Multiphoton imaging with a novel compact diode‐pumped Ti:sapphire oscillator

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy commonly relies on bulky and expensive femtosecond lasers. We integrated a novel minimal‐footprint Ti:sapphire oscillator, pumped by a frequency‐doubled distributed Bragg reflector tapered diode laser, into a clinical multiphoton tomograph and evaluated its imaging capability using different biological samples, i.e. cell monolayers, corneal tissue, and human skin. With the novel laser, the realization of very compact Ti:sapphire‐based systems for high‐quality multiphoton imaging at a significantly size and weight compared to current systems will become possible. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1154–1158, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Experimentelle und numerische Untersuchungen zum Tragverhalten von Stahlbetondecken mit kugelförmigen Hohlkörpern

Massive Flachdecken erweisen sich in Hoch‐ und Industriebau häufig als insgesamt überlegenes Deckensystem. Die hohe Eigenlast dieser Decken kann ihren Anwendungsbereich jedoch einschränken. Eine sinnvolle Abhilfe schafft dann die Integration von Hohlkörpern in der neutralen Zone, weil hierdurch eine spürbare Gewichtsreduktion eintritt. Neben der Eigenlast wird auch der Verbrauch der unter ökologischen Gesichtspunkten wesentlichen Ressourcen Betonstahl und Zement deutlich verringert. Die Hohlräume beeinflussen vor allem die Querkrafttragfähigkeit solcher Decken. Vier Versuchsserien, die mit kugelförmigen Hohlkörperdecken des Systems “cobiax” durchgeführt wurden, werden in diesem Beitrag beschrieben. Aus den Versuchen wird ein Abminderungsfaktor zur Beschreibung des Querkrafttragverhaltens abgeleitet, der auch in die kürzlich erteilte allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung des Deckensystems eingegangen ist. Die Nachrechnung der Versuche mit der Finite‐Elemente‐Methode zeigt eine gute Übereinstimmung von Numerik und Experiment, so dass in der Weiterentwicklung Parameterstudien auf dieser Grundlage zur Ergänzung von Versuchen hilfreich sein werden. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Bearing Behaviour of Hollow Core Slabs Massive flat slabs have proven to be the most appropriate ceiling system for structural and industrial engineering. However the high dead load of these slabs might reduce their field of application. This problem can be solved by void formers that are placed in the neutral zone. These block‐outs cause a noticeable reduction of weight. Furthermore, the masses of ecologically important resources like reinforcement steel and cement can be reduced as well. The shear bearing capacity is significantly influenced by these block‐outs. This article describes four test series with spherical void former floors of the system “cobiax”. A reduction factor for the shear bearing capacity is derived from these tests. That factor was also introduced in the technical approval for this slab system which has been issued recently. A comparison to a calculation with the finite element method shows that the numerical results and the results of the tests are quite similar. In future research, parameter studies based on the finite element method might be helpful additional to further tests.     

Size charge fractionation of metals in municipal solid waste landfill leachate

Municipal solid waste landfill leachates from 9 Norwegian sites were size charge fractionated in the field, to obtain three fractions: particulate and colloidal matter >0.45microm, free anions/non-labile complexes <0.45microm and free cations/labile complexes <0.45microm. The fractionation showed that Cd and Zn, and especially Cu and Pb, were present to a large degree (63-98%) as particulate and colloidal matter >0.45microm. Cr, Co and Ni were on the contrary present mostly as non-labile complexes (69-79%) <0.45microm. The major cations Ca, Mg, K, and Mn were present mainly as free cations/labile complexes <0.45microm, while As and Mo were present to a large degree (70-90%) as free anions/non-labile complexes <0.45microm. Aluminium was present mainly as particulate and colloidal matter >0.45microm. The particulate and colloidal matter >0.45microm was mainly inorganic; indicating that the metals present in this fraction were bound as inorganic compounds. The fractionation gives important information on the mobility and potential bioavailability of the metals investigated, in contrast to the total metal concentrations usually reported. To study possible changes in respective metal species in leachate in aerated sedimentation tanks, freshly sampled leachate was stored for 48h, and subsequently fractionated. This showed that the free heavy metals are partly immobilized during storage of leachate with oxygen available. The largest effects were found for Cd and Zn. The proportion of As and Cr present as particulate matter or colloids >0.45microm also increased.     

Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in fattening pigs

The prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in pig herds was monitored during six trials (at four different farrow-to-finisher farms). Samples were taken throughout the whole rearing period from birth of the piglets to the final fattening stage, and different samples were taken from these pigs during the slaughter process. Environmental samples also were evaluated to identify potential sources of on-farm infection. Y. enterocolitica was isolated using irgasan-ticarcillin-potassium chlorate broth enrichment and cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin agar culture. Colonies were identified using bio- and serotyping methods and by PCR assay. Pathogenic Y. enterocolitica were not isolated from fecal samples from piglets and weaners. The only fecal samples positive for Y. enterocolitica were obtained during the fattening stage. The prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in fattening pig herds ranged between 0 and 65.4%. Y. enterocolitica isolates were detected at the abattoir in 38.4% of the tonsils, in 3.8% of the ileocecal lymph nodes, on 0.3% of the carcass surfaces before chilling, and on 0% of the carcass surfaces after chilling. Almost all isolates belonged to bioserotype 4/O:3. Only one strain was identified as O:9. All isolates contained the ail gene. The yopT gene was found in 99.1% of the farm isolates but in only 76.6% of the isolates found at the abattoir from the corresponding carcasses. Although a direct link between porcine isolates and human infection has not been demonstrated, the similarity of the bioserotypes in infected pigs and humans and the presence of virulence factors in porcine isolates should encourage further studies to determine the risk of transmission of Y. enterocolitica to humans from pigs and pork products.     

Effects of sea surface temperature accuracy on offshore wind resource assessment using a mesoscale model

Offshore wind simulations were performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model driven by three different sea surface temperature (SST) datasets for Japanese coastal waters to investigate the effect of the SST accuracies on offshore wind simulations. First, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Final analysis (FNL) (1° × 1° grid resolution) and the Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis (OSTIA) (0.05° × 0.05° grid resolution) datasets were compared with in situ measurements. The results show a decrease in accuracy of these datasets toward the coast from the open ocean. Aiming at an improved accuracy of SST data, we developed a new high‐resolution SST dataset (0.02° × 0.02° grid resolution). The new dataset referred to as MOSST is based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) product, provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). MOSST was confirmed to be more accurate than FNL and OSTIA for the coastal waters. Then, WRF simulations were carried out for 1 year with a 2 km grid resolution and by using the FNL, OSTIA and MOSST datasets. The use of the OSTIA dataset for a WRF simulation was found to improve the accuracy when compared with the FNL dataset, and further improvement was obtained when the MOSST dataset was applied. The sensitivity of wind speed and wind energy density to SST is also discussed. We conclude that the use of an accurate SST is a key factor not only for realistic offshore wind simulations near the surface but also for accurate wind resource assessments at the hub height of wind turbines. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION STUDIES OF METAL IONS WITH DIAZACROWN AND STRUCTURE ANALOGOUS OPEN-CHAIN COMPOUNOS

1,10-diaze [8]crown-6, their N,N'-dibutyl- and dioctyl-substituted derivatives and the structure analogous open-chein tetreoxedieza slkanee have been synthesized in order to examine the extraction properties for Na⁺, K⁺, Sr²⁺ and Hg²⁺. It wes found, that the extraction of strontium, potassium and sodium picratee with azacrown compounds ie much higher than that with open-chein oxaaze alkanes. 1,10-diaze [18] erown-6 has a good selectivity for the extraction of Sr²⁺ over K⁺ and Na in alkaline solution. In the case of Sr²⁺ the diffarencea between tha various azacrown compounds are email, whereea in the caee of K⁺ and Na the substituted derivativee are better extractante. Theserssulte correspond qualitativsly with tha order of stebility conetantB in protic solvsnts. The extrectebility of N,N'-dioctyl-l, 10-dieze[18]crown-6 for HgCl₂ is very high. Contrerv to the order of stability conetants the uneubetituted conpound do not extract mercury under the choeen experimental condition*. The extraction power of open-chain conpounde ie aleo high and strong Influenced by the alkyl eubatltuente at the nitrogen donor stons,     

A relative energy failure is associated with low-Mg2+ but not with 4-aminopyridine induced seizure-like events in entorhinal cortex

Interactions of the primary quinone acceptor QA of photosystem II (PS II) with surrounding amino acid residues were studied by analysis of FTIR difference spectra of QA upon its photoreduction (QA-/QA). Structural coupling with a His side chain was revealed by identifying the imidazole bands in the QA-/QA spectrum using the PS II core complexes from Synechocystis PCC 6803 in which both of the two imodazole nitrogens of His side chains were specifically labeled with 15N. Strong hydrogen bonding of the imidazole NH was shown by (i) the presence of several peaks at 2600-3000 cm-1, which arise from Fermi resonance of harmonics or combinations of imidazole ring modes with the hydrogen bonding NH stretching vibration, and (ii) the 1179 cm-1 band, which can be assigned to the mode including NH deformation, is at a frequency significantly higher than the corresponding 1151 cm-1 band of model compounds 4- and 5-methylimidazole in aqueous solution. Also, the presence of the bands specific to the Npi-protonated state at 1109/1102/1090 and 1359 cm-1 suggests that the QA-coupled His is protonated at the Npi site. These results are in good agreement with the model of QA interaction in which His215 (D2), which coordinates to the non-heme iron at Ntau, is hydrogen bonded to the QA carbonyl through the Npi-H bond. In contrast, no bands of Trp side chains were detected in the QA-/QA spectrum upon labeling of the indole ring of Trp residues with indole-d5. This result indicates that Trp254 (D2), which corresponds to Trp252 (M) of the bacterial reaction center that is located in van der Waals contact with QA, is not strongly coupled with QA in PS II. Probably, the predicted pi-pi interaction is not strong enough to influence the vibrations of the indole ring of Trp upon QA reduction, or Trp254 (D2) is located rather far from QA in PS II.     

Enhanced visible light photocurrent generation at surface-modified TiO2 nanotubes

Photoelectrodes consisting of TiO₂ nanotube layers with different thicknesses (0.5 μm, 1.7 μm, 3 μm, 6 μm, 9 μm, and 18 μm) were prepared by anodization of titanium substrates and subsequent surface modification by a heat treatment at 400 °C in the presence of urea pyrolysis products. In contrast to unmodified TiO₂ nanotubes, the modified photoelectrodes exhibit photocurrents under visible light irradiation down to 750 nm. Photocurrent transients indicate enhanced recombination unless a suitable hole-scavenger, like iodide, is present since the photogenerated holes do not oxidize water efficiently. In the visible light the photoconversion efficiency increases significantly with nanotube length. The maximum incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) was observed for tubes with the length of 6-9 μm (IPCE ∼4.5% and 1.4% at 450 nm and 550 nm, respectively) and the photocurrent enhancement with increasing tube length is found to be stronger at longer irradiations wavelengths.     

Changes in Older Europeans’ Health Across Two Waves of SHARE: Life-Course and Societal Determinants

Building on recent research investigating the role of life-course factors (including childhood conditions) and societal context in older Europeans health status, this study investigates the determinants of changes in elders’ health across two waves of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Controlling for individuals’ current living conditions at baseline, our analysis provides evidence for long-term associations between childhood conditions (SES, health, cognition) and health dynamics in older age. Moreover, our findings suggest that income inequality tends to increase elders’ risk of experiencing negative health changes (decreases their chance to recover from poor health, respectively). Our study underlines the importance of accounting for both life-course and societal determinants of later life health dynamics.     

采用硬件加速可以让MicroBlaze发挥更为强劲的处理能力

在实际应用中,有许多算法可以转化为纯硬件来加速您的处理器.平均标准偏差算法、给定时间内创建最小值或最大值、滤波器以及FFT均属于可轻松移植到硬件上的典型算法.不过诸如位反转等一些不常见的算法可采用合适的硬件加速器也能移植到硬件上.