubMed

Vidot, Helen; Teevan, Kate; Carey, Sharon; Strasser, Simone; Shackel, Nicholas

2016-03-01

To investigate the prevalence and duration of preprocedural medically ordered fasting during a period of hospitalisation in an Australian population of patients with hepatic cirrhosis or following liver transplantation and to identify potential solutions to reduce fasting times. Protein-energy malnutrition is a common finding in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and can impact significantly on survival and quality of life. Protein and energy requirements in patients with cirrhosis are higher than those of healthy individuals. A significant feature of cirrhosis is the induction of starvation metabolism following seven to eight hours of food deprivation. Many investigative and interventional procedures for patients with cirrhosis necessitate a period of fasting to comply with anaesthesia guidelines. An observational study of the fasting episodes for 34 hospitalised patients with hepatic cirrhosis or following liver transplantation. Nutritional status was estimated using subjective global assessment and handgrip strength. The prevalence and duration of fasting practices for diagnostic or investigational procedures were estimated using electronic records and patient notes. Thirty-three patients (97%) were malnourished. Twenty-two patients (65%) were fasted during the observation period. There were 43 occasions of fasting with a median fasting time of 13·5 hours. On 40 occasions fasting times exceeded the maximum six-hour guideline recommended prior to the administration of anaesthesia by the majority of Anaesthesiology Societies. The majority of procedures (77%) requiring fasting occurred after midday. Eating breakfast on the day of the procedure reduced fasting time by 45%. Medically ordered preprocedural fasting times almost always exceed existing guidelines in this nutritionally compromised group. Adherence to fasting guidelines and eating breakfast before the procedure can reduce fasting times significantly and avoid the potential induction of starvation metabolism in this nutritionally at risk group. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Optimized phase mask to realize retro-reflection reduction for optical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Sifeng; Gong, Mali

2017-10-01

Aiming at the threats to the active laser detection systems of electro-optical devices due to the cat-eye effect, a novel solution is put forward to realize retro-reflection reduction in this paper. According to the demands of both cat-eye effect reduction and the image quality maintenance of electro-optical devices, a symmetric phase mask is achieved from a stationary phase method and a fast Fourier transform algorithm. Then, based on a comparison of peak normalized cross-correlation (PNCC) between the different defocus parameters, the optimal imaging position can be obtained. After modification with the designed phase mask, the cat-eye effect peak intensity can be reduced by two orders of magnitude while maintaining good image quality and high modulation transfer function (MTF). Furthermore, a practical design example is introduced to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed approach.

Cone beam computed tomography and intraoral radiography for diagnosis of dental abnormalities in dogs and cats

PubMed Central

Silva, Luiz Antonio F.; Barriviera, Mauricio; Januário, Alessandro L.; Bezerra, Ana Cristina B.; Fioravanti, Maria Clorinda S.

2011-01-01

The development of veterinary dentistry has substantially improved the ability to diagnose canine and feline dental abnormalities. Consequently, examinations previously performed only on humans are now available for small animals, thus improving the diagnostic quality. This has increased the need for technical qualification of veterinary professionals and increased technological investments. This study evaluated the use of cone beam computed tomography and intraoral radiography as complementary exams for diagnosing dental abnormalities in dogs and cats. Cone beam computed tomography was provided faster image acquisition with high image quality, was associated with low ionizing radiation levels, enabled image editing, and reduced the exam duration. Our results showed that radiography was an effective method for dental radiographic examination with low cost and fast execution times, and can be performed during surgical procedures. PMID:22122905

Designing climate-resilient rice with ideal grain quality suited for high-temperature stress

PubMed Central

Sreenivasulu, Nese; Butardo, Vito M.; Misra, Gopal; Cuevas, Rosa Paula; Anacleto, Roslen; Kavi Kishor, Polavarpu B.

2015-01-01

To ensure rice food security, the target outputs of future rice breeding programmes should focus on developing climate-resilient rice varieties with emphasis on increased head rice yield coupled with superior grain quality. This challenge is made greater by a world that is increasingly becoming warmer. Such environmental changes dramatically impact head rice and milling yield as well as increasing chalkiness because of impairment in starch accumulation and other storage biosynthetic pathways in the grain. This review highlights the knowledge gained through gene discovery via quantitative trait locus (QTL) cloning and structural–functional genomic strategies to reduce chalk, increase head rice yield, and develop stable lines with optimum grain quality in challenging environments. The newly discovered genes and the knowledge gained on the influence of specific alleles related to stability of grain quality attributes provide a robust platform for marker-assisted selection in breeding to design heat-tolerant rice varieties with superior grain quality. Using the chalkiness trait in rice as a case study, we demonstrate here that the emerging field of systems genetics can help fast-track the identification of novel alleles and gene targets that can be pyramided for the development of environmentally robust rice varieties that possess improved grain quality. PMID:25662847

The relationship of the local food environment with obesity: A systematic review of methods, study quality, and results.

PubMed

Cobb, Laura K; Appel, Lawrence J; Franco, Manuel; Jones-Smith, Jessica C; Nur, Alana; Anderson, Cheryl A M

2015-07-01

To examine the relationship between local food environments and obesity and assess the quality of studies reviewed. Systematic keyword searches identified studies from US and Canada that assessed the relationship of obesity to local food environments. We applied a quality metric based on design, exposure and outcome measurement, and analysis. We identified 71 studies representing 65 cohorts. Overall, study quality was low; 60 studies were cross-sectional. Associations between food outlet availability and obesity were predominantly null. Among non-null associations, we saw a trend toward inverse associations between supermarket availability and obesity (22 negative, 4 positive, 67 null) and direct associations between fast food and obesity (29 positive, 6 negative, 71 null) in adults. We saw direct associations between fast food availability and obesity in lower income children (12 positive, 7 null). Indices including multiple food outlets were most consistently associated with obesity in adults (18 expected, 1 not expected, 17 null). Limiting to higher quality studies did not affect results. Despite the large number of studies, we found limited evidence for associations between local food environments and obesity. The predominantly null associations should be interpreted cautiously due to the low quality of available studies. © 2015 The Obesity Society.

The relationship of the local food environment with obesity: A systematic review of methods, study quality and results

PubMed Central

Cobb, Laura K; Appel, Lawrence J; Franco, Manuel; Jones-Smith, Jessica C; Nur, Alana; Anderson, Cheryl AM

2015-01-01

Objective To examine the relationship between local food environments and obesity and assess the quality of studies reviewed. Methods Systematic keyword searches identified studies from US and Canada that assessed the relationship of obesity to local food environments. We applied a quality metric based on design, exposure and outcome measurement, and analysis. Results We identified 71 studies representing 65 cohorts. Overall, study quality was low; 60 studies were cross-sectional. Associations between food outlet availability and obesity were predominantly null. Among non-null associations, we saw a trend toward inverse associations between supermarket availability and obesity (22 negative, 4 positive, 67 null) and direct associations between fast food and obesity (29 positive, 6 negative, 71 null) in adults. We saw direct associations between fast food availability and obesity in lower income children (12 positive, 7 null). Indices including multiple food outlets were most consistently associated with obesity in adults (18 expected, 1 not expected, 17 null). Limiting to higher quality studies did not affect results. Conclusions Despite the large number of studies, we found limited evidence for associations between local food environments and obesity. The predominantly null associations should be interpreted cautiously due to the low quality of available studies. PMID:26096983

Method development and application of offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-fast data directed analysis for comprehensive characterization of the saponins from Xueshuantong Injection.

PubMed

Yang, Wenzhi; Zhang, Jingxian; Yao, Changliang; Qiu, Shi; Chen, Ming; Pan, Huiqin; Shi, Xiaojian; Wu, Wanying; Guo, Dean

2016-09-05

Xueshuantong Injection (XSTI), derived from Notoginseng total saponins, is a popular traditional Chinese medicine injection for the treatment of thrombus-resultant diseases. Current knowledge on its therapeutic basis is limited to five major saponins, whereas those minor ones are rarely investigated. We herein develop an offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-fast data directed analysis (offline 2D LC/QTOF-Fast DDA) approach to systematically characterize the saponins contained in XSTI. Key parameters affecting chromatographic separation in 2D LC (including stationary phase, mobile phase, column temperature, and gradient elution program) and the detection by QTOF MS (involving spray voltage, cone voltage, and ramp collision energy) were optimized in sequence. The configured offline 2D LC system showed an orthogonality of 0.84 and a theoretical peak capacity of 8976. Total saponins in XSTI were fractionated into eleven samples by the first-dimensional hydrophilic interaction chromatography, which were further analyzed by reversed-phase UHPLC/QTOF-Fast DDA in negative ion mode. The fragmentation features evidenced from 36 saponin reference standards, high-accuracy MS and Fast-DDA-MS(2) data, elemental composition (C<80, H<120, O<50), double-bond equivalent (DBE 5-15), and searching an in-house library of Panax notoginseng, were simultaneously utilized for structural elucidation. Ultimately, 148 saponins were separated and characterized, and 80 have not been isolated from P. notoginseng. An in-depth depiction of the chemical composition of XSTI was achieved. The results obtained would benefit better understanding of the therapeutic basis and significant promotion on the quality standard of XSTI as well as other homologous products. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Perception of Hearing Aid-Processed Speech in Individuals with Late-Onset Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

PubMed

Mathai, Jijo Pottackal; Appu, Sabarish

2015-01-01

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a form of sensorineural hearing loss, causing severe deficits in speech perception. The perceptual problems of individuals with ANSD were attributed to their temporal processing impairment rather than to reduced audibility. This rendered their rehabilitation difficult using hearing aids. Although hearing aids can restore audibility, compression circuits in a hearing aid might distort the temporal modulations of speech, causing poor aided performance. Therefore, hearing aid settings that preserve the temporal modulations of speech might be an effective way to improve speech perception in ANSD. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perception of hearing aid-processed speech in individuals with late-onset ANSD. A repeated measures design was used to study the effect of various compression time settings on speech perception and perceived quality. Seventeen individuals with late-onset ANSD within the age range of 20-35 yr participated in the study. The word recognition scores (WRSs) and quality judgment of phonemically balanced words, processed using four different compression settings of a hearing aid (slow, medium, fast, and linear), were evaluated. The modulation spectra of hearing aid-processed stimuli were estimated to probe the effect of amplification on the temporal envelope of speech. Repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni's pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the word recognition performance and quality judgment. The comparison between unprocessed and all four hearing aid-processed stimuli showed significantly higher perception using the former stimuli. Even though perception of words processed using slow compression time settings of the hearing aids were significantly higher than the fast one, their difference was only 4%. In addition, there were no significant differences in perception between any other hearing aid-processed stimuli. Analysis of the temporal envelope of hearing aid-processed stimuli revealed minimal changes in the temporal envelope across the four hearing aid settings. In terms of quality, the highest number of individuals preferred stimuli processed using slow compression time settings. Individuals who preferred medium ones followed this. However, none of the individuals preferred fast compression time settings. Analysis of quality judgment showed that slow, medium, and linear settings presented significantly higher preference scores than the fast compression setting. Individuals with ANSD showed no marked difference in perception of speech that was processed using the four different hearing aid settings. However, significantly higher preference, in terms of quality, was found for stimuli processed using slow, medium, and linear settings over the fast one. Therefore, whenever hearing aids are recommended for ANSD, those having slow compression time settings or linear amplification may be chosen over the fast (syllabic compression) one. In addition, WRSs obtained using hearing aid-processed stimuli were remarkably poorer than unprocessed stimuli. This shows that processing of speech through hearing aids might have caused a large reduction of performance in individuals with ANSD. However, further evaluation is needed using individually programmed hearing aids rather than hearing aid-processed stimuli. American Academy of Audiology.

X-PROP: a fast and robust diffusion-weighted propeller technique.

PubMed

Li, Zhiqiang; Pipe, James G; Lee, Chu-Yu; Debbins, Josef P; Karis, John P; Huo, Donglai

2011-08-01

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has shown great benefits in clinical MR exams. However, current DWI techniques have shortcomings of sensitivity to distortion or long scan times or combinations of the two. Diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (EPI) is fast but suffers from severe geometric distortion. Periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction diffusion-weighted imaging (PROPELLER DWI) is free of geometric distortion, but the scan time is usually long and imposes high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) especially at high fields. TurboPROP was proposed to accelerate the scan by combining signal from gradient echoes, but the off-resonance artifacts from gradient echoes can still degrade the image quality. In this study, a new method called X-PROP is presented. Similar to TurboPROP, it uses gradient echoes to reduce the scan time. By separating the gradient and spin echoes into individual blades and removing the off-resonance phase, the off-resonance artifacts in X-PROP are minimized. Special reconstruction processes are applied on these blades to correct for the motion artifacts. In vivo results show its advantages over EPI, PROPELLER DWI, and TurboPROP techniques. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The implications of Ramadan fasting for human health and well-being.

PubMed

Alkandari, Jasem Ramadan; Maughan, Ronald J; Roky, Rachida; Aziz, Abdul Rashid; Karli, Umid

2012-01-01

Islamic Ramadan is a 29-30 day fast in which food, fluids, medications, drugs and smoking are prohibited during the daylight hours which can be extended between 13 and 18 h · day(-1) depending on the geographical location and season. The majority of health-specific findings related to Ramadan fasting are mixed. The likely causes for these heterogeneous findings lie in the amount of daily time of fasting, number of subjects who smoke, take oral medications, and/or receive intravenous fluids, in the type of food and eating habits and in changes in lifestyle. During Ramadan fasting, glucose homeostasis is maintained by meals taken during night time before dawn and by liver glycogen stores. Changes in serum lipids are variable and depend on the quality and quantity of food intake, physical activity and exercise, and changes in body weight. Compliant, well-controlled type II diabetics may observe Ramadan fasting, but fasting is not recommended for type I, noncompliant, poorly controlled and pregnant diabetics. There are no adverse effects of Ramadan fasting on respiratory and cardiovascular systems, haematologic profile, endocrine, and neuropsychiatric functions. Although Ramadan fasting is safe for all healthy individuals, those with various diseases should consult their physicians and follow medical and scientific recommendations.

Fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption in relation to daily energy and nutrient intakes among US adult cancer survivors, 2003-2012.

PubMed

An, Ruopeng; Liu, Junyi

2013-01-01

Healthy diet is an essential component in cancer survivorship care planning. Cancer survivors should be particularly prudent regarding their daily food choices, with an aim of ensuring safe consumption, reducing risk of recurrence or other comorbidity, and improving quality of life. We aimed to examine the impacts of fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption on daily energy and nutrient intakes among US adult cancer survivors. Nationally representative data of 1308 adult cancer survivors came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2012 waves. First-difference estimator was adopted to address confounding bias from time-invariant unobservables like personal food/beverage preferences by using within-individual variations in diet and restaurant consumption status between two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption, respectively, was associated with an increase in daily total energy intake by 125.97 and 152.26 kcal and sodium intake by 312.47 and 373.75 mg. Fast-food consumption was significantly associated with a decrease in daily vitamin A intake by 119.88 µg and vitamin K intake by 30.48 µg, whereas full-service restaurant consumption was associated with an increase in daily fat intake by 8.99 g and omega-6 fatty acid intake by 3.85 g, and a decrease in vitamin D intake by 0.93 µg. Compared with fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption at home, consumption away from home led to further reduced diet quality. Individualized nutrition counseling and food assistance programs should address cancer survivors' overall dining-out behavior rather than fast-food consumption alone. © The Author(s) 2015.

Simulations of Beam Optics and Bremsstrahlung for High Intensity and Brightness Channeling Radiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hyun, J.; Piot, P.; Sen, T.

2018-04-12

This paper presents X-ray spectra of channeling radiation expected at the FAST (Fermi Accelerator Science and Technology) facility in Fermilab. Our purpose is to produce high brightness quasi-monochromatic X-rays in an energy range from 40 keV to 110 keV. We will use a diamond crystal and low emittance electrons with an energy of around 43 MeV. The quality of emitted X-rays depends on parameters of the electron beam at the crystal. We present simulations of the beam optics for high brightness and high yield operations for a range of bunch charges. We estimate the X-ray spectra including bremsstrahlung background. Wemore » discuss how the electron beam distributions after the diamond crystal are affected by channeling. We discuss an X-ray detector system to avoid pile-up effects during high charge operations.« less

Simulations of Beam Optics and Bremsstrahlung for High Intensity and Brightness Channeling Radiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hyun, J.; Piot, P.; Sen, T.

This paper presents X-ray spectra of channeling radiation expected at the FAST (Fermi Accelerator Science and Technology) facility in Fermilab. Our purpose is to produce high brightness quasi-monochromatic X-rays in an energy range from 40 keV to 110 keV. We will use a diamond crystal and low emittance electrons with an energy of around 43 MeV. The quality of emitted X-rays depends on parameters of the electron beam at the crystal. We present simulations of the beam optics for high brightness and high yield operations for a range of bunch charges. We estimate the X-ray spectra including bremsstrahlung background. Wemore » discuss how the electron beam distributions after the diamond crystal are affected by channeling. Here, we discuss an X-ray detector system to avoid pile-up effects during high charge operations.« less

Simulations of Beam Optics and Bremsstrahlung for High Intensity and Brightness Channeling Radiation

DOE PAGES

Hyun, J.; Piot, P.; Sen, T.

2018-06-14

This paper presents X-ray spectra of channeling radiation expected at the FAST (Fermi Accelerator Science and Technology) facility in Fermilab. Our purpose is to produce high brightness quasi-monochromatic X-rays in an energy range from 40 keV to 110 keV. We will use a diamond crystal and low emittance electrons with an energy of around 43 MeV. The quality of emitted X-rays depends on parameters of the electron beam at the crystal. We present simulations of the beam optics for high brightness and high yield operations for a range of bunch charges. We estimate the X-ray spectra including bremsstrahlung background. Wemore » discuss how the electron beam distributions after the diamond crystal are affected by channeling. Here, we discuss an X-ray detector system to avoid pile-up effects during high charge operations.« less

The Effect of Hydration on Voice Quality in Adults: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Alves, Maxine; Krüger, Esedra; Pillay, Bhavani; van Lierde, Kristiane; van der Linde, Jeannie

2017-11-06

We aimed to critically appraise scientific, peer-reviewed articles, published in the past 10 years on the effects of hydration on voice quality in adults. This is a systematic review. Five databases were searched using the key words "vocal fold hydration", "voice quality", "vocal fold dehydration", and "hygienic voice therapy". The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The included studies were scored based on American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's levels of evidence and quality indicators, as well as the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Systemic dehydration as a result of fasting and not ingesting fluids significantly negatively affected the parameters of noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), shimmer, jitter, frequency, and the s/z ratio. Water ingestion led to significant improvements in shimmer, jitter, frequency, and maximum phonation time values. Caffeine intake does not appear to negatively affect voice production. Laryngeal desiccation challenges by oral breathing led to surface dehydration which negatively affected jitter, shimmer, NHR, phonation threshold pressure, and perceived phonatory effort. Steam inhalation significantly improved NHR, shimmer, and jitter. Only nebulization of isotonic solution decreased phonation threshold pressure and showed some indication of a potential positive effect of nebulization substances. Treatments in high humidity environments prove to be effective and adaptations of low humidity environments should be encouraged. Recent literature regarding vocal hydration is high quality evidence. Systemic hydration is the easiest and most cost-effective solution to improve voice quality. Recent evidence therefore supports the inclusion of hydration in a vocal hygiene program. Copyright © 2017 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Food Prices Are Associated with Dietary Quality, Fast Food Consumption, and Body Mass Index among U.S. Children and Adolescents123

PubMed Central

Beydoun, May A.; Powell, Lisa M.; Chen, Xiaoli; Wang, Youfa

2011-01-01

Food prices are expected to affect dietary intakes, however, previous findings are mixed and few are based on nationally representative data. We examined the associations of price indices of fast foods (FF-PI) and fruits and vegetables (FV-PI) with dietary intakes and BMI among U.S. children and adolescents using data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII; 1994–1998) for 6759 children (2–9 y) and 1679 adolescents (10–18 y). FF-PI and FV-PI were linked to individuals’ CSFII dietary data through city-level geocodes. Main outcomes included intakes of selected nutrients and food groups, a fast food consumption index (FF-CI), diet quality using the 2005 Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and BMI. Among children (2–9 y), a higher FF-PI (by $1) was associated with intakes of lower FF-CI (β ± SE: −0.9 ± 0.3 count/d), higher HEI (6.6 ± 2.5), higher intakes of fiber (2.7 ± 0.7 g/d), calcium (225.7 ± 52.3 mg/d), dairy (172.5 ± 36.2 g/d), and fruits and vegetables (113.3 ± 23.4 cup equivalents/d). FV-PI was inversely related to fiber intake (β ± SE: −3.3 ± 1.5 g/d) and positively associated with BMI (4.3 ± 1.2 kg/m2). Less consistent findings were ascribed to FV-PI and among adolescents (10–18 y). Significant associations were almost equally balanced between low and high family income groups, with some significant interactions between food prices and family income observed, particularly among children (2–9 y). Our findings suggest that among U.S. children aged 2–9 y, higher FF-PI is associated with better dietary quality, whereas higher FV-PI is linked to higher BMI and lower fiber intake. Associations varied by family income in children for many dietary intake variables. PMID:21178080

Innovative hyperspectral imaging-based techniques for quality evaluation of fruits and vegetables: a review

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

New, non-destructive sensing techniques for fast and more effective quality assessment of fruits and vegetables are needed to meet the ever-increasing consumer demand for better, more consistent and safer food products. Over the past 15 years, hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a new generation of...

Fluidization quality analyzer for fluidized beds

DOEpatents

Daw, C. Stuart; Hawk, James A.

1995-01-01

A control loop and fluidization quality analyzer for a fluidized bed utilizes time varying pressure drop measurements. A fast-response pressure transducer measures the overall bed pressure drop, or over some segment of the bed, and the pressure drop signal is processed to produce an output voltage which changes with the degree of fluidization turbulence.

Fluidization quality analyzer for fluidized beds

DOEpatents

Daw, C.S.; Hawk, J.A.

1995-07-25

A control loop and fluidization quality analyzer for a fluidized bed utilizes time varying pressure drop measurements. A fast-response pressure transducer measures the overall bed pressure drop, or over some segment of the bed, and the pressure drop signal is processed to produce an output voltage which changes with the degree of fluidization turbulence. 9 figs.

Factors Determining e-Learning Service Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uppal, Muhammad Amaad; Ali, Samnan; Gulliver, Stephen R.

2018-01-01

e-Learning courses are fast becoming common-place, yet the success of these online courses varies considerably. Since limited research addresses the issue of e-learning quality (ELQ) of service in higher education environments, there is an increasing need to effectively assess ELQ. In this paper, we argue that to obtain a satisfactory e-learning…

Recent advances in rapid and non-destructive assessment of meat quality using hyperspectral imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Feifei; Ngadi, Michael

2016-05-01

Meat is an important food item in human diet. Its production and consumption has greatly increased in the last decades with the development of economies and improvement of peoples' living standards. However, most of the traditional methods for evaluation of meat quality are time-consuming, laborious, inconsistent and destructive to samples, which make them not appropriate for a fast-paced production and processing environment. Development of innovative and non-destructive optical sensing techniques to facilitate simple, fast, and accurate evaluation of quality are attracting increasing attention in the food industry. Hyperspectral imaging is one of the promising techniques. It integrates the combined merits of imaging and spectroscopic techniques. This paper provides a comprehensive review on recent advances in evaluation of the important quality attributes of meat including color, marbling, tenderness, pH, water holding capacity, and also chemical composition attributes such as moisture content, protein content and fat content in pork, beef and lamb. In addition, the future potential applications and trends of hyperspectral imaging are also discussed in this paper.

Seismic anisotropy and subduction-induced mantle fabrics beneath the Arabian and Nubian Plates adjacent to the Red Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elsheikh, Ahmed A.; Gao, Stephen S.; Liu, Kelly H.; Mohamed, Abdelnasser A.; Yu, Youqiang; Fat-Helbary, Raafat E.

2014-04-01

For most continental areas, the mechanisms leading to mantle fabrics responsible for the observed anisotropy remain ambiguous, partially due to the lack of sufficient spatial coverage of reliable seismological observations. Here we report the first joint analysis of shear-wave splitting measurements obtained at stations on the Arabian and Nubian Plates adjacent to the Red Sea. More than 1100 pairs of high-quality splitting parameters show dominantly N-S fast orientations at all 47 stations and larger-than-normal splitting times beneath the Afro-Arabian Dome (AAD). The uniformly N-S fast orientations and large splitting times up to 1.5 s are inconsistent with significant contributions from the lithosphere, which is about 50-80 km thick beneath the AAD and even thinner beneath the Red Sea. The results can best be explained by simple shear between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere associated with northward subduction of the African/Arabian Plates over the past 150 Ma.

Efficient Compressed Sensing Based MRI Reconstruction using Nonconvex Total Variation Penalties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazzaro, D.; Loli Piccolomini, E.; Zama, F.

2016-10-01

This work addresses the problem of Magnetic Resonance Image Reconstruction from highly sub-sampled measurements in the Fourier domain. It is modeled as a constrained minimization problem, where the objective function is a non-convex function of the gradient of the unknown image and the constraints are given by the data fidelity term. We propose an algorithm, Fast Non Convex Reweighted (FNCR), where the constrained problem is solved by a reweighting scheme, as a strategy to overcome the non-convexity of the objective function, with an adaptive adjustment of the penalization parameter. We propose a fast iterative algorithm and we can prove that it converges to a local minimum because the constrained problem satisfies the Kurdyka-Lojasiewicz property. Moreover the adaptation of non convex l0 approximation and penalization parameters, by means of a continuation technique, allows us to obtain good quality solutions, avoiding to get stuck in unwanted local minima. Some numerical experiments performed on MRI sub-sampled data show the efficiency of the algorithm and the accuracy of the solution.

Mechanism of aquaporin-4's fast and highly selective water conduction and proton exclusion.

PubMed

Tani, Kazutoshi; Mitsuma, Tadanori; Hiroaki, Yoko; Kamegawa, Akiko; Nishikawa, Kouki; Tanimura, Yukihiro; Fujiyoshi, Yoshinori

2009-06-19

Members of the aquaporin (AQP) family are expressed in almost every organism, including 13 homologues in humans. Based on the electron crystallographic structure of AQP1, the hydrogen-bond isolation mechanism was proposed to explain why AQPs are impermeable to protons despite their very fast water conduction. The mechanism by which AQPs exclude protons remained controversial, however. Here we present the structure of AQP4 at 2.8 A resolution obtained by electron crystallography of double-layered two-dimensional crystals. The resolution has been improved from the previous 3.2 A, with accompanying improvement in data quality resulting in the ability to identify individual water molecules. Our structure of AQP4, the predominant water channel in the brain, reveals eight water molecules in the channel. The arrangement of the waters provides support for the hydrogen-bond isolation mechanism. Our AQP4 structure also visualizes five lipids, showing that direct interactions of the extracellular surface of AQP4 with three lipids in the adjoining membrane help stabilize the membrane junction.

A Fast Density-Based Clustering Algorithm for Real-Time Internet of Things Stream

PubMed Central

Ying Wah, Teh

2014-01-01

Data streams are continuously generated over time from Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The faster all of this data is analyzed, its hidden trends and patterns discovered, and new strategies created, the faster action can be taken, creating greater value for organizations. Density-based method is a prominent class in clustering data streams. It has the ability to detect arbitrary shape clusters, to handle outlier, and it does not need the number of clusters in advance. Therefore, density-based clustering algorithm is a proper choice for clustering IoT streams. Recently, several density-based algorithms have been proposed for clustering data streams. However, density-based clustering in limited time is still a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a density-based clustering algorithm for IoT streams. The method has fast processing time to be applicable in real-time application of IoT devices. Experimental results show that the proposed approach obtains high quality results with low computation time on real and synthetic datasets. PMID:25110753

Stress- and Structure-Induced Anisotropy in Southern California From Two Decades of Shear Wave Splitting Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zefeng; Peng, Zhigang

2017-10-01

We measure shear wave splitting (SWS) parameters (i.e., fast direction and delay time) using 330,000 local earthquakes recorded by more than 400 stations of the Southern California Seismic Network (1995-2014). The resulting 232,000 SWS measurements (90,000 high-quality ones) provide a uniform and comprehensive database of local SWS measurements in Southern California. The fast directions at many stations are consistent with regional maximum compressional stress σHmax. However, several regions show clear deviations from the σHmax directions. These include linear sections along the San Andreas Fault and the Santa Ynez Fault, geological blocks NW to the Los Angeles Basin, regions around the San Jacinto Fault, the Peninsular Ranges near San Diego, and the Coso volcanic field. These complex patterns show that regional stresses and active faults cannot adequately explain the upper crustal anisotropy in Southern California. Other types of local structures, such as local rock types or tectonic features, also play significant roles.

Fast single image dehazing based on image fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Haibo; Yang, Jie; Wu, Zhengping; Zhang, Qingnian

2015-01-01

Images captured in foggy weather conditions often fade the colors and reduce the contrast of the observed objects. An efficient image fusion method is proposed to remove haze from a single input image. First, the initial medium transmission is estimated based on the dark channel prior. Second, the method adopts an assumption that the degradation level affected by haze of each region is the same, which is similar to the Retinex theory, and uses a simple Gaussian filter to get the coarse medium transmission. Then, pixel-level fusion is achieved between the initial medium transmission and coarse medium transmission. The proposed method can recover a high-quality haze-free image based on the physical model, and the complexity of the proposed method is only a linear function of the number of input image pixels. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can allow a very fast implementation and achieve better restoration for visibility and color fidelity compared to some state-of-the-art methods.

A fast density-based clustering algorithm for real-time Internet of Things stream.

PubMed

Amini, Amineh; Saboohi, Hadi; Wah, Teh Ying; Herawan, Tutut

2014-01-01

Data streams are continuously generated over time from Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The faster all of this data is analyzed, its hidden trends and patterns discovered, and new strategies created, the faster action can be taken, creating greater value for organizations. Density-based method is a prominent class in clustering data streams. It has the ability to detect arbitrary shape clusters, to handle outlier, and it does not need the number of clusters in advance. Therefore, density-based clustering algorithm is a proper choice for clustering IoT streams. Recently, several density-based algorithms have been proposed for clustering data streams. However, density-based clustering in limited time is still a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a density-based clustering algorithm for IoT streams. The method has fast processing time to be applicable in real-time application of IoT devices. Experimental results show that the proposed approach obtains high quality results with low computation time on real and synthetic datasets.

A fast signal subspace approach for the determination of absolute levels from phased microphone array measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarradj, Ennes

2010-04-01

Phased microphone arrays are used in a variety of applications for the estimation of acoustic source location and spectra. The popular conventional delay-and-sum beamforming methods used with such arrays suffer from inaccurate estimations of absolute source levels and in some cases also from low resolution. Deconvolution approaches such as DAMAS have better performance, but require high computational effort. A fast beamforming method is proposed that can be used in conjunction with a phased microphone array in applications with focus on the correct quantitative estimation of acoustic source spectra. This method bases on an eigenvalue decomposition of the cross spectral matrix of microphone signals and uses the eigenvalues from the signal subspace to estimate absolute source levels. The theoretical basis of the method is discussed together with an assessment of the quality of the estimation. Experimental tests using a loudspeaker setup and an airfoil trailing edge noise setup in an aeroacoustic wind tunnel show that the proposed method is robust and leads to reliable quantitative results.

Accelerating Pseudo-Random Number Generator for MCNP on GPU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Chunye; Liu, Jie; Chi, Lihua; Hu, Qingfeng; Deng, Li; Gong, Zhenghu

2010-09-01

Pseudo-random number generators (PRNG) are intensively used in many stochastic algorithms in particle simulations, artificial neural networks and other scientific computation. The PRNG in Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) requires long period, high quality, flexible jump and fast enough. In this paper, we implement such a PRNG for MCNP on NVIDIA's GTX200 Graphics Processor Units (GPU) using CUDA programming model. Results shows that 3.80 to 8.10 times speedup are achieved compared with 4 to 6 cores CPUs and more than 679.18 million double precision random numbers can be generated per second on GPU.

Electrodeposition on nanofibrous polymer scaffolds: Rapid mineralization, tunable calcium phosphate composition and topography

PubMed Central

He, Chuanglong; Xiao, Guiyong; Jin, Xiaobing; Sun, Chenghui; Ma, Peter X.

2011-01-01

We developed a straightforward, fast, and versatile technique to fabricate mineralized nanofibrous polymer scaffolds for bone regeneration in this work. Nanofibrous poly(l-lactic acid) scaffolds were fabricated using both electrospinning and phase separation techniques. An electrodeposition process was designed to deposit calcium phosphate on the nanofibrous scaffolds. Such scaffolds contain a high quality mineral coating on the fiber surface with tunable surface topography and chemical composition by varying the processing parameters, which can mimic the composition and structure of natural bone extracellular matrix and provide a more biocompatible interface for bone regeneration. PMID:21673827

Analysis and measurement of the transfer matrix of a 9-cell, 1.3-GHz superconducting cavity

DOE PAGES

Halavanau, A.; Eddy, N.; Edstrom, D.; ...

2017-04-13

Superconducting linacs are capable of producing intense, stable, high-quality electron beams that have found widespread applications in science and industry. Here, the 9-cell, 1.3-GHz superconducting standing-wave accelerating rf cavity originally developed for e +/e - linear-collider applications has been broadly employed in various superconducting-linac designs. In this paper we discuss the transfer matrix of such a cavity and present its measurement performed at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility. Finally, the experimental results are found to be in agreement with analytical calculations and numerical simulations.

Utility of a scanning densitometer in analyzing remotely sensed imagery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dooley, J. T.

1976-01-01

The utility of a scanning densitometer for analyzing imagery in the NASA Lewis Research Center's regional remote sensing program was evaluated. Uses studied include: (1) quick-look screening of imagery by means of density slicing, magnification, color coding, and edge enhancement; (2) preliminary category classification of both low- and high-resolution data bases; and (3) quantitative measurement of the extent of features within selected areas. The densitometer was capable of providing fast, convenient, and relatively inexpensive preliminary analysis of aerial and satellite photography and scanner imagery involving land cover, water quality, strip mining, and energy conservation.

Colour computer-generated holography for point clouds utilizing the Phong illumination model.

PubMed

Symeonidou, Athanasia; Blinder, David; Schelkens, Peter

2018-04-16

A technique integrating the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is proposed to generate realistic high-quality colour computer-generated holograms (CGHs). We build on prior work, namely a fast computer-generated holography method for point clouds that handles occlusions. We extend the method by integrating the Phong illumination model so that the properties of the objects' surfaces are taken into account to achieve natural light phenomena such as reflections and shadows. Our experiments show that rendering holograms with the proposed algorithm provides realistic looking objects without any noteworthy increase to the computational cost.

Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics Lecture: A physicist in Business

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woollam, John

2013-03-01

In the 1980s I inherited a famous ellipsometry laboratory. To speed up data acquisition and analysis I associated myself with creative scientists and engineers. We started a company which grew. Together we rapidly improved acquisition speed, accuracy, precision, spectral range, and types of applications. Yet, a business is much more than technology. In this talk I outline how a high-tech business functions, and illustrate the role of physicists and engineers in making a company successful. It is fast-paced, exciting, and enormously gratifying to provide quality instruments for researchers and industry.

The Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST)-Part I: The Design and Development of an Upper Extremity Region-Specific and Population-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Scale for Throwing Athletes.

PubMed

Sauers, Eric L; Bay, R Curtis; Snyder Valier, Alison R; Ellery, Traci; Huxel Bliven, Kellie C

2017-03-01

Upper extremity (UE) region-specific, patient-reported outcome (PRO) scales assess injuries to the UE but do not account for the demands of overhead throwing athletes or measure patient-oriented domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). To develop the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST), a UE region-specific and population-specific PRO scale that assesses multiple domains of disablement in throwing athletes with UE injuries. In stage I, a beta version of the scale was developed for subsequent factor identification, final item reduction, and construct validity analysis during stage II. Descriptive laboratory study. Three-stage scale development was utilized: Stage I (item generation and initial item reduction) and stage II (factor analysis, final item reduction, and construct validity) are reported herein, and stage III (establishment of measurement properties [reliability and validity]) will be reported in a companion paper. In stage I, a beta version was developed, incorporating National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research disablement domains and ensuring a blend of sport-related and non-sport-related items. An expert panel and focus group assessed importance and interpretability of each item. During stage II, the FAST was reduced, preserving variance characteristics and factor structure of the beta version and construct validity of the final FAST scale. During stage I, a 54-item beta version and a separate 9-item pitcher module were developed. During stage II, a 22-item FAST and 9-item pitcher module were finalized. The factor solution for FAST scale items included pain (n = 6), throwing (n = 10), activities of daily living (n = 5), psychological impact (n = 4), and advancement (n = 3). The 6-item pain subscale crossed factors. The remaining subscales and pitcher module are distinctive, correlated, and internally consistent and may be interpreted individually or combined. This article describes the development of the FAST, which assesses clinical outcomes and HRQOL of throwing athletes after UE injury. The FAST encompasses multiple domains of disability and demonstrates excellent construct validity. The FAST provides a single UE region-specific and population-specific PRO scale for high-demand throwers to facilitate measurement of impact of UE injuries on HRQOL and clinical outcomes while quantifying recovery for comparative effectiveness studies.

[Physiological and biochemical effects of intermittent fasting combined with hunger-resistant food on mice].

PubMed

Shen, Xiao-Dong; Hua, Wei-Guo; Chu, Wei-Zhong; Xu, Feng; Wang, Yu-Ying; Chen, Hui-Ju

2006-11-01

To observe the physiological and biochemical effects of intermittent fasting combined with hunger-resistant food on mice, and to evaluate the safety and beneficial effects of this regimen. One hundred and forty-four adult ICR mice were divided into 4 groups: standard feed AL group (ad libitum intake of standard feed), hunger-resistant food AL group (ad libitum intake of hunger-resistant food), standard feed IF group (feeding standard feed and fasting on alternate days), and hunger-resistant food IF group (feeding hunger-resistant food and fasting on alternate days). The experiment lasted for 4-8 weeks and all mice drank water freely. The quality of life, body weight, fasting blood glucose, serum lipid, blood routine test, liver and kidney functions as well as the viscera indexes were examined. Compared to the standard feed AL group, the caloric taking and the increment of body-weight were reduced (P<0.01), and the viscera indexes of the liver and kidney were elevated (P<0.05) in the hunger-resistant food AL group and the hunger-resistant food IF group, the values of fasting blood glucose were reduced in standard feed IF group and hunger-resistant food IF group (P<0.01), the value of triglycerides was reduced in hunger-resistant food IF group (P<0.05), while the quality of life, blood routine test as well as the liver and kidney functions were not obviously affected in the hunger-resistant food AL group, standard feed IF group and hunger-resistant food IF group. The regimen of intermittent fasting combined with hunger-resistant food is safe and beneficial to metabolic regulation, such as controlling body-weight and adjusting blood glucose and serum lipid. It is expected that development of this regimen will be helpful to the control of obesity and diabetes, etc.

Winter fasting and refeeding effects on urine characteristics in white-tailed deer

USGS Publications Warehouse

DelGiudice, G.D.; Mech, L.D.; Seal, U.S.; Karns, P.D.

1987-01-01

The effects of dietary protein, fasting, and refeeding on urinary characteristics of 9 captive, female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were studied from 23 February to 3 May 1984. Urinary sodium (na) and potassium (K) were diminished in fasted deer after 2 and 4 weeks. Renal excretion of Na and K were lower, whereas urinary phosphorus (P) was higher in fasted deer compared to deer fed high protein-high energy (HPHE) diets. Urinary P excretion of the fasted deer was also greater than in a low protein-high energy (LPHE)-fed group. Urinary area excretion of fasted deer was similar to that of deer fed low and high protein diets. One fasted deer died during the study and exhibited notably high excretion of urea, Na, K, and calcium (Ca). No effects of the 2 levels of dietary protein on urinary characteristics were detected. Urinary Na:C and K:C ratios wer significantly correlated with Na and K intake. Urinalysis has potential as a sensitive means of monitoring the nutritional status of white-tailed deer. Data are presented as reference values for interpretation of data from deer under less controlled circumstances.

Influence of diet type and pretreatment fasting on the disposition kinetics of albendazole in sheep.

PubMed

Singh, D; Sanyal, P K; Swarnkar, C P; Khan, F A; Bhagwan, P S

1999-06-01

The influence of the quality and quantity of diets on the disposition kinetics of albendazole were studied in sheep in two different experiments. The plasma concentration profiles of albendazole sulphoxide and albendazole sulphone were measured following intraruminal administration of albendazole at 5.0 mg/ kg body weight in weaner sheep offered three different diets: 100% green Sorghum spp., 100% dry mature Cenchrus ciliaris hay and a 50:50 mix of these two diets. The peak plasma concentrations and the availability of the albendazole metabolites, as measured by the area under the concentration time curve, were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the animals offered exclusively dry fodder compared to other diets. Changing the diet from dry to green fodder resulted in a significantly lower systemic availability of the drug metabolites. It is suggested that a decreased transit time of the digesta in the bowel on the green diet, with its high water content, limited the systemic availability of the drug by reducing the time available for gastrointestinal absorption. An experiment on the influence of different levels of pretreatment fasting on the pharmacokinetics of albendazole revealed significantly higher (p < 0.05) plasma concentrations of the anthelmintically active sulphoxide metabolite from 12 h onwards following administration of the drug in animals subjected to 24 h of pretreatment fasting compared to other groups with pretreatment fasting of 8, 12 or 18 h. The area under the concentration time curve and the minimum residence time of the drug metabolites were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in animals that had been fasted for 24 h. It is suggested that fasting induces a decrease in the flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants and prolongs the duration of dissolution of the drug, resulting in enhancement of the absorption of albendazole and of the systemic availability of its metabolites.

Effects of fission yield data in the calculation of antineutrino spectra for U 235 ( n , fission ) at thermal and fast neutron energies

DOE PAGES

Sonzogni, A. A.; McCutchan, E. A.; Johnson, T. D.; ...

2016-04-01

Fission yields form an integral part of the prediction of antineutrino spectra generated by nuclear reactors, but little attention has been paid to the quality and reliability of the data used in current calculations. Following a critical review of the thermal and fast ENDF/B-VII.1 235U fission yields, deficiencies are identified and improved yields are obtained, based on corrections of erroneous yields, consistency between decay and fission yield data, and updated isomeric ratios. These corrected yields are used to calculate antineutrino spectra using the summation method. An anomalous value for the thermal fission yield of 86Ge generates an excess of antineutrinosmore » at 5–7 MeV, a feature which is no longer present when the corrected yields are used. Thermal spectra calculated with two distinct fission yield libraries (corrected ENDF/B and JEFF) differ by up to 6% in the 0–7 MeV energy window, allowing for a basic estimate of the uncertainty involved in the fission yield component of summation calculations. Lastly, the fast neutron antineutrino spectrum is calculated, which at the moment can only be obtained with the summation method and may be relevant for short baseline reactor experiments using highly enriched uranium fuel.« less

Low-complex energy-aware image communication in visual sensor networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phamila, Yesudhas Asnath Victy; Amutha, Ramachandran

2013-10-01

A low-complex, low bit rate, energy-efficient image compression algorithm explicitly designed for resource-constrained visual sensor networks applied for surveillance, battle field, habitat monitoring, etc. is presented, where voluminous amount of image data has to be communicated over a bandwidth-limited wireless medium. The proposed method overcomes the energy limitation of individual nodes and is investigated in terms of image quality, entropy, processing time, overall energy consumption, and system lifetime. This algorithm is highly energy efficient and extremely fast since it applies energy-aware zonal binary discrete cosine transform (DCT) that computes only the few required significant coefficients and codes them using enhanced complementary Golomb Rice code without using any floating point operations. Experiments are performed using the Atmel Atmega128 and MSP430 processors to measure the resultant energy savings. Simulation results show that the proposed energy-aware fast zonal transform consumes only 0.3% of energy needed by conventional DCT. This algorithm consumes only 6% of energy needed by Independent JPEG Group (fast) version, and it suits for embedded systems requiring low power consumption. The proposed scheme is unique since it significantly enhances the lifetime of the camera sensor node and the network without any need for distributed processing as was traditionally required in existing algorithms.