Synchronisation mechanisms of circadian rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is considered as the master circadian pacemaker. Each cell in the SCN contains an autonomous molecular clock, and the SCN is composed of multiple single-cell circadian oscillators. The fundamental question is how the individual cellular oscillators, expressing a wide range of periods, interact and assemble to create an integrated pacemaker that can govern behavioural and physiological rhythmicity and be reset by environmental light. The key is that the heterogeneous network formed by the cellular clocks within the SCN must synchronise to maintain timekeeping activity. To study the synchronisation mechanisms and the circadian rhythm generation, we propose a model based on the structural and functional heterogeneity of the SCN. The model is a heterogeneous network of circadian oscillators in which individual oscillators are self-sustained. The authors show that the dorsomedial region can smooth the periodic light?dark (LD) signal curve and affect its wave form. The authors also study the rhythmic process of the circadian oscillators under the effect of the daily LD cycle, including three courses: information afferent inputs, oscillation and information efferent outputs. The numerical simulations are also given to demonstrate the theoretical results.     

Reflection of radar signals from multiple phase-modulated surfaces

A phase-modulated surface (PMS) has been shown to provide an effective method of dynamically controlling the scattering from simple planar or cylindrical targets. Real radar targets however have complex geometry comprised of many scattering centres, and multiple interactions may occur between these. Therefore, the authors explore whether the PMS technique is still effective when applied to more realistic target geometries     

A novel video-tracking system to quantify the behaviour of nocturnal mosquitoes attacking human hosts in the field

Many vectors of malaria and other infections spend most of their adult life within human homes, the environment where they bloodfeed and rest, and where control has been most successful. Yet, knowledge of peri-domestic mosquito behaviour is limited, particularly how mosquitoes find and attack human hosts or how insecticides impact on behaviour. This is partly because technology for tracking mosquitoes in their natural habitats, traditional dwellings in disease-endemic countries, has never been available. We describe a sensing device that enables observation and recording of nocturnal mosquitoes attacking humans with or without a bed net, in the laboratory and in rural Africa. The device addresses requirements for sub-millimetre resolution over a 2.0 × 1.2 × 2.0 m volume while using minimum irradiance. Data processing strategies to extract individual mosquito trajectories and algorithms to describe behaviour during host/net interactions are introduced. Results from UK laboratory and Tanzanian field tests showed that Culex quinquefasciatus activity was higher and focused on the bed net roof when a human host was present, in colonized and wild populations. Both C. quinquefasciatus and Anopheles gambiae exhibited similar behavioural modes, with average flight velocities varying by less than 10%. The system offers considerable potential for investigations in vector biology and many other fields.     

Simulated shift work in rats perturbs multiscale regulation of locomotor activity

Motor activity possesses a multiscale regulation that is characterized by fractal activity fluctuations with similar structure across a wide range of timescales spanning minutes to hours. Fractal activity patterns are disturbed in animals after ablating the master circadian pacemaker (suprachiasmatic nucleus, SCN) and in humans with SCN dysfunction as occurs with aging and in dementia, suggesting the crucial role of the circadian system in the multiscale activity regulation. We hypothesized that the normal synchronization between behavioural cycles and the SCN-generated circadian rhythms is required for multiscale activity regulation. To test the hypothesis, we studied activity fluctuations of rats in a simulated shift work protocol that was designed to force animals to be active during the habitual resting phase of the circadian/daily cycle. We found that these animals had gradually decreased mean activity level and reduced 24-h activity rhythm amplitude, indicating disturbed circadian and behavioural cycles. Moreover, these animals had disrupted fractal activity patterns as characterized by more random activity fluctuations at multiple timescales from 4 to 12 h. Intriguingly, these activity disturbances exacerbated when the shift work schedule lasted longer and persisted even in the normal days (without forced activity) following the shift work. The disrupted circadian and fractal patterns resemble those of SCN-lesioned animals and of human patients with dementia, suggesting a detrimental impact of shift work on multiscale activity regulation.     

Preservation of diagnostic information in synthesis of ecg signals for one lead system from signals measured in another lead system

We consider questions about the comparative information content of different systems of electrocardiographic leads and review papers on study and solution of the problem of artificial synthesis of signals for one system of leads from signals measured in another system, for the case when interconverting between signals from a standard conventional 12-lead system and signals from a system of three orthogonal Frank leads. Supported by RFFI grant No. 96-04-48789 and No. 96-01-01080. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 54–59, February 1997.     

关联维数在齿轮箱振动信号特征提取中的应用

论述了关联维数的基本概念和性质，给出了定量描述分形特征的重要参数——关联维数的计算方法，分析了齿轮葙故障时振动的特点．通过对试验获取的齿轮故障振动信号进行分析计算，确定了关联维数与齿轮葙故障程度之间的联系．结果表明，齿轮箱的不同运行情况对应的关联维数有明显不同．因此，可用关联维数作为区分齿轮葙工作状态的特征参数．     

Optimal observation of analytical signals from traces of chemical elements in x-ray spectrometry

We have investigated the accuracy of determination of lanthanum in aqueous solutions on an energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer as a function of the degree ofa priori uncertainty in the x-ray photon flux intensities. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 54–57, February, 1996.     

Improved metrological reliability in DAS from using cross-correlation processing of measurement channel signals

Cross-correlation processing is considered for measurement channel signals in order to improve the metrological reliability of a data acquisition system by automatic correction of the results. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 3, pp. 15–18, March, 2006.     

Preservation of diagnostic information in synthesis of ECG signals for a standard lead system from signals measured by an orthogonal frank system: Minnesota code criteria

We show that using the three best known matrices for synthesis of ECG signals and their diagnostic interpretation in terms of the Minnesota code unfortunately cannot be considered valid. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 4, pp. 68–71, April, 1997.     

Scavenging behaviour of meranti sawdust in the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution

Meranti (Philippine mahogany) sawdust, an inexpensive material, showed strong scavenging behaviour through adsorption for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Batch studies were performed to evaluate and optimize the effects of various parameters such as contact time, pH, initial dye concentrations and adsorbent dosage. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were used to analyze the equilibrium data at different temperatures. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating thereby the mono layer adsorption of the dye. The monolayer sorption capacity of meranti sawdust for MB was found to be 120.48, 117.64, 149.25 and 158.73 mg/g at 30, 40, 50 and 60 °C, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the MB adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results indicated that the meranti sawdust could be an alternative material in place of more costly adsorbents used for dye removal.     

Interfacial behaviour from pull-out tests of steel and aluminium fibres in unsaturated polyester matrix

This study aims at implementing an interfacial model to capture the role of interfaces in polyester-based composites reinforced by metallic fibres. A pull-out test of single aluminium and steel fibres embedded in unsaturated polyester matrix is performed. Finite element computation is performed to simulate the typical response of the pull-out test based on an interfacial model. The implemented model relies on a nonlinear relationship assumed between the interfacial shear and interfacial separation. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to reveal the effect of each parameter of the interfacial model. The identification of these parameters with respect to the experimental conditions is also attempted. The predictions show a perfect matching with the experimental trends if a two-term expression is accounted for as an interfacial response. The model outcome reveals superior interfacial performance of the aluminium/unsaturated polyester composite.     

In vivo behaviour of a biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) barrier membrane: a histological study in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of surrounding tissues to newly developed poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) membranes. Furthermore, the tissue formation beneath and the space maintaining properties of the PTMC membrane were evaluated. Results were compared with a collagen membrane (Geistlich BioGide), which served as control. Single-sided standardized 5.0 mm circular bicortical defects were created in the mandibular angle of rats. Defects were covered with either the PTMC membrane or a collagen membrane. After 2, 4 and 12 weeks rats were sacrificed and histology was performed. The PTMC membranes induced a mild tissue reaction corresponding to a normal foreign body reaction. The PTMC membranes showed minimal cellular capsule formation and showed signs of a surface erosion process. Bone tissue formed beneath the PTMC membranes comparable to that beneath the collagen membranes. The space maintaining properties of the PTMC membranes were superior to those of the collagen membrane. Newly developed PTMC membranes can be used with success as barrier membranes in critical size rat mandibular defects.     

Effect of stress concentration on magnetic flux leakage signals from blind-hole defects in stressed pipeline steel

Stress-dependent magnetic flux leakage (MFL) signals of the normal surface component (radial) MFL signal from blind-hole defects in pipeline steel were investigated. Three different stress rigs with uniaxial stress and field configurations were used. A double-peak feature in the MFL signal was defined quantitatively by a saddle amplitude, which was taken as the difference between the average of the double peaks and the corresponding saddle point. Results indicated that the saddle amplitude increased linearly with increasing tensile surface stress and decreased, or did not exist, for increasing compressive surface stress. Finite-element calculations indicated that stress concentration also increased with increasing defect depth. The measurements and analysis demonstrate that the stress-dependent saddle amplitude behavior in the radial MFL signal is associated with surface-stress concentrations near the blind-hole defects.     

In vivo monitoring of multiple trace metals in the brain extracellular fluid of anesthetized rats by microdialysis-membrane desalter-ICPMS

We have developed an on-line analytical system involving microdialysis (MD) sampling, a carbohydrate membrane desalter (CMD), and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS) system for the simultaneous determination of multiple trace metals in the extracellular fluid (ECF) in the brains of anesthetized rats. The microdialysate that perfused from the animal at a flow rate of 0.5 microL/min was on-line transferred to the CMD to remove the high-sodium matrix, followed by ICPMS measurement. The role of the CMD in this on-line system was investigated in detail. With prior addition of EDTA to the microdialysate to form anionic complexes of the metal analytes and the use of NH4Cl as a regenerant to exchange Na(+) with NH4(+) ions, both quantitative recovery of the trace metal analytes and quantitative removal of the sodium matrix could be achieved. Two experimental modes of the monitoring system were constructed. For those metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Mn) that existed at (sub)nanogram-per-milliliter concentrations in the microdialysate, the temporal resolution was 10 min when using a 10 microL loop for sample collection, followed by CMD and ICPMS; for those elements (e.g., Ca and Mg) that existed at microgram-per-milliliter levels (or greater), near-real-time analysis was possible because the microdialysate could be led, bypassing the sample loop, directly to the CMD for desalting without any time delay. Further improvement of the temporal resolution for the low-concentration elements was not possible without decreasing the detection limits of mass detection. Among the eight trace metals tested using this on-line system, the method detection limits for Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni, and Pb reached subnanogram-per-milliliter levels; for electrolyte species such as Ca and Mg, the detection limits were in the range of 50-100 ng/mL. Analytical accuracy, expressed as spike recovery, was 100% +/- 15% for all of the elements tested. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed system through the successful measurement of the basal values of Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mn in the ECF of a living rat brain and through in vivo monitoring of the concentration profiles of Mn and Pt in the ECF after the injection of drugs (MnCl2 and cisplatin) into the rats. This microdialysis system is the first to offer real-time, in vivo monitoring of trace elements such as Ca and Mg.     

Illustration of the role of multiple scattering in subwavelength imaging from far-field measurements

Recently it has been proposed that the classical diffraction limit could be overcome by taking into account multiple scattering effects to describe the interaction of a probing wave and the object to be imaged [Phys. Rev. E73, 036619 (2006)]. Here this idea is illustrated by considering two point scatterers spaced much less than a wavelength apart. It is observed that while under the Born approximation the scattered field pattern is similar to that of a monopole source centered between the scatterers, multiple scattering leads to a more complicated pattern. This additional complexity carries information about the subwavelength structure and can lead to superresolution in the presence of large noise levels. Moreover, it is pointed out that the additional information due to multiple scattering is interpreted as a form of coherent noise by inversion algorithms based on the Born approximation.     

Analysis of the structure of vibration signals from mechanical systems in the process of growth of a defect

We construct a statistical model of vibration response of a thin body containing a crack and study the dynamics of changes in the cross-correlation links between the stationary components of the vibration signal. It is shown that the crack size affects neither the shape of correlation functions nor the width of their central maximum.     

Extraction of mixed-order multicomponent ship target signals from broadened sea clutter in bistatic shipborne surface wave radar

A dynamic geometry model was built to describe the Doppler-broadening characteristics of the first-order Bragg lines for bistatic shipborne surface wave radar. They are time-varying because the Doppler frequency shifts of sea echoes are simultaneously modulated by the velocity components projected from the unavoidably different motions of both platforms, which is more complex than its counterpart in the monostatic mode. The geometrical relation is used to obtain the received signal model: strong first-order sea clutter interferences and submerged ship targets with constant and non-constant speeds are considered as mixed-order multicomponent polynomial-phase signals (mc-PPSs) and both second-order sea clutter continuum and atmospheric noise as additive noise. Then, a scheme based on the product high-order ambiguity function is proposed to extract the targets; it is a recursive procedure in which the first-order sea clutter is removed by an existing time-space cascaded filtering method. Monte Carlo simulations show the validity and efficiency of the proposed scheme.     

1H MRS signals from glutathione may act as predictive markers of apoptosis in irradiated tumour cells

Inhibition of apoptosis in tumour cells may depend on intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level. In this work, GSH levels were studied by (1)H MRS in MCF-7 and HeLa cells, characterised by a different radiosensitivity. Annexin-V test showed that the fraction of apoptotic HeLa cells after irradiation is much higher than in control, although MCF-7 cells did not show a significant apoptosis. MRS signals from GSH (G) show lower intensity in HeLa with respect to MCF-7 cells; the opposite is true for free glutamic acid [glu (g)]. After irradiation, the G/g ratio decreases in MCF-7, although remaining approximately constant in HeLa cells. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) treated MCF-7 cells show an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells; in parallel, G/g ratio behaves as in HeLa. This study indicates that GSH level may act as predictive marker of apoptosis by irradiation.