In vivo lipolysis induced by heparin injection or fasting: a proton MR spectroscopy analysis of human plasma

The impact of induced lipolysis on the composition of plasma lipids is analyzed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in humans. The variations of the methylene and methyl resonances from lipids in lipoproteins are studied under two sets of lipolytic conditions: acute endovascular lipolysis induced by an intravenous injection of heparin and subacute lipolysis induced by short fasting. During acute lipolysis, the degradation of the very low density lipoproteins structures is well correlated to the modifications observed in the areas of CH₂ and CH₃ MRS signals. The comparison of regular spectra, spectra with water signal suppression, and spectra recorded with a spin-echo sequence provides information on the behavior of the different parts of the lipoproteins, that is, the neutral core, little affected by heparine-induced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activation, and the surface layer supplying substrates to LPL. During 48 h of fasting, only limited modifications occur on the MR spectra, and lipolysis cannot be documented in details.Address for correspondence: CRMBM-CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, 27, bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.     

Automated compensation of misalignment in phase retrieval based on a spatial light modulator

In this paper, the issue of misalignment in phase retrieval by means of optical linear filtering is discussed. The filtering setup is based on a 4f configuration with a spatial light modulator (SLM) as an active element, located in the Fourier domain. From the analysis, crucial parameters for the alignment procedure of the setup's optical axes and the center of the SLM are identified. Furthermore, a method to automatically as well as electronically compensate such effects by modifying the phase pattern displayed on the SLM is introduced. Experimental results are presented that validate the compensation approach.     

Reducing temperature stratification using heated air recirculation for thermal energy saving

Using discrete heat sources such as a radiator or a gas heater, a large amount of heated air is accumulated under the ceiling surface where it is usually far enough from the occupancy zone. The idea of transferring this heated air into the occupancy zone has been the subject of the present study. A full length-scale model of a compartment was constructed and equipped with a radiator and an air circulating mechanism. Temperature distribution on the symmetry plane was specified for the two cases of usual heating and heating with air circulation. Heat loss from the surfaces of the enclosure was also determined using thermal maps of both the internal and the external surfaces of the enclosure. In order to examine the effect of circulating air on the thermal energy saving quantitatively, a numerical model was developed and validated using experimental results. The input heat rate of the enclosure was compared for the two cases of usual heating and heating with air circulation considering different heights for a typical heating space. Based on the results, having the same mean air temperature within the occupancy zone, the input heat rate of a compartment could be moderated using circulating air criterion.