Practical observations on the methodology for determining 3-methyl-l-histidine using fluorescamine derivatives

The method for the detection and possible quantification of the unusual amino acid 3-methyl-l-histidine has been refined and elucidated. This is an essential prerequisite for the determination of its value as a robust unequivocal index of lean meat protein.     

Feature-based registration of retinal images

Registration of retinal images taken at different times frequently is required to measure changes caused by disease or to document retinal location of visual stimuli. Cross-correlation has been used previously for such registration, but it is computationally intensive. We have modified a faster algorithm, sequential similarity detection (SSD), to use only the portion of the template that contains retinal vessels. When compared to standard SSD and cross-correlation, this modification improves the reliability of detection for a variety of retinal imaging modalities. The improved reliability enables implementation of a two-stage registration strategy that further decreases the amount of computation and increases the speed of registration.     

Metalloorganic solution deposition of ferroelectric PZT films

The metallo-organic solution deposition (MOSD or sol-gel) technique can be used for preparing lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics with a wide range of compositions and crystal structures for electrooptical applications. Film morphology is affected by the stoichiometry of the film, hydrolysis and polymerization of the sol-gel solution, and thermal treatment of the deposited material. The lattice parameter decreases with the amount of titanium in the PZT, in agreement with ceramic data. A slight initial excess of lead in the coating solution is found to improve film morphology. Unlike traditional powder ceramic processing techniques, MOSD permits the growth of small uniform grains that are conducive to achieving consistent electronic and optical properties. Results show that the properties of films prepared by the MOSD process can be tailored to meet the needs of device applications.     

Depolarization measurements of an integrating sphere

Mueller-matrix polarimetry performed in the visible and near IR indicates that an integrating sphere acts as an ideal depolarizer to the 0.5% accuracy of the polarimeter. The integrating sphere emits unpolarized light regardless of the incident polarization state.