Evaluation of registration methods on thoracic CT: the EMPIRE10 challenge

EMPIRE10 (Evaluation of Methods for Pulmonary Image REgistration 2010) is a public platform for fair and meaningful comparison of registration algorithms which are applied to a database of intrapatient thoracic CT image pairs. Evaluation of nonrigid registration techniques is a nontrivial task. This is compounded by the fact that researchers typically test only on their own data, which varies widely. For this reason, reliable assessment and comparison of different registration algorithms has been virtually impossible in the past. In this work we present the results of the launch phase of EMPIRE10, which comprised the comprehensive evaluation and comparison of 20 individual algorithms from leading academic and industrial research groups. All algorithms are applied to the same set of 30 thoracic CT pairs. Algorithm settings and parameters are chosen by researchers expert in the configuration of their own method and the evaluation is independent, using the same criteria for all participants. All results are published on the EMPIRE10 website (http://empire10.isi.uu.nl). The challenge remains ongoing and open to new participants. Full results from 24 algorithms have been published at the time of writing. This paper details the organization of the challenge, the data and evaluation methods and the outcome of the initial launch with 20 algorithms. The gain in knowledge and future work are discussed.     

A 21.5% efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin‐film concentrator solar cell

Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells have been designed for operation under mildly concentrated sunlight. The absorber was deposited via a three‐stage evaporation process that has consistently yielded high‐performance one‐sun devices. The device structure reported here was modified by reducing the thickness of the CdS window/buffer layer to enhance the short‐circuit current at the expense of the open‐circuit voltage. Operation of the devices under optical enhancement leads to significant increases in the voltage and fill factor. At 14 suns, the open‐circuit voltage for this device was 736 mV, the fill factor was 80.5%, and the efficiency was 21.5%. This result represents the first report of a polycrystalline thin‐film solar cell with an efficiency in excess of 20%. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoluminescence and electroreflectance studies of modulation-doped pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells

In this study, we describe the correlations between the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and electrical properties of pseudomorphic modulation-doped AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells (MDQWs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy. In MDQWs, the presence of a large sheet carrier density contributes significantly to the PL linewidth. At low temperatures (4.2 K), free carrier induced broadening of the PL linewidth is influenced by the material quality of the structure. At higher temperatures (77 K), differences in the material quality do not affect the linewidth significantly, and under these conditions the PL linewidth is a good measure of the sheet carrier density. The ratio of the 77 K to 4.2 K PL linewidths provides useful information about the crystalline quality of the MDQW structures as illustrated by the correlation with 77 K Hall mobility data and a simple model. We present results of Electron Beam Electroreflectance (EBER) to characterize MDQWs and undoped quantum wells in the AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs material system. Several transitions have been observed and fitted to excitonic Lorentzian lineshapes, providing accurate estimates of transition energy and broadening parameter at temperatures of 96 K and 300 K.     

A novel algorithm and architecture for adaptive digital beamforming

A novel algorithm and architecture are described which have specific application to high performance, digital, adaptive beamforming. It is shown how a simple, linearly constrained adaptive combiner forms the basis for a wide range of adaptive antenna subsystems. The function of such an adaptive combiner is formulated as a recursive least squares minimization operation and the corresponding weight vector is obtained by means of theQ-Rdecomposition algorithm using Givens rotations. An efficient pipelined architecture to implement this algorithm is also described. It takes the form of a triangular systolic/wavefront array and has many desirable features for very large scale integration (VLSI) system design.     

Heterodyne detection at 10.6 ?m using quasiplanar metal-oxide-metal tunnel diodes

Novel high-performance, symmetrical metal-oxide-metal tunnel diodes (MOMTDs) in a quasiplanar configuration (US patent 4 549 194) have been successfully fabricated, and for the first time used as room-temperature detectors for the heterodyne mixing of two CO2 lasers operating on the P14 line near ? = 10.6 ?m. Using these devices, we have achieved state-of-the-art NEP (noise equivalent power) in the 4 to 6 × 10?16 W/Hz range and a D* of 5 × 106 cm Hz?/W.     

Isolated atomic catalysts encapsulated in MOF for ultrafast water pollutant treatment

Atomic noble metals stand as one of the most advanced catalysts because of their unique properties and interaction with the reactants.However,due to their high activity,noble atomic catalysts tend to aggregate and deactivate in practical application.Moreover,supports aimed to disperse these atomic catalysts often suffer from weak confinement and poor porosity,thus limited the catalytic efficiency of noble atoms.Here,we report the facile encapsulation of atomic noble catalyst in cheap cerous metal-organic framework(Ce-MOF)crystals to create a robust catalyst that could deliver high catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol without decay in long-term cycling test.Specifically,Au atoms encapsulated in Ce-MOF exhibited ultrahigh turnover frequency(TOF)of 131 min?1 for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in minutes,consuming only 10%precious metals compared with state-of-the-art catalysts operated under same condition.     

The effect of increased interrogation zone,reader antenna polarization and application factors in the performance of UHF RFID tag detection on modified atmosphere packaged meat

The effect of conveyor speed, test sample size, antenna to sample distance, antenna polarization and ideal tag location in relation to the coupling capabilities of ultra‐high frequency radio frequency identification on optimal reader antenna placement were studied. The influence of each individual factor and its interaction was determined using the general linear model analysis of variance. In decreasing order of significance of the variables tested were sample type (F = 4174.40, p < 0.0005), smaller samples preferred for coupling; distance (F = 863.83, p < 0.0005), where distance between sample and antenna should be kept to a minimum; inlay design (F = 167.82, p < 0.0005), where AD‐612 preformed best due to its large antenna area; and reader antenna polarization (F = 149.64, p < 0.0005), where circular polarization preformed better yet comparative advantage decreased with distance. A reader antenna offset of 95 mm, while not significant, (F = 1.73, p = 0.188) tended to decrease coupling capabilities of the system despite increasing the zone of influence. Ideal tag location on sample was found to be on the right, back and front face with y‐orientation proving superior than either x or z. A 190‐mm centre–to‐centre reader antenna offset resulted in a decrease in the average tag detection rate from 62 to 49% highlighting the importance of optimal reader antenna placement which needs to be confirmed if a similar result is to be obtained when a large number of tags are interrogated simultaneously. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Instabilities of Regression Estimates Relating Air Pollution to Mortality

The instability of ordinary least squares estimates of linear regression coefficients is demonstrated for mortality rates regressed around various socioeconomic, weather and pollution variables. A ridge regression technique presented by Hoer1 and Kennard (Technometrics 12 (1970) 69–82) is employed to arrive at “stable” regression coefficients which, in some instances, differ considerably from the ordinary least squares estimates. In addition, two methods of variable elimination are compared—one based on total squared error and the other on a ridge trace analysis.     

Reduction of Listeria monocytogenes on frankfurters treated with lactic acid solutions of various temperatures

United States regulations require ready-to-eat meat and poultry processors to control Listeria monocytogenes using interventions which may include antimicrobials that reduce post-processing contamination by at least 1 log-cycle; if the treatment achieves ≥2 log reductions, the plant is subject to less frequent microbial testing. Lactic acid (LA) may be useful as a post-lethality intervention and its antimicrobial properties may increase with temperature of application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of LA solution concentration and temperature on L. monocytogenes counts of inoculated frankfurters and to identify parameters (concentration, temperature, and time) that achieve 1 and 2 log-unit immediate reductions. Frankfurters were surface-inoculated with a 10-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes (4.4 ± 0.1 log CFU/cm²) and then immersed in distilled water or LA solutions (0–3%) of 4, 25, 40, or 55 °C for 0–120 s. A regression equation for L. monocytogenes reduction included significant (P < 0.05) effects by the terms of concentration, time, temperature, and the interaction of concentration and temperature; other tested parameters (other interactions, quadratic and cubic terms), within the experimental range examined, did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the extent of reduction. Results indicated that the effectiveness of LA against L. monocytogenes, in addition to concentration, increased with solution temperature (in the range of 0.6–2.8 log CFU/cm²). The developed equation may allow processors to vary conditions of treatment with LA to achieve a 1 or 2 log-unit reduction of the pathogen and comply with United States regulations.     

Effects of cooking methods and chemical tenderizers on survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef patties

This study evaluated chemical tenderizers and cooking methods to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef patties (model system for non-intact beef). Ground beef was inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and mixed with (i) nothing (control), (ii) calcium chloride (CC) and flavoring agents (FA), (iii) CC, FA, and acetic acid (AA), (iv) sodium chloride (SC), sodium tripolyphosphate (ST), and potassium lactate (PL), and (v) the combination of SC, ST, PL, and AA. Patties were stored in aerobic or vacuum bags at − 20, 4, and 12 °C. Samples were grilled, broiled, or pan-fried to 60 or 65 °C. Total bacterial and E. coli O157:H7 populations remained unchanged during storage. Broiling was more effective in reducing E. coli O157:H7 than grilling and pan-frying, and acidified tenderizers reduced E. coli O157:H7 more than non-acidified tenderizers in broiling. Higher reductions were observed at 65 °C than 60 °C in broiled and grilled samples. These results indicate that acidified tenderizers and broiling may be useful in non-intact beef safety.