A Machine Vision Sensor for Quality Control of Green Anode Paste Material

JOM - A machine vision sensor was developed for predicting deviations from the optimum amount of pitch in anode formulations using paste texture analysis. It could help operators mitigate the...     

Cyanogenic,carotenoids and protein composition in leaves and roots across seven diverse population found in the world cassava germplasm collection at CIAT,Colombia

The objective of this study was to characterise the nutritional potential of leaves and identify a diversity centre with low cyanide and high nutrient content among 178 Latin American cassava genotypes. This field-based collection represents the seven diversity centres, held at The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT Palmira, Colombia) by the Cassava Program. The cyanide, all-trans-β-carotene and lutein concentrations in cassava leaves ranged from 346 to 7484 ppm dry basis (db), from 174–547 μg g⁻¹ db and 15–181 μg g⁻¹ db, respectively. Cassava leaves also showed significant levels of essential amino acids leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, valine and threonine, and average total protein content of 26.24 g 100 g⁻¹ db. Among seven diversity centres, South American rainforest group showed low cyanide and high carotene content in leaves. In addition, VEN77 and PAN51 genotypes stood out for having low cyanide in leaves and roots and high carotene in leaves. This genetic diversity can be used to select high potential progenitors for breeding purposes.     

Performance comparison of masking models based on a new psychovisual test method with natural scenery stimuli

Various image processing applications exploit a model of the human visual system (HVS). One element of HVS-models describes the masking-effect, which is typically parameterized by psycho-visual experiments that employ superimposed sinusoidal stimuli. Those stimuli are oversimplified with respect to real images and can capture only very elementary masking-effects. To overcome these limitations a new psycho-visual test method is proposed. It is based on natural scenery stimuli and operates in the wavelet domain. The collected psycho-visual data is finally used to evaluate the performance of various masking models under conditions as found in real image processing applications like compression.     

The impacts of a GTL plant on Brazil's oil products supply and refinery expansion

This paper assesses the impacts of a GTL plant on the expansion of Brazil's oil refining segment. The GTL plant (50,000 bpd) was sized to start up operations in 2015, producing diesel and naphtha through the indirect route (FT-synthesis). This plant will consume the non-associated natural gas production from the recent discoveries at the Santos Basin (around 419 Bm³), and the associated gas production from the Campos Basin. Both basins are located in the Southeast of Brazil, the most populated, rich and industrialized region of the country. Two different criteria for refinery expansion were simulated in order to meet oil product demand scenarios. Findings show that depending on the refinery expansion criteria considered GTL will play a fundamental hole to meet the oil product demand forecast to Brazil in the next 10 years.     

Importance of out-of-plane dispersion of the excitation spectrum of superconducting bilayers with Josephson coupling

We study the effect of Josephson coupling between adjacent superconducting layers on the BCS energy spectrum. We find that the interference between the gap functions of two layers can lead to vanishing condensation energy for perpendicular momenta corresponding to the formation of standing waves. We therefore predict a conventional energy spectrum for large interlayer spacings, if the gap of the single layers has no nodes, and in all cases a gapless spectrum for small spacings. Within the experimental error, our numerical results account for the low-temperature dependence of the penetration depth reported in Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ and YBa₂Cu₃O_6.9.     

Relationships between H-NS, sigma S, SpvR and growth phase in the control of spvR, the regulatory gene of the Salmonella plasmid virulence operon

We propose that chronically denervated Schwann cells may be less able to respond to axonal signals than their acutely denervated counterparts, and that this lack of sensitivity may be one reason why axons fail to regenerate into chronically denervated nerve stumps. To test this proposal we have used in situ hybridization, and quantitative and qualitative immunohistochemistry to compare the expression of c-erbB2 and c-erbB4 receptors in Schwann cells denervated for up to 6 months in vivo, with that seen in Schwann cells denervated for similar periods of time but then exposed to regenerating axons. The results were correlated with the extent of axonal regeneration in each experimental group as assessed from transverse sections which had been double-immunolabelled using anti S-100 and anti-beta tubulin III antibodies. Since c-erbBs are receptors for neuronally derived neuregulins we probed the appropriate axotomised DRG neurons for expression of GGF2 mRNA. When the denervated distal stumps were anastomosed to acutely transected proximal stumps, GGF expression in DRGs increased transiently during the first week: we assume that secreted GGF2 derived from regrowing axon sprouts would have been available to Schwann cells in all distal stumps. Endoneurial cell proliferation (predominantly Schwann cell proliferation); levels of expression of c-erbB receptors by Schwann cells, and the degree to which axons regenerated into the distal stumps all decreased as the period of prior denervation increased: the longer the time of denervation, the lower the expression of c-erbBs in Schwann cells, and the smaller the percentage of bands of Bungner which were re-innervated.     

Lithium reactivity with III–VI layered compounds

The reactivity of lithium with layered chalcogenides InSe and In₂Se₃ is studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical potential spectroscopy (EPS) and Raman scattering (RS). It is found that for x(Li)≥0.1 in Li_xInSe, the host material decomposes with the formation of lithium selenide. The presence of Li₂Se is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The insertion of Li into In₂Se₃ appears more stable with the occurrence of a superlattice formation at x(Li)≈0.25. The superstructure corresponding to the 2a×2a lattice is consistent with the EPS measurements of Li_xIn₂Se₃.     

Treatment of chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura with monoclonal anti-D

BACKGROUND: The platelet count increases transiently after treatment with polyclonal anti-D in about 50 percent of D+ patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP). The effect is usually attributed to macrophage Fc-receptor blockade by antibody-coated red cells. As polyclonal anti-D is in limited supply, prospective testing was performed on a monoclonal anti-D (MoAb D) in such patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Seven D+ patients with chronic AITP received MoAb D intravenously at doses of 47 to 95 microg per kg of body weight. Response was assessed by studying platelet count increment. Hemolysis and red cell-bound MoAb D were measured before and after MoAb D administration. RESULTS: MoAb D red cell binding was demonstrated in all patients at a ratio higher than that observed in AITP patients successfully treated with polyclonal anti-D. However, little or no platelet count increment was observed in six patients, while a transient response was observed in only one (platelet count 97 x 10(9)/L before MoAb D infusion and 163 x 10(9)/L 4 days later). Furthermore, because five patients showed signs of hemolysis and two became anemic, higher doses of MoAb D should be used only with caution in patients with AITP. CONCLUSION: The MoAb D used in this study cannot be proposed as an alternative treatment for patients with AITP.