An almost distribution-independent incremental Delaunay triangulation algorithm

This paper presents a new incremental insertion algorithm for constructing a Delaunay triangulation. Firstly, the nearest point is found in order to speed up the location of a triangle containing a currently inserted point. A hash table and 1–3 deterministic skip lists, combined with a walking strategy, are used for this task. The obtained algorithm is compared with the most popular Delaunay triangulation algorithms. The algorithm has the following attractive features: it is fast and practically independent of the distribution of input points, it is not memory demanding, and it is numerically stable and easy to implement.     

Optimal conditions for determination of zinc bacitracin, polymyxin B, oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide in animal feed by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A separation technique for zinc bacitracin, polymyxin B, oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide in animal feedstuffs by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was developed. The running buffer was 20 mmol l^-1 borate, 20 mmol l^-1 phosphate, pH 8.4, containing 20 mmol l^-1 sodium dodecylsulphate and 10% (v/v) methanol. MEKC was performed at 25°C; the applied voltage was 25 kV with a running pressure of 10 mbar. Simultaneous UV detection for all analytes was at 215 nm. The method was validated for specificity, accuracy, linearity, precision and robustness. It was shown to be specific, accurate (recoveries were 99.7 ± 0.3, 99.9 ± 0.9, 99.8 ± 1.0 and 99.5 ± 0.4, respectively, for oxytetracycline-, sulfacetamide-, polymyxin B- and zinc bacitracin-spiked samples of feed for cow, pigs, chicken and cattle), linear over the tested range (correlation coefficients ≥0.9987) and precise (RSDs below 1.8% for each analyte). The method was applied to determine zinc bacitracin, polymyxin B, oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide as additives in animal feed.     

Optimal conditions for determination of zinc bacitracin,polymyxin B,oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide in animal feed by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A separation technique for zinc bacitracin, polymyxin B, oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide in animal feedstuffs by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was developed. The running buffer was 20 mmol l^?1 borate, 20 mmol l^?1 phosphate, pH 8.4, containing 20 mmol l^?1 sodium dodecylsulphate and 10% (v/v) methanol. MEKC was performed at 25°C; the applied voltage was 25 kV with a running pressure of 10 mbar. Simultaneous UV detection for all analytes was at 215 nm. The method was validated for specificity, accuracy, linearity, precision and robustness. It was shown to be specific, accurate (recoveries were 99.7?±?0.3, 99.9?±?0.9, 99.8?±?1.0 and 99.5?±?0.4, respectively, for oxytetracycline-, sulfacetamide-, polymyxin B- and zinc bacitracin-spiked samples of feed for cow, pigs, chicken and cattle), linear over the tested range (correlation coefficients ≥0.9987) and precise (RSDs below 1.8% for each analyte). The method was applied to determine zinc bacitracin, polymyxin B, oxytetracycline and sulfacetamide as additives in animal feed.     

Pharmacokinetics of morphine-6-glucuronide and its formation from morphine after intravenous administration

PURPOSE: To develop and assess an automated image cytometric method of apoptotic cell classification for use under conditions in which apoptosis is a rare event (e.g. fibroblastoid cell lines or low-dose irradiation). METHOD: Image acquisition software was adapted to gather double-stained cell images from slides prepared using cell fixation and staining methods that emphasized apoptotic morphology. Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) were classified individually by discriminant analysis of morphological and nuclear texture features calculated for each image. Discriminant functions were constructed from a manually classified set of over 60000 cell images categorized as 'normal', 'apoptotic', 'cell doublets' or 'debris' and all subsequent cell images collected were classified using these functions. RESULTS: Application of this technique resulted in a 99.8% accuracy in classification of the normal cell population, and 81.7% classification accuracy for apoptotic cells. This method was then applied to study the time course of the apoptotic response of CHO cells following X-irradiation. Following irradiation with 5 Gy no increase above control levels of apoptosis was noted until 18 h post-irradiation, which corresponded with the release of the G2 block as determined by DNA-content analysis. Apoptotic frequency increased to a peak level of 12.1 +/- 4.6% at 42 h post-irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Automated image cytometry provides an efficient and consistent method of apoptosis measurement. This study represents the first detailed characterization of the time course and the role of cell division in CHO cell apoptosis.     

Review of quantitative accuracy assessments with fast Fourier transform based method (FFTBM)

In the past 10 years various methodologies were proposed to evaluate the uncertainty of BE code predictions. One common step to all methodologies is the use of experimental and plant data for the nodalization development and qualification. When thermal–hydraulic computer codes are used for simulation the questions raised are: ‘How long improvements should be added to the model, how much simplification can be introduced and how to conduct an objective comparison?’ The proposed fast Fourier transform based method (FFTBM) assists in answering these questions. The method is easy to understand, convenient to use, user independent and it clearly indicates when simulation needs to be improved. The FFTBM shows the measurement–prediction discrepancies—accuracy quantification—in the frequency domain. The acceptability factor for code calculation was determined based on several hundreds of code calculations. The FFTBM method has been applied to various international standard problems, standard problem exercises and other experiment simulations that are presented in the paper. The result shows that the quantitative comparison between thermal–hydraulic code results and experimental measurements with qualitative evaluation may assist the decision whether or not the simulation needs to be improved.     

Quantitative assessment with improved fast Fourier transform based method by signal mirroring

The comparison of calculated results to experimental measurements is very important for thermal-hydraulic code qualification. Recently, it was observed that the fast Fourier transform based method (FFTBM) favors certain trends when an edge (difference) is present in the signal between the first and the last data point of the investigated time signal. Namely, the discrete Fourier transform used for the code accuracy calculation views the time domain signal as an infinite periodic signal. The purpose of the present study was therefore to improve the FFTBM regarding the unphysical edge impact. This was achieved by signal mirroring. In the demonstration it was shown how the improved FFTBM by signal mirroring works. Besides two case studies also the code accuracy of the LOFT L2-5 test calculations performed in the frame of the Best-Estimate Methods Uncertainty and Sensitivity Evaluation (BEMUSE) program was assessed. The results show that the improved FFTBM by signal mirroring judges the accuracy in a consistent and unbiased way.     

Introducing a method of human health risk evaluation for planning and soil quality management of heavy metal-polluted soils—An example from Grugliasco (Italy)

European governmental institutions, as well as local communities, have recently become aware of the threats arising from soil pollution for the welfare of the population. Humans contact with soils is more likely in urban than in rural areas, and is strongly dependent on land use. Spatial planning and land management may have important impacts on the potential transfer of pollutants from contaminated soils to humans. In the present study, we propose a land use-based method for the evaluation of human health risks arising from heavy metal-contaminated urban soils, addressing in particular the influence of planning measures and land use changes on such risks. The method accounts for the role of the bioavailability of soil metals as a key factor in health risk assessment. In order to increase method applicability, a step-by-step procedure and a calculation tool were elaborated. The method can be used to identify areas in which the current or planned land use is associated with unacceptable health risks and to optimise the allocation of a certain land use to areas that are well suited and where the risks are minimal. A risk index is calculated for the area, taking the land use into consideration, as the sum of the risks from different exposure pathways and different heavy metals. For those areas where risk is identified as unacceptable, alternative planning or management options should be defined to achieve a maximal risk reduction in a cost-effective way. The method is illustrated using the Italian municipality, Grugliasco.