Improved biovolume estimation of Microcystis aeruginosa colonies: A statistical approach.

PubMed

Alcántara, I; Piccini, C; Segura, A M; Deus, S; González, C; Martínez de la Escalera, G; Kruk, C

2018-05-27

The Microcystis aeruginosa complex (MAC) clusters many of the most common freshwater and brackish bloom-forming cyanobacteria. In monitoring protocols, biovolume estimation is a common approach to determine MAC colonies biomass and useful for prediction purposes. Biovolume (μm 3 mL -1 ) is calculated multiplying organism abundance (orgL -1 ) by colonial volume (μm 3 org -1 ). Colonial volume is estimated based on geometric shapes and requires accurate measurements of dimensions using optical microscopy. A trade-off between easy-to-measure but low-accuracy simple shapes (e.g. sphere) and time costly but high-accuracy complex shapes (e.g. ellipsoid) volume estimation is posed. Overestimations effects in ecological studies and management decisions associated to harmful blooms are significant due to the large sizes of MAC colonies. In this work, we aimed to increase the precision of MAC biovolume estimations by developing a statistical model based on two easy-to-measure dimensions. We analyzed field data from a wide environmental gradient (800 km) spanning freshwater to estuarine and seawater. We measured length, width and depth from ca. 5700 colonies under an inverted microscope and estimated colonial volume using three different recommended geometrical shapes (sphere, prolate spheroid and ellipsoid). Because of the non-spherical shape of MAC the ellipsoid resulted in the most accurate approximation, whereas the sphere overestimated colonial volume (3-80) especially for large colonies (MLD higher than 300 μm). Ellipsoid requires measuring three dimensions and is time-consuming. Therefore, we constructed different statistical models to predict organisms depth based on length and width. Splitting the data into training (2/3) and test (1/3) sets, all models resulted in low training (1.41-1.44%) and testing average error (1.3-2.0%). The models were also evaluated using three other independent datasets. The multiple linear model was finally selected to calculate MAC volume as an ellipsoid based on length and width. This work contributes to achieve a better estimation of MAC volume applicable to monitoring programs as well as to ecological research. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Constraints and vibrations in static packings of ellipsoidal particles.

PubMed

Schreck, Carl F; Mailman, Mitch; Chakraborty, Bulbul; O'Hern, Corey S

2012-06-01

We numerically investigate the mechanical properties of static packings of frictionless ellipsoidal particles in two and three dimensions over a range of aspect ratio and compression Δφ. While amorphous packings of spherical particles at jamming onset (Δφ=0) are isostatic and possess the minimum contact number z_{iso} required for them to be collectively jammed, amorphous packings of ellipsoidal particles generally possess fewer contacts than expected for collective jamming (z

Robust linear discriminant models to solve financial crisis in banking sectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Yai-Fung; Yahaya, Sharipah Soaad Syed; Idris, Faoziah; Ali, Hazlina; Omar, Zurni

2014-12-01

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is a widely-used technique in patterns classification via an equation which will minimize the probability of misclassifying cases into their respective categories. However, the performance of classical estimators in LDA highly depends on the assumptions of normality and homoscedasticity. Several robust estimators in LDA such as Minimum Covariance Determinant (MCD), S-estimators and Minimum Volume Ellipsoid (MVE) are addressed by many authors to alleviate the problem of non-robustness of the classical estimates. In this paper, we investigate on the financial crisis of the Malaysian banking institutions using robust LDA and classical LDA methods. Our objective is to distinguish the "distress" and "non-distress" banks in Malaysia by using the LDA models. Hit ratio is used to validate the accuracy predictive of LDA models. The performance of LDA is evaluated by estimating the misclassification rate via apparent error rate. The results and comparisons show that the robust estimators provide a better performance than the classical estimators for LDA.

Event Classification and Identification Based on the Characteristic Ellipsoid of Phasor Measurement

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

Ma, Jian; Diao, Ruisheng; Makarov, Yuri V.

2011-09-23

In this paper, a method to classify and identify power system events based on the characteristic ellipsoid of phasor measurement is presented. The decision tree technique is used to perform the event classification and identification. Event types, event locations and clearance times are identified by decision trees based on the indices of the characteristic ellipsoid. A sufficiently large number of transient events were simulated on the New England 10-machine 39-bus system based on different system configurations. Transient simulations taking into account different event types, clearance times and various locations are conducted to simulate phasor measurement. Bus voltage magnitudes and recordedmore » reactive and active power flows are used to build the characteristic ellipsoid. The volume, eccentricity, center and projection of the longest axis in the parameter space coordinates of the characteristic ellipsoids are used to classify and identify events. Results demonstrate that the characteristic ellipsoid and the decision tree are capable to detect the event type, location, and clearance time with very high accuracy.« less

Shape information from a critical point analysis of calculated electron density maps: application to DNA-drug systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leherte, L.; Allen, F. H.; Vercauteren, D. P.

1995-04-01

A computational method is described for mapping the volume within the DNA double helix accessible to a groove-binding antibiotic, netropsin. Topological critical point analysis is used to locate maxima in electron density maps reconstructed from crystallographically determined atomic coordinates. The peaks obtained in this way are represented as ellipsoids with axes related to local curvature of the electron density function. Combining the ellipsoids produces a single electron density function which can be probed to estimate effective volumes of the interacting species. Close complementarity between host and ligand in this example shows the method to be a good representation of the electron density function at various resolutions; while at the atomic level the ellipsoid method gives results which are in close agreement with those from the conventional, spherical, van der Waals approach.

Shape information from a critical point analysis of calculated electron density maps: Application to DNA-drug systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leherte, Laurence; Allen, Frank H.

1994-06-01

A computational method is described for mapping the volume within the DNA double helix accessible to the groove-binding antibiotic netropsin. Topological critical point analysis is used to locate maxima in electron density maps reconstructed from crystallographically determined atomic coordinates. The peaks obtained in this way are represented as ellipsoids with axes related to local curvature of the electron density function. Combining the ellipsoids produces a single electron density function which can be probed to estimate effective volumes of the interacting species. Close complementarity between host and ligand in this example shows the method to give a good representation of the electron density function at various resolutions. At the atomic level, the ellipsoid method gives results which are in close agreement with those from the conventional spherical van der Waals approach.

Automated detection of preserved photoreceptor on optical coherence tomography in choroideremia based on machine learning.

PubMed

Wang, Zhuo; Camino, Acner; Hagag, Ahmed M; Wang, Jie; Weleber, Richard G; Yang, Paul; Pennesi, Mark E; Huang, David; Li, Dengwang; Jia, Yali

2018-05-01

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can demonstrate early deterioration of the photoreceptor integrity caused by inherited retinal degeneration diseases (IRDs). A machine learning method based on random forests was developed to automatically detect continuous areas of preserved ellipsoid zone structure (an easily recognizable part of the photoreceptors on OCT) in 16 eyes of patients with choroideremia (a type of IRD). Pseudopodial extensions protruding from the preserved ellipsoid zone areas are detected separately by a local active contour routine. The algorithm is implemented on en face images with minimum segmentation requirements, only needing delineation of the Bruch's membrane, thus evading the inaccuracies and technical challenges associated with automatic segmentation of the ellipsoid zone in eyes with severe retinal degeneration. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Volume integrals associated with the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation. Part 1: Ellipsoidal region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fu, L. S.; Mura, T.

1983-01-01

Problems of wave phenomena in fields of acoustics, electromagnetics and elasticity are often reduced to an integration of the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation. Results are presented for volume integrals associated with the Helmholtz operator, nabla(2) to alpha(2), for the case of an ellipsoidal region. By using appropriate Taylor series expansions and multinomial theorem, these volume integrals are obtained in series form for regions r 4' and r r', where r and r' are distances from the origin to the point of observation and source, respectively. Derivatives of these integrals are easily evaluated. When the wave number approaches zero, the results reduce directly to the potentials of variable densities.

Normal reference values for bladder wall thickness on CT in a healthy population.

PubMed

Fananapazir, Ghaneh; Kitich, Aleksandar; Lamba, Ramit; Stewart, Susan L; Corwin, Michael T

2018-02-01

To determine normal bladder wall thickness on CT in patients without bladder disease. Four hundred and nineteen patients presenting for trauma with normal CTs of the abdomen and pelvis were included in our retrospective study. Bladder wall thickness was assessed, and bladder volume was measured using both the ellipsoid formula and an automated technique. Patient age, gender, and body mass index were recorded. Linear regression models were created to account for bladder volume, age, gender, and body mass index, and the multiple correlation coefficient with bladder wall thickness was computed. Bladder volume and bladder wall thickness were log-transformed to achieve approximate normality and homogeneity of variance. Variables that did not contribute substantively to the model were excluded, and a parsimonious model was created and the multiple correlation coefficient was calculated. Expected bladder wall thickness was estimated for different bladder volumes, and 1.96 standard deviation above expected provided the upper limit of normal on the log scale. Age, gender, and bladder volume were associated with bladder wall thickness (p = 0.049, 0.024, and < 0.001, respectively). The linear regression model had an R 2 of 0.52. Age and gender were negligible in contribution to the model, and a parsimonious model using only volume was created for both the ellipsoid and automated volumes (R 2  = 0.52 and 0.51, respectively). Bladder wall thickness correlates with bladder wall volume. The study provides reference bladder wall thicknesses on CT utilizing both the ellipsoid formula and automated bladder volumes.

Monogamy of quantum steering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milne, Antony; Jennings, David; Jevtic, Sania; Rudolph, Terry; Wiseman, Howard

The quantum steering ellipsoid formalism naturally extends the Bloch vector picture for qubits to provide a visualisation of two-qubit systems. If Alice and Bob share a correlated state then a local measurement by Bob steers Alice's qubit inside the Bloch sphere; given all possible measurements by Bob, the set of states to which Alice can be steered form her steering ellipsoid. We apply the formalism to a three-party scenario and find that steering ellipsoid volumes obey a simple monogamy relation. This gives us a novel derivation of the well-known CKW (Coffman-Kundu-Wootters) inequality for entanglement monogamy. The geometric perspective also identifies a new measure of quantum correlation, `obesity', and a set of `maximally obese' states that saturate the steering monogamy bound. These states are found to have extremal quantum correlation properties that are significant in the steering ellipsoid picture and for the study of two-qubit states in general.

Dimensional analysis of the endometrial cavity: how many dimensions should the ideal intrauterine device or system have?

PubMed

Goldstuck, Norman D

2018-01-01

The geometrical shape of the human uterus most closely approximates that of a prolate ellipsoid. The endometrial cavity itself is more likely to also have the shape of a prolate ellipsoid especially when the extension of the cervix is omitted. Using this information and known endometrial cavity volumes and lateral and vertical dimensions, it is possible to calculate the anteroposterior (AP) dimensions and get a complete evaluation of all possible dimensions of the endometrial cavity. These are singular observations and not part of any other study. The AP dimensions of the endometrial cavity of the uterus were calculated using the formula for the volume of the prolate ellipsoid to complete a three-dimensional picture of the endometrial cavity. Calculations confirm ultrasound imaging which shows large variations in cavity size and shape. Known cavity volumes and length and breadth measurements indicate that the AP diameter may vary from 6.29 to 38.2 mm. These measurements confirm the difficulty of getting a fixed-frame intrauterine device (IUD) to accommodate to a space of highly variable dimensions. This is especially true of three-dimension IUDs. A one-dimensional frameless IUD is most likely to be able to conform to this highly variable space and shape. The endometrial cavity may assume many varied prolate ellipsoid configurations where one or more measurements may be too small to accommodate standard IUDs. A one-dimensional device is most likely to be able to be accommodated by most uterine cavities as compared to two- and three-dimensional devices.

Three-dimensional imaging of the ultracold plasma formed in a supersonic molecular beam

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

Schulz-Weiling, Markus; Grant, Edward

Double-resonant excitation of nitric oxide in a seeded supersonic molecular beam forms a state-selected Rydberg gas that evolves to form an ultracold plasma. This plasma travels with the propagation of the molecular beam in z over a variable distance as great as 600 mm to strike an imaging detector, which records the charge distribution in the dimensions, x and y. The ω{sub 1} + ω{sub 2} laser crossed molecular beam excitation geometry convolutes the axial Gaussian distribution of NO in the molecular beam with the Gaussian intensity distribution of the perpendicularly aligned laser beam to create an ellipsoidal volume of Rydbergmore » gas. Detected images describe the evolution of this initial density as a function of selected Rydberg gas initial principal quantum number, n{sub 0}, ω{sub 1} laser pulse energy (linearly related to Rydberg gas density, ρ{sub 0}) and flight time. Low-density Rydberg gases of lower principal quantum number produce uniformly expanding, ellipsoidal charge-density distributions. Increase either of n{sub 0} or ρ{sub 0} breaks the ellipsoidal symmetry of plasma expansion. The volume bifurcates to form repelling plasma volumes. The velocity of separation depends on n{sub 0} and ρ{sub 0} in a way that scales uniformly with ρ{sub e}, the density of electrons formed in the core of the Rydberg gas by prompt Penning ionization. Conditions under which this electron gas drives expansion in the long axis dimension of the ellipsoid favours the formation of counter-propagating shock waves.« less

Novel semi-automated kidney volume measurements in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PubMed

Muto, Satoru; Kawano, Haruna; Isotani, Shuji; Ide, Hisamitsu; Horie, Shigeo

2018-06-01

We assessed the effectiveness and convenience of a novel semi-automatic kidney volume (KV) measuring high-speed 3D-image analysis system SYNAPSE VINCENT ® (Fuji Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. We developed a novel semi-automated KV measurement software for patients with ADPKD to be included in the imaging analysis software SYNAPSE VINCENT ® . The software extracts renal regions using image recognition software and measures KV (VINCENT KV). The algorithm was designed to work with the manual designation of a long axis of a kidney including cysts. After using the software to assess the predictive accuracy of the VINCENT method, we performed an external validation study and compared accurate KV and ellipsoid KV based on geometric modeling by linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. Median eGFR was 46.9 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . Median accurate KV, Vincent KV and ellipsoid KV were 627.7, 619.4 ml (IQR 431.5-947.0) and 694.0 ml (IQR 488.1-1107.4), respectively. Compared with ellipsoid KV (r = 0.9504), Vincent KV correlated strongly with accurate KV (r = 0.9968), without systematic underestimation or overestimation (ellipsoid KV; 14.2 ± 22.0%, Vincent KV; - 0.6 ± 6.0%). There were no significant slice thickness-specific differences (p = 0.2980). The VINCENT method is an accurate and convenient semi-automatic method to measure KV in patients with ADPKD compared with the conventional ellipsoid method.

How Accurate Are We in Estimating True Stone Volume? A Comparison of Water Displacement, Ellipsoid Formula, and a CT-Based Software Tool.

PubMed

Jain, Rajat; Omar, Mohamed; Chaparala, Hemant; Kahn, Adam; Li, Jianbo; Kahn, Leonard; Sivalingam, Sri

2018-04-23

To compare the accuracy and reliability of stone volume estimated by ellipsoid formula (EFv) and CT-based algorithm (CTv) to true volume (TV) by water displacement in an in vitro model. Ninety stone phantoms were created using clay (0.5-40 cm 3 , 814 HU ±91) and scanned with CT. For each stone, TV was measured by water displacement, CTv was calculated by the region-growing algorithm in the CT-based software AGFA IMPAX Volume Viewer, and EFv was calculated by the standard formula π × L × W × H × 0.167. All measurements were repeated thrice, and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was calculated for the whole group, as well as subgroups based on volume (<1.5 cm 3 , 1.5-6 cm 3 , and >6 cm 3 ). Mean TV, CTv, and EFv were 6.42 cm 3  ± 6.57 (range: 0.5-39.37 cm 3 ), 6.24 cm 3  ± 6.15 (0.48-36.1 cm 3 ), and 8.98 cm 3  ± 9.96 (0.49-47.05 cm 3 ), respectively. When comparing TV to CTv, CCC was 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99-0.995), indicating excellent agreement, although TV was slightly underestimated at larger volumes. When comparing TV to EFv, CCC was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.86), indicating poor agreement. EFv tended to overestimate the TV, especially as stone volume increased beyond 1.5 cm 3 , and there was a significant spread between trials. An automated CT-based algorithm more accurately and reliably estimates stone volume than does the ellipsoid formula. While further research is necessary to validate stone volume as a surrogate for stone burden, CT-based algorithmic volume measurement of urinary stones is a promising technology.

The mechanics of unrest at Long Valley caldera, California: 1. Modeling the geometry of the source using GPS, leveling and two-color EDM data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Battaglia, Maurizio; Segall, P.; Murray, J.; Cervelli, Peter; Langbein, J.

2003-01-01

We surveyed 44 existing leveling monuments in Long Valley caldera in July 1999, using dual frequency global positioning system (GPS) receivers. We have been able to tie GPS and leveling to a common reference frame in the Long Valley area and computed the vertical deformation by differencing GPS-based and leveled orthometric heights. The resurgent dome uplifted 74??7 cm from 1975 to 1999. To define the inflation source, we invert two-color EDM and uplift data from the 1985-1999 unrest period using spherical or ellipsoidal sources. We find that the ellipsoidal source satisfies both the vertical and horizontal deformation data, whereas the spherical point source cannot. According to our analysis of the 1985-1999 data, the main source of deformation is a prolate ellipsoid located beneath the resurgent dome at a depth of 5.9 km (95% bounds of 4.9-7.5 km). This body is vertically elongated, has an aspect ratio of 0.475 (95% bounds are 0.25-0.65) and a volume change of 0.086 km3 (95% bounds are 0.06-0.13 km3). Failure to account for the ellipsoidal nature of the source biases the estimated source depth by 2.1 km (35%), and the source volume by 0.038 km3 (44%). ?? 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Feasibility study of modern airships, phase 1. Volume 2: Parametric analysis (task 3). [lift, weight (mass)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lancaster, J. W.

1975-01-01

Various types of lighter-than-air vehicles from fully buoyant to semibuoyant hybrids were examined. Geometries were optimized for gross lifting capabilities for ellipsoidal airships, modified delta planform lifting bodies, and a short-haul, heavy-lift vehicle concept. It is indicated that: (1) neutrally buoyant airships employing a conservative update of materials and propulsion technology provide significant improvements in productivity; (2) propulsive lift for VTOL and aerodynamic lift for cruise significantly improve the productivity of low to medium gross weight ellipsoidal airships; and (3) the short-haul, heavy-lift vehicle, consisting of a simple combination of an ellipsoidal airship hull and existing helicopter componentry, provides significant potential for low-cost, near-term applications for ultra-heavy lift missions.

A dynamic measure of controllability and observability for the placement of actuators and sensors on large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandervelde, W. E.; Carignan, C. R.

1982-01-01

The degree of controllability of a large space structure is found by a four step procedure: (1) finding the minimum control energy for driving the system from a given initial state to the origin in the prescribed time; (2) finding the region of initial state which can be driven to the origin with constrained control energy and time using optimal control strategy; (3) scaling the axes so that a unit displacement in every direction is equally important to control; and (4) finding the linear measurement of the weighted "volume" of the ellipsoid in the equicontrol space. For observability, the error covariance must be reduced toward zero using measurements optimally, and the criterion must be standardized by the magnitude of tolerable errors. The results obtained using these methods are applied to the vibration modes of a free-free beam.

Small-Body Extensions for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carnright, Robert; Stodden, David; Coggi, John

2008-01-01

An extension to the SOAP software allows users to work with tri-axial ellipsoid-based representations of planetary bodies, primarily for working with small, natural satellites, asteroids, and comets. SOAP is a widely used tool for the visualization and analysis of space missions. The small body extension provides the same visualization and analysis constructs for use with small bodies. These constructs allow the user to characterize satellite path and instrument cover information for small bodies in both 3D display and numerical output formats. Tri-axial ellipsoids are geometric shapes the diameters of which are different in each of three principal x, y, and z dimensions. This construct provides a better approximation than using spheres or oblate spheroids (ellipsoids comprising two common equatorial diameters as a distinct polar diameter). However, the tri-axial ellipsoid is considerably more difficult to work with from a modeling perspective. In addition, the SOAP small-body extensions allow the user to actually employ a plate model for highly irregular surfaces. Both tri-axial ellipsoids and plate models can be assigned to coordinate frames, thus allowing for the modeling of arbitrary changes to body orientation. A variety of features have been extended to support tri-axial ellipsoids, including the computation and display of the spacecraft sub-orbital point, ground trace, instrument footprints, and swathes. Displays of 3D instrument volumes can be shown interacting with the ellipsoids. Longitude/latitude grids, contour plots, and texture maps can be displayed on the ellipsoids using a variety of projections. The distance along an arbitrary line of sight can be computed between the spacecraft and the ellipsoid, and the coordinates of that intersection can be plotted as a function of time. The small-body extension supports the same visual and analytical constructs that are supported for spheres and oblate spheroids in SOAP making the implementation of the more complex algorithms largely transparent to the user.

New configuration factors for curved surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabeza-Lainez, Jose M.; Pulido-Arcas, Jesus A.

2013-03-01

Curved surfaces have not been thoroughly considered in radiative transfer analysis mainly due to the difficulties arisen in the integration process and perhaps because of the lack of spatial vision of the researchers. It is a fact, especially for architectural lighting, that when concave geometries appear inside a curved space, they are mostly avoided. In this way, a vast repertoire of significant forms is neglected and energy waste is evident. Starting from the properties of volumes enclosed by the minimum number of surfaces, the authors formulate, with little calculus, new simple laws, which enable them to discover a set of configuration factors for caps and various segments of the sphere. The procedure is subsequently extended to previously unimagined surfaces as the paraboloid, the ellipsoid or the cone. Appropriate combination of the said forms with right truncated cones produces several complex volumes, often used in architectural and engineering creations and whose radiative performance could not be accurately predicted for decades. To complete the research, a new method for determining interreflections in curved volumes is also presented. Radiative transfer simulation benefits from these findings, as the simplicity of the results has led the authors to create innovative software more efficient for design and evaluation and applicable to emerging fields like LED lighting.

Fundamental aspects in quantitative ultrasonic determination of fracture toughness: The scattering of a single ellipsoidal inhomogeneity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fu, L. S. W.

1982-01-01

The scattering of a single ellipsoidal inhomogeneity is studied via an eigenstrain approach. The displacement field is given in terms of volume integrals that involve eigenstrains that are related to mismatch in mass density and that in elastic moduli. The governing equations for these unknown eigenstrains are derived. Agreement with other approaches for the scattering problem is shown. The formulation is general and both the inhomogeneity and the host medium can be anisotrophic. The axisymmetric scattering of an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity in a linear elastic isotropic medium is given as an example. The angular and frequency dependence of the scattered displacement field, the differential and total cross sections are formally given in series expansions for the case of uniformly distributed eigenstrains.

Somatosensory attunement to the rigid body laws.

PubMed

Shockley, K; Grocki, M; Carello, C; Turvey, M T

2001-01-01

In the most general case, haptic perception of an object's heaviness is most likely the perception of the object's resistance to movement, determined jointly by the object's mass and mass distribution. In two experiments with occluded objects wielded freely in three dimensions, we showed additive effects on perceived heaviness of mass and the inertia tensor. Our manipulations of the inertia tensor were directed specifically at the volume and symmetry of the inertia ellipsoid, quantities that can be understood as important to controlling the level and patterning of muscular forces, respectively. Ellipsoid volume and symmetry were found to have separate effects on perceptual reports of heaviness that were invariant over different tensors. Independent sensitivities to translational inertia and particular characterizations of rotational inertia suggest specialized somatosensory attunement to the rigid body laws.

A study of shape-dependent partial volume correction in pet imaging using ellipsoidal phantoms fabricated via rapid prototyping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mille, Matthew M.

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is being increasingly recognized as an important tool for quantitative assessment of tumor response because of its ability to capture functional information about the tumor's metabolism. However, despite many advances in PET technology, measurements of tumor radiopharmaceutical uptake in PET are still challenged by issues of accuracy and consistency, thereby compromising the use of PET as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials. One limiting component of the overall uncertainty in PET is the relatively poor spatial resolution of the images which directly affects the accuracy of the tumor radioactivity measurements. These spatial resolution effects, colloquially known as the partial volume effect (PVE), are a function of the characteristics of the scanner as well as the tumor being imaged. Previous efforts have shown that the PVE depends strongly on the tumor volume and the background-to-tumor activity concentration ratio. The PVE is also suspected to be a function of tumor shape, although to date no systematic study of this effect has been performed. This dissertation seeks to help fill the gap in the current knowledge about the shape-dependence of the PVE by attempting to quantify, through both theoretical calculation and experimental measurement, the magnitude of the shape effect for ellipsoidal tumors. An experimental investigation of the tumor shape effect necessarily requires tumor phantoms of multiple shapes. Hence, a prerequisite for this research was the design and fabrication of hollow tumor phantoms which could be filled uniformly with radioactivity and imaged on a PET scanner. The phantom fabrication was achieved with the aid of stereolithography and included prolate ellipsoids of various axis ratios. The primary experimental method involved filling the tumor phantoms with solutions of 18F whose activity concentrations were known and traceable to primary radioactivity standards held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The tumor phantoms were then placed inside a Jaszczak cylinder (representing the human body) and imaged on a PET scanner located at NIST. This experimental approach allowed for the testing of: (1) The relative difference between tumors phantoms of different shapes, but same volume; (2) The overall accuracy of the PET measurements in terms of a ground truth reference value. Theoretical calculations of the tumor shape effect were also performed by mathematically convolving the phantom shapes with a 3D Gaussian point-spread function, and the results of the calculations were compared with the experimental data. The data show that the shape effect in PET tumor imaging can be as large as 15% for ellipsoid phantoms with axis ratios of 2:1, volume of 1.15 cm 3, and tumor-to-background activity concentration ratio of 9:1. This is explained by a greater loss of counts along the minor axis direction in the ellipsoid tumors compared to that of spheres of the same volume. The results of this PhD research confirm the existence of a tumor shape effect PET imaging. However, except in the case of ellipsoids with major-to-minor axis ratio greater than 2:1, a correction for the effect using recovery coefficients is expected to be challenging because its magnitude is comparable to the repeatability of the PET measurements.

Electroencephalography in ellipsoidal geometry with fourth-order harmonics.

PubMed

Alcocer-Sosa, M; Gutierrez, D

2016-08-01

We present a solution to the electroencephalographs (EEG) forward problem of computing the scalp electric potentials for the case when the head's geometry is modeled using a four-shell ellipsoidal geometry and the brain sources with an equivalent current dipole (ECD). The proposed solution includes terms up to the fourth-order ellipsoidal harmonics and we compare this new approximation against those that only considered up to second- and third-order harmonics. Our comparisons use as reference a solution in which a tessellated volume approximates the head and the forward problem is solved through the boundary element method (BEM). We also assess the solution to the inverse problem of estimating the magnitude of an ECD through different harmonic approximations. Our results show that the fourth-order solution provides a better estimate of the ECD in comparison to lesser order ones.

Relations between Brain Structure and Attentional Function in Spina Bifida: Utilization of Robust Statistical Approaches

PubMed Central

Kulesz, Paulina A.; Tian, Siva; Juranek, Jenifer; Fletcher, Jack M.; Francis, David J.

2015-01-01

Objective Weak structure-function relations for brain and behavior may stem from problems in estimating these relations in small clinical samples with frequently occurring outliers. In the current project, we focused on the utility of using alternative statistics to estimate these relations. Method Fifty-four children with spina bifida meningomyelocele performed attention tasks and received MRI of the brain. Using a bootstrap sampling process, the Pearson product moment correlation was compared with four robust correlations: the percentage bend correlation, the Winsorized correlation, the skipped correlation using the Donoho-Gasko median, and the skipped correlation using the minimum volume ellipsoid estimator Results All methods yielded similar estimates of the relations between measures of brain volume and attention performance. The similarity of estimates across correlation methods suggested that the weak structure-function relations previously found in many studies are not readily attributable to the presence of outlying observations and other factors that violate the assumptions behind the Pearson correlation. Conclusions Given the difficulty of assembling large samples for brain-behavior studies, estimating correlations using multiple, robust methods may enhance the statistical conclusion validity of studies yielding small, but often clinically significant, correlations. PMID:25495830

Relations between volumetric measures of brain structure and attentional function in spina bifida: utilization of robust statistical approaches.

PubMed

Kulesz, Paulina A; Tian, Siva; Juranek, Jenifer; Fletcher, Jack M; Francis, David J

2015-03-01

Weak structure-function relations for brain and behavior may stem from problems in estimating these relations in small clinical samples with frequently occurring outliers. In the current project, we focused on the utility of using alternative statistics to estimate these relations. Fifty-four children with spina bifida meningomyelocele performed attention tasks and received MRI of the brain. Using a bootstrap sampling process, the Pearson product-moment correlation was compared with 4 robust correlations: the percentage bend correlation, the Winsorized correlation, the skipped correlation using the Donoho-Gasko median, and the skipped correlation using the minimum volume ellipsoid estimator. All methods yielded similar estimates of the relations between measures of brain volume and attention performance. The similarity of estimates across correlation methods suggested that the weak structure-function relations previously found in many studies are not readily attributable to the presence of outlying observations and other factors that violate the assumptions behind the Pearson correlation. Given the difficulty of assembling large samples for brain-behavior studies, estimating correlations using multiple, robust methods may enhance the statistical conclusion validity of studies yielding small, but often clinically significant, correlations. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved.

Estimation of feline renal volume using computed tomography and ultrasound.

PubMed

Tyson, Reid; Logsdon, Stacy A; Werre, Stephen R; Daniel, Gregory B

2013-01-01

Renal volume estimation is an important parameter for clinical evaluation of kidneys and research applications. A time efficient, repeatable, and accurate method for volume estimation is required. The purpose of this study was to describe the accuracy of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) for estimating feline renal volume. Standardized ultrasound and CT scans were acquired for kidneys of 12 cadaver cats, in situ. Ultrasound and CT multiplanar reconstructions were used to record renal length measurements that were then used to calculate volume using the prolate ellipsoid formula for volume estimation. In addition, CT studies were reconstructed at 1 mm, 5 mm, and 1 cm, and transferred to a workstation where the renal volume was calculated using the voxel count method (hand drawn regions of interest). The reference standard kidney volume was then determined ex vivo using water displacement with the Archimedes' principle. Ultrasound measurement of renal length accounted for approximately 87% of the variability in renal volume for the study population. The prolate ellipsoid formula exhibited proportional bias and underestimated renal volume by a median of 18.9%. Computed tomography volume estimates using the voxel count method with hand-traced regions of interest provided the most accurate results, with increasing accuracy for smaller voxel sizes in grossly normal kidneys (-10.1 to 0.6%). Findings from this study supported the use of CT and the voxel count method for estimating feline renal volume in future clinical and research studies. © 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.

The determination of the elastodynamic fields of an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fu, L. S.; Mura, T.

1983-01-01

The determination of the elastodynamic fields of an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity is studied in detail via the eigenstrain approach. A complete formulation and a treatment of both types of eigenstrains for equivalence between the inhomogeneity problem and the inclusion problem are given. This approach is shown to be mathematically identical to other approaches such as the direct volume integral formulation. Expanding the eigenstrains and applied strains in the polynomial form in the position vector and satisfying the equivalence conditions at every point, the governing simultaneous algebraic equations for the unknown coefficients in the eigenstrain expansion are derived. The elastodynamic field outside an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity in a linear elastic isotropic medium is given as an example. The angular and frequency dependence of the induced displacement field, as well as the differential and total cross sections are formally given in series expansion form for the case of uniformly distributed eigenstrains.

Low thrust chemical orbit to orbit propulsion system propellant management study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dergance, R. H.; Hamlyn, K. M.; Tegart, J. R.

1981-01-01

Low thrust chemical propulsion systems were sized for transfer of large space systems from LEO to GEO. The influence of propellant combination, tankage and insulation requirements, and propellant management techniques on the LTPS mass and volume were studied. Liquid oxygen combined with hydrogen, methane or kerosene were the propellant combinations. Thrust levels of 445, 2230, and 4450 N were combined with 1, 4 and 8 perigee burn strategies. This matrix of systems was evaluated using multilayer insulation and spray-on-foam insulation systems. Various combinations of toroidal, cylindrical with ellipsoidal domes, and ellipsoidal tank shapes were investigated. Results indicate that low thrust (445 N) and single perigee burn approaches are considerably less efficient than the higher thrust level and multiple burn strategies. A modified propellant settling approach minimized propellant residuals and decreased system complexity, in addition, the toroid/ellipsoidal tank combination was predicted to be shortest.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: is MRI surveillance improved by region of interest volumetry?

PubMed

Riley, Garan T; Armitage, Paul A; Batty, Ruth; Griffiths, Paul D; Lee, Vicki; McMullan, John; Connolly, Daniel J A

2015-02-01

Paediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is noteworthy for its fibrillary infiltration through neuroparenchyma and its resultant irregular shape. Conventional volumetry methods aim to approximate such irregular tumours to a regular ellipse, which could be less accurate when assessing treatment response on surveillance MRI. Region-of-interest (ROI) volumetry methods, using manually traced tumour profiles on contiguous imaging slices and subsequent computer-aided calculations, may prove more reliable. To evaluate whether the reliability of MRI surveillance of DIPGs can be improved by the use of ROI-based volumetry. We investigated the use of ROI- and ellipsoid-based methods of volumetry for paediatric DIPGs in a retrospective review of 22 MRI examinations. We assessed the inter- and intraobserver variability of the two methods when performed by four observers. ROI- and ellipsoid-based methods strongly correlated for all four observers. The ROI-based volumes showed slightly better agreement both between and within observers than the ellipsoid-based volumes (inter-[intra-]observer agreement 89.8% [92.3%] and 83.1% [88.2%], respectively). Bland-Altman plots show tighter limits of agreement for the ROI-based method. Both methods are reproducible and transferrable among observers. ROI-based volumetry appears to perform better with greater intra- and interobserver agreement for complex-shaped DIPG.

A mixed reality approach for stereo-tomographic quantification of lung nodules.

PubMed

Chen, Mianyi; Kalra, Mannudeep K; Yun, Wenbing; Cong, Wenxiang; Yang, Qingsong; Nguyen, Terry; Wei, Biao; Wang, Ge

2016-05-25

To reduce the radiation dose and the equipment cost associated with lung CT screening, in this paper we propose a mixed reality based nodule measurement method with an active shutter stereo imaging system. Without involving hundreds of projection views and subsequent image reconstruction, we generated two projections of an iteratively placed ellipsoidal volume in the field of view and merging these synthetic projections with two original CT projections. We then demonstrated the feasibility of measuring the position and size of a nodule by observing whether projections of an ellipsoidal volume and the nodule are overlapped from a human observer's visual perception through the active shutter 3D vision glasses. The average errors of measured nodule parameters are less than 1 mm in the simulated experiment with 8 viewers. Hence, it could measure real nodules accurately in the experiments with physically measured projections.

Estimation procedures for understory biomass and fuel loads in sagebrush steppe invaded by woodlands

Treesearch

Alicia L. Reiner; Robin J. Tausch; Roger F. Walker

2010-01-01

Regression equations were developed to predict biomass for 9 shrubs, 9 grasses, and 10 forbs that generally dominate sagebrush ecosystems in central Nevada. Independent variables included percent cover, average height, and plant volume. We explored 2 ellipsoid volumes: one with maximum plant height and 2 crown diameters and another with live crown height and 2 crown...

CT-based renal volume and graft function after living-donor kidney transplantation: Is there a volume threshold to avoid?

PubMed

Dias, Jorge; Malheiro, Jorge; Almeida, Manuela; Dias, Leonídio; Silva-Ramos, Miguel; Martins, La Salete; Xambre, Luís; Castro-Henriques, António

2015-05-01

Donated kidney volume influences post-transplant outcomes and graft survival. We evaluated the relationship between living-donor kidney volume and recipient graft function at 12 months post-transplantation, exploring a volume threshold for a suboptimal graft function, and compared two different formulas of volume estimation. A retrospective analysis of 82 pairs of living-donor kidney transplants was conducted. Donor renal volumes were estimated from computerized tomography scans using the ellipsoid formula and the voxel counting technique. Linear and restricted cubic regression spline was used to analyze the association of volume with graft function. Additionally, we determined the correlation between the two volume estimation formulas and established a correction factor for the ellipsoid formula. Renal volume (adjusted to recipient BSA) had the strongest independent effect (B = 1.65 per 10 ml/m(2) increase, p value <0.001) on graft function at 12 months. The eGFR at 12 months was 52.5, 63.6 and 67.6 ml/min/1.73 m(2) for the low, medium and high volume ratio terciles, respectively (p value <0.001). The odds of a GFR <50 ml/min became significantly reduced with volumes above 145 cc/1.73 m(2). A strong positive correlation between the two formulas was identified (R(2) = 0.705), but the optimal correction factor for our cohort was 0.566. In a Caucasian population, higher donor kidney volumes estimated from preoperative CT scans are associated with higher recipient eGFRs at 12 months after live-donor transplantation. Using this criterion, transplant teams can potentially improve selection of living donors if multiple donors are available. However, the need for precise estimation of donor kidney volumes should not be overlooked.

Accuracy and Feasibility of Estimated Tumour Volumetry in Primary Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours: Validation Using Semi-automated Technique in 127 Patients

PubMed Central

Tirumani, Sree Harsha; Shinagare, Atul B.; O’Neill, Ailbhe C.; Nishino, Mizuki; Rosenthal, Michael H.; Ramaiya, Nikhil H.

2015-01-01

Objective To validate estimated tumour volumetry in primary gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) using semi-automated volumetry. Materials and Methods In this IRB-approved retrospective study, we measured the three longest diameters in x, y, z axes on CTs of primary gastric GISTs in 127 consecutive patients (52 women, 75 men, mean age: 61 years) at our institute between 2000 and 2013. Segmented volumes (Vsegmented) were obtained using commercial software by two radiologists. Estimate volumes (V1–V6) were obtained using formulae for spheres and ellipsoids. Intra- and inter-observer agreement of Vsegmented and agreement of V1–6 with Vsegmented were analysed with concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results Median Vsegmented and V1–V6 were 75.9 cm3, 124.9 cm3, 111.6 cm3, 94.0 cm3, 94.4cm3, 61.7 cm3 and 80.3 cm3 respectively. There was strong intra- and inter-observer agreement for Vsegmented. Agreement with Vsegmented was highest for V6 (scalene ellipsoid, x≠y≠z), with CCC of 0.96 [95%CI: 0.95–0.97]. Mean relative difference was smallest for V6 (0.6%), while it was −19.1% for V5, +14.5% for V4, +17.9% for V3, +32.6 % for V2 and +47% for V1. Conclusion Ellipsoidal approximations of volume using three measured axes may be used to closely estimate Vsegmented when semi-automated techniques are unavailable. PMID:25991487

A mathematical characterization of vegetation effect on microwave remote sensing from the Earth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choe, Y.; Tsang, L.

1983-01-01

In passive microwave remote sensing of the earth, a theoretical model that utilizes the radiative transfer equations was developed to account for the volume scattering effects of the vegetation canopy. Vegetation canopies such as alfalfa, sorghum, and corn are simulated by a layer of ellipsoidal scatterers and cylindrical structures. The ellipsoidal scatterers represent the leaves of vegetation and are randomly positioned and oriented. The orientation of ellipsoids is characterized by a probability density function of Eulerian angles of rotation. The cylindrical structures represent the stalks of vegetation and their radii are assumed to be much smaller than their lengths. The underlying soil is represented by a half-space medium with a homogeneous permittivity and uniform temperature profile. The radiative transfer quations are solved by a numerical method using a Gaussian quadrature formula to compute both the vertical and horizontal polarized brightness temperature as a function of observation angle. The theory was applied to the interpretation of experimental data obtained from sorghum covered fields near College Station, Texas.

Simulation of the electromagnetic field in a cylindrical cavity of an ECR ions source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estupiñán, A.; Orozco, E. A.; Dugar-Zhabon, V. D.; Murillo Acevedo, M. T.

2017-12-01

Now there are numerous sources for multicharged ions production, each being designed for certain science or technological objectives. Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRIS) are best suited for designing heavy ion accelerators of very high energies, because they can generate multicharged ion beams at relatively great intensities. In these sources, plasma heating and its confinement are effected predominantly in minimum-B magnetic traps, this type of magnetic trap consist of two current coils used for the longitudinal magnetic confinement and a hexapole system around the cavity to generate a transversal confinement of the plasma. In an ECRIS, the electron cyclotron frequency and the microwave frequency are maintained equal on a quasi-ellipsoidal surface localized in the trap volume. It is crucial to heat electrons to energies sufficient to ionize K- and L-levels of heavy atoms. In this work, we present the preliminary numerical results concerning the space distribution of TE 111 microwave field in a cylindrical cavity. The 3D microwave field is calculated by solving the Maxwell equations through the Yee’s method. The magnetic field of minimum-B configuration is determined using the Biot-Savart law. The parameters of the magnetic system are that which guarantee the ECR surface location in a zone of a reasonably high microwave tension. Additionally, the accuracy of electric and magnetic fields calculations are checked.

Particle shape impacts export and fate in the ocean through interactions with the globally abundant appendicularian Oikopleura dioica.

PubMed

Conley, Keats R; Sutherland, Kelly R

2017-01-01

Marine microbes exhibit highly varied, often non-spherical shapes that have functional significance for essential processes, including nutrient acquisition and sinking rates. There is a surprising absence of data, however, on how cell shape affects grazing, which is crucial for predicting the fate of oceanic carbon. We used synthetic spherical and prolate spheroid microbeads to isolate the effect of particle length-to-width ratios on grazing and fate in the ocean. Here we show that the shape of microbe-sized particles affects predation by the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica, a globally abundant marine grazer. Using incubation experiments, we demonstrate that shape affects how particles are retained in the house and that the minimum particle diameter is the key variable determining how particles are ingested. High-speed videography revealed the mechanism behind these results: microbe-sized spheroids oriented with the long axis parallel to fluid streamlines, matching the speed and tortuosity of spheres of equivalent width. Our results suggest that the minimum particle diameter determines how elongated prey interact with the feeding-filters of appendicularians, which may help to explain the prevalence of ellipsoidal cells in the ocean, since a cell's increased surface-to-volume ratio does not always increase predation. We provide the first evidence that grazing by appendicularians can cause non-uniform export of different shaped particles, thereby influencing particle fate.

The surfaces of Larissa and Proteus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stooke, Philip J.

1994-01-01

Topographic models of Neptune's small inner satellites Larissa and Proteus were derived from the shapes of limbs and terminators in Voyager images, modified locally to accomodate large craters and ridges. The models are presented here in tabular and graphic form, including the first map of Larissa and the first detailed relief map of Proteus. The shape of Larissa is approximated by a triaxial ellipsoid with axes of 208, 192 and 178 km, but is only weakly constrained by the single available view. The volume is estimated to be 3.5 +/- 1.0 x 106cu km. The surface is heavily cratered and may be crossed by one or two poorly seen linear ridges. Proteus is approximated by a triaxial ellipsoid with axes of 424, 390 and 396 km (the latter being the rotation axis dimension). The volume is estimated to be 3.4 +/- 0.4 x 107 cu km. Its surface appears to be very heavily cratered and extensive evidence for linear fractures is observed despite very low image quality.

Assessment of shock wave lithotripters via cavitation potential

PubMed Central

Iloreta, Jonathan I.; Zhou, Yufeng; Sankin, Georgy N.; Zhong, Pei; Szeri, Andrew J.

2008-01-01

A method to characterize shock wave lithotripters by examining the potential for cavitation associated with the lithotripter shock wave (LSW) has been developed. The method uses the maximum radius achieved by a bubble subjected to a LSW as a representation of the cavitation potential for that region in the lithotripter. It is found that the maximum radius is determined by the work done on a bubble by the LSW. The method is used to characterize two reflectors: an ellipsoidal reflector and an ellipsoidal reflector with an insert. The results show that the use of an insert reduced the −6 dB volume (with respect to peak positive pressure) from 1.6 to 0.4 cm3, the −6 dB volume (with respect to peak negative pressure) from 14.5 to 8.3 cm3, and reduced the volume characterized by high cavitation potential (i.e., regions characterized by bubbles with radii larger than 429 µm) from 103 to 26 cm3. Thus, the insert is an effective way to localize the potentially damaging effects of shock wave lithotripsy, and suggests an approach to optimize the shape of the reflector. PMID:19865493

3D ultrasonography is as accurate as low-dose CT in thyroid volumetry.

PubMed

Licht, K; Darr, A; Opfermann, T; Winkens, T; Freesmeyer, M

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare thyroid volumetry by three-dimensional mechanically swept ultrasonography (3DmsUS) and low-dose computed tomography (ldCT). 30 subjects referred for radioiodine therapy of benign thyroid diseases were subjected to 3DmsUS and ldCT. A prerequisite of 3DmsUS analyses was that the scans had to capture the entire thyroid, excluding therefore cases with a very large volume or retrosternal portions. The 3DmsUS data were transformed into a DICOM format, and volumetry calculations were performed via a multimodal workstation equipped with standard software for cross-sectional imaging. Volume was calculated applying both the ellipsoid model and a manually tracing method. Statistical analyses included 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the means and limits of agreement according to Bland and Altman, the latter including 95% of all expected values. Volumetric measurements by 3DmsUS and ldCT resulted in very high, significant correlation coefficients, r = 0.997 using the ellipsoid model and r = 0.993 with the manually tracing method. The mean relative differences of the two imaging modalities proved very small (-1.2±4.0% [95% CI -2.62; 0.28] using the ellipsoid model; -1.1±5.2% [95% CI -2.93; 0.80] using the manually tracing method) and the limits of agreement sufficiently narrow (-9.1% to 6.8%; -11.3% to 9.2%, respectively). For moderately enlarged thyroids, volumetry with 3DmsUS proved comparable to that of ldCT, irrespective of whether the ellipsoid model or the manually tracing method was applied. Thus, 3DmsUS qualifies as a potential alternative to ldCT, provided that the organ is completely accessible. The use of a standard workstation for cross-sectional imaging with routine software did not prove problematic.

Progression of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation and retinal changes during long-term follow-up.

PubMed

Compera, Denise; Schumann, Ricarda G; Cereda, Matteo G; Acquistapace, Alessandra; Lita, Viviane; Priglinger, Siegfried G; Staurenghi, Giovanni; Bottoni, Ferdinando

2018-01-01

To report on progression of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) in eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMH) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and to correlate with intraretinal changes and visual function. From a retrospectively reviewed series of 167 eyes with non-full-thickness macular holes, we exclusively included a subgroup of 34 eyes with LMH and LHEP by SD-OCT evaluation. In these eyes, area of LHEP, intraretinal changes of defect diameter, central retinal thickness, defects of the ellipsoid zone and occurrence of a contractive epiretinal membrane were analysed. Additionally, clinical data were documented. Area of LHEP significantly increased during a mean follow-up period of 40.5 months (median 52 months). Analysing intraretinal changes, a significant enlargement of minimum and maximum horizontal lamellar hole diameter was found that correlated with the area of LHEP. Defects of the ellipsoid zone were seen in 65% of the eyes at baseline and in 85% at the end of follow-up. Increase of maximum horizontal hole diameter and ellipsoid zone defects correlated with a decline of visual acuity. Fifty per cent of patients with LMH and LHEP also demonstrated extrafoveal typical contractive epiretinal membranes with retinal folds. Long-term follow-up revealed an increase of the area of LHEP in eyes with LMH that correlated with the enlargement of lamellar hole diameter and ellipsoid zone defects. Our data delineate the progression of intraretinal changes in association with a decline of visual function in this subgroup of LMH eyes. © 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.

Determination of effective electromagnetic parameters of concentrated suspensions of ellipsoidal particles using Generalized Differential Effective Medium approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markov, M.; Levin, V.; Markova, I.

2018-02-01

The paper presents an approach to determine the effective electromagnetic parameters of suspensions of ellipsoidal dielectric particles with surface conductivity. This approach takes into account the existence of critical porosity that corresponds to the maximum packing volume fraction of solid inclusions. The approach is based on the Generalized Differential Effective Medium (GDEM) method. We have introduced a model of suspensions containing ellipsoidal inclusions of two types. Inclusions of the first type (phase 1) represent solid grains, and inclusions of the second type (phase 2) contain material with the same physical properties as the host (phase 0). In this model, with increasing porosity the concentration of the host decreases, and it tends to zero near the critical porosity. The proposed model has been used to simulate the effective electromagnetic parameters of concentrated suspensions. We have compared the modeling results for electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity with the empirical equations. The results obtained have shown that the GDEM model describes the effective electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of suspensions in a wide range of inclusion concentrations.

Physical properties of the ESA Rosetta target asteroid (21) Lutetia. I. The triaxial ellipsoid dimensions, rotational pole, and bulk density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drummond, J. D.; Conrad, A.; Merline, W. J.; Carry, B.; Chapman, C. R.; Weaver, H. A.; Tamblyn, P. M.; Christou, J. C.; Dumas, C.

2010-11-01

Context. Asteroid (21) Lutetia was the target of the ESA Rosetta mission flyby in 2010 July. Aims: We seek the best size estimates of the asteroid, the direction of its spin axis, and its bulk density, assuming its shape is well described by a smooth featureless triaxial ellipsoid. We also aim to evaluate the deviations from this assumption. Methods: We derive these quantities from the outlines of the asteroid in 307 images of its resolved apparent disk obtained with adaptive optics (AO) at Keck II and VLT, and combine these with recent mass determinations to estimate a bulk density. Results: Our best triaxial ellipsoid diameters for Lutetia, based on our AO images alone, are a × b × c = 132 × 101 × 93 km, with uncertainties of 4 × 3 × 13 km including estimated systematics, with a rotational pole within 5° of ECJ2000 [λβ] = [45° - 7°] , or EQJ2000 [RA Dec] = [44° + 9°] . The AO model fit itself has internal precisions of 1 × 1 × 8 km, but it is evident both from this model derived from limited viewing aspects and the radius vector model given in a companion paper, that Lutetia significantly departs from an idealized ellipsoid. In particular, the long axis may be overestimated from the AO images alone by about 10 km. Therefore, we combine the best aspects of the radius vector and ellipsoid model into a hybrid ellipsoid model, as our final result, of diameters 124 ± 5 × 101 ± 4 × 93 ± 13 km that can be used to estimate volumes, sizes, and projected areas. The adopted pole position is within 5° of [λβ] = [52° - 6°] or [RA Dec] = [52° + 12°]. Conclusions: Using two separately determined masses and the volume of our hybrid model, we estimate a density of 3.5±1.1 or 4.3±0.8 g cm-3. From the density evidence alone, we argue that this favors an enstatite-chondrite composition, although other compositions are formally allowed at the extremes (low-porosity CV/CO carbonaceous chondrite or high-porosity metallic). We discuss this in the context of other evidence. Based on observations collected at the W. M. Keck Observatory and the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope (program ID:079.C-0493, PI: E. Dotto). The W. M. Keck Observatory is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

Cardiac cycle-dependent left atrial dynamics: implications for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Patel, Amit R; Fatemi, Omid; Norton, Patrick T; West, J Jason; Helms, Adam S; Kramer, Christopher M; Ferguson, John D

2008-06-01

Left atrial (LA) volume determines prognosis and response to therapy for atrial fibrillation. Integration of electroanatomic maps with three-dimensional images rendered from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to facilitate atrial fibrillation ablation. The purpose of this study was to measure LA volume changes and regional motion during the cardiac cycle that might affect the accuracy of image integration and to determine their relationship to standard LA volume measurements. MRI was performed in 30 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. LA time-volume curves were generated and used to divide LA ejection fraction into pumping ejection fraction and conduit ejection fraction and to determine maximum LA volume (LA(max)) and preatrial contraction volume. LA volume was measured using an MRI angiogram and traditional geometric models from echocardiography (area-length model and ellipsoid model). In-plane displacement of the pulmonary veins, anterior left atrium, mitral annulus, and LA appendage was measured. LA(max) was 107 +/- 36 mL and occurred at 42% +/- 5% of the R-R interval. Preatrial contraction volume was 86 +/- 34 mL and occurred at 81% +/- 4% of the R-R interval. LA ejection fraction was 45% +/- 10%, and pumping ejection fraction was 31% +/- 10%. LA volume measurements made from MRI angiogram, area-length model, and ellipsoid model underestimated LA(max) by 21 +/- 25 mL, 16 +/- 26 mL, and 35 +/- 22 mL, respectively. Anterior LA, mitral annulus, and LA appendage were significantly displaced during the cardiac cycle (8.8 +/- 2.0 mm, 13.2 +/- 3.8 mm, and 10.2 +/- 3.4 mm, respectively); the pulmonary veins were not displaced. LA volume changes significantly during the cardiac cycle, and substantial regional variation in LA motion exists. Standard measurements of LA volume significantly underestimate LA(max) compared to the gold standard measure of three-dimensional volumetrics.

Buried Object Classification using a Sediment Volume Imaging SAS and Electromagnetic Gradiometer

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

field data with simulated RTG data using AST’s in-house magnetic modeling tool EMAGINE . Given a set of input dipole moments, or pa- rameters to...approximate a moment by assuming the object is a prolate ellipsoid shell, EMAGINE uses Green’s func- tion formulations to generate three-component

Steering Bell-diagonal states

PubMed Central

Quan, Quan; Zhu, Huangjun; Liu, Si-Yuan; Fei, Shao-Ming; Fan, Heng; Yang, Wen-Li

2016-01-01

We investigate the steerability of two-qubit Bell-diagonal states under projective measurements by the steering party. In the simplest nontrivial scenario of two projective measurements, we solve this problem completely by virtue of the connection between the steering problem and the joint-measurement problem. A necessary and sufficient criterion is derived together with a simple geometrical interpretation. Our study shows that a Bell-diagonal state is steerable by two projective measurements iff it violates the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality, in sharp contrast with the strict hierarchy expected between steering and Bell nonlocality. We also introduce a steering measure and clarify its connections with concurrence and the volume of the steering ellipsoid. In particular, we determine the maximal concurrence and ellipsoid volume of Bell-diagonal states that are not steerable by two projective measurements. Finally, we explore the steerability of Bell-diagonal states under three projective measurements. A simple sufficient criterion is derived, which can detect the steerability of many states that are not steerable by two projective measurements. Our study offers valuable insight on steering of Bell-diagonal states as well as the connections between entanglement, steering, and Bell nonlocality. PMID:26911250

Linear Approximation to Optimal Control Allocation for Rocket Nozzles with Elliptical Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orr, Jeb S.; Wall, Johnm W.

2011-01-01

In this paper we present a straightforward technique for assessing and realizing the maximum control moment effectiveness for a launch vehicle with multiple constrained rocket nozzles, where elliptical deflection limits in gimbal axes are expressed as an ensemble of independent quadratic constraints. A direct method of determining an approximating ellipsoid that inscribes the set of attainable angular accelerations is derived. In the case of a parameterized linear generalized inverse, the geometry of the attainable set is computationally expensive to obtain but can be approximated to a high degree of accuracy with the proposed method. A linear inverse can then be optimized to maximize the volume of the true attainable set by maximizing the volume of the approximating ellipsoid. The use of a linear inverse does not preclude the use of linear methods for stability analysis and control design, preferred in practice for assessing the stability characteristics of the inertial and servoelastic coupling appearing in large boosters. The present techniques are demonstrated via application to the control allocation scheme for a concept heavy-lift launch vehicle.

Outer Retinal Assessment Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.

PubMed

Uchida, Atsuro; Pillai, Jagan A; Bermel, Robert; Bonner-Jackson, Aaron; Rae-Grant, Alexander; Fernandez, Hubert; Bena, James; Jones, Stephen E; Leverenz, James B; Srivastava, Sunil K; Ehlers, Justis P

2018-06-01

To investigate outer retinal parameters among patients with various chronic neurodegenerative disorders by using spectral-domain coherence tomography (OCT) in a prospective cross-sectional cohort study. A total of 132 participants were enrolled following a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation with neurologic, neuropsychology, and magnetic resonance imaging volumetric evaluations. Participants were 50 years or older, either diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), non-AD dementia, Parkinson's disease (PD), or age- and sex-matched controls. All participants underwent a macular cube scan for both eyes by using the Cirrus 4000 HD-OCT (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). The OCT image with the best quality was selected for further analysis. Outer retinal parameters including ellipsoid zone mapping and outer nuclear layer metrics were evaluated with a novel software platform. One hundred twenty-four eyes of 124 participants with AD dementia (24 eyes), amnestic MCI (22 eyes), non-AD dementia (20 eyes), PD (22 eyes), and age- and sex-matched controls (36 eyes) were included in the analysis. Eight eyes were excluded either due to the presence of macular disease or poor quality of the OCT image. The mean ages of participants were 65.9 ± 8.9 years. The outer retinal thickness measures did not show any statistical significance between the groups. However, ellipsoid zone to retinal pigment epithelium volume correlated with cognitive testing scores in all study participants. There were no identifiable differences in the outer retinal metrics across neurodegenerative disease groups and controls. The relationship between the degree of cognitive impairment and ellipsoid zone to retinal pigment epithelium volume warrants further study.

The mechanics of unrest at Long Valley caldera, California. 2. Constraining the nature of the source using geodetic and micro-gravity data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Battaglia, Maurizio; Segall, P.; Roberts, C.

2003-01-01

We model the source of inflation of Long Valley caldera by combining geodetic and micro-gravity data. Uplift from GPS and leveling, two-color EDM measurements, and residual gravity change determinations are used to estimate the intrusion geometry, assuming a vertical prolate ellipsoidal source. The U.S. Geological Survey occupied the Long Valley gravity network six times from 1980 to 1985. We reoccupied this network twice, in the summer of 1998 (33 stations), and the summer of 1999 (37 stations). Before gravity data can be used to estimate the density of the intrusion, they must be corrected for the effect of vertical deformation (the free-air effect) and changes in the water table. We use geostatistical techniques to interpolate uplift and water table changes at the gravity stations. The inflation source (a vertical prolate ellipsoid) is located 5.9 km beneath the resurgent dome with an aspect ratio equal to 0.475, a volume change from 1982 to 1999 of 0.136 km3 and a density of around 1700 kg/m3. A bootstrap method was employed to estimate 95% confidence bounds for the parameters of the inflation model. We obtained a range of 0.105-0.187 km3 for the volume change, and 1180-2330 kg/m3 for the density. Our results do not support hydrothermal fluid intrusion as the primary cause of unrest, and confirm the intrusion of silicic magma beneath Long Valley caldera. Failure to account for the ellipsoidal nature of the source biases the estimated source depth by 2.9 km (a 33% increase), the volume change by 0.019 km3 (a 14% increase) and the density by about 1200 kg/m3 (a 40% increase). ?? 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated geometric optimization for robotic HIFU treatment of liver tumors.

PubMed

Williamson, Tom; Everitt, Scott; Chauhan, Sunita

2018-05-01

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) represents a non-invasive method for the destruction of cancerous tissue within the body. Heating of targeted tissue by focused ultrasound transducers results in the creation of ellipsoidal lesions at the target site, the locations of which can have a significant impact on treatment outcomes. Towards this end, this work describes a method for the optimization of lesion positions within arbitrary tumors, with specific anatomical constraints. A force-based optimization framework was extended to the case of arbitrary tumor position and constrained orientation. Analysis of the approximate reachable treatment volume for the specific case of treatment of liver tumors was performed based on four transducer configurations and constraint conditions derived. Evaluation was completed utilizing simplified spherical and ellipsoidal tumor models and randomly generated tumor volumes. The total volume treated, lesion overlap and healthy tissue ablated was evaluated. Two evaluation scenarios were defined and optimized treatment plans assessed. The optimization framework resulted in improvements of up to 10% in tumor volume treated, and reductions of up to 20% in healthy tissue ablated as compared to the standard lesion rastering approach. Generation of optimized plans proved feasible for both sub- and intercostally located tumors. This work describes an optimized method for the planning of lesion positions during HIFU treatment of liver tumors. The approach allows the determination of optimal lesion locations and orientations, and can be applied to arbitrary tumor shapes and sizes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kidney volume measurement methods for clinical studies on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

PubMed Central

Sharma, Kanishka; Caroli, Anna; Quach, Le Van; Petzold, Katja; Bozzetto, Michela; Serra, Andreas L.; Remuzzi, Giuseppe; Remuzzi, Andrea

2017-01-01

Background In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), total kidney volume (TKV) is regarded as an important biomarker of disease progression and different methods are available to assess kidney volume. The purpose of this study was to identify the most efficient kidney volume computation method to be used in clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatments on ADPKD progression. Methods and findings We measured single kidney volume (SKV) on two series of MR and CT images from clinical studies on ADPKD (experimental dataset) by two independent operators (expert and beginner), twice, using all of the available methods: polyline manual tracing (reference method), free-hand manual tracing, semi-automatic tracing, Stereology, Mid-slice and Ellipsoid method. Additionally, the expert operator also measured the kidney length. We compared different methods for reproducibility, accuracy, precision, and time required. In addition, we performed a validation study to evaluate the sensitivity of these methods to detect the between-treatment group difference in TKV change over one year, using MR images from a previous clinical study. Reproducibility was higher on CT than MR for all methods, being highest for manual and semiautomatic contouring methods (planimetry). On MR, planimetry showed highest accuracy and precision, while on CT accuracy and precision of both planimetry and Stereology methods were comparable. Mid-slice and Ellipsoid method, as well as kidney length were fast but provided only a rough estimate of kidney volume. The results of the validation study indicated that planimetry and Stereology allow using an importantly lower number of patients to detect changes in kidney volume induced by drug treatment as compared to other methods. Conclusions Planimetry should be preferred over fast and simplified methods for accurately monitoring ADPKD progression and assessing drug treatment effects. Expert operators, especially on MR images, are required for performing reliable estimation of kidney volume. The use of efficient TKV quantification methods considerably reduces the number of patients to enrol in clinical investigations, making them more feasible and significant. PMID:28558028

Assessing SPO techniques to constrain magma flow: Examples from sills of the Karoo Igneous Province, South Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoyer, Lauren; Watkeys, Michael K.

2015-08-01

Shape ellipsoids that define the petrofabrics of plagioclase in Jurassic Karoo dolerite sills in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are rigorously constrained using the long axis lengths of plagioclase crystals and ellipse incompatibility. This has been undertaken in order to determine the most effective technique to determine petrofabrics when using the SPO-2003 programme (Launeau and Robin, 2005). The technique of segmenting an image for analysis is scrutinised and as a process is found redundant. A grain size threshold is defined to assist with the varying grain sizes observed within and between sills. Where grains exceed the 0.2 mm size threshold, images should be acquired at a high magnification (i.e., 10 × magnification). Petrofabrics are determined using the foliation and the lineation of the ellipsoid as defined by the maximum and minimum principal axes (respectively) of the resultant ellipsoid. Samples with strongly prolate fabrics are isolated allowing further constraint on the petrofabric to be made. Once the efficacy of the petrofabric determination process has been determined, the resultant foliations (and lineations) then elucidate the most accurate petrofabric attainable. The most accurate petrofabrics will be determined by using the correct magnification when the images are obtained and to run the analyses without segmenting the image. The fabrics of the upper and lower contacts of the Karoo dolerite sills are analysed in detail using these techniques and the fabrics are used as a proxy for magma flow.

Magnetic anisotropy of some phyllosilicates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borradaile, Graham J.; Werner, Tomasz

1994-08-01

Magnetic susceptibility, anisotropy of susceptibility and hysteresis of single microcrystals of chlorite, biotite, phlogopite, muscovite, zinnwaldite and fuchsite were measured in low and high magnetic fields with an alternating gradient force magnetometer (Micromag). Their properties are sufficient to account for the low field susceptibility (AMS) of most micaceous rocks. Nearly all samples show some ferromagnetic contribution at low fields due to inclusions of pseudosingle domain and multidomain magnetite. The paramagnetic contribution isolated at high fields usually exceeds the ferromagnetic contribution. The paramagnetic susceptibility is intrinsic to the silicate lattice and agrees with values predicted from chemical composition within the limits of error. The minimum susceptibility is nearly parallel to c, another axis is parallel to b and the third susceptibility (usually the maximum) is close to a. The paramagnetic susceptibility has a disk-shaped magnitude ellipsoid with strong anisotropy ( P' < 2). The ferromagnetic contributions at low fields have more variably shaped ellipsoids with greater eccentricity ( P' < 5). The silicate lattice does not constrain their orientation. Our technique cannot determine the principal axes of the ferromagnetic component. However, its principal values usually correspond with the paramagnetic principal susceptibilities in order of magnitude. Thus, the combined paramagnetic-ferromagnetic anisotropy recognised in routine studies of AMS should faithfully represent the petrofabric of most micaceous rocks. Nevertheless, nearly 10% of our samples have incompatible anisotropy ellipsoids for the silicate host and magnetite inclusions. These yield a net inverse AMS that does not correctly represent the orientation of the silicate lattice. Therefore, some caution is necessary in petrofabric-AMS studies of micaceous rocks.

Monte Carlo simulation of the resolution volume for the SEQUOIA spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granroth, G. E.; Hahn, S. E.

2015-01-01

Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations, of direct geometry spectrometers, have been particularly useful in instrument design and characterization. However, these tools can also be useful for experiment planning and analysis. To this end, the McStas Monte Carlo ray tracing model of SEQUOIA, the fine resolution fermi chopper spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been modified to include the time of flight resolution sample and detector components. With these components, the resolution ellipsoid can be calculated for any detector pixel and energy bin of the instrument. The simulation is split in two pieces. First, the incident beamline up to the sample is simulated for 1 × 1011 neutron packets (4 days on 30 cores). This provides a virtual source for the backend that includes the resolution sample and monitor components. Next, a series of detector and energy pixels are computed in parallel. It takes on the order of 30 s to calculate a single resolution ellipsoid on a single core. Python scripts have been written to transform the ellipsoid into the space of an oriented single crystal, and to characterize the ellipsoid in various ways. Though this tool is under development as a planning tool, we have successfully used it to provide the resolution function for convolution with theoretical models. Specifically, theoretical calculations of the spin waves in YFeO3 were compared to measurements taken on SEQUOIA. Though the overall features of the spectra can be explained while neglecting resolution effects, the variation in intensity of the modes is well described once the resolution is included. As this was a single sharp mode, the simulated half intensity value of the resolution ellipsoid was used to provide the resolution width. A description of the simulation, its use, and paths forward for this technique will be discussed.

Phase Behavior of Patchy Spheroidal Fluids.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpency, Thienbao

We employ Gibbs-ensemble Monte Carlo computer simulation to assess the impact of shape anisotropy and particle interaction anisotropy on the phase behavior of a colloidal (or, by extension, protein) fluid comprising patchy ellipsoidal particles, with an emphasis on critical behavior. More specifically, we obtain the fluid-fluid equilibrium phase diagram of hard prolate ellipsoids having Kern-Frenkel surface patches under a variety of conditions and study the critical behavior of these fluids as a function of particle shape parameters. It is found that the dependence of the critical temperature on aspect ratio for particles having the same volume can be described approximately in terms of patch solid angles. In addition, ordering in the fluid that is associated with particle elongation is also found to be an important factor in dictating phase behavior. The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation.

A radiographic method to estimate lung volume and its use in small mammals.

PubMed

Canals, Mauricio; Olivares, Ricardo; Rosenmann, Mario

2005-01-01

In this paper we develop a method to estimate lung volume using chest x-rays of small mammals. We applied this method to assess the lung volume of several rodents. We showed that a good estimator of the lung volume is: V*L = 0.496 x VRX approximately equal to 1/2 x VRX, where VRX is a measurement obtained from the x-ray that represents the volume of a rectangular box containing the lungs and mediastinum organs. The proposed formula may be interpreted as the volume of an ellipsoid formed by both lungs joined at their bases. When that relationship was used to estimate lung volume, values similar to those expected from allometric relationship were found in four rodents. In two others, M. musculus and R. norvegicus, lung volume was similar to reported data, although values were lower than expected.

Feasibility study of modern airships, phase 2. Volume 2: Airport feeder vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

The Airport Feeder vehicle is a VTOL, semi-buoyant ellipsoidal airship capable of transporting passengers or cargo to major CTOL hub terminals from suburban and downtown depots. Six tasks were reviewed: (1) vehicle design definition, (2) operational procedures analysis, (3) cost analysis, (4) comparison with alternate transportation modes, (5) mission/vehicle feasibility assessment, and (6) technology assessment.

Mesoproterozoic Archaeoellipsoides: akinetes of heterocystous cyanobacteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golubic, S.; Sergeev, V. N.; Knoll, A. H.

1995-01-01

The genus Archaeoellipsoides Horodyski & Donaldson comprises large (up to 135 micrometers long) ellipsoidal and rod-shaped microfossils commonly found in silicified peritidal carbonates of Mesoproterozoic age. Based on morphometric and sedimentary comparisons with the akinetes of modern bloom-forming Anabaena species, Archaeoellipsoides is interpreted as the fossilized remains of akinetes produced by planktic heterocystous cyanobacteria. These fossils set a minimum date for the evolution of derived cyanobacteria capable of marked cell differentiation, and they corroborate geochemical evidence indicating that atmospheric oxygen levels were well above 1% of present day levels 1,500 million years ago.

An ellipsoidal calculus based on propagation and fusion.

PubMed

Ros, L; Sabater, A; Thomas, F

2002-01-01

Presents an ellipsoidal calculus based solely on two basic operations: propagation and fusion. Propagation refers to the problem of obtaining an ellipsoid that must satisfy an affine relation with another ellipsoid, and fusion to that of computing the ellipsoid that tightly bounds the intersection of two given ellipsoids. These two operations supersede the Minkowski sum and difference, affine transformation and intersection tight bounding of ellipsoids on which other ellipsoidal calculi are based. Actually, a Minkowski operation can be seen as a fusion followed by a propagation and an affine transformation as a particular case of propagation. Moreover, the presented formulation is numerically stable in the sense that it is immune to degeneracies of the involved ellipsoids and/or affine relations. Examples arising when manipulating uncertain geometric information in the context of the spatial interpretation of line drawings are extensively used as a testbed for the presented calculus.

Comparative Analysis of 2-D Versus 3-D Ultrasound Estimation of the Fetal Adrenal Gland Volume and Prediction of Preterm Birth

PubMed Central

Turan, Ozhan M.; Turan, Sifa; Buhimschi, Irina A.; Funai, Edmund F.; Campbell, Katherine H.; Bahtiyar, Ozan M.; Harman, Chris R.; Copel, Joshua A.; Baschat, Ahmet A; Buhimschi, Catalin S.

2013-01-01

Objective We aim to test the hypothesis that 2D fetal AGV measurements offer similar volume estimates as volume calculations based on 3D technique Methods Fetal AGV was estimated by 3D ultrasound (VOCAL) in 93 women with signs/symptoms of preterm labor and 73 controls. Fetal AGV was calculated using an ellipsoid formula derived from 2D measurements of the same blocks (0.523× length × width × depth). Comparisons were performed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of repeatability, and Bland-Altman method. The cAGV (AGV/fetal weight) was calculated for both methods and compared for prediction of PTB within 7 days. Results Among 168 volumes, there was a significant correlation between 3D and 2D methods (ICC=0.979[95%CI: 0.971-0.984]). The coefficient of repeatability for the 3D was superior to the 2D method (Intra-observer 3D: 30.8, 2D:57.6; inter-observer 3D: 12.2, 2D: 15.6). Based on 2D calculations, a cAGV≥433mm3/kg, was best for prediction of PTB (sensitivity: 75%(95%CI=59-87); specificity: 89%(95%CI=82-94). Sensitivity and specificity for the 3D cAGV (cut-off ≥420mm3/kg) was 85%(95%CI=70-94) and 95%(95%CI=90-98), respectively. In receiver-operating-curve curve analysis, 3D cAGV was superior to 2D cAGV for prediction of PTB (z=1.99, p=0.047). Conclusion 2D volume estimation of fetal adrenal gland using ellipsoid formula cannot replace 3D AGV calculations for prediction of PTB. PMID:22644825

A new Ellipsoidal Gravimetric-Satellite Altimetry Boundary Value Problem; Case study: High Resolution Geoid of Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardalan, A.; Safari, A.; Grafarend, E.

2003-04-01

A new ellipsoidal gravimetric-satellite altimetry boundary value problem has been developed and successfully tested. This boundary value problem has been constructed for gravity observables of the type (i) gravity potential (ii) gravity intensity (iii) deflection of vertical and (iv) satellite altimetry data. The developed boundary value problem is enjoying the ellipsoidal nature and as such can take advantage of high precision GPS observations in the set-up of the problem. The highlights of the solution are as follows: begin{itemize} Application of ellipsoidal harmonic expansion up to degree/order and ellipsoidal centrifugal field for the reduction of global gravity and isostasy effects from the gravity observable at the surface of the Earth. Application of ellipsoidal Newton integral on the equal area map projection surface for the reduction of residual mass effects within a radius of 55 km around the computational point. Ellipsoidal harmonic downward continuation of the residual observables from the surface of the earth down to the surface of reference ellipsoid using the ellipsoidal height of the observation points derived from GPS. Restore of the removed effects at the application points on the surface of reference ellipsoid. Conversion of the satellite altimetry derived heights of the water bodies into potential. Combination of the downward continued gravity information with the potential equivalent of the satellite altimetry derived heights of the water bodies. Application of ellipsoidal Bruns formula for converting the potential values on the surface of the reference ellipsoid into the geoidal heights (i.e. ellipsoidal heights of the geoid) with respect to the reference ellipsoid. Computation of the high-resolution geoid of Iran has successfully tested this new methodology!

78 FR 7467 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-01

... Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Minimum Volume Orders January 28, 2013. Pursuant to Section... to codify the ``Minimum Volume Order.'' The text of the proposed rule change is provided below... Circular. (a)-(v) No changes. (w) Minimum Volume Order. A minimum volume order is an order represented in...

Measurement, variation, and scaling of osteocyte lacunae: a case study in birds.

PubMed

D'Emic, Michael D; Benson, Roger B J

2013-11-01

Basic issues surrounding osteocyte biology are still poorly understood, including the variability of osteocyte morphology within and among bones, individuals, and species. Several studies have suggested that the volume or shape of osteocytes (or their lacunae) is related to bone and/or organismal growth rate or metabolism, but the nature of this relationship, if any, is unclear. Furthermore, several studies have linked osteocyte lacuna volume with genome size or growth rate and suggested that osteocyte lacuna volume is unrelated to body size. Herein the scaling of osteocyte lacuna volume with body mass, growth and basal metabolic rates, genome size, and red blood cell size is examined using a broad sample of extant birds within a phylogenetic framework. Over 12,000 osteocyte lacuna axes were measured in a variety of bones from 34 avian and four non-avian dinosaur species. Osteocyte lacunae in parallel-fibered bone are scalene ellipsoids; their morphology and volume cannot be reliably estimated from any single thin section, and using a prolate ellipsoid model to estimate osteocyte lacuna volume results in a substantial (ca. 2-7 times) underestimate relative to true lacunar volume. Orthogonal thin sections reveal that in birds, even when only observing parallel-fibered, primary, cortical bone, intra-skeletal variation in osteocyte lacuna volume and shape is very high (volumes vary by a factor of 5.4 among different bones), whereas variation among homologous bones of the same species is low (1.2-44%; mean=12%). Ordinary and phylogenetically informed bivariate and multiple regressions demonstrate that in birds, osteocyte volume scales significantly but weakly with body mass and mass-specific basal metabolic rate and moderately with genome size, but not with erythrocyte size. Avian whole-body growth rate and osteocyte lacuna volume are weakly and inversely related. Finally, we present the first three-dimensionally calculated osteocyte volumes for several non-avian dinosaurs, which are much larger than previously reported values and smaller than those of large extant avians. Osteocyte volumes estimated from a single transverse section and assuming prolate morphology, as done in previous studies, are relative underestimates in theropod dinosaurs compared to sauropod dinosaurs, raising the possibility that no major change in osteocyte volumes (and genome size) occurred within Theropoda on the lineage leading to birds. Osteocyte volume is intertwined with several organismal attributes whose relative importance varies at a number of hierarchical levels. © 2013.

The equilibrium of rubble-pile satellites: The Darwin and Roche ellipsoids for gravitationally held granular aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ishan

2009-04-01

Many new small moons of the giant planets have been discovered recently. In parallel, satellites of several asteroids, e.g., Ida, have been found. Strikingly, a majority of these new-found planetary moons are estimated to have very low densities, which, along with their hypothesized accretionary origins, suggests a rubble internal structure. This, coupled to the fact that many asteroids are also thought to be particle aggregates held together principally by self-gravity, motivates the present investigation into the possible ellipsoidal shapes that a rubble-pile satellite may achieve as it orbits an aspherical primary. Conversely, knowledge of the shape will constrain the granular aggregate's orbit—the closer it gets to a primary, both primary's tidal effect and the satellite's spin are greater. We will assume that the primary body is sufficiently massive so as not to be influenced by the satellite. However, we will incorporate the primary's possible ellipsoidal shape, e.g., flattening at its poles in the case of a planet, and the proloidal shape of asteroids. In this, the present investigation is an extension of the first classical Darwin problem to granular aggregates. General equations defining an ellipsoidal rubble pile's equilibrium about an ellipsoidal primary are developed. They are then utilized to scrutinize the possible granular nature of small inner moons of the giant planets. It is found that most satellites satisfy constraints necessary to exist as equilibrated granular aggregates. Objects like Naiad, Metis and Adrastea appear to violate these limits, but in doing so, provide clues to their internal density and/or structure. We also recover the Roche limit for a granular satellite of a spherical primary, and employ it to study the martian satellites, Phobos and Deimos, as well as to make contact with earlier work of Davidsson [Davidsson, B., 2001. Icarus 149, 375-383]. The satellite's interior will be modeled as a rigid-plastic, cohesion-less material with a Drucker-Prager yield criterion. This rheology is a reasonable first model for rubble piles. We will employ an approximate volume-averaging procedure that is based on the classical method of moments, and is an extension of the virial method [Chandrasekhar, S., 1969. Ellipsoidal Figures of Equilibrium. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven] to granular solid bodies.

Ellipsoidal fuzzy learning for smart car platoons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dickerson, Julie A.; Kosko, Bart

1993-12-01

A neural-fuzzy system combined supervised and unsupervised learning to find and tune the fuzzy-rules. An additive fuzzy system approximates a function by covering its graph with fuzzy rules. A fuzzy rule patch can take the form of an ellipsoid in the input-output space. Unsupervised competitive learning found the statistics of data clusters. The covariance matrix of each synaptic quantization vector defined on ellipsoid centered at the centroid of the data cluster. Tightly clustered data gave smaller ellipsoids or more certain rules. Sparse data gave larger ellipsoids or less certain rules. Supervised learning tuned the ellipsoids to improve the approximation. The supervised neural system used gradient descent to find the ellipsoidal fuzzy patches. It locally minimized the mean-squared error of the fuzzy approximation. Hybrid ellipsoidal learning estimated the control surface for a smart car controller.

Periodic Inclusion—Matrix Microstructures with Constant Field Inclusions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Liping; James, Richard D.; Leo, Perry H.

2007-04-01

We find a class of special microstructures consisting of a periodic array of inclusions, with the special property that constant magnetization (or eigenstrain) of the inclusion implies constant magnetic field (or strain) in the inclusion. The resulting inclusions, which we term E-inclusions, have the same property in a finite periodic domain as ellipsoids have in infinite space. The E-inclusions are found by mapping the magnetostatic or elasticity equations to a constrained minimization problem known as a free-boundary obstacle problem. By solving this minimization problem, we can construct families of E-inclusions with any prescribed volume fraction between zero and one. In two dimensions, our results coincide with the microstructures first introduced by Vigdergauz,[1,2] while in three dimensions, we introduce a numerical method to calculate E-inclusions. E-inclusions extend the important role of ellipsoids in calculations concerning phase transformations and composite materials.

Dynamical passage to approximate equilibrium shapes for spinning, gravitating rubble asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ishan; Jenkins, James T.; Burns, Joseph A.

2009-03-01

Many asteroids are thought to be particle aggregates held together principally by self-gravity. Here we study — for static and dynamical situations — the equilibrium shapes of spinning asteroids that are permitted for rubble piles. As in the case of spinning fluid masses, not all shapes are compatible with a granular rheology. We take the asteroid to always be an ellipsoid with an interior modeled as a rigid-plastic, cohesion-less material with a Drucker-Prager yield criterion. Using an approximate volume-averaged procedure, based on the classical method of moments, we investigate the dynamical process by which such objects may achieve equilibrium. We first collapse our dynamical approach to its statical limit to derive regions in spin-shape parameter space that allow equilibrium solutions to exist. At present, only a graphical illustration of these solutions for a prolate ellipsoid following the Drucker-Prager failure law is available [Sharma, I., Jenkins, J.T., Burns, J.A., 2005a. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 37, 643; Sharma, I., Jenkins, J.T., Burns, J.A., 2005b. Equilibrium shapes of ellipsoidal soil asteroids. In: García-Rojo, R., Hermann, H.J., McNamara, S. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Micromechanics of Granular Media, vol. 1. A.A. Balkema, UK; Holsapple, K.A., 2007. Icarus 187, 500-509]. Here, we obtain the equilibrium landscapes for general triaxial ellipsoids, as well as provide the requisite governing formulae. In addition, we demonstrate that it may be possible to better interpret the results of Richardson et al. [Richardson, D.C., Elankumaran, P., Sanderson, R.E., 2005. Icarus 173, 349-361] within the context of a Drucker-Prager material. The graphical result for prolate ellipsoids in the static limit is the same as those of Holsapple [Holsapple, K.A., 2007. Icarus 187, 500-509] because, when worked out, his final equations will match ours. This is because, though the formalisms to reach these expressions differ, in statics, at the lowest level of approximation, volume-averaging and the approach of Holsapple [Holsapple, K.A., 2007. Icarus 187, 500-509] coincide. We note that the approach applied here was obtained independently [Sharma, I., Jenkins, J.T., Burns, J.A., 2003. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 35, 1034; Sharma, I., 2004. Rotational Dynamics of Deformable Ellipsoids with Applications to Asteroids. Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University] and it provides a general, though approximate, framework that is amenable to systematic improvements and is flexible enough to incorporate the dynamical effects of a changing shape, different rheologies and complex rotational histories. To demonstrate our technique, we investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of rigid-plastic, spinning, prolate asteroids to examine the simultaneous histories of shape and spin rate for rubble piles. We have succeeded in recovering most results of Richardson et al. [Richardson, D.C., Elankumaran, P., Sanderson, R.E., 2005. Icarus 173, 349-361], who obtained equilibrium shapes by studying numerically the passage into equilibrium of aggregates containing discrete, interacting, frictionless, spherical particles. Our mainly analytical approach aids in understanding and quantifying previous numerical simulations.

An anatomically oriented breast model for MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kutra, Dominik; Bergtholdt, Martin; Sabczynski, Jörg; Dössel, Olaf; Buelow, Thomas

2015-03-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the western world. In the breast cancer care-cycle, MRIis e.g. employed in lesion characterization and therapy assessment. Reading of a single three dimensional image or comparing a multitude of such images in a time series is a time consuming task. Radiological reporting is done manually by translating the spatial position of a finding in an image to a generic representation in the form of a breast diagram, outlining quadrants or clock positions. Currently, registration algorithms are employed to aid with the reading and interpretation of longitudinal studies by providing positional correspondence. To aid with the reporting of findings, knowledge about the breast anatomy has to be introduced to translate from patient specific positions to a generic representation. In our approach we fit a geometric primitive, the semi-super-ellipsoid to patient data. Anatomical knowledge is incorporated by fixing the tip of the super-ellipsoid to the mammilla position and constraining its center-point to a reference plane defined by landmarks on the sternum. A coordinate system is then constructed by linearly scaling the fitted super-ellipsoid, defining a unique set of parameters to each point in the image volume. By fitting such a coordinate system to a different image of the same patient, positional correspondence can be generated. We have validated our method on eight pairs of baseline and follow-up scans (16 breasts) that were acquired for the assessment of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. On average, the location predicted and the actual location of manually set landmarks are within a distance of 5.6 mm. Our proposed method allows for automatic reporting simply by uniformly dividing the super-ellipsoid around its main axis.

Vibration Sensor-Based Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using Ellipsoid-ARTMAP and Differential Evolution Algorithms

PubMed Central

Liu, Chang; Wang, Guofeng; Xie, Qinglu; Zhang, Yanchao

2014-01-01

Effective fault classification of rolling element bearings provides an important basis for ensuring safe operation of rotating machinery. In this paper, a novel vibration sensor-based fault diagnosis method using an Ellipsoid-ARTMAP network (EAM) and a differential evolution (DE) algorithm is proposed. The original features are firstly extracted from vibration signals based on wavelet packet decomposition. Then, a minimum-redundancy maximum-relevancy algorithm is introduced to select the most prominent features so as to decrease feature dimensions. Finally, a DE-based EAM (DE-EAM) classifier is constructed to realize the fault diagnosis. The major characteristic of EAM is that the sample distribution of each category is realized by using a hyper-ellipsoid node and smoothing operation algorithm. Therefore, it can depict the decision boundary of disperse samples accurately and effectively avoid over-fitting phenomena. To optimize EAM network parameters, the DE algorithm is presented and two objectives, including both classification accuracy and nodes number, are simultaneously introduced as the fitness functions. Meanwhile, an exponential criterion is proposed to realize final selection of the optimal parameters. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed method, the vibration signals of four types of rolling element bearings under different loads were collected. Moreover, to improve the robustness of the classifier evaluation, a two-fold cross validation scheme is adopted and the order of feature samples is randomly arranged ten times within each fold. The results show that DE-EAM classifier can recognize the fault categories of the rolling element bearings reliably and accurately. PMID:24936949

General Theorems about Homogeneous Ellipsoidal Inclusions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korringa, J.; And Others

1978-01-01

Mathematical theorems about the properties of ellipsoids are developed. Included are Poisson's theorem concerning the magnetization of a homogeneous body of ellipsoidal shape, the polarization of a dielectric, the transport of heat or electricity through an ellipsoid, and other problems. (BB)

[Comparative volumetry of human testes using special types of testicular sonography, Prader's orchidometer, Schirren's circle and sliding caliber].

PubMed

Dörnberger, V; Dörnberger, G

1987-01-01

On 99 testes of corpses (death had occurred between 26 und 86 years) comparative volumetry was done. In the left surrounding capsules (without scrotal skin and tunica dartos) the testes were measured via real time sonography in a waterbath (7.5 MHz linear-scan), afterwards length, breadth and height were measured by a sliding calibre, the largest diameter (the length) of the testis was determined by Schirren's circle and finally the size of the testis was measured via Prader's orchidometer. After all the testes were surgically exposed, their volume (by litres) was determined according to Archimedes' principle. As for the Archimedes' principle a random mean error of 7% must be accepted, sonographic determination of the volume showed a random mean error of 15%. Whereas the accuracy of measurement increases with increasing volumes, both methods should be used with caution if the volumes are below 4 ml, since the possibilities of error are rather great. According to Prader's orchidometer the measured volumes on average were higher (+ 27%) with a random mean error of 19.5%. With Schirren's circle the obtained mean value was even higher (+ 52%) in comparison to the "real" volume by Archimedes' principle with a random mean error of 19%. The measurements of the testes in the left capsules by sliding calibre can be optimized, if one applies a correcting factor f (sliding calibre) = 0.39 for calculation of the testis volume corresponding to an ellipsoid. Here you will get the same mean value as in Archimedes' principle with a standard mean error of only 9%. If one applies the correction factor of real time sonography of testis f (sono) = 0.65 the mean value of sliding calibre measurements would be 68.8% too high with a standard mean error of 20.3%. For measurements via sliding calibre the calculation of the testis volume corresponding to an ellipsoid one should apply the smaller factor f (sliding calibre) = 0.39, because in this way the left capsules of testis and the epididymis are considered.

A surface spherical harmonic expansion of gravity anomalies on the ellipsoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claessens, S. J.; Hirt, C.

2015-10-01

A surface spherical harmonic expansion of gravity anomalies with respect to a geodetic reference ellipsoid can be used to model the global gravity field and reveal its spectral properties. In this paper, a direct and rigorous transformation between solid spherical harmonic coefficients of the Earth's disturbing potential and surface spherical harmonic coefficients of gravity anomalies in ellipsoidal approximation with respect to a reference ellipsoid is derived. This transformation cannot rigorously be achieved by the Hotine-Jekeli transformation between spherical and ellipsoidal harmonic coefficients. The method derived here is used to create a surface spherical harmonic model of gravity anomalies with respect to the GRS80 ellipsoid from the EGM2008 global gravity model. Internal validation of the model shows a global RMS precision of 1 nGal. This is significantly more precise than previous solutions based on spherical approximation or approximations to order or , which are shown to be insufficient for the generation of surface spherical harmonic coefficients with respect to a geodetic reference ellipsoid. Numerical results of two applications of the new method (the computation of ellipsoidal corrections to gravimetric geoid computation, and area means of gravity anomalies in ellipsoidal approximation) are provided.

Terrain Correction on the moving equal area cylindrical map projection of the surface of a reference ellipsoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardalan, A.; Safari, A.; Grafarend, E.

2003-04-01

An operational algorithm for computing the ellipsoidal terrain correction based on application of closed form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates in the cylindrical equal area map projected surface of a reference ellipsoid has been developed. As the first step the mapping of the points on the surface of a reference ellipsoid onto the cylindrical equal area map projection of a cylinder tangent to a point on the surface of reference ellipsoid closely studied and the map projection formulas are computed. Ellipsoidal mass elements with various sizes on the surface of the reference ellipsoid is considered and the gravitational potential and the vector of gravitational intensity of these mass elements has been computed via the solution of Newton integral in terms of ellipsoidal coordinates. The geographical cross section areas of the selected ellipsoidal mass elements are transferred into cylindrical equal area map projection and based on the transformed area elements Cartesian mass elements with the same height as that of the ellipsoidal mass elements are constructed. Using the close form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates the potential of the Cartesian mass elements are computed and compared with the same results based on the application of the ellipsoidal Newton integral over the ellipsoidal mass elements. The results of the numerical computations show that difference between computed gravitational potential of the ellipsoidal mass elements and Cartesian mass element in the cylindrical equal area map projection is of the order of 1.6 × 10-8m^2/s^2 for a mass element with the cross section size of 10 km × 10 km and the height of 1000 m. For a 1 km × 1 km mass element with the same height, this difference is less than 1.5 × 10-4 m^2}/s^2. The results of the numerical computations indicate that a new method for computing the terrain correction based on the closed form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates and with accuracy of ellipsoidal terrain correction has been achieved! In this way one can enjoy the simplicity of the solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates and at the same time the accuracy of the ellipsoidal terrain correction, which is needed for the modern theory of geoid computations.

Numerical approach of collision avoidance and optimal control on robotic manipulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Jyhshing Jack

1990-01-01

Collision-free optimal motion and trajectory planning for robotic manipulators are solved by a method of sequential gradient restoration algorithm. Numerical examples of a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic manipulator are demonstrated to show the excellence of the optimization technique and obstacle avoidance scheme. The obstacle is put on the midway, or even further inward on purpose, of the previous no-obstacle optimal trajectory. For the minimum-time purpose, the trajectory grazes by the obstacle and the minimum-time motion successfully avoids the obstacle. The minimum-time is longer for the obstacle avoidance cases than the one without obstacle. The obstacle avoidance scheme can deal with multiple obstacles in any ellipsoid forms by using artificial potential fields as penalty functions via distance functions. The method is promising in solving collision-free optimal control problems for robotics and can be applied to any DOF robotic manipulators with any performance indices and mobile robots as well. Since this method generates optimum solution based on Pontryagin Extremum Principle, rather than based on assumptions, the results provide a benchmark against which any optimization techniques can be measured.

An ellipsoidal representation of human hand anthropometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchholz, Bryan; Armstrong, Thomas J.

1991-01-01

Anthropometric data concerning the heometry of the hand's surface are presently modeled as a function of gross external hand measurements; an effort is made to evaluate the accuracy with which ellipsoids describe the geometry of the hand segments. Graphical comparisons indicate that differences between the ellipsoidal approximations and the breadth and depth measurements were greatest near the joints. On the bases of the present data, a set of overlapping ellipsoids could furnish a more accurate representation of hand geometry for adaptation to ellipsoid segment-geometry employing biomechanical models.

Translational viscous drags of an ellipsoid straddling an interface between two fluids.

PubMed

Boniello, Giuseppe; Stocco, Antonio; Gross, Michel; In, Martin; Blanc, Christophe; Nobili, Maurizio

2016-07-01

We study the dynamics of individual polystyrene ellipsoids of different aspect ratios trapped at the air-water interface. Using particle tracking and in situ vertical scanning interferometry techniques we are able to measure translational drags and the protrusion in air of the ellipsoids. We report that translational drags on the ellipsoid are unexpectedly enhanced: despite the fact that a noticeable part of the ellipsoid is in air, drags are found larger than the bulk one in water.

Novel Methods in Disease Biogeography: A Case Study with Heterosporosis

PubMed Central

Escobar, Luis E.; Qiao, Huijie; Lee, Christine; Phelps, Nicholas B. D.

2017-01-01

Disease biogeography is currently a promising field to complement epidemiology, and ecological niche modeling theory and methods are a key component. Therefore, applying the concepts and tools from ecological niche modeling to disease biogeography and epidemiology will provide biologically sound and analytically robust descriptive and predictive analyses of disease distributions. As a case study, we explored the ecologically important fish disease Heterosporosis, a relatively poorly understood disease caused by the intracellular microsporidian parasite Heterosporis sutherlandae. We explored two novel ecological niche modeling methods, the minimum-volume ellipsoid (MVE) and the Marble algorithm, which were used to reconstruct the fundamental and the realized ecological niche of H. sutherlandae, respectively. Additionally, we assessed how the management of occurrence reports can impact the output of the models. Ecological niche models were able to reconstruct a proxy of the fundamental and realized niche for this aquatic parasite, identifying specific areas suitable for Heterosporosis. We found that the conceptual and methodological advances in ecological niche modeling provide accessible tools to update the current practices of spatial epidemiology. However, careful data curation and a detailed understanding of the algorithm employed are critical for a clear definition of the assumptions implicit in the modeling process and to ensure biologically sound forecasts. In this paper, we show how sensitive MVE is to the input data, while Marble algorithm may provide detailed forecasts with a minimum of parameters. We showed that exploring algorithms of different natures such as environmental clusters, climatic envelopes, and logistic regressions (e.g., Marble, MVE, and Maxent) provide different scenarios of potential distribution. Thus, no single algorithm should be used for disease mapping. Instead, different algorithms should be employed for a more informed and complete understanding of the pathogen or parasite in question. PMID:28770215

Comparison of volume estimation methods for pancreatic islet cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvořák, JiřÃ.­; Å vihlík, Jan; Habart, David; Kybic, Jan

2016-03-01

In this contribution we study different methods of automatic volume estimation for pancreatic islets which can be used in the quality control step prior to the islet transplantation. The total islet volume is an important criterion in the quality control. Also, the individual islet volume distribution is interesting -- it has been indicated that smaller islets can be more effective. A 2D image of a microscopy slice containing the islets is acquired. The input of the volume estimation methods are segmented images of individual islets. The segmentation step is not discussed here. We consider simple methods of volume estimation assuming that the islets have spherical or ellipsoidal shape. We also consider a local stereological method, namely the nucleator. The nucleator does not rely on any shape assumptions and provides unbiased estimates if isotropic sections through the islets are observed. We present a simulation study comparing the performance of the volume estimation methods in different scenarios and an experimental study comparing the methods on a real dataset.

Measuring pair-wise molecular interactions in a complex mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Krishnendu; Varma, Manoj M.; Venkatapathi, Murugesan

2016-03-01

Complex biological samples such as serum contain thousands of proteins and other molecules spanning up to 13 orders of magnitude in concentration. Present measurement techniques do not permit the analysis of all pair-wise interactions between the components of such a complex mixture to a given target molecule. In this work we explore the use of nanoparticle tags which encode the identity of the molecule to obtain the statistical distribution of pair-wise interactions using their Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) signals. The nanoparticle tags are chosen such that the binding between two molecules conjugated to the respective nanoparticle tags can be recognized by the coupling of their LSPR signals. This numerical simulation is done by DDA to investigate this approach using a reduced system consisting of three nanoparticles (a gold ellipsoid with aspect ratio 2.5 and short axis 16 nm, and two silver ellipsoids with aspect ratios 3 and 2 and short axes 8 nm and 10 nm respectively) and the set of all possible dimers formed between them. Incident light was circularly polarized and all possible particle and dimer orientations were considered. We observed that minimum peak separation between two spectra is 5 nm while maximum is 184nm.

Speckle interferometry of asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drummond, Jack

1988-01-01

By studying the image two-dimensional power spectra or autocorrelations projected by an asteroid as it rotates, it is possible to locate its rotational pole and derive its three axes dimensions through speckle interferometry under certain assumptions of uniform, geometric scattering, and triaxial ellipsoid shape. However, in cases where images can be reconstructed, the need for making the assumptions is obviated. Furthermore, the ultimate goal for speckle interferometry of image reconstruction will lead to mapping albedo features (if they exist) as impact areas or geological units. The first glimpses of the surface of an asteroid were obtained from images of 4 Vesta reconstructed from speckle interferometric observations. These images reveal that Vesta is quite Moon-like in having large hemispheric-scale albedo features. All of its lightcurves can be produced from a simple model developed from the images. Although undoubtedly more intricate than the model, Vesta's lightcurves can be matched by a model with three dark and four bright spots. The dark areas so dominate one hemisphere that a lightcurve minimum occurs when the maximum cross-section area is visible. The triaxial ellipsoid shape derived for Vesta is not consistent with the notion that the asteroid has an equilibrium shape in spite of its having apparently been differentiated.

The volume-outcome relationship and minimum volume standards--empirical evidence for Germany.

PubMed

Hentschker, Corinna; Mennicken, Roman

2015-06-01

For decades, there is an ongoing discussion about the quality of hospital care leading i.a. to the introduction of minimum volume standards in various countries. In this paper, we analyze the volume-outcome relationship for patients with intact abdominal aortic aneurysm and hip fracture. We define hypothetical minimum volume standards in both conditions and assess consequences for access to hospital services in Germany. The results show clearly that patients treated in hospitals with a higher case volume have on average a significant lower probability of death in both conditions. Furthermore, we show that the hypothetical minimum volume standards do not compromise overall access measured with changes in travel times. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

En-face imaging of the ellipsoid zone in the retina from optical coherence tomography B-scans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, T.; Larkin, S.; Downing, M.; Csaky, K.

2015-03-01

It is generally believed that photoreceptor integrity is related to the ellipsoid zone appearance in optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans. Algorithms and software were developed for viewing and analyzing the ellipsoid zone. The software performs the following: (a), automated ellipsoid zone isolation in the B-scans, (b), en-face view of the ellipsoid-zone reflectance, (c), alignment and overlay of (b) onto reflectance images of the retina, and (d), alignment and overlay of (c) with microperimetry sensitivity points. Dataset groups were compared from normal and dry age related macular degeneration (DAMD) subjects. Scalar measurements for correlation against condition included the mean and standard deviation of the ellipsoid zone's reflectance. The imageprocessing techniques for automatically finding the ellipsoid zone are based upon a calculation of optical flow which tracks the edges of laminated structures across an image. Statistical significance was shown in T-tests of these measurements with the population pools separated as normal and DAMD subjects. A display of en-face ellipsoid-zone reflectance shows a clear and recognizable difference between any of the normal and DAMD subjects in that they show generally uniform and nonuniform reflectance, respectively, over the region near the macula. Regions surrounding points of low microperimetry (μP) sensitivity have nonregular and lower levels of ellipsoid-zone reflectance nearby. These findings support the idea that the photoreceptor integrity could be affecting both the ellipsoid-zone reflectance and the sensitivity measurements.

Uncertainty quantification based on pillars of experiment, theory, and computation. Part I: Data analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elishakoff, I.; Sarlin, N.

2016-06-01

In this paper we provide a general methodology of analysis and design of systems involving uncertainties. Available experimental data is enclosed by some geometric figures (triangle, rectangle, ellipse, parallelogram, super ellipse) of minimum area. Then these areas are inflated resorting to the Chebyshev inequality in order to take into account the forecasted data. Next step consists in evaluating response of system when uncertainties are confined to one of the above five suitably inflated geometric figures. This step involves a combined theoretical and computational analysis. We evaluate the maximum response of the system subjected to variation of uncertain parameters in each hypothesized region. The results of triangular, interval, ellipsoidal, parallelogram, and super ellipsoidal calculi are compared with the view of identifying the region that leads to minimum of maximum response. That response is identified as a result of the suggested predictive inference. The methodology thus synthesizes probabilistic notion with each of the five calculi. Using the term "pillar" in the title was inspired by the News Release (2013) on according Honda Prize to J. Tinsley Oden, stating, among others, that "Dr. Oden refers to computational science as the "third pillar" of scientific inquiry, standing beside theoretical and experimental science. Computational science serves as a new paradigm for acquiring knowledge and informing decisions important to humankind". Analysis of systems with uncertainties necessitates employment of all three pillars. The analysis is based on the assumption that that the five shapes are each different conservative estimates of the true bounding region. The smallest of the maximal displacements in x and y directions (for a 2D system) therefore provides the closest estimate of the true displacements based on the above assumption.

Orientation-dependent potential of mean force for protein folding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Arnab; Bhimalapuram, Prabhakar; Bagchi, Biman

2005-07-01

We present a solvent-implicit minimalistic model potential among the amino acid residues of proteins, obtained by using the known native structures [deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB)]. In this model, the amino acid side chains are represented by a single ellipsoidal site, defined by the group of atoms about the center of mass of the side chain. These ellipsoidal sites interact with other sites through an orientation-dependent interaction potential which we construct in the following fashion. First, the site-site potential of mean force (PMF) between heavy atoms is calculated [following F. Melo and E. Feytsman, J. Mol. Biol. 267, 207 (1997)] from statistics of their distance separation obtained from crystal structures. These site-site potentials are then used to calculate the distance and the orientation-dependent potential between side chains of all the amino acid residues (AAR). The distance and orientation dependencies show several interesting results. For example, we find that the PMF between two hydrophobic AARs, such as phenylalanine, is strongly attractive at short distances (after the obvious repulsive region at very short separation) and is characterized by a deep minimum, for specific orientations. For the interaction between two hydrophilic AARs, such a deep minimum is absent and in addition, the potential interestingly reveals the combined effect of polar (charge) and hydrophobic interactions among some of these AARs. The effectiveness of our potential has been tested by calculating the Z-scores for a large set of proteins. The calculated Z-scores show high negative values for most of them, signifying the success of the potential to identify the native structure from among a large number of its decoy states.

Ellipsoidal Harmonic Vertical Deflections. Global and Regional Modeling of The Horizontal Derivative of The Terrestrial Garvity Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grafarend, E. W.; Ardalan, A.; Finn, G.

In terms of elliptic coordinates of Jacobi type (longitude, latitude, semi-minor axis) the horizontal derivative is computed as a linear operator acting on an ellipsoidal har- monic disturbing/incremental gravitational potential. Such disturbing potential is de- fined with respect to the Somigliana-Pizzetti Reference Potential, the potential field of a level ellipsoid, and the International Reference Ellipsoid/WGS84 or World Geode- tic Datum 2000/WGD2000. Case studies of those vertical deflections on a global as well as regional scale are presented which take advantage of SEGEN (Special Ellipsoidal Gravity Earth Normal: ellipsoidal harmonics expansion 130321 coeffi- cients: http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/gi/research/paper/coefficients/coefficients.zip) and of CENT (precise centrifugal potential)

Dynamic Airblast Simulator (DABS) Instrumentation Development. Phase 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-08-01

the laser system employing two beams . This theory will be expanded to provide insight to the design of a suitable velocity measure- ment system for...Laser Beam Crossover Region 91 B3 Cross Section of Ellipsoidal Interference Region 95 B4 Doppler Difference Measurement Geometry 96 B5 Scattering...Volume Assumptions 116 B6 Microwave Veloclmeter, Tunnel Floor Installation Layout, Typical for 120° Beam Intersection at 10.525 GHz 119 B7 Ku-Band

Normal Gravity Fields and Equipotential Ellipsoids of Small Objects in the Solar System: A Closed-form Solution in Ellipsoidal Harmonics up to the Second Degree

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xuanyu

2017-11-01

We propose a definition for the normal gravity fields and normal figures of small objects in the solar system, such as asteroids, cometary nuclei, and planetary moons. Their gravity fields are represented as series of ellipsoidal harmonics, ensuring more robust field evaluation in the proximity of an arbitrary, convex shape than using spherical harmonics. The normal gravity field, approximate to the actual field, can be described by a finite series of three terms, that is, degree zero, and the zonal and sectoral harmonics of degree two. The normal gravity is that of an equipotential ellipsoid, defined as the normal ellipsoid of the body. The normal ellipsoid may be distinct from the actual figure. We present a rationale for specifying and a numerical method for determining the parameters of the normal ellipsoid. The definition presented here generalizes the convention of the normal spheroid of a large, hydrostatically equilibrated planet, such as Earth. Modeling the normal gravity and the normal ellipsoid is relevant to studying the formation of the “rubble pile” objects, which may have been accreted, or reorganized after disruption, under self-gravitation. While the proposed methodology applies to convex, approximately ellipsoidal objects, those bi-lobed objects can be treated as contact binaries comprising individual convex subunits. We study an exemplary case of the nearly ellipsoidal Martian moon, Phobos, subject to strong tidal influence in its present orbit around Mars. The results allude to the formation of Phobos via gravitational accretion at some further distance from Mars.

On the Maas problem of seawater intrusion combated by infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kacimov, A. R.

2008-09-01

SummaryThe problem of Maas [Maas, K. 2007. Influence of climate change on a Ghijben-Herzberg lens. J. Hydrol. 347, 223-228] for infiltration inflow into a porous flat-roofed fresh water lens floating on the interface of an ascending Darcian saline water flow is shown to be in exact match with the Polubarinova-Kochina [Polubarinova-Kochina, P.Ya., 1977. Theory of Ground Water Movement. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)] problem for flow in a lens capped by a cambered phreatic surface with a uniform accretion. The Maas complex potential in the domain of a heavy saline water seeping beneath the lens corresponds to one of an ideal fluid flow past an elliptical cylinder that makes possible conversion of this potential into ascending-descending seepage flows with floating (but stagnant) DNAPL-LNAPL volumes. Similar matching is possible for the velocity potential of an axisymmetric flow past an ellipsoid and hydrostatic pressure of a stagnant NAPL body stored in a semi-ellipsoidal pond.

Stability of binaries. Part II: Rubble-pile binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ishan

2016-10-01

We consider the stability of the binary asteroids whose members are granular aggregates held together by self-gravity alone. A binary is said to be stable whenever both its members are orbitally and structurally stable to both orbital and structural perturbations. To this end, we extend the stability analysis of Sharma (Sharma [2015] Icarus, 258, 438-453), that is applicable to binaries with rigid members, to the case of binary systems with rubble members. We employ volume averaging (Sharma et al. [2009] Icarus, 200, 304-322), which was inspired by past work on elastic/fluid, rotating and gravitating ellipsoids. This technique has shown promise when applied to rubble-pile ellipsoids, but requires further work to settle some of its underlying assumptions. The stability test is finally applied to some suspected binary systems, viz., 216 Kleopatra, 624 Hektor and 90 Antiope. We also see that equilibrated binaries that are close to mobilizing their maximum friction can sustain only a narrow range of shapes and, generally, congruent shapes are preferred.

The Stokes problem for the ellipsoid using ellipsoidal kernels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, Z.

1981-01-01

A brief review of Stokes' problem for the ellipsoid as a reference surface is given. Another solution of the problem using an ellipsoidal kernel, which represents an iterative form of Stokes' integral, is suggested with a relative error of the order of the flattening. On studying of Rapp's method in detail the procedures of improving its convergence are discussed.

Nonsingular expansions of the gravity potential and its derivatives at satellite altitudes in the ellipsoidal coordinate system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vershkov, A. N.; Petrovskaya, M. S.

2016-11-01

The series in ellipsoidal harmonics for derivatives of the Earth's gravity potential are used only on the reference ellipsoid enveloping the Earth due to their very complex mathematical structure. In the current study, the series in ellipsoidal harmonics are constructed for first- and second-order derivatives of the potential at satellite altitudes; their structure is similar to the series on the reference ellipsoid. The point P is chosen at a random satellite altitude; then, the ellipsoid of revolution is described, which passes through this point and is confocal to the reference ellipsoid. An object-centered coordinate system with the origin at the point P is considered. Using a sequence of transformations, the nonsingular series in ellipsoidal harmonics is constructed for first and second derivatives of the potential in the object-centered coordinate system. These series can be applied to develop a model of the Earth's potential, based on combined use of surface gravitational force measurements, data on the satellite orbital position, its acceleration, or measurements of the gravitational force gradients of the first and second order. The technique is applicable to any other planet of the Solar System.

Electrohydrodynamic Quincke rotation of a prolate ellipsoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brosseau, Quentin; Hickey, Gregory; Vlahovska, Petia M.

2017-01-01

We study experimentally the occurrence of spontaneous spinning (Quincke rotation) of an ellipsoid in a uniform direct current (dc) electric field. For an ellipsoid suspended in an unbounded fluid, we find two stable states characterized by the orientation of the ellipsoid long axis relative to the applied electric field: spinless (parallel) and spinning (perpendicular). The phase diagram of ellipsoid behavior as a function of field strength and aspect ratio is in close agreement with the theory of Cēbers et al. [Phys. Rev. E 63, 016301 (2000)], 10.1103/PhysRevE.63.016301. We also investigate the dynamics of the ellipsoidal Quincke rotor resting on a planar surface with normal perpendicular to the field direction. We find behaviors, such as swinging (long axis oscillating around the applied field direction) and tumbling, due to the confinement.

Shape matters: The case for Ellipsoids and Ellipsoidal Water

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

Tillack, Andreas F.; Robinson, Bruce H.

We describe the shape potentials used for the van der Waals interactions between soft-ellipsoids used to coarse-grain molecular moieties in our Metropolis Monte-Carlo simulation software. The morphologies resulting from different expressions for these van der Waals interaction potentials are discussed for the case of a prolate spheroid system with a strong dipole at the ellipsoid center. We also show that the calculation of ellipsoids is, at worst, only about fivefold more expensive computationally when compared to a simple Lennard- Jones sphere. Finally, as an application of the ellipsoidal shape we parametrize water from the original SPC water model and observemore » – just through the difference in shape alone – a significant improvement of the O-O radial distribution function when compared to experimental data.« less

The triaxial ellipsoid size, density, and rotational pole of asteroid (16) Psyche from Keck and Gemini AO observations 2004-2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drummond, Jack D.; Merline, William J.; Carry, Benoit; Conrad, Al; Reddy, Vishnu; Tamblyn, Peter; Chapman, Clark R.; Enke, Brian L.; Pater, Imke de; Kleer, Katherine de; Christou, Julian; Dumas, Christophe

2018-05-01

We analyze a comprehensive set of our adaptive optics (AO) images taken at the 10 m W. M. Keck telescope and the 8 m Gemini telescope to derive values for the size, shape, and rotational pole of asteroid (16) Psyche. Our fit of a large number of AO images, spanning 14 years and covering a range of viewing geometries, allows a well-constrained model that yields small uncertainties in all measured and derived parameters, including triaxial ellipsoid dimensions, rotational pole, volume, and density. We find a best fit set of triaxial ellipsoid diameters of (a,b,c) = (274 ± 9, 231 ± 7, 176 ± 7) km, with an average diameter of 223 ± 7 km. Continuing the literature review of Carry (2012), we find a new mass for Psyche of 2.43 ± 0.35 × 1019 kg that, with the volume from our size, leads to a density estimate 4.16 ± 0.64 g/cm3. The largest contribution to the uncertainty in the density, however, still comes from the uncertainty in the mass, not our volume. Psyche's M classification, combined with its high radar albedo, suggests at least a surface metallic composition. If Psyche is composed of pure nickel-iron, the density we derive implies a macro-porosity of 47%, suggesting that it may be an exposed, disrupted, and reassembled core of a Vesta-like planetesimal. The rotational pole position (critical for planning spacecraft mission operations) that we find is consistent with others, but with a reduced uncertainty: [RA;Dec]=[32°;+5°] or Ecliptic [λ; δ]=[32∘ ; -8∘ ] with an uncertainty radius of 3°. Our results provide independent measurements of fundamental parameters for this M-type asteroid, and demonstrate that the parameters are well determined by all techniques, including setting the prime meridian over the longest principal axis. The 5.00 year orbital period of Psyche produces only four distinct opposition geometries, suggesting that observations before the arrival of Psyche Mission in 2030 should perhaps emphasize observations away from opposition, although the penalty then would be that the asteroid will be fainter and further than at opposition.

Numerical investigations on flow dynamics of prismatic granular materials using the discrete element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hancock, W.; Weatherley, D.; Wruck, B.; Chitombo, G. P.

2012-04-01

The flow dynamics of granular materials is of broad interest in both the geosciences (e.g. landslides, fault zone evolution, and brecchia pipe formation) and many engineering disciplines (e.g chemical engineering, food sciences, pharmaceuticals and materials science). At the interface between natural and human-induced granular media flow, current underground mass-mining methods are trending towards the induced failure and subsequent gravitational flow of large volumes of broken rock, a method known as cave mining. Cave mining relies upon the undercutting of a large ore body, inducement of fragmentation of the rock and subsequent extraction of ore from below, via hopper-like outlets. Design of such mines currently relies upon a simplified kinematic theory of granular flow in hoppers, known as the ellipsoid theory of mass movement. This theory assumes that the zone of moving material grows as an ellipsoid above the outlet of the silo. The boundary of the movement zone is a shear band and internal to the movement zone, the granular material is assumed to have a uniformly high bulk porosity compared with surrounding stagnant regions. There is however, increasing anecdotal evidence and field measurements suggesting this theory fails to capture the full complexity of granular material flow within cave mines. Given the practical challenges obstructing direct measurement of movement both in laboratory experiments and in-situ, the Discrete Element Method (DEM [1]) is a popular alternative to investigate granular media flow. Small-scale DEM studies (c.f. [3] and references therein) have confirmed that movement within DEM silo flow models matches that predicted by ellipsoid theory, at least for mono-disperse granular material freely outflowing at a constant rate. A major draw-back of these small-scale DEM studies is that the initial bulk porosity of the simulated granular material is significantly higher than that of broken, prismatic rock. In this investigation, more realistic granular material geometries are simulated using the ESyS-Particle [2] DEM simulation software on cluster supercomputers. Individual grains of the granular material are represented as convex polyhedra. Initially the polyhedra are packed in a low bulk porosity configuration prior to commencing silo flow simulations. The resultant flow dynamics are markedly different to that predicted by ellipsoid theory. Initially shearing occurs around the silo outlet however rapidly shear localization in a particular direction dominates other directions, causing preferential movement in that direction. Within the shear band itself, the granular material becomes hgihly dilated however elsewhere the bulk porosity remains low. The low porosity within these regions promotes entrainment whereby large volumes of granular material interlock and begin to rotate and translate as a single rigid body. In some cases, entrainment may result in complete overturning of a large volume of material. The consequences of preferential shear localization and in particular, entrainment, for granular media flow in cave mines and natural settings (such as brecchia pipes) is a topic of ongoing research to be presented at the meeting.

Measurement of absolute lung volumes by imaging techniques.

PubMed

Clausen, J

1997-10-01

In this paper, the techniques available for estimating total lung capacities from standard chest radiographs in children and infants as well as adults are reviewed. These techniques include manual measurements using ellipsoid and planimetry techniques as well as computerized systems. Techniques are also available for making radiographic lung volume measurements from portable chest radiographs. There are inadequate data in the literature to support recommending one specific technique over another. Though measurements of lung volumes by radiographic, plethysmographic, gas dilution or washout techniques result in remarkably similar mean results when groups of normal subjects are tested, in patients with disease, the results of these different basic measurement techniques can differ significantly. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance techniques can also be used to measure absolute lung volumes and offer the theoretical advantages that the results in individual subjects are less affected by variances of thoracic shape than are measurements made using conventional chest radiographs.

Ellipsoids (v1.0): 3-D magnetic modelling of ellipsoidal bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Diego; Oliveira, Vanderlei C., Jr.

2017-09-01

A considerable amount of literature has been published on the magnetic modelling of uniformly magnetized ellipsoids since the second half of the nineteenth century. Ellipsoids have flexibility to represent a wide range of geometrical forms, are the only known bodies which can be uniformly magnetized in the presence of a uniform inducing field and are the only finite bodies for which the self-demagnetization can be treated analytically. This property makes ellipsoids particularly useful for modelling compact orebodies having high susceptibility. In this case, neglecting the self-demagnetization may strongly mislead the interpretation of these bodies by using magnetic methods. A number of previous studies consider that the self-demagnetization can be neglected for the case in which the geological body has an isotropic susceptibility lower than or equal to 0.1 SI. This limiting value, however, seems to be determined empirically and there has been no discussion about how this value was determined. In addition, the geoscientific community lacks an easy-to-use tool to simulate the magnetic field produced by uniformly magnetized ellipsoids. Here, we present an integrated review of the magnetic modelling of arbitrarily oriented triaxial, prolate and oblate ellipsoids. Our review includes ellipsoids with both induced and remanent magnetization, as well as with isotropic or anisotropic susceptibility. We also discuss the ambiguity between confocal ellipsoids with the same magnetic moment and propose a way of determining the isotropic susceptibility above which the self-demagnetization must be taken into consideration. Tests with synthetic data validate our approach. Finally, we provide a set of routines to model the magnetic field produced by ellipsoids. The routines are written in Python language as part of the Fatiando a Terra, which is an open-source library for modelling and inversion in geophysics.

Stitching interferometry for ellipsoidal x-ray mirrors

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

Yumoto, Hirokatsu, E-mail: yumoto@spring8.or.jp; Koyama, Takahisa; Matsuyama, Satoshi

2016-05-15

Ellipsoidal mirrors, which can efficiently produce a two-dimensional focusing beam with a single mirror, are superior x-ray focusing optics, especially when compared to elliptical-cylinder mirrors in the Kirkpatrick–Baez geometry. However, nano-focusing ellipsoidal mirrors are not commonly used for x-ray optics because achieving the accuracy required for the surface metrology of nano-focusing ellipsoidal mirrors is difficult due to their small radius of curvature along the short ellipsoidal axis. Here, we developed a surface metrology system for nano-focusing ellipsoidal mirrors using stitching interferometric techniques. The developed system simultaneously measures sub-aperture shapes with a microscopic interferometer and the tilt angles of the sub-aperturemore » shapes with a large Fizeau interferometer. After correcting the systematic errors included in the sub-aperture shapes, the entire mirror shape is calculated by stitching the sub-aperture shapes based on the obtained relative angles between partially overlapped sub-apertures. In this study, we developed correction methods for systematic errors in sub-aperture shapes that originated from off-axis aberrations produced in the optics of the microscopic interferometer. The systematic errors on an ellipsoidal mirror were estimated by measuring a series of tilted plane substrates and the ellipsoidal substrate. From measurements of an ellipsoidal mirror with a 3.6-mm radius of curvature at the mirror center, we obtained a measurement repeatability of 0.51 nm (root-mean-square) in an assessment area of 0.5 mm × 99.18 mm. This value satisfies the requirements for surface metrology of nano-focusing x-ray mirrors. Thus, the developed metrology system should be applicable for fabricating nano-focusing ellipsoidal mirrors.« less

Optical modeling of volcanic ash particles using ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merikallio, Sini; Muñoz, Olga; Sundström, Anu-Maija; Virtanen, Timo H.; Horttanainen, Matti; de Leeuw, Gerrit; Nousiainen, Timo

2015-05-01

The single-scattering properties of volcanic ash particles are modeled here by using ellipsoidal shapes. Ellipsoids are expected to improve the accuracy of the retrieval of aerosol properties using remote sensing techniques, which are currently often based on oversimplified assumptions of spherical ash particles. Measurements of the single-scattering optical properties of ash particles from several volcanoes across the globe, including previously unpublished measurements from the Eyjafjallajökull and Puyehue volcanoes, are used to assess the performance of the ellipsoidal particle models. These comparisons between the measurements and the ellipsoidal particle model include consideration of the whole scattering matrix, as well as sensitivity studies on the point of view of the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) instrument. AATSR, which flew on the ENVISAT satellite, offers two viewing directions but no information on polarization, so usually only the phase function is relevant for interpreting its measurements. As expected, ensembles of ellipsoids are able to reproduce the observed scattering matrix more faithfully than spheres. Performance of ellipsoid ensembles depends on the distribution of particle shapes, which we tried to optimize. No single specific shape distribution could be found that would perform superiorly in all situations, but all of the best-fit ellipsoidal distributions, as well as the additionally tested equiprobable distribution, improved greatly over the performance of spheres. We conclude that an equiprobable shape distribution of ellipsoidal model particles is a relatively good, yet enticingly simple, approach for modeling volcanic ash single-scattering optical properties.

The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. Ellipsoidal Variability of Red Giants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soszynski, I.; Udalski, A.; Kubiak, M.; Szymanski, M. K.; Pietrzynski, G.; Zebrun, K.; Szewczyk, O.; Wyrzykowski, L.; Dziembowski, W. A.

2004-12-01

We used the OGLE-II and OGLE-III photometry of red giants in the Large Magellanic Cloud to select and study objects revealing ellipsoidal variability. We detected 1546 candidates for long period ellipsoidal variables and 121 eclipsing binary systems with clear ellipsoidal modulation. The ellipsoidal red giants follow a period--luminosity (PL) relationship (sequence E), and the scatter of the relation is correlated with the amplitude of variability: the larger the amplitude, the smaller the scatter. We note that some of the ellipsoidal candidates exhibit simultaneously OGLE Small Amplitude Red Giants pulsations. Thus, in some cases the Long Secondary Period (LSP) phenomenon can be explained by the ellipsoidal modulation. We also select about 1600 red giants with distinct LSP, which are not ellipsoidal variables. We discover that besides the sequence D in the PL diagram known before, the LSP giants form additional less numerous sequence for longer periods. We notice that the PL sequence of the ellipsoidal candidates is a direct continuation of the LSP sequence toward fainter stars, what might suggest that the LSP phenomenon is related to binarity but there are strong arguments against such a possibility. About 10% of the presented light curves reveal clear deformation by the eccentricity of the system orbits. The largest estimated eccentricity in our sample is about 0.4. All presented data, including individual BVI observations and finding charts are available from the OGLE Internet archive.

Optical levitation of a non-spherical particle in a loosely focused Gaussian beam.

PubMed

Chang, Cheong Bong; Huang, Wei-Xi; Lee, Kyung Heon; Sung, Hyung Jin

2012-10-08

The optical force on a non-spherical particle subjected to a loosely focused laser beam was calculated using the dynamic ray tracing method. Ellipsoidal particles with different aspect ratios, inclination angles, and positions were modeled, and the effects of these parameters on the optical force were examined. The vertical component of the optical force parallel to the laser beam axis decreased as the aspect ratio decreased, whereas the ellipsoid with a small aspect ratio and a large inclination angle experienced a large vertical optical force. The ellipsoids were pulled toward or repelled away from the laser beam axis, depending on the inclination angle, and they experienced a torque near the focal point. The behavior of the ellipsoids in a viscous fluid was examined by analyzing a dynamic simulation based on the penalty immersed boundary method. As the ellipsoids levitated along the direction of the laser beam propagation, they moved horizontally with rotation. Except for the ellipsoid with a small aspect ratio and a zero inclination angle near the focal point, the ellipsoids rotated until the major axis aligned with the laser beam axis.

Needlelike motion of prolate ellipsoids in the sea of spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasanthi, R.; Ravichandran, S.; Bagchi, Biman

2001-05-01

Molecular dynamics simulations of translational motion of isolated prolate ellipsoids in the sea of spheres have been carried out for several different values of the aspect ratio (κ), obtained by changing either the length or the diameter of the ellipsoids, at several different solvent densities. The interaction among the spheres is given by the Lennard-Jones pair potential while that between spheres and ellipsoids is given by a modified Gay-Berne potential. Both the mean-square displacements of the center of mass of the ellipsoids and their orientational time correlation function have been calculated. It is found that at short to intermediate times, the motion of ellipsoids is anisotropic and primarily needlelike—the molecules prefer to move parallel to their long axis. The ratio of these two diffusion constants (D∥ and D⊥) approaches κ, suggesting a decoupling of D∥ from the length of the ellipsoid. The diffusion becomes isotropic in the long time with the total diffusion coefficient given by D∥+2D⊥. The crossover from the anisotropic to the isotropic diffusion is surprisingly sharp and clear in most cases.

Angle amplifying optics using plane and ellipsoidal reflectors

DOEpatents

Glass, Alexander J.

1977-01-01

An optical system for providing a wide angle input beam into ellipsoidal laser fusion target illumination systems. The optical system comprises one or more pairs of centrally apertured plane and ellipsoidal mirrors disposed to accept the light input from a conventional lens of modest focal length and thickness, to increase the angular divergence thereof to a value equivalent to that of fast lenses, and to direct the light into the ellipsoidal target illumination system.

Point Relay Scanner Utilizing Ellipsoidal Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manhart, Paul K. (Inventor); Pagano, Robert J. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

A scanning system uses a polygonal mirror assembly with each facet of the polygon having an ellipsoidal mirror located thereon. One focal point of each ellipsoidal mirror is located at a common point on the axis of rotation of the polygonal mirror assembly. As the mirror assembly rotates. a second focal point of the ellipsoidal mirrors traces out a scan line. The scanner can be utilized for scanned output display of information or for scanning information to be detected.

Internalization of Red Blood Cell-Mimicking Hydrogel Capsules with pH-Triggered Shape Responses

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

We report on naturally inspired hydrogel capsules with pH-induced transitions from discoids to oblate ellipsoids and their interactions with cells. We integrate characteristics of erythrocytes such as discoidal shape, hollow structure, and elasticity with reversible pH-responsiveness of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) to design a new type of drug delivery carrier to be potentially triggered by chemical stimuli in the tumor lesion. The capsules are fabricated from cross-linked PMAA multilayers using sacrificial discoid silicon templates. The degree of capsule shape transition is controlled by the pH-tuned volume change, which in turn is regulated by the capsule wall composition. The (PMAA)15 capsules undergo a dramatic 24-fold volume change, while a moderate 2.3-fold volume variation is observed for more rigid PMAA–(poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PMAA–PVPON)5 capsules when solution pH is varied between 7.4 and 4. Despite that both types of capsules exhibit discoid-to-oblate ellipsoid transitions, a 3-fold greater swelling in radial dimensions is found for one-component systems due to a greater degree of the circular face bulging. We also show that (PMAA–PVPON)5 discoidal capsules interact differently with J774A.1 macrophages, HMVEC endothelial cells, and 4T1 breast cancer cells. The discoidal capsules show 60% lower internalization as compared to spherical capsules. Finally, hydrogel capsules demonstrate a 2-fold decrease in size upon internalization. These capsules represent a unique example of elastic hydrogel discoids capable of pH-induced drastic and reversible variations in aspect ratios. Considering the RBC-mimicking shape, their dimensions, and their capability to undergo pH-triggered intracellular responses, the hydrogel capsules demonstrate considerable potential as novel carriers in shape-regulated transport and cellular uptake. PMID:24848786

A mathematical formula to estimate in vivo thyroid volume from two-dimensional ultrasonography.

PubMed

Trimboli, Pierpaolo; Ruggieri, Massimo; Fumarola, Angela; D'Alò, Michele; Straniero, Andrea; Maiuolo, Amelia; Ulisse, Salvatore; D'Armiento, Massimino

2008-08-01

The determination of thyroid volume (TV) is required for the management of thyroid diseases. Since two-dimensional ultrasonography (2D-US) has become the accepted method for the assessment of TV (2D-US-TV), we verified whether it accurately assesses postsurgical measured TV (PS-TV). In 92 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy by conventional cervicotomy, 2D-US-TV obtained by the ellipsoid volume formula was compared to PS-TV, determined by the Archimedes' principle. Mean 2D-US-TV (23.9 +/- 14.8 mL) was significantly lower than mean PS-TV (33.4 +/- 20.1 mL). Underestimation was observed in 77% of cases, and it was related to gland multinodularity and/or nodular involvement of the isthmus, while 2D-US-TV matched the PS-TV in the remaining 21 cases (23%). A mathematical formula, to estimate PS-TV from US-TV, was derived using a linear model (Calculated-TV = [1.24 x 2D-US-TV]+ 3.66). Calculated-TV (mean value 33.4 +/- 18.3 mL) significantly (p < 0.01) increased from 21 (23%) to 31 (34%) of the cases that matched PS-TV. In addition, it significantly (p < 0.01) decreased from 77% to 27% the percentage of cases where PS-TV was underestimated as well as the range of the disagreement from 245% to 92%. This study shows that 2D-US does not provide an accurate estimation of TV and suggests that it can be improved by a mathematical model different from the ellipsoid model. If confirmed in prospective studies, this may contribute to a more appropriate management of thyroid diseases.

Probablilistic evaluation of earthquake detection and location capability for Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia

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

Mauk, F.J.; Christensen, D.H.

1980-09-01

Probabilistic estimations of earthquake detection and location capabilities for the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia are presented in this document. The algorithm used in these epicentrality and minimum-magnitude estimations is a version of the program NETWORTH by Wirth, Blandford, and Husted (DARPA Order No. 2551, 1978) which was modified for local array evaluation at the University of Michigan Seismological Observatory. Estimations of earthquake detection capability for the years 1970 and 1980 are presented in four regional minimum m/sub b/ magnitude contour maps. Regional 90% confidence error ellipsoids are included for m/sub b/ magnitude events from 2.0more » through 5.0 at 0.5 m/sub b/ unit increments. The close agreement between these predicted epicentral 90% confidence estimates and the calculated error ellipses associated with actual earthquakes within the studied region suggest that these error determinations can be used to estimate the reliability of epicenter location. 8 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Cardiac Cycle Dependent Left Atrial Dynamics: Implications for Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

PubMed Central

Patel, Amit R.; Fatemi, Omid; Norton, Patrick T.; West, J. Jason; Helms, Adam S.; Kramer, Christopher M.; Ferguson, John D.

2008-01-01

Background Left atrial volume (LAV) determines prognosis and response to therapy in atrial fibrillation. Integration of electro-anatomical maps with 3D-images rendered from CT and MRI is used to facilitate atrial fibrillation ablation. Objectives We measured LAV changes and regional motion during the cardiac cycle that might affect the accuracy of image integration and determined their relationship to standard LAV measurements. Methods MRI was performed in thirty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Left atrial time-volume curves were generated and used to divide the left atrial function (LAEF) into pumping (PEF) and conduit (CEF) fractions and to determine the maximum LAV (LAMAX) and the pre-atrial contraction volume (PACV). LAV was measured using an MRI angiogram and traditional geometric models from echocardiography (area-length and ellipsoid). The in-plane displacement of the pulmonary veins, anterior left atrium, mitral annulus, and left atrial appendage was measured. Results LAMAX was 107±36ml and occurred at 42±5% of the RR interval. PACV was 86 ±34ml and occurred at 81±4% of the RR interval. LAEF was 45±10% and PEF was 31±10%. LAV measurements made from the MRI angiogram, area-length and ellipsoid models underestimated LAMAX by 21±25ml, 16±26ml, and 35±22ml, respectively. The anterior LA, mitral annulus, and left atrial appendage were significantly displaced during the cardiac cycle (8.8±2.0mm, 13.2±3.8mm, and 10.2±3.4mm, respectively); the pulmonary veins were not. Conclusions LAV changes significantly during the cardiac cycle and substantial regional variation in left atrial motion exists. Standard measurements of left atrial volume significantly underestimate LAMAX when compared to the gold standard measure of 3D-volumetrics. PMID:18486563

Map Projection Induced Variations in Locations of Polygon Geofence Edges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neeley, Paula; Narkawicz, Anthony

2017-01-01

This Paper under-estimates answers to the following question under various constraints: If a geofencing algorithm uses a map projection to determine whether a position is inside/outside a polygon region, how far outside/inside the polygon can the point be and the algorithm determine that it is inside/outside (the opposite and therefore incorrect answer)? Geofencing systems for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) often model stay-in and stay-out regions using 2D polygons with minimum and maximum altitudes. The vertices of the polygons are typically input as latitude-longitude pairs, and the edges as paths between adjacent vertices. There are numerous ways to generate these paths, resulting in numerous potential locations for the edges of stay-in and stay-out regions. These paths may be geodesics on a spherical model of the earth or geodesics on the WGS84 reference ellipsoid. In geofencing applications that use map projections, these paths are inverse images of straight lines in the projected plane. This projected plane may be a projection of a spherical earth model onto a tangent plane, called an orthographic projection. Alternatively, it may be a projection where the straight lines in the projected plane correspond to straight lines in the latitudelongitude coordinate system, also called a Plate Carr´ee projection. This paper estimates distances between different edge paths and an oracle path, which is a geodesic on either the spherical earth or the WGS84 ellipsoidal earth. This paper therefore estimates how far apart different edge paths can be rather than comparing their path lengths, which are not considered. Rather, the comparision is between the actual locations of the edges between vertices. For edges drawn using orthographic projections, this maximum distance increases as the distance from the polygon vertices to the projection point increases. For edges drawn using Plate Carr´ee projections, this maximum distance increases as the vertices become further from the equator. Distances between geodesics on a spherical earth and a WGS84 ellipsoidal earth are also analyzed, using the WGS84 ellipsoid as the oracle. Bounds on the 2D distance between a straight line and a great circle path, in an orthographically projected plane rather than on the surface of the earth, have been formally verified in the PVS theorem prover, meaning that they are mathematically correct in the absence of floating point errors.

All-reflective optical target illumination system with high numerical aperture

DOEpatents

Sigler, Robert D.

1978-01-01

An all-reflective optical system for providing illumination of a target focal region at high numerical aperture from a pair of co-axially, confluent collimated light beams. A target cavity is defined by a pair of opposed inner ellipsoidal reflectors having respective first focal points within a target region and second focal points at a vertex opening in the opposing reflector. Outwardly of each inner reflector is the opposed combination of a spherical reflector, and an outer generally ellipsoidal reflector having an aberrated first focal point coincident with the focus of the opposing spherical reflector and a second focal point coincident with the second focal point of the opposing inner ellipsoidal reflector through a vertex opening in the spherical reflector. The confluent collimated beams are incident through vertex openings in the outer ellipsoidal reflectors onto respective opposing spherical reflectors. Each beam is reflected by the associated spherical reflector onto the opposing outer ellipsoidal reflector and focused thereby onto the opposing inner ellipsoidal reflector, and then onto the target region.

On the tidal-energy tensor for two homogeneous coaxial ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caimmi, R.; Secco, L.

2001-10-01

The tidal-energy tensor for two homogeneous and coaxial ellipsoids, one lying completely within the other, is investigated in connection with the tidal action exerted by the outer ellipsoid on the inner one. Making reference to the explicit expression found in a previous paper of ours, it is shown that the generic component of the tidal-energy tensor, (i) may be expressed as the product of the corresponding component of the self-energy tensor related to the inner ellipsoid, by the density ratio, and the shape factor ratio, and (ii) equals the one due to any homogeneous, outer ellipsoid, for which the product of the density and a specified shape factor remains unchanged; in particular, the outer ellipsoid may be similar and similarly placed with respect to the inner one. In addition, an explicit expression for the Clausius-virial tensor is derived. Analogous results for the corresponding scalar quantities are also given. Further attention is paid to the particular case of spheroids.

The Hubble IR cutoff in holographic ellipsoidal cosmologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cataldo, Mauricio; Cruz, Norman

2018-01-01

It is well known that for spatially flat FRW cosmologies, the holographic dark energy disfavors the Hubble parameter as a candidate for the IR cutoff. For overcoming this problem, we explore the use of this cutoff in holographic ellipsoidal cosmological models, and derive the general ellipsoidal metric induced by a such holographic energy density. Despite the drawbacks that this cutoff presents in homogeneous and isotropic universes, based on this general metric, we developed a suitable ellipsoidal holographic cosmological model, filled with a dark matter and a dark energy components. At late time stages, the cosmic evolution is dominated by a holographic anisotropic dark energy with barotropic equations of state. The cosmologies expand in all directions in accelerated manner. Since the ellipsoidal cosmologies given here are not asymptotically FRW, the deviation from homogeneity and isotropy of the universe on large cosmological scales remains constant during all cosmic evolution. This feature allows the studied holographic ellipsoidal cosmologies to be ruled by an equation of state ω =p/ρ , whose range belongs to quintessence or even phantom matter.

Speckle interferometry of asteroids. IV - Reconstructed images of 4 Vesta

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drummond, J.; Eckart, A.; Hege, E. K.

1988-01-01

The images of 4 Vesta obtained by means of speckle interferometric observations on November 16 and 17, 1983, support a 5-hr 20.5-min rotational period. The 4 Vesta visible light curve was approximately matched by the placing of circular 'spots' with 135-km diameter over the three dark and three bright features, followed by the assigning of albedos of 0 to the dark spots and 2 to the bright. The light curve is found to be primarily defined by albedo structure, rather than shape; this results in one maximum and one minimum/rotation, rather than the two of each that would be associated with 4 Vesta's triaxial ellipsoid morphology.

Ellipsoidal terrain correction based on multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection of the reference ellipsoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardalan, A. A.; Safari, A.

2004-09-01

An operational algorithm for computation of terrain correction (or local gravity field modeling) based on application of closed-form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates in multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection of the reference ellipsoid is presented. Multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection of the reference ellipsoid has been derived and is described in detail for the first time. Ellipsoidal mass elements with various sizes on the surface of the reference ellipsoid are selected and the gravitational potential and vector of gravitational intensity (i.e. gravitational acceleration) of the mass elements are computed via numerical solution of the Newton integral in terms of geodetic coordinates {λ,ϕ,h}. Four base- edge points of the ellipsoidal mass elements are transformed into a multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection surface to build Cartesian mass elements by associating the height of the corresponding ellipsoidal mass elements to the transformed area elements. Using the closed-form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates, the gravitational potential and vector of gravitational intensity of the transformed Cartesian mass elements are computed and compared with those of the numerical solution of the Newton integral for the ellipsoidal mass elements in terms of geodetic coordinates. Numerical tests indicate that the difference between the two computations, i.e. numerical solution of the Newton integral for ellipsoidal mass elements in terms of geodetic coordinates and closed-form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates, in a multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection, is less than 1.6×10-8 m2/s2 for a mass element with a cross section area of 10×10 m and a height of 10,000 m. For a mass element with a cross section area of 1×1 km and a height of 10,000 m the difference is less than 1.5×10-4m2/s2. Since 1.5× 10-4 m2/s2 is equivalent to 1.5×10-5m in the vertical direction, it can be concluded that a method for terrain correction (or local gravity field modeling) based on closed-form solution of the Newton integral in terms of Cartesian coordinates of a multi-cylindrical equal-area map projection of the reference ellipsoid has been developed which has the accuracy of terrain correction (or local gravity field modeling) based on the Newton integral in terms of ellipsoidal coordinates.

Unusual CoS2 ellipsoids with anisotropic tube-like cavities and their application in supercapacitors.

PubMed

Zhang, Lei; Wu, Hao Bin; Lou, Xiong Wen

2012-07-14

Unusual CoS(2) ellipsoids with anisotropic tube-like cavities have been synthesized from the simultaneous thermal decomposition and sulfidation of a preformed cobalt carbonate precursor. The as-prepared CoS(2) ellipsoids show interesting supercapacitive properties with high capacitance and good cycling performance.

Gaze3DFix: Detecting 3D fixations with an ellipsoidal bounding volume.

PubMed

Weber, Sascha; Schubert, Rebekka S; Vogt, Stefan; Velichkovsky, Boris M; Pannasch, Sebastian

2017-10-26

Nowadays, the use of eyetracking to determine 2-D gaze positions is common practice, and several approaches to the detection of 2-D fixations exist, but ready-to-use algorithms to determine eye movements in three dimensions are still missing. Here we present a dispersion-based algorithm with an ellipsoidal bounding volume that estimates 3D fixations. Therefore, 3D gaze points are obtained using a vector-based approach and are further processed with our algorithm. To evaluate the accuracy of our method, we performed experimental studies with real and virtual stimuli. We obtained good congruence between stimulus position and both the 3D gaze points and the 3D fixation locations within the tested range of 200-600 mm. The mean deviation of the 3D fixations from the stimulus positions was 17 mm for the real as well as for the virtual stimuli, with larger variances at increasing stimulus distances. The described algorithms are implemented in two dynamic linked libraries (Gaze3D.dll and Fixation3D.dll), and we provide a graphical user interface (Gaze3DFixGUI.exe) that is designed for importing 2-D binocular eyetracking data and calculating both 3D gaze points and 3D fixations using the libraries. The Gaze3DFix toolkit, including both libraries and the graphical user interface, is available as open-source software at https://github.com/applied-cognition-research/Gaze3DFix .

Ellipsoidal head model for fetal magnetoencephalography: forward and inverse solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutiérrez, David; Nehorai, Arye; Preissl, Hubert

2005-05-01

Fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG) is a non-invasive technique where measurements of the magnetic field outside the maternal abdomen are used to infer the source location and signals of the fetus' neural activity. There are a number of aspects related to fMEG modelling that must be addressed, such as the conductor volume, fetal position and orientation, gestation period, etc. We propose a solution to the forward problem of fMEG based on an ellipsoidal head geometry. This model has the advantage of highlighting special characteristics of the field that are inherent to the anisotropy of the human head, such as the spread and orientation of the field in relationship with the localization and position of the fetal head. Our forward solution is presented in the form of a kernel matrix that facilitates the solution of the inverse problem through decoupling of the dipole localization parameters from the source signals. Then, we use this model and the maximum likelihood technique to solve the inverse problem assuming the availability of measurements from multiple trials. The applicability and performance of our methods are illustrated through numerical examples based on a real 151-channel SQUID fMEG measurement system (SARA). SARA is an MEG system especially designed for fetal assessment and is currently used for heart and brain studies. Finally, since our model requires knowledge of the best-fitting ellipsoid's centre location and semiaxes lengths, we propose a method for estimating these parameters through a least-squares fit on anatomical information obtained from three-dimensional ultrasound images.

The Politics of Evidence Use in Health Policy Making in Germany-the Case of Regulating Hospital Minimum Volumes.

PubMed

Ettelt, Stefanie

2017-06-01

This article examines the role of scientific evidence in informing health policy decisions in Germany, using minimum volumes policy as a case study. It argues that scientific evidence was used strategically at various stages of the policy process both by individual corporatist actors and by the Federal Joint Committee as the regulator. Minimum volumes regulation was inspired by scientific evidence suggesting a positive relationship between service volume and patient outcomes for complex surgical interventions. Federal legislation was introduced in 2002 to delegate the selection of services and the setting of volumes to corporatist decision makers. Yet, despite being represented in the Federal Joint Committee, hospitals affected by its decisions took the Committee to court to seek legal redress and prevent policy implementation. Evidence has been key to support, and challenge, decisions about minimum volumes, including in court. The analysis of the role of scientific evidence in minimum volumes regulation in Germany highlights the dynamic relationship between evidence use and the political and institutional context of health policy making, which in this case is characterized by the legislative nature of policy making, corporatism, and the role of the judiciary in reviewing policy decisions. Copyright © 2017 by Stefanie Ettelt.

Models for predicting the mass of lime fruits by some engineering properties.

PubMed

Miraei Ashtiani, Seyed-Hassan; Baradaran Motie, Jalal; Emadi, Bagher; Aghkhani, Mohammad-Hosein

2014-11-01

Grading fruits based on mass is important in packaging and reduces the waste, also increases the marketing value of agricultural produce. The aim of this study was mass modeling of two major cultivars of Iranian limes based on engineering attributes. Models were classified into three: 1-Single and multiple variable regressions of lime mass and dimensional characteristics. 2-Single and multiple variable regressions of lime mass and projected areas. 3-Single regression of lime mass based on its actual volume and calculated volume assumed as ellipsoid and prolate spheroid shapes. All properties considered in the current study were found to be statistically significant (ρ < 0.01). The results indicated that mass modeling of lime based on minor diameter and first projected area are the most appropriate models in the first and the second classifications, respectively. In third classification, the best model was obtained on the basis of the prolate spheroid volume. It was finally concluded that the suitable grading system of lime mass is based on prolate spheroid volume.

Quincke rotation of an ellipsoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlahovska, Petia; Brosseau, Quentin

2016-11-01

The Quincke effect - spontaneous spinning of a sphere in a uniform DC electric field - has attracted considerable interest in recent year because of the intriguing dynamics exhibited by a Quincke-rotating drop and the emergent collective behavior of confined suspensions of Quincke-rotating spheres. Shape anisotropy, e.g., due to drop deformation or particle asphericity, is predicted to give rise to complex particle dynamics. Analysis of the dynamics of rigid prolate ellipsoid in a uniform DC electric field shows two possible stable states characterized by the orientation of the ellipsoid long axis relative to the applied electric field : spinless (parallel) and spinning (perpendicular). Here we report an experimental study testing the theoretical predictions. The phase diagram of ellipsoid behavior as a function of field strength and aspect ratio is in close agreement with theory. We also investigated the dynamics of the ellipsoidal Quincke "roller": an ellipsoid near a planar surface with normal perpendicular to the field direction. We find novel behaviors such as swinging (long axis oscillating around the applied field direction) and tumbling due to the confinement. Supported by NSF CBET awards 1437545 and 1544196.

X-ray microfocusing with off-axis ellipsoidal mirror

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

Yumoto, Hirokatsu, E-mail: yumoto@spring8.or.jp; Koyama, Takahisa; Matsuyama, Satoshi

2016-07-27

High-precision ellipsoidal mirrors for two-dimensionally focusing X-rays to nanometer sizes have not been realized because of technical problems in their fabrication processes. The objective of the present study is to develop fabrication techniques for ellipsoidal focusing mirrors in the hard-X-ray region. We design an off-axis ellipsoidal mirror for use under total reflection conditions up to the X-ray energy of 8 keV. We fabricate an ellipsoidal mirror with a surface roughness of 0.3 nm RMS (root-mean-square) and a surface figure error height of 3.0 nm RMS by utilizing a surface profiler and surface finishing method developed by us. The focusing propertiesmore » of the mirror are evaluated at the BL29XUL beamline in SPring-8. A focusing beam size of 270 nm × 360 nm FWHM (full width at half maximum) at an X-ray energy of 7 keV is observed with the use of the knife-edge scanning method. We expect to apply the developed fabrication techniques to construct ellipsoidal nanofocusing mirrors.« less

Landslide prediction using combined deterministic and probabilistic methods in hilly area of Mt. Medvednica in Zagreb City, Croatia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunxiang; Watanabe, Naoki; Marui, Hideaki

2013-04-01

The hilly slopes of Mt. Medvednica are stretched in the northwestern part of Zagreb City, Croatia, and extend to approximately 180km2. In this area, landslides, e.g. Kostanjek landslide and Črešnjevec landslide, have brought damage to many houses, roads, farmlands, grassland and etc. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the potential landslides and to enhance landslide inventory for hazard mitigation and security management of local society in this area. We combined deterministic method and probabilistic method to assess potential landslides including their locations, size and sliding surfaces. Firstly, this study area is divided into several slope units that have similar topographic and geological characteristics using the hydrology analysis tool in ArcGIS. Then, a GIS-based modified three-dimensional Hovland's method for slope stability analysis system is developed to identify the sliding surface and corresponding three-dimensional safety factor for each slope unit. Each sliding surface is assumed to be the lower part of each ellipsoid. The direction of inclination of the ellipsoid is considered to be the same as the main dip direction of the slope unit. The center point of the ellipsoid is randomly set to the center point of a grid cell in the slope unit. The minimum three-dimensional safety factor and corresponding critical sliding surface are also obtained for each slope unit. Thirdly, since a single value of safety factor is insufficient to evaluate the slope stability of a slope unit, the ratio of the number of calculation cases in which the three-dimensional safety factor values less than 1.0 to the total number of trial calculation is defined as the failure probability of the slope unit. If the failure probability is more than 80%, the slope unit is distinguished as 'unstable' from other slope units and the landslide hazard can be mapped for the whole study area.

Reference Ellipsoid and Geoid in Chronometric Geodesy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopeikin, Sergei M.

2016-02-01

Chronometric geodesy applies general relativity to study the problem of the shape of celestial bodies including the earth, and their gravitational field. The present paper discusses the relativistic problem of construction of a background geometric manifold that is used for describing a reference ellipsoid, geoid, the normal gravity field of the earth and for calculating geoid's undulation (height). We choose the perfect fluid with an ellipsoidal mass distribution uniformly rotating around a fixed axis as a source of matter generating the geometry of the background manifold through the Einstein equations. We formulate the post-Newtonian hydrodynamic equations of the rotating fluid to find out the set of algebraic equations defining the equipotential surface of the gravity field. In order to solve these equations we explicitly perform all integrals characterizing the interior gravitational potentials in terms of elementary functions depending on the parameters defining the shape of the body and the mass distribution. We employ the coordinate freedom of the equations to choose these parameters to make the shape of the rotating fluid configuration to be an ellipsoid of rotation. We derive expressions of the post-Newtonian mass and angular momentum of the rotating fluid as functions of the rotational velocity and the parameters of the ellipsoid including its bare density, eccentricity and semi-major axes. We formulate the post-Newtonian Pizzetti and Clairaut theorems that are used in geodesy to connect the parameters of the reference ellipsoid to the polar and equatorial values of force of gravity. We expand the post-Newtonian geodetic equations characterizing the reference ellipsoid into the Taylor series with respect to the eccentricity of the ellipsoid, and discuss the small-eccentricity approximation. Finally, we introduce the concept of relativistic geoid and its undulation with respect to the reference ellipsoid, and discuss how to calculate it in chronometric geodesy by making use of the anomalous gravity potential.

Study of Aggregation of Janus Ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruth, Donovan; Li, Wei; Khadka, Shreeya; Rickman, Jeffrey; Gunton, James

2013-03-01

We perform numerical simulations of a quasi-square well potential model of one-patch colloidal particles to investigate the collective structure of a system of Janus ellipsoids. We show that for Janus ellipsoids such that one half is an attractive patch, while the entire ellipsoid has a hardcore repulsion, the system organizes into a distribution of orientationally ordered micelles and vesicles. We analyze the cluster distribution at several temperatures and low densities and show that below certain temperatures the system is populated by stable clusters and depending on temperature and density the system is populated by either vesicles or micelle structures.

Bayesian Model Testing of Models for Ellipsoidal Variation on Stars Due to Hot Jupiters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gai, Anthony D.

A massive planet closely orbiting its host star creates tidal forces that distort the typically spherical stellar surface. These distortions, known as ellipsoidal variations, result in variations in the photometric flux emitted by the star, which can be detected by the Kepler Space Telescope. Currently, there exist several models describing such variations and their effect on the photometric flux [1] [2] [3] [4]. By using Bayesian model testing in conjunction with the Bayesian-based exoplanet characterization software package EXONEST [4] [5] [6], the most probable representation for ellipsoidal variations was determined for synthetic data and two systems with confirmed hot Jupiter exoplanets: HAT-P-7 and Kepler-13. The models were indistinguishable for the HAT-P-7 system likely due to noise within the dataset washing out the differences between the models. The most preferred model for ellipsoidal variations was determined to be EVIL-MC. The Modified Kane & Gelino model [4] provided the best representation of ellipsoidal variations, of the trigonometric models, for the Kepler-13 system and may serve as a fast alternative to the more computationally intensive EVIL-MC [3]. The computational feasibility of directly modeling the ellipsoidal variations of a star are examined and future work is outlined. Providing a more accurate model of ellipsoidal variations is expected to result in better estimations of planetary properties.

MERIDIONAL TILT OF THE STELLAR VELOCITY ELLIPSOID DURING BAR BUCKLING INSTABILITY

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

Saha, Kanak; Pfenniger, Daniel; Taam, Ronald E., E-mail: saha@mpe.mpg.de

2013-02-20

The structure and evolution of the stellar velocity ellipsoid play an important role in shaping galaxies undergoing bar-driven secular evolution and the eventual formation of a boxy/peanut bulge such as is present in the Milky Way. Using collisionless N-body simulations, we show that during the formation of such a boxy/peanut bulge, the meridional shear stress of stars, which can be measured by the meridional tilt of the velocity ellipsoid, reaches a characteristic peak in its time evolution. It is shown that the onset of a bar buckling instability is closely connected to the maximum meridional tilt of the stellar velocitymore » ellipsoid. Our findings bring a new insight to this complex gravitational instability of the bar which complements the buckling instability studies based on orbital models. We briefly discuss the observed diagnostics of the stellar velocity ellipsoid during such a phenomenon.« less

Magnetoencephalography in ellipsoidal geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dassios, George; Kariotou, Fotini

2003-01-01

An exact analytic solution for the forward problem in the theory of biomagnetics of the human brain is known only for the (1D) case of a sphere and the (2D) case of a spheroid, where the excitation field is due to an electric dipole within the corresponding homogeneous conductor. In the present work the corresponding problem for the more realistic ellipsoidal brain model is solved and the leading quadrupole approximation for the exterior magnetic field is obtained in a form that exhibits the anisotropic character of the ellipsoidal geometry. The results are obtained in a straightforward manner through the evaluation of the interior electric potential and a subsequent calculation of the surface integral over the ellipsoid, using Lamé functions and ellipsoidal harmonics. The basic formulas are expressed in terms of the standard elliptic integrals that enter the expressions for the exterior Lamé functions. The laborious task of reducing the results to the spherical geometry is also included.

Simulation of Collision of Arbitrary Shape Particles with Wall in a Viscous Fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohaghegh, Fazlolah; Udaykumar, H. S.

2016-11-01

Collision of finite size arbitrary shape particles with wall in a viscous flow is modeled using immersed boundary method. A potential function indicating the distance from the interface is introduced for the particles and the wall. The potential can be defined by using either an analytical expression or level set method. The collision starts when the indicator potentials of the particle and wall are overlapping based on a minimum cut off. A simplified mass spring model is used in order to apply the collision forces. Instead of using a dashpot in order to damp the energy, the spring stiffness is adjusted during the bounce. The results for the case of collision of a falling sphere with the bottom wall agrees well with the experiments. Moreover, it is shown that the results are independent from the minimum collision cut off distance value. Finally, when the particle's shape is ellipsoidal, the rotation of the particle after the collision becomes important and noticeable: At low Stokes number values, the particle almost adheres to the wall in one side and rotates until it reaches the minimum gravitational potential. At high Stokes numbers, the particle bounces and loses the energy until it reaches a situation with low Stokes number.

Interdigitation Zone Band Restoration After Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

PubMed

Serizawa, Satoshi; Ohkoshi, Kishiko; Minowa, Yuko; Soejima, Kumiko

2016-09-01

To investigate whether the integrity of the interdigitation zone band, the ellipsoid zone band, and the external limiting membrane are reliable markers of treatment outcome in diabetic macular edema (DME). In this retrospective study, we examined 41 treatment-naïve eyes (38 patients) with DME that were treated with laser therapy, pharmacotherapy, and/or vitrectomy. Best-corrected visual acuity and the integrity of the interdigitation zone band, the ellipsoid zone band, and the external limiting membrane were assessed before treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months after DME treatment. One year after treatment, the external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone band, and interdigitation zone band were completely visible in 30 (73.2%), 24 (58.5%), and 2 (4.9%) eyes, respectively. Interdigitation zone band status improved significantly (P = 0.005) 1 year after treatment. The interdigitation zone did not improve in the absence of the ellipsoid zone band. Likewise, ellipsoid zone status did not improve in the absence of the external limiting membrane at any time after treatment. The results of this study show that restoration of the interdigitation zone band constitutes a very sensitive marker of DME treatment outcome when the ellipsoid zone band is visible before treatment.

Transverse mixing of ellipsoidal particles in a rotating drum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Siyuan; Gan, Jieqing; Pinson, David; Zhou, Zongyan

2017-06-01

Rotating drums are widely used in industry for mixing, milling, coating and drying processes. In the past decades, mixing of granular materials in rotating drums has been extensively investigated, but most of the studies are based on spherical particles. Particle shape has an influence on the flow behaviour and thus mixing behaviour, though the shape effect has as-yet received limited study. In this work, discrete element method (DEM) is employed to study the transverse mixing of ellipsoidal particles in a rotating drum. The effects of aspect ratio and rotating speed on mixing quality and mixing rate are investigated. The results show that mixing index increases exponentially with time for both spheres and ellipsoids. Particles with various aspect ratios are able to reach well-mixed states after sufficient revolutions in the rolling or cascading regime. Ellipsoids show higher mixing rate when rotational speed is set between 25 and 40 rpm. The relationship between mixing rate and aspect ratio of ellipsoids is established, demonstrating that, particles with aspect ratios of 0.5 and 2.0 achieve the highest mixing rates. Increasing rotating speed from 15 rpm to 40 rpm does not necessarily increase the mixing speed of spheres, while monotonous increase is observed for ellipsoids.

Strong far-infrared intersubband absorption under normal incidence in heavily n-type doped nonalloy GaSb-AlSb superlattices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Samoska, L. A.; Brar, Berinder; Kroemer, H.

1993-01-01

We report on long-wavelength intersubband absorption under normal incidence in heavily doped binary-binary GaSb-AlSb superlattices. Due to a small energy difference between the ellipsoidal L valleys in GaSb and the low-density-of-states Gamma minimum, electrons spill over from the first Gamma subband into the higher-energy L subband in GaSb wells, where they are allowed to make an intersubband transition under normally incident radiation. A peak fractional absorption per quantum well of 6.8 x 10 exp 3 (absorption coefficient alpha of about 8500/cm) is observed at about 15 microns wavelength for a sheet concentration of 1.6 x 10 exp 12 sq cm/well.

Strain analysis in quartzites with negative magnetic susceptibility using AMS and EBSD data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajendraprasad Renjith, A.; Mamtani, Manish A.

2016-04-01

This study is being done with the objective of trying to understand whether the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data can provide information about strain in quartzites with negative magnetic susceptibility. For this, nine quartzite samples have been collected from Rengali Province (located in the eastern part of India) with bulk magnetic susceptibility between -13.6 x 10-6 SI units and -3.06 x 10-6 SI units. Since these rocks did not show any visible foliation or lineation, AMS analysis was performed using KLY-4S Kappabridge and the orientation of three principal axes of the AMS ellipsoid (K1>K2>K3) were determined. Thin sections were prepared parallel to the K1K3 plane of the AMS ellipsoid (plane parallel to lineation and perpendicular to foliation), which is equivalent to the XZ plane of the strain ellipsoid. SEM based electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, shape preferred orientation (SPO) analysis and strain analysis were carried out in these sections. Recently, Renjith et al. (2016) used the same samples to establish that the AMS in quartzites gives information about the SPO and not the CPO. To further evaluate the robustness of AMS in strain analysis, the authors have integrated the degree of magnetic anisotropy (Pj - a measure of the eccentricity of AMS ellipsoid; Tarling and Hrouda, 1993) with the intensity of SPO (κ ; Piazolo and Passchier, 2002), and the strain (E - calculated using AMOCADO; Gerik and Kruhl, 2009) from the same samples from Rengali. EBSD data were used as the basis for the above calculations. Whilst the orientation of long axis of quartz grains from EBSD statistical data was used to calculate κ , the grain boundary map generated from EBSD analysis was used as the basis to determine strain (E). It is found that the sample with minimum Pj also has a minimum κ and E, and vice-versa. Hence it is concluded that one-to-one correlation exists between the degree of magnetic anisotropy, strain and intensity of SPO in deformed quartzites that have a negative magnetic susceptibility. Since the application of AMS as a strain-intensity gauge in quartzites with mean susceptibility below 50 x 10-6 SI units has been questioned in the past (Hrouda, 1986), the present findings open up a further avenue of research that can be addressed using AMS. References: Gerik, A., Kruhl, J.H., 2009. Towards automated pattern quantification: time-efficient assessment of anisotropy of 2D patterns with AMOCADO. Computers and Geoscience 35, 1087-1097. Hrouda, F., 1986. The effect of quartz on the magnetic anisotropy of quartzite. Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica 30, 39-45. Piazolo, S., Passchier, C.W., 2002. Controls on lineation development in low to medium grade shear zones: a study from the Cap de Creus peninsula, NE Spain. Journal of Structural Geology 24, 25-44. Renjith, A.R., Mamtani, M.A., Urai, J.L., 2016. Fabric analysis of quartzites with negative magnetic susceptibility -- does AMS provide information of SPO or CPO of quartz? Journal of Structural Geology 82, 48-59. Tarling, D.H., Hrouda, F., 1993. The Magnetic Anisotropy of Rocks. Chapman and Hall, London, p. 217.

RefMoB, a Reflectivity Feature Model-Based Automated Method for Measuring Four Outer Retinal Hyperreflective Bands in Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Ross, Douglas H.; Clark, Mark E.; Godara, Pooja; Huisingh, Carrie; McGwin, Gerald; Owsley, Cynthia; Litts, Katie M.; Spaide, Richard F.; Sloan, Kenneth R.; Curcio, Christine A.

2015-01-01

Purpose. To validate a model-driven method (RefMoB) of automatically describing the four outer retinal hyperreflective bands revealed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), for comparison with histology of normal macula; to report thickness and position of bands, particularly band 2 (ellipsoid zone [EZ], commonly called IS/OS). Methods. Foveal and superior perifoveal scans of seven SDOCT volumes of five individuals aged 28 to 69 years with healthy maculas were used (seven eyes for validation, five eyes for measurement). RefMoB determines band thickness and position by a multistage procedure that models reflectivities as a summation of Gaussians. Band thickness and positions were compared with those obtained by manual evaluators for the same scans, and compared with an independent published histological dataset. Results. Agreement among manual evaluators was moderate. Relative to manual evaluation, RefMoB reported reduced thickness and vertical shifts in band positions in a band-specific manner for both simulated and empirical data. In foveal and perifoveal scans, band 1 was thick relative to the anatomical external limiting membrane, band 2 aligned with the outer one-third of the anatomical IS ellipsoid, and band 3 (IZ, interdigitation of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors) was cleanly delineated. Conclusions. RefMoB is suitable for automatic description of the location and thickness of the four outer retinal hyperreflective bands. Initial results suggest that band 2 aligns with the outer ellipsoid, thus supporting its recent designation as EZ. Automated and objective delineation of band 3 will help investigations of structural biomarkers of dark-adaptation changes in aging. PMID:26132776

Sliding inclusions and their applications

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

Mura, T.

It is found that when an ellipsoidal inclusion undergoes a shear eigenstrain and the inclusion is free to slip along the interface, the stress field vanishes everywhere in the inclusion and the matrix. It is assumed in the analysis that the inclusion interface cannot sustain any shear traction. There exists a shear deformation which transforms an ellipsoid into the identical ellipsoid without changing its orientation (ellipsoid invariant transformation). Therefore, no resistance for shear deformation is expected. This may be a characteristic of deformation seen in superplasticity alloys and granular materials. The theory is valid even for large deformations when incrementalmore » strains (or strain rates) are considered instead of strains themselves.« less

The microwave properties of composites including lightweight core-shell ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Liming; Xu, Yonggang; Dai, Fei; Liao, Yi; Zhang, Deyuan

2016-12-01

In order to study the microwave properties of suspensions including lightweight core-shell ellipsoids, the calculation formula was obtained by substituting an equivalent ellipsoid for the original core-shell ellipsoid. Simulations for Fe-coated diatomite/paraffin suspensions were performed. Results reveal that the calculated results fitted the measured results very well when the inclusion concentration was no more than 15 vol%, but there was an obvious deviation when the inclusion concentration reached 24 vol%. By comparisons, the formula for less diluted suspensions was more suitable for calculating the electromagnetic parameter of suspensions especially when the ratio was smaller between the electromagnetic parameter of the inclusion and that of the host medium.

Aseptic minimum volume vitrification technique for porcine parthenogenetically activated blastocyst.

PubMed

Lin, Lin; Yu, Yutao; Zhang, Xiuqing; Yang, Huanming; Bolund, Lars; Callesen, Henrik; Vajta, Gábor

2011-01-01

Minimum volume vitrification may provide extremely high cooling and warming rates if the sample and the surrounding medium contacts directly with the respective liquid nitrogen and warming medium. However, this direct contact may result in microbial contamination. In this work, an earlier aseptic technique was applied for minimum volume vitrification. After equilibration, samples were loaded on a plastic film, immersed rapidly into factory derived, filter-sterilized liquid nitrogen, and sealed into sterile, pre-cooled straws. At warming, the straw was cut, the filmstrip was immersed into a 39 degree C warming medium, and the sample was stepwise rehydrated. Cryosurvival rates of porcine blastocysts produced by parthenogenetical activation did not differ from control, vitrified blastocysts with Cryotop. This approach can be used for minimum volume vitrification methods and may be suitable to overcome the biological dangers and legal restrictions that hamper the application of open vitrification techniques.

Anisotropy of susceptibility in rocks which are magnetically nonlinear even in low fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrouda, František; Chadima, Martin; Ježek, Josef

2018-06-01

Theory of the low-field anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) assumes a linear relationship between magnetization and magnetizing field, resulting in field-independent susceptibility. This is valid for diamagnetic and paramagnetic minerals by definition and also for pure magnetite, while in titanomagnetite, pyrrhotite and hematite the susceptibility may be clearly field-dependent even in low fields used in common AMS meter. Consequently, the use of the linear AMS theory is fully legitimate in the former minerals, but in principle incorrect in the latter ones. Automated measurement of susceptibility in 320 directions in variable low-fields ranging from 5 to 700 A m-1 was applied to more than 100 specimens of various pyrrhotite-bearing and titanomagnetite-bearing rocks. Data analysis showed that the anisotropic susceptibility remains well represented by an ellipsoid in the entire low-field span even though the ellipsoid increases its volume and eccentricity. The principal directions do not change their orientations with low-field in most specimens. Expressions for susceptibility as a function of field were found in the form of diagonal tensor whose elements are polynomials of low order. In a large proportion of samples, the susceptibility expressions can be further simplified to have one common skeleton polynomial.

Non-ellipsoidal inclusions as geological strain markers and competence indicators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treagus, S. H.; Hudleston, P. J.; Lan, L.

1996-09-01

Geological objects that do not deform homogeneously with their matrix can be considered as inclusions with viscosity contrast. Such inclusions are generally treated as initially spherical or ellipsoidal. Theory shows that ellipsoidal inclusions deform homogeneously, so they maintain an ellipsoidal shape, regardless of the viscosity difference. However, non-ellipsoidal inclusions deform inhomogeneously, so will become irregular in shape. Geological objects such as porphyroblasts, porphyroclasts and sedimentary clasts are likely to be of this kind, with initially rectilinear, prismatic or superelliptical section shapes. We present two-dimensional finite-element models of deformed square inclusions, in pure shear (parallel or diagonal to the square), as a preliminary investigation of the deformation of non-ellipsoidal inclusions with viscosity contrast. Competent inclusions develop marked barrel shapes with horn-like corners, as described for natural ductile boudins, or slightly wavy rhombs. Incompetent inclusions develop 'dumb-bell' or bone shapes, with a surprising degree of bulging of the shortened edges, or rhomb to sheath shapes. The results lead to speculation for inclusions in the circle to square shape range, and for asymmetric orientations. Anticipated shapes range from asymmetric barrels, lemons or flags for competent inclusions, to ribbon or fish shapes for incompetent inclusions. We conclude that shapes of inclusions and clasts provide an important new type of strain marker and competence criterion.

The octapolic ellipsoidal term in magnetoencephalography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dassios, George; Hadjiloizi, Demetra; Kariotou, Fotini

2009-01-01

The forward problem of magnetoencephalography (MEG) in ellipsoidal geometry has been studied by Dassios and Kariotou ["Magnetoencephalography in ellipsoidal geometry," J. Math. Phys. 44, 220 (2003)] using the theory of ellipsoidal harmonics. In fact, the analytic solution of the quadrupolic term for the magnetic induction field has been calculated in the case of a dipolar neuronal current. Nevertheless, since the quadrupolic term is only the leading nonvanishing term in the multipole expansion of the magnetic field, it contains not enough information for the construction of an effective algorithm to solve the inverse MEG problem, i.e., to recover the position and the orientation of a dipole from measurements of the magnetic field outside the head. For this task, the next multipole of the magnetic field is also needed. The present work provides exactly this octapolic contribution of the dipolar current to the expansion of the magnetic induction field. The octapolic term is expressed in terms of the ellipsoidal harmonics of the third degree, and therefore it provides the highest order terms that can be expressed in closed form using long but reasonable analytic and algebraic manipulations. In principle, the knowledge of the quadrupolic and the octapolic terms is enough to solve the inverse problem of identifying a dipole inside an ellipsoid. Nevertheless, a simple inversion algorithm for this problem is not yet known.

Anisotropy induced in a silver chloride emulsion by two successive beams of white light perpendicularly polarized

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Attia, Mondher; Debrus, Solange; Henriot, M. P.; May, Marie

1983-04-01

This paper is a study of the anisotropy induced in a silver chloride photographic emulsion by two successive beams of white light, linearly polarized at right angle. After the first exposure, the colloidal medium contains silver ellipsoids e generated by the photolysis of silver chloride and silver ellipsoids e b resulting of the partial destruction of some of the previous ones by long wavelengths. This medium is then illuminated by the second beam linearly polarized at right angle of the first beam. Short wavelengths induced silver ellipsoids e' identical to the ellopsoids e but rotated through π/2 with respect to them. As in the first exposure, some of them are partly broken up and transformed into ellipsoids e' b identical to ellipsoids e b but the direction of their major axis. Moreover, the long wavelengths of second exposure transform some of the particles e and e b generated during the first exposure, into smaller ellipsoids e eb and e bb. Finally, the colloidal medium resulting of these two exposures, contains silver chloride and six sorts of silver particles. By calculating the indices of the medium, we show that the wavelengths characterizing the zero birefringence and zero dichroism of the emulsion are dependent on the energies recorded during each of the exposures.

Novel Calibration Algorithm for a Three-Axis Strapdown Magnetometer

PubMed Central

Liu, Yan Xia; Li, Xi Sheng; Zhang, Xiao Juan; Feng, Yi Bo

2014-01-01

A complete error calibration model with 12 independent parameters is established by analyzing the three-axis magnetometer error mechanism. The said model conforms to an ellipsoid restriction, the parameters of the ellipsoid equation are estimated, and the ellipsoid coefficient matrix is derived. However, the calibration matrix cannot be determined completely, as there are fewer ellipsoid parameters than calibration model parameters. Mathematically, the calibration matrix derived from the ellipsoid coefficient matrix by a different matrix decomposition method is not unique, and there exists an unknown rotation matrix R between them. This paper puts forward a constant intersection angle method (angles between the geomagnetic field and gravitational field are fixed) to estimate R. The Tikhonov method is adopted to solve the problem that rounding errors or other errors may seriously affect the calculation results of R when the condition number of the matrix is very large. The geomagnetic field vector and heading error are further corrected by R. The constant intersection angle method is convenient and practical, as it is free from any additional calibration procedure or coordinate transformation. In addition, the simulation experiment indicates that the heading error declines from ±1° calibrated by classical ellipsoid fitting to ±0.2° calibrated by a constant intersection angle method, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 50 dB. The actual experiment exhibits that the heading error is further corrected from ±0.8° calibrated by the classical ellipsoid fitting to ±0.3° calibrated by a constant intersection angle method. PMID:24831110

Analytical volcano deformation modelling: A new and fast generalized point-source approach with application to the 2015 Calbuco eruption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikkhoo, M.; Walter, T. R.; Lundgren, P.; Prats-Iraola, P.

2015-12-01

Ground deformation at active volcanoes is one of the key precursors of volcanic unrest, monitored by InSAR and GPS techniques at high spatial and temporal resolution, respectively. Modelling of the observed displacements establishes the link between them and the underlying subsurface processes and volume change. The so-called Mogi model and the rectangular dislocation are two commonly applied analytical solutions that allow for quick interpretations based on the location, depth and volume change of pressurized spherical cavities and planar intrusions, respectively. Geological observations worldwide, however, suggest elongated, tabular or other non-equidimensional geometries for the magma chambers. How can these be modelled? Generalized models such as the Davis's point ellipsoidal cavity or the rectangular dislocation solutions, are geometrically limited and could barely improve the interpretation of data. We develop a new analytical artefact-free solution for a rectangular dislocation, which also possesses full rotational degrees of freedom. We construct a kinematic model in terms of three pairwise-perpendicular rectangular dislocations with a prescribed opening only. This model represents a generalized point source in the far field, and also performs as a finite dislocation model for planar intrusions in the near field. We show that through calculating the Eshelby's shape tensor the far-field displacements and stresses of any arbitrary triaxial ellipsoidal cavity can be reproduced by using this model. Regardless of its aspect ratios, the volume change of this model is simply the sum of the volume change of the individual dislocations. Our model can be integrated in any inversion scheme as simply as the Mogi model, profiting at the same time from the advantages of a generalized point source. After evaluating our model by using a boundary element method code, we apply it to ground displacements of the 2015 Calbuco eruption, Chile, observed by the Sentinel-1 satellite. We infer the parameters of a deflating elongated source located beneath Calbuco, and find significant differences to Mogi type solutions. The results imply that interpretations based on our model may help us better understand source characteristics, and in the case of Calubuco volcano infer a volcano-tectonic coupling mechanism.

The combined geodetic network adjusted on the reference ellipsoid - a comparison of three functional models for GNSS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadaj, Roman

2016-12-01

The adjustment problem of the so-called combined (hybrid, integrated) network created with GNSS vectors and terrestrial observations has been the subject of many theoretical and applied works. The network adjustment in various mathematical spaces was considered: in the Cartesian geocentric system on a reference ellipsoid and on a mapping plane. For practical reasons, it often takes a geodetic coordinate system associated with the reference ellipsoid. In this case, the Cartesian GNSS vectors are converted, for example, into geodesic parameters (azimuth and length) on the ellipsoid, but the simple form of converted pseudo-observations are the direct differences of the geodetic coordinates. Unfortunately, such an approach may be essentially distorted by a systematic error resulting from the position error of the GNSS vector, before its projection on the ellipsoid surface. In this paper, an analysis of the impact of this error on the determined measures of geometric ellipsoid elements, including the differences of geodetic coordinates or geodesic parameters is presented. Assuming that the adjustment of a combined network on the ellipsoid shows that the optimal functional approach in relation to the satellite observation, is to create the observational equations directly for the original GNSS Cartesian vector components, writing them directly as a function of the geodetic coordinates (in numerical applications, we use the linearized forms of observational equations with explicitly specified coefficients). While retaining the original character of the Cartesian vector, one avoids any systematic errors that may occur in the conversion of the original GNSS vectors to ellipsoid elements, for example the vector of the geodesic parameters. The problem is theoretically developed and numerically tested. An example of the adjustment of a subnet loaded from the database of reference stations of the ASG-EUPOS system was considered for the preferred functional model of the GNSS observations.

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... this part) Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample... per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method... appendix A of this part) Oxides of nitrogen 388 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour...

The cancellous bone multiscale morphology-elasticity relationship.

PubMed

Agić, Ante; Nikolić, Vasilije; Mijović, Budimir

2006-06-01

The cancellous bone effective properties relations are analysed on multiscale across two aspects; properties of representative volume element on micro scale and statistical measure of trabecular trajectory orientation on mesoscale. Anisotropy of the microstructure is described across fabric tensor measure with trajectory orientation tensor as bridging scale connection. The scatter measured data (elastic modulus, trajectory orientation, apparent density) from compression test are fitted by stochastic interpolation procedure. The engineering constants of the elasticity tensor are estimated by last square fitt procedure in multidimensional space by Nelder-Mead simplex. The multiaxial failure surface in strain space is constructed and interpolated by modified super-ellipsoid.

A three-dimensional, compressible, laminar boundary-layer method for general fuselages. Volume 1: Numerical method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wie, Yong-Sun

1990-01-01

A procedure for calculating 3-D, compressible laminar boundary layer flow on general fuselage shapes is described. The boundary layer solutions can be obtained in either nonorthogonal 'body oriented' coordinates or orthogonal streamline coordinates. The numerical procedure is 'second order' accurate, efficient and independent of the cross flow velocity direction. Numerical results are presented for several test cases, including a sharp cone, an ellipsoid of revolution, and a general aircraft fuselage at angle of attack. Comparisons are made between numerical results obtained using nonorthogonal curvilinear 'body oriented' coordinates and streamline coordinates.

Physical properties of the planet Mercury

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, Pamela E.

1988-01-01

The global physical properties of Mercury are summarized with attention given to its figure and orbital parameters. The combination of properties suggests that Mercury has an extensive iron-rich core, possibly with a still-functioning dynamo, which is 42 percent of the interior by volume. Mercury's three major axes are comparable in size, indicating that the planet is a triaxial ellipsoid rather than an oblate spheroid. In terms of the domination of its surface by an intermediate plains terrane, it is more Venus- or Mars-like; however, due to the presence of a large metallic magnetic core, its interior may be more earth-like.

Towards an Optimized Method of Olive Tree Crown Volume Measurement

PubMed Central

Miranda-Fuentes, Antonio; Llorens, Jordi; Gamarra-Diezma, Juan L.; Gil-Ribes, Jesús A.; Gil, Emilio

2015-01-01

Accurate crown characterization of large isolated olive trees is vital for adjusting spray doses in three-dimensional crop agriculture. Among the many methodologies available, laser sensors have proved to be the most reliable and accurate. However, their operation is time consuming and requires specialist knowledge and so a simpler crown characterization method is required. To this end, three methods were evaluated and compared with LiDAR measurements to determine their accuracy: Vertical Crown Projected Area method (VCPA), Ellipsoid Volume method (VE) and Tree Silhouette Volume method (VTS). Trials were performed in three different kinds of olive tree plantations: intensive, adapted one-trunked traditional and traditional. In total, 55 trees were characterized. Results show that all three methods are appropriate to estimate the crown volume, reaching high coefficients of determination: R2 = 0.783, 0.843 and 0.824 for VCPA, VE and VTS, respectively. However, discrepancies arise when evaluating tree plantations separately, especially for traditional trees. Here, correlations between LiDAR volume and other parameters showed that the Mean Vector calculated for VCPA method showed the highest correlation for traditional trees, thus its use in traditional plantations is highly recommended. PMID:25658396

Organ Dose-Rate Calculations for Small Mammals at Maralinga, the Nevada Test Site, Hanford and Fukushima: A Comparison of Ellipsoidal and Voxelized Dosimetric Methodologies.

PubMed

Caffrey, Emily A; Johansen, Mathew P; Higley, Kathryn A

2015-10-01

Radiological dosimetry for nonhuman biota typically relies on calculations that utilize the Monte Carlo simulations of simple, ellipsoidal geometries with internal radioactivity distributed homogeneously throughout. In this manner it is quick and easy to estimate whole-body dose rates to biota. Voxel models are detailed anatomical phantoms that were first used for calculating radiation dose to humans, which are now being extended to nonhuman biota dose calculations. However, if simple ellipsoidal models provide conservative dose-rate estimates, then the additional labor involved in creating voxel models may be unnecessary for most scenarios. Here we show that the ellipsoidal method provides conservative estimates of organ dose rates to small mammals. Organ dose rates were calculated for environmental source terms from Maralinga, the Nevada Test Site, Hanford and Fukushima using both the ellipsoidal and voxel techniques, and in all cases the ellipsoidal method yielded more conservative dose rates by factors of 1.2-1.4 for photons and 5.3 for beta particles. Dose rates for alpha-emitting radionuclides are identical for each method as full energy absorption in source tissue is assumed. The voxel procedure includes contributions to dose from organ-to-organ irradiation (shown here to comprise 2-50% of total dose from photons and 0-93% of total dose from beta particles) that is not specifically quantified in the ellipsoidal approach. Overall, the voxel models provide robust dosimetry for the nonhuman mammals considered in this study, and though the level of detail is likely extraneous to demonstrating regulatory compliance today, voxel models may nevertheless be advantageous in resolving ongoing questions regarding the effects of ionizing radiation on wildlife.

On the manipulability of dual cooperative robots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiacchio, P.; Chiaverini, S.; Sciavicco, L.; Siciliano, B.

1989-01-01

The definition of manipulability ellipsoids for dual robot systems is given. A suitable kineto-static formulation for dual cooperative robots is adopted which allows for a global task space description of external and internal forces, and relative velocities. The well known concepts of force and velocity manipulability ellipsoids for a single robot are formally extended and the contributions of the two single robots to the cooperative system ellipsoids are illustrated. Duality properties are discussed. A practical case study is developed.

Automated composite ellipsoid modelling for high frequency GTD analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sze, K. Y.; Rojas, R. G.; Klevenow, F. T.; Scheick, J. T.

1991-01-01

The preliminary results of a scheme currently being developed to fit a composite ellipsoid to the fuselage of a helicopter in the vicinity of the antenna location are discussed under the assumption that the antenna is mounted on the fuselage. The parameters of the close-fit composite ellipsoid would then be utilized as inputs into NEWAIR3, a code programmed in FORTRAN 77 for high frequency Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD) Analysis of the radiation of airborne antennas.

Ellipsoids beat Spheres: Experiments with Candies, Colloids and Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaikin, Paul

2006-04-01

How many gumballs fit in the glass sphere of a gumball machine? Scientists have been puzzling over problems like this since the Ancient Greeks. Yet it was only recently proven that the standard way of stacking oranges at a grocery store--with one orange on top of each set of three below--is the densist packing for spheres, with a packing fraction φ˜ 0.74. Random (amorphous) packings of spheres have a lower density, with φ ˜0.64. The density of crystalline and random packings of atoms is intimately related to the melting transition in matter. We have studied the crystal-liquid transition in spherical colloidal systems on earth and in microgravity. The simplest objects to study after spheres are squashed spheres -- ellipsoids. Surprisingly we find that ellipsoids can randomly pack more densely than spheres, up to φ˜0.68 - 0.71 for a shape close to that of M&M's^ Candies, and even approach φ˜0.75 for general ellipsoids. The higher density relates directly to the higher number of neighbors needed to prevent the more asymetric ellipsoid from rotating. We have also found the ellipsoids can be packed in a crystalline array to a density, φ˜.7707 which exceeds the highest previous packing. Our findings provide insights into granular materials, rigidity, crystals and glasses, and they may lead to higher quality ceramic materials.

Ellipsoidal cell flow system

DOEpatents

Salzman, Gary C.; Mullaney, Paul F.

1976-01-01

The disclosure relates to a system incorporating an ellipsoidal flow chamber having light reflective walls for low level light detection in practicing cellular analysis. The system increases signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of ten over prior art systems. In operation, laser light passes through the primary focus of the ellipsoid. A controlled flow of cells simultaneously passes through this focus so that the laser light impinges on the cells and is modulated by the cells. The reflective walls of the ellipsoid reflect the cell-modulated light to the secondary focus of the ellipsoid. A tapered light guide at the secondary focus picks up a substantial portion of modulated reflective light and directs it onto a light detector to produce a signal. The signal is processed to obtain the intensity distribution of the modulated light and hence sought after characteristics of the cells. In addition, cells may be dyed so as to fluoresce in response to the laser light and their fluorescence may be processed as cell-modulated light above described. A light discriminating filter would be used to distinguish reflected modulated laser light from reflected fluorescent light.

Artificial equilibrium points in binary asteroid systems with continuous low-thrust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Shichao; Li, Shuang; Yang, Hongwei

2017-08-01

The positions and dynamical characteristics of artificial equilibrium points (AEPs) in the vicinity of a binary asteroid with continuous low-thrust are studied. The restricted ellipsoid-ellipsoid model of binary system is employed for the binary asteroid system. The positions of AEPs are obtained by this model. It is found that the set of the point L1 or L2 forms a shape of an ellipsoid while the set of the point L3 forms a shape like a "banana". The effect of the continuous low-thrust on the feasible region of motion is analyzed by zero velocity curves. Because of using the low-thrust, the unreachable region can become reachable. The linearized equations of motion are derived for stability's analysis. Based on the characteristic equation of the linearized equations, the stability conditions are derived. The stable regions of AEPs are investigated by a parametric analysis. The effect of the mass ratio and ellipsoid parameters on stable region is also discussed. The results show that the influence of the mass ratio on the stable regions is more significant than the parameters of ellipsoid.

Dense crystalline packings of ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Weiwei; Jiao, Yang; Liu, Lufeng; Yuan, Ye; Li, Shuixiang

2017-03-01

An ellipsoid, the simplest nonspherical shape, has been extensively used as a model for elongated building blocks for a wide spectrum of molecular, colloidal, and granular systems. Yet the densest packing of congruent hard ellipsoids, which is intimately related to the high-density phase of many condensed matter systems, is still an open problem. We discover an unusual family of dense crystalline packings of self-dual ellipsoids (ratios of the semiaxes α : √{α }:1 ), containing 24 particles with a quasi-square-triangular (SQ-TR) tiling arrangement in the fundamental cell. The associated packing density ϕ exceeds that of the densest known SM2 crystal [ A. Donev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 255506 (2004), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.255506] for aspect ratios α in (1.365, 1.5625), attaining a maximal ϕ ≈0.758 06 ... at α = 93 /64 . We show that the SQ-TR phase derived from these dense packings is thermodynamically stable at high densities over the aforementioned α range and report a phase diagram for self-dual ellipsoids. The discovery of the SQ-TR crystal suggests organizing principles for nonspherical particles and self-assembly of colloidal systems.

Engineering ellipsoidal cap-like hydrogel particles as building blocks or sacrificial templates for three-dimensional cell culture.

PubMed

Zhang, Weiwei; Huang, Guoyou; Ng, Kelvin; Ji, Yuan; Gao, Bin; Huang, Liqing; Zhou, Jinxiong; Lu, Tian Jian; Xu, Feng

2018-03-26

Hydrogel particles that can be engineered to compartmentally culture cells in a three-dimensional (3D) and high-throughput manner have attracted increasing interest in the biomedical area. However, the ability to generate hydrogel particles with specially designed structures and their potential biomedical applications need to be further explored. This work introduces a method for fabricating hydrogel particles in an ellipsoidal cap-like shape (i.e., ellipsoidal cap-like hydrogel particles) by employing an open-pore anodic aluminum oxide membrane. Hydrogel particles of different sizes are fabricated. The ability to produce ellipsoidal cap-like magnetic hydrogel particles with controlled distribution of magnetic nanoparticles is demonstrated. Encapsulated cells show high viability, indicating the potential for using these hydrogel particles as structure- and remote-controllable building blocks for tissue engineering application. Moreover, the hydrogel particles are also used as sacrificial templates for fabricating ellipsoidal cap-like concave wells, which are further applied for producing size controllable cell aggregates. The results are beneficial for the development of hydrogel particles and their applications in 3D cell culture.

40 CFR Table 6 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10... (Reapproved 2008) c. Oxides of nitrogen 53 parts per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample... average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 6 or 6c at 40 CFR part 60, appendix...

40 CFR Table 6 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10... (Reapproved 2008) c. Oxides of nitrogen 53 parts per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample... average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 6 or 6c at 40 CFR part 60, appendix...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators Before [Date to be specified in state...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test..., appendix A-4). Oxides of nitrogen 388 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample... (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 6 or 6c of appendix A of this part) a...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators Before [Date to be specified in state...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test..., appendix A-4). Oxides of nitrogen 388 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample... (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 6 or 6c of appendix A of this part) a...

24 CFR 200.933 - Changes in minimum property standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Register. As the changes are made, they will be incorporated into the volumes of the Minimum Property... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Changes in minimum property... Changes in minimum property standards. Changes in the Minimum Property Standards will generally be made...

24 CFR 200.933 - Changes in minimum property standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Register. As the changes are made, they will be incorporated into the volumes of the Minimum Property... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Changes in minimum property... Changes in minimum property standards. Changes in the Minimum Property Standards will generally be made...

Design of an optimum computer vision-based automatic abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) grading algorithm.

PubMed

Lee, Donggil; Lee, Kyounghoon; Kim, Seonghun; Yang, Yongsu

2015-04-01

An automatic abalone grading algorithm that estimates abalone weights on the basis of computer vision using 2D images is developed and tested. The algorithm overcomes the problems experienced by conventional abalone grading methods that utilize manual sorting and mechanical automatic grading. To design an optimal algorithm, a regression formula and R(2) value were investigated by performing a regression analysis for each of total length, body width, thickness, view area, and actual volume against abalone weights. The R(2) value between the actual volume and abalone weight was 0.999, showing a relatively high correlation. As a result, to easily estimate the actual volumes of abalones based on computer vision, the volumes were calculated under the assumption that abalone shapes are half-oblate ellipsoids, and a regression formula was derived to estimate the volumes of abalones through linear regression analysis between the calculated and actual volumes. The final automatic abalone grading algorithm is designed using the abalone volume estimation regression formula derived from test results, and the actual volumes and abalone weights regression formula. In the range of abalones weighting from 16.51 to 128.01 g, the results of evaluation of the performance of algorithm via cross-validation indicate root mean square and worst-case prediction errors of are 2.8 and ±8 g, respectively. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Magnetic fabrics in tectonically inverted sedimentary basins: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Lasanta, Cristina; Román-Berdiel, Teresa; Casas-Sainz, Antonio; Oliva-Urcia, Belén; Soto, Ruth; Izquierdo-Llavall, Esther

2017-04-01

Magnetic fabric studies in sedimentary rocks were firstly focused on strongly deformed tectonic contexts, such as fold-and-thrust belts. As measurement techniques were improved by the introduction of high-resolution equipments (e.g. KLY3-S and more recent Kappabridge susceptometers from AGICO Inc., Czech Republic), more complex tectonic contexts could be subjected to anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) analyses in order to describe the relationship between tectonic conditions and the orientation and shape of the resultant magnetic ellipsoids. One of the most common complex tectonic frames involving deformed sedimentary rocks are inverted extensional basins. In the last decade, multiple AMS studies revealed that the magnetic fabric associated with the extensional stage (i.e. a primary magnetic fabric) can be preserved despite the occurrence of subsequent deformational processes. In these cases, magnetic fabrics may provide valuable information about the geometry and kinematics of the extensional episode (i.e. magnetic ellipsoids with their minimum susceptibility axis oriented perpendicular to the deposit plane and magnetic lineation oriented parallel to the extension direction). On the other hand, several of these studies have also determined how the subsequent compressional stage can modify the primary extensional fabric in some cases, particularly in areas subjected to more intense deformation (with development of compression-related cleavage). In this contribution we present a compilation of AMS studies developed in sedimentary basins that underwent different degree of tectonic inversion during their history, in order to describe the relationship of this degree of deformation and the degree of imprint that tectonic conditions have in the previous magnetic ellipsoid (primary extension-related geometry). The inverted basins included in this synthesis are located in the Iberian Peninsula and show: i) weak deformation (W Castilian Branch and Maestrazgo basin, Iberian Range); ii) transport along the hangingwall of thrusts with very slight internal deformation (Organyà basin, Central Pyrenees); iii) record of incipient compressive strain and foliation development (Cabuerniga basin, Basque-Cantabrian Basin; Lusitanian basin, W Portugal); iv) complete inversion associated with a remarkable transport along the hangingwall of thrusts and relatively large internal deformation (Cameros basin, Iberian Range); and v) major folding and flattening linked to foliation (Mauléon basin, Northern Pyrenees; Nogueres unit, Pyrenean Axial Zone).

CIDR

Science.gov Websites

* Minimum # Experimental Samples DNA Volume (ul) Genomic DNA Concentration (ng/ul) Low Input DNA Volume (ul . **Please inquire about additional cost for low input option. Genotyping Minimum # Experimental Samples DNA sample quality. If you do submit WGA samples, you should anticipate a higher non-random missing data rate

Implementation of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for patients with uterine cervix cancer: a tumor volume kinetics approach.

PubMed

Carvalho, Heloisa de Andrade; Mendez, Lucas Castro; Stuart, Silvia Radwanski; Guimarães, Roger Guilherme Rodrigues; Ramos, Clarissa Cerchi Angotti; de Paula, Lucas Assad; de Sales, Camila Pessoa; Chen, André Tsin Chih; Blasbalg, Roberto; Baroni, Ronaldo Hueb

2016-08-01

To evaluate tumor shrinking kinetics in order to implement image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for the treatment of patients with cervix cancer. This study has prospectively evaluated tumor shrinking kinetics of thirteen patients with uterine cervix cancer treated with combined chemoradiation. Four high dose rate brachytherapy fractions were delivered during the course of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams were acquired at diagnosis (D), first (B1), and third (B3) brachytherapy fractions. Target volumes (GTV and HR-CTV) were calculated by both the ellipsoid formula (VE) and MRI contouring (VC), which were defined by a consensus between at least two radiation oncologists and a pelvic expert radiologist. Most enrolled patients had squamous cell carcinoma and FIGO stage IIB disease, and initiated brachytherapy after the third week of pelvic external beam radiation. Gross tumor volume volume reduction from diagnostic MRI to B1 represented 61.9% and 75.2% of the initial volume, when measured by VE and VC, respectively. Only a modest volume reduction (15-20%) was observed from B1 to B3. The most expressive tumor shrinking occurred in the first three weeks of oncological treatment and was in accordance with gynecological examination. These findings may help in IGBT implementation.

AirMSPI PODEX Big Sur Ellipsoid Images

Atmospheric Science Data Center

2013-12-11

... Browse Images from the PODEX 2013 Campaign   Big Sur target 02/03/2013 Ellipsoid-projected   Select link to ...   Version number   For more information, see the  Data Product Specifications (DPS) ...

Ellipsoidal all-dielectric Fano resonant core-shell metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reena, Reena; Kalra, Yogita; Kumar, Ajeet

2018-06-01

In this paper, ellipsoidal core (Si) and shell (SiO2) metamaterial has been proposed for highly directional properties. At the wavelength of magnetic resonance, Fano dip occurs in the backward scattering cross section and forward scattering enhancement takes place at the same wavelength so that there is an increment in the directivity. Effect on the directivity by changing the length of ellipsoidal nanoparticle along semi-axes has been analyzed. Two Fano resonances have been observed by decreasing the length of the nanoparticle along the semi-axis having electric polarization, where first and second Fano resonances are attributed to the dipole and quadrupole moments, respectively. These Fano resonant wavelengths in ellipsoidal nanoparticle exhibit higher directivity than the Kerker's type scattering or forward scattering shown by symmetrical structures like sphere. So, this core-shell metamaterial can act as an efficient directional nanoantenna.

Large eddy simulation of orientation and rotation of ellipsoidal particles in isotropic turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jincai; Jin, Guodong; Zhang, Jian

2016-03-01

The rotational motion and orientational distribution of ellipsoidal particles in turbulent flows are of significance in environmental and engineering applications. Whereas the translational motion of an ellipsoidal particle is controlled by the turbulent motions at large scales, its rotational motion is determined by the fluid velocity gradient tensor at small scales, which raises a challenge when predicting the rotational dispersion of ellipsoidal particles using large eddy simulation (LES) method due to the lack of subgrid scale (SGS) fluid motions. We report the effects of the SGS fluid motions on the orientational and rotational statistics, such as the alignment between the long axis of ellipsoidal particles and the vorticity, the mean rotational energy at various aspect ratios against those obtained with direct numerical simulation (DNS) and filtered DNS. The performances of a stochastic differential equation (SDE) model for the SGS velocity gradient seen by the particles and the approximate deconvolution method (ADM) for LES are investigated. It is found that the missing SGS fluid motions in LES flow fields have significant effects on the rotational statistics of ellipsoidal particles. Alignment between the particles and the vorticity is weakened; and the rotational energy of the particles is reduced in LES. The SGS-SDE model leads to a large error in predicting the alignment between the particles and the vorticity and over-predicts the rotational energy of rod-like particles. The ADM significantly improves the rotational energy prediction of particles in LES.

Surfactant-assisted hollowing of Cu nanoparticles involving halide-induced corrosion-oxidation processes.

PubMed

Huang, Chih-Chia; Hwu, Jih Ru; Su, Wu-Chou; Shieh, Dar-Bin; Tzeng, Yonhua; Yeh, Chen-Sheng

2006-05-03

We have demonstrated a simple fabrication of hollow nanoparticles by halide-induced corrosion oxidation with the aid of surfactants. Cuprous oxide Cu2O nanoshells can be generated by simply mixing Cu nanoparticles with alkyltrimethylammonium halides at 55 degrees C for 16 min. The hollowing mechanism proposed is that absorption of surfactants onto the Cu surface facilitates the formation of the void interior through an oxidative etching process. Upon extending the reaction up to 4 h, fragmentation, oxidation, and self-assembly were observed and the CuO ellipsoidal structures were formed. The headgroup lengths of the surfactants influenced the degree of CuO ellipsoidal formation, whereby longer surfactants favored the generation of ellipsoids. Optical absorption measured by UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor both oxidation courses of Cu-->Cu2O and Cu2O-->CuO and to determine the band-gap energies as 2.4 eV for Cu2O nanoshells and 1.89 eV for CuO ellipsoids. For the contact-angle measurements, the wettability changed from hydrophilicity (18 degrees) to hydrophobicity (140 degrees) as the Cu2O nanoshells shifted to CuO ellipsoids.

Probabilistic homogenization of random composite with ellipsoidal particle reinforcement by the iterative stochastic finite element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokołowski, Damian; Kamiński, Marcin

2018-01-01

This study proposes a framework for determination of basic probabilistic characteristics of the orthotropic homogenized elastic properties of the periodic composite reinforced with ellipsoidal particles and a high stiffness contrast between the reinforcement and the matrix. Homogenization problem, solved by the Iterative Stochastic Finite Element Method (ISFEM) is implemented according to the stochastic perturbation, Monte Carlo simulation and semi-analytical techniques with the use of cubic Representative Volume Element (RVE) of this composite containing single particle. The given input Gaussian random variable is Young modulus of the matrix, while 3D homogenization scheme is based on numerical determination of the strain energy of the RVE under uniform unit stretches carried out in the FEM system ABAQUS. The entire series of several deterministic solutions with varying Young modulus of the matrix serves for the Weighted Least Squares Method (WLSM) recovery of polynomial response functions finally used in stochastic Taylor expansions inherent for the ISFEM. A numerical example consists of the High Density Polyurethane (HDPU) reinforced with the Carbon Black particle. It is numerically investigated (1) if the resulting homogenized characteristics are also Gaussian and (2) how the uncertainty in matrix Young modulus affects the effective stiffness tensor components and their PDF (Probability Density Function).

The Inertial Coefficients of an Airship in a Frictionless Fluid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bateman, H

1924-01-01

This report deals with the investigation of the apparent inertia of an airship hull. The exact solution of the aerodynamical problem has been studied for hulls of various shapes and special attention has been given to the case of an ellipsoidal hull. In order that the results for this last case may be readily adapted to other cases, they are expressed in terms of the area and perimeter of the largest cross section perpendicular to the direction motion by means of a formula involving a coefficient K which varies only slowly when the shape of the hull is changed, being 0.637 for a circular or elliptic disk, 0.5 for a sphere, and about 0.25 for a spheroid of fineness ratio 7. For rough purposes it is sufficient to employ the coefficients, originally found for ellipsoids, for hulls otherwise shaped. When more exact values of the inertia are needed, estimates may be based on a study of the way in which K varies with different characteristics and for such a study the new coefficient possesses some advantage over one which is defined with reference to the volume of fluid displaced. The case of rotation of an airship hull has been investigated also and a coefficient has been defined with the same advantages as the corresponding coefficient for rectilinear motion.

An Ellipsoidal Particle-Finite Element Method for Hypervelocity Impact Simulation. Chapter 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shivarama, Ravishankar; Fahrenthold, Eric P.

2004-01-01

A number of coupled particle-element and hybrid particle-element methods have been developed for the simulation of hypervelocity impact problems, to avoid certain disadvantages associated with the use of pure continuum based or pure particle based methods. To date these methods have employed spherical particles. In recent work a hybrid formulation has been extended to the ellipsoidal particle case. A model formulation approach based on Lagrange's equations, with particles entropies serving as generalized coordinates, avoids the angular momentum conservation problems which have been reported with ellipsoidal smooth particle hydrodynamics models.

Microscopic analysis of Hopper flow with ellipsoidal particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Sida; Zhou, Zongyan; Zou, Ruiping; Pinson, David; Yu, Aibing

2013-06-01

Hoppers are widely used in process industries. With such widespread application, difficulties in achieving desired operational behaviors have led to extensive experimental and mathematical studies in the past decades. Particularly, the discrete element method has become one of the most important simulation tools for design and analysis. So far, most studies are on spherical particles for computational convenience. In this work, ellipsoidal particles are used as they can represent a large variation of particle shapes. Hopper flow with ellipsoidal particles is presented highlighting the effect of particle shape on the microscopic properties.

Cryosurgery Planning Using Bubble Packing in 3D

PubMed Central

Tanaka, Daigo; Shimada, Kenji; Rossi, Michael R.; Rabin, Yoed

2008-01-01

As part of an ongoing project to develop automated tools for cryosurgery planning, the current study focuses on the development of a 3D bubble packing method. A proof-of-concept for the new method is demonstrated on five prostate models, reconstructed from ultrasound images. The new method is a modification of an established method in 2D. Ellipsoidal bubbles are packed in the volume of the prostate in the current study; such bubbles can be viewed as a first-order approximation of a frozen region around a single cryoprobe. When all cryoprobes are inserted to the same depth, optimum planning was found to occur at about 60% of the length of the prostate (measured from its apex), which leads to cooling of approximately 75% of the prostate volume below a specific temperature threshold of −22°C. Bubble packing has the potential to dramatically reduce the run time for automated planning. PMID:17963095

Cryosurgery planning using bubble packing in 3D.

PubMed

Tanaka, Daigo; Shimada, Kenji; Rossi, Michael R; Rabin, Yoed

2008-04-01

As part of an ongoing project to develop automated tools for cryosurgery planning, the current study focuses on the development of a 3D bubble packing method. A proof-of-concept for the new method is demonstrated on five prostate models, reconstructed from ultrasound images. The new method is a modification of an established method in 2D. Ellipsoidal bubbles are packed in the volume of the prostate in the current study; such bubbles can be viewed as a first-order approximation of a frozen region around a single cryoprobe. When all cryoprobes are inserted to the same depth, optimum planning was found to occur at about 60% of the length of the prostate (measured from its apex), which leads to cooling of approximately 75% of the prostate volume below a specific temperature threshold of - 22 degrees C. Bubble packing has the potential to dramatically reduce the run time for automated planning.

Simple formula for the surface area of the body and a simple model for anthropometry.

PubMed

Reading, Bruce D; Freeman, Brian

2005-03-01

The body surface area (BSA) of any adult, when derived from the arithmetic mean of the different values calculated from four independent accepted formulae, can be expressed accurately in Systeme International d'Unites (SI) units by the simple equation BSA = 1/6(WH)0.5, where W is body weight in kg, H is body height in m, and BSA is in m2. This formula, which is derived in part by modeling the body as a simple solid of revolution or a prolate spheroid (i.e., a stretched ellipsoid of revolution) gives students, teachers, and clinicians a simple rule for the rapid estimation of surface area using rational units. The formula was tested independently for human subjects by using it to predict body volume and then comparing this prediction against the actual volume measured by Archimedes' principle. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Application of robotic manipulability indices to evaluate thumb performance during smartphone touch operations.

PubMed

Endo, Hiroshi

2015-01-01

This study examined whether manipulability during smartphone thumb-based touch operations could be predicted by the following robotic manipulability indices: the volume and direction of the 'manipulability ellipsoid' (MEd), both of which evaluate the influence of kinematics on manipulability. Limits of the thumb's range of motion were considered in the MEd to improve predictability. Thumb postures at 25 key target locations were measured in 16 subjects. Though there was no correlation between subjective evaluation and the volume of the MEd, high correlation was obtained when motion range limits were taken into account. These limits changed the size of the MEd and improved the accuracy of the manipulability evaluation. Movement directions associated with higher performance could also be predicted. In conclusion, robotic manipulability indices with motion range limits were considered to be useful measures for quantitatively evaluating human hand operations.

Robe's restricted problem of 2+2 bodies when the bigger primary is a Roche ellipsoid and the smaller primary is an oblate body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Bhavneet; Aggarwal, Rajiv

2014-01-01

In this problem, one of the primaries of mass m 1 is a Roche ellipsoid filled with a homogeneous incompressible fluid of density ρ 1. The smaller primary of mass m 2 is an oblate body outside the Ellipsoid. The third and the fourth bodies (of mass m 3 and m 4 respectively) are small solid spheres of density ρ 3 and ρ 4 respectively inside the Ellipsoid, with the assumption that the mass and the radius of the third and the fourth body are infinitesimal. We assume that m 2 is describing a circle around m 1. The masses m 3 and m 4 mutually attract each other, do not influence the motions of m 1 and m 2 but are influenced by them. We have extended the Robe's restricted three-body problem to 2+2 body problem under the assumption that the fluid body assumes the shape of the Roche ellipsoid (Chandrashekhar in Ellipsoidal figures of equilibrium, Chap. 8, Dover, New York, 1987). We have taken into consideration all the three components of the pressure field in deriving the expression for the buoyancy force viz (i) due to the own gravitational field of the fluid (ii) that originating in the attraction of m 2 (iii) that arising from the centrifugal force. In this paper, equilibrium solutions of m 3 and m 4 and their linear stability are analyzed. We have proved that there exist only six equilibrium solutions of the system, provided they lie within the Roche ellipsoid. In a system where the primaries are considered as Earth-Moon and m 3, m 4 as submarines, the equilibrium solutions of m 3 and m 4 respectively when the displacement is given in the direction of x 1-axis or x 2-axis are unstable.

Crystallization of Deformable Spherical Colloids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batista, Vera M. O.; Miller, Mark A.

2010-08-01

We introduce and characterize a first-order model for a generic class of colloidal particles that have a preferred spherical shape but can undergo deformations while always maintaining hard-body interactions. The model consists of hard spheres that can continuously change shape at fixed volume into prolate or oblate ellipsoids of revolution, subject to an energetic penalty. The severity of this penalty is specified by a single parameter that determines the flexibility of the particles. The deformable hard spheres crystallize at higher packing fractions than rigid hard spheres, have a narrower solid-fluid coexistence region and can reach high densities by a second transition to an orientationally ordered crystal.

Binding energy and photoionization cross-section of hydrogen-like donor impurity in strongly oblate ellipsoidal quantum dot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayrapetyan, D. B.; Ohanyan, G. L.; Baghdasaryan, D. A.; Sarkisyan, H. A.; Baskoutas, S.; Kazaryan, E. M.

2018-01-01

Hydrogen-like donor impurity states in strongly oblate ellipsoidal quantum dot have been studied. The hydrogen-like donor impurity states are investigated within the framework of variational method. The trial wave function constructed on the base of wave functions of the system without impurity. The dependence of the energy and binding energy for the ground and first excited states on the geometrical parameters of the ellipsoidal quantum dot and on the impurity position have been calculated. The behavior of the oscillator strength for different angles of incident light and geometrical parameters have been revealed. Photoionization cross-section of the electron transitions from the impurity ground state to the size-quantized ground and first excited states have been studied. The effects of impurity position and the geometrical parameters of the ellipsoidal quantum dot on the photoionization cross section dependence on the photon energy have been considered.

Holodiagram: elliptic visualizing interferometry, relativity, and light-in-flight.

PubMed

Abramson, Nils H

2014-04-10

In holographic interferometry, there is usually a static distance separating the point of illumination and the point of observation. In Special Relativity, this separation is dynamic and is caused by the velocity of the observer. The corrections needed to compensate for these separations are similar in the two fields. We use the ellipsoids of the holodiagram for measurement and in a graphic way to explain and evaluate optical resolution, gated viewing, radar, holography, three-dimensional interferometry, Special Relativity, and light-in-flight recordings. Lorentz contraction together with time dilation is explained as the result of the eccentricity of the measuring ellipsoid, caused by its velocity. The extremely thin ellipsoid of the very first light appears as a beam aimed directly at the observer, which might explain the wave or ray duality of light and entanglement. Finally, we introduce the concept of ellipsoids of observation.

Long-Term Prediction of Emergency Department Revenue and Visitor Volume Using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model

PubMed Central

Chen, Chieh-Fan; Ho, Wen-Hsien; Chou, Huei-Yin; Yang, Shu-Mei; Chen, I-Te; Shi, Hon-Yi

2011-01-01

This study analyzed meteorological, clinical and economic factors in terms of their effects on monthly ED revenue and visitor volume. Monthly data from January 1, 2005 to September 30, 2009 were analyzed. Spearman correlation and cross-correlation analyses were performed to identify the correlation between each independent variable, ED revenue, and visitor volume. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to quantify the relationship between each independent variable, ED revenue, and visitor volume. The accuracies were evaluated by comparing model forecasts to actual values with mean absolute percentage of error. Sensitivity of prediction errors to model training time was also evaluated. The ARIMA models indicated that mean maximum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, non-trauma, and trauma visits may correlate positively with ED revenue, but mean minimum temperature may correlate negatively with ED revenue. Moreover, mean minimum temperature and stock market index fluctuation may correlate positively with trauma visitor volume. Mean maximum temperature, relative humidity and stock market index fluctuation may correlate positively with non-trauma visitor volume. Mean maximum temperature and relative humidity may correlate positively with pediatric visitor volume, but mean minimum temperature may correlate negatively with pediatric visitor volume. The model also performed well in forecasting revenue and visitor volume. PMID:22203886

Long-term prediction of emergency department revenue and visitor volume using autoregressive integrated moving average model.

PubMed

Chen, Chieh-Fan; Ho, Wen-Hsien; Chou, Huei-Yin; Yang, Shu-Mei; Chen, I-Te; Shi, Hon-Yi

2011-01-01

This study analyzed meteorological, clinical and economic factors in terms of their effects on monthly ED revenue and visitor volume. Monthly data from January 1, 2005 to September 30, 2009 were analyzed. Spearman correlation and cross-correlation analyses were performed to identify the correlation between each independent variable, ED revenue, and visitor volume. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to quantify the relationship between each independent variable, ED revenue, and visitor volume. The accuracies were evaluated by comparing model forecasts to actual values with mean absolute percentage of error. Sensitivity of prediction errors to model training time was also evaluated. The ARIMA models indicated that mean maximum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, non-trauma, and trauma visits may correlate positively with ED revenue, but mean minimum temperature may correlate negatively with ED revenue. Moreover, mean minimum temperature and stock market index fluctuation may correlate positively with trauma visitor volume. Mean maximum temperature, relative humidity and stock market index fluctuation may correlate positively with non-trauma visitor volume. Mean maximum temperature and relative humidity may correlate positively with pediatric visitor volume, but mean minimum temperature may correlate negatively with pediatric visitor volume. The model also performed well in forecasting revenue and visitor volume.

Multimodal imaging of the disease progression of birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PubMed

Teussink, Michel M; Huis In Het Veld, Paulien I; de Vries, Lieuwe A M; Hoyng, Carel B; Klevering, B Jeroen; Theelen, Thomas

2016-12-01

To study outer retinal deterioration in relation to clinical disease activity in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy using fundus autofluorescence and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). A single-centre retrospective cohort study was carried out on 42 eyes of 21 patients with birdshot disease, using a multimodal imaging approach including fundus autofluorescence, OCT, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography in combination with a patient chart review. The patients' overall clinical activity of retinal vasculitis during the follow-up period was determined by periods of clinical activity as indicated by fluorescein angiography and associated treatment decisions. Image analysis was performed to examine the spatial correspondence between autofluorescence changes and disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment ellipsoid zone on OCT. Three common types of outer retinal lesions were observed in fovea-centred images of 43% of patients: circular patches of chorioretinal atrophy, ellipsoid zone disruption on OCT, and outer retinal atrophy on autofluorescence and OCT. There was good spatial correspondence between ellipsoid zone disruption and areas of diffuse hyper-autofluorescence outside the fovea. Interestingly, the ellipsoid zone disruption recovered in four out of seven patients upon intensified therapeutic immunosuppression. Most patients only developed peripapillary atrophy and occasional perivascular hypo-autofluorescence. A multimodal imaging approach with autofluorescence imaging and OCT may help to detect ellipsoid zone disruption in the central retina of patients with birdshot disease. Our results suggest that ellipsoid zone disruption may be related to both the activity and duration of retinal vasculitis, and could help to determine therapeutic success in birdshot disease. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Morphological Evolution of Block Copolymer Particles: Effect of Solvent Evaporation Rate on Particle Shape and Morphology.

PubMed

Shin, Jae Man; Kim, YongJoo; Yun, Hongseok; Yi, Gi-Ra; Kim, Bumjoon J

2017-02-28

Shape and morphology of polymeric particles are of great importance in controlling their optical properties or self-assembly into unusual superstructures. Confinement of block copolymers (BCPs) in evaporative emulsions affords particles with diverse structures, including prolate ellipsoids, onion-like spheres, oblate ellipsoids, and others. Herein, we report that the evaporation rate of solvent from emulsions encapsulating symmetric polystyrene-b-polybutadiene (PS-b-PB) determines the shape and internal nanostructure of micron-sized BCP particles. A distinct morphological transition from the ellipsoids with striped lamellae to the onion-like spheres was observed with decreasing evaporation rate. Experiments and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations showed that the evaporation rate affected the organization of BCPs at the particle surface, which determined the final shape and internal nanostructure of the particles. Differences in the solvent diffusion rates in PS and PB at rapid evaporation rates induced alignment of both domains perpendicular to the particle surface, resulting in ellipsoids with axial lamellar stripes. Slower evaporation rates provided sufficient time for BCP organization into onion-like structures with PB as the outermost layer, owing to the preferential interaction of PB with the surroundings. BCP molecular weight was found to influence the critical evaporation rate corresponding to the morphological transition from ellipsoid to onion-like particles, as well as the ellipsoid aspect ratio. DPD simulations produced morphologies similar to those obtained from experiments and thus elucidated the mechanism and driving forces responsible for the evaporation-induced assembly of BCPs into particles with well-defined shapes and morphologies.

Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Who Maintain Dry Macula after Three Monthly Ranibizumab Injections.

PubMed

Kim, Kyung Min; Kim, Jae Hui; Chang, Young Suk; Kim, Jong Woo; Kim, Chul Gu

2018-01-01

To evaluate long-term changes in visual acuity and retinal microstructure in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who had maintained dry macula after initial treatment. This retrospective observational study included 55 eyes that were diagnosed with neovascular AMD, were treated with three monthly ranibizumab injections, and maintained dry macula during a two-year follow-up. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at three months and at the final follow-up were compared, and the degree of visual improvement was compared between eyes with and without improvement of the ellipsoid zone. In addition, the incidence of improvement of the ellipsoid zone was compared between eyes with different extents of disruption. The mean follow-up period was 30.3 ± 4.1 months. BCVA at three months and at the final follow-up was 0.51 ± 0.46 and 0.45 ± 0.49 (P<0.001). Among 35 eyes that exhibited >200 μm of disruption of the ellipsoid zone, 15 (42.9%) showed improvement of the ellipsoid zone, and the improvement in BCVA was greater in these eyes than that in the remaining 20 eyes (P=0.021). A higher incidence of improvement of the ellipsoid zone was noted in eyes with 200 to 800 μm of disruption than in eyes with >800 μm of disruption (P<0.001). Long-term improvement in visual acuity was noted in eyes that had maintained dry macula after three ranibizumab injections. The status of the ellipsoid zone at three months was closely associated with visual improvement.

Age accounts for racial differences in ischemic stroke volume in a population-based study.

PubMed

Zakaria, Tarek; Lindsell, Christopher J; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Alwell, Kathleen; Moomaw, Charles J; Woo, Daniel; Szaflarski, Jerzy P; Khoury, Jane; Miller, Rosie; Broderick, Joseph P; Kissela, Brett

2008-01-01

The stroke volume among black ischemic stroke patients in phase I of the population-based Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study (GCNKSS) was smaller than reported among acute stroke studies, with a median stroke volume of 2.5 cm. However, it is not known if stroke volume was similar between black and white patients within the same study population. Phase II of the GCNKSS identified all ischemic strokes between July 1993 and June 1994. The stroke volume was estimated by study physicians using the modified ellipsoid method. Analysis of stroke volume by race, sex and age was performed for strokes with a measurable lesion of >or=0.5 cm(3). Among verified cases of ischemic stroke, 334 patients were eligible for this analysis. There were 191 whites (57%) and 143 blacks (43%). The mean age was 69.4 years. The median stroke volume for all patients was 8.8 cm(3) (range 0.5-540), with a mean of 36.4 cm(3). Stroke volume was not different between men and women, and it tended to increase with age. Although stroke volume was significantly higher among whites, age was a confounding factor. Subsequent analysis of stroke volume stratified by age showed no difference between blacks and whites in any age group. Our data show that most ischemic stroke lesions, regardless of the race, are of small size, and this may be an important reason for the low percentage of strokes treated currently with tissue-type plasminogen activator. The association of age with stroke volume requires further study. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The optimal fiber volume fraction and fiber-matrix property compatibility in fiber reinforced composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pan, Ning

1992-01-01

Although the question of minimum or critical fiber volume fraction beyond which a composite can then be strengthened due to addition of fibers has been dealt with by several investigators for both continuous and short fiber composites, a study of maximum or optimal fiber volume fraction at which the composite reaches its highest strength has not been reported yet. The present analysis has investigated this issue for short fiber case based on the well-known shear lag (the elastic stress transfer) theory as the first step. Using the relationships obtained, the minimum spacing between fibers is determined upon which the maximum fiber volume fraction can be calculated, depending on the fiber packing forms within the composites. The effects on the value of this maximum fiber volume fraction due to such factors as fiber and matrix properties, fiber aspect ratio and fiber packing forms are discussed. Furthermore, combined with the previous analysis on the minimum fiber volume fraction, this maximum fiber volume fraction can be used to examine the property compatibility of fiber and matrix in forming a composite. This is deemed to be useful for composite design. Finally some examples are provided to illustrate the results.

Fresnel cup reflector directs maximum energy from light source

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laue, E. G.; Youngberg, C. L.

1964-01-01

To minimize shielding and overheating, a composite Fresnel cup reflector design directs the maximum energy from a light source. It consists of a uniformly ellipsoidal end surface and an extension comprising a series of confocal ellipsoidal and concentric spherical surfaces.

Robust shrinking ellipsoid model predictive control for linear parameter varying system

PubMed Central

Yan, Yan

2017-01-01

In this paper, a new off-line model predictive control strategy is presented for a kind of linear parameter varying system with polytopic uncertainty. A nest of shrinking ellipsoids is constructed by solving linear matrix inequality. By splitting the objective function into two parts, the proposed strategy moves most computations off-line. The on-line computation is only calculating the current control to assure the system shrinking into the smaller ellipsoid. With the proposed formulation, the stability of the closed system is proved, followed with two numerical examples to demonstrate the proposed method’s effectiveness in the end. PMID:28575028

All-reflective optical target illumination system with high numerical aperture

DOEpatents

Thomas, Carlton E.; Sigler, Robert D.; Hoeger, John G.

1979-01-01

An all-reflective optical system for providing illumination of a target focal region at high numerical aperture from a pair of confluent collimated light beams. The collimated beams are each incident upon an associated concave eccentric pupil paraboloidal reflective surface, and thereby each focused through an opening in an associated outer ellipsoidal reflective surface onto a plane reflector. Each beam is reflected by its associated plane reflector onto the opposing concave surface of the outer ellipsoids to be focused through an opening in the plane surface onto an opposing inner concave ellipsoidal reflective surface, and thence onto the target region.

Study by the Prandtl-Glauert method of compressibility effects and critical Mach number for ellipsoids of various aspect ratios and thickness ratios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hess, Robert V; Gardner, Clifford S

1947-01-01

By using the Prandtl-Glauert method that is valid for three-dimensional flow problems, the value of the maximum incremental velocity for compressible flow about thin ellipsoids at zero angle of attack is calculated as a function of the Mach number for various aspect ratios and thickness ratios. The critical Mach numbers of the various ellipsoids are also determined. The results indicate an increase in critical Mach number with decrease in aspect ratio which is large enough to explain experimental results on low-aspect-ratio wings at zero lift.

Transmission electron microscopy study of precipitates in an artificially aged Al–12.7Si–0.7Mg alloy

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

Liu, Fang; Yu, Fuxiao, E-mail: fxyu@mail.neu.edu.cn; Zhao, Dazhi

2015-09-15

An investigation of Al–12.7Si–0.7Mg alloy aged at 160 °C, 180 °C and 200 °C for 3 h was carried out in order to identify the precipitating phases. Regular transmission and high resolution electron microscopy (TEM and HREM) were employed for this purpose. The studies were focused on the dark spots and needle-shaped precipitates lying in (001){sub Al} plane. Based on the HREM observations, dark spots and needle-shaped precipitates have different characteristics. The results revealed that the ellipsoidal and needle-shaped precipitates along <100> direction of the matrix coexist in the alloy by tilting experiments at given aging condition. The ellipsoidal darkmore » spot precipitates viewing along [001]{sub Al} is not cross-sectional image of needle-shaped precipitates along <001>{sub Al}. Needle-shaped precipitate is coherent with the matrix. The diffraction pattern associated with the ellipsoidal precipitates is consistent with β″ reported in literature. - Highlights: • Wrought Al–Si–Mg alloy has been investigated to identify the precipitating phases. • The ellipsoidal and needle-shaped precipitates coexist in wrought Al–Si–Mg alloy. • The needle-shaped and ellipsoidal precipitates exhibit different characteristics.« less

Improved GGIW-PHD filter for maneuvering non-ellipsoidal extended targets or group targets tracking based on sub-random matrices.

PubMed

Liang, Zhibing; Liu, Fuxian; Gao, Jiale

2018-01-01

For non-ellipsoidal extended targets and group targets tracking (NETT and NGTT), using an ellipsoid to approximate the target extension may not be accurate enough because of the lack of shape and orientation information. In consideration of this, we model a non-ellipsoidal extended target or target group as a combination of multiple ellipsoidal sub-objects, each represented by a random matrix. Based on these models, an improved gamma Gaussian inverse Wishart probability hypothesis density (GGIW-PHD) filter is proposed to estimate the measurement rates, kinematic states, and extension states of the sub-objects for each extended target or target group. For maneuvering NETT and NGTT, a multi-model (MM) approach based GGIW-PHD (MM-GGIW-PHD) filter is proposed. The common and the individual dynamics of the sub-objects belonging to the same extended target or target group are described by means of the combination between the overall maneuver model and the sub-object models. For the merging of updating components, an improved merging criterion and a new merging method are derived. A specific implementation of prediction partition with pseudo-likelihood method is presented. Two scenarios for non-maneuvering and maneuvering NETT and NGTT are simulated. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Improved GGIW-PHD filter for maneuvering non-ellipsoidal extended targets or group targets tracking based on sub-random matrices

PubMed Central

Liu, Fuxian; Gao, Jiale

2018-01-01

For non-ellipsoidal extended targets and group targets tracking (NETT and NGTT), using an ellipsoid to approximate the target extension may not be accurate enough because of the lack of shape and orientation information. In consideration of this, we model a non-ellipsoidal extended target or target group as a combination of multiple ellipsoidal sub-objects, each represented by a random matrix. Based on these models, an improved gamma Gaussian inverse Wishart probability hypothesis density (GGIW-PHD) filter is proposed to estimate the measurement rates, kinematic states, and extension states of the sub-objects for each extended target or target group. For maneuvering NETT and NGTT, a multi-model (MM) approach based GGIW-PHD (MM-GGIW-PHD) filter is proposed. The common and the individual dynamics of the sub-objects belonging to the same extended target or target group are described by means of the combination between the overall maneuver model and the sub-object models. For the merging of updating components, an improved merging criterion and a new merging method are derived. A specific implementation of prediction partition with pseudo-likelihood method is presented. Two scenarios for non-maneuvering and maneuvering NETT and NGTT are simulated. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. PMID:29444144

Geometric Modeling of Inclusions as Ellipsoids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonacuse, Peter J.

2008-01-01

Nonmetallic inclusions in gas turbine disk alloys can have a significant detrimental impact on fatigue life. Because large inclusions that lead to anomalously low lives occur infrequently, probabilistic approaches can be utilized to avoid the excessively conservative assumption of lifing to a large inclusion in a high stress location. A prerequisite to modeling the impact of inclusions on the fatigue life distribution is a characterization of the inclusion occurrence rate and size distribution. To help facilitate this process, a geometric simulation of the inclusions was devised. To make the simulation problem tractable, the irregularly sized and shaped inclusions were modeled as arbitrarily oriented, three independent dimensioned, ellipsoids. Random orientation of the ellipsoid is accomplished through a series of three orthogonal rotations of axes. In this report, a set of mathematical models for the following parameters are described: the intercepted area of a randomly sectioned ellipsoid, the dimensions and orientation of the intercepted ellipse, the area of a randomly oriented sectioned ellipse, the depth and width of a randomly oriented sectioned ellipse, and the projected area of a randomly oriented ellipsoid. These parameters are necessary to determine an inclusion s potential to develop a propagating fatigue crack. Without these mathematical models, computationally expensive search algorithms would be required to compute these parameters.

Variable magnification glancing incidence x ray telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoover, Richard (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A multispectral glancing incidence x ray telescope is disclosed, which capable of broadband, high resolution imaging of solar and stellar x ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation sources includes a primary optical system which focuses the incoming radiation to a primary focus. Two or more ellipsoidal mirrors are positioned behind the primary focus at an inclination to the optical axis, each mirror having a concave surface coated with a multilayer synthetic microstructure coating to reflect a desired wavelength. The ellipsoidal mirrors are segments of respective ellipsoids having a common first focus coincident with the primary focus. A detector such as an x ray sensitive photographic film is positioned at the second focus of each of the ellipsoids so that each of the ellipsoidal mirrors may reflect the image at the first focus to the detector. In one embodiment the mirrors are inclined at different angles and has its respective second focus at a different location, separate detectors being located at the respective second focus. The mirrors are arranged so that the magnification and field of view differ, and a solenoid activated arm may withdraw at least one mirror from the beam to select the mirror upon which the beam is to impinge so that selected magnifications and fields of view may be detected.

Orientational dynamics of a triaxial ellipsoid in simple shear flow: Influence of inertia.

PubMed

Rosén, Tomas; Kotsubo, Yusuke; Aidun, Cyrus K; Do-Quang, Minh; Lundell, Fredrik

2017-07-01

The motion of a single ellipsoidal particle in simple shear flow can provide valuable insights toward understanding suspension flows with nonspherical particles. Previously, extensive studies have been performed on the ellipsoidal particle with rotational symmetry, a so-called spheroid. The nearly prolate ellipsoid (one major and two minor axes of almost equal size) is known to perform quasiperiodic or even chaotic orbits in the absence of inertia. With small particle inertia, the particle is also known to drift toward this irregular motion. However, it is not previously understood what effects from fluid inertia could be, which is of highest importance for particles close to neutral buoyancy. Here, we find that fluid inertia is acting strongly to suppress the chaotic motion and only very weak fluid inertia is sufficient to stabilize a rotation around the middle axis. The mechanism responsible for this transition is believed to be centrifugal forces acting on fluid, which is dragged along with the rotational motion of the particle. With moderate fluid inertia, it is found that nearly prolate triaxial particles behave similarly to the perfectly spheroidal particles. Finally, we also are able to provide predictions about the stable rotational states for the general triaxial ellipsoid in simple shear with weak inertia.

Regional reference values of thyroid gland volume in Turkish Adults.

PubMed

Şahin, Ertan; Elboğa, Umut; Kalender, Ebuzer

2015-01-01

It is important to know the size of the thyroid gland, and its normal value may vary among different geographic regions. In this study, we aimed to establish reference ranges for thyroid volume in euthyroid adults and to compare these results with the literature data. Between June 2011 and June 2012,461 patients with normal laboratory results (serum TSH, anti-TG, anti-TPO antibodies and urine iodine level) that underwent thyroid gland ultrasound examination were retrospectively analyzed.Two hundred and 92 patients were females and 169 were males; the age range was 18-61 years with mean age 30.84±9.97 years. Length, breadth and thickness were measured, and the volume of each lobe was estimated using the ellipsoid formula. The overall mean thyroid volume in all patients who were examined was 12.98±2.53 mL. The mean thyroid volume in females and males was 12.09±2.05 mL and 14.53±2.55, respectively (p<0.05). The right thyroid lobe volume was greater than the left in all patients of both sexes. In addition, the study establishes a significant correlation between the thyroid volume and height, weight and body surface area of the subjects of both sexes (p<0.05). In the light of our findings we can provide reference values in order to evaluate patients who have thyroid hyperplasia or who are considered as normal. We consider that further studies are necessary to establish national references thyroid volume for each country.

Ultrasonographic assessment of splenic volume and its correlation with body parameters in a Jordanian population.

PubMed

Badran, Darwish H; Kalbouneh, Heba M; Al-Hadidi, Maher T; Shatarat, Amjad T; Tarawneh, Emad S; Hadidy, Azmy M; Mahafza, Waleed S

2015-08-01

To estimate normal linear dimensions and volume of spleen in Jordanians using ultrasonography, and to correlate splenic volume with age and body parameters: height, weight, body surface area (BSA), and body mass index (BMI). A prospective pilot study was conducted on 205 volunteers (115 males and 90 females) not known to have any conditions likely to be associated with splenomegaly. The study was performed at the Radiology Department, Jordanian University Hospital, Amman, Jordan, between December 2013 and August 2014. All linear dimensions of spleen were measured, and splenic volume (index) was calculated using the standard prolate ellipsoid formula (length × width × depth × 0.523). The splenic volume was then analyzed with age and body parameters using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean (± SD) splenic dimensions were 10.72±1.37 cm in length, 7.40±1.52 cm in width, 4.40±1.47 cm in depth, and 184.15±79.56 cm3 in volume. Men had larger spleens than women (p less than 0.0001). Age had no significant effect on spleen volume (r=0.11, p=0.12). There was a significant moderate positive correlation (p less than 0.0001), using Pearson's correlation coefficient, between the spleen volume, and other parameters (height, weight, BSA, and BMI), with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.3. A local reference of spleen dimensions was established with a different range of values reported previously.

A Minimum Variance Algorithm for Overdetermined TOA Equations with an Altitude Constraint.

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

Romero, Louis A; Mason, John J.

We present a direct (non-iterative) method for solving for the location of a radio frequency (RF) emitter, or an RF navigation receiver, using four or more time of arrival (TOA) measurements and an assumed altitude above an ellipsoidal earth. Both the emitter tracking problem and the navigation application are governed by the same equations, but with slightly different interpreta- tions of several variables. We treat the assumed altitude as a soft constraint, with a specified noise level, just as the TOA measurements are handled, with their respective noise levels. With 4 or more TOA measurements and the assumed altitude, themore » problem is overdetermined and is solved in the weighted least squares sense for the 4 unknowns, the 3-dimensional position and time. We call the new technique the TAQMV (TOA Altitude Quartic Minimum Variance) algorithm, and it achieves the minimum possible error variance for given levels of TOA and altitude estimate noise. The method algebraically produces four solutions, the least-squares solution, and potentially three other low residual solutions, if they exist. In the lightly overdermined cases where multiple local minima in the residual error surface are more likely to occur, this algebraic approach can produce all of the minima even when an iterative approach fails to converge. Algorithm performance in terms of solution error variance and divergence rate for bas eline (iterative) and proposed approach are given in tables.« less

Subretinal hyper-reflective material seen on optical coherence tomography as a biomarker for disease monitoring in age-related macular degeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, H. B.; Ong, B. B.; Katta, M.; Yvon, C.; Lu, L.; Zakri, R.; Patel, N.

2018-03-01

Subretinal hyper-reflective material (SHRM) seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is thought to be a collection of fibrous tissues and vascular networks that are identified in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). We have carried out a retrospective analysis of 91 OCT scans of neovascular ARMD subtypes including classic and occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). All three subtypes received ranibizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) intravitreal injections on an as-needed basis following the loading doses. Volumes of SHRM were calculated using caliper measurements of maximal height and length of SHRM seen on OCT. The ellipsoid formula derived from tumour models was used to calculate the volume. It was found that occult CNV and RAP have larger SHRM volumes than those of classic CNV. SHRM volumes reduced overall following loading doses of Anti-VEGF injections at 4 months in all three subtypes. However, a rebound increase in volume was noticed in both occult CNV and RAP cohort at 12 months despite the initial, steeper reductions in the subtypes. These findings were consistent with the data seen in volume measurement using Topcon's automated segmentation algorithm in a smaller cohort of patients. We propose that SHRM should be used as a potential biomarker to quantify both disease progression and prognosis of neovascular ARMD alongside other conventional methods.

Implementation of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for patients with uterine cervix cancer: a tumor volume kinetics approach

PubMed Central

Mendez, Lucas Castro; Stuart, Silvia Radwanski; Guimarães, Roger Guilherme Rodrigues; Ramos, Clarissa Cerchi Angotti; de Paula, Lucas Assad; de Sales, Camila Pessoa; Chen, André Tsin Chih; Blasbalg, Roberto; Baroni, Ronaldo Hueb

2016-01-01

Purpose To evaluate tumor shrinking kinetics in order to implement image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for the treatment of patients with cervix cancer. Material and methods This study has prospectively evaluated tumor shrinking kinetics of thirteen patients with uterine cervix cancer treated with combined chemoradiation. Four high dose rate brachytherapy fractions were delivered during the course of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams were acquired at diagnosis (D), first (B1), and third (B3) brachytherapy fractions. Target volumes (GTV and HR-CTV) were calculated by both the ellipsoid formula (VE) and MRI contouring (VC), which were defined by a consensus between at least two radiation oncologists and a pelvic expert radiologist. Results Most enrolled patients had squamous cell carcinoma and FIGO stage IIB disease, and initiated brachytherapy after the third week of pelvic external beam radiation. Gross tumor volume volume reduction from diagnostic MRI to B1 represented 61.9% and 75.2% of the initial volume, when measured by VE and VC, respectively. Only a modest volume reduction (15-20%) was observed from B1 to B3. Conclusions The most expressive tumor shrinking occurred in the first three weeks of oncological treatment and was in accordance with gynecological examination. These findings may help in IGBT implementation. PMID:27648083

Two new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) from tree skinks, Prasinohaema spp. (Sauria: Scincidae), from Papua New Guinea

USGS Publications Warehouse

McAllister, Chris T.; Duszynski, Donald W.; Fisher, Robert N.; Austin, Christopher C.

2014-01-01

Between September 1991 and June 1992, feces from 4 species of tree skinks, Prasinohaema spp. from Papua New Guinea, were collected and examined for coccidia. Two species, P. flavipes and P. prehensicauda were found to harbor eimerians which are described as new. Oocysts of Eimeria krausi sp. nov. from P. flavipes were ellipsoidal to subspheroidal with a smooth bilayered wall and measured (L × W) 19.2 × 16.9 μm, with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1. Micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but a fragmented polar granule was present. Sporocysts were ellipsoidal, 9.7 × 6.7 μm, L/W of 1.5. Stieda, subStieda and paraStieda bodies were absent. The sporocyst residuum was composed of many small granules in a compact mass between sporozoites. The sporozoites were sausage-shaped, 11.7 × 2.7 μm, in situ, with an ellipsoidal posterior refractile body and a spheroidal anterior refractile body. Oocysts of Eimeria greeri sp. nov. from P. prehensicauda were ellipsoidal with a smooth bilayered wall, (L × W) 23.0 × 18.3 μm, with a L/W of 1.3. Micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but a fragmented polar granule was present. Sporocysts were ellipsoidal, 9.7 × 8.4 μm, with a L/W of 1.2. Stieda, subStieda and paraStieda bodies were absent. The sporocyst residuum was composed of many large granules in a compact mass between sporozoites. The sporozoites were sausage-shaped, with an ellipsoidal posterior refractile body and a spheroidal anterior refractile body. We document here the first report of coccidia from skinks of the genus Prasinohaema.

47 CFR 68.317 - Hearing aid compatibility volume control: technical standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... headset of the telephone, 12 dB of gain minimum and up to 18 dB of gain maximum, when measured in terms of... Instruments With Loop Signaling) . The 12 dB of gain minimum must be achieved without significant clipping of... change in ROLR as a function of the volume control setting that are relevant to the specification of...

47 CFR 68.317 - Hearing aid compatibility volume control: technical standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... headset of the telephone, 12 dB of gain minimum and up to 18 dB of gain maximum, when measured in terms of... Instruments With Loop Signaling) . The 12 dB of gain minimum must be achieved without significant clipping of... change in ROLR as a function of the volume control setting that are relevant to the specification of...

47 CFR 68.317 - Hearing aid compatibility volume control: technical standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... headset of the telephone, 12 dB of gain minimum and up to 18 dB of gain maximum, when measured in terms of... Instruments With Loop Signaling) . The 12 dB of gain minimum must be achieved without significant clipping of... change in ROLR as a function of the volume control setting that are relevant to the specification of...

47 CFR 68.317 - Hearing aid compatibility volume control: technical standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... headset of the telephone, 12 dB of gain minimum and up to 18 dB of gain maximum, when measured in terms of... Instruments With Loop Signaling) . The 12 dB of gain minimum must be achieved without significant clipping of... change in ROLR as a function of the volume control setting that are relevant to the specification of...

47 CFR 68.317 - Hearing aid compatibility volume control: technical standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... headset of the telephone, 12 dB of gain minimum and up to 18 dB of gain maximum, when measured in terms of... Instruments With Loop Signaling) . The 12 dB of gain minimum must be achieved without significant clipping of... change in ROLR as a function of the volume control setting that are relevant to the specification of...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... part) Hydrogen chloride 62 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time...) Sulfur dioxide 20 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run...-8) or ASTM D6784-02 (Reapproved 2008).c Opacity 10 percent Three 1-hour blocks consisting of ten 6...

Local fields and effective conductivity tensor of ellipsoidal particle composite with anisotropic constituents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kushch, Volodymyr I.; Sevostianov, Igor; Giraud, Albert

2017-11-01

An accurate semi-analytical solution of the conductivity problem for a composite with anisotropic matrix and arbitrarily oriented anisotropic ellipsoidal inhomogeneities has been obtained. The developed approach combines the superposition principle with the multipole expansion of perturbation fields of inhomogeneities in terms of ellipsoidal harmonics and reduces the boundary value problem to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations for the induced multipole moments of inhomogeneities. A complete full-field solution is obtained for the multi-particle models comprising inhomogeneities of diverse shape, size, orientation and properties which enables an adequate account for the microstructure parameters. The solution is valid for the general-type anisotropy of constituents and arbitrary orientation of the orthotropy axes. The effective conductivity tensor of the particulate composite with anisotropic constituents is evaluated in the framework of the generalized Maxwell homogenization scheme. Application of the developed method to composites with imperfect ellipsoidal interfaces is straightforward. Their incorporation yields probably the most general model of a composite that may be considered in the framework of analytical approach.

Numerical evaluation of a single ellipsoid motion in Newtonian and power-law fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Férec, Julien; Ausias, Gilles; Natale, Giovanniantonio

2018-05-01

A computational model is developed for simulating the motion of a single ellipsoid suspended in a Newtonian and power-law fluid, respectively. Based on a finite element method (FEM), the approach consists in seeking solutions for the linear and angular particle velocities using a minimization algorithm, such that the net hydrodynamic force and torque acting on the ellipsoid are zero. For a Newtonian fluid subjected to a simple shear flow, the Jeffery's predictions are recovered at any aspect ratios. The motion of a single ellipsoidal fiber is found to be slightly disturbed by the shear-thinning character of the suspending fluid, when compared with the Jeffery's solutions. Surprisingly, the perturbation can be completely neglected for a particle with a large aspect ratio. Furthermore, the particle centroid is also found to translate with the same linear velocity as the undisturbed simple shear flow evaluated at particle centroid. This is confirmed by recent works based on experimental investigations and modeling approach (1-2).

Weak solution concept and Galerkin's matrix for the exterior of an oblate ellipsoid of revolution in the representation of the Earth's gravity potential by buried masses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holota, Petr; Nesvadba, Otakar

2017-04-01

The paper is motivated by the role of boundary value problems in Earth's gravity field studies. The discussion focuses on Neumann's problem formulated for the exterior of an oblate ellipsoid of revolution as this is considered a basis for an iteration solution of the linear gravimetric boundary value problem in the determination of the disturbing potential. The approach follows the concept of the weak solution and Galerkin's approximations are applied. This means that the solution of the problem is approximated by linear combinations of basis functions with scalar coefficients. The construction of Galerkin's matrix for basis functions generated by elementary potentials (point masses) is discussed. Ellipsoidal harmonics are used as a natural tool and the elementary potentials are expressed by means of series of ellipsoidal harmonics. The problem, however, is the summation of the series that represent the entries of Galerkin's matrix. It is difficult to reduce the number of summation indices since in the ellipsoidal case there is no analogue to the addition theorem known for spherical harmonics. Therefore, the straightforward application of series of ellipsoidal harmonics is complemented by deeper relations contained in the theory of ordinary differential equations of second order and in the theory of Legendre's functions. Subsequently, also hypergeometric functions and series are used. Moreover, within some approximations the entries are split into parts. Some of the resulting series may be summed relatively easily, apart from technical tricks. For the remaining series the summation was converted to elliptic integrals. The approach made it possible to deduce a closed (though approximate) form representation of the entries in Galerkin's matrix. The result rests on concepts and methods of mathematical analysis. In the paper it is confronted with a direct numerical approach applied for the implementation of Legendre's functions. The computation of the entries is more demanding in this case, but conceptually it avoids approximations. Finally, some specific features associated with function bases generated by elementary potentials in case the ellipsoidal solution domain are illustrated and discussed.

BioVEC: a program for biomolecule visualization with ellipsoidal coarse-graining.

PubMed

Abrahamsson, Erik; Plotkin, Steven S

2009-09-01

Biomolecule Visualization with Ellipsoidal Coarse-graining (BioVEC) is a tool for visualizing molecular dynamics simulation data while allowing coarse-grained residues to be rendered as ellipsoids. BioVEC reads in configuration files, which may be output from molecular dynamics simulations that include orientation output in either quaternion or ANISOU format, and can render frames of the trajectory in several common image formats for subsequent concatenation into a movie file. The BioVEC program is written in C++, uses the OpenGL API for rendering, and is open source. It is lightweight, allows for user-defined settings for and texture, and runs on either Windows or Linux platforms.

Correlating Free-Volume Hole Distribution to the Glass Transition Temperature of Epoxy Polymers.

PubMed

Aramoon, Amin; Breitzman, Timothy D; Woodward, Christopher; El-Awady, Jaafar A

2017-09-07

A new algorithm is developed to quantify the free-volume hole distribution and its evolution in coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of polymeric networks. This is achieved by analyzing the geometry of the network rather than a voxelized image of the structure to accurately and efficiently find and quantify free-volume hole distributions within large scale simulations of polymer networks. The free-volume holes are quantified by fitting the largest ellipsoids and spheres in the free-volumes between polymer chains. The free-volume hole distributions calculated from this algorithm are shown to be in excellent agreement with those measured from positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) experiments at different temperature and pressures. Based on the results predicted using this algorithm, an evolution model is proposed for the thermal behavior of an individual free-volume hole. This model is calibrated such that the average radius of free-volumes holes mimics the one predicted from the simulations. The model is then employed to predict the glass-transition temperature of epoxy polymers with different degrees of cross-linking and lengths of prepolymers. Comparison between the predicted glass-transition temperatures and those measured from simulations or experiments implies that this model is capable of successfully predicting the glass-transition temperature of the material using only a PDF of the initial free-volume holes radii of each microstructure. This provides an effective approach for the optimized design of polymeric systems on the basis of the glass-transition temperature, degree of cross-linking, and average length of prepolymers.

Apparent diffusion coefficient measurement in glioma: Influence of region-of-interest determination methods on apparent diffusion coefficient values, interobserver variability, time efficiency, and diagnostic ability.

PubMed

Han, Xu; Suo, Shiteng; Sun, Yawen; Zu, Jinyan; Qu, Jianxun; Zhou, Yan; Chen, Zengai; Xu, Jianrong

2017-03-01

To compare four methods of region-of-interest (ROI) placement for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in distinguishing low-grade gliomas (LGGs) from high-grade gliomas (HGGs). Two independent readers measured ADC parameters using four ROI methods (single-slice [single-round, five-round and freehand] and whole-volume) on 43 patients (20 LGGs, 23 HGGs) who had undergone 3.0 Tesla diffusion-weighted imaging and time required for each method of ADC measurements was recorded. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess interobserver variability of ADC measurements. Mean and minimum ADC values and time required were compared using paired Student's t-tests. All ADC parameters (mean/minimum ADC values of three single-slice methods, mean/minimum/standard deviation/skewness/kurtosis/the10 th and 25 th percentiles/median/maximum of whole-volume method) were correlated with tumor grade (low versus high) by unpaired Student's t-tests. Discriminative ability was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. All ADC measurements except minimum, skewness, and kurtosis of whole-volume ROI differed significantly between LGGs and HGGs (all P < 0.05). Mean ADC value of single-round ROI had the highest effect size (0.72) and the greatest areas under the curve (0.872). Three single-slice methods had good to excellent ICCs (0.67-0.89) and the whole-volume method fair to excellent ICCs (0.32-0.96). Minimum ADC values differed significantly between whole-volume and single-round ROI (P = 0.003) and, between whole-volume and five-round ROI (P = 0.001). The whole-volume method took significantly longer than all single-slice methods (all P < 0.001). ADC measurements are influenced by ROI determination methods. Whole-volume histogram analysis did not yield better results than single-slice methods and took longer. Mean ADC value derived from single-round ROI is the most optimal parameter for differentiating LGGs from HGGs. 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:722-730. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Harnessing Multivariate Statistics for Ellipsoidal Data in Structural Geology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roberts, N.; Davis, J. R.; Titus, S.; Tikoff, B.

2015-12-01

Most structural geology articles do not state significance levels, report confidence intervals, or perform regressions to find trends. This is, in part, because structural data tend to include directions, orientations, ellipsoids, and tensors, which are not treatable by elementary statistics. We describe a full procedural methodology for the statistical treatment of ellipsoidal data. We use a reconstructed dataset of deformed ooids in Maryland from Cloos (1947) to illustrate the process. Normalized ellipsoids have five degrees of freedom and can be represented by a second order tensor. This tensor can be permuted into a five dimensional vector that belongs to a vector space and can be treated with standard multivariate statistics. Cloos made several claims about the distribution of deformation in the South Mountain fold, Maryland, and we reexamine two particular claims using hypothesis testing: 1) octahedral shear strain increases towards the axial plane of the fold; 2) finite strain orientation varies systematically along the trend of the axial trace as it bends with the Appalachian orogen. We then test the null hypothesis that the southern segment of South Mountain is the same as the northern segment. This test illustrates the application of ellipsoidal statistics, which combine both orientation and shape. We report confidence intervals for each test, and graphically display our results with novel plots. This poster illustrates the importance of statistics in structural geology, especially when working with noisy or small datasets.

Multispectral glancing incidence X-ray telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoover, Richard B. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A multispectral glancing incidence X-ray telescope is illustrated capable of broadband, high-resolution imaging of solar and stellar X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation sources which includes a primary optical system preferably of the Wolter I type having a primary mirror system (20, 22). The primary optical system further includes an optical axis (24) having a primary focus (F1) at which the incoming radiation is focused by the primary mirrors. A plurality of ellipsoidal mirrors (30a, 30b, 30cand 30d) are carried at an inclination to the optical axis behind the primary focus (F1). A rotating carrier (32) is provided on which the ellipsoidal mirrors are carried so that a desired one of the ellipsoidal mirrors may be selectively positioned in front of the incoming radiation beam (26). In the preferred embodiment, each of the ellipsoidal mirrors has an identical concave surface carrying a layered synthetic microstructure coating tailored to reflect a desired wavelength of 1.5 .ANG. or longer. Each of the identical ellipsoidal mirrors has a second focus (F2) at which a detector (16) is carried. Thus the different wavelength image is focused upon the detector irregardless of which mirror is positioned in front of the radiation beam. In this manner, a plurality of low wavelengths in a wavelength band generally less than 30 angstroms can be imaged with a high resolution.

Autonomous optimal trajectory design employing convex optimization for powered descent on an asteroid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinson, Robin Marie

Mission proposals that land spacecraft on asteroids are becoming increasingly popular. However, in order to have a successful mission the spacecraft must reliably and softly land at the intended landing site with pinpoint precision. The problem under investigation is how to design a propellant (fuel) optimal powered descent trajectory that can be quickly computed onboard the spacecraft, without interaction from ground control. The goal is to autonomously design the optimal powered descent trajectory onboard the spacecraft immediately prior to the descent burn for use during the burn. Compared to a planetary powered landing problem, the challenges that arise from designing an asteroid powered descent trajectory include complicated nonlinear gravity fields, small rotating bodies, and low thrust vehicles. The nonlinear gravity fields cannot be represented by a constant gravity model nor a Newtonian model. The trajectory design algorithm needs to be robust and efficient to guarantee a designed trajectory and complete the calculations in a reasonable time frame. This research investigates the following questions: Can convex optimization be used to design the minimum propellant powered descent trajectory for a soft landing on an asteroid? Is this method robust and reliable to allow autonomy onboard the spacecraft without interaction from ground control? This research designed a convex optimization based method that rapidly generates the propellant optimal asteroid powered descent trajectory. The solution to the convex optimization problem is the thrust magnitude and direction, which designs and determines the trajectory. The propellant optimal problem was formulated as a second order cone program, a subset of convex optimization, through relaxation techniques by including a slack variable, change of variables, and incorporation of the successive solution method. Convex optimization solvers, especially second order cone programs, are robust, reliable, and are guaranteed to find the global minimum provided one exists. In addition, an outer optimization loop using Brent's method determines the optimal flight time corresponding to the minimum propellant usage over all flight times. Inclusion of additional trajectory constraints, solely vertical motion near the landing site and glide slope, were evaluated. Through a theoretical proof involving the Minimum Principle from Optimal Control Theory and the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions it was shown that the relaxed problem is identical to the original problem at the minimum point. Therefore, the optimal solution of the relaxed problem is an optimal solution of the original problem, referred to as lossless convexification. A key finding is that this holds for all levels of gravity model fidelity. The designed thrust magnitude profiles were the bang-bang predicted by Optimal Control Theory. The first high fidelity gravity model employed was the 2x2 spherical harmonics model assuming a perfect triaxial ellipsoid and placement of the coordinate frame at the asteroid's center of mass and aligned with the semi-major axes. The spherical harmonics model is not valid inside the Brillouin sphere and this becomes relevant for irregularly shaped asteroids. Then, a higher fidelity model was implemented combining the 4x4 spherical harmonics gravity model with the interior spherical Bessel gravity model. All gravitational terms in the equations of motion are evaluated with the position vector from the previous iteration, creating the successive solution method. Methodology success was shown by applying the algorithm to three triaxial ellipsoidal asteroids with four different rotation speeds using the 2x2 gravity model. Finally, the algorithm was tested using the irregularly shaped asteroid, Castalia.

Optimal combining of ground-based sensors for the purpose of validating satellite-based rainfall estimates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krajewski, Witold F.; Rexroth, David T.; Kiriaki, Kiriakie

1991-01-01

Two problems related to radar rainfall estimation are described. The first part is a description of a preliminary data analysis for the purpose of statistical estimation of rainfall from multiple (radar and raingage) sensors. Raingage, radar, and joint radar-raingage estimation is described, and some results are given. Statistical parameters of rainfall spatial dependence are calculated and discussed in the context of optimal estimation. Quality control of radar data is also described. The second part describes radar scattering by ellipsoidal raindrops. An analytical solution is derived for the Rayleigh scattering regime. Single and volume scattering are presented. Comparison calculations with the known results for spheres and oblate spheroids are shown.

Chromospherically active stars. VI - HD 136901 = UV CrB: A massive ellipsoidal K giant single-lined spectroscopic binary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fekel, Francis C.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Yang, Xinxing; Strassmeier, Klaus G.

1989-01-01

The variable star HD 136901 = UV CrB is a chromospherically active K2 III single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 18.665 days. It has modest-strength Ca H and K emission and UV features, while H-alpha is a strong absorption feature containing little or no emission. The inclination of the system is 53 + or - 12 deg. The v sin i of the primary is 42 + or - 2 km/s, resulting in a minimum radius of 15.5 + or - 0.8 solar. When compared with the Roche lobe radius, this results in a mass ratio of 2.90 or larger. Additional constraints indicate that the secondary has a mass between 0.85 and 1.25 solar. Thus, the mass of the primary is at least 2.5 solar and probably is in the range 2.5-4 solar.

Tidal disruption of fuzzy dark matter subhalo cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Xiaolong; Schwabe, Bodo; Niemeyer, Jens C.; Bürger, David

2018-03-01

We study tidal stripping of fuzzy dark matter (FDM) subhalo cores using simulations of the Schrödinger-Poisson equations and analyze the dynamics of tidal disruption, highlighting the differences with standard cold dark matter. Mass loss outside of the tidal radius forces the core to relax into a less compact configuration, lowering the tidal radius. As the characteristic radius of a solitonic core scales inversely with its mass, tidal stripping results in a runaway effect and rapid tidal disruption of the core once its central density drops below 4.5 times the average density of the host within the orbital radius. Additionally, we find that the core is deformed into a tidally locked ellipsoid with increasing eccentricities until it is completely disrupted. Using the core mass loss rate, we compute the minimum mass of cores that can survive several orbits for different FDM particle masses and compare it with observed masses of satellite galaxies in the Milky Way.

Electromagnetic characteristics of systems of prolate and oblate ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimi, Pouyan; Amiri-Hezaveh, Amirhossein; Ostoja-Starzewski, Martin; Jin, Jian-Ming

2017-11-01

The present study suggests a novel model for simulating electromagnetic characteristics of spheroidal nanofillers. The electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of prolate and oblate ellipsoids in the X-band frequency range is studied. Different multilayered nanocomposite configurations incorporating carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoplatelets, and carbon blacks are fabricated and tested. The best performance for a specific thickness is observed for the multilayered composite with a gradual increase in the thickness and electrical conductivity of layers. The simulation results based on the proposed model are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The effect of filler alignment on shielding efficiency is also studied by using the nematic order parameter. The ability of a nanocomposite to shield the incident power is found to decrease by increasing alignment especially for high volume fractions of prolate fillers. The interaction of the electromagnetic wave and the fillers is mainly affected by the polarization of the electric field; when the electric field is perpendicular to the equatorial axis of a spheroid, the interaction is significantly reduced and results in a lower shielding efficiency. Apart from the filler alignment, size polydispersity is found to have a significant effect on reflected and transmitted powers. It is demonstrated that the nanofillers with a higher aspect ratio mainly contribute to the shielding performance. The results are of interest in both shielding structures and microwave absorbing materials.

1H Spectroscopic Imaging of Human Brain at 3T: Comparison of Fast 3D-MRSI Techniques

PubMed Central

Zierhut, Matthew L.; Ozturk-Isik, Esin; Chen, Albert P.; Park, Ilwoo; Vigneron, Daniel B.; Nelson, Sarah J.

2011-01-01

Purpose To investigate the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and data quality of time-reduced 1H 3D-MRSI techniques in the human brain at 3T. Materials and Methods Techniques that were investigated included ellipsoidal k-space sampling, parallel imaging, and EPSI. The SNR values for NAA, Cho, Cre, and lactate or lipid peaks were compared after correcting for effective spatial resolution and acquisition time in a phantom and in the brains of human volunteers. Other factors considered were linewidths, metabolite ratios, partial volume effects, and subcutaneous lipid contamination. Results In volunteers, the median normalized SNR for parallel imaging data decreased by 34–42%, but could be significantly improved using regularization. The normalized signal to noise loss in flyback EPSI data was 11–18%. The effective spatial resolutions of the traditional, ellipsoidal, SENSE, and EPSI data were 1.02, 2.43, 1.03, and 1.01cm3, respectively. As expected, lipid contamination was variable between subjects but was highest for the SENSE data. Patient data obtained using the flyback EPSI method were of excellent quality. Conclusions Data from all 1H 3D-MRSI techniques were qualitatively acceptable, based upon SNR, linewidths, and metabolite ratios. The larger FOV obtained with the EPSI methods showed negligible lipid aliasing with acceptable SNR values in less than 9.5 minutes without compromising the PSF. PMID:19711396

Determination of Urea Permeability in Red Cells by Minimum Method

PubMed Central

Sha'afi, R. I.; Rich, G. T.; Mikulecky, D. C.; Solomon, A. K.

1970-01-01

A new method has been developed for measuring the permeability coefficient, ω, of small nonelectrolytes. The method depends upon a mathematical analysis of the time course of cell volume changes in the neighborhood of the minimum volume following addition of a permeating solute to an isosmolal buffer. Coefficients determined by the minimum volume method agree with those obtained using radioactive tracers. ω for urea in human red cells was found to decrease as the volume flow, Jv, into the cell increased. Such behavior is entirely unexpected for a single uniform rate-limiting barrier on the basis of the linear phenomenological equations derived from irreversible thermodynamics. However, the present findings are consonant with a complex membrane system consisting of a tight barrier on the outer face of the human red cell membrane and a somewhat less restrictive barrier behind it closer to the inner membrane face. A theoretical analysis of such a series model has been made which makes predictions consistent with the experimental findings. PMID:5435779

Dynamical Evolution and Momentum Transfer for Binary Asteroid Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellerose, Julie

Over the past decade, robotic missions have been sent to small bodies, providing a basic understanding of their environment. Some of these small systems are found to be in pairs, orbiting each other, which are thought to represent about 16% of the near-Earth asteroid population. It is fair to assume that a mission will target a binary asteroid system in the near future as they can enable scientific insight into both the geology and dynamics of asteroids. In previous work, the dynamical evolution of binary systems was investigated for an ellipsoidsphere model. From the dynamics of two celestial bodies, equilibrium configurations and their stability were analyzed. For a given value of angular momentum, it was shown that there are in general two relative equilibrium configurations which are opposite in stability. When perturbations are introduced, we found that the equilibrium states are the minimum energy points of nearby periodic families. General dynamics from unstable to stable configurations were investigated for binaries in close proximity. Accounting for the dynamics of binaries, the dynamics of particles in this gravitational field were also studied. The location of the analogue Lagrangian points and energy associated with them were characterized. The L1 region is a key element for transfers between the bodies. It was shown that L1 can be situated between or inside the bodies depending on the free parameters of the system modifying the transfer possibilities since L1 has a hyperbolic manifold associated with it. In the current work, we look at the L1 region for binary system where the bodies are in relative equilibrium, close to each other. We find that L1 transits from outside to inside the ellipsoid when the mass ratio is larger than 0.6. For binary systems in close proximity with L1 being inside the ellipsoidal body, simulations show that particles on the surface tend to move away from the ellipsoid, toward the spherical primary. We can relate this to the Roche limit of binaries which affect the distribution of mass between the bodies. Other parameters such as the spin rate of a larger spherical primary may also influence particle distribution. Hence, we can map and characterize the mass distribution and momentum exchange that may occur within a closely formed binary systems.

Impact of minimum contrast media volumes during elective percutaneous coronary intervention for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Ebisawa, Soichiro; Kurita, Tairo; Tanaka, Nobuyoshi; Nasu, Kenya; Kimura, Masashi; Ito, Tatsuya; Kinoshita, Yoshihisa; Tsuchikane, Etsuo; Terashima, Mitsuyasu; Suzuki, Takahiko

2016-01-01

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The clinical importance of a minimum contrast media volume (CMV) for PCI to prevent CIN has not been well evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of minimum CMV to prevent CIN after PCI. In this study, 2052 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI in our institute were analyzed. We divided patients into two groups according to CMV: a minimum CMV PCI group [CMV ≤50 ml (n = 94)] and a non-minimum CMV PCI group [CMV >50 ml (n = 1958)]. CIN occurred in 160 (7.8 %) patients. The incidence of CIN was significantly lower in the minimum CMV PCI group than in the non-minimum CMV PCI group (2.1 vs. 8.1 %; P = 0.03). According to multivariate analysis, elderly patients and diabetes mellitus patients were at high risk of developing CIN in this study population. When analyzing only high-risk patients, the incidence of CIN was also significantly lower in the minimum CMV group than in the non-minimum CMV group (2.6 vs. 10.3 %; P = 0.03). Minimum CMV PCI could reduce the incidence of CIN, particularly in high-risk patients; as such, defining the minimum CMV clinical cut-off values may be useful for the prevention of CIN.

48 CFR 52.247-61 - F.o.b. Origin-Minimum Size of Shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false F.o.b. Origin-Minimum Size... Clauses 52.247-61 F.o.b. Origin—Minimum Size of Shipments. As prescribed in 47.305-16(c), insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when volume rates may apply: F.o.b. Origin—Minimum Size of...

Pore geometry as a control on rock strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubeck, A.; Walker, R. J.; Healy, D.; Dobbs, M.; Holwell, D. A.

2017-01-01

The strength of rocks in the subsurface is critically important across the geosciences, with implications for fluid flow, mineralisation, seismicity, and the deep biosphere. Most studies of porous rock strength consider the scalar quantity of porosity, in which strength shows a broadly inverse relationship with total porosity, but pore shape is not explicitly defined. Here we use a combination of uniaxial compressive strength measurements of isotropic and anisotropic porous lava samples, and numerical modelling to consider the influence of pore shape on rock strength. Micro computed tomography (CT) shows that pores range from sub-spherical to elongate and flat ellipsoids. Samples that contain flat pores are weaker if compression is applied parallel to the short axis (i.e. across the minimum curvature), compared to compression applied parallel to the long axis (i.e. across the maximum curvature). Numerical models for elliptical pores show that compression applied across the minimum curvature results in relatively broad amplification of stress, compared to compression applied across the maximum curvature. Certain pore shapes may be relatively stable and remain open in the upper crust under a given remote stress field, while others are inherently weak. Quantifying the shape, orientations, and statistical distributions of pores is therefore a critical step in strength testing of rocks.

[Impacts of forest and precipitation on runoff and sediment in Tianshui watershed and GM models].

PubMed

Ouyang, H

2000-12-01

This paper analyzed the impacts of foret stand volume and precipitation on annual erosion modulus, mean sediment, maximum sediment, mean runoff, maximum runoff, minimum runoff, mean water level, maximum water level and minimum water level in Tianshui watershed, and also analyzed the effect of the variation of forest stand volume on monthly mean runoff, minimum runoff and mean water level. The dynamic models of grey system GM(1, N) were constructed to simulate the changes of these hydrological elements. The dynamic GM models on the impact of stand volumes of different forest types(Chinese fir, masson pine and broad-leaved forests) with different age classes(young, middle-aged, mature and over-mature) and that of precipitation on the hydrological elements were also constructed, and their changes with time were analyzed.

Dissociation of end systole from end ejection in patients with long-term mitral regurgitation.

PubMed

Brickner, M E; Starling, M R

1990-04-01

To determine whether left ventricular (LV) end systole and end ejection uncouple in patients with long-term mitral regurgitation, 59 patients (22 control patients with atypical chest pain, 21 patients with aortic regurgitation, and 16 patients with mitral regurgitation) were studied with micromanometer LV catheters and radionuclide angiograms. End systole was defined as the time of occurrence (Tmax) of the maximum time-varying elastance (Emax), and end ejection was defined as the time of occurrence of minimum ventricular volume (minV) and zero systolic flow as approximated by the aortic dicrotic notch (Aodi). The temporal relation between end systole and end ejection in the control patients was Tmax (331 +/- 42 [SD] msec), minV (336 +/- 36 msec), and then, zero systolic flow (355 +/- 23 msec). This temporal relation was maintained in the patients with aortic regurgitation. In contrast, in the patients with mitral regurgitation, the temporal relation was Tmax (266 +/- 49 msec), zero systolic flow (310 +/- 37 msec, p less than 0.01 vs. Tmax), and then, minV (355 +/- 37 msec, p less than 0.001 vs. Tmax and p less than 0.01 vs. Aodi). Additionally, the average Tmax occurred earlier in the patients with mitral regurgitation than in the control patients and patients with aortic regurgitation (p less than 0.01, for both), whereas the average time to minimum ventricular volume was similar in all three patient groups. Moreover, the average time to zero systolic flow also occurred earlier in the patients with mitral regurgitation than in the control patients (p less than 0.01) and patients with aortic regurgitation (p less than 0.05). Because of the dissociation of end systole from minimum ventricular volume in the patients with mitral regurgitation, the end-ejection pressure-volume relations calculated at minimum ventricular volume did not correlate (r = -0.09), whereas those calculated at zero systolic flow did correlate (r = 0.88) with the Emax slope values. We conclude that end ejection, defined as minimum ventricular volume, dissociates from end systole in patients with mitral regurgitation because of the shortened time to LV end systole in association with preservation of the time to LV end ejection due to the low impedance to ejection presented by the left atrium. Therefore, pressure-volume relations calculated at minimum ventricular volume might not be useful for assessing LV chamber performance in some patients with mitral regurgitation.

AgCl-doped CdSe quantum dots with near-IR photoluminescence.

PubMed

Kotin, Pavel Aleksandrovich; Bubenov, Sergey Sergeevich; Mordvinova, Natalia Evgenievna; Dorofeev, Sergey Gennadievich

2017-01-01

We report the synthesis of colloidal CdSe quantum dots doped with a novel Ag precursor: AgCl. The addition of AgCl causes dramatic changes in the morphology of synthesized nanocrystals from spherical nanoparticles to tetrapods and finally to large ellipsoidal nanoparticles. Ellipsoidal nanoparticles possess an intensive near-IR photoluminescence ranging up to 0.9 eV (ca. 1400 nm). In this article, we explain the reasons for the formation of the ellipsoidal nanoparticles as well as the peculiarities of the process. The structure, Ag content, and optical properties of quantum dots are also investigated. The optimal conditions for maximizing both the reaction yield and IR photoluminescence quantum yield are found.

Radiative transfer theory for active remote sensing of a layer of small ellipsoidal scatterers. [of vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsang, L.; Kubacsi, M. C.; Kong, J. A.

1981-01-01

The radiative transfer theory is applied within the Rayleigh approximation to calculate the backscattering cross section of a layer of randomly positioned and oriented small ellipsoids. The orientation of the ellipsoids is characterized by a probability density function of the Eulerian angles of rotation. The radiative transfer equations are solved by an iterative approach to first order in albedo. In the half space limit the results are identical to those obtained via the approach of Foldy's and distorted Born approximation. Numerical results of the theory are illustrated using parameters encountered in active remote sensing of vegetation layers. A distinctive characteristic is the strong depolarization shown by vertically aligned leaves.

Ellipsoidal geometry in asteroid thermal models - The standard radiometric model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, R. H.

1985-01-01

The major consequences of ellipsoidal geometry in an othewise standard radiometric model for asteroids are explored. It is shown that for small deviations from spherical shape a spherical model of the same projected area gives a reasonable aproximation to the thermal flux from an ellipsoidal body. It is suggested that large departures from spherical shape require that some correction be made for geometry. Systematic differences in the radii of asteroids derived radiometrically at 10 and 20 microns may result partly from nonspherical geometry. It is also suggested that extrapolations of the rotational variation of thermal flux from a nonspherical body based solely on the change in cross-sectional area are in error.

Formation and acceleration of uniformly filled ellipsoidal electron bunches obtained via space-charge-driven expansion from a cesium-telluride photocathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piot, P.; Sun, Y.-E.; Maxwell, T. J.; Ruan, J.; Secchi, E.; Thangaraj, J. C. T.

2013-01-01

We report the experimental generation, acceleration, and characterization of a uniformly filled electron bunch obtained via space-charge-driven expansion (often referred to as “blow-out regime”) in an L-band (1.3-GHz) radiofrequency photoinjector. The beam is photoemitted from a cesium-telluride semiconductor photocathode using a short (<200fs) ultraviolet laser pulse. The produced electron bunches are characterized with conventional diagnostics and the signatures of their ellipsoidal character are observed. We especially demonstrate the production of ellipsoidal bunches with charges up to ˜0.5nC corresponding to a ˜20-fold increase compared to previous experiments with metallic photocathodes.

DEM Particle Fracture Model

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

Zhang, Boning; Herbold, Eric B.; Homel, Michael A.

2015-12-01

An adaptive particle fracture model in poly-ellipsoidal Discrete Element Method is developed. The poly-ellipsoidal particle will break into several sub-poly-ellipsoids by Hoek-Brown fracture criterion based on continuum stress and the maximum tensile stress in contacts. Also Weibull theory is introduced to consider the statistics and size effects on particle strength. Finally, high strain-rate split Hopkinson pressure bar experiment of silica sand is simulated using this newly developed model. Comparisons with experiments show that our particle fracture model can capture the mechanical behavior of this experiment very well, both in stress-strain response and particle size redistribution. The effects of density andmore » packings o the samples are also studied in numerical examples.« less

Optical equivalence of isotropic ensembles of ellipsoidal particles in the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye and anomalous diffraction approximations and its consequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paramonov, L. E.

2012-05-01

Light scattering by isotropic ensembles of ellipsoidal particles is considered in the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye approximation. It is proved that randomly oriented ellipsoidal particles are optically equivalent to polydisperse randomly oriented spheroidal particles and polydisperse spherical particles. Density functions of the shape and size distributions for equivalent ensembles of spheroidal and spherical particles are presented. In the anomalous diffraction approximation, equivalent ensembles of particles are shown to also have equal extinction, scattering, and absorption coefficients. Consequences of optical equivalence are considered. The results are illustrated by numerical calculations of the angular dependence of the scattering phase function using the T-matrix method and the Mie theory.

Inertial modes in a rotating triaxial ellipsoid

PubMed Central

Vantieghem, S.

2014-01-01

In this work, we present an algorithm that enables computation of inertial modes and their corresponding frequencies in a rotating triaxial ellipsoid. The method consists of projecting the inertial mode equation onto finite-dimensional bases of polynomial vector fields. It is shown that this leads to a well-posed eigenvalue problem, and hence, that eigenmodes are of polynomial form. Furthermore, these results shed new light onto the question whether the eigenmodes form a complete basis, i.e. whether any arbitrary velocity field can be expanded in a sum of inertial modes. Finally, we prove that two intriguing integral properties of inertial modes in rotating spheres and spheroids also extend to triaxial ellipsoids. PMID:25104908

A Generalization of the Spherical Inversion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramírez, José L.; Rubiano, Gustavo N.

2017-01-01

In the present article, we introduce a generalization of the spherical inversion. In particular, we define an inversion with respect to an ellipsoid, and prove several properties of this new transformation. The inversion in an ellipsoid is the generalization of the elliptic inversion to the three-dimensional space. We also study the inverse images…

Wave-optical assessment of alignment tolerances in nano-focusing with ellipsoidal mirror

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

Yumoto, Hirokatsu, E-mail: yumoto@spring8.or.jp; Koyama, Takahisa; Matsuyama, Satoshi

2016-01-28

High-precision ellipsoidal mirrors, which can efficiently focus X-rays to the nanometer dimension with a mirror, have not been realized because of the difficulties in the fabrication process. The purpose of our study was to develop nano-focusing ellipsoidal mirrors in the hard X-ray region. We developed a wave-optical focusing simulator for investigating alignment tolerances in nano-focusing with a designed ellipsoidal mirror, which produce a diffraction-limited focus size of 30 × 35 nm{sup 2} in full width at half maximum at an X-ray energy of 7 keV. The simulator can calculate focusing intensity distributions around the focal point under conditions of misalignment. Themore » wave-optical simulator enabled the calculation of interference intensity distributions, which cannot be predicted by the conventional ray-trace method. The alignment conditions with a focal length error of ≲ ±10 µm, incident angle error of ≲ ±0.5 µrad, and in-plane rotation angle error of ≲ ±0.25 µrad must be satisfied for nano-focusing.« less

Elastic Free Energy Drives the Shape of Prevascular Solid Tumors

PubMed Central

Mills, K. L.; Kemkemer, Ralf; Rudraraju, Shiva; Garikipati, Krishna

2014-01-01

It is well established that the mechanical environment influences cell functions in health and disease. Here, we address how the mechanical environment influences tumor growth, in particular, the shape of solid tumors. In an in vitro tumor model, which isolates mechanical interactions between cancer tumor cells and a hydrogel, we find that tumors grow as ellipsoids, resembling the same, oft-reported observation of in vivo tumors. Specifically, an oblate ellipsoidal tumor shape robustly occurs when the tumors grow in hydrogels that are stiffer than the tumors, but when they grow in more compliant hydrogels they remain closer to spherical in shape. Using large scale, nonlinear elasticity computations we show that the oblate ellipsoidal shape minimizes the elastic free energy of the tumor-hydrogel system. Having eliminated a number of other candidate explanations, we hypothesize that minimization of the elastic free energy is the reason for predominance of the experimentally observed ellipsoidal shape. This result may hold significance for explaining the shape progression of early solid tumors in vivo and is an important step in understanding the processes underlying solid tumor growth. PMID:25072702

Digital stereo-holographic microscopy for studying three-dimensional particle dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byeon, Hyeokjun; Go, Taesik; Lee, Sang Joon

2018-06-01

A digital stereo-holographic microscopy (DsHM) with two viewing angles is proposed to measure 3D information of microscale particles. This approach includes two volumetric recordings and numerical reconstruction, and it involves the combination of separately reconstructed holograms. The 3D positional information of a particle was determined by searching the center of the overlapped reconstructed volume. After confirming the proposed technique using static spherical particles, the 3D information of moving particles suspended in a Hagen-Poiseiulle flow was successfully obtained. Moreover, the 3D information of nonspherical particles, including ellipsoidal particles and red blood cells, were measured using the proposed technique. In addition to 3D positional information, the orientation and shape of the test samples were obtained from the plane images by slicing the overlapped volume perpendicular to the directions of the image recordings. This DsHM technique will be useful in analyzing the 3D dynamic behavior of various nonspherical particles, which cannot be measured by conventional digital holographic microscopy.

Quantifying the Rate of Ellipsoid Zone Loss in Stargardt Disease.

PubMed

Cai, Cindy X; Light, Jacob G; Handa, James T

2018-02-01

To determine a reliable method of using the ellipsoid zone (EZ) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) to track disease progression in Stardgardt disease (STGD). Retrospective reliability study. STGD patients with genetically confirmed ABCA4 gene mutations seen at the Wilmer Eye Institute with follow-up visits separated by at least 12 months were identified. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) macula volume scans centered at the fovea and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were obtained. The area of EZ loss was calculated from the SD-OCT and the area of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss from the FAF. Scans were reanalyzed by the primary grader to assess intragrader reliability, and reanalyzed by a second grader to assess intergrader reliability. Sixteen STGD patients (total of 31 eyes) were followed for a mean of 2 years (range 1-4.7 years). The mean rate of EZ loss, 0.31 ± 0.31 mm 2 /year, was similar to the average rate of RPE loss, 0.33 ± 0.38 mm 2 /year. The average area of EZ loss at the initial examination, 4.18 ± 1.91 mm 2 , was larger than the initial area of RPE loss, 2.25 ± 1.66 mm 2 (P < .01). The absolute difference of the area of EZ loss on test-retest for the first grader was 0.12 ± 0.10 mm 2 , and between graders 0.21 ± 0.21 mm 2 . The intraclass correlation (ICC) of both intragrader and intergrader reliability for EZ loss was excellent at 0.99. Tracking the area of EZ loss on SD-OCT macular volume scans longitudinally is a reliable way of monitoring disease progression in STGD. This could be used as a sensitive anatomic outcome measure in clinical trials related to STGD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bubbling at high flow rates in inviscid and viscous liquids (slags)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engh, T. Abel; Nilmani, M.

1988-02-01

The behavior of gas discharging into melts at high velocities but still in the bubbling regime has been investigated in a laboratory modeling study for constant flow conditions. Air or helium was injected through a vertical tuyere into water, zinc-chloride, and aqueous glycerol solutions. High speed cinematography and pressure measurements in the tuyere have been carried out simultaneously. Pressure fluctuations at the injection point were monitored and correlated to the mode of bubble formation. The effects of high gas flow rates and high liquid viscosities have been examined in particular. Flow rates were employed up to 10-3 m3/s and viscosity to 0.5 Ns/m2. In order to attain a high gas momentum, the tuyere diameter was only 3 x 10-3 m. The experimental conditions and modeling liquids were chosen with special reference to the established practice of submerged gas injection to treat nonferrous slags. Such slags can be highly viscous. Bubble volume is smaller than that calculated from existing models such as those given by Davidson and Schüler10,11 due to the effect of gas momentum elongating the bubbles. On the other hand, viscosity tends to retard the bubble rise velocity, thus increasing volumes. To take elongation into account, a mathematical model is presented that assumes a prolate ellipsoidal shape of the bubbles. The unsteady potential flow equations for the liquid are solved for this case. Viscous effects are taken into account by noting that flow deviates from irrotational motion only in a thin boundary layer along the surface of the bubble. Thus, drag on the bubble can be obtained by calculating the viscous energy dissipation for potential flow past an ellipse. The time-dependent inertia coefficient for the ellipsoid is found by equating the vertical pressure increase inside and outside the bubble. This pressure change in the bubble is obtained by assuming that gas enters as a homogeneous jet and then calculating the stagnation pressure at the apex of the bubble.

3D sensitivity encoded ellipsoidal MR spectroscopic imaging of gliomas at 3T☆

PubMed Central

Ozturk-Isik, Esin; Chen, Albert P.; Crane, Jason C.; Bian, Wei; Xu, Duan; Han, Eric T.; Chang, Susan M.; Vigneron, Daniel B.; Nelson, Sarah J.

2010-01-01

Purpose The goal of this study was to implement time efficient data acquisition and reconstruction methods for 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of gliomas at a field strength of 3T using parallel imaging techniques. Methods The point spread functions, signal to noise ratio (SNR), spatial resolution, metabolite intensity distributions and Cho:NAA ratio of 3D ellipsoidal, 3D sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and 3D combined ellipsoidal and SENSE (e-SENSE) k-space sampling schemes were compared with conventional k-space data acquisition methods. Results The 3D SENSE and e-SENSE methods resulted in similar spectral patterns as the conventional MRSI methods. The Cho:NAA ratios were highly correlated (P<.05 for SENSE and P<.001 for e-SENSE) with the ellipsoidal method and all methods exhibited significantly different spectral patterns in tumor regions compared to normal appearing white matter. The geometry factors ranged between 1.2 and 1.3 for both the SENSE and e-SENSE spectra. When corrected for these factors and for differences in data acquisition times, the empirical SNRs were similar to values expected based upon theoretical grounds. The effective spatial resolution of the SENSE spectra was estimated to be same as the corresponding fully sampled k-space data, while the spectra acquired with ellipsoidal and e-SENSE k-space samplings were estimated to have a 2.36–2.47-fold loss in spatial resolution due to the differences in their point spread functions. Conclusion The 3D SENSE method retained the same spatial resolution as full k-space sampling but with a 4-fold reduction in scan time and an acquisition time of 9.28 min. The 3D e-SENSE method had a similar spatial resolution as the corresponding ellipsoidal sampling with a scan time of 4:36 min. Both parallel imaging methods provided clinically interpretable spectra with volumetric coverage and adequate SNR for evaluating Cho, Cr and NAA. PMID:19766422

Determination of the Volume of Water for Suppressing the Thermal Decomposition of Forest Combustibles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volkov, R. S.; Zhdanova, A. O.; Kuznetsov, G. V.; Strizhak, P. A.

2017-07-01

From the results of experimental studies of the processes of suppressing the thermal decomposition of the typical forest combustibles (birch leaves, fir needles, asp twigs, and a mixture of these three materials) by water aerosol, the minimum volumes of the fire-extinguishing liquid have been determined (by varying the volume of samples of the forest combustibles from 0.00002 m3 to 0.0003 m3 and the area of their open surface from 0.0001 m2 to 0.018 m2). The dependences of the minimum volume of water on the area of the open surface of the forest combustible have been established. Approximation expressions for these dependences have been obtained. Forecast has been made of the minimum volume of water for suppressing the process of thermal decomposition of forest combustibles in areas from 1 cm2 to 1 km2, as well as of the characteristic quenching times by varying the water concentration per unit time. It has been shown that the amount of water needed for effective suppression of the process of thermal decomposition of forest combustibles is several times less than is customarily assumed.

Computational analysis of particle reinforced viscoelastic polymer nanocomposites - statistical study of representative volume element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Anqi; Li, Xiaolin; Ajdari, Amin; Jiang, Bing; Burkhart, Craig; Chen, Wei; Brinson, L. Catherine

2018-05-01

The concept of representative volume element (RVE) is widely used to determine the effective material properties of random heterogeneous materials. In the present work, the RVE is investigated for the viscoelastic response of particle-reinforced polymer nanocomposites in the frequency domain. The smallest RVE size and the minimum number of realizations at a given volume size for both structural and mechanical properties are determined for a given precision using the concept of margin of error. It is concluded that using the mean of many realizations of a small RVE instead of a single large RVE can retain the desired precision of a result with much lower computational cost (up to three orders of magnitude reduced computation time) for the property of interest. Both the smallest RVE size and the minimum number of realizations for a microstructure with higher volume fraction (VF) are larger compared to those of one with lower VF at the same desired precision. Similarly, a clustered structure is shown to require a larger minimum RVE size as well as a larger number of realizations at a given volume size compared to the well-dispersed microstructures.

Lymph node segmentation on CT images by a shape model guided deformable surface methodh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleike, Daniel; Fabel, Michael; Tetzlaff, Ralf; von Tengg-Kobligk, Hendrik; Heimann, Tobias; Meinzer, Hans-Peter; Wolf, Ivo

2008-03-01

With many tumor entities, quantitative assessment of lymph node growth over time is important to make therapy choices or to evaluate new therapies. The clinical standard is to document diameters on transversal slices, which is not the best measure for a volume. We present a new algorithm to segment (metastatic) lymph nodes and evaluate the algorithm with 29 lymph nodes in clinical CT images. The algorithm is based on a deformable surface search, which uses statistical shape models to restrict free deformation. To model lymph nodes, we construct an ellipsoid shape model, which strives for a surface with strong gradients and user-defined gray values. The algorithm is integrated into an application, which also allows interactive correction of the segmentation results. The evaluation shows that the algorithm gives good results in the majority of cases and is comparable to time-consuming manual segmentation. The median volume error was 10.1% of the reference volume before and 6.1% after manual correction. Integrated into an application, it is possible to perform lymph node volumetry for a whole patient within the 10 to 15 minutes time limit imposed by clinical routine.

Volume to Surface Area Ratios of Foraminifera over the Phanerozoic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, K.; Gomez, D.; Guo, D.; Jost, A.; Payne, J.

2010-12-01

Although there have been numerous studies regarding the issue of the volume to surface area ratio, no study has been extensive enough to include over 35000 species of foraminifera. The Stanford Paleobiology lab undertook the enormous task of extracting from the Catalogue of Foraminifera, by Ellis and Messina, all relevant data of the foraminifera, such as the three dimensions of the organism, the magnification, and the time period in which the organism existed. For the purpose of calculating the volume and surface area, the foraminifera were generalized as ellipsoids. It is known that the surface area of foraminifera represents where the exchange between the interior body and exterior environment of the foraminifera occurs. The volume of the foraminifera indicates the physical needs of the foraminifera. With more volume in foraminifera, more body functions are occurring and more exterior resources are needed to sustain those bodily functions. Thus with a larger volume to surface area ratio, foraminifera are disadvantaged because they must use more effort in order to acquire adequate resources to fulfill their biological needs. So, the hypothesis is that when there is an increase in oxygen (a vital exterior resource of the foraminifera), the average volume to surface area ratio would be greater because the abundance of oxygen allows foraminifera to work with greater ease in maintaining an exterior resource that they cannot survive without. To prove or refute this assertion, graphs were generated in this study; the graphs indeed suggested that there is a correlation between the volume to surface area ratios and oxygen levels, illustrating that it is plausible that oxygen is a limiting factor of the volume to surface area ratio in foraminifera.

Iterative Ellipsoidal Trimming.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-11

to above. Iterative ellipsoidal trimming has been investigated before by other statisticians, most notably by Gnanadesikan and his coworkers...J., Gnanadesikan R., and Kettenring, J. R. (1975). "Robust estimation and outlier detection with correlation coefficients." Biometrika. 62, 531-45. [6...Duda, Richard, and Hart, Peter (1973). Pattern Classification and Scene Analysis. Wiley, New York. [7] Gnanadesikan , R. (1977). Methods for

Gregory [Gregorie], James (1638-75)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

Scottish mathematician and optician, born in Aberdeen. Gregory described in Optica Promota a design (which he never realized) for the first practical reflecting telescope in which a perforated primary concave parabolic mirror converges the light to the focus of a concave ellipsoidal secondary mirror. The light is reflected back to the ellipsoid's second focus behind the main mirror. A real image ...

Neotropical Ascomycetes. 13, Cornipulvina and Erythromada, two new genera from the Caribbean and elsewhere

Treesearch

Sabine M. Huhndorf; Andrew N. Miller; Fernando A. Fernandez; D. Jean Lodge

2005-01-01

Cornipulvina ellipsoides is described as a new genus and species in the family Boliniaceae, order Boliniales and Erythromada lanciospora is described as a new genus and species in the Sordariomycetidae. Cornipulvina is distinguished by irregular stromata with long rostrate necks and ellipsoid ascospores lacking a germ pore. Erythromada differs from similar...

Neotropical Ascomycetes 13. Cornipulvina and Erythromada, two new genera from the Caribbean and elsewhere

Treesearch

S.M. Huhndorf; A.N. Miller; F.A. Fernández; D.J. Lodge

2005-01-01

Cornipulvina ellipsoides is described as a new genus and species in the family Boliniaceae, order Boliniales and Erythromada lanciospora is described as a new genus and species in the Sordariomycetidae. Cornipulvina is distinguished by irregular stromata with long rostrate necks and ellipsoid ascospores lacking a germ pore. Erythromada differs from similar...

Photoreceptor inner segment ellipsoid band integrity on spectral domain optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Saxena, Sandeep; Srivastav, Khushboo; Cheung, Chui M; Ng, Joanne YW; Lai, Timothy YY

2014-01-01

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography cross-sectional imaging of the macula has conventionally been resolved into four bands. However, some doubts were raised regarding authentication of the existence of these bands. Recently, a number of studies have suggested that the second band appeared to originate from the inner segment ellipsoids of the foveal cone photoreceptors, and therefore the previously called inner segment-outer segment junction is now referred to as inner segment ellipsoidband. Photoreceptor dysfunction may be a significant predictor of visual acuity in a spectrum of surgical and medical retinal diseases. This review aims to provide an overview and summarizes the role of the photoreceptor inner segment ellipsoid band in the management and prognostication of various vitreoretinal diseases. PMID:25525329

Stochastic Surface Mesh Reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozendi, M.; Akca, D.; Topan, H.

2018-05-01

A generic and practical methodology is presented for 3D surface mesh reconstruction from the terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) derived point clouds. It has two main steps. The first step deals with developing an anisotropic point error model, which is capable of computing the theoretical precisions of 3D coordinates of each individual point in the point cloud. The magnitude and direction of the errors are represented in the form of error ellipsoids. The following second step is focused on the stochastic surface mesh reconstruction. It exploits the previously determined error ellipsoids by computing a point-wise quality measure, which takes into account the semi-diagonal axis length of the error ellipsoid. The points only with the least errors are used in the surface triangulation. The remaining ones are automatically discarded.

Quark self-energy in an ellipsoidally anisotropic quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasmaei, Babak S.; Nopoush, Mohammad; Strickland, Michael

2016-12-01

We calculate the quark self-energy in a quark-gluon plasma that possesses an ellipsoidal momentum-space anisotropy in the local rest frame. By introducing additional transverse-momentum anisotropy parameters into the parton distribution functions, we generalize previous results which were obtained for the case of a spheroidal anisotropy. Our results demonstrate that the presence of anisotropies in the transverse directions affects the real and imaginary parts of quark self-energy and, consequently, the self-energy depends on both the polar and azimuthal angles in the local rest frame of the matter. Our results for the quark self-energy set the stage for the calculation of the effects of ellipsoidal momentum-space anisotropy on quark-gluon plasma photon spectra and collective flow.

Semiautomated thyroid volumetry using 3D CT: prospective comparison with measurements obtained using 2D ultrasound, 2D CT, and water displacement method of specimen.

PubMed

Lee, Sun Jin; Chong, Semin; Kang, Kyung Ho; Hur, Joonho; Hong, Byung-Woo; Kim, Hyun Jung; Kim, Soo Jin

2014-11-01

The objective of our study was to measure thyroid volumes using semiautomated 3D CT and to compare the 3D CT volumes with volumes measured using 2D ultrasound, 2D CT, and the water displacement method. In 47 patients, 2D ultrasound volumes and 2D CT volumes of the thyroid gland were estimated using the ellipsoid volume formula, and 3D CT volumes were calculated using semiautomated reconstructive techniques. All volume data were compared with thyroid specimen volumes obtained using the water displacement method and were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA, the Pearson correlation coefficient (R), linear regression, and the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The processing time of semiautomated 3D CT thyroid volumetry was measured. The paired mean differences ± SD between the three imaging-determined volumes and the specimen volumes were 0.8 ± 3.1 mL for 2D ultrasound, 4.0 ± 4.7 mL for 2D CT, and 0.2 ± 2.5 mL for 3D CT. A significant difference in the mean thyroid volume was found between 2D CT and specimen volumes (p = 0.016) compared with the other pairs (p = 0.937 for 2D ultrasound mean volume vs specimen mean volume, and p = 0.999 for 3D CT mean volume vs specimen mean volume). Between specimen volume and 2D ultrasound volume, specimen volume and 2D CT volume, and specimen volume and 3D CT volume, R values were 0.885, 0.724, and 0.929, respectively, and CCC values were 0.876, 0.598, and 0.925, respectively. The mean processing time of semiautomated 3D CT thyroid volumetry was 7.0 minutes. Thyroid volumes measured using 2D ultrasound or semiautomated 3D CT are substantially close to thyroid specimen volumes measured using the water displacement method. Semiautomated 3D CT thyroid volumetry can provide a more reliable measure of thyroid volume than 2D ultrasound.

Phase behavior and kinetics of phase separation of a nonionic microemulsion of C12E5/water/1-chlorotetradecane upon a temperature quench.

PubMed

Roshan Deen, G; Oliveira, Cristiano L P; Pedersen, Jan Skov

2009-05-21

The phase behavior and phase separation kinetics of a model ternary nonionic microemulsion system composed of pentaethylene glycol dodecyl ether (C12E5), water, and 1-chlorotetradecane were studied. With increasing temperature, the microemulsion exhibits the following rich phase behavior: oil-in-water phase (L1+O), droplet microemulsion phase (L1), lamellar liquid crystalline phase (Lproportional), and sponge-like (liquid) phase (L3). The microemulsion with a fixed surfactant-to-oil volume fraction ratio (Phis/Phio) of 0.81 and droplet volume fraction of 0.087 was perturbed from equilibrium by a temperature quench from the L1 region (24 degrees C) to an unstable region L1+O (13 degrees C), where the excess oil phase is in equilibrium with the microemulsion droplets. The process of phase separation in the unstable region was followed by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) and time-resolved turbidity methods. Due to the large range of scattering vector (q=0.004-0.22 A(-1)) that is possible to access with the TR-SAXS method, the growth of the oil droplets and shrinking of the microemulsion droplets as a result of phase separation could be studied simultaneously. By using an advanced polydisperse ellipsoidal hard-sphere model, the experimental curves have been quantitatively analyzed. The microemulsion droplets were modeled as polydisperse core-shell ellipsoidal particles, using molecular constraints, and the oil droplets are modeled as polydisperse spheres. The radius of gyration (Rg) of the growing oil droplets, volume fraction of oil in the microemulsion droplets, and polydispersity were obtained from the fit parameters. The volume equivalent radius at the neutral plane between the surfactant head and tail of the microemulsion droplet decreased from 76 to 51 A, while the radius of oil drop increased to 217 A within the 160 min of the experiment. After about 48 min from the temperature quench, the system reaches a steady state and continues to coarsen at a constant fraction of the oil of 0.51 in the oil phase by Ostwald ripening with the power law dependence of Roil proportional, variant t1/3. The size of the oil droplets determined by the time-resolved turbidity method is in good agreement with that of the TR-SAXS, highlighting the usefulness of the method in the size determination of oil-in-water microemulsions on an absolute scale.

Pre-operative renal volume predicts peak creatinine after congenital heart surgery in neonates.

PubMed

Carmody, J Bryan; Seckeler, Michael D; Ballengee, Cortney R; Conaway, Mark; Jayakumar, K Anitha; Charlton, Jennifer R

2014-10-01

Acute kidney injury is common in neonates following surgery for congenital heart disease. We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine whether neonates with smaller pre-operative renal volume were more likely to develop post-operative acute kidney injury. We conducted a retrospective review of 72 neonates who underwent congenital heart surgery for any lesion other than patent ductus arteriosus at our institution from January 2007 to December 2011. Renal volume was calculated by ultrasound using the prolate ellipsoid formula. The presence and severity of post-operative acute kidney injury was determined both by measuring the peak serum creatinine in the first 7 days post-operatively and by using the Acute Kidney Injury Network scoring system. Using a linear change point model, a threshold renal volume of 17 cm³ was identified. Below this threshold, there was an inverse linear relationship between renal volume and peak post-operative creatinine for all patients (p = 0.036) and the subgroup with a single morphologic right ventricle (p = 0.046). There was a non-significant trend towards more acute kidney injury using Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria in all neonates with renal volume ≤17 cm³ (p = 0.11) and in the subgroup with a single morphologic right ventricle (p = 0.17). Pre-operative renal volume ≤17 cm³ is associated with a higher peak post-operative creatinine and potentially greater risk for post-operative acute kidney injury for neonates undergoing congenital heart surgery. Neonates with a single right ventricle may be at higher risk.

Shortened Mean Transit Time in CT Perfusion With Singular Value Decomposition Analysis in Acute Cerebral Infarction: Quantitative Evaluation and Comparison With Various CT Perfusion Parameters.

PubMed

Murayama, Kazuhiro; Katada, Kazuhiro; Hayakawa, Motoharu; Toyama, Hiroshi

We aimed to clarify the cause of shortened mean transit time (MTT) in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease and examined its relationship with reperfusion. Twenty-three patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease underwent whole-brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP). The maximum MTT (MTTmax), minimum MTT (MTTmin), ratio of maximum and minimum MTT (MTTmin/max), and minimum cerebral blood volume (CBV) (CBVmin) were measured by automatic region of interest analysis. Diffusion weighted image was performed to calculate infarction volume. We compared these CTP parameters between reperfusion and nonreperfusion groups and calculated correlation coefficients between the infarction core volume and CTP parameters. Significant differences were observed between reperfusion and nonreperfusion groups (MTTmin/max: P = 0.014; CBVmin ratio: P = 0.038). Regression analysis of CTP and high-intensity volume on diffusion weighted image showed negative correlation (CBVmin ratio: r = -0.41; MTTmin/max: r = -0.30; MTTmin ratio: r = -0.27). A region of shortened MTT indicated obstructed blood flow, which was attributed to the singular value decomposition method error.

Multivariate methods to visualise colour-space and colour discrimination data.

PubMed

Hastings, Gareth D; Rubin, Alan

2015-01-01

Despite most modern colour spaces treating colour as three-dimensional (3-D), colour data is usually not visualised in 3-D (and two-dimensional (2-D) projection-plane segments and multiple 2-D perspective views are used instead). The objectives of this article are firstly, to introduce a truly 3-D percept of colour space using stereo-pairs, secondly to view colour discrimination data using that platform, and thirdly to apply formal statistics and multivariate methods to analyse the data in 3-D. This is the first demonstration of the software that generated stereo-pairs of RGB colour space, as well as of a new computerised procedure that investigated colour discrimination by measuring colour just noticeable differences (JND). An initial pilot study and thorough investigation of instrument repeatability were performed. Thereafter, to demonstrate the capabilities of the software, five colour-normal and one colour-deficient subject were examined using the JND procedure and multivariate methods of data analysis. Scatter plots of responses were meaningfully examined in 3-D and were useful in evaluating multivariate normality as well as identifying outliers. The extent and direction of the difference between each JND response and the stimulus colour point was calculated and appreciated in 3-D. Ellipsoidal surfaces of constant probability density (distribution ellipsoids) were fitted to response data; the volumes of these ellipsoids appeared useful in differentiating the colour-deficient subject from the colour-normals. Hypothesis tests of variances and covariances showed many statistically significant differences between the results of the colour-deficient subject and those of the colour-normals, while far fewer differences were found when comparing within colour-normals. The 3-D visualisation of colour data using stereo-pairs, as well as the statistics and multivariate methods of analysis employed, were found to be unique and useful tools in the representation and study of colour. Many additional studies using these methods along with the JND and other procedures have been identified and will be reported in future publications. © 2014 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2014 The College of Optometrists.

Nanotomography and Micromagnetic Modelling of Remanence Carriers in the Semarkona LL3.0 Chondrite: A New View of the Vortex State

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, R. J.; Einsle, J. F.; Williams, W.; Ó Conbhuí, P.; Fu, R. R.; Weiss, B. P.; Kasama, T.

2015-12-01

Dusty-olivine chondrules are carriers of stable pre-accretionary remanence, and have recently been used to obtain the first reliable estimate of the magnetic field of the early solar nebula. Here we show how the magnetic architecture of a single dusty olivine grain from the Semarkona LL3.0 ordinary chondrite meteorite can be fully characterised in three-dimensions, using a combination of Focussed-Ion-Beam nanotomography (FIB-nt), electron tomography and finite-element micromagnetic modelling. We present a 3D volume reconstruction of a dusty olivine grain, obtained by selective milling through a region of interest in a series of sequential 20 nm slices, which are then imaged using scanning electron microscopy. The data provide a quantitative description of the iron particle ensemble, including the distribution of particle sizes, shapes, interparticle spacings and preferred orientations. Iron particles are predominantly oblate ellipoids. Particles nucleate on dislocation networks and are loosely arranged in a series of parallel sheets with their shortest dimension oriented normal to the sheets and their longest dimensions preferentially aligned within the sheets. Individual particle geometries are converted to a finite-element mesh and used to perform micromagnetic simulations. The majority of particles adopt a single vortex state, with 'bulk' spins that rotate around a central vortex core. The results challenge pre-conceived ideas about the remanence carrying properties of vortex states. We find that remanence is carried by bulk spins rather than the vortex core. Although the orientation of the core is determined by the ellipsoidal geometry (parallel to the major axis for prolate ellipsoids; parallel to the minor axis for oblate ellipsoids), the remanence vectors generally lie at large angles (and in many cases antiparallel) to the core magnetisation. Even in the case of prolate particles, the resulting remanence vector can make a large angle of ~50° to the expected easy axis. The results reconcile the predicted and observed directions of remanence anisotropy, and demonstrate how this combination of nanotomography and micromagnetics will become an essential component of future single-crystal paleomagnetic studies.

New methods in the Newtonian potential theory. I - The representation of the potential energy of homogeneous gravitating bodies by converging bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondrat'ev, B. P.

1993-06-01

A method is developed for the representation of the potential energy of homogeneous gravitating, as well as electrically charged, bodies in the form of special series. These series contain members consisting of products of the corresponding coefficients appearing in the expansion of external and internal Newtonian potentials in Legendre polynomial series. Several versions of the representation of potential energy through these series are possible. A formula which expresses potential energy not as a volume integral, as is the convention, but as an integral over the body surface is derived. The method is tested for the particular cases of sphere and ellipsoid, and the convergence of the found series is shown.

40 CFR Table 6 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10..., appendix A-3 or appendix A-8). Sulfur dioxide 11 parts per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum... Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in state plan] a 6 Table 6 to Subpart DDDD of...

40 CFR Table 6 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations That Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10..., appendix A-3 or appendix A-8). Sulfur dioxide 11 parts per million dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum... Apply to Incinerators on and After [Date to be specified in state plan] a 6 Table 6 to Subpart DDDD of...

Assessment of the most recent satellite based digital elevation models of Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabah, Mostafa; El-Hattab, Ahmed; Abdallah, Mohamed

2017-12-01

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is crucial to a wide range of surveying and civil engineering applications worldwide. Some of the DEMs such as ASTER, SRTM1 and SRTM3 are freely available open source products. In order to evaluate the three DEMs, the contribution of EGM96 are removed and all DEMs heights are becoming ellipsoidal height. This step was done to avoid the errors occurred due to EGM96. 601 points of observed ellipsoidal heights compared with the three DEMs, the results show that the SRTM1 is the most accurate one, that produces mean height difference and standard deviations equal 2.89 and ±8.65 m respectively. In order to increase the accuracy of SRTM1 in EGYPT, a precise Global Geopotential Model (GGM) is needed to convert the SRTM1 ellipsoidal height to orthometric height, so that, we quantify the precision of most-recent released GGM (five models). The results show that, the GECO model is the best fit global models over Egypt, which produces a standard deviation of geoid undulation differences equals ±0.42 m over observed 17 HARN GPS/leveling stations. To confirm an enhanced DEM in EGYPT, the two orthometric height models (SRTM1 ellipsoidal height + EGM96) and (SRTM1 ellipsoidal height + GECO) are assessment with 17 GPS/leveling stations and 112 orthometric height stations, the results show that the estimated height differences between the SRTM1 before improvements and the enhanced model are at rate of 0.44 m and 0.06 m respectively.

Effective electromagnetic properties of microheterogeneous materials with surface phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levin, Valery; Markov, Mikhail; Mousatov, Aleksandr; Kazatchenko, Elena; Pervago, Evgeny

2017-10-01

In this paper, we present an approach to calculate the complex dielectric permittivity of a micro-heterogeneous medium composed of non-conductive solid inclusions embedded into the conductive liquid continuous host. To take into account the surface effects, we approximate the inclusion by a layered ellipsoid consisting of a dielectric core and an infinitesimally thin outer shell corresponding to an electrical double layer (EDL). To predict the effective complex dielectric permittivity of materials with a high concentration of inclusions, we have modified the Effective Field Method (EFM) for the layered ellipsoidal particles with complex electrical properties. We present the results of complex permittivity calculations for the composites with randomly and parallel oriented ellipsoidal inclusions. To analyze the influence of surface polarization, we have accomplished modeling in a wide frequency range for different existing physic-chemical models of double electrical layer. The results obtained show that the tensor of effective complex permittivity of a micro-heterogeneous medium with surface effects has complicate dependences on the component electrical properties, spatial material texture, and the inclusion shape (ellipsoid aspect ratio) and size. The dispersion of dielectric permittivity corresponds to the frequency dependence for individual inclusion of given size, and does not depend on the inclusion concentration.

Off-center lithium in the fluoroperovskite KZnF3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toulouse, J.; Wang, X. Q.; Rousseau, M.

1991-10-01

In studying the effect of point defects on structural phase transitions in fluoroperovskites, we have characterized the Li defect in KZnF3. The dielectric-loss measurements on KZnF3:Li have revealed that the lithium defect possesses an electric dipole moment and therefore sits in an off-center position approximately 0.15 Å from a normal K site. Complementary ultrasonic measurements of the sound velocity indicate that Li constitutes a <100> orthorhombic defect. The δv/v results indicate that, similar to the KBr-KCN system, the strain ellipsoid is not an ellipsoid of revolution. The shape factors of the ellipsoid are found to be λa-λb~0.013 and λb-λc~0.006. This translates into two distinct relaxation processes at high and low temperatures, respectively, primarily associated with the reorientation of the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The dielectric-loss peak is then associated with the relaxation of the lithium defect between the three cube axes, i.e., the major-axis reorientation. The above interpretation is consistent with the large anharmonicity and anisotropy that have been found in the motion of the fluorine ions in KZnF3 and other related fluoroperovskites exhibiting a soft mode.

Motorcycle Drag Reduction using a Streamlined Object Ahead of the Rider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selvamuthu, Thirukumaran; Thangadurai, Murugan

2018-05-01

Aerodynamics design of various components plays a significant role in reducing the overall drag of the vehicle to improve the fuel efficiency. In the present study, the effects of a semi-ellipsoidal structure placed ahead of a rider on the HONDA CBR 600 RR bike have been studied in detail for Reynolds number varying from 1.24 to 3.72 million. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed by solving the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the SST k-ω turbulence model. The numerical results were validated with the wind tunnel testing performed on a 1:12 scale down model using an external pyramidal balance. It has been observed that the wake pattern behind the vehicle, pressure and velocity distribution over the vehicle were modified remarkably by the inclusion of semi-ellipsoidal structure compared to the model with the rider. The drag coefficient of the bike was increased about 16% by placing a dummy rider over the vehicle. However, it decreased substantially and reached close to the base model value when the semi-ellipsoidal structure placed ahead of the rider. Further, the inclusion of semi-ellipsoidal structure produced a negative lift which improves the traction on the road compared to the base model.

Ferroelectric order in liquid crystal phases of polar disk-shaped ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bose, Tushar Kanti; Saha, Jayashree

2014-05-01

The demonstration of a spontaneous macroscopic ferroelectric order in liquid phases in the absence of any long range positional order is considered an outstanding problem of both fundamental and technological interest. Recently, we reported that a system of polar achiral disklike ellipsoids can spontaneously exhibit a long searched ferroelectric nematic phase and a ferroelectric columnar phase with strong axial polarization. The major role is played by the dipolar interactions. The model system of interest consists of attractive-repulsive Gay-Berne oblate ellipsoids embedded with two parallel point dipoles positioned symmetrically on the equatorial plane of the ellipsoids. In the present work, we investigate in detail the profound effects of changing the separation between the two symmetrically placed dipoles and the strength of the dipoles upon the existence of different ferroelectric discotic liquid crystal phases via extensive off-lattice N-P-T Monte Carlo simulations. Ferroelectric biaxial phases are exhibited in addition to the uniaxial ferroelectric fluids where the phase biaxiality results from the dipolar interactions. The structures of all the ferroelectric configurations of interest are presented in detail. Simple phase diagrams are determined which include different polar and apolar discotic fluids generated by the system.

40 CFR 1042.310 - Engine selection for Category 1 and Category 2 engines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Category 2 engines. (a) Determine minimum sample sizes as follows: (1) For Category 1 engines, the minimum sample size is one engine or one percent of the projected U.S.-directed production volume for all your Category 1 engine families, whichever is greater. (2) For Category 2 engines, the minimum sample size is...

Exploring Dutch surgeons' views on volume-based policies: a qualitative interview study.

PubMed

Mesman, Roos; Faber, Marjan J; Westert, Gert P; Berden, Bart

2018-01-01

Objective In many countries, the evidence for volume-outcome associations in surgery has been transferred into policy. Despite the large body of research that exists on the topic, qualitative studies aimed at surgeons' views on, and experiences with, these volume-based policies are lacking. We interviewed Dutch surgeons to gain more insight into the implications of volume-outcome policies for daily clinical practice, as input for effective surgical quality improvement. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 purposively selected surgeons from a stratified sample for hospital type and speciality. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and underwent inductive content analysis. Results Two overarching themes were inductively derived from the data: (1) minimum volume standards and (2) implications of volume-based policies. Although surgeons acknowledged the premise 'more is better', they were critical about the validity and underlying evidence for minimum volume standards. Patients often inquire about caseload, which is met with both understanding and discomfort. Surgeons offered many examples of controversies surrounding the process of determining thresholds as well as the ways in which health insurers use volume as a purchasing criterion. Furthermore, being held accountable for caseload may trigger undesired strategic behaviour, such as unwarranted operations. Volume-based policies also have implications for the survival of low-volume providers and affect patient travel times, although the latter is not necessarily problematic in the Dutch context. Conclusions Surgeons in this study acknowledged that more volume leads to better quality. However, validity issues, undesired strategic behaviour and the ways in which minimum volume standards are established and applied have made surgeons critical of current policy practice. These findings suggest that volume remains a controversial quality measure and causes polarization that is not conducive to a collective effort for quality improvement. We recommend enforcing thresholds that are based on the best achievable level of consensus and assessing additional criteria when passing judgement on quality of care.

SU-E-T-578: On Definition of Minimum and Maximum Dose for Target Volume

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

Gong, Y; Yu, J; Xiao, Y

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of different minimum and maximum dose definitions in radiotherapy treatment plan quality evaluation criteria by using tumor control probability (TCP) models. Methods: Dosimetric criteria used in RTOG 1308 protocol are used in the investigation. RTOG 1308 is a phase III randomized trial comparing overall survival after photon versus proton chemoradiotherapy for inoperable stage II-IIIB NSCLC. The prescription dose for planning target volume (PTV) is 70Gy. Maximum dose (Dmax) should not exceed 84Gy and minimum dose (Dmin) should not go below 59.5Gy in order for the plan to be “per protocol” (satisfactory).A mathematicalmore » model that simulates the characteristics of PTV dose volume histogram (DVH) curve with normalized volume is built. The Dmax and Dmin are noted as percentage volumes Dη% and D(100-δ)%, with η and d ranging from 0 to 3.5. The model includes three straight line sections and goes through four points: D95%= 70Gy, Dη%= 84Gy, D(100-δ)%= 59.5 Gy, and D100%= 0Gy. For each set of η and δ, the TCP value is calculated using the inhomogeneously irradiated tumor logistic model with D50= 74.5Gy and γ50=3.52. Results: TCP varies within 0.9% with η; and δ values between 0 and 1. With η and η varies between 0 and 2, TCP change was up to 2.4%. With η and δ variations from 0 to 3.5, maximum of 8.3% TCP difference is seen. Conclusion: When defined maximum and minimum volume varied more than 2%, significant TCP variations were seen. It is recommended less than 2% volume used in definition of Dmax or Dmin for target dosimetric evaluation criteria. This project was supported by NIH grants U10CA180868, U10CA180822, U24CA180803, U24CA12014 and PA CURE Grant.« less

Hard convex lens-shaped particles: Densest-known packings and phase behavior

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

Cinacchi, Giorgio, E-mail: giorgio.cinacchi@uam.es; Torquato, Salvatore, E-mail: torquato@princeton.edu

2015-12-14

By using theoretical methods and Monte Carlo simulations, this work investigates dense ordered packings and equilibrium phase behavior (from the low-density isotropic fluid regime to the high-density crystalline solid regime) of monodisperse systems of hard convex lens-shaped particles as defined by the volume common to two intersecting congruent spheres. We show that, while the overall similarity of their shape to that of hard oblate ellipsoids is reflected in a qualitatively similar phase diagram, differences are more pronounced in the high-density crystal phase up to the densest-known packings determined here. In contrast to those non-(Bravais)-lattice two-particle basis crystals that are themore » densest-known packings of hard (oblate) ellipsoids, hard convex lens-shaped particles pack more densely in two types of degenerate crystalline structures: (i) non-(Bravais)-lattice two-particle basis body-centered-orthorhombic-like crystals and (ii) (Bravais) lattice monoclinic crystals. By stacking at will, regularly or irregularly, laminae of these two crystals, infinitely degenerate, generally non-periodic in the stacking direction, dense packings can be constructed that are consistent with recent organizing principles. While deferring the assessment of which of these dense ordered structures is thermodynamically stable in the high-density crystalline solid regime, the degeneracy of their densest-known packings strongly suggests that colloidal convex lens-shaped particles could be better glass formers than colloidal spheres because of the additional rotational degrees of freedom.« less

Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study: volume of first-ever ischemic stroke among blacks in a population-based study.

PubMed

Kissela, B; Broderick, J; Woo, D; Kothari, R; Miller, R; Khoury, J; Brott, T; Pancioli, A; Jauch, E; Gebel, J; Shukla, R; Alwell, K; Tomsick, T

2001-06-01

The volume of ischemic stroke on CT scans has been studied in a standardized fashion in acute stroke therapy trials with median volumes between 10.5 to 55 cm(3). The volume of first-ever ischemic stroke in the population is not known. The first phase of the population-based Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study identified all ischemic strokes occurring in blacks in the greater Cincinnati region between January and June of 1993. The patients in this phase of the study who had a first-ever ischemic clinical stroke were identified, and the volume of ischemic stroke was measured. There were 257 verified clinical cases of ischemic stroke, of which 181 had a first-ever ischemic infarct. Imaging was available for 150 of these patients, and 79 had an infarct on the CT or MRI study that was definitely or possibly related to the clinical symptoms. For these patients, volumetric measurements were performed by means of the modified ellipsoid method. The median volume of first-ever ischemic stroke for the 79 patients was 2.5 cm(3) (interquartile range, 0.5 to 8.8 cm(3)). There was a significant relation between location of lesion and infarct size (P<0.001) and between volume and mechanism of stroke (P=0.001). The volume of first-ever ischemic stroke among blacks in our population-based study is smaller than has been previously reported in acute stroke therapy trials. The large proportion of small, mild strokes in blacks may be an important reason for the low percentage of patients who meet the inclusion criteria for tissue plasminogen activator. Further study is necessary to see if these results are generalizable to a multiracial population.

Volume and biomass for curlleaf cercocarpus in Nevada

Treesearch

David C. Chojnacky

1984-01-01

Volume and biomass equations were developed for curlleaf cercocarpus (Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.) in the Egan and Schell Mountains near Ely, NV. The equations predict cubic foot volume of wood and bark for variable minimum branch diameters. Wood density factors are given to convert volume predictions to pounds of fiber biomass. The reliability of...

An algorithm for minimum-cost set-point ordering in a cryogenic wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tripp, J. S.

1981-01-01

An algorithm for minimum cost ordering of set points in a cryogenic wind tunnel is developed. The procedure generates a matrix of dynamic state transition costs, which is evaluated by means of a single-volume lumped model of the cryogenic wind tunnel and the use of some idealized minimum-costs, which is evaluated by means of a single-volume lumped model of the cryogenic wind tunnel and the use of some idealized minimum-cost state-transition control strategies. A branch and bound algorithm is employed to determine the least costly sequence of state transitions from the transition-cost matrix. Some numerical results based on data for the National Transonic Facility are presented which show a strong preference for state transitions that consume to coolant. Results also show that the choice of the terminal set point in an open odering can produce a wide variation in total cost.

U S Navy Diving Manual. Volume 2. Mixed-Gas Diving. Revision 1.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

has been soaked in a solution of portant aspects of underwater physics and physiology caustic potash. This chemical absorbed the carbon as they...between the diver’s breathing passages and the circuit must be of minimum volume minimum of caustic fumes. Water produced by the to preclude deadspace and...strongly react with water to pro- space around the absorbent bed to reduce the gas duce caustic fumes and cannot be used in UBA’s. flow distance. The

Association of serum N(ε)-Carboxy methyl lysine with severity of diabetic retinopathy.

PubMed

Mishra, Nibha; Saxena, Sandeep; Shukla, Rajendra K; Singh, Vinita; Meyer, Carsten H; Kruzliak, Peter; Khanna, Vinay K

2016-04-01

To correlate serum levels of N-epsilon-carboxy methyl lysine (N(ε)-CML) with severity of retinopathy, in vivo macular edema and disruption of external limiting membrane (ELM) and photoreceptor ellipsoid zone in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Consecutive cases of type 2 DM [diabetes mellitus with no retinopathy (No DR) (n=20); non- proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) with diabetic macular edema (n=20); proliferative diabetic retinopathy with diabetic macular edema (PDR) (n=20)] and healthy controls (n=20) between the ages of 40 and 65 years were included (power of study=93.8%). In vivo histology of retinal layers was assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Every study subject underwent macular thickness analysis using the macular cube 512×128 feature. Disruption of ELM and photoreceptor ellipsoid zone was graded: grade 0, no disruption of ELM and ellipsoid zone; grade 1, ELM disrupted and ellipsoid zone intact; grade 2, both ELM and ellipsoid zone disrupted. Data were statistically analyzed. The mean levels of N(ε)-CML were 31.34±21.23 ng/ml, 73.88±35.01 ng/ml, 91.21±66.65 ng/ml, and 132.08±84.07 ng/ml in control, No DR, NPDR and PDR respectively. N(ε)-CML level was significantly different between the study groups (control, No DR, NPDR and PDR) (p<0.001). Mean logMAR visual acuity decreased with increased levels of N(ε)-CML (p<0.001). The association of N(Ɛ)CML with the grades of disruption was found to be statistically significant (F value=18.48, p<0.001). Univariate analysis was done with N(Ɛ)-CML as a dependent variable. The values of N(Ɛ)-CML were normalized (log10) and were subjected to univariate analysis with fasting blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin, central subfield macular thickness and cube average thickness among the diseased groups (NPDR and PDR) that act as confounders. It was found that none of the variables had significant effect on N(Ɛ)-CML (fasting blood glucose p=0.12, HBA1c p=0.65, central subfield macular thickness p=0.13, cube average thickness p=0.19). N(Ɛ)-CML tends to be a significant and important predictor of grade of ELM and ellipsoid zone disruption in diabetic retinopathy. Increased N(ε)-CML levels are associated with increased severity of diabetic retinopathy, macular edema and structural changes in macula that is ELM and ellipsoid zone disruption, which serves as a prognosticator of visual outcome. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental Study of the Moment of Inertia of a Cone--Angular Variation and Inertia Ellipsoid

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pintao, Carlos A. F.; de Souza Filho, Moacir P.; Usida, Wesley F.; Xavier, Jose A.

2007-01-01

In this paper, an experimental set-up which differs from the traditional ones is established in order to determine the moment of inertia of a right circular cone. Its angular variation and inertia ellipsoid are determined by means of an experimental study. In addition, a system that allows for the evaluation of the angular acceleration and torque…

DETECTION OF KOI-13.01 USING THE PHOTOMETRIC ORBIT

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

Shporer, Avi; Jenkins, Jon M.; Seader, Shawn E.

2011-12-15

We use the KOI-13 transiting star-planet system as a test case for the recently developed BEER algorithm, aimed at identifying non-transiting low-mass companions by detecting the photometric variability induced by the companion along its orbit. Such photometric variability is generated by three mechanisms: the beaming effect, tidal ellipsoidal distortion, and reflection/heating. We use data from three Kepler quarters, from the first year of the mission, while ignoring measurements within the transit and occultation, and show that the planet's ephemeris is clearly detected. We fit for the amplitude of each of the three effects and use the beaming effect amplitude tomore » estimate the planet's minimum mass, which results in M{sub p} sin i = 9.2 {+-} 1.1 M{sub J} (assuming the host star parameters derived by Szabo et al.). Our results show that non-transiting star-planet systems similar to KOI-13.01 can be detected in Kepler data, including a measurement of the orbital ephemeris and the planet's minimum mass. Moreover, we derive a realistic estimate of the amplitudes uncertainties, and use it to show that data obtained during the entire lifetime of the Kepler mission of 3.5 years will allow detecting non-transiting close-in low-mass companions orbiting bright stars, down to the few Jupiter mass level. Data from the Kepler Extended Mission, if funded by NASA, will further improve the detection capabilities.« less

Simulating the minimum core for hydrophobic collapse in globular proteins.

PubMed Central

Tsai, J.; Gerstein, M.; Levitt, M.

1997-01-01

To investigate the nature of hydrophobic collapse considered to be the driving force in protein folding, we have simulated aqueous solutions of two model hydrophobic solutes, methane and isobutylene. Using a novel methodology for determining contacts, we can precisely follow hydrophobic aggregation as it proceeds through three stages: dispersed, transition, and collapsed. Theoretical modeling of the cluster formation observed by simulation indicates that this aggregation is cooperative and that the simulations favor the formation of a single cluster midway through the transition stage. This defines a minimum solute hydrophobic core volume. We compare this with protein hydrophobic core volumes determined from solved crystal structures. Our analysis shows that the solute core volume roughly estimates the minimum core size required for independent hydrophobic stabilization of a protein and defines a limiting concentration of nonpolar residues that can cause hydrophobic collapse. These results suggest that the physical forces driving aggregation of hydrophobic molecules in water is indeed responsible for protein folding. PMID:9416609

THE EVIL-MC MODEL FOR ELLIPSOIDAL VARIATIONS OF PLANET-HOSTING STARS AND APPLICATIONS TO THE HAT-P-7 SYSTEM

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

Jackson, Brian K.; Lewis, Nikole K.; Showman, Adam P.

2012-06-01

We present a new model for Ellipsoidal Variations Induced by a Low-Mass Companion, the EVIL-MC model. We employ several approximations appropriate for planetary systems to substantially increase the computational efficiency of our model relative to more general ellipsoidal variation models and improve upon the accuracy of simpler models. This new approach gives us a unique ability to rapidly and accurately determine planetary system parameters. We use the EVIL-MC model to analyze Kepler Quarter 0-2 (Q0-2) observations of the HAT-P-7 system, an F-type star orbited by a {approx} Jupiter-mass companion. Our analysis corroborates previous estimates of the planet-star mass ratio qmore » = (1.10 {+-} 0.06) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -3}, and we have revised the planet's dayside brightness temperature to 2680{sup +10}{sub -20} K. We also find a large difference between the day- and nightside planetary flux, with little nightside emission. Preliminary dynamical+radiative modeling of the atmosphere indicates that this result is qualitatively consistent with high altitude absorption of stellar heating. Similar analyses of Kepler and CoRoT photometry of other planets using EVIL-MC will play a key role in providing constraints on the properties of many extrasolar systems, especially given the limited resources for follow-up and characterization of these systems. However, as we highlight, there are important degeneracies between the contributions from ellipsoidal variations and planetary emission and reflection. Consequently, for many of the hottest and brightest Kepler and CoRoT planets, accurate estimates of the planetary emission and reflection, diagnostic of atmospheric heat budgets, will require accurate modeling of the photometric contribution from the stellar ellipsoidal variation.« less

Parallel Ellipsoidal Perfectly Matched Layers for Acoustic Helmholtz Problems on Exterior Domains

DOE PAGES

Bunting, Gregory; Prakash, Arun; Walsh, Timothy; ...

2018-01-26

Exterior acoustic problems occur in a wide range of applications, making the finite element analysis of such problems a common practice in the engineering community. Various methods for truncating infinite exterior domains have been developed, including absorbing boundary conditions, infinite elements, and more recently, perfectly matched layers (PML). PML are gaining popularity due to their generality, ease of implementation, and effectiveness as an absorbing boundary condition. PML formulations have been developed in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical geometries, but not ellipsoidal. In addition, the parallel solution of PML formulations with iterative solvers for the solution of the Helmholtz equation, and howmore » this compares with more traditional strategies such as infinite elements, has not been adequately investigated. In this study, we present a parallel, ellipsoidal PML formulation for acoustic Helmholtz problems. To faciliate the meshing process, the ellipsoidal PML layer is generated with an on-the-fly mesh extrusion. Though the complex stretching is defined along ellipsoidal contours, we modify the Jacobian to include an additional mapping back to Cartesian coordinates in the weak formulation of the finite element equations. This allows the equations to be solved in Cartesian coordinates, which is more compatible with existing finite element software, but without the necessity of dealing with corners in the PML formulation. Herein we also compare the conditioning and performance of the PML Helmholtz problem with infinite element approach that is based on high order basis functions. On a set of representative exterior acoustic examples, we show that high order infinite element basis functions lead to an increasing number of Helmholtz solver iterations, whereas for PML the number of iterations remains constant for the same level of accuracy. Finally, this provides an additional advantage of PML over the infinite element approach.« less

Parallel Ellipsoidal Perfectly Matched Layers for Acoustic Helmholtz Problems on Exterior Domains

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

Bunting, Gregory; Prakash, Arun; Walsh, Timothy

Exterior acoustic problems occur in a wide range of applications, making the finite element analysis of such problems a common practice in the engineering community. Various methods for truncating infinite exterior domains have been developed, including absorbing boundary conditions, infinite elements, and more recently, perfectly matched layers (PML). PML are gaining popularity due to their generality, ease of implementation, and effectiveness as an absorbing boundary condition. PML formulations have been developed in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical geometries, but not ellipsoidal. In addition, the parallel solution of PML formulations with iterative solvers for the solution of the Helmholtz equation, and howmore » this compares with more traditional strategies such as infinite elements, has not been adequately investigated. In this study, we present a parallel, ellipsoidal PML formulation for acoustic Helmholtz problems. To faciliate the meshing process, the ellipsoidal PML layer is generated with an on-the-fly mesh extrusion. Though the complex stretching is defined along ellipsoidal contours, we modify the Jacobian to include an additional mapping back to Cartesian coordinates in the weak formulation of the finite element equations. This allows the equations to be solved in Cartesian coordinates, which is more compatible with existing finite element software, but without the necessity of dealing with corners in the PML formulation. Herein we also compare the conditioning and performance of the PML Helmholtz problem with infinite element approach that is based on high order basis functions. On a set of representative exterior acoustic examples, we show that high order infinite element basis functions lead to an increasing number of Helmholtz solver iterations, whereas for PML the number of iterations remains constant for the same level of accuracy. Finally, this provides an additional advantage of PML over the infinite element approach.« less

Downward continuation of the free-air gravity anomalies to the ellipsoid using the gradient solution and terrain correction: An attempt of global numerical computations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Y. M.

1989-01-01

The formulas for the determination of the coefficients of the spherical harmonic expansion of the disturbing potential of the earth are defined for data given on a sphere. In order to determine the spherical harmonic coefficients, the gravity anomalies have to be analytically downward continued from the earth's surface to a sphere-at least to the ellipsoid. The goal is to continue the gravity anomalies from the earth's surface downward to the ellipsoid using recent elevation models. The basic method for the downward continuation is the gradient solution (the g sub 1 term). The terrain correction was also computed because of the role it can play as a correction term when calculating harmonic coefficients from surface gravity data. The fast Fourier transformation was applied to the computations.

A Comparative Theoretical and Computational Study on Robust Counterpart Optimization: I. Robust Linear Optimization and Robust Mixed Integer Linear Optimization

PubMed Central

Li, Zukui; Ding, Ran; Floudas, Christodoulos A.

2011-01-01

Robust counterpart optimization techniques for linear optimization and mixed integer linear optimization problems are studied in this paper. Different uncertainty sets, including those studied in literature (i.e., interval set; combined interval and ellipsoidal set; combined interval and polyhedral set) and new ones (i.e., adjustable box; pure ellipsoidal; pure polyhedral; combined interval, ellipsoidal, and polyhedral set) are studied in this work and their geometric relationship is discussed. For uncertainty in the left hand side, right hand side, and objective function of the optimization problems, robust counterpart optimization formulations induced by those different uncertainty sets are derived. Numerical studies are performed to compare the solutions of the robust counterpart optimization models and applications in refinery production planning and batch process scheduling problem are presented. PMID:21935263

Chemistry of Aviation Fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knepper, Bryan; Hwang, Soon Muk; DeWitt, Kenneth J.

2004-01-01

Minimum ignition energies of various methanol/air mixtures were measured in a temperature controlled constant volume combustion vessel using a spark ignition method with a spark gap distance of 2 mm. The minimum ignition energies decrease rapidly as the mixture composition (equivalence ratio, Phi) changes from lean to stoichiometric, reach a minimum value, and then increase rather slowly with Phi. The minimum of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) and the corresponding mixture composition were determined to be 0.137 mJ and Phi = 1.16, a slightly rich mixture. The variation of minimum ignition energy with respect to the mixture composition is explained in terms of changes in reaction chemistry.

Architectural and Behavioral Systems Design Methodology and Analysis for Optimal Habitation in a Volume-Limited Spacecraft for Long Duration Flights

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kennedy, Kriss J.; Lewis, Ruthan; Toups, Larry; Howard, Robert; Whitmire, Alexandra; Smitherman, David; Howe, Scott

2016-01-01

As our human spaceflight missions change as we reach towards Mars, the risk of an adverse behavioral outcome increases, and requirements for crew health, safety, and performance, and the internal architecture, will need to change to accommodate unprecedented mission demands. Evidence shows that architectural arrangement and habitability elements impact behavior. Net habitable volume is the volume available to the crew after accounting for elements that decrease the functional volume of the spacecraft. Determination of minimum acceptable net habitable volume and associated architectural design elements, as mission duration and environment varies, is key to enabling, maintaining, andor enhancing human performance and psychological and behavioral health. Current NASA efforts to derive minimum acceptable net habitable volumes and study the interaction of covariates and stressors, such as sensory stimulation, communication, autonomy, and privacy, and application to internal architecture design layouts, attributes, and use of advanced accommodations will be presented. Furthermore, implications of crew adaptation to available volume as they transfer from Earth accommodations, to deep space travel, to planetary surface habitats, and return, will be discussed.

Biophysical characterization of soluble Pseudomonas syringae ice nucleation protein InaZ fragments.

PubMed

Han, Yu Jin; Song, HyoJin; Lee, Chang Woo; Ly, Nguyễn Hoàng; Joo, Sang-Woo; Lee, Jun Hyuck; Kim, Soon-Jong; Park, SangYoun

2017-01-01

Ice nucleation protein (INP) with its functional domain consisting of multiple 48-residue repeat units effectively induces super-cooled water into ice. Circular dichroism and infrared deconvolution analyses on a soluble 240-residue fragment of Pseudomonas syringae InaZ (InaZ240) containing five 48-residue repeat units indicated that it is mostly composed of β-sheet and random coil. Analytical ultracentrifugation suggested that InaZ240 behaves as a monomer of an elongated ellipsoid. However, InaZ240 showed only minimum ice binding compared to anti-freeze proteins. Other P. syringae InaZ proteins with more 48-residue repeat units were made, in which the largest soluble fragment obtainable was an InaZ with twelve 48-residue repeat units. Size-exclusion chromatography analyses further suggested that the overall shape of the expressed InaZ fragments is pH-dependent, which becomes compact as the numbers of 48-residue repeat unit increase. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Study of Flame Physics and Solid Propellant Rocket Physics

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-10-01

and ellipsoids, and the packing of pellets relevant to igniter modeling. Other topics are the instabilities of smolder waves, premixed flame...instabilities in narrow tubes, and flames supported by a spinning porous plug burner . Much of this work has been reported in the high-quality archival...perchlorate in fuel binder, the combustion of model propellant packs of ellipses and ellipsoids, and the packing of pellets relevant to igniter modeling

Strain Gradient Solution for the Eshelby-Type Polyhedral Inclusion Problem

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

2011 Available online 6 November 2011 Keywords: Eshelby tensor Polyhedral inclusion Size effect Eigenstrain Strain gradient a b s t r a c t The Eshelby...material containing an ellipsoidal inclusion prescribed with a uniform eigenstrain is a milestone in micromechanics. The solution for the dynamic Eshelby...strain to the prescribed uniform eigenstrain , is constant inside the inclusion. However, this property is true only for ellipsoidal inclusions (and when

Elastic Solutions in a Semi-Infinite Solid with an Ellipsoidal Inclusion

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-25

the free surface has been solved for a spherical inclusion with pure dilatational eigenstrain ( stress free transformation strain ) ( Mindlin and Cheng...1950B ), an ellipsoidal inclusion with pure dilatational eigenstrains ( Seo and Mura, 1979 ) and a cuboidal inclusion with uniform eigenstrains ...solution of a half-space under normal surface traction on the full space solution due to a cuboidal inclusion and its image with the uniform eigenstrains

Optically driven oscillations of ellipsoidal particles. Part I: experimental observations.

PubMed

Mihiretie, B M; Snabre, P; Loudet, J-C; Pouligny, B

2014-12-01

We report experimental observations of the mechanical effects of light on ellipsoidal micrometre-sized dielectric particles, in water as the continuous medium. The particles, made of polystyrene, have shapes varying between near disk-like (aspect ratio k = 0.2) to very elongated needle-like (k = 8). Rather than the very tightly focused beam geometry of optical tweezers, we use a moderately focused laser beam to manipulate particles individually by optical levitation. The geometry allows us varying the longitudinal position of the particle, and to capture images perpendicular to the beam axis. Experiments show that moderate-k particles are radially trapped with their long axis lying parallel to the beam. Conversely, elongated (k > 3) or flattened (k < 0.3) ellipsoids never come to rest, and permanently "dance" around the beam, through coupled translation-rotation motions. The oscillations are shown to occur in general, be the particle in bulk water or close to a solid boundary, and may be periodic or irregular. We provide evidence for two bifurcations between static and oscillating states, at k ≈ 0.33 and k ≈ 3 for oblate and prolate ellipsoids, respectively. Based on a recently developed 2-dimensional ray-optics simulation (Mihiretie et al., EPL 100, 48005 (2012)), we propose a simple model that allows understanding the physical origin of the oscillations.

CatSim: a new computer assisted tomography simulation environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Man, Bruno; Basu, Samit; Chandra, Naveen; Dunham, Bruce; Edic, Peter; Iatrou, Maria; McOlash, Scott; Sainath, Paavana; Shaughnessy, Charlie; Tower, Brendon; Williams, Eugene

2007-03-01

We present a new simulation environment for X-ray computed tomography, called CatSim. CatSim provides a research platform for GE researchers and collaborators to explore new reconstruction algorithms, CT architectures, and X-ray source or detector technologies. The main requirements for this simulator are accurate physics modeling, low computation times, and geometrical flexibility. CatSim allows simulating complex analytic phantoms, such as the FORBILD phantoms, including boxes, ellipsoids, elliptical cylinders, cones, and cut planes. CatSim incorporates polychromaticity, realistic quantum and electronic noise models, finite focal spot size and shape, finite detector cell size, detector cross-talk, detector lag or afterglow, bowtie filtration, finite detector efficiency, non-linear partial volume, scatter (variance-reduced Monte Carlo), and absorbed dose. We present an overview of CatSim along with a number of validation experiments.

Identification of Accretion as Grain Growth Mechanism in Astrophysically Relevant Water&ice Dusty Plasma Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Ryan S.; Chai, Kil-Byoung; Bellan, Paul M.

2017-03-01

The grain growth process in the Caltech water-ice dusty plasma experiment has been studied using a high-speed camera and a long-distance microscope lens. It is observed that (I) the ice grain number density decreases fourfold as the average grain major axis increases from 20 to 80 μm, (II) the major axis length has a log-normal distribution rather than a power-law dependence, and (III) no collisions between ice grains are apparent. The grains have a large negative charge resulting in strong mutual repulsion and this, combined with the fractal character of the ice grains, prevents them from agglomerating. In order for the grain kinetic energy to be sufficiently small to prevent collisions between ice grains, the volumetric packing factor (I.e., ratio of the actual volume to the volume of a circumscribing ellipsoid) of the ice grains must be less than ˜0.1 depending on the exact relative velocity of the grains in question. Thus, it is concluded that direct accretion of water molecules is very likely to dominate the observed ice grain growth.

Toward an Accurate Theoretical Framework for Describing Ensembles for Proteins under Strongly Denaturing Conditions

PubMed Central

Tran, Hoang T.; Pappu, Rohit V.

2006-01-01

Our focus is on an appropriate theoretical framework for describing highly denatured proteins. In high concentrations of denaturants, proteins behave like polymers in a good solvent and ensembles for denatured proteins can be modeled by ignoring all interactions except excluded volume (EV) effects. To assay conformational preferences of highly denatured proteins, we quantify a variety of properties for EV-limit ensembles of 23 two-state proteins. We find that modeled denatured proteins can be best described as follows. Average shapes are consistent with prolate ellipsoids. Ensembles are characterized by large correlated fluctuations. Sequence-specific conformational preferences are restricted to local length scales that span five to nine residues. Beyond local length scales, chain properties follow well-defined power laws that are expected for generic polymers in the EV limit. The average available volume is filled inefficiently, and cavities of all sizes are found within the interiors of denatured proteins. All properties characterized from simulated ensembles match predictions from rigorous field theories. We use our results to resolve between conflicting proposals for structure in ensembles for highly denatured states. PMID:16766618

Operating Small Sat Swarms as a Single Entity: Introducing SODA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conn, Tracie; Plice, Laura; Dono Perez, Andres; Ho, Michael

2017-01-01

NASA's decadal survey determined that simultaneous measurements from a 3D volume of space are advantageous for a variety of studies in space physics and Earth science. Therefore, swarm concepts with multiple spacecraft in close proximity are a growing topic of interest in the small satellite community. Among the capabilities needed for swarm missions is a means to maintain operator-specified geometry, alignment, or separation. Swarm stationkeeping poses a planning challenge due to the limited scalability of ground resources. To address scalable control of orbital dynamics, we introduce SODA - Swarm Orbital Dynamics Advisor - a tool that accepts high-level configuration commands and provides the orbital maneuvers needed to achieve the desired type of swarm relative motion. Rather than conventional path planning, SODA's innovation is the use of artificial potential functions to define boundaries and keepout regions. The software architecture includes high fidelity propagation, accommodates manual or automated inputs, displays motion animations, and returns maneuver commands and analytical results. Currently, two swarm types are enabled: in-train distribution and an ellipsoid volume container. Additional swarm types, simulation applications, and orbital destinations are in planning stages.

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

Marshall, Ryan S.; Chai, Kil-Byoung; Bellan, Paul M.

The grain growth process in the Caltech water–ice dusty plasma experiment has been studied using a high-speed camera and a long-distance microscope lens. It is observed that (i) the ice grain number density decreases fourfold as the average grain major axis increases from 20 to 80 μ m, (ii) the major axis length has a log-normal distribution rather than a power-law dependence, and (iii) no collisions between ice grains are apparent. The grains have a large negative charge resulting in strong mutual repulsion and this, combined with the fractal character of the ice grains, prevents them from agglomerating. In ordermore » for the grain kinetic energy to be sufficiently small to prevent collisions between ice grains, the volumetric packing factor (i.e., ratio of the actual volume to the volume of a circumscribing ellipsoid) of the ice grains must be less than ∼0.1 depending on the exact relative velocity of the grains in question. Thus, it is concluded that direct accretion of water molecules is very likely to dominate the observed ice grain growth.« less

Precise hypocenter locations of midcrustal low-frequency earthquakes beneath Mt. Fuji, Japan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nakamichi, H.; Ukawa, M.; Sakai, S.

2004-01-01

Midcrustal low-frequency earthquakes (MLFs) have been observed at seismic stations around Mt. Fuji, Japan. In September - December 2000 and April - May 2001, abnormally high numbers of MLFs occurred. We located hypocenters for the 80 MLFs during 1998-2003 by using the hypoDD earthquake location program (Waldhauser and Ellsworth, 2000). The MLF hypocenters define an ellipsoidal volume some 5 km in diameter ranging from 11 to 16 km in focal depth. This volume is centered 3 km northeast of the summit and its long axis is directed NW-SE. The direction of the axis coincides with the major axis of tectonic compression around Mt. Fuji. The center of the MLF epicenters gradually migrated upward and 2-3 km from southeast to northwest during 1998-2001. We interpret that the hypocentral migration of MLFs reflects magma movement associated with a NW-SE oriented dike beneath Mt. Fuji. Copyright ?? The Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences (SGEPSS); The Seismological Society of Japan; The Volcanological Society of Japan; The Geodetic Society of Japan; The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences.

The relation between degree-2160 spectral models of Earth's gravitational and topographic potential: a guide on global correlation measures and their dependency on approximation effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirt, Christian; Rexer, Moritz; Claessens, Sten; Rummel, Reiner

2017-10-01

Comparisons between high-degree models of the Earth's topographic and gravitational potential may give insight into the quality and resolution of the source data sets, provide feedback on the modelling techniques and help to better understand the gravity field composition. Degree correlations (cross-correlation coefficients) or reduction rates (quantifying the amount of topographic signal contained in the gravitational potential) are indicators used in a number of contemporary studies. However, depending on the modelling techniques and underlying levels of approximation, the correlation at high degrees may vary significantly, as do the conclusions drawn. The present paper addresses this problem by attempting to provide a guide on global correlation measures with particular emphasis on approximation effects and variants of topographic potential modelling. We investigate and discuss the impact of different effects (e.g., truncation of series expansions of the topographic potential, mass compression, ellipsoidal versus spherical approximation, ellipsoidal harmonic coefficient versus spherical harmonic coefficient (SHC) representation) on correlation measures. Our study demonstrates that the correlation coefficients are realistic only when the model's harmonic coefficients of a given degree are largely independent of the coefficients of other degrees, permitting degree-wise evaluations. This is the case, e.g., when both models are represented in terms of SHCs and spherical approximation (i.e. spherical arrangement of field-generating masses). Alternatively, a representation in ellipsoidal harmonics can be combined with ellipsoidal approximation. The usual ellipsoidal approximation level (i.e. ellipsoidal mass arrangement) is shown to bias correlation coefficients when SHCs are used. Importantly, gravity models from the International Centre for Global Earth Models (ICGEM) are inherently based on this approximation level. A transformation is presented that enables a transformation of ICGEM geopotential models from ellipsoidal to spherical approximation. The transformation is applied to generate a spherical transform of EGM2008 (sphEGM2008) that can meaningfully be correlated degree-wise with the topographic potential. We exploit this new technique and compare a number of models of topographic potential constituents (e.g., potential implied by land topography, ocean water masses) based on the Earth2014 global relief model and a mass-layer forward modelling technique with sphEGM2008. Different to previous findings, our results show very significant short-scale correlation between Earth's gravitational potential and the potential generated by Earth's land topography (correlation +0.92, and 60% of EGM2008 signals are delivered through the forward modelling). Our tests reveal that the potential generated by Earth's oceans water masses is largely unrelated to the geopotential at short scales, suggesting that altimetry-derived gravity and/or bathymetric data sets are significantly underpowered at 5 arc-min scales. We further decompose the topographic potential into the Bouguer shell and terrain correction and show that they are responsible for about 20 and 25% of EGM2008 short-scale signals, respectively. As a general conclusion, the paper shows the importance of using compatible models in topographic/gravitational potential comparisons and recommends the use of SHCs together with spherical approximation or EHCs with ellipsoidal approximation in order to avoid biases in the correlation measures.

30 CFR 203.71 - How does MMS allocate a field's suspension volume between my lease and other leases on my field?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... approve relief We will not change your authorized field's royalty suspension volume determined under § 203... application We will not change your field's royalty suspension volume The assigned lease(s) may share in any... field while we are evaluating your application We will change your field's minimum suspension volume...

A probabilistic method for determining the volume fraction of pre-embedded capsules in self-healing materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Zhong; Chen, Huisu

2014-10-01

Autonomous healing of cracks using pre-embedded capsules containing healing agent is becoming a promising approach to restore the strength of damaged structures. In addition to the material properties, the size and volume fraction of capsules influence crack healing in the matrix. Understanding the crack and capsule interaction is critical in the development and design of structures made of self-healing materials. Assuming that the pre-embedded capsules are randomly dispersed we theoretically model flat ellipsoidal crack interaction with capsules and determine the probability of a crack intersecting the pre-embedded capsules i.e. the self-healing probability. We also develop a probabilistic model of a crack simultaneously meeting with capsules and catalyst carriers in two-component self-healing system matrix. Using a risk-based healing approach, we determine the volume fraction and size of the pre-embedded capsules that are required to achieve a certain self-healing probability. To understand the effect of the shape of the capsules on self-healing we theoretically modeled crack interaction with spherical and cylindrical capsules. We compared the results of our theoretical model with Monte-Carlo simulations of crack interaction with capsules. The formulae presented in this paper will provide guidelines for engineers working with self-healing structures in material selection and sustenance.

Quantitative Identification of the Annealing Degree of Apatite Fission Tracks Using Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS).

PubMed

Wu, Hang; Wu, Shixiang; Qiu, Nansheng; Chang, Jian; Bao, Rima; Zhang, Xin; Liu, Nian; Liu, Shuai

2018-01-01

Apatite fission-track (AFT) analysis, a widely used low-temperature thermochronology method, can provide details of the hydrocarbon generation history of source rocks for use in hydrocarbon exploration. The AFT method is based on the annealing behavior of fission tracks generated by 238 U fission in apatite particles during geological history. Due to the cumbersome experimental steps and high expense, it is imperative to find an efficient and inexpensive technique to determinate the annealing degree of AFT. In this study, on the basis of the ellipsoid configuration of tracks, the track volume fraction model (TVFM) is established and the fission-track volume index is proposed. Furthermore, terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is used for the first time to identify the variation of the AFT annealing degree of Durango apatite particles heated at 20, 275, 300, 325, 450, and 500 ℃ for 10 h. The THz absorbance of the sample increases with the degree of annealing. In addition, the THz absorption index is exponentially related to annealing temperature and can be used to characterize the fission-track volume index. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy can be an ancillary technique for AFT thermochronological research. More work is urgently needed to extrapolate experimental data to geological conditions.

Prediction of obliteration after gamma knife surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

PubMed

Karlsson, B; Lindquist, C; Steiner, L

1997-03-01

To define the factors of importance for the obliteration of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), thus making a prediction of the probability for obliteration possible. In 945 AVMs of a series of 1319 patients treated with the gamma knife during 1970 to 1990, the relationship between patient, AVMs, and treatment parameters on the one hand and the obliteration of the nidus on the other was analyzed. The obliteration rate increased both with increased minimum (lowest periphery) and average dose and decreased with increased AVM volume. The minimum dose to the AVMs was the decisive dose factor for the treatment result. The higher the minimum dose, the higher the chance for total obliteration. The curve illustrating this relation increased logarithmically to a value of 87%. A higher average dose shortened the latency to AVM obliteration. For the obliterated cases, the larger the malformation, the lower the minimum dose used. This prompted us to relate the obliteration rate to the product minimum dose (AVM volume)1/3 (K index). The obliteration rate increased linearly with the K index up to a value of approximately 27, and for higher K values, the obliteration rate had a constant value of approximately 80%. For the group of 273 cases treated with a minimum dose of at least 25 Gy, the obliteration rate at the study end point (defined as 2-yr latency) was 80% (95% confidence interval = 75-85%). If obliterations that occurred beyond the end point are included, the obliteration rate increased to 85% (81-89%). The probability of obliteration of AVMs after gamma knife surgery is related both to the lowest dose to the AVMs and the AVM volume, and it can be predicted using the K index.

Nonlocal Theory for Fracturing of Quasibrittle Materials.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-01

eigenstrain e* be applied to an ellipsoidal domain 0J contained * in this infinite body. The values of the cigenstrain t* are such that the stress is...affecting its stresses and deformation. Thus, the change of potential energy of the infinite body caused by the applied eigenstrain is the same as the...infinite body is subjected to external forces alone or eigenstrain a* alone, respectively. If plane-strain cases are considered, the ellipsoid becomes an

Cryptotomography: reconstructing 3D Fourier intensities from randomly oriented single-shot diffraction patterns (CXIDB ID 9)

DOE Data Explorer

Loh, Ne-Te Duane

2011-08-01

These 2000 single-shot diffraction patterns include were either background-scattering only or hits (background-scattering plus diffraction signal from sub-micron ellipsoidal particles at random, undetermined orientations). Candidate hits were identified by eye, and the remainder were presumed as background. 54 usable, background-subtracted hits in this set (procedure in referenced article) were used to reconstruct the 3D diffraction intensities of the average ellipsoidal particle.

Quantum correlations of two-qubit states with one maximally mixed marginal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milne, Antony; Jennings, David; Jevtic, Sania; Rudolph, Terry

2014-08-01

We investigate the entanglement, CHSH nonlocality, fully entangled fraction, and symmetric extendibility of two-qubit states that have a single maximally mixed marginal. Within this set of states, the steering ellipsoid formalism has recently highlighted an interesting family of so-called maximally obese states. These are found to have extremal quantum correlation properties that are significant in the steering ellipsoid picture and for the study of two-qubit states in general.

Topological analysis of the motion of an ellipsoid on a smooth plane

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

Ivochkin, M Yu

2008-06-30

The problem of the motion of a dynamically and geometrically symmetric heavy ellipsoid on a smooth horizontal plane is investigated. The problem is integrable and can be considered a generalization of the problem of motion of a heavy rigid body with fixed point in the Lagrangian case. The Smale bifurcation diagrams are constructed. Surgeries of tori are investigated using methods developed by Fomenko and his students. Bibliography: 9 titles.

The second Eshelby problem and its solvability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Wen-Nan; Zheng, Quan-Shui

2012-10-01

It is still a challenge to clarify the dependence of overall elastic properties of heterogeneous materials on the microstructures of non-elliposodal inhomogeneities (cracks, pores, foreign particles). From the theory of elasticity, the formulation of the perturbance elastic fields, coming from a non-ellipsoidal inhomogeneity embedded in an infinitely extended material with remote constant loading, inevitably involve one or more integral equations. Up to now, due to the mathematical difficulty, there is almost no explicit analytical solution obtained except for the ellipsoidal inhomogeneity. In this paper, we point out the impossibility to transform this inhomogeneity problem into a conventional Eshelby problem by the equivalent inclusion method even if the eigenstrain is chosen to be non-uniform. We also build up an equivalent model, called the second Eshelby problem, to investigate the perturbance stress. It is probably a better template to make use of the profound methods and results of conventional Eshelby problems of non-ellipsoidal inclusions.

Shape-based ultrasound tomography using a Born model with application to high intensity focused ultrasound therapy.

PubMed

Ulker Karbeyaz, Başak; Miller, Eric L; Cleveland, Robin O

2008-05-01

A shaped-based ultrasound tomography method is proposed to reconstruct ellipsoidal objects using a linearized scattering model. The method is motivated by the desire to detect the presence of lesions created by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in applications of cancer therapy. The computational size and limited view nature of the relevant three-dimensional inverse problem renders impractical the use of traditional pixel-based reconstruction methods. However, by employing a shape-based parametrization it is only necessary to estimate a small number of unknowns describing the geometry of the lesion, in this paper assumed to be ellipsoidal. The details of the shape-based nonlinear inversion method are provided. Results obtained from a commercial ultrasound scanner and a tissue phantom containing a HIFU-like lesion demonstrate the feasibility of the approach where a 20 mm x 5 mm x 6 mm ellipsoidal inclusion was detected with an accuracy of around 5%.

New fabrication method for an ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror with a metal substrate.

PubMed

Guo, Jiang; Takeda, Shin; Morita, Shin-ya; Hino, Masahiro; Oda, Tatsuro; Kato, Jun-ichi; Yamagata, Yutaka; Furusaka, Michihiro

2014-10-06

We propose an ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror using a metal substrate made with electroless nickel-phosphorus (NiP) plated material for the first time. Electroless NiP has great advantages for realizing an ellipsoidal neutron mirror because of its amorphous structure, good machinability and relatively large critical angle of total reflection for neutrons. We manufactured the mirror by combining ultrahigh precision cutting and fine polishing to generate high form accuracy and low surface roughness. The form accuracy of the mirror was estimated to be 5.3 μm P-V and 0.8 μm P-V for the minor-axis and major-axis direction respectively, while the surface roughness was reduced to 0.2 nm rms. The effect of form error on focusing spot size was evaluated by using a laser beam and the focusing performance of the mirror was verified by neutron experiments.

Estimates of the moon's geometry using lunar orbiter imagery and Apollo laser altimeter data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, R. L.

1973-01-01

Selenographic coordinates for about 6000 lunar points identified on the Lunar Orbiter photographs are tabulated and have been combined with those lunar radii derived from the Apollo 15 laser altimeter data. These coordinates were used to derive that triaxial ellipsoid which best fits the moon's irregular surface. Fits were obtaind for different constraints on both the axial orientations and the displacement of the center of the ellipsoid. The semiaxes for the unconstrained ellipsoid were a = 1737.6 km, b = 1735.6 km, and c = 1735.0 km which correspond to a mean radius of about 1736.1 km. These axes were found to be nearly parallel to the moon's principal axes of inertia, and the origin was displaced about 2.0 km from the moon's center of gravity in a direction away from the earth and to the south of the lunar equator.

Multi-Resolution Unstructured Grid-Generation for Geophysical Applications on the Sphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Engwirda, Darren

2015-01-01

An algorithm for the generation of non-uniform unstructured grids on ellipsoidal geometries is described. This technique is designed to generate high quality triangular and polygonal meshes appropriate for general circulation modelling on the sphere, including applications to atmospheric and ocean simulation, and numerical weather predication. Using a recently developed Frontal-Delaunay-refinement technique, a method for the construction of high-quality unstructured ellipsoidal Delaunay triangulations is introduced. A dual polygonal grid, derived from the associated Voronoi diagram, is also optionally generated as a by-product. Compared to existing techniques, it is shown that the Frontal-Delaunay approach typically produces grids with near-optimal element quality and smooth grading characteristics, while imposing relatively low computational expense. Initial results are presented for a selection of uniform and non-uniform ellipsoidal grids appropriate for large-scale geophysical applications. The use of user-defined mesh-sizing functions to generate smoothly graded, non-uniform grids is discussed.

Ellipsoidal corrections for geoid undulation computations using gravity anomalies in a cap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rapp, R. H.

1981-01-01

Ellipsoidal correction terms have been derived for geoid undulation computations when the Stokes equation using gravity anomalies in a cap is combined with potential coefficient information. The correction terms are long wavelength and depend on the cap size in which its gravity anomalies are given. Using the regular Stokes equation, the maximum correction for a cap size of 20 deg is -33 cm, which reduces to -27 cm when the Stokes function is modified by subtracting the value of the Stokes function at the cap radius. Ellipsoidal correction terms were also derived for the well-known Marsh/Chang geoids. When no gravity was used, the correction could reach 101 cm, while for a cap size of 20 deg the maximum correction was -45 cm. Global correction maps are given for a number of different cases. For work requiring accurate geoid computations these correction terms should be applied.

Moving metal artifact reduction in cone-beam CT scans with implanted cylindrical gold markers

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

Toftegaard, Jakob, E-mail: jaktofte@rm.dk; Fledelius, Walther; Worm, Esben S.

2014-12-15

Purpose: Implanted gold markers for image-guided radiotherapy lead to streaking artifacts in cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans. Several methods for metal artifact reduction (MAR) have been published, but they all fail in scans with large motion. Here the authors propose and investigate a method for automatic moving metal artifact reduction (MMAR) in CBCT scans with cylindrical gold markers. Methods: The MMAR CBCT reconstruction method has six steps. (1) Automatic segmentation of the cylindrical markers in the CBCT projections. (2) Removal of each marker in the projections by replacing the pixels within a masked area with interpolated values. (3) Reconstruction of amore » marker-free CBCT volume from the manipulated CBCT projections. (4) Reconstruction of a standard CBCT volume with metal artifacts from the original CBCT projections. (5) Estimation of the three-dimensional (3D) trajectory during CBCT acquisition for each marker based on the segmentation in Step 1, and identification of the smallest ellipsoidal volume that encompasses 95% of the visited 3D positions. (6) Generation of the final MMAR CBCT reconstruction from the marker-free CBCT volume of Step 3 by replacing the voxels in the 95% ellipsoid with the corresponding voxels of the standard CBCT volume of Step 4. The MMAR reconstruction was performed retrospectively using a half-fan CBCT scan for 29 consecutive stereotactic body radiation therapy patients with 2–3 gold markers implanted in the liver. The metal artifacts of the MMAR reconstructions were scored and compared with a standard MAR reconstruction by counting the streaks and by calculating the standard deviation of the Hounsfield units in a region around each marker. Results: The markers were found with the same autosegmentation settings in 27 CBCT scans, while two scans needed slightly changed settings to find all markers automatically in Step 1 of the MMAR method. MMAR resulted in 15 scans with no streaking artifacts, 11 scans with 1–4 streaks, and 3 scans with severe streaking artifacts. The corresponding numbers for MAR were 8 (no streaks), 1 (1–4 streaks), and 20 (severe streaking artifacts). The MMAR method was superior to MAR in scans with more than 8 mm 3D marker motion and comparable to MAR for scans with less than 8 mm motion. In addition, the MMAR method was tested on a 4D CBCT reconstruction for which it worked equally well as for the 3D case. The markers in the 4D case had very low motion blur. Conclusions: An automatic method for MMAR in CBCT scans was proposed and shown to effectively remove almost all streaking artifacts in a large set of clinical CBCT scans with implanted gold markers in the liver. Residual streaking artifacts observed in three CBCT scans may be removed with better marker segmentation.« less

Discussion on fresh air volume in Temperature and Humidity Independent Control of Air-conditioning System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Xiaolong; Liu, Jinxiang; Wang, Yu; Yuan, Xiaolei; Jin, Hui

2018-05-01

The fresh air volume in Temperature and Humidity Independent Control of Air-conditioning System(THIC) of a typical office was comfirmed, under the premise of adopting the refrigeration dehumidifying fresh air unit(7°C/12°C). By detailed calculating the space moisture load and the fresh air volume required for dehumidification in 120 selected major cities in China, it can be inferred that the minimum fresh air volume required for dehumidification in THIC is mainly determined by the local outdoor air moisture and the outdoor wind speed; Then the mathematical fitting software Matlab was used to fit the three parameters, and a simplified formula for calculating the minimum per capita fresh air volume required for dehumidification was obtained; And the indoor relative humidity was simulated by the numerical software Airpak and the results by using the formula data and the data for hygiene were compared to verify the relibility of the simplified formula.

Minimum Volume Discussion in the Treatment of Colon and Rectal Cancer: A Review of the Current Status and Relevance of Surgeon and Hospital Volume regarding Result Quality and the Impact on Health Economics

PubMed Central

Link, Karl-Heinrich; Coy, Peter; Roitman, Mark; Link, Carola; Kornmann, Marko; Staib, Ludger

2017-01-01

Background To answer the question whether minimum caseloads need to be stipulated in the German S3 (or any other) guidelines for colorectal cancer, we analyzed the current representative literature. The question is important regarding medical quality as well as health economics and policy. Methods A literature research was conducted in PubMed for papers concerning ‘colon cancer’ (CC), ‘rectal cancer’ (RC), and ‘colorectal cancer’ (CRC), with ‘results', ‘quality’, and ‘mortality’ between the years 2000 and 2016 being relevant factors. We graded the recommendations as ‘pro’, ‘maybe’, or ‘contra’ in terms of a significant correlation between hospital volume (HV) or surgeon volume (SV) and treatment quality. We also listed the recommended numbers suggested for HV or SV as minimum caseloads and calculated and discussed the socio-economic impact of setting minimum caseloads for CRC. Results The correlations of caseloads of hospitals or surgeons turned out to be highly controversial concerning the influence of HV or SV on short- and long-term surgical treatment quality of CRC. Specialized statisticians made the point that the reports in the literature might not use the optimal biometrical analytical/reporting methods. A Dutch analysis showed that if a decision towards minimum caseloads, e.g. >50 for CRC resections, would be made, this would exclude a lot of hospitals with proven good treatment quality and include hospitals with a treatment quality below average. Our economic analysis envisioned that a yearly loss of EUR <830,000 might ensue for hospitals with volumes <50 per year. Conclusions Caseload (HV, SV) definitely is an inconsistent surrogate parameter for treatment quality in the surgery of CC, RC, or CRC. If used at all, the lowest tolerable numbers but the highest demands for structural, process and result quality in the surgical/interdisciplinary treatment of CC and RC must be imposed and independently controlled. Hospitals fulfilling these demands should be medically and socio-economically preferred concerning the treatment of CC and RC patients. PMID:28560230

Reliability and accuracy of three imaging software packages used for 3D analysis of the upper airway on cone beam computed tomography images.

PubMed

Chen, Hui; van Eijnatten, Maureen; Wolff, Jan; de Lange, Jan; van der Stelt, Paul F; Lobbezoo, Frank; Aarab, Ghizlane

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and accuracy of three different imaging software packages for three-dimensional analysis of the upper airway using CBCT images. To assess the reliability of the software packages, 15 NewTom 5G ® (QR Systems, Verona, Italy) CBCT data sets were randomly and retrospectively selected. Two observers measured the volume, minimum cross-sectional area and the length of the upper airway using Amira ® (Visage Imaging Inc., Carlsbad, CA), 3Diagnosys ® (3diemme, Cantu, Italy) and OnDemand3D ® (CyberMed, Seoul, Republic of Korea) software packages. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the upper airway measurements were determined using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland & Altman agreement tests. To assess the accuracy of the software packages, one NewTom 5G ® CBCT data set was used to print a three-dimensional anthropomorphic phantom with known dimensions to be used as the "gold standard". This phantom was subsequently scanned using a NewTom 5G ® scanner. Based on the CBCT data set of the phantom, one observer measured the volume, minimum cross-sectional area, and length of the upper airway using Amira ® , 3Diagnosys ® , and OnDemand3D ® , and compared these measurements with the gold standard. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the measurements of the upper airway using the different software packages were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.75). There was excellent agreement between all three software packages in volume, minimum cross-sectional area and length measurements. All software packages underestimated the upper airway volume by -8.8% to -12.3%, the minimum cross-sectional area by -6.2% to -14.6%, and the length by -1.6% to -2.9%. All three software packages offered reliable volume, minimum cross-sectional area and length measurements of the upper airway. The length measurements of the upper airway were the most accurate results in all software packages. All software packages underestimated the upper airway dimensions of the anthropomorphic phantom.

Minimum Volume Discussion in the Treatment of Colon and Rectal Cancer: A Review of the Current Status and Relevance of Surgeon and Hospital Volume regarding Result Quality and the Impact on Health Economics.

PubMed

Link, Karl-Heinrich; Coy, Peter; Roitman, Mark; Link, Carola; Kornmann, Marko; Staib, Ludger

2017-05-01

To answer the question whether minimum caseloads need to be stipulated in the German S3 (or any other) guidelines for colorectal cancer, we analyzed the current representative literature. The question is important regarding medical quality as well as health economics and policy. A literature research was conducted in PubMed for papers concerning 'colon cancer' (CC), 'rectal cancer' (RC), and 'colorectal cancer' (CRC), with 'results', 'quality', and 'mortality' between the years 2000 and 2016 being relevant factors. We graded the recommendations as 'pro', 'maybe', or 'contra' in terms of a significant correlation between hospital volume (HV) or surgeon volume (SV) and treatment quality. We also listed the recommended numbers suggested for HV or SV as minimum caseloads and calculated and discussed the socio-economic impact of setting minimum caseloads for CRC. The correlations of caseloads of hospitals or surgeons turned out to be highly controversial concerning the influence of HV or SV on short- and long-term surgical treatment quality of CRC. Specialized statisticians made the point that the reports in the literature might not use the optimal biometrical analytical/reporting methods. A Dutch analysis showed that if a decision towards minimum caseloads, e.g. >50 for CRC resections, would be made, this would exclude a lot of hospitals with proven good treatment quality and include hospitals with a treatment quality below average. Our economic analysis envisioned that a yearly loss of EUR <830,000 might ensue for hospitals with volumes <50 per year. Caseload (HV, SV) definitely is an inconsistent surrogate parameter for treatment quality in the surgery of CC, RC, or CRC. If used at all, the lowest tolerable numbers but the highest demands for structural, process and result quality in the surgical/interdisciplinary treatment of CC and RC must be imposed and independently controlled. Hospitals fulfilling these demands should be medically and socio-economically preferred concerning the treatment of CC and RC patients.

Computation of scattering matrix elements of large and complex shaped absorbing particles with multilevel fast multipole algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yueqian; Yang, Minglin; Sheng, Xinqing; Ren, Kuan Fang

2015-05-01

Light scattering properties of absorbing particles, such as the mineral dusts, attract a wide attention due to its importance in geophysical and environment researches. Due to the absorbing effect, light scattering properties of particles with absorption differ from those without absorption. Simple shaped absorbing particles such as spheres and spheroids have been well studied with different methods but little work on large complex shaped particles has been reported. In this paper, the surface Integral Equation (SIE) with Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm (MLFMA) is applied to study scattering properties of large non-spherical absorbing particles. SIEs are carefully discretized with piecewise linear basis functions on triangle patches to model whole surface of the particle, hence computation resource needs increase much more slowly with the particle size parameter than the volume discretized methods. To improve further its capability, MLFMA is well parallelized with Message Passing Interface (MPI) on distributed memory computer platform. Without loss of generality, we choose the computation of scattering matrix elements of absorbing dust particles as an example. The comparison of the scattering matrix elements computed by our method and the discrete dipole approximation method (DDA) for an ellipsoid dust particle shows that the precision of our method is very good. The scattering matrix elements of large ellipsoid dusts with different aspect ratios and size parameters are computed. To show the capability of the presented algorithm for complex shaped particles, scattering by asymmetry Chebyshev particle with size parameter larger than 600 of complex refractive index m = 1.555 + 0.004 i and different orientations are studied.

On causes of the low seismic activity in the Earth's polar latitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levin, Boris; Sasorova, Elena; Domanski, Andrei

2016-04-01

The irregularity of distribution of seismic activity in the world was observed at the beginning of the era of instrumental seismology (B. Gutenberg, C. Richter, K. Kasahara). At the same time, the global nature of the symmetry of this effect has been established only in this millennium, with the participation of authors (Levin B.W., Sasorova E.V., 2010). Analysis of the global earthquake catalogs showed that almost all seismic events over the last century occurred within a limited latitudinal band contained between the 65 N and 65 S. The seismic activity in the polar regions of the planet was manifested very weakly. The reasons for such features were found by following the analysis of the characteristics associated with the theory of the figure of the Earth. In the works of the French mathematician A. Veronne (1912) was the first to introduce the concept of "critical" latitudes (φ1 = ±35°15' 22″) wherein the radius of the ellipsoid of revolution is equal to the radius of the sphere of the same volume. Variation of the radius vector of the ellipsoid at this latitude is equal to zero. There is the boundary between the compressed areas of the polar zones and equatorial region, where the rocks of the Earth are dominated by tensile forces. Analysis of the specific characteristics of the gravity force distribution on the surface of the ellipsoid has shown that there is a distribution of the same character with a singular point at latitude φ2 = ±61° 52' 12″. In case of variations in the angular velocity of the planet's rotation the variation of gravity force at the latitude φ2 is negligible, compared with variations of gravity force on the equator and pole, which exceed the previous value by 3-4 orders. Attempted analysis of the model of the ellipsoid of revolution in the theory of axisymmetric elastic shells has allowed to establish that in the elastic shell of the planet must occur meridional and ring forces. The theory shows that when the flatness (or polar compression) is littleness the whole shell must be compressed, in this case there is a singular point at the latitude φ3 = ±55° 42' 22″. It should be noted that circular forces in the area between the latitudes φ3 with increasing compression force become smaller ring forces of a spherical shell. And outside mentioned area - on the contrary, these forces become more and more. Thus, according to the theory of equilibrium figures of celestial bodies in the higher latitudes (due to variations in rotation velocity and change of the body flatness) should appear specific latitudinal zones where the different characteristics of the body structure and physical parameters undergo the significant changes. The study of such zones can bring us closer to understanding the physics of the emergence of interfaces between areas of high and low seismic activity.

A machine-learning graph-based approach for 3D segmentation of Bruch's membrane opening from glaucomatous SD-OCT volumes.

PubMed

Miri, Mohammad Saleh; Abràmoff, Michael D; Kwon, Young H; Sonka, Milan; Garvin, Mona K

2017-07-01

Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) is a recently proposed structural parameter which estimates the remaining nerve fiber bundles in the retina and is superior to other conventional structural parameters for diagnosing glaucoma. Measuring this structural parameter requires identification of BMO locations within spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes. While most automated approaches for segmentation of the BMO either segment the 2D projection of BMO points or identify BMO points in individual B-scans, in this work, we propose a machine-learning graph-based approach for true 3D segmentation of BMO from glaucomatous SD-OCT volumes. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem for finding a 3D path within the SD-OCT volume. In particular, the SD-OCT volumes are transferred to the radial domain where the closed loop BMO points in the original volume form a path within the radial volume. The estimated location of BMO points in 3D are identified by finding the projected location of BMO points using a graph-theoretic approach and mapping the projected locations onto the Bruch's membrane (BM) surface. Dynamic programming is employed in order to find the 3D BMO locations as the minimum-cost path within the volume. In order to compute the cost function needed for finding the minimum-cost path, a random forest classifier is utilized to learn a BMO model, obtained by extracting intensity features from the volumes in the training set, and computing the required 3D cost function. The proposed method is tested on 44 glaucoma patients and evaluated using manual delineations. Results show that the proposed method successfully identifies the 3D BMO locations and has significantly smaller errors compared to the existing 3D BMO identification approaches. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Comparison of high-angle-of-attack slender-body theory and exact solutions for potential flow over an ellipsoid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemsch, Michael J.

1990-01-01

The accuracy of high-alpha slender-body theory (HASBT) for bodies with elliptical cross-sections is presently demonstrated by means of a comparison with exact solutions for incompressible potential flow over a wide range of ellipsoid geometries and angles of attack and sideslip. The addition of the appropriate trigonometric coefficients to the classical slender-body theory decomposition yields the formally correct HASBT, and results in accuracies previously considered unattainable.

3-D Object Pose Determination Using Complex EGI

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-10-01

the length of edges of the polyhedron from the EGI. Dane and Bajcsy [4] make use of the Gaussian Image to spatially segment a group of range points...involving real range data of two smooth objects were conducted. The two smooth objects are the torus and ellipsoid, whose databases have been created...in the simulations earlier. 5.0.1 Implementational Issues The torus and ellipsoid were crafted out of clay to resemble the models whose databases were

Ellipsoidal Brownian self-driven particles in a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Wai-Tong Louis; Pak, On Shun; Sandoval, Mario

2017-03-01

We study the two-dimensional Brownian dynamics of an ellipsoidal paramagnetic microswimmer moving at a low Reynolds number and subject to a magnetic field. Its corresponding mean-square displacement, showing the effect of a particles's shape, activity, and magnetic field on the microswimmer's diffusion, is analytically obtained. Comparison between analytical and computational results shows good agreement. In addition, the effect of self-propulsion on the transition time from anisotropic to isotropic diffusion of the ellipse is investigated.

A Model with Ellipsoidal Scatterers for Polarimetric Remote Sensing of Anisotropic Layered Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nghiem, S. V.; Kwok, R.; Kong, J. A.; Shin, R. T.

1993-01-01

This paper presents a model with ellipsoidal scatterers for applications to polarimetric remote sensing of anisotropic layered media at microwave frequencies. The physical configuration includes an isotropic layer covering an anisotropic layer above a homogeneous half space. The isotropic layer consists of randomly oriented spheroids. The anisotropic layer contains ellipsoidal scatterers with a preferential vertical alignment and random azimuthal orientations. Effective permittivities of the scattering media are calculated with the strong fluctuation theory extended to account for the nonspherical shapes and the scatterer orientation distributions. On the basis of the analytic wave theory, dyadic Green's functions for layered media are used to derive polarimetric backscattering coefficients under the distorted Born approximation. The ellipsoidal shape of the scatterers gives rise to nonzero cross-polarized returns from the untilted anisotropic medium in the first-order approximation. Effects of rough interfaces are estimated by an incoherent addition method. Theoretical results and experimental data are matched at 9 GHz for thick first-year sea ice with a bare surface and with a snow cover at Point Barrow, Alaska. The model is then used to study the sensitivity of polarimetric backscattering coefficients with respect to correlation lengths representing the geometry of brine inclusions. Polarimetric signatures of bare and snow-covered sea ice are also simulated based on the model to investigate effects of different scattering mechanisms.

Off-center lithium in the fluoroperovskite KZnF sub 3

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

Toulouse, J.; Wang, X.Q.; Rousseau, M.

1991-10-01

In studying the effect of point defects on structural phase transitions in fluoroperovskites, we have characterized the Li defect in KZnF{sub 3}. The dielectric-loss measurements on KZnF{sub 3}:Li have revealed that the lithium defect possesses an electric dipole moment and therefore sits in an off-center position approximately 0.15 A from a normal K site. Complementary ultrasonic measurements of the sound velocity indicate that Li constitutes a {l angle}100{r angle} orthorhombic defect. The {delta}{ital v}/{ital v} results indicate that, similar to the KBr-KCN system, the strain ellipsoid is not an ellipsoid of revolution. The shape factors of the ellipsoid are foundmore » to be {lambda}{sub {ital a}}{minus}{lambda}{sub {ital b}}{similar to}0.013 and {lambda}{sub {ital b}}{minus}{lambda}{sub {ital c}}{similar to}0.006. This translates into two distinct relaxation processes at high and low temperatures, respectively, primarily associated with the reorientation of the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The dielectric-loss peak is then associated with the relaxation of the lithium defect between the three cube axes, i.e., the major-axis reorientation. The above interpretation is consistent with the large anharmonicity and anisotropy that have been found in the motion of the fluorine ions in KZnF{sub 3} and other related fluoroperovskites exhibiting a soft mode.« less

Equilibrium figures inside the dark-matter ring and the shapes of elliptical galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondratyev, B. P.; Trubitsyna, N. G.; Kireeva, E. N.

We solve the general problem of the theory of equilibrium figures and analyze two classes of liquid rotating gravitating figures residing inside a gravitating ring or torus. These figures form families of sequences of generalized oblate spheroids and triaxial ellipsoids, which at the lower limit of the tidal parameter α = 0 have the form of the Maclaurin spheroids and the Jacobi ellipsoids. In intermediate cases 0 < α ≤ αmax each new sequence of axisymmetric equilibrium figures has two non-rotating boundary spheroids. At the upper limit αmax/(π Gρ ) = 0.1867 the sequence degenerates into a single non-rotating spheroid with the eccentricity {e cr} ≈ 0.96 corresponding to the flattening limit of elliptical galaxies (E7). We also perform a detailed study of the sequences of generalized triaxial ellipsoids and find bifurcation points of triaxial ellipsoids in the sequences of generalized spheroids. We use this method to explain the shapes of E-galaxies. According to observations, very slowly rotating oblate E-type galaxies are known that have the shapes, which, because of instability, cannot be supported by velocity dispersion anisotropy exclusively. The hypothesis of a massive dark-matter outer ring requires no extreme anisotropy of pressure; it not only explains the shape of these elliptical galaxies, but also sheds new light on the riddle of the ellipticity limit (E7) of elliptical galaxies.

Comparison of 5-year progression of retinitis pigmentosa involving the posterior pole among siblings by means of SD-OCT: a retrospective study.

PubMed

Colombo, Leonardo; Montesano, Giovanni; Sala, Barbara; Patelli, Fabio; Maltese, Paolo; Abeshi, Andi; Bertelli, Matteo; Rossetti, Luca

2018-06-26

The aim of this study is to analyze and compare the progression of photoreceptor atrophy among siblings affected by retinitis pigmentosa by means of spectral SD-OCT. Fifty three eyes of 27 patients belonging to 12 family clusters were analyzed. To assess the annual progression rate of photoreceptor atrophy, the ellipsoid zone (EZ) line was measured in OCT sections through the fovea. We used multivariate generalized mixed effects to model the rate of progression and its relation to the initial ellipsoid zone line width. During our 4.84 years (± 1.44) mean follow up time (range 3-7) 53 eyes were examined. The ellipsoid zone line width declined with a yearly average rate of 76.4 μm (4.16% / year) (p-value < 0.0001). Progression rates were poorly correlated within family clusters (p-value = 0.23) and showed statistical difference between affected siblings (p-value = 0.007). There was no correlation between inter-familiar progression rate and mode of inheritance (p-value = 0.98) as well as between age and ellipsoid zone line width among siblings (p-value = 0.91). RP could be extremely heterogeneous even among siblings: an accurate and sensitive method to follow the progression of the disease is fundamental for future development of clinical trials and therapy strategies.

The ellipsoidal universe in the Planck satellite era

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cea, Paolo

2014-06-01

Recent Planck data confirm that the cosmic microwave background displays the quadrupole power suppression together with large-scale anomalies. Progressing from previous results, that focused on the quadrupole anomaly, we strengthen the proposal that the slightly anisotropic ellipsoidal universe may account for these anomalies. We solved at large scales the Boltzmann equation for the photon distribution functions by taking into account both the effects of the inflation produced primordial scalar perturbations and the anisotropy of the geometry in the ellipsoidal universe. We showed that the low quadrupole temperature correlations allowed us to fix the eccentricity at decoupling, edec = (0.86 ± 0.14) 10-2, and to constraint the direction of the symmetry axis. We found that the anisotropy of the geometry of the universe contributes only to the large-scale temperature anisotropies without affecting the higher multipoles of the angular power spectrum. Moreover, we showed that the ellipsoidal geometry of the universe induces sizeable polarization signal at large scales without invoking the reionization scenario. We explicitly evaluated the quadrupole TE and EE correlations. We found an average large-scale polarization ΔTpol = (1.20 ± 0.38) μK. We point out that great care is needed in the experimental determination of the large-scale polarization correlations since the average temperature polarization could be misinterpreted as foreground emission leading, thereby, to a considerable underestimate of the cosmic microwave background polarization signal.

Dynamic cluster generation for a fuzzy classifier with ellipsoidal regions.

PubMed

Abe, S

1998-01-01

In this paper, we discuss a fuzzy classifier with ellipsoidal regions that dynamically generates clusters. First, for the data belonging to a class we define a fuzzy rule with an ellipsoidal region. Namely, using the training data for each class, we calculate the center and the covariance matrix of the ellipsoidal region for the class. Then we tune the fuzzy rules, i.e., the slopes of the membership functions, successively until there is no improvement in the recognition rate of the training data. Then if the number of the data belonging to a class that are misclassified into another class exceeds a prescribed number, we define a new cluster to which those data belong and the associated fuzzy rule. Then we tune the newly defined fuzzy rules in the similar way as stated above, fixing the already obtained fuzzy rules. We iterate generation of clusters and tuning of the newly generated fuzzy rules until the number of the data belonging to a class that are misclassified into another class does not exceed the prescribed number. We evaluate our method using thyroid data, Japanese Hiragana data of vehicle license plates, and blood cell data. By dynamic cluster generation, the generalization ability of the classifier is improved and the recognition rate of the fuzzy classifier for the test data is the best among the neural network classifiers and other fuzzy classifiers if there are no discrete input variables.

Placement of trans-sternal wires according to an ellipsoid pressure vessel model of sternal forces.

PubMed

Casha, Aaron R; Manché, Alex; Gauci, Marilyn; Camilleri-Podesta, Marie-Therese; Schembri-Wismayer, Pierre; Sant, Zdenka; Gatt, Ruben; Grima, Joseph N

2012-03-01

Dehiscence of median sternotomy wounds remains a clinical problem. Wall forces in thin-walled pressure vessels can be calculated by membrane stress theory. An ellipsoid pressure vessel model of sternal forces is presented together with its application for optimal wire placement in the sternum. Sternal forces were calculated by computational simulation using an ellipsoid chest wall model. Sternal forces were correlated with different sternal thicknesses and radio-density as measured by computerized tomography (CT) scans of the sternum. A comparison of alternative placement of trans-sternal wires located either at the levels of the costal cartilages or the intercostal spaces was made. The ellipsoid pressure vessel model shows that higher levels of stress are operative at increasing chest diameter (P < 0.001). CT scans show that the thickness of the sternal body is on average 3 mm and 30% thicker (P < 0.001) and 53% more radio-dense (P < 0.001) at the costal cartilage levels when compared with adjacent intercostal spaces. This results in a decrease of average sternal stress from 438 kPa at the intercostal space level to 338 kPa at the costal cartilage level (P = 0.003). Biomechanical modelling suggests that placement of trans-sternal wires at the thicker bone and more radio-dense level of the costal cartilages will result in reduced stress.

Modeling the Epithelial Morphogenesis of Germ Band Retraction in Three Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCleery, W. Tyler; Veldhuis, Jim; Brodland, G. Wayne; Crews, Sarah M.; Hutson, M. Shane

2015-03-01

Embryogenesis of higher-order organisms is driven by an intricate coordination of cellular mechanics. Mechanical analysis of certain developmental events, e.g., dorsal closure in the fruit fly D. melanogaster, has been sufficiently described using two-dimensional models. Here, we present a three-dimensional modeling technique to investigate germ band retraction (GBR) - a whole-embryo, irreducibly 3D morphogenetic event. At the start of GBR, the epithelial tissue known as the germ band is initially wrapped around the posterior end of an ellipsoidal fly embryo. This tissue then retracts as an adjacent epithelial tissue, the amnioserosa, simultaneously contracts. We hypothesize that proper GBR requires maintenance of cell-cell connectivity in the amnioserosa, as well as both cell and tissue topology on the embryo's ellipsoidal surface. The exact interfacial tensions are less important. We test the dynamic interactions between these two tissues on a 3D ellipsoidal last. To speed simulation run times and focus on the relevant tissues, epithelial cells are defined as polygons constrained to lie on the surface of the ellipsoidal last. These cells have adjustable parameters such as edge tensions and cell pressures. Tissue movements are simulated by balancing these dynamic cell-level forces with viscous resistance and allowing cells to exchange neighbors. This modeling approach helps elucidate the multicellular stress fields in normal and aberrant development, providing deeper insight into the mechanical interdependence of developing tissues.

Non-invasive 3D time-of-flight imaging technique for tumour volume assessment in subcutaneous models.

PubMed

Delgado San Martin, J A; Worthington, P; Yates, J W T

2015-04-01

Subcutaneous tumour xenograft volumes are generally measured using callipers. This method is susceptible to inter- and intra-observer variability and systematic inaccuracies. Non-invasive 3D measurement using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been considered, but require immobilization of the animal. An infrared-based 3D time-of-flight (3DToF) camera was used to acquire a depth map of tumour-bearing mice. A semi-automatic algorithm based on parametric surfaces was applied to estimate tumour volume. Four clay mouse models and 18 tumour-bearing mice were assessed using callipers (applying both prolate spheroid and ellipsoid models) and 3DToF methods, and validated using tumour weight. Inter-experimentalist variability could be up to 25% in the calliper method. Experimental results demonstrated good consistency and relatively low error rates for the 3DToF method, in contrast to biased overestimation using callipers. Accuracy is currently limited by camera performance; however, we anticipate the next generation 3DToF cameras will be able to support the development of a practical system. Here, we describe an initial proof of concept for a non-invasive, non-immobilized, morphology-independent, economical and potentially more precise tumour volume assessment technique. This affordable technique should maximize the datapoints per animal, by reducing the numbers required in experiments and reduce their distress. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Role of MRI in osteosarcoma for evaluation and prediction of chemotherapy response: correlation with histological necrosis.

PubMed

Bajpai, Jyoti; Gamnagatti, Shivanand; Kumar, Rakesh; Sreenivas, Vishnubhatla; Sharma, Mehar Chand; Khan, Shah Alam; Rastogi, Shishir; Malhotra, Arun; Safaya, Rajni; Bakhshi, Sameer

2011-04-01

Histological necrosis, the current standard for response evaluation in osteosarcoma, is attainable after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. To establish the role of surrogate markers of response prediction and evaluation using MRI in the early phases of the disease. Thirty-one treatment-naïve osteosarcoma patients received three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery during 2006-2008. All patients underwent baseline and post-chemotherapy conventional, diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Taking histological response (good response ≥90% necrosis) as the reference standard, various parameters of MRI were compared to it. A tumor was considered ellipsoidal; volume, average tumor plane and its relative value (average tumor plane relative/body surface area) was calculated using the standard formula for ellipse. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to assess best threshold and predictability. After deriving thresholds for each parameter in univariable analysis, multivariable analysis was carried out. Both pre-and post-chemotherapy absolute and relative-size parameters correlated well with necrosis. Apparent diffusion coefficient did not correlate with necrosis; however, on adjusting for volume, significant correlation was found. Thus, we could derive a new parameter: diffusion per unit volume. In osteosarcoma, chemotherapy response can be predicted and evaluated by conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI early in the disease course and it correlates well with necrosis. Further, newly derived parameter diffusion per unit volume appears to be a sensitive substitute for response evaluation in osteosarcoma.

Size and Shape of Chariklo from Multi-epoch Stellar Occultations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leiva, R.; Sicardy, B.; Camargo, J. I. B.; Ortiz, J.-L.; Desmars, J.; Bérard, D.; Lellouch, E.; Meza, E.; Kervella, P.; Snodgrass, C.; Duffard, R.; Morales, N.; Gomes-Júnior, A. R.; Benedetti-Rossi, G.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Braga-Ribas, F.; Assafin, M.; Morgado, B. E.; Colas, F.; De Witt, C.; Sickafoose, A. A.; Breytenbach, H.; Dauvergne, J.-L.; Schoenau, P.; Maquet, L.; Bath, K.-L.; Bode, H.-J.; Cool, A.; Lade, B.; Kerr, S.; Herald, D.

2017-10-01

We use data from five stellar occultations observed between 2013 and 2016 to constrain Chariklo’s size and shape, and the ring reflectivity. We consider four possible models for Chariklo (sphere, Maclaurin spheroid, triaxial ellipsoid, and Jacobi ellipsoid), and we use a Bayesian approach to estimate the corresponding parameters. The spherical model has a radius R = 129 ± 3 km. The Maclaurin model has equatorial and polar radii a=b={143}-6+3 {km} and c={96}-4+14 {km}, respectively, with density {970}-180+300 {kg} {{{m}}}-3. The ellipsoidal model has semiaxes a={148}-4+6 {km}, b={132}-5+6 {km}, and c={102}-8+10 {km}. Finally, the Jacobi model has semiaxes a = 157 ± 4 km, b = 139 ± 4 km, and c = 86 ± 1 km, and density {796}-4+2 {kg} {{{m}}}-3. Depending on the model, we obtain topographic features of 6-11 km, typical of Saturn icy satellites with similar size and density. We constrain Chariklo’s geometric albedo between 3.1% (sphere) and 4.9% (ellipsoid), while the ring I/F reflectivity is less constrained between 0.6% (Jacobi) and 8.9% (sphere). The ellipsoid model explains both the optical light curve and the long-term photometry variation of the system, giving a plausible value for the geometric albedo of the ring particles of 10%-15%. The derived mass of Chariklo of 6-8 × 1018 kg places the rings close to 3:1 resonance between the ring mean motion and Chariklo’s rotation period. Based on observations obtained at the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope, which is a joint project of the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, e Inovação (MCTI) da República Federativa do Brasil, the U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), and Michigan State University (MSU).

Four-way coupled simulations of small particles in turbulent channel flow: The effects of particle shape and Stokes number

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

Zhao, F.; Wachem, B. G. M. van, E-mail: berend.van.wachem@gmail.com; George, W. K.

2015-08-15

This paper investigates the effects of particle shape and Stokes number on the behaviour of non-spherical particles in turbulent channel flow. Although there are a number of studies concerning spherical particles in turbulent flows, most important applications occurring in process, energy, and pharmaceutical industries deal with non-spherical particles. The computation employs a unique and novel four-way coupling with the Lagrangian point-particle approach. The fluid phase at low Reynolds number (Re{sub τ} = 150) is modelled by direct numerical simulation, while particles are tracked individually. Inter-particle and particle-wall collisions are also taken into account. To explore the effects of particles onmore » the flow turbulence, the statistics of the fluid flow such as the fluid velocity, the terms in the turbulence kinetic energy equation, the slip velocity between the two phases and velocity correlations are analysed considering ellipsoidal particles with different inertia and aspect ratio. The results of the simulations show that the turbulence is considerably attenuated, even in the very dilute regime. The reduction of the turbulence intensity is predominant near the turbulence kinetic energy peak in the near wall region, where particles preferentially accumulate. Moreover, the elongated shape of ellipsoids strengthens the turbulence attenuation. In simulations with ellipsoidal particles, the fluid-particle interactions strongly depend on the orientation of the ellipsoids. In the near wall region, ellipsoids tend to align predominantly within the streamwise (x) and wall-normal (y) planes and perpendicular to the span-wise direction, whereas no preferential orientation in the central region of the channel is observed. Important conclusions from this work include the effective viscosity of the flow is not affected, the direct dissipation by the particles is negligible, and the primary mechanism by which the particles affect the flow is by altering the turbulence structure around the turbulence kinetic energy peak.« less

Eshelby's problem of non-elliptical inclusions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Wennan; He, Qichang; Huang, Mojia; Zheng, Quanshui

2010-03-01

The Eshelby problem consists in determining the strain field of an infinite linearly elastic homogeneous medium due to a uniform eigenstrain prescribed over a subdomain, called inclusion, of the medium. The salient feature of Eshelby's solution for an ellipsoidal inclusion is that the strain tensor field inside the latter is uniform. This uniformity has the important consequence that the solution to the fundamental problem of determination of the strain field in an infinite linearly elastic homogeneous medium containing an embedded ellipsoidal inhomogeneity and subjected to remote uniform loading can be readily deduced from Eshelby's solution for an ellipsoidal inclusion upon imposing appropriate uniform eigenstrains. Based on this result, most of the existing micromechanics schemes dedicated to estimating the effective properties of inhomogeneous materials have been nevertheless applied to a number of materials of practical interest where inhomogeneities are in reality non-ellipsoidal. Aiming to examine the validity of the ellipsoidal approximation of inhomogeneities underlying various micromechanics schemes, we first derive a new boundary integral expression for calculating Eshelby's tensor field (ETF) in the context of two-dimensional isotropic elasticity. The simple and compact structure of the new boundary integral expression leads us to obtain the explicit expressions of ETF and its average for a wide variety of non-elliptical inclusions including arbitrary polygonal ones and those characterized by the finite Laurent series. In light of these new analytical results, we show that: (i) the elliptical approximation to the average of ETF is valid for a convex non-elliptical inclusion but becomes inacceptable for a non-convex non-elliptical inclusion; (ii) in general, the Eshelby tensor field inside a non-elliptical inclusion is quite non-uniform and cannot be replaced by its average; (iii) the substitution of the generalized Eshelby tensor involved in various micromechanics schemes by the average Eshelby tensor for non-elliptical inhomogeneities is in general inadmissible.

Outer Retinal Changes Including the Ellipsoid Zone Band in Usher Syndrome 1B due to MYO7A Mutations.

PubMed

Sumaroka, Alexander; Matsui, Rodrigo; Cideciyan, Artur V; McGuigan, David B; Sheplock, Rebecca; Schwartz, Sharon B; Jacobson, Samuel G

2016-07-01

To study transition zones from normal to abnormal retina in Usher syndrome IB (USH1B) caused by myosin 7A (MYO7A) mutations. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scattering layers in outer retina were segmented in patients (n = 16, ages 2-42; eight patients had serial data, average interval 4.5 years) to quantify outer nuclear layer (ONL) and outer segments (OS) as well as the locus of EZ (ellipsoid zone) edge and its extent from the fovea. Static perimetry was measured under dark-adapted (DA) and light-adapted (LA) conditions. Ellipsoid zone edge in USH1B-MYO7A could be located up to 23° from the fovea. Ellipsoid zone extent constricted at a rate of 0.51°/year with slower rates at smaller eccentricities. A well-defined EZ line could be associated with normal or abnormal ONL and/or OS thickness; detectable ONL extended well beyond EZ edge. At the EZ edge, the local slope of LA sensitivity loss was 2.6 (±1.7) dB/deg for central transition zones. At greater eccentricities, the local slope of cone sensitivity loss was shallower (1.1 ± 0.4 dB/deg for LA) than that of rod sensitivity loss (2.8 ± 1.2 dB/deg for DA). In USH1B-MYO7A, constriction rate of EZ extent depends on the initial eccentricity of the transition. Ellipsoid zone edges in the macula correspond to large local changes in cone vision, but extramacular EZ edges show more pronounced losses on rod-based vision tests. It is advisable to use not only the EZ line but also other structural and functional parameters for estimating natural history of disease and possible therapeutic effects in future clinical trials of USH1B-MYO7A.

30 CFR 250.1163 - How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon burning volumes, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., including all gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned, to Minerals Revenue Management on Form... and maintain records detailing gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning for each... include, at a minimum: (i) Daily volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned; (ii...

Re-accumulation Scenarios Governing Final Global Shapes of Rubble-Pile Asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hestroffer, Daniel; Tanga, P.; Comito, C.; Paolicchi, P.; Walsh, K.; Richardson, D. C.; Cellino, A.

2009-05-01

Asteroids, since the formation of the solar system, are known to have experienced catastrophic collisions, which---depending on the impact energy---can produce a major disruption of the parent body and possibly give birth to asteroid families or binaries [1]. We present a general study of the final shape and dynamical state of asteroids produced by the re-accumulation process following a catastrophic disruption. Starting from a cloud of massive particles (mono-disperse spheres) with given density and velocity distributions, we analyse the final shape, spin state, and angular momentum of the system from numerical integration of a N-body gravitational system (code pkdgrav [2]). The re-accumulation process itself is relatively fast, with a dynamical time corresponding to the spin-period of the final body (several hours). The final global shapes---which are described as tri-axial ellipsoids---exhibit slopes consistent with a degree of shear stress sustained by interlocking particles. We point out a few results: -the final shapes are close to those of hydrostatic equilibrium for incompressible fluids, preferably Maclaurin spheroid rather than Jacobi ellipsoids -for bodies closest to the sequence of hydrostatic equilibrium, there is a direct relation between spin, density and outer shape, suggesting that the outer surface is nearly equipotential -the evolution of the shape during the process follows a track along a gradient of potential energy, without necessarily reaching its minimum -the loose random packing of the particles implies low friction angle and hence fluid-like behaviour, which extends the results of [3]. Future steps of our analysis will include feature refinements of the model initial conditions and re-accumulation process, including impact shakings, realistic velocity distributions, and non equal-sized elementary spheres. References [1] Michel P. et al. 2001. Science 294, 1696 [2] Leinhardt Z.M. et al. 2000. Icarus 146, 133 [3] Richardson D.C. et al. 2005. Icarus 173, 349

A cadaveric study to determine the minimum volume of methylene blue to completely color the nerves of brachial plexus in cats. An update in forelimb and shoulder surgeries.

PubMed

Mencalha, Rodrigo; Fernandes, Neide; Sousa, Carlos Augusto dos Santos; Abidu-Figueiredo, Marcelo

2014-06-01

To determine the minimum volume of methylene blue (MB) to completely color the brachial plexus (BP) nerves, simulating an effective anesthetic block in cats. Fifteen adult male cat cadavers were injected through subscapular approach with volumes of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ml in both forelimbs, for a total of 30 brachial plexus blocks (BPB). After infusions, the specimens were carefully dissected preserving each nervous branch. The measurement of the effective area was indicated by the impregnation of MB. Nerves were divided into four segments from the origin at the spinal level until the insertion into the thoracic limb muscles. The blocks were considered effective only when all the nerves were strongly or totally colored. Volumes of 2, 3 and 4 ml were considered insufficient suggesting a failed block, however, volumes of 5 and 6 ml were associated with a successful block. The injection of methylene blue, in a volume of 6 ml, completely colored the brachial plexus. At volumes of 5 and 6 ml the brachial plexus blocks were considered a successful regional block, however, volumes of 2, 3 and 4 ml were considered a failed regional block.

Immersed boundary method for Boltzmann model kinetic equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pekardan, Cem; Chigullapalli, Sruti; Sun, Lin; Alexeenko, Alina

2012-11-01

Three different immersed boundary method formulations are presented for Boltzmann model kinetic equations such as Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) and Ellipsoidal statistical Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (ESBGK) model equations. 1D unsteady IBM solution for a moving piston is compared with the DSMC results and 2D quasi-steady microscale gas damping solutions are verified by a conformal finite volume method solver. Transient analysis for a sinusoidally moving beam is also carried out for the different pressure conditions (1 atm, 0.1 atm and 0.01 atm) corresponding to Kn=0.05,0.5 and 5. Interrelaxation method (Method 2) is shown to provide a faster convergence as compared to the traditional interpolation scheme used in continuum IBM formulations. Unsteady damping in rarefied regime is characterized by a significant phase-lag which is not captured by quasi-steady approximations.

Odd Length Contraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smarandache, Florentin

2013-09-01

Let's denote by VE the speed of the Earth and byVR the speed of the rocket. Both travel in the same direction on parallel trajectories. We consider the Earth as a moving (at a constant speed VE -VR) spacecraft of almost spherical form, whose radius is r and thus the diameter 2r, and the rocket as standing still. The non-proper length of Earth's diameter, as measured by the astronaut is: L = 2 r√{ 1 -|/VE -VR|2 c2 } < 2 r . Therefore Earth's diameter shrinks in the direction of motion, thus Earth becomes an ellipsoid - which is untrue. Planet Earth may increase or decrease its diameter (volume), but this would be for other natural reasons, not because of a...flying rocket! Also, let's assume that the astronaut is laying down in the direction of motion. Therefore, he would also shrink, or he would die!

HYPOELLIPSE; a computer program for determining local earthquake hypocentral parameters, magnitude, and first-motion pattern

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lahr, John C.

1999-01-01

This report provides Fortran source code and program manuals for HYPOELLIPSE, a computer program for determining hypocenters and magnitudes of near regional earthquakes and the ellipsoids that enclose the 68-percent confidence volumes of the computed hypocenters. HYPOELLIPSE was developed to meet the needs of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists studying crustal and sub-crustal earthquakes recorded by a sparse regional seismograph network. The program was extended to locate hypocenters of volcanic earthquakes recorded by seismographs distributed on and around the volcanic edifice, at elevations above and below the hypocenter. HYPOELLIPSE was used to locate events recorded by the USGS southern Alaska seismograph network from October 1971 to the early 1990s. Both UNIX and PC/DOS versions of the source code of the program are provided along with sample runs.

Selecting band combinations with thematic mapper data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheffield, C. A.

1983-01-01

A problem arises in making color composite images because there are 210 different possible color presentations of TM three-band images. A method is given for reducing that 210 to a single choice, decided by the statistics of a scene or subscene, and taking into full account any correlations that exist between different bands. Instead of using total variance as the measure for information content of the band triplets, the ellipsoid of maximum volume is selected which discourages selection of bands with high correlation. The band triplet is obtained by computing and ranking in order the determinants of each 3 x 3 principal submatrix of the original matrix M. After selection of the best triplet, the assignment of colors is made by using the actual variances (the diagonal elements of M): green (maximum variance), red (second largest variance), blue (smallest variance).

Terrain Referenced Navigation Using SIFT Features in LiDAR Range-Based Data

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-26

14 2.5 Geocentric and geodetic representation of the same point on Earth’s surface. . . 16 2.6 Difference between datum provided ellipsoid height h and...also called a geocentric system, in that its origin is coincident with the calculated center of the earth. 8 2.1.3.2 Local Navigation Frame. The local...utilizing them. 2.2.1.1 Ellipsoid Earth Models. While geocentric ECEF coordinates are useful to describe a point on or inside the earth they can be cumbersome

Tidal disruption of viscous bodies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sridhar, S.; Tremaine, S.

1992-01-01

Tidal disruptions are investigated in viscous-fluid planetesimals whose radius is small relative to the distance of closest (parabolic-orbit) approach to a planet. The planetesimal surface is in these conditions always ellipsoidal, facilitating treatment by coupled ODEs which are solvable with high accuracy. While the disrupted planetesimals evolve into needlelike ellipsoids, their density does not decrease. The validity of viscous fluid treatment holds for solid (ice or rock) planetesimals in cases where tidal stresses are greater than material strength, but integrity is maintained by self-gravity.

Ellipsoidal Brownian self-driven particles in a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandoval, Mario; Wai-Tong, Fan; Shun Pak, On

We study the two-dimensional Brownian dynamics of an ellipsoidal paramagnetic microswimmer moving at low Reynolds number and subject to a magnetic field. Its corresponding mean-square displacement showing the effect of particles's shape, activity, and magnetic field on the microswimmer's diffusion is analytically obtained. A comparison among analytical and computational results is also made and we obtain good agreement. Additionally, the effect of self-propulsion on the transition time from anisotropic to isotropic diffusion of the ellipse is also elucidated. CONACYT GRANT: CB 2014/237848.

Hamiltonian 3-D Ray Tracing in the Oceanic Waveguide on the Ellipsoidal Earth

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

equivalent to Eq. (B 1). I The ionosphere has a uniform refractive index (the isovelocity acoustic analogue) in this con- Using the ray invariant (the...spherical coordinates in NOAA’s 3-D ray tracer HARPO, are adapted to ellipsoidal coordinates in the oceanic waveguide. The ensuing modified HARPO is used to...objective of this modeling is to extract the predictable part of the travel-time trend and fluctua- tions along several long paths that will be used to

A Demonstration using Low-kt Fatigue Specimens of a Method for Predicting the Fatigue Behaviour of Corroded Aircraft Components

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

This third random variable, with some optimisation, means that the second model can predict the mean and scatter of the observed fatigue lives. KIDS...Barishpolsky [65] studied this effect using a FE model of ellipsoidal voids and cracked or decohered ellipsoidal inclusions in an elastic body . They...Specifically, the first strike is long and thin, the second is square and the third is short and wide. Five centroid positions (d = 0, 30, 38 and

Spectral and textural processing of ERTS imagery. [Kansas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haralick, R. M.; Bosley, R. J.

1974-01-01

A procedure is developed to simultaneously extract textural features from all bands of ERTS multispectral scanner imagery for automatic analysis. Multi-images lead to excessively large grey tone N-tuple co-occurrence matrices; therefore, neighboring grey N-tuple differences are measured and an ellipsoidally symmetric functional form is assumed for the co-occurrence distribution of multiimage greytone N-tuple differences. On the basis of past data the ellipsoidally symmetric approximation is shown to be reasonable. Initial evaluation of the procedure is encouraging.

Comparison of dose volume parameters evaluated using three forward planning – optimization techniques in cervical cancer brachytherapy involving two applicators

PubMed Central

Basu-Roy, Somapriya; Kar, Sanjay Kumar; Das, Sounik; Lahiri, Annesha

2017-01-01

Purpose This study is intended to compare dose-volume parameters evaluated using different forward planning- optimization techniques, involving two applicator systems in intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer. It looks for the best applicator-optimization combination to fulfill recommended dose-volume objectives in different high-dose-rate (HDR) fractionation schedules. Material and methods We used tandem-ring and Fletcher-style tandem-ovoid applicator in same patients in two fractions of brachytherapy. Six plans were generated for each patient utilizing 3 forward optimization techniques for each applicator used: equal dwell weight/times (‘no optimization’), ‘manual dwell weight/times’, and ‘graphical’. Plans were normalized to left point A and dose of 8 Gy was prescribed. Dose volume and dose point parameters were compared. Results Without graphical optimization, maximum width and thickness of volume enclosed by 100% isodose line, dose to 90%, and 100% of clinical target volume (CTV); minimum, maximum, median, and average dose to both rectum and bladder are significantly higher with Fletcher applicator. Even if it is done, dose to both points B, minimum dose to CTV, and treatment time; dose to 2 cc (D2cc) rectum and rectal point etc.; D2cc, minimum, maximum, median, and average dose to sigmoid colon; D2cc of bladder remain significantly higher with this applicator. Dose to bladder point is similar (p > 0.05) between two applicators, after all optimization techniques. Conclusions Fletcher applicator generates higher dose to both CTV and organs at risk (2 cc volumes) after all optimization techniques. Dose restriction to rectum is possible using graphical optimization only during selected HDR fractionation schedules. Bladder always receives dose higher than recommended, and 2 cc sigmoid colon always gets permissible dose. Contrarily, graphical optimization with ring applicators fulfills all dose volume objectives in all HDR fractionations practiced. PMID:29204164

Efficient volume computation for three-dimensional hexahedral cells

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

Dukowicz, J.K.

1988-02-01

Currently, algorithms for computing the volume of hexahedral cells with ''ruled'' surfaces require a minimum of 122 FLOPs (floating point operations) per cell. A new algorithm is described which reduces the operation count to 57 FLOPs per cell. copyright 1988 Academic Press, Inc.

Transport of active ellipsoidal particles in ratchet potentials

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

Ai, Bao-Quan, E-mail: aibq@scnu.edu.cn; Wu, Jian-Chun

2014-03-07

Rectified transport of active ellipsoidal particles is numerically investigated in a two-dimensional asymmetric potential. The out-of-equilibrium condition for the active particle is an intrinsic property, which can break thermodynamical equilibrium and induce the directed transport. It is found that the perfect sphere particle can facilitate the rectification, while the needlelike particle destroys the directed transport. There exist optimized values of the parameters (the self-propelled velocity, the torque acting on the body) at which the average velocity takes its maximal value. For the ellipsoidal particle with not large asymmetric parameter, the average velocity decreases with increasing the rotational diffusion rate, whilemore » for the needlelike particle (very large asymmetric parameter), the average velocity is a peaked function of the rotational diffusion rate. By introducing a finite load, particles with different shapes (or different self-propelled velocities) will move to the opposite directions, which is able to separate particles of different shapes (or different self-propelled velocities)« less

Anisotropic magnetic particles in a magnetic field

PubMed Central

Martchenko, Ilya; Mihut, Adriana M.; Bialik, Erik; Hirt, Ann M.; Rufier, Chantal; Menzel, Andreas; Dietsch, Hervé; Linse, Per

2016-01-01

We characterize the structural properties of magnetic ellipsoidal hematite colloids with an aspect ratio ρ ≈ 2.3 using a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering and computer simulations. The evolution of the phase diagram with packing fraction φ and the strength of an applied magnetic field B is described, and the coupling between orientational order of magnetic ellipsoids and the bulk magnetic behavior of their suspension addressed. We establish quantitative structural criteria for the different phase and arrest transitions and map distinct isotropic, polarized non-nematic, and nematic phases over an extended range in the φ–B coordinates. We show that upon a rotational arrest of the ellipsoids around φ = 0.59, the bulk magnetic behavior of their suspension switches from superparamagnetic to ordered weakly ferromagnetic. If densely packed and arrested, these magnetic particles thus provide persisting remanent magnetization of the suspension. By exploring structural and magnetic properties together, we extend the often used colloid-atom analogy to the case of magnetic spins. PMID:27722439

Contributions of satellite-determined gravity results in geodesy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khan, M. A.

1974-01-01

Different forms of the theoretical gravity formula are summarized and methods of standardization of gravity anomalies obtained from satellite gravity and terrestrial gravity data are discussed in the context of three most commonly used reference figures, e.g., International Reference Ellipsoid, Reference Ellipsoid 1967, and Equilibrium Reference Ellipsoid. These methods are important in the comparison and combination of satellite gravity and gravimetric data as well as the integration of surface gravity data, collected with different objectives, in a single reference system. For ready reference, tables for such reductions are computed. Nature of the satellite gravity anomalies is examined to aid the geophysical and geodetic interpretation of these anomalies in terms of the tectonic features of the earth and the structure of the earth's crust and mantle. Computation of the Potsdam correction from satellite-determined geopotential is reviewed. The contribution of the satellite gravity results in decomposing the total observed gravity anomaly into components of geophysical interest is discussed. Recent work on the possible temporal variations in the geogravity field is briefly reviewed.

Influence of substrate type and temperature on the developmental morphology of Pandora neoaphidis (Zygomycetes: entomophthorales), a pathogen of the tobacco aphid (Homoptera: aphididae).

PubMed

Dara, S K; Semtner, P J

1998-09-01

Developmental morphology of Pandora neoaphidis was observed on the surfaces of the tobacco aphid, Myzus nicotianae, tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum), and glass coverslips at 13 and 20 degrees C for 12 and 24 h postinoculation. Pandora neoaphidis responded similarly on the two living substrates, but differed on the inert coverslips. The proportions of ellipsoid conidia (primary and secondary) were similar on all substrates. Higher proportions of appressoria and lower proportions of round secondary conidia and germinating conidia occurred on the aphids and leaves than on the coverslips. Appressoria predominated over round secondary conidia and germinating conidia on the living substrates at 20 degrees C, but the opposite was seen at 13 degrees C. The proportions of ellipsoid conidia were similar at both temperatures. On coverslips, the proportions of appressoria and round secondary conidia were similar at both temperatures. However, the proportions of germinating and ellipsoid conidia were higher at 13 and 20 degrees C, respectively. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Magnesium diboride coated bulk niobium: a new approach to higher acceleration gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Teng; Wolak, M. A.; Xi, X. X.; Tajima, T.; Civale, L.

2016-10-01

Bulk niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency cavities are a leading accelerator technology. Their performance is limited by the cavity loss and maximum acceleration gradient, which are negatively affected by vortex penetration into the superconductor when the peak magnetic field at the cavity wall surface exceeds the vortex penetration field (Hvp). It has been proposed that coating the inner wall of an SRF cavity with superconducting thin films increases Hvp. In this work, we utilized Nb ellipsoid to simulate an inverse SRF cavity and investigate the effect of coating it with magnesium diboride layer on the vortex penetration field. A significant enhancement of Hvp was observed. At 2.8 K, Hvp increased from 2100 Oe for an uncoated Nb ellipsoid to 2700 Oe for a Nb ellipsoid coated with ~200 nm thick MgB2 thin film. This finding creates a new route towards achieving higher acceleration gradient in SRF cavity accelerator beyond the theoretical limit of bulk Nb.

Magnesium diboride coated bulk niobium: a new approach to higher acceleration gradient.

PubMed

Tan, Teng; Wolak, M A; Xi, X X; Tajima, T; Civale, L

2016-10-24

Bulk niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency cavities are a leading accelerator technology. Their performance is limited by the cavity loss and maximum acceleration gradient, which are negatively affected by vortex penetration into the superconductor when the peak magnetic field at the cavity wall surface exceeds the vortex penetration field (H vp ). It has been proposed that coating the inner wall of an SRF cavity with superconducting thin films increases H vp . In this work, we utilized Nb ellipsoid to simulate an inverse SRF cavity and investigate the effect of coating it with magnesium diboride layer on the vortex penetration field. A significant enhancement of H vp was observed. At 2.8 K, H vp increased from 2100 Oe for an uncoated Nb ellipsoid to 2700 Oe for a Nb ellipsoid coated with ~200 nm thick MgB 2 thin film. This finding creates a new route towards achieving higher acceleration gradient in SRF cavity accelerator beyond the theoretical limit of bulk Nb.

Magnesium diboride coated bulk niobium: a new approach to higher acceleration gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civale, Leonardo; Tan, Teng; Wolak, M.; Xi, Xiaoxing; Tajima, Tsuyoshi

Bulk niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency cavities are a leading accelerator technology. Their performance is limited by the cavity loss and maximum acceleration gradient, which are negatively affected by vortex penetration into the superconductor when the peak magnetic field at the cavity wall surface exceeds the vortex penetration field (Hvp). It has been proposed that coating the inner wall of an SRF cavity with superconducting thin films increases Hvp. In this work, we utilized Nb ellipsoids to simulate an inverse SRF cavity and investigate the effect of coating it with magnesium diboride layer on the vortex penetration field. A significant enhancement of Hvp was observed. At 2.8 K, Hvp increased from 2100 Oe for an uncoated Nb ellipsoid to 2700 Oe for a Nb ellipsoid coated with 200 nm thick MgB2 thin film. This finding creates a new route towards achieving higher acceleration gradient in SRF cavity accelerator beyond the theoretical limit of bulk Nb.

Magnesium diboride coated bulk niobium: a new approach to higher acceleration gradient

PubMed Central

Tan, Teng; Wolak, M. A.; Xi, X. X.; Tajima, T.; Civale, L.

2016-01-01

Bulk niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency cavities are a leading accelerator technology. Their performance is limited by the cavity loss and maximum acceleration gradient, which are negatively affected by vortex penetration into the superconductor when the peak magnetic field at the cavity wall surface exceeds the vortex penetration field (Hvp). It has been proposed that coating the inner wall of an SRF cavity with superconducting thin films increases Hvp. In this work, we utilized Nb ellipsoid to simulate an inverse SRF cavity and investigate the effect of coating it with magnesium diboride layer on the vortex penetration field. A significant enhancement of Hvp was observed. At 2.8 K, Hvp increased from 2100 Oe for an uncoated Nb ellipsoid to 2700 Oe for a Nb ellipsoid coated with ~200 nm thick MgB2 thin film. This finding creates a new route towards achieving higher acceleration gradient in SRF cavity accelerator beyond the theoretical limit of bulk Nb. PMID:27775087

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Orbital nature of 81 ellipsoidal red giant binaries (Nie+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, J. D.; Wood, P. R.; Nicholls, C. P.

2017-08-01

The I-band light curve data we use are mainly from OGLE II (Udalski+ 1997AcA....47..319U; Soszynski+ 2004, J/AcA/54/347; Szymanski 2005AcA....55...43S), sometimes supplemented by OGLE III data if it is published. The radial velocities are provided by Nie & Wood (2014, J/AJ/148/118) for 79 ellipsoidal variables, by Nicholls+ (2010, J/MNRAS/405/1770) for their 11 ellipsoidal variables, and by Nicholls & Wood (2012, J/MNRAS/421/2616) for their 7 eccentric binaries. The light curve photometry, supplemented by K-band photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) catalog (Cutri+ 2003, II/246), provides the K magnitude and the I-K color. We adopted LMC distance modulus (DM) of 18.49 (de Grijs+ 2014AJ....147..122D) and reddening E(B-V)=0.08 (Keller & Wood 2006ApJ...642..834K). (1 data file).

Somigliana-Pizzetti gravity: the international gravity formula accurate to the sub-nanoGal level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardalan, A. A.; Grafarend, E. W.

2001-09-01

The Somigliana-Pizzetti gravity field (the International gravity formula), namely the gravity field of the level ellipsoid (the International Reference Ellipsoid), is derived to the sub-nanoGal accuracy level in order to fulfil the demands of modern gravimetry (absolute gravimeters, super conducting gravimeters, atomic gravimeters). Equations (53), (54) and (59) summarise Somigliana-Pizzetti gravity o({,u) as a function of Jacobi spheroidal latitude { and height u to the order ™(10m10 Gal), and o(B,H) as a function of Gauss (surface normal) ellipsoidal latitude B and height H to the order ™(10m10 Gal) as determined by GPS (`global problem solver'). Within the test area of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Somigliana-Pizzetti gravity disturbances of an average of 25.452 mGal were produced. Computer programs for an operational application of the new international gravity formula with (L,B,H) or (u,{,u) coordinate inputs to a sub-nanoGal level of accuracy are available on the Internet.

Four dimensional imaging of E. coli nucleoid organization and dynamics in living cells

PubMed Central

Fisher, J. K.; Bourniquel, A.; Witz, G.; Weiner, B.; Prentiss, M.; Kleckner, N.

2013-01-01

Visualization of living E. coli nucleoids, defined by HupA-mCherry, reveals a discrete, dynamic helical ellipsoid. Three basic features emerge. (i) Nucleoid density efficiently coalesces into longitudinal bundles, giving a stiff, low DNA density ellipsoid. (ii) This ellipsoid is radially confined within the cell cylinder. Radial confinement gives helical shape and drives and directs global nucleoid dynamics, including sister segregation. (iii) Longitudinal density waves flux back and forth along the nucleoid, with 5–10% of density shifting within 5s, enhancing internal nucleoid mobility. Furthermore, sisters separate end-to-end in sequential discontinuous pulses, each elongating the nucleoid by 5–15%. Pulses occur at 20min intervals, at defined cell cycle times. This progression is mediated by sequential installation and release of programmed tethers, implying cyclic accumulation and relief of intra-nucleoid mechanical stress. These effects could comprise a chromosome-based cell cycle engine. Overall, the presented results suggest a general conceptual framework for bacterial nucleoid morphogenesis and dynamics. PMID:23623305

Magnesium diboride coated bulk niobium: a new approach to higher acceleration gradient

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

Tan, Teng; Wolak, M. A.; Xi, X. X.

2016-10-24

Bulk niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency cavities are a leading accelerator technology. Their performance is limited by the cavity loss and maximum acceleration gradient, which are negatively affected by vortex penetration into the superconductor when the peak magnetic field at the cavity wall surface exceeds the vortex penetration field (H vp). It has been proposed that coating the inner wall of an SRF cavity with superconducting thin films increases H vp. In this work, we utilized Nb ellipsoid to simulate an inverse SRF cavity and investigate the effect of coating it with magnesium diboride layer on the vortex penetration field. A significantmore » enhancement of H vp was observed. At 2.8 K, H vp increased from 2100 Oe for an uncoated Nb ellipsoid to 2700 Oe for a Nb ellipsoid coated with ~200 nm thick MgB 2 thin film. In conclusion, this finding creates a new route towards achieving higher acceleration gradient in SRF cavity accelerator beyond the theoretical limit of bulk Nb.« less

All-optical temporal fractional order differentiator using an in-fiber ellipsoidal air-microcavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lihong; Sun, Shuqian; Li, Ming; Zhu, Ninghua

2017-12-01

An all-optical temporal fractional order differentiator with ultrabroad bandwidth (~1.6 THz) and extremely simple fabrication is proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on an in-fiber ellipsoidal air-microcavity. The ellipsoidal air-microcavity is fabricated by splicing a single mode fiber (SMF) and a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) together using a simple arc-discharging technology. By changing the arc-discharging times, the propagation loss can be adjusted and then the differentiation order is tuned. A nearly Gaussian-like optical pulse with 3 dB bandwidth of 8 nm is launched into the differentiator and a 0.65 order differentiation of the input pulse is achieved with a processing error of 2.55%. Project supported by the the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61522509, 61377002, 61535012), the National High-Tech Research & Development Program of China (No. SS2015AA011002), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No. 4152052). Ming Li was supported in part by the Thousand Young Talent Program.

76 FR 4820 - New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-27

... prices for their parcels when they pay postage by any of the following three methods: Permit imprint... permit imprint, meet specific mailing requirements, and whose account volume exceeds a minimum threshold... prices in a calendar year. Pay for postage using a permit imprint. Enter a minimum of 500 pieces of mail...

42 CFR 84.141 - Breathing gas; minimum requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... respirators shall be respirable breathing air and contain no less than 19.5 volume-percent of oxygen. (b... Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from American..._locations.html. (c) Compressed, liquefied breathing air shall meet the applicable minimum grade requirements...

75 FR 168 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Amending...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-04

... lower the minimum component stock weight requirement from 90% to 70% of the weight of the underlying... component stock trading volumes are determined on a global basis. Finally, as an option for meeting the... minimize potential manipulation. The Commission also believes that the proposed use of minimum notional...

30 CFR 250.1163 - How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon burning volumes, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned, to Office of Natural Resources Revenue on Form ONRR-4054... records detailing gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning for each facility for 6 years... minimum: (i) Daily volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned; (ii) Number of hours...

30 CFR 250.1163 - How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon burning volumes, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned, to Office of Natural Resources Revenue on Form ONRR-4054... records detailing gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning for each facility for 6 years... minimum: (i) Daily volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned; (ii) Number of hours...

30 CFR 250.1163 - How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon burning volumes, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned, to Office of Natural Resources Revenue on Form ONRR-4054... records detailing gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning for each facility for 6 years... minimum: (i) Daily volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned; (ii) Number of hours...

Libration-driven flows in ellipsoidal shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemasquerier, D.; Grannan, A. M.; Vidal, J.; Cébron, D.; Favier, B.; Le Bars, M.; Aurnou, J. M.

2017-09-01

Planets and satellites can undergo physical librations, which consist of forced periodic variations in their rotation rate induced by gravitational interactions with nearby bodies. This mechanical forcing may drive turbulence in interior fluid layers such as subsurface oceans and metallic liquid cores through a libration-driven elliptical instability (LDEI) that refers to the resonance of two inertial modes with the libration-induced base flow. LDEI has been studied in the case of a full ellipsoid. Here we address for the first time the question of the persistence of LDEI in the more geophysically relevant ellipsoidal shell geometries. In the experimental setup, an ellipsoidal container with spherical inner cores of different sizes is filled with water. Direct side view flow visualizations are made in the librating frame using Kalliroscope particles. A Fourier analysis of the light intensity fluctuations extracted from recorded movies shows that the presence of an inner core leads to spatial heterogeneities but does not prevent LDEI. Particle image velocimetry and direct numerical simulations are performed on selected cases to confirm our results. Additionally, our survey at a fixed forcing frequency and variable rotation period (i.e., variable Ekman number, E) shows that the libration amplitude at the instability threshold varies as ˜E0.65. This scaling is explained by a competition between surface and bulk dissipation. When extrapolating to planetary interior conditions, this leads to the E1/2 scaling commonly considered. We argue that Enceladus' subsurface ocean and the core of the exoplanet 55 CnC e should both be unstable to LDEI.

An oblate ellipsoidal approach to update a high-resolution geopotential model over the oceans: Study case of EGM2008 and DTU10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sebera, Josef; Bezděk, Aleš; Kostelecký, Jan; Pešek, Ivan; Shum, C. K.

2016-01-01

The most important high-resolution geopotential models such as EGM96 and EGM2008 have been released approximately once per decade. In light of the ability of modern satellite, airborne or terrestrial techniques to provide new data sets every year (e.g., in polar and ocean areas), these data can be readily included in existing models without waiting for a new release. In this article, we present a novel ellipsoidal approach for updating high-resolution models over the oceans with new gridded data. The problem is demonstrated using the EGM2008 model updated with DTU10 geoid and gravity grids that provide additional signal over the Arctic oceans. The result of the procedure are the ellipsoidal and the spherical harmonic coefficients up to degree 4320 and 4400, respectively. These coefficients represent the input data set to within 0.08 mGal globally, with the largest differences located at the land-ocean boundaries, which is two orders of magnitude less than real accuracy of gravity data from satellite altimetry. Along with the harmonic coefficients a detailed map of the second vertical derivative of the anomalous potential (or vertical gravitational gradient) on 1 arc-min grid is anticipated to improve or complement the original DTU10 geoid model. Finally, an optimized set of Jekeli's functions is provided as they allow for computing oblate ellipsoidal harmonics up to a very high degree and order (>10,000) in terms of the hypergeometric formulation.

Methods for the preparation and analysis of solids and suspended solids for methylmercury

USGS Publications Warehouse

DeWild, John F.; Olund, Shane D.; Olson, Mark L.; Tate, Michael T.

2004-01-01

This report presents the methods and method performance data for the determination of methylmercury concentrations in solids and suspended solids. Using the methods outlined here, the U.S. Geological Survey's Wisconsin District Mercury Laboratory can consistently detect methylmercury in solids and suspended solids at environmentally relevant concentrations. Solids can be analyzed wet or freeze dried with a minimum detection limit of 0.08 ng/g (as-processed). Suspended solids must first be isolated from aqueous matrices by filtration. The minimum detection limit for suspended solids is 0.01 ng per filter resulting in a minimum reporting limit ranging from 0.2 ng/L for a 0.05 L filtered volume to 0.01 ng/L for a 1.0 L filtered volume. Maximum concentrations for both matrices can be extended to cover nearly any amount of methylmercury by limiting sample size.

27 CFR 7.11 - Use of ingredients containing alcohol in malt beverages; processing of malt beverages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... by volume must derive a minimum of 2.55% alcohol by volume from the fermentation of barley malt and..., bitterness, or other characteristics derived from fermentation. [TTB T.D.-21, 70 FR 234, Jan. 3, 2005] ...

27 CFR 7.11 - Use of ingredients containing alcohol in malt beverages; processing of malt beverages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... by volume must derive a minimum of 2.55% alcohol by volume from the fermentation of barley malt and..., bitterness, or other characteristics derived from fermentation. [TTB T.D.-21, 70 FR 234, Jan. 3, 2005] ...

27 CFR 7.11 - Use of ingredients containing alcohol in malt beverages; processing of malt beverages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... by volume must derive a minimum of 2.55% alcohol by volume from the fermentation of barley malt and..., bitterness, or other characteristics derived from fermentation. [TTB T.D.-21, 70 FR 234, Jan. 3, 2005] ...

27 CFR 7.11 - Use of ingredients containing alcohol in malt beverages; processing of malt beverages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... by volume must derive a minimum of 2.55% alcohol by volume from the fermentation of barley malt and..., bitterness, or other characteristics derived from fermentation. [TTB T.D.-21, 70 FR 234, Jan. 3, 2005] ...

27 CFR 7.11 - Use of ingredients containing alcohol in malt beverages; processing of malt beverages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... by volume must derive a minimum of 2.55% alcohol by volume from the fermentation of barley malt and..., bitterness, or other characteristics derived from fermentation. [TTB T.D.-21, 70 FR 234, Jan. 3, 2005] ...

Scenario analysis of the benefit of municipal organic-waste composting over landfill, Cambodia.

PubMed

Seng, Bunrith; Hirayama, Kimiaki; Katayama-Hirayama, Keiko; Ochiai, Satoru; Kaneko, Hidehiro

2013-01-15

This paper presents insight into the benefits of organic waste recycling through composting over landfill, in terms of landfill life extension, compost product, and mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Future waste generation from 2003 to 2020 was forecast, and five scenarios of organic waste recycling in the municipality of Phnom Penh (MPP), Cambodia, were carried out. Organic waste-specifically food and garden waste-was used for composting, and the remaining waste was landfilled. The recycling scenarios were set based on organic waste generated from difference sources: households, restaurants, shops, markets, schools, hotels, offices, and street sweeping. Through the five scenarios, the minimum volume reductions of waste disposal were about 56, 123, and 219 m(3) d(-1) in 2003, 2012, and 2020, respectively, whereas the maximum volume reductions in these years were about 325, 643, and 1025 m(3) d(-1). These volume reductions reflect a landfill life extension of a minimum of half a year and a maximum of about four years. Compost product could be produced at a minimum of 14, 30, and 54 tons d(-1) in 2003, 2012, and 2020, respectively, and at a maximum in those years of about 80, 158, and 252 tons d(-1). At the same time benefit is gained in compost product, GHG emissions could be reduced by a minimum of 12.8% and a maximum of 65.0% from 2003 to 2020. This means about 3.23 (minimum) and 5.79 million tons CO(2)eq (maximum) contributed to GHG mitigation. In this regard, it is strongly recommended that MPP should try to initiate an organic-waste recycling strategy in a best fit scenario. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mass ratio from Doppler beaming and Rømer delay versus ellipsoidal modulation in the Kepler data of KOI-74

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloemen, S.; Marsh, T. R.; Degroote, P.; Østensen, R. H.; Pápics, P. I.; Aerts, C.; Koester, D.; Gänsicke, B. T.; Breedt, E.; Lombaert, R.; Pyrzas, S.; Copperwheat, C. M.; Exter, K.; Raskin, G.; Van Winckel, H.; Prins, S.; Pessemier, W.; Frémat, Y.; Hensberge, H.; Jorissen, A.; Van Eck, S.

2012-05-01

We present a light-curve analysis and radial velocity study of KOI-74, an eclipsing A star + white dwarf binary with a 5.2-d orbit. Aside from new spectroscopy covering the orbit of the system, we used 212 d of publicly available Kepler observations and present the first complete light-curve fitting to these data, modelling the eclipses and transits, ellipsoidal modulation, reflection and Doppler beaming. Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine the system parameters and uncertainty estimates. Our results are in agreement with earlier studies, except that we find an inclination of 87°.0 ± 0°.4, which is significantly lower than the previously published value. The altered inclination leads to different values for the relative radii of the two stars and therefore also the mass ratio deduced from the ellipsoidal modulations seen in this system. We find that the mass ratio derived from the radial velocity amplitude (q= 0.104 ± 0.004) disagrees with that derived from the ellipsoidal modulation (q= 0.052 ± 0.004 assuming corotation). This was found before, but with our smaller inclination, the discrepancy is even larger than previously reported. Accounting for the rapid rotation of the A-star, instead of assuming corotation with the binary orbit, is found to increase the discrepancy even further by lowering the mass ratio to q= 0.047 ± 0.004. These results indicate that one has to be extremely careful in using the amplitude of an ellipsoidal modulation signal in a close binary to determine the mass ratio, when a proof of corotation is not firmly established. The same problem could arise whenever an ellipsoidal modulation amplitude is used to derive the mass of a planet orbiting a host star that is not in corotation with the planet's orbit. The radial velocities that can be inferred from the detected Doppler beaming in the light curve are found to be in agreement with our spectroscopic radial velocity determination. We also report the first measurement of Rømer delay in a light curve of a compact binary. This delay amounts to -56 ± 17 s and is consistent with the mass ratio derived from the radial velocity amplitude. The firm establishment of this mass ratio at q= 0.104 ± 0.004 leaves little doubt that the companion of KOI-74 is a low-mass white dwarf.

The surface energy of water: functional implications of hexagonal/cuboidal transformations in the surface arrays.

PubMed

Widdas, W F

2006-10-30

Hyde's scientific book The Language of Shape has emphasized the importance of minimum surfaces in the structure of biological membranes. Minimum surfaces can be visualized as the property which brings many droplets of liquids to spherical bubbles, since a sphere has the minimum surface to volume ratio. Thus, a sphere with a surface of 4pir2 and volume of 4/3pir3 has a surface to volume ratio of 3/r, that is, the ratio is dependent upon the reciprocal of the radius. The chemistry of water as dihydrides of the electronegative element oxygen is fundamentally dependent upon its polar properties and particularly the delta positive charges on the hydrogen atoms and the double delta negative charge on the larger oxygen atom, which from its mass (16 Da) is regarded as the centre of the water molecules. The cohesion of water as a liquid or as semi-crystal like structures in the surface depends upon electrostatic forces that are comparable in strength to covalent bonds. This review discusses the functional implications of some unexpected properties which have been evinced by model building and illustrated as a Poster in the 4th World Congress of Cellular and Molecular Biology.

HPHT synthesis, structure and electrical properties of type-I clathrates Ba{sub 8}Al{sub x}Si{sub 46−x}

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

Liu, Binwu; Jia, Xiaopeng; Sun, Hairui

2016-01-15

Clathrate compounds Ba{sub 8}Al{sub x}Si{sub 46−x} were successfully synthesized using the method of high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT). In this process, we used BaSi{sub 2} as one of the starting materials in place of Ba metals, which reduces the complexity of the program caused by the extremely high chemical reactivity. By using this method, the processing time was reduced from few days to an hour. X-ray diffraction and structural refinement indicated this composition crystallized in type-I clathrate phase. Bond length analysis showed the Ba atoms in small dodecahedron had spherical thermal ellipsoids while those in large tetrakaidecahedron displayed anisotropic thermal ellipsoids.more » The negative Seebeck coefficient indicated transport processes were dominated by electrons as carriers, and increased with the increasing temperature. The electrical properties, including Seebeck coefficient and Power factor, were greatly enhanced by Al substitution. - Graphical abstract: Left: The cavity structure diagram of a China-type large volume cubic high-pressure apparatus, and the Type-I clathrate structure of sample synthesized using HPHT. Middle: X-ray Rietveld refinement profile for Ba{sub 8}Si{sub 46} and element mapping for Ba{sub 8}Al{sub 16}Si{sub 30}. Right: Temperature dependence of Seebeck coefficient for Ba{sub 8}Al{sub x}Si{sub 46−x} prepared by HPHT. - Highlights: • HPHT is a simple and rapid synthetic approach. • We use BaSi{sub 2} as one of the starting materials replacing Ba metals. • The processing time reduces from few days to an hour. • Structure determination is refined by Rietveld analysis of XRD data. • Variable temperature electrical properties are characterized.« less

SEVEN NEW BINARIES DISCOVERED IN THE KEPLER LIGHT CURVES THROUGH THE BEER METHOD CONFIRMED BY RADIAL-VELOCITY OBSERVATIONS

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

Faigler, S.; Mazeh, T.; Tal-Or, L.

We present seven newly discovered non-eclipsing short-period binary systems with low-mass companions, identified by the recently introduced BEER algorithm, applied to the publicly available 138-day photometric light curves obtained by the Kepler mission. The detection is based on the beaming effect (sometimes called Doppler boosting), which increases (decreases) the brightness of any light source approaching (receding from) the observer, enabling a prediction of the stellar Doppler radial-velocity (RV) modulation from its precise photometry. The BEER algorithm identifies the BEaming periodic modulation, with a combination of the well-known Ellipsoidal and Reflection/heating periodic effects, induced by short-period companions. The seven detections weremore » confirmed by spectroscopic RV follow-up observations, indicating minimum secondary masses in the range 0.07-0.4 M{sub Sun }. The binaries discovered establish for the first time the feasibility of the BEER algorithm as a new detection method for short-period non-eclipsing binaries, with the potential to detect in the near future non-transiting brown-dwarf secondaries, or even massive planets.« less

Manipulability, force, and compliance analysis for planar continuum manipulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gravagne, Ian A.; Walker, Ian D.

2002-01-01

Continuum manipulators, inspired by the natural capabilities of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles, may find niche applications in areas like human-robot interaction, multiarm manipulation, and unknown environment exploration. However, their true capabilities will remain largely inaccessible without proper analytical tools to evaluate their unique properties. Ellipsoids have long served as one of the foremost analytical tools available to the robotics researcher, and the purpose of this paper is to first formulate, and then to examine, three types of ellipsoids for continuum robots: manipulability, force, and compliance.

Quantum mechanics of a constrained particle on an ellipsoid: Bein formalism and Geometric momentum

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

Panahi, H., E-mail: t-panahi@guilan.ac.ir; Jahangiri, L., E-mail: laleh.jahangiry@yahoo.com

2016-09-15

In this work we apply the Dirac method in order to obtain the classical relations for a particle on an ellipsoid. We also determine the quantum mechanical form of these relations by using Dirac quantization. Then by considering the canonical commutation relations between the position and momentum operators in terms of curved coordinates, we try to propose the suitable representations for momentum operator that satisfy the obtained commutators between position and momentum in Euclidean space. We see that our representations for momentum operators are the same as geometric one.

Photometric geodesy of main-belt asteroids. II - Analysis of lightcurves for poles, periods, and shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drummond, J. D.; Weidenschilling, S. J.; Chapman, C. R.; Davis, D. R.

1988-01-01

The assumption that asteroids can be modeled as smooth, featureless, triaxial ellipsoids that rotate about their shortest axes is presently used to study all but one of the 26 asteroids treated in the Weidenschilling et al. (1987) 'photometric geodesy' program. Rotational poles derived from three independent methods are used to determine each asteroid's sidereal period and triaxial ellipsoid axial ratios, together with their associated photometric parameters. The asteroids appear to have rotational poles that do not lie along their orbital planes.

Development of high-order harmonic focusing system based on ellipsoidal mirror

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

Motoyama, H.; Takei, Y.; Kume, T.

2016-05-15

We have developed a focusing system for extreme ultraviolet light produced by high-order harmonic generation. An ellipsoidal mirror with a precise surface shape was fabricated and installed into the focusing system. A rigid mirror manipulator and a beam profiler were employed to perform precise and stable mirror alignment. As a demonstration of the focusing performance, high-order harmonics in the wavelength range of 13.5–19.5 nm were successfully focused into a 2.4 × 2.3 μm{sup 2} spot.

Triaxial ellipsoid dimensions and rotational poles of seven asteroids from Lick Observatory adaptive optics images, and of Ceres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drummond, Jack; Christou, Julian

2008-10-01

Seven main belt asteroids, 2 Pallas, 3 Juno, 4 Vesta, 16 Psyche, 87 Sylvia, 324 Bamberga, and 707 Interamnia, were imaged with the adaptive optics system on the 3 m Shane telescope at Lick Observatory in the near infrared, and their triaxial ellipsoid dimensions and rotational poles have been determined with parametric blind deconvolution. In addition, the dimensions and pole for 1 Ceres are derived from resolved images at multiple epochs, even though it is an oblate spheroid.

Manipulability, force, and compliance analysis for planar continuum manipulators.

PubMed

Gravagne, Ian A; Walker, Ian D

2002-06-01

Continuum manipulators, inspired by the natural capabilities of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles, may find niche applications in areas like human-robot interaction, multiarm manipulation, and unknown environment exploration. However, their true capabilities will remain largely inaccessible without proper analytical tools to evaluate their unique properties. Ellipsoids have long served as one of the foremost analytical tools available to the robotics researcher, and the purpose of this paper is to first formulate, and then to examine, three types of ellipsoids for continuum robots: manipulability, force, and compliance.

National Crime Information Center Mandatory Minimum Standards Curriculum for Full Access Terminal Operators. Volume Two--NCIC "Hot" Files.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC. National Crime Information Center.

This document is the second volume of a two-volume set of lesson plans that together make up a complete training package for full-service terminal operators. The lesson plans are designed to ensure that a state's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) training program meets Advisory Policy Board standards. (NCIC is a nationwide computerized…

A decision-making tool to determine economic feasibility and break-even prices for artisan cheese operations.

PubMed

Durham, Catherine A; Bouma, Andrea; Meunier-Goddik, Lisbeth

2015-12-01

Artisan cheese makers lack access to valid economic data to help them evaluate business opportunities and make important business decisions such as determining cheese pricing structure. The objective of this study was to utilize an economic model to evaluate the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return, and payback period for artisan cheese production at different annual production volumes. The model was also used to determine the minimum retail price necessary to ensure positive NPV for 5 different cheese types produced at 4 different production volumes. Milk type, cheese yield, and aging time all affected variable costs. However, aged cheeses required additional investment for aging space (which needs to be larger for longer aging times), as did lower yield cheeses (by requiring larger-volume equipment for pasteurization and milk handling). As the volume of milk required increased, switching from vat pasteurization to high-temperature, short-time pasteurization was necessary for low-yield cheeses before being required for high-yield cheeses, which causes an additional increase in investment costs. Because of these differences, high-moisture, fresh cow milk cheeses can be sold for about half the price of hard, aged goat milk cheeses at the largest production volume or for about two-thirds the price at the lowest production volume examined. For example, for the given model assumptions, at an annual production of 13,608kg of cheese (30,000 lb), a fresh cow milk mozzarella should be sold at a minimum retail price of $27.29/kg ($12.38/lb), whereas a goat milk Gouda needs a minimum retail price of $49.54/kg ($22.47/lb). Artisan cheese makers should carefully evaluate annual production volumes. Although larger production volumes decrease average fixed cost and improve production efficiency, production can reach volumes where it becomes necessary to sell through distributors. Because distributors might pay as little as 35% of retail price, the retail price needs to be higher to compensate. An artisan cheese company that has not achieved the recognition needed to achieve a premium price may not find distribution through distributors profitable. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart III of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... determining compliance using this method Cadmium 0.004 milligrams per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of part 60). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Eeee of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... determiningcompliance using this method 1. Cadmium 18 micrograms per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Method 29 of appendix A of this part. 2. Carbon monoxide 40 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run during performance test), and 12-hour...

40 CFR 63.1385 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... applicable emission limits: (1) Method 1 (40 CFR part 60, appendix A) for the selection of the sampling port location and number of sampling ports; (2) Method 2 (40 CFR part 60, appendix A) for volumetric flow rate.... Each run shall consist of a minimum run time of 2 hours and a minimum sample volume of 60 dry standard...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart III of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... determining compliance using this method Cadmium 0.004 milligrams per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of part 60). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Eeee of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... determiningcompliance using this method 1. Cadmium 18 micrograms per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Method 29 of appendix A of this part. 2. Carbon monoxide 40 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run during performance test), and 12-hour...

40 CFR 60.1750 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1750 Section 60.1750 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY..., 1999 Model Rule-Continuous Emission Monitoring § 60.1750 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data... only), and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

40 CFR 60.1750 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1750 Section 60.1750 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY..., 1999 Model Rule-Continuous Emission Monitoring § 60.1750 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data... only), and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

40 CFR 60.1750 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1750 Section 60.1750 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY..., 1999 Model Rule-Continuous Emission Monitoring § 60.1750 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data... only), and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

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

Lee, Y; Fullerton, G; Goins, B

Purpose: In our previous study a preclinical multi-modality quality assurance (QA) phantom that contains five tumor-simulating test objects with 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14 mm diameters was developed for accurate tumor size measurement by researchers during cancer drug development and testing. This study analyzed the errors during tumor volume measurement from preclinical magnetic resonance (MR), micro-computed tomography (micro- CT) and ultrasound (US) images acquired in a rodent tumor model using the preclinical multi-modality QA phantom. Methods: Using preclinical 7-Tesla MR, US and micro-CT scanners, images were acquired of subcutaneous SCC4 tumor xenografts in nude rats (3–4 rats per group;more » 5 groups) along with the QA phantom using the same imaging protocols. After tumors were excised, in-air micro-CT imaging was performed to determine reference tumor volume. Volumes measured for the rat tumors and phantom test objects were calculated using formula V = (π/6)*a*b*c where a, b and c are the maximum diameters in three perpendicular dimensions determined by the three imaging modalities. Then linear regression analysis was performed to compare image-based tumor volumes with the reference tumor volume and known test object volume for the rats and the phantom respectively. Results: The slopes of regression lines for in-vivo tumor volumes measured by three imaging modalities were 1.021, 1.101 and 0.862 for MRI, micro-CT and US respectively. For phantom, the slopes were 0.9485, 0.9971 and 0.9734 for MRI, micro-CT and US respectively. Conclusion: For both animal and phantom studies, random and systematic errors were observed. Random errors were observer-dependent and systematic errors were mainly due to selected imaging protocols and/or measurement method. In the animal study, there were additional systematic errors attributed to ellipsoidal assumption for tumor shape. The systematic errors measured using the QA phantom need to be taken into account to reduce measurement errors during the animal study.« less

Clinical Toxicities and Dosimetric Parameters After Whole-Pelvis Versus Prostate-Only Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

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

Deville, Curtiland, E-mail: deville@uphs.upenn.ed; Both, Stefan; Hwang, Wei-Ting

2010-11-01

Purpose: To assess whether whole-pelvis (WP) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is associated with increased toxicity compared with prostate-only (PO) IMRT. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with prostate cancer undergoing definitive IMRT to 79.2 Gy with concurrent androgen deprivation at our institution from November 2005 to May 2007 with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Thirty patients received initial WP IMRT to 45 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions, and thirty patients received PO IMRT. Study patients underwent computed tomography simulation and treatment planning by use of predefined dose constraints. Bladder and rectal dose-volume histograms, maximum genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinalmore » (GI) Radiation Therapy Oncology Group toxicity grade, and late Grade 2 or greater toxicity-free survival curves were compared between the two groups by use of the Student t test, Fisher exact test, and Kaplan-Meier curve, respectively. Results: Bladder minimum dose, mean dose, median dose, volume receiving 5 Gy, volume receiving 20 Gy, volume receiving 40 Gy, and volume receiving 45 Gy and rectal minimum dose, median dose, and volume receiving 20 Gy were significantly increased in the WP group (all p values < 0.01). Maximum acute GI toxicity was limited to Grade 2 and was significantly increased in the WP group at 50% vs. 13% the PO group (p = 0.006). With a median follow-up of 24 months (range, 12-35 months), there was no difference in late GI toxicity (p = 0.884) or in acute or late GU toxicity. Conclusions: Despite dosimetric differences in the volume of bowel, bladder, and rectum irradiated in the low-dose and median-dose regions, WP IMRT results only in a clinically significant increase in acute GI toxicity, in comparison to PO IMRT, with no difference in GU or late GI toxicity.« less

``Ideal glassformers'' vs ``ideal glasses'': Studies of crystal-free routes to the glassy state by ``potential tuning'' molecular dynamics, and laboratory calorimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapko, Vitaliy; Zhao, Zuofeng; Matyushov, Dmitry V.; Austen Angell, C.

2013-03-01

The ability of some liquids to vitrify during supercooling is usually seen as a consequence of the rates of crystal nucleation (and/or crystal growth) becoming small [D. R. Uhlmann, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 7, 337 (1972), 10.1016/0022-3093(72)90269-4] - and thus a matter of kinetics. However, there is evidence dating back to the empirics of coal briquetting for maximum trucking efficiency [D. Frenkel, Physics 3, 37 (2010), 10.1103/Physics.3.37] that some object shapes find little advantage in self-assembly to ordered structures - meaning random packings prevail. Noting that key studies of non-spherical object packing have never been followed from hard ellipsoids [A. Donev, F. H. Stillinger, P. M. Chaikin, and S. Torquato, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 255506 (2004), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.255506; A. Donev, I. Cisse, D. Sachs, E. A. Variano, F. H. Stillinger, R. Connelly, S. Torquato, and P. M. Chaikin, Science 303, 990 (2004), 10.1126/science.1093010] or spherocylinders [S. R. Williams and A. P. Philipse, Phys. Rev. E 67, 051301 (2003), 10.1103/PhysRevE.67.051301] (diatomics excepted [S.-H. Chong, A. J. Moreno, F. Sciortino, and W. Kob, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 215701 (2005), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.215701] into the world of molecules with attractive forces, we have made a molecular dynamics study of crystal melting and glass formation on the Gay-Berne (G-B) model of ellipsoidal objects [J. G. Gay and B. J. Berne, J. Chem. Phys. 74, 3316 (1981), 10.1063/1.441483] across the aspect ratio range of the hard ellipsoid studies. Here, we report that in the aspect ratio range of maximum ellipsoid packing efficiency, various G-B crystalline states that cannot be obtained directly from the liquid, disorder spontaneously near 0 K and transform to liquids without any detectable enthalpy of fusion. Without claiming to have proved the existence of single component examples, we use the present observations, together with our knowledge of non-ideal mixing effects, to discuss the probable existence of "ideal glassformers" - single or multicomponent liquids that vitrify before ever becoming metastable with respect to crystals. We find evidence that "ideal glassformer" systems might also be highly fragile systems, approaching the "ideal glass" condition. We link this to the high "volume fragility" behavior observed in recent hard dumbbell studies at similar length/diameter ratios [R. Zhang and K. S. Schweitzer, J. Chem. Phys. 133, 104902 (2010), 10.1063/1.3483601]. The discussion suggests some unusual systems for laboratory study. Using differential scanning calorimetry detection of fusion points Tm, liquidus temperatures Tl, and glass transition temperatures Tg, we describe a system that would seem incapable of crystallizing before glass transition, i.e., an "ideal glassformer." The existence of crystal-free routes to the glassy state will eliminate precrystalline fluctuations as a source of the dynamic heterogeneities that are generally considered important in the discussion of the "glassy state problem [P. W. Anderson, Science 267, 1615 (1995), 10.1126/science.267.5204.1615-e]."

The Three-dimensional Structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramanian, Smitha; Subramaniam, Annapurni

2012-01-01

The three-dimensional structure of the inner Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is investigated using the red clump (RC) stars and the RR Lyrae stars (RRLS), which represent the intermediate-age and the old stellar populations of a galaxy. The V- and I-band photometric data from the OGLE III catalog are used for our study. The mean dereddened I 0 magnitude of the RC stars and the RRLS are used to study the relative positions of the different regions in the SMC with respect to the mean SMC distance. This shows that the northeastern part of the SMC is closer to us. The line-of-sight depth (front to back distance) across the SMC is estimated using the dispersion in the I 0 magnitudes of both the RC stars and the RRLS and found to be large (~14 kpc) for both populations. The similarity in their depth distribution suggests that both of these populations occupy a similar volume of the SMC. The surface density distribution and the radial density profile of the RC stars suggest that they are more likely to be distributed in a nearly spheroidal system. The tidal radius estimated for the SMC system is ~7-12 kpc. An elongation along the NE-SW direction is seen in the surface density map of the RC stars. The surface density distribution of the RRLS in the SMC is nearly circular. Based on all of the above results the observed structure of the SMC, in which both the RC stars and RRLS are distributed, is approximated as a triaxial ellipsoid. The parameters of the ellipsoid are obtained using the inertia tensor analysis. We estimated the axes ratio, inclination of the longest axis with the line of sight (i), and the position angle (phi) of the longest axis of the ellipsoid on the sky from the analysis of the RRLS. The analysis of the RC stars with the assumption that they are extended up to a depth of 3.5 times the sigma (width of dereddened I 0 magnitude distribution, corrected for intrinsic spread and observational errors) was also found to give similar axes ratio and orientation angles. The above estimated parameters depend on the data coverage of the SMC. Using the RRLS with equal coverage in all three axes (data within 3° in X-, Y-, and Z-axes), we estimated an axes ratio of 1:1.33:1.61 with i = 2fdg6 and phi = 70fdg2. Our tidal radius estimates and the recent observational studies suggest that the full extent of the SMC in the XY plane is of the order of the front to back distance estimated along the line of sight. These results suggest that the structure of the SMC is spheroidal or slightly ellipsoidal. We propose that the SMC experienced a merger with another dwarf galaxy at ~4-5 Gyr ago, and the merger process was completed in another 2-3 Gyr. This resulted in a spheroidal distribution comprising stars older than 2 Gyr.

Histologic Evaluation of Micronized AlloDerm After Injection Laryngoplasty in a Rabbit Model.

PubMed

Oldenburg, Michael S; Janus, Jeff; Voss, Steve; San Marina, Serban; Chen, Tiffany; Garcia, Joaquin; Ekbom, Dale

2017-05-01

Micronized AlloDerm is a commonly used injectable material for injection laryngoplasty; however, the histologic response to laryngeal implantation and resorption rate over time have not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo response of micronized AlloDerm over time after laryngeal implantation using a rabbit model. Animal model. The left recurrent laryngeal nerve was sectioned in five New Zealand White rabbits to create a vocal cord paralysis. Two weeks later, injection laryngoplasty was performed with 100 μL of micronized AlloDerm. Animals were sacrificed 4 (two rabbits) and 12 (three rabbits) weeks after injection. Histologic sections were stained and evaluated by a single pathologist. Volume estimates were made by assuming the implant took an ellipsoid shape using dimensions calculated from histologic slides. In all cases, histological analysis revealed a lymphocytic inflammatory response infiltrating the peripheral margins of injection. After 4 weeks, the volume of injected material remaining in two rabbits was 404 and 278 mm 3 (average 341 mm 3 ). After 12 weeks, the volume of injected material remaining in three rabbits was 0, 61, and 124 mm 3 (average 62 mm 3 ), an 82% difference in volume of material between animals sacrificed at 4 weeks versus 12 weeks. Injection laryngoplasty using micronized AlloDerm induces a lymphocytic inflammatory response after injection in a rabbit model. Though a significant amount of material remains after 4 weeks, by 12 weeks the majority has been reabsorbed. NA Laryngoscope, 127:E166-E169, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

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

Brown, A. D.; Pham, Q.; Fortin, E. V.

Here, three-dimensional x-ray tomography (XRT) provides a nondestructive technique to characterize the size, shape, and location of damage in dynamically loaded metals. A shape-fitting method comprising the inertia tensors of individual damage sites was applied to study differences of spall damage development in face-centered-cubic (FCC) and hexagonal-closed-packed (HCP) multicrystals and for a suite of experiments on high-purity copper to examine the influence of loading kinetics on the spall damage process. Applying a volume-weighted average to the best-fit ellipsoidal aspect-ratios allows a quantitative assessment for determining the extent of damage coalescence present in a shocked metal. It was found that incipientmore » transgranular HCP spall damage nucleates in a lenticular shape and is heavily oriented along particular crystallographic slip directions. In polycrystalline materials, shape distributions indicate that a decrease in the tensile loading rate leads to a transition to coalesced damage dominance and that the plastic processes driving void growth are time dependent.« less

Research on conformal dome of Karman-curve shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yunqiang; Chang, Jun; Niu, Yajun

2018-01-01

Because the conformal optical technology can obviously improve the aerodynamic performance of the infrared guidance missile, it has been studied deeply in recent years. By comparing the performance of the missiles with conformal dome and conventional missiles, the advantages of the conformal optical technology are demonstrated in the maneuverability and stealth of the missile. At present, the study of conformal optical systems focuses on ellipsoid or quadratic curve types. But in actual use, the dome using these curves is not the best choice. In this paper, the influence of different shape of the dome on aerodynamic performance, aerodynamic heating, internal space volume and other properties is discussed. The result shows infrared optical system with conformal dome of Karman-curve shape has a good application prospect, is the future direction of development. Finally, the difficult problems of conformal dome of Karman-curve shape are discussed.

Sedimentation and gravitational instability of Escherichia coli Suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salin, Dominique; Douarche, Carine

2017-11-01

The successive runs and tumbles of Escherichia coli bacteria provide an active matter suspension of rod-like particles with a large swimming, Brownian like, diffusion. As opposed to inactive elongated particles, this diffusion prevents clustering of the particles and hence instability in the gravity field. We measure the time dependent E . coli concentration profile during their sedimentation. After some hours, due to the dioxygen consumption, a motile / non-motile front forms leading to a Rayleigh-Taylor type gravitational instability. Analysing both sedimentation and instability in the framework of active particle suspensions, we can measure the relevant bacteria hydrodynamic characteristics such as its single particle sedimentation velocity and its hindrance volume. Comparing these quantities to the ones of equivalent passive particles (ellipsoid, rod) we tentatively infer the effective shape and size of the bacteria involved in its buoyancy induced advection and diffusion. Laboratoire FAST University Paris Saclay France.

Deviation of paleomagnetic directions on basaltic lava flows determined by rock magnetic fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, Pedro; Henry, Bernard; Gallet, Yves; Martins, Sofia; Lopes, Ana; Moreira, Mário; Genevey, Agnès; Mata, João; Nunes, João; Neres, Marta; Meriaux, Anne-Sophie; Madeira, José

2016-04-01

Some paleomagnetic works conducted in lava flows retrieve characteristic remanent directions that shows an inclination shallowing relatively to the expected Geocentric Axial Dipole. Contributions of non-dipole components to the resultant Earth magnetic field and/or deficient time covering of the paleosecular variation are the most pointed causes for such shallowing. Another, but often overlooked source of shallowing, is the magnetic anisotropy carried by lava flows. In order to bring more insights about this research topic, four historical basaltic lava flows (corresponding to nine sampled sites) from Azores (Terceira and Pico islands) were studied. Detailed paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric analyses (anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility AMS and of anhysteretic remanence AARM) were complemented by petrographic observations of oriented thin sections. Our study shows that the majority of the analysed sites display a low degree of anisotropy (corrected degrees of anisotropy, Pj, lower than 1.03), sometimes accompanied by exchanges between principal axes of the magnetic susceptibility ellipsoid. For such cases the corresponding paleomagnetic directions are well grouped with a Fisher distribution. The sites, where Pj is higher than 1.03 (reaching 1.15), present a triaxial magnetic susceptibility ellipsoid and the paleomagnetic directions show a lengthened distribution. Spatial distribution of AMS and AARM ellipsoids axes are very similar. Petrographic observations show flow structures that agree with AMS and AARM ellipsoid. Comparing AMS and main paleomagnetic directions retrieved for lava flows with the highest anisotropy, 20° variation in inclination of paleomagnetic directions is observed. This inclination varies almost linearly with the degree of anisotropy through an inverse correlation. A shift of paleomagnetic declinations is also observed, which agrees with changes in the direction of the maximum principal axes of AMS ellipsoid. These results clearly show that paleomagnetic directions on basaltic rocks can be strongly deviated from the field direction. Accordingly, preliminary analyses of rock fabrics (magnetic and microstructural) are fundamental for such kind of paleomagnetic works. The author wish to acknowledge REGENA project (PTDC/GEO-FIQ/3648/2012) for its major contribution without which this work wouldn't be possible. Publication supported by project FCT UID/GEO/50019/2013 - Instituto Dom Luiz.

Thermal Phase Variations of WASP-12b: Defying Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cowan, Nicolas B.; Machalek, Pavel; Croll, Bryce; Shekhtman, Louis M.; Burrows, Adam; Deming, Drake; Greene, Tom; Hora, Joseph L.

2012-01-01

We report Warm Spitzer full-orbit phase observations of WASP-12b at 3.6 and 4.5 micrometers. This extremely inflated hot Jupiter is thought to be overflowing its Roche lobe, undergoing mass loss and accretion onto its host star, and has been claimed to have a C/O ratio in excess of unity. We are able to measure the transit depths, eclipse depths, thermal and ellipsoidal phase variations at both wavelengths. The large-amplitude phase variations, combined with the planet's previously measured dayside spectral energy distribution, are indicative of non-zero Bond albedo and very poor day-night heat redistribution. The transit depths in the mid-infrared-(R(sub p)/R(sub *))(sup 2) = 0.0123(3) and 0.0111(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 micrometers, respectively-indicate that the atmospheric opacity is greater at 3.6 than at 4.5 micrometers, in disagreement with model predictions, irrespective of C/O ratio. The secondary eclipse depths are consistent with previous studies: F(sub day)/F(sub *) = 0.0038(4) and 0.0039(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 micrometers, respectively. We do not detect ellipsoidal variations at 3.6 micrometers, but our parameter uncertainties-estimated via prayer-bead Monte Carlo-keep this non-detection consistent with model predictions. At 4.5 micrometers, on the other hand, we detect ellipsoidal variations that are much stronger than predicted. If interpreted as a geometric effect due to the planet's elongated shape, these variations imply a 3:2 ratio for the planet's longest:shortest axes and a relatively bright day-night terminator. If we instead presume that the 4.5 micrometer ellipsoidal variations are due to uncorrected systematic noise and we fix the amplitude of the variations to zero, the best-fit 4.5 micrometer transit depth becomes commensurate with the 3.6 micrometer depth, within the uncertainties. The relative transit depths are then consistent with a solar composition and short scale height at the terminator. Assuming zero ellipsoidal variations also yields a much deeper 4.5 micrometer eclipse depth, consistent with a solar composition and modest temperature inversion. We suggest future observations that could distinguish between these two scenarios.

Thermal Phase Variations of WASP-12b: Defying Predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowan, Nicolas B.; Machalek, Pavel; Croll, Bryce; Shekhtman, Louis M.; Burrows, Adam; Deming, Drake; Greene, Tom; Hora, Joseph L.

2012-03-01

We report Warm Spitzer full-orbit phase observations of WASP-12b at 3.6 and 4.5 μm. This extremely inflated hot Jupiter is thought to be overflowing its Roche lobe, undergoing mass loss and accretion onto its host star, and has been claimed to have a C/O ratio in excess of unity. We are able to measure the transit depths, eclipse depths, thermal and ellipsoidal phase variations at both wavelengths. The large-amplitude phase variations, combined with the planet's previously measured dayside spectral energy distribution, are indicative of non-zero Bond albedo and very poor day-night heat redistribution. The transit depths in the mid-infrared—(Rp /R *)2 = 0.0123(3) and 0.0111(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 μm, respectively—indicate that the atmospheric opacity is greater at 3.6 than at 4.5 μm, in disagreement with model predictions, irrespective of C/O ratio. The secondary eclipse depths are consistent with previous studies: F day/F * = 0.0038(4) and 0.0039(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 μm, respectively. We do not detect ellipsoidal variations at 3.6 μm, but our parameter uncertainties—estimated via prayer-bead Monte Carlo—keep this non-detection consistent with model predictions. At 4.5 μm, on the other hand, we detect ellipsoidal variations that are much stronger than predicted. If interpreted as a geometric effect due to the planet's elongated shape, these variations imply a 3:2 ratio for the planet's longest:shortest axes and a relatively bright day-night terminator. If we instead presume that the 4.5 μm ellipsoidal variations are due to uncorrected systematic noise and we fix the amplitude of the variations to zero, the best-fit 4.5 μm transit depth becomes commensurate with the 3.6 μm depth, within the uncertainties. The relative transit depths are then consistent with a solar composition and short scale height at the terminator. Assuming zero ellipsoidal variations also yields a much deeper 4.5 μm eclipse depth, consistent with a solar composition and modest temperature inversion. We suggest future observations that could distinguish between these two scenarios.

Precession Driven Instabilities and Dynamos in the Early Moon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cebron, D.; Laguerre, R.; Noir, J.; Vidal, J.; Schaeffer, N.

2017-12-01

The Early Moon magnetic fields are probably due to a strong temporary dynamo, which may be due to lunar precession [1]. However, precession driven dynamos remain badly known, with only few studied cases [2,3,4]. Given the uncertainties of the early Moon precession, wider ranges of parameters need to be explored in order to assess if such lunar dynamos are possible. Using the efficient dynamo code XSHELLS, we have thus performed many simulations of precessing spherical shells, varying the parameters in a systematic way. This allows us to characterize the various excited instabilities, and to propose scaling laws. We also obtain that precession driven dynamos seem scarce and weak in our simulations, which makes difficult and uncertain the extrapolation of these dynamos to the Moon. However, our dynamo simulations, as every other in the literature, neglect the topographic torque effect on instabilities in order to use fast spectral codes [5]. By contrast, the topographic torque is dominant for the lunar core. Before exploring this effect numerically, which is a real challenge, we choose to study it theoretically. To do so, we have developed a novel global linear stability analysis of mechanically-driven flows in triaxial ellipsoids, with leading order viscous effects. Internal dissipation is obtained for the first time by extending the Greenspan's theory (1968) of geostrophic and inertial modes. By contrast with pioneering theories [6], we propose a new linear viscous model valid in arbitrary ellipsoid and for any precessing forcing. Then we perform the linear stability analysis by considering ellipsoidal perturbations of unprecedented spatial complexity with a self-consistent model of viscous damping. We show that forced precession-driven basic flows are bistable in triaxial ellipsoids. Then, we present the first stability analysis of precessing-flows in triaxial ellipsoids. [1] Dwyer et al. (2011), Nature, 479, 212-214.[2] Tilgner (2005), Phy. Fluids, 17, 034104.[3] Tilgner (2007), Geo. Astro. Fluid Dyn., 101 (1), 1-9.[4] Lin et al. (2016), Phys. Fluids, 28, 066601.[5] Tian et al., EPSL, in revision.[6] Busse (1968), J. Fluid. Mech, 33 (04), 739-751.

A different approach to X-ray stress analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogilvie, Robert E.

2007-07-01

A different approach to X-ray stress analysis has been developed. At the outset, it must be noted that the material to be analyzed is assumed homogeneous and isotropic. If a sphere with radius r within a specimen is subjected to a state of stress, the sphere is deformed into an ellipsoid. The semi-axes of the ellipsoid have the values of ( r + ɛx), ( r + ɛy), and ( r + ɛz), which are replaced by dx, dy, and dz, or for the cubic case, ax, ay, and az. In this technique, at a particular ϕ angle (see Fig. 1), the two-theta position of a high angle (hkl) peak is determined at ψ angles of 0, 15, 30, and 45°. These measurements are repeated for 3 to 6 ϕ angles in steps of 30°. The dϕψ or aϕψ values are then determined from the peak positions. The data is then fitted to the general quadratic equation for an ellipsoid by the method of least squares. From the coefficients of the quadratic equation, the angle between the laboratory and the specimen coordinates (direction of the principle stress) can be determined. Applying the general rotation of axes equations to the quadratic, the equation of the ellipse in the x- y plane is determined. The ax, ay, and az values for the principal axes of the lattice parameter ellipsoid are then evaluated. It is then possible to determine the unstressed a0 value from Hooke's Law using ax, ay, and az. The magnitude of the principal strains/stresses is then determined.

Spectral infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements for LDEF tray clamps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Bobby E.; Cromwell, Brian K.; Pender, Charles W.; Shepherd, Seth D.

1992-01-01

This paper describes infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements (2-15 microns) that were made on 58 chromic acid anodized tray clamps retrieved from the LDEF spacecraft. These clamps were used for maintaining the experiments in place and were located at various locations about the spacecraft. Changes in reflectance of the tray clamps at these locations were compared with atomic oxygen fluxes at the same locations. A decrease in absorption band depth was seen for the surfaces exposed to space indicating that there was some surface layer erosion. In all of the surfaces measured, little evidence of contamination was observed and none of the samples showed evidence of the brown nicotine stain that was so prominent in other experiments. Total emissivity values were calculated for both exposed and unexposed tray clamp surfaces. Only small differences, usually less than 1 percent, were observed. The spectral reflectances were measured using a hemi-ellipsoidal mirror reflectometer matched with an interferometer spectrometer. The rapid scanning capability of the interferometer allowed the reflectance measurements to be made in a timely fashion. The ellipsoidal mirror has its two foci separated by 2 inches and located on the major axis. A blackbody source was located at one focus while the tray clamp samples were located at the conjugate focus. The blackbody radiation was modulated and then focused by the ellipsoid onto the tray clamps. Radiation reflected from the tray clamp was sampled by the interferometer by viewing through a hole in the ellipsoid. A gold mirror (reflectance approximately 98 percent) was used as the reference surface.

Analysis of nodal coverage utilizing image guided radiation therapy for primary gynecologic tumor volumes

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

Ahmed, Faisal; Loma Linda University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Loma Linda, CA; Sarkar, Vikren

Purpose: To evaluate radiation dose delivered to pelvic lymph nodes, if daily Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) was implemented with treatment shifts based on the primary site (primary clinical target volume [CTV]). Our secondary goal was to compare dosimetric coverage with patient outcomes. Materials and methods: A total of 10 female patients with gynecologic malignancies were evaluated retrospectively after completion of definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to their pelvic lymph nodes and primary tumor site. IGRT consisted of daily kilovoltage computed tomography (CT)-on-rails imaging fused with initial planning scans for position verification. The initial plan was created using Varian's Eclipsemore » treatment planning software. Patients were treated with a median radiation dose of 45 Gy (range: 37.5 to 50 Gy) to the primary volume and 45 Gy (range: 45 to 64.8 Gy) to nodal structures. One IGRT scan per week was randomly selected from each patient's treatment course and re-planned on the Eclipse treatment planning station. CTVs were recreated by fusion on the IGRT image series, and the patient's treatment plan was applied to the new image set to calculate delivered dose. We evaluated the minimum, maximum, and 95% dose coverage for primary and nodal structures. Reconstructed primary tumor volumes were recreated within 4.7% of initial planning volume (0.9% to 8.6%), and reconstructed nodal volumes were recreated to within 2.9% of initial planning volume (0.01% to 5.5%). Results: Dosimetric parameters averaged less than 10% (range: 1% to 9%) of the original planned dose (45 Gy) for primary and nodal volumes on all patients (n = 10). For all patients, ≥99.3% of the primary tumor volume received ≥ 95% the prescribed dose (V95%) and the average minimum dose was 96.1% of the prescribed dose. In evaluating nodal CTV coverage, ≥ 99.8% of the volume received ≥ 95% the prescribed dose and the average minimum dose was 93%. In evaluating individual IGRT sessions, we found that 6 patients had an estimated minimal nodal CTV dose less than 90% (range: 78 to 99%) of that planned. With a median follow-up of 42.5 months, 2 patients experienced systemic disease progression at an average of 19.6 months. One patient was found to have a local or regional failure with an average follow-up of 42 months. Conclusion: Using only 3 dimensional IGRT corrections in gynecological radiation allows excellent coverage of the primary target volume and good average nodal CTV coverage. If IGRT corrections are based on alignment to the primary tumor volume, and is only able to be corrected in 3 degrees, this can create situations in which nodal volumes may be under dosed. Utilizing multiple IGRT sessions appears to average out dose discrepancies over the course of treatment. The implication of underdosing in a single IGRT session needs further evaluation in future studies. Based on the concern of minimum dose to a nodal target volume, these findings may signal caution when using IGRT and IMRT in gynecological radiation patients. Possible techniques to overcome this situation may include averaging shifts between tumor and nodal volume, use of a treatment couch with 6° of freedom, deformable registration, or adaptive planning.« less

The Backscattering Phase Function for a Sphere with a Two-Scale Relief of Rough Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klass, E. V.

2017-12-01

The backscattering of light from spherical surfaces characterized by one and two-scale roughness reliefs has been investigated. The analysis is performed using the three-dimensional Monte-Carlo program POKS-RG (geometrical-optics approximation), which makes it possible to take into account the roughness of objects under study by introducing local geometries of different levels. The geometric module of the program is aimed at describing objects by equations of second-order surfaces. One-scale roughness is set as an ensemble of geometric figures (convex or concave halves of ellipsoids or cones). The two-scale roughness is modeled by convex halves of ellipsoids, with surface containing ellipsoidal pores. It is shown that a spherical surface with one-scale convex inhomogeneities has a flatter backscattering phase function than a surface with concave inhomogeneities (pores). For a sphere with two-scale roughness, the dependence of the backscattering intensity is found to be determined mostly by the lower-level inhomogeneities. The influence of roughness on the dependence of the backscattering from different spatial regions of spherical surface is analyzed.

Forward calculation of gravity and its gradient using polyhedral representation of density interfaces: an application of spherical or ellipsoidal topographic gravity effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi; Chen, Chao

2018-02-01

A density interface modeling method using polyhedral representation is proposed to construct 3-D models of spherical or ellipsoidal interfaces such as the terrain surface of the Earth and applied to forward calculating gravity effect of topography and bathymetry for regional or global applications. The method utilizes triangular facets to fit undulation of the target interface. The model maintains almost equal accuracy and resolution at different locations of the globe. Meanwhile, the exterior gravitational field of the model, including its gravity and gravity gradients, is obtained simultaneously using analytic solutions. Additionally, considering the effect of distant relief, an adaptive computation process is introduced to reduce the computational burden. Then features and errors of the method are analyzed. Subsequently, the method is applied to an area for the ellipsoidal Bouguer shell correction as an example and the result is compared to existing methods, which shows our method provides high accuracy and great computational efficiency. Suggestions for further developments and conclusions are drawn at last.

Metal thin-film optical polarizers for space applications, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slocum, Robert E.

1991-01-01

A light polarizing material was developed for wavelengths in the visible and near infrared spectral band (400 to 3,000 nm). The material is comprised of ellipsoidal silver particles uniformly distributed and aligned on the surface of an optical material. A method is set forth for making polarizing material by evaporatively coating a smooth glass surface with ellipsoidal silver particles. The wavelength of peak absorption is chosen by selecting the aspect ratio of the ellipsoidal metal particles and the refractive index of the material surrounding the metal particles. The wavelength of peak absorption can be selected to fall at a desired wavelength in the range from 400 to 3,000 nm by control of the deposition process. This method is demonstrated by evaporative deposition of silver particles directly on to a smooth optical surface. By applying a multilayer silver coating of a glass disc, a contrast of greater than 40,000 was achieved at 590 nm. A polarizing filter was designed, fabricated, and assembled which achieved contrast of 100,00 at 59 nm and can serve as a replacement for crystal polarizers.

Trends in Arctic Sea Ice Volume 2010-2013 from CryoSat-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tilling, R.; Ridout, A.; Wingham, D.; Shepherd, A.; Haas, C.; Farrell, S. L.; Schweiger, A. J.; Zhang, J.; Giles, K.; Laxon, S.

2013-12-01

Satellite records show a decline in Arctic sea ice extent over the past three decades with a record minimum in September 2012, and results from the Pan-Arctic Ice-Ocean Modelling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS) suggest that this has been accompanied by a reduction in volume. We use three years of measurements recorded by the European Space Agency CryoSat-2 (CS-2) mission, validated with in situ data, to generate estimates of seasonal variations and inter-annual trends in Arctic sea ice volume between 2010 and 2013. The CS-2 estimates of sea ice thickness agree with in situ estimates derived from upward looking sonar measurements of ice draught and airborne measurements of ice thickness and freeboard to within 0.1 metres. Prior to the record minimum in summer 2012, autumn and winter Arctic sea ice volume had fallen by ~1300 km3 relative to the previous year. Using the full 3-year period of CS-2 observations, we estimate that winter Arctic sea ice volume has decreased by ~700 km3/yr since 2010, approximately twice the average rate since 1980 as predicted by the PIOMAS.

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Ffff of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... micrograms per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Method 29 of appendix A of this part. 2. Carbon monoxide 40 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run during performance test), and 12-hour rolling averages measured using CEMS b...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Cccc of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of this part). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10, 10A, or 10B of appendix A of this...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Ffff of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... micrograms per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Method 29 of appendix A of this part. 2. Carbon monoxide 40 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run during performance test), and 12-hour rolling averages measured using CEMS b...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Cccc of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of this part). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10, 10A, or 10B of appendix A of this...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Dddd of... - Model Rule-Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of this part) Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 10, 10A, or 10B, of appendix A of this part) Dioxins/furans...

40 CFR 60.1260 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1260 Section 60.1260 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Monitoring § 60.1260 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission..., nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

40 CFR 60.1260 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1260 Section 60.1260 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Monitoring § 60.1260 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission..., nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

40 CFR 60.1260 - What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... requirement enforceable? 60.1260 Section 60.1260 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Monitoring § 60.1260 What is the minimum amount of monitoring data I must collect with my continuous emission..., nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are in parts per million by dry volume at 7 percent oxygen (or the...

Factors influencing endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Hebbar, S; Chaya, V; Rai, L; Ramachandran, A

2014-07-01

Cut-off values for endometrial thickness (ET) in asymptomatic postmenopausal woman have been standardized. However, there are no comprehensive studies to document how various factors can influence the ET after the age of menopause. To study the various factors influencing the ET in postmenopausal women. This was a prospective observational study. A total of 110 postmenopausal women underwent detailed history taking, clinical examination, and transvaginal scan for uterine volume and ovarian volume. The volumes were calculated by using ellipsoid formula: Width × thickness × height × 0.523. The variation in ET with respect to the influencing factors such as age, duration of menopause, parity, body mass index (BMI), medical illness like diabetes/hypertension, drugs like tamoxifen, presence of myoma, uterine volume, ovarian volume, and serum estradiol (in selected patients) were measured. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16, Chicago II, USA) to obtain mean, standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and inter quartile ranges. Comparison of means was carried out using analysis of variance. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 55.4 (6.91) years (95% CI, 54.1, 56.7). The mean (SD) age at menopause was 47.95 (3.90) years (95% CI, 47.2, 48.7) and the mean (SD) duration of menopause was 7.27 (6.65) years (95% CI, 6.01, 8.53). The mean (SD) ET was 3.8 (2.3) mm (95% CI, 3.36, 4.23). Medical illness like diabetes and hypertension did not alter the ET. ET increased as BMI increased and it was statistically significant. The presence of myoma increased uterine volume significantly and was associated with thick endometrial stripe. Similarly, whenever the ovaries were visualized and as the ovarian volume increased, there was an increase in ET. When ET was > 4 mm (n = 37), they were offered endocel, of which 16 agreed to undergo the procedure. None were found to have endometrial cancer. This study suggests that parity, BMI, presence of myoma, tamoxifen usage, uterine volume, ovarian volume and serum estradiol influence the ET in postmenopausal women.

Safety of long-term high-volume sinonasal budesonide irrigations for chronic rhinosinusitis.

PubMed

Smith, Kristine A; French, Gabrielle; Mechor, Bradford; Rudmik, Luke

2016-03-01

Off-label high-volume sinonasal budesonide irrigations are commonly used during the management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Although short-term use (4 to 8 weeks) has been demonstrated to be safe, the long-term effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis remain unclear. The objective of this study is to determine whether CRS patients using long-term (minimum greater than 12 months) budesonide sinonasal irrigations have evidence of HPA axis suppression. Patients with CRS being managed with high-volume sinonasal budesonide irrigations were recruited from 2 tertiary level rhinology clinics between March 2014 and July 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) adult (age greater than 18 years); (2) guideline-based diagnosis of CRS; (3) previous endoscopic sinus surgery; (4) minimum of twice daily high-volume sinonasal budesonide irrigation (concentration of 1 mg per irrigation; total daily dose of 2 mg); and (5) a minimum of 12-month duration. Exclusion criteria included systemic corticosteroid use within 3 months of HPA axis testing. The primary outcomes were morning (am) serum cortisol levels and, when indicated, cosyntropin stimulation levels. A total of 35 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria and underwent HPA axis testing. Mean duration of budesonide sinonasal irrigation therapy use was 38.2 months (2.9 years). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) am serum cortisol was 431.2 ± 146.9 nmol/L (normal, 200 to 650 nmol/L). Subsequent cosyntropin stimulation tests, in indicated patients (n = 19), demonstrated no evidence of HPA axis suppression. Outcomes from this study suggest that daily high-volume sinonasal budesonide irrigations fail to produce evidence of HPA axis suppression with prolonged courses lasting longer than 2 years. © 2016 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

Shape matters: Near-field fluid mechanics dominate the collective motions of ellipsoidal squirmers.

PubMed

Kyoya, K; Matsunaga, D; Imai, Y; Omori, T; Ishikawa, T

2015-12-01

Microswimmers show a variety of collective motions. Despite extensive study, questions remain regarding the role of near-field fluid mechanics in collective motion. In this paper, we describe precisely the Stokes flow around hydrodynamically interacting ellipsoidal squirmers in a monolayer suspension. The results showed that various collective motions, such as ordering, aggregation, and whirls, are dominated by the swimming mode and the aspect ratio. The collective motions are mainly induced by near-field fluid mechanics, despite Stokes flow propagation over a long range. These results emphasize the importance of particle shape in collective motion.

Smectic phases in hard particle mixtures: Koda's theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vesely, Franz J.

Mixtures of parallel linear particles and spheres tend to demix upon compression. The linear species usually concentrates in regular layers, thus forming a smectic phase. With increasing concentration of spheres this 'smectic demixing' transition occurs at ever lower packing densities. For the specific case of hard spherocylinders and spheres Koda et al. [T. Koda, M. Numajiri, S. Ikeda, J. Phys. Jap., 65, 3551 (1996)] have explained the layering effect in terms of a second virial approximation to the free energy. We extend this approach from spherocylinders to other linear particles, namely fused spheres, ellipsoids and sphero-ellipsoids.

The Downward Continuation to the Earth’s Surface of Truncated Spherical and Ellipsoidal Harmonic Series of the Gravity and Height Anomalies,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

triangle OBQ, we obtain r c =COtI ose + sine (411) Hence with (4.10) e 2 sinecose (412)tan ip = (__o__2)_ 1 - e 2sin2 0 Pythagoras ’ theorem then easily...coordinate system. Strictly, this theorem tinds no application in our physical world since it guarantees convergence only outside the sphere enclosing...Junq, 1956, p.54 3 ; Moritz, 1980, p.52) is found, using the above theorem , to be f =E, the focal distance of the ellipsoid, shoving also that the

Ambient temperature and volume of perihematomal edema in acute intracerebral haemorrhage: the INTERACT1 study.

PubMed

Zheng, Danni; Arima, Hisatomi; Heeley, Emma; Karpin, Anne; Yang, Jie; Chalmers, John; Anderson, Craig S

2015-01-01

As no human data exist, we aimed to determine the relation between ambient temperature and volume of perihematomal 'cerebral' edema in acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) among Chinese participants of the pilot phase, Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial (INTERACT1). INTERACT1 was a multicenter, open, blind outcome assessed, randomized controlled trial of intensive (systolic target <140 mmHg) vs. guideline-recommended (systolic target <180 mmHg) blood pressure (BP) lowering in 404 patients with acute ICH. Data on ambient temperature (mean, minimum, maximum, and range) on the day of each participant's ICH obtained from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System were linked to other data including edema volumes. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate association between ambient temperature and edema volumes. A generalized linear regression model with a generalized estimating equations approach (GEE) was used to assess any association of ambient temperature and change in edema volume over 72 h. A total of 250 of all 384 Chinese participants had complete data that showed positive associations between ambient temperature (mean and minimum temperatures) and edema volumes at each time point over 72 h after hospital admission (all P < 0·05). All temperature parameters except diurnal temperature range were positively associated with edema volume after adjustment for confounding variables (all P < 0·02). An apparent positive association exists between ambient temperature and perihematomal edema volume in acute spontaneous ICH. © 2014 World Stroke Organization.

40 CFR 60.446 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the web substrate. (b) Method 25 shall be used to determine the VOC concentration, in parts per... equivalent, and each effluent gas stream emitted directly to the atmosphere. Methods 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall be... minimum sampling volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when...

40 CFR 60.446 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the web substrate. (b) Method 25 shall be used to determine the VOC concentration, in parts per... equivalent, and each effluent gas stream emitted directly to the atmosphere. Methods 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall be... minimum sampling volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when...

A method of minimum volume simplex analysis constrained unmixing for hyperspectral image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Jinlin; Lan, Jinhui; Zeng, Yiliang; Wu, Hongtao

2017-07-01

The signal recorded by a low resolution hyperspectral remote sensor from a given pixel, letting alone the effects of the complex terrain, is a mixture of substances. To improve the accuracy of classification and sub-pixel object detection, hyperspectral unmixing(HU) is a frontier-line in remote sensing area. Unmixing algorithm based on geometric has become popular since the hyperspectral image possesses abundant spectral information and the mixed model is easy to understand. However, most of the algorithms are based on pure pixel assumption, and since the non-linear mixed model is complex, it is hard to obtain the optimal endmembers especially under a highly mixed spectral data. To provide a simple but accurate method, we propose a minimum volume simplex analysis constrained (MVSAC) unmixing algorithm. The proposed approach combines the algebraic constraints that are inherent to the convex minimum volume with abundance soft constraint. While considering abundance fraction, we can obtain the pure endmember set and abundance fraction correspondingly, and the final unmixing result is closer to reality and has better accuracy. We illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm in unmixing simulated data and real hyperspectral data, and the result indicates that the proposed method can obtain the distinct signatures correctly without redundant endmember and yields much better performance than the pure pixel based algorithm.

Hydrophobic hydration and the anomalous partial molar volumes in ethanol-water mixtures

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

Tan, Ming-Liang; Te, Jerez; Cendagorta, Joseph R.

2015-02-14

The anomalous behavior in the partial molar volumes of ethanol-water mixtures at low concentrations of ethanol is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Previous work indicates that the striking minimum in the partial molar volume of ethanol V{sub E} as a function of ethanol mole fraction X{sub E} is determined mainly by water-water interactions. These results were based on simulations that used one water model for the solute-water interactions but two different water models for the water-water interactions. This is confirmed here by using two more water models for the water-water interactions. Furthermore, the previous work indicates that the initial decreasemore » is caused by association of the hydration shells of the hydrocarbon tails, and the minimum occurs at the concentration where all of the hydration shells are touching each other. Thus, the characteristics of the hydration of the tail that cause the decrease and the features of the water models that reproduce this type of hydration are also examined here. The results show that a single-site multipole water model with a charge distribution that mimics the large quadrupole and the p-orbital type electron density out of the molecular plane has “brittle” hydration with hydrogen bonds that break as the tails touch, which reproduces the deep minimum. However, water models with more typical site representations with partial charges lead to flexible hydration that tends to stay intact, which produces a shallow minimum. Thus, brittle hydration may play an essential role in hydrophobic association in water.« less

Volume reduction of hot cell plastic wastes

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

Dykes, F W; Henscheid, J P; Lewis, L C

1989-09-19

The disposal of radioactively-contaminated solid wastes has become a national crisis. In such circumstances, it is imperative that this waste be reduced to minimum volume and be packaged to prevent pollution of the environment. The majority of the solid waste generated at the hot cell under consideration is plastic lab ware. Cutting this waste into small pieces with a hot wire technique reduced the volume 66%. Melting the waste, although more time consuming, reduced the volume 90%. The hot wire technique can also be used to cut up damaged master slave manipulator boots, greatly reducing their disposal volume.

Computed Tomography Volumetry in Preoperative Living Kidney Donor Assessment for Prediction of Split Renal Function.

PubMed

Wahba, Roger; Franke, Mareike; Hellmich, Martin; Kleinert, Robert; Cingöz, Tülay; Schmidt, Matthias C; Stippel, Dirk L; Bangard, Christopher

2016-06-01

Transplant centers commonly evaluate split renal function (SRF) with Tc-99m-mercapto-acetyltriglycin (MAG3) scintigraphy in living kidney donation. Alternatively, the kidney volume can be measured based on predonation CT scans. The aim of this study was to identify the most accurate CT volumetry technique for SRF and the prediction of postdonation kidney function (PDKF). Three CT volumetry techniques (modified ellipsoid volume [MELV], smart region of interest [ROI] volume, renal cortex volume [RCV]) were performed in 101 living kidney donors. Preoperation CT volumetric SRF was determined and compared with MAG3-SRF, postoperation donor kidney function, and graft function. The correlation between donors predonation total kidney volume and predonation kidney function was the highest for RCV (0.58 with creatine clearance, 0.54 with estimated glomerular filtration rate-Cockcroft-Gault). The predonation volume of the preserved kidney was (ROI, MELV, RCV) 148.0 ± 29.1 cm, 151.2 ± 35.4 and 93.9 ± 25.2 (P < 0.005 MELV vs RCV and ROI vs RCV). Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement between CT volumetry SRF and MAG3-SRF (bias, 95% limits of agreement: ROI vs MAG3 0.4%, -7.7% to 8.6%; MELV vs MAG3 0.4%, -8.9% to 9.7%; RCV vs MAG3 0.8%, -9.1% to 10.7%). The correlation between predonation CT volumetric SRF of the preserved kidney and PDKF at day 3 was r = 0.85 to 0.88, between MAG3-SRF and PDKF (r = 0.84). The difference of predonation SRF between preserved and donated kidney was the lowest for ROI and RCV (median, 3% and 4%; 95th percentile, 9% and 13%). Overall renal cortex volumetry seems to be the most accurate technique for the evaluation of predonation SRF and allows a reliable prediction of donor's PDKF.

A mobile system for a comprehensive online-characterization of nanoparticle aggregates based on wide-angle light scattering and laser-induced incandescence

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

Huber, Franz J. T.; Will, Stefan, E-mail: stefan.will@fau.de; Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies

A mobile demonstrator for the comprehensive online-characterization of gas-borne nanoparticle aggregates is presented. Two optical measurement techniques are combined, both utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser as light source. Aggregate size and fractal dimension are measured by Wide-Angle Light Scattering (WALS). An ellipsoidal mirror images elastically scattered light from scattering angles between 10° and 165° onto a CCD-camera chip resulting in an almost complete scattering diagram with high angular resolution. Primary particle size and volume fraction are measured by time-resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence (TiRe-LII). Here, particles are heated up to about 3000 K by the short laser pulse, the enhanced thermal radiationmore » signal is detected with gated photomultiplier tubes. Analysis of the signal decay time and maximum LII-signal allows for the determination of primary particle diameter and volume fraction. The performance of the system is demonstrated by combined measurements on soot nanoparticle aggregates from a soot aerosol generator. Particle and aggregate sizes are varied by using different equivalence ratios of the combustion in the generator. Soot volume fraction can be adjusted by different levels of dilution with air. Online-measurements were carried out demonstrating the favorable performance of the system and the potential for industrial applications such as process control and product development. The particle properties obtained are confirmed through transmission electron microscopy analysis on representative samples.« less

A mobile system for a comprehensive online-characterization of nanoparticle aggregates based on wide-angle light scattering and laser-induced incandescence.

PubMed

Huber, Franz J T; Altenhoff, Michael; Will, Stefan

2016-05-01

A mobile demonstrator for the comprehensive online-characterization of gas-borne nanoparticle aggregates is presented. Two optical measurement techniques are combined, both utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser as light source. Aggregate size and fractal dimension are measured by Wide-Angle Light Scattering (WALS). An ellipsoidal mirror images elastically scattered light from scattering angles between 10° and 165° onto a CCD-camera chip resulting in an almost complete scattering diagram with high angular resolution. Primary particle size and volume fraction are measured by time-resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence (TiRe-LII). Here, particles are heated up to about 3000 K by the short laser pulse, the enhanced thermal radiation signal is detected with gated photomultiplier tubes. Analysis of the signal decay time and maximum LII-signal allows for the determination of primary particle diameter and volume fraction. The performance of the system is demonstrated by combined measurements on soot nanoparticle aggregates from a soot aerosol generator. Particle and aggregate sizes are varied by using different equivalence ratios of the combustion in the generator. Soot volume fraction can be adjusted by different levels of dilution with air. Online-measurements were carried out demonstrating the favorable performance of the system and the potential for industrial applications such as process control and product development. The particle properties obtained are confirmed through transmission electron microscopy analysis on representative samples.

A mobile system for a comprehensive online-characterization of nanoparticle aggregates based on wide-angle light scattering and laser-induced incandescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, Franz J. T.; Altenhoff, Michael; Will, Stefan

2016-05-01

A mobile demonstrator for the comprehensive online-characterization of gas-borne nanoparticle aggregates is presented. Two optical measurement techniques are combined, both utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser as light source. Aggregate size and fractal dimension are measured by Wide-Angle Light Scattering (WALS). An ellipsoidal mirror images elastically scattered light from scattering angles between 10° and 165° onto a CCD-camera chip resulting in an almost complete scattering diagram with high angular resolution. Primary particle size and volume fraction are measured by time-resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence (TiRe-LII). Here, particles are heated up to about 3000 K by the short laser pulse, the enhanced thermal radiation signal is detected with gated photomultiplier tubes. Analysis of the signal decay time and maximum LII-signal allows for the determination of primary particle diameter and volume fraction. The performance of the system is demonstrated by combined measurements on soot nanoparticle aggregates from a soot aerosol generator. Particle and aggregate sizes are varied by using different equivalence ratios of the combustion in the generator. Soot volume fraction can be adjusted by different levels of dilution with air. Online-measurements were carried out demonstrating the favorable performance of the system and the potential for industrial applications such as process control and product development. The particle properties obtained are confirmed through transmission electron microscopy analysis on representative samples.

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

Sarman, Sten, E-mail: sarman@ownit.nu; Wang, Yong-Lei; Laaksonen, Aatto

The self-diffusion coefficients of nematic phases of various model systems consisting of regular convex calamitic and discotic ellipsoids and non-convex bodies such as bent-core molecules and soft ellipsoid strings have been obtained as functions of the shear rate in a shear flow. Then the self-diffusion coefficient is a second rank tensor with three different diagonal components and two off-diagonal components. These coefficients were found to be determined by a combination of two mechanisms, which previously have been found to govern the self-diffusion of shearing isotropic liquids, namely, (i) shear alignment enhancing the diffusion in the direction parallel to the streamlinesmore » and hindering the diffusion in the perpendicular directions and (ii) the distortion of the shell structure in the liquid whereby a molecule more readily can escape from a surrounding shell of nearest neighbors, so that the mobility increases in every direction. Thus, the diffusion parallel to the streamlines always increases with the shear rate since these mechanisms cooperate in this direction. In the perpendicular directions, these mechanisms counteract each other so that the behaviour becomes less regular. In the case of the nematic phases of the calamitic and discotic ellipsoids and of the bent core molecules, mechanism (ii) prevails so that the diffusion coefficients increase. However, the diffusion coefficients of the soft ellipsoid strings decrease in the direction of the velocity gradient because the broadsides of these molecules are oriented perpendicularly to this direction due the shear alignment (i). The cross coupling coefficient relating a gradient of tracer particles in the direction of the velocity gradient and their flow in the direction of the streamlines is negative and rather large, whereas the other coupling coefficient relating a gradient in the direction of the streamlines and a flow in the direction of the velocity gradient is very small.« less

AN ELDERLY PATIENT WITH ACUTE TRANSIENT OUTER RETINAL DISRUPTION RESEMBLING BILATERAL MULTIPLE EVANESCENT WHITE DOT SYNDROME.

PubMed

Golshani, Cyrus; Gal-Or, Orly; Giovinazzo, Vincent; Freund, K Bailey

2017-11-07

To report an unusual case of an elderly patient with transient outer retinal disruption resembling bilateral multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. Observational case report. Fundus photographs, fluorescein angiography, standard and ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence, and cross-sectional and en face optical coherence tomography were used to characterize and describe the clinical findings. A 67-year-old woman presented with decreased vision and floaters in her left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20-3 in the right eye and 20/80-2 in the left eye. Funduscopic examination showed small deep white dots and foveal granularity of the left eye corresponding to hyperautofluorescent spots on fundus autofluorescence and ellipsoid zone disruption on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The asymptomatic right eye had evidence of subretinal deposits on spectral domain optical coherence tomography but was otherwise unremarkable. At 4-week follow-up, the patient noted resolution of her symptoms in the left eye but had developed floaters and blurry vision in her right eye. The left eye showed resolving white spots and ellipsoid zone disruption. However, the right eye had new evidence of white spots corresponding to hyperautofluorescent spots on fundus autofluorescence. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography demonstrated subretinal deposits overlying areas of ellipsoid zone disruption. At 8-week follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic in both eyes with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes. The hyperautofluorescent spots on ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence had faded with restoration of ellipsoid zone disruption in both eyes and disappearance of subretinal deposits. Our case demonstrates multimodal retinal imaging findings resembling multiple evanescent white dot syndrome in an elderly patient. The bilateral presentation, presence of subretinal deposits before symptom onset, and older age of the patient were atypical features for this entity.

Why There Are No Elliptical Galaxies More Flattened Than E7. Thirty Years Later

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caimmi, R.

2006-12-01

Elliptical galaxies are modelled as homeoidally striated Jacobi ellipsoids (Caimmi and Marmo 2005) where the peculiar velocity distribution is anisotropic, or equivalently as their adjoint configurations i.e. classical Jacobi ellipsoids of equal mass and axes, in real or imaginary rotation (Caimmi 2006). Reasons for the coincidence of bifurcation points from axisymmetric to triaxial configurations in both the sequences (Caimmi 2006), contrary to earlier findings (Wiegandt 1982a,b, Caimmi and Marmo 2005) are presented and discussed. The effect of centrifugal support at the ends of the major equatorial axis is briefly outlined. The existence of a lower limit to the flattening of elliptical galaxies is investigated in dealing with a number of limiting situations. More specifically, (i) elliptical galaxies are considered as isolated systems, and an allowed region within Ellipsoidland (Hunter and de Zeeuw 1997), related to the occurrence of bifurcation points from ellipsoidal to pear-shaped configurations, is shown to be consistent with observations; (ii) elliptical galaxies are considered as embedded within dark matter haloes and, under reasonable assumptions, it is shown that tidal effects from hosting haloes have little influence on the above mentioned results; (iii) dark matter haloes and embedded elliptical galaxies, idealized as a single homeoidally striated Jacobi ellipsoid, are considered in connection with the cosmological transition from expansion to relaxation, by generalizing an earlier model (Thuan and Gott 1975), and the existence of a lower limit to the flattening of relaxed (oblate-like) configurations, is established. On the other hand, no lower limit is found to the elongation of relaxed (prolate-like) configurations, and the existence of some sort of instability is predicted, owing to the observed lack of elliptical galaxies more flattened or elongated than E7.

40 CFR 80.1507 - What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1507 What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart... applicable maximum and/or minimum volume percent of ethanol. (2) That on each occasion when gasoline is found... checks to reconcile volumes of ethanol in inventory and regular checks of equipment for proper ethanol...

40 CFR 80.1507 - What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1507 What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart... applicable maximum and/or minimum volume percent of ethanol. (2) That on each occasion when gasoline is found... checks to reconcile volumes of ethanol in inventory and regular checks of equipment for proper ethanol...

40 CFR 80.1507 - What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1507 What are the defenses for acts prohibited under this subpart... applicable maximum and/or minimum volume percent of ethanol. (2) That on each occasion when gasoline is found... checks to reconcile volumes of ethanol in inventory and regular checks of equipment for proper ethanol...

49 CFR 238.405 - Longitudinal static compressive strength.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... crash refuge for crewmembers occupying the cab of a power car, the underframe of the cab of a power car... volumes of a power car or a trailer car designed to crush as part of the crash energy management design...) The underframe of the occupied volume of each trailer car shall resist a minimum longitudinal static...

49 CFR 238.405 - Longitudinal static compressive strength.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... crash refuge for crewmembers occupying the cab of a power car, the underframe of the cab of a power car... volumes of a power car or a trailer car designed to crush as part of the crash energy management design...) The underframe of the occupied volume of each trailer car shall resist a minimum longitudinal static...

49 CFR 238.405 - Longitudinal static compressive strength.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... crash refuge for crewmembers occupying the cab of a power car, the underframe of the cab of a power car... volumes of a power car or a trailer car designed to crush as part of the crash energy management design...) The underframe of the occupied volume of each trailer car shall resist a minimum longitudinal static...

Sea Ice

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perovich, D.; Gerland, S.; Hendricks, S.; Meier, Walter N.; Nicolaus, M.; Richter-Menge, J.; Tschudi, M.

2013-01-01

During 2013, Arctic sea ice extent remained well below normal, but the September 2013 minimum extent was substantially higher than the record-breaking minimum in 2012. Nonetheless, the minimum was still much lower than normal and the long-term trend Arctic September extent is -13.7 per decade relative to the 1981-2010 average. The less extreme conditions this year compared to 2012 were due to cooler temperatures and wind patterns that favored retention of ice through the summer. Sea ice thickness and volume remained near record-low levels, though indications are of slightly thicker ice compared to the record low of 2012.

Shape preferred orientation of iron grains compatible with Earth's uppermost inner core hemisphericity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calvet, Marie; Margerin, Ludovic

2018-01-01

Constraining the possible patterns of iron fabrics in the Earth's Uppermost Inner Core (UIC) is key to unravel the mechanisms controlling its growth and dynamics. In the framework of crystalline micro-structures composed of ellipsoidal, aligned grains, we discuss possible textural models of UIC compatible with observations of P-wave attenuation and velocity dispersion. Using recent results from multiple scattering theory in textured heterogeneous materials, we compute the P-wave phase velocity and scattering attenuation as a function of grain volume, shape, and orientation wrt to the propagation direction of seismic P-waves. Assuming no variations of the grain volume between the Eastern and Western hemisphere, we show that two families of texture are compatible with the degree-one structure of the inner core as revealed by the positive correlation between seismic velocity and attenuation. (1) Strong flattening of grains parallel to the Inner Core Boundary in the Western hemisphere and weak anisometry in the Eastern hemisphere. (2) Strong radial elongation of grains in the Western hemisphere and again weak anisometry in the Eastern hemisphere. Both textures can quantitatively explain the seismic data in a limited range of grain volumes. Furthermore, the velocity and attenuation anisotropy locally observed under Africa demands that the grains be locally elongated in the direction of Earth's meridians. Our study demonstrates that the hemispherical seismic structure of UIC can be entirely explained by changes in the shape and orientation of grains, thereby offering an alternative to changes in grain volumes. In the future, our theoretical toolbox could be used to systematically test the compatibility of textures predicted by geodynamical models with seismic observations.

Time dependence of volcano inflation: mass influx or viscoelastic relaxation? Insights from Grímsvötn volcano, Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segall, P.

2017-12-01

Distinguishing magma chamber pressurization from relaxation of a viscoelastic aureole surrounding the chamber based on geodetic measurements has remained challenging. Elastic models with mass inflow proportional to the pressure difference between the chamber and a deep reservoir predict exponentially decaying flux. For a spherical chamber surrounded by a Maxwell viscoelastic shell with pressure dependent recharge, the surface deformation is the sum of two exponentials (Segall, 2016). GPS displacements following eruptions of Grímsvötn, Iceland in 2004 and 2011 exhibit rapid post-eruptive inflation (time scale of 0.1 yr), followed by inflation with a much longer time constant. Markov Chain Monte Carlo inversion with the viscoelastic model shows the GPS time series can be fit with viscosity of 2e16 Pa-s, and a relatively incompressible magma, B = beta_c/ (beta_m + beta_c) > 0.6, where beta_m and beta_c are chamber and magma compressibility. The latter appears to conflict with the ratio of erupted volume to geodetically inferred source volume change, rv 10, obtained for the best fitting spherical (Mogi ) source (Hreinsdóttir, 2014). Since rv = 1/B, this implies a relatively compressible melt, B 0.1. Reexamination of the co-eruptive GPS and tilt data with the more general ellipsoidal model of Cervelli (2013), reveals that the best fitting sources are oblate (b/a 3), deeper, and with larger volume changes, rv 3, relative to spherical models. Oblate magma chambers are consistent with seismic tomography. FEM calculations including free surface effects lead to even larger co-eruptive volume changes, smaller rv and hence larger B. I conclude that the data are consistent with rapid post-eruptive inflation driven by viscoelastic relaxation with a relatively incompressible magma, although other interpretations will be discussed.

The OGLE Collection of Variable Stars. Over 450 000 Eclipsing and Ellipsoidal Binary Systems Toward the Galactic Bulge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soszyński, I.; Pawlak, M.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M. K.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.; Ulaczyk, K.; Poleski, R.; Kozłowski, S.; Skowron, D. M.; Skowron, J.; Mróz, P.; Hamanowicz, A.

2016-12-01

We present a collection of 450 598 eclipsing and ellipsoidal binary systems detected in the OGLE fields toward the Galactic bulge. The collection consists of binary systems of all types: detached, semi-detached, and contact eclipsing binaries, RS CVn stars, cataclysmic variables, HW Vir binaries, double periodic variables, and even planetary transits. For all stars we provide the I- and V-band time-series photometry obtained during the OGLE-II, OGLE-III, and OGLE-IV surveys. We discuss methods used to identify binary systems in the OGLE data and present several objects of particular interest.

Photometric geodesy of main-belt asteroids. IV - An updated analysis of lightcurves for poles, periods, and shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drummond, J. D.; Weidenschilling, S. J.; Chapman, C. R.; Davis, D. R.

1991-01-01

The Drummond et al. (1988) analysis of main-belt asteroids is presently extended, using three independent methods to derive poles, periods, phase functions, and triaxial ellipsoid shapes from lightcurve maxima and minima. This group of 26 asteroids is also reinvestigated with a view to the distributions of triaxial shapes and obliquity distributions. Poles weakly tend to avoid asteroid orbital planes; a rough-smooth dichotomization appears to be justified by the persistence of two solar phase angle-amplitude relations. Seven of the objects may be Jacobi ellipsoids if axial ratios are slightly exaggerated by a systematic effect of the analytical method employed.

Rotation parameters and shapes of 15 asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tungalag, N.; Shevchenko, V. G.; Lupishko, D. F.

2002-12-01

With the use of the combined method (the amplitude and magnitude method plus the epoch method) pole coordinates, sidereal rotation periods, and axial ratios of triaxial ellipsoid figures for asteroids 22 Kalliope, 75 Eurydike, 93 Minerva, 97 Klotho, 105 Artemis, 113 Amalthea, 119 Althaea, 201 Penelope, 270 Anahita, 338 Budrosa, 487 Venetia, 674 Rachele, 776 Berbericia, 887 Alinda, nd 951 Gaspra were determined. For eight of them (asteroids 75, 97, 105, 113, 119, 338, 674, and 887) these values were obtained for the first time. We used the numerical photometric asteroid model based on ellipsoidal asteroid shape, homogeneous albedo distribution over the surface, and Akimov's scattering law.

Task-dependent color discrimination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poirson, Allen B.; Wandell, Brian A.

1990-01-01

When color video displays are used in time-critical applications (e.g., head-up displays, video control panels), the observer must discriminate among briefly presented targets seen within a complex spatial scene. Color-discrimination threshold are compared by using two tasks. In one task the observer makes color matches between two halves of a continuously displayed bipartite field. In a second task the observer detects a color target in a set of briefly presented objects. The data from both tasks are well summarized by ellipsoidal isosensitivity contours. The fitted ellipsoids differ both in their size, which indicates an absolute sensitivity difference, and orientation, which indicates a relative sensitivity difference.

Electron trajectory evaluation in laser-plasma interaction for effective output beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zobdeh, P.; Sadighi-Bonabi, R.; Afarideh, H.

2010-06-01

Using the ellipsoidal cavity model, the quasi-monoenergetic electron output beam in laser-plasma interaction is described. By the cavity regime the quality of electron beam is improved in comparison with those generated from other methods such as periodic plasma wave field, spheroidal cavity regime and plasma channel guided acceleration. Trajectory of electron motion is described as hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptic paths. We find that the self-generated electron bunch has a smaller energy width and more effective gain in energy spectrum. Initial condition for the ellipsoidal cavity is determined by laser-plasma parameters. The electron trajectory is influenced by its position, energy and cavity electrostatic potential.

Camera on Vessel: A Camera-Based System to Measure Change in Water Volume in a Drinking Glass.

PubMed

Ayoola, Idowu; Chen, Wei; Feijs, Loe

2015-09-18

A major problem related to chronic health is patients' "compliance" with new lifestyle changes, medical prescriptions, recommendations, or restrictions. Heart-failure and hemodialysis patients are usually placed on fluid restrictions due to their hemodynamic status. A holistic approach to managing fluid imbalance will incorporate the monitoring of salt-water intake, body-fluid retention, and fluid excretion in order to provide effective intervention at an early stage. Such an approach creates a need to develop a smart device that can monitor the drinking activities of the patient. This paper employs an empirical approach to infer the real water level in a conically shapped glass and the volume difference due to changes in water level. The method uses a low-resolution miniaturized camera to obtain images using an Arduino microcontroller. The images are processed in MATLAB. Conventional segmentation techniques (such as a Sobel filter to obtain a binary image) are applied to extract the level gradient, and an ellipsoidal fitting helps to estimate the size of the cup. The fitting (using least-squares criterion) between derived measurements in pixel and the real measurements shows a low covariance between the estimated measurement and the mean. The correlation between the estimated results to ground truth produced a variation of 3% from the mean.

Camera on Vessel: A Camera-Based System to Measure Change in Water Volume in a Drinking Glass

PubMed Central

Ayoola, Idowu; Chen, Wei; Feijs, Loe

2015-01-01

A major problem related to chronic health is patients’ “compliance” with new lifestyle changes, medical prescriptions, recommendations, or restrictions. Heart-failure and hemodialysis patients are usually placed on fluid restrictions due to their hemodynamic status. A holistic approach to managing fluid imbalance will incorporate the monitoring of salt-water intake, body-fluid retention, and fluid excretion in order to provide effective intervention at an early stage. Such an approach creates a need to develop a smart device that can monitor the drinking activities of the patient. This paper employs an empirical approach to infer the real water level in a conically shapped glass and the volume difference due to changes in water level. The method uses a low-resolution miniaturized camera to obtain images using an Arduino microcontroller. The images are processed in MATLAB. Conventional segmentation techniques (such as a Sobel filter to obtain a binary image) are applied to extract the level gradient, and an ellipsoidal fitting helps to estimate the size of the cup. The fitting (using least-squares criterion) between derived measurements in pixel and the real measurements shows a low covariance between the estimated measurement and the mean. The correlation between the estimated results to ground truth produced a variation of 3% from the mean. PMID:26393600

Theoretical analysis of hot electron dynamics in nanorods

PubMed Central

Kumarasinghe, Chathurangi S.; Premaratne, Malin; Agrawal, Govind P.

2015-01-01

Localised surface plasmons create a non-equilibrium high-energy electron gas in nanostructures that can be injected into other media in energy harvesting applications. Here, we derive the rate of this localised-surface-plasmon mediated generation of hot electrons in nanorods and the rate of injecting them into other media by considering quantum mechanical motion of the electron gas. Specifically, we use the single-electron wave function of a particle in a cylindrical potential well and the electric field enhancement factor of an elongated ellipsoid to derive the energy distribution of electrons after plasmon excitation. We compare the performance of nanorods with equivolume nanoparticles of other shapes such as nanospheres and nanopallets and report that nanorods exhibit significantly better performance over a broad spectrum. We present a comprehensive theoretical analysis of how different parameters contribute to efficiency of hot-electron harvesting in nanorods and reveal that increasing the aspect ratio can increase the hot-electron generation and injection, but the volume shows an inverse dependency when efficiency per unit volume is considered. Further, the electron thermalisation time shows much less influence on the injection rate. Our derivations and results provide the much needed theoretical insight for optimization of hot-electron harvesting process in highly adaptable metallic nanorods. PMID:26202823

Plasmonic and metallic optical properties of Au/SiO2 metal-insulator films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Battie, Yann; En Naciri, Aotmane; Vergnat, Michel

2017-12-01

In this paper, the optical properties and the growth mechanism of Au/SiO2 metal-insulator films (MIFs) are investigated by combining ellipsometry and transmission electron microscopy. The ellipsometric measurements, analyzed by using effective medium theories, show that the growth mechanism involves a Volmer-Weber growth mode while the morphology and the optical properties of Au/SiO2 MIFs are directly related to the percolation of the Au nanostructures. Indeed, below the percolation threshold of Au, the MIFs consist of ellipsoidal Au inclusions embedded in a SiO2 matrix. These insulating films present anisotropic plasmonic properties, attributed to the asymmetric interactions between nanaoparticles (NPs), which can be modeled according to the interacted shape distributed nanoparticle effective medium theory. At the percolation threshold of Au, an insulator-to-metal transition is observed. The MIFs simultaneously exhibit plasmonic and metallic optical properties, which can be described by the Bruggeman theory. The density of free electrons increases and the MIFs become more and more conductive as the Au volume fraction increases. We also demonstrate that for a high Au volume fraction, Bruggeman and Maxwell Garnett theories converge toward the same results, suggesting that the film is composed of isolated SiO2 inclusion embedded in a gold matrix.

Method of Conjugate Radii for Solving Linear and Nonlinear Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nachtsheim, Philip R.

1999-01-01

This paper describes a method to solve a system of N linear equations in N steps. A quadratic form is developed involving the sum of the squares of the residuals of the equations. Equating the quadratic form to a constant yields a surface which is an ellipsoid. For different constants, a family of similar ellipsoids can be generated. Starting at an arbitrary point an orthogonal basis is constructed and the center of the family of similar ellipsoids is found in this basis by a sequence of projections. The coordinates of the center in this basis are the solution of linear system of equations. A quadratic form in N variables requires N projections. That is, the current method is an exact method. It is shown that the sequence of projections is equivalent to a special case of the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization process. The current method enjoys an advantage not shared by the classic Method of Conjugate Gradients. The current method can be extended to nonlinear systems without modification. For nonlinear equations the Method of Conjugate Gradients has to be augmented with a line-search procedure. Results for linear and nonlinear problems are presented.

Wavefront error measurement of the concave ellipsoidal mirrors of the METIS coronagraph on ESA Solar Orbiter mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandri, P.

2017-12-01

The paper describes the alignment technique developed for the wavefront error measurement of ellipsoidal mirrors presenting a central hole. The achievement of a good alignment with a classic setup at the finite conjugates when mirrors are uncoated cannot be based on the identification and materialization at naked eye of the retro-reflected spot by the mirror under test as the intensity of the retro-reflected spot results to be ≈1E-3 of the intensity of the injected laser beam of the interferometer. We present the technique developed for the achievement of an accurate alignment in the setup at the finite conjugate even in condition of low intensity based on the use of an autocollimator adjustable in focus position and a small polished flat surface on the rear side of the mirror. The technique for the alignment has successfully been used for the optical test of the concave ellipsoidal mirrors of the METIS coronagraph of the ESA Solar Orbiter mission. The presented method results to be advantageous in terms of precision and of time saving also when the mirrors are reflective coated and integrated into their mechanical hardware.

Equidistant map projections of a triaxial ellipsoid with the use of reduced coordinates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pędzich, Paweł

2017-12-01

The paper presents a new method of constructing equidistant map projections of a triaxial ellipsoid as a function of reduced coordinates. Equations for x and y coordinates are expressed with the use of the normal elliptic integral of the second kind and Jacobian elliptic functions. This solution allows to use common known and widely described in literature methods of solving such integrals and functions. The main advantage of this method is the fact that the calculations of x and y coordinates are practically based on a single algorithm that is required to solve the elliptic integral of the second kind. Equations are provided for three types of map projections: cylindrical, azimuthal and pseudocylindrical. These types of projections are often used in planetary cartography for presentation of entire and polar regions of extraterrestrial objects. The paper also contains equations for the calculation of the length of a meridian and a parallel of a triaxial ellipsoid in reduced coordinates. Moreover, graticules of three coordinates systems (planetographic, planetocentric and reduced) in developed map projections are presented. The basic properties of developed map projections are also described. The obtained map projections may be applied in planetary cartography in order to create maps of extraterrestrial objects.

Seismic Characterization of the Newberry and Cooper Basin EGS Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Templeton, D. C.; Wang, J.; Goebel, M.; Johannesson, G.; Myers, S. C.; Harris, D.; Cladouhos, T. T.

2015-12-01

To aid in the seismic characterization of Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS), we enhance traditional microearthquake detection and location methodologies at two EGS systems: the Newberry EGS site and the Habanero EGS site in the Cooper Basin of South Australia. We apply the Matched Field Processing (MFP) seismic imaging technique to detect new seismic events using known discrete microearthquake sources. Events identified using MFP typically have smaller magnitudes or occur within the coda of a larger event. Additionally, we apply a Bayesian multiple-event location algorithm, called MicroBayesLoc, to estimate the 95% probability ellipsoids for events with high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Such probability ellipsoid information can provide evidence for determining if a seismic lineation is real, or simply within the anticipated error range. At the Newberry EGS site, 235 events were reported in the original catalog. MFP identified 164 additional events (an increase of over 70% more events). For the relocated events in the Newberry catalog, we can distinguish two distinct seismic swarms that fall outside of one another's 95% probability error ellipsoids.This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

An exact solution for orbit view-periods from a station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal planet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tang, C. C. H.

1986-01-01

This paper presents the concise exact solution for predicting view-periods to be observed from a masked or unmasked tracking station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal surface. The new exact approach expresses the azimuth and elevation angles of a spacecraft in terms of the station-centered geodetic topocentric coordinates in an elegantly concise manner. A simple and efficient algorithm is developed to avoid costly repetitive computations in searching for neighborhoods near the rise and set times of each satellite orbit for each station. Only one search for each orbit is necessary for each station. Sample results indicate that the use of an assumed spherical earth instead of an 'actual' tri-axial ellipsoidal earth could introduce an error up to a few minutes in a view-period prediction for circular orbits of low or medium altitude. For an elliptical orbit of high eccentricity and long period, the maximum error could be even larger. The analytic treatment and the efficient algorithm are designed for geocentric orbits, but they should be applicable to interplanetary trajectories by an appropriate coordinates transformation at each view-period calculation. This analysis can be accomplished only by not using the classical orbital elements.

An exact solution for orbit view-periods from a station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal planet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, C. C. H.

1986-08-01

This paper presents the concise exact solution for predicting view-periods to be observed from a masked or unmasked tracking station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal surface. The new exact approach expresses the azimuth and elevation angles of a spacecraft in terms of the station-centered geodetic topocentric coordinates in an elegantly concise manner. A simple and efficient algorithm is developed to avoid costly repetitive computations in searching for neighborhoods near the rise and set times of each satellite orbit for each station. Only one search for each orbit is necessary for each station. Sample results indicate that the use of an assumed spherical earth instead of an 'actual' tri-axial ellipsoidal earth could introduce an error up to a few minutes in a view-period prediction for circular orbits of low or medium altitude. For an elliptical orbit of high eccentricity and long period, the maximum error could be even larger. The analytic treatment and the efficient algorithm are designed for geocentric orbits, but they should be applicable to interplanetary trajectories by an appropriate coordinates transformation at each view-period calculation. This analysis can be accomplished only by not using the classical orbital elements.

Ocriplasmin for treatment of stage 2 macular holes: early clinical results.

PubMed

Miller, John B; Kim, Leo A; Wu, David M; Vavvas, Demetrios G; Eliott, Dean; Husain, Deeba

2014-01-01

To review clinical and structural outcomes of ocriplasmin for treatment of stage 2 macular holes. A retrospective review of the first patients with stage 2 macular holes to be treated with ocriplasmin at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. All patients were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Eight patients with stage 2 macular holes received a single injection of 125 μg of ocriplasmin. One patient (12.5%) demonstrated macular hole closure. The posterior hyaloid separated from the macula in six eyes (75%). All seven holes that remained open showed enlargement in hole diameters (narrowest, apical, and basal) at 1 week and 1 month. All seven were successfully closed with surgery. Ellipsoid zone disruptions were observed by OCT in four eyes (50%) and persisted throughout follow-up (more than 6 months on average). In early clinical results, the authors found a lower macular hole closure rate with ocriplasmin than previously reported. Enlargement was observed in all holes that failed to close with ocriplasmin. The authors found ellipsoid zone disruptions that persisted through 6 months of follow-up after ocriplasmin injection. Further work is needed to investigate the cause for these ellipsoid zone changes. Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.

An analysis of lamp irradiation in ellipsoidal mirror furnaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivas, Damián; Vázquez-Espí, Carlos

2001-03-01

The irradiation generated by halogen lamps in ellipsoidal mirror furnaces is analyzed, in configurations suited to the study of the floating-zone technique for crystal growth in microgravity conditions. A line-source model for the lamp (instead of a point source) is developed, so that the longitudinal extent of the filament is taken into account. With this model the case of defocussed lamps can be handle analytically. In the model the lamp is formed by an aggregate of point-source elements, placed along the axis of the ellipsoid. For these point sources (which, in general, are defocussed) an irradiation model is formulated, within the approximation of geometrical optics. The irradiation profiles obtained (both on the lateral surface and on the inner base of the cylindrical sample) are analyzed. They present singularities related to the caustics formed by the family of reflected rays; these caustics are also analyzed. The lamp model is combined with a conduction-radiation model to study the temperature field in the sample. The effects of defocussing the lamp (common practice in crystal growth) are studied; advantages and also some drawbacks are pointed out. Comparison with experimental results is made.

A pair of dopamine neurons target the D1-like dopamine receptor DopR in the central complex to promote ethanol-stimulated locomotion in Drosophila.

PubMed

Kong, Eric C; Woo, Katherine; Li, Haiyan; Lebestky, Tim; Mayer, Nasima; Sniffen, Melissa R; Heberlein, Ulrike; Bainton, Roland J; Hirsh, Jay; Wolf, Fred W

2010-04-01

Dopamine is a mediator of the stimulant properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol, in mammals and in the fruit fly Drosophila. The neural substrates for the stimulant actions of ethanol in flies are not known. We show that a subset of dopamine neurons and their targets, through the action of the D1-like dopamine receptor DopR, promote locomotor activation in response to acute ethanol exposure. A bilateral pair of dopaminergic neurons in the fly brain mediates the enhanced locomotor activity induced by ethanol exposure, and promotes locomotion when directly activated. These neurons project to the central complex ellipsoid body, a structure implicated in regulating motor behaviors. Ellipsoid body neurons are required for ethanol-induced locomotor activity and they express DopR. Elimination of DopR blunts the locomotor activating effects of ethanol, and this behavior can be restored by selective expression of DopR in the ellipsoid body. These data tie the activity of defined dopamine neurons to D1-like DopR-expressing neurons to form a neural circuit that governs acute responding to ethanol.

Dynamics of aspherical dust grains in a cometary atmosphere: I. axially symmetric grains in a spherically symmetric atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanovski, S. L.; Zakharov, V. V.; Della Corte, V.; Crifo, J.-F.; Rotundi, A.; Fulle, M.

2017-01-01

In-situ measurements of individual dust grain parameters in the immediate vicinity of a cometary nucleus are being carried by the Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. For the interpretations of these observational data, a model of dust grain motion as realistic as possible is requested. In particular, the results of the Stardust mission and analysis of samples of interplanetary dust have shown that these particles are highly aspherical, which should be taken into account in any credible model. The aim of the present work is to study the dynamics of ellipsoidal shape particles with various aspect ratios introduced in a spherically symmetric expanding gas flow and to reveal the possible differences in dynamics between spherical and aspherical particles. Their translational and rotational motion under influence of the gravity and of the aerodynamic force and torque is numerically integrated in a wide range of physical parameters values including those of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The main distinctions of the dynamics of spherical and ellipsoidal particles are discussed. The aerodynamic characteristics of the ellipsoidal particles, and examples of their translational and rotational motion in the postulated gas flow are presented.

THERMAL PHASE VARIATIONS OF WASP-12b: DEFYING PREDICTIONS

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

Cowan, Nicolas B.; Shekhtman, Louis M.; Machalek, Pavel

2012-03-01

We report Warm Spitzer full-orbit phase observations of WASP-12b at 3.6 and 4.5 {mu}m. This extremely inflated hot Jupiter is thought to be overflowing its Roche lobe, undergoing mass loss and accretion onto its host star, and has been claimed to have a C/O ratio in excess of unity. We are able to measure the transit depths, eclipse depths, thermal and ellipsoidal phase variations at both wavelengths. The large-amplitude phase variations, combined with the planet's previously measured dayside spectral energy distribution, are indicative of non-zero Bond albedo and very poor day-night heat redistribution. The transit depths in the mid-infrared-(R{sub p}more » /R{sub *}){sup 2} = 0.0123(3) and 0.0111(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 {mu}m, respectively-indicate that the atmospheric opacity is greater at 3.6 than at 4.5 {mu}m, in disagreement with model predictions, irrespective of C/O ratio. The secondary eclipse depths are consistent with previous studies: F{sub day}/F{sub *} = 0.0038(4) and 0.0039(3) at 3.6 and 4.5 {mu}m, respectively. We do not detect ellipsoidal variations at 3.6 {mu}m, but our parameter uncertainties-estimated via prayer-bead Monte Carlo-keep this non-detection consistent with model predictions. At 4.5 {mu}m, on the other hand, we detect ellipsoidal variations that are much stronger than predicted. If interpreted as a geometric effect due to the planet's elongated shape, these variations imply a 3:2 ratio for the planet's longest:shortest axes and a relatively bright day-night terminator. If we instead presume that the 4.5 {mu}m ellipsoidal variations are due to uncorrected systematic noise and we fix the amplitude of the variations to zero, the best-fit 4.5 {mu}m transit depth becomes commensurate with the 3.6 {mu}m depth, within the uncertainties. The relative transit depths are then consistent with a solar composition and short scale height at the terminator. Assuming zero ellipsoidal variations also yields a much deeper 4.5 {mu}m eclipse depth, consistent with a solar composition and modest temperature inversion. We suggest future observations that could distinguish between these two scenarios.« less

An ellipsoid-chain model for conjugated polymer solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Cheng K.; Hua, Chi C.; Chen, Show A.

2012-02-01

We propose an ellipsoid-chain model which may be routinely parameterized to capture large-scale properties of semiflexible, amphiphilic conjugated polymers in various solvent media. The model naturally utilizes the defect locations as pivotal centers connecting adjacent ellipsoids (each currently representing ten monomer units), and a variant umbrella-sampling scheme is employed to construct the potentials of mean force (PMF) for specific solvent media using atomistic dynamics data and simplex optimization. The performances, both efficacy and efficiency, of the model are thoroughly evaluated by comparing the simulation results on long, single-chain (i.e., 300-mer) structures with those from two existing, finer-grained models for a standard conjugated polymer (i.e., poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) or MEH-PPV) in two distinct solvents (i.e., chloroform or toluene) as well as a hybrid, binary-solvent medium (i.e., chloroform/toluene = 1:1 in number density). The coarse-grained Monte Carlo (CGMC) simulation of the ellipsoid-chain model is shown to be the most efficient—about 300 times faster than the coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulation of the finest CG model that employs explicit solvents—in capturing elementary single-chain structures for both single-solvent media, and is a few times faster than the coarse-grained Langevin dynamics (CGLD) simulation of another implicit-solvent polymer model with a slightly greater coarse-graining level than in the CGMD simulation. For the binary-solvent system considered, however, both of the two implicit-solvent schemes (i.e., CGMC and CGLD) fail to capture the effects of conspicuous concentration fluctuations near the polymer-solvent interface, arising from a pronounced coupling between the solvent molecules and different parts of the polymer. Essential physical implications are elaborated on the success as well as the failure of the two implicit-solvent CG schemes under varying solvent conditions. Within the ellipsoid-chain model, the impact of synthesized defects on local segmental ordering as well as bulk chain conformation is also scrutinized, and essential consequences in practical applications discussed. In future perspectives, we remark on strategy that takes advantage of the coordination among various CG models and simulation schemes to warrant computational efficiency and accuracy, with the anticipated capability of simulating larger-scale, many-chain aggregate systems.

The development and investigation of a prototype three-dimensional compensator for whole brain radiation therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keall, Paul; Arief, Isti; Shamas, Sofia; Weiss, Elisabeth; Castle, Steven

2008-05-01

Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is the standard treatment for patients with brain metastases, and is often used in conjunction with stereotactic radiotherapy for patients with a limited number of brain metastases, as well as prophylactic cranial irradiation. The use of open fields (conventionally used for WBRT) leads to higher doses to the brain periphery if dose is prescribed to the brain center at the largest lateral radius. These dose variations potentially compromise treatment efficacy and translate to increased side effects. The goal of this research was to design and construct a 3D 'brain wedge' to compensate dose heterogeneities in WBRT. Radiation transport theory was invoked to calculate the desired shape of a wedge to achieve a uniform dose distribution at the sagittal plane for an ellipsoid irradiated medium. The calculations yielded a smooth 3D wedge design to account for the missing tissue at the peripheral areas of the brain. A wedge was machined based on the calculation results. Three ellipsoid phantoms, spanning the mean and ± two standard deviations from the mean cranial dimensions were constructed, representing 95% of the adult population. Film was placed at the sagittal plane for each of the three phantoms and irradiated with 6 MV photons, with the wedge in place. Sagittal plane isodose plots for the three phantoms demonstrated the feasibility of this wedge to create a homogeneous distribution with similar results observed for the three phantom sizes, indicating that a single wedge may be sufficient to cover 95% of the adult population. The sagittal dose is a reasonable estimate of the off-axis dose for whole brain radiation therapy. Comparing the dose with and without the wedge the average minimum dose was higher (90% versus 86%), the maximum dose was lower (107% versus 113%) and the dose variation was lower (one standard deviation 2.7% versus 4.6%). In summary, a simple and effective 3D wedge for whole brain radiotherapy has been developed. The wedge gives a more uniform dose distribution than commonly used techniques. Further development and shape optimization may be necessary prior to clinical implementation.

Achieving Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty hours compliance within advanced surgical training: a simulation-based feasibility assessment.

PubMed

Obi, Andrea; Chung, Jennifer; Chen, Ryan; Lin, Wandi; Sun, Siyuan; Pozehl, William; Cohn, Amy M; Daskin, Mark S; Seagull, F Jacob; Reddy, Rishindra M

2015-11-01

Certain operative cases occur unpredictably and/or have long operative times, creating a conflict between Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) rules and adequate training experience. A ProModel-based simulation was developed based on historical data. Probabilistic distributions of operative time calculated and combined with an ACGME compliant call schedule. For the advanced surgical cases modeled (cardiothoracic transplants), 80-hour violations were 6.07% and the minimum number of days off was violated 22.50%. There was a 36% chance of failure to fulfill any (either heart or lung) minimum case requirement despite adequate volume. The variable nature of emergency cases inevitably leads to work hour violations under ACGME regulations. Unpredictable cases mandate higher operative volume to ensure achievement of adequate caseloads. Publically available simulation technology provides a valuable avenue to identify adequacy of case volumes for trainees in both the elective and emergency setting. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.