A stochastic approach to quantifying the blur with uncertainty estimation for high-energy X-ray imaging systems

One of the primary causes of blur in a high-energy X-ray imaging system is the shape and extent of the radiation source, or ‘spot’. It is important to be able to quantify the size of the spot as it provides a lower bound on the recoverable resolution for a radiograph, and penumbral imaging methods – which involve the analysis of blur caused by a structured aperture – can be used to obtain the spot’s spatial profile. We present a Bayesian approach for estimating the spot shape that, unlike variational methods, is robust to the initial choice of parameters. The posterior is obtained from a normal likelihood, which was constructed from a weighted least squares approximation to a Poisson noise model, and prior assumptions that enforce both smoothness and non-negativity constraints. A Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is used to obtain samples from the target posterior, and the reconstruction and uncertainty estimates are the computed mean and variance of the samples, respectively. Synthetic data-sets are used to demonstrate accurate reconstruction, while real data taken with high-energy X-ray imaging systems are used to demonstrate applicability and feasibility.     

Sample preparation strategies for targeted proteomics via proteotypic peptides in human blood using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The simultaneous quantification of protein concentrations via proteotypic peptides in human blood by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole MS/MS is an important field of bioanalytical research with a high potential for routine diagnostic applications. This review summarizes currently available sample preparation procedures and trends for absolute protein quantification in blood using LC-MS/MS. It discusses approaches of transferring established qualitative protocols to a quantitative analysis regarding their reliability and reproducibility. Techniques used to enhance method sensitivity such as the depletion of high-abundant proteins or the immunoaffinity enrichment of proteins and peptides are described. Furthermore, workflows for (i) protein denaturation, (ii) disulfide bridge reduction and (iii) thiol alkylation as well as (iv) enzymatic digestion for absolute protein quantification are presented. The main focus is on the tryptic digestion as a bottleneck of protein quantification via proteotypic peptides. Conclusively, requirements for a high-throughput application are discussed.     

Occurrence of iron in industrial granitic pegmatite

Granitic pegmatite is used as raw material for industrial minerals in the production of feldspar and quartz for glass, ceramic and porcelain. One of the most important quality parameters in the feldspar is the content of iron (Fe). At the Lillesand plant, Norway, pegmatite is floated to produce quartz, albite and microcline products. Fe is mostly removed through flotation and magnetic separation, but some Fe is still present in the final products, the amount depending on the raw material source. Rietveld X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Point counting by optical microscopy, and Electron Microprobe Analysis (EPMA) combined with image analysis of Back-Scatter Electron (BSE) images was used to quantify the mineralogy and to map the distribution Fe in the pegmatites. The study showed that Fe is present as mineral inclusions in feldspar, in addition to its occurrence in minor mineral components such as mica and chlorite. The frequency of Fe-mineral inclusions was higher in albite than in microcline, and they were often associated with micro-fractures and areas of alteration. These findings reveal a potential for reducing total Fe₂O₃ in the microcline products.     

Deduction Graphs with Universal Quantification

Deduction Graphs are meant to generalise both Gentzen-Prawitz style natural deductions and Fitch style flag deductions. They have the structure of acyclic directed graphs with boxes. In [Herman Geuvers and Iris Loeb. Natural Deduction via Graphs: Formal Definition and Computation Rules. Mathematical Structures in Computer Science (Special Issue on Theory and Applications of Term Graph Rewriting), Volume 17(03):485–526, 2007.] we have investigated the deduction graphs for minimal proposition logic. This paper studies the extension with first-order universal quantification, showing the robustness of the concept of deduction graphs.     

注水井化学调剖定量化及优化设计方法研究

根据近几年化学调剖技术在现场实际应用情况，从实际统计分析结果和理论研究两个途径，对确定调剖前层间吸水差异的最低界限、调剖后主要吸水层相对吸水量下降幅度的最低界限，合理调剖半径、调剖剂用量的定量化及化学调剖优化设计方法等进行了研究，得到5条认识：调剖吸水剖面上两类油层相对吸水量比值大于0．7时，调剖有效；化学调剖使主要吸水层相对吸水量下降幅度在50％时，能改善吸水剖面；调剖后主要吸水层与差油层相对吸水量比值小于0．4时，能明显改善吸水剖面；当调剖半径在3－4m时，调剖效果持续时间可达400d以上，当调剖剂用量达到50m^3之后，目的层吸水量下降幅度趋于平缓。     

Parsing with restricted quantification: an initial demonstration1

The primary goal of this paper is to illustrate how smaller deductive search spaces can be obtained by extending a logical language with restricted quantification and tailoring an inference system to this extension. The illustration examines the search spaces for a bottom-up parse of a sentence with a series of four strongly equivalent grammars. The grammars are stated in logical languages of increasing expressiveness, each restatement resulting in a more concise grammar and a smaller search space. A secondary goal is to point out an area where further research could yield results useful to the design of efficient parsers, particularly for grammatical formalisms that rely heavily on feature systems.     

熵权多目标决策法在水资源系统决策分析中的应用

义乌市是一个水资源紧缺的城市,随着义乌经济的快速发展,仅靠义乌市北部水资源(八都水库等)是满足不了义乌经济发展对水的需求.2003年的干旱,义乌城区用水紧张,从2003年11月起限时降压供水.按照义乌市总体规划,向东阳横锦水库购买5 000万m3/a的水,也只能维持到义乌市规划中期,远期还将缺水8 700万m3/a,从而提出义乌市分质供水系统的可研方案.应用熵权多目标决策法,对义乌市水资源规划进行量化分析,为更进一步地开发利用义乌水资源,提供科学地决策依据.     

Capsaicinoids quantification in chili peppers cultivated in the state of Yucatan,Mexico

Capsaicinoids are a group of 12 or more related alkaloids responsible of the pungent sensation in fruits of the genus Capsicum. Capsaicin [(E)-N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-8-methyl-6-nonenamide] and dihydrocapsaicin are responsible for more than 90% of the pungency. This work describes the quantitative analyses by gas chromatography of the content of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in the pericarp, placenta, and seeds of seven cultivars of chili peppers cultivated in the state of Yucatan, Mexico [chawa, dulce, sukurre, xcat’ik (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum), maax (Capsicum annuum L. var. aviculare), and habanero orange and habanero white (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)]. Capsaicin content was higher, as expected, in the fruits of habanero orange and habanero white, followed by sukurre, chawa, xkat’ik, and maax. Dihydrocapsaicin content did not follow the same scheme, being higher in the fruits of sukurre, followed by chawa, habanero white, habanero orange, and maax. Xcat’ik showed minor quantities of dihydrocapsaicin, while dulce chili contained only traces of these two alkaloids.     

上海区域常见园林树种树高尺度定量预估及林冠线营造探析

树高及树木垂直生长空间对于群落外貌(如林冠线的营造)以及复层结构的构建起到关键作用。本文以上海地区城镇绿化较为常见的23种园林树种为研究对象,对不同胸径梯度下(分别设置为10cm、16cm、22cm、28cm)的树高尺度进行调查与测定。基于所选取及调查树木样本的实测数据,对胸径—树高两者之间的关系进行回归拟合,将所涉及园林树木树高尺度划分为4种伸展类型,并讨论了树高尺度在种植设计中的应用。最后,尝试通过从冠顶角与冠重叠2个方面对林冠线进行定量化解析,以期为群落垂直结构的配置及林冠线的营造提供参考依据。