Camera and visual veiling glare in HDR images

Abstract— High‐dynamic‐range (HDR) images are superior to conventional images. The experiments in this paper measure camera and human responses to calibrated HDR test targets. We calibrated a 4.3‐log‐unit test target, with minimal and maximal glare from a changeable surround. Glare is an uncontrolled spread of an image‐dependent fraction of scene luminance in cameras and in the eye. We use this standard test target to measure the range of luminances that can be captured on a camera's image plane. Further, we measure the appearance of these test luminance patches. We discuss why HDR is better than conventional imaging, despite the fact the reproduction of luminance is inaccurate.     

Random spray Retinex: a new Retinex implementation to investigate the local properties of the model.

In order to investigate the local filtering behavior of the Retinex model, we propose a new implementation in which paths are replaced by 2-D pixel sprays, hence the name "random spray Retinex." A peculiar feature of this implementation is the way its parameters can be controlled to perform spatial investigation. The parameters' tuning is accomplished by an unsupervised method based on quantitative measures. This procedure has been validated via user panel tests. Furthermore, the spray approach has faster performances than the path-wise one. Tests and results are presented and discussed.     

A fracture mechanics analysis of the double cleavage drilled compression test specimen

The “double cleavage drilled compression” specimen is used for the determination of crack growth rates under mode-I and general mixed-mode loading conditions. In this paper, a fracture mechanics analysis is presented for the DCDC specimen, using a finite-element analysis to determine stresses, strains and surface displacements. Weight functions are derived, and the consequence of load misalignment is demonstrated. Finally, side-surface displacements at the crack terminating region are studied using a 3-dimensional, finite-element computation in combination with results from the literature that are based on an ‘‘asymptotic analysis”. Calculated side-surface displacements in the vicinity of the crack tip are found to agree with published values obtained by others via measurements using the atomic force microscope.     

Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes,Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Mammalians cannot synthesize these amino acids de novo and must acquire them through their diet. High levels of BCAAs are associated with insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes; obesity; and non-metabolic diseases, including several forms of cancer. BCAAs—in particular leucine—activate the rapamycin complex1 mTORC1, which regulates cell growth and metabolism, glucose metabolism and several more essential physiological processes. Diets rich in BCAAs are associated with metabolic diseases (listed above), while diets low in BCAAs are generally reported to promote metabolic health. As for the dysregulation of the metabolism caused by high levels of BCAAs, recent studies propose that the accumulation of acyl-carnitine and diacyl-CoA in muscles alters lipid metabolism. However, this suggestion is not broadly accepted. On clinical grounds, pre- and post-operative metabolic profiles of candidate patients for bariatric surgery are being used to select the optimal procedure for each individual patient.     

Serrated Colorectal Lesions: An Up-to-Date Review from Histological Pattern to Molecular Pathogenesis

Until 2010, colorectal serrated lesions were generally considered as harmless lesions and reported as hyperplastic polyps (HPs) by pathologists and gastroenterologists. However, recent evidence showed that they may bear the potential to develop into colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) classification has identified four categories of serrated lesions: hyperplastic polyps (HPs), sessile serrated lesions (SSLs), traditional serrated adenoma (TSAs) and unclassified serrated adenomas. SSLs with dysplasia and TSAs are the most common precursors of CRC. CRCs arising from serrated lesions originate via two different molecular pathways, namely sporadic microsatellite instability (MSI) and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), the latter being considered as the major mechanism that drives the serrated pathway towards CRC. Unlike CRCs arising through the adenoma–carcinoma pathway, APC-inactivating mutations are rarely shown in the serrated neoplasia pathway.     

Development and Investigation on New Composite and Ceramic Coatings as Possible Abradable Seals

To improve gas turbine performance, it is possible to decrease back flow gases in the high-temperature combustion region of the turbo machine by reducing the shroud/rotor gap. Thick and porous thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems and composite CoNiCrAlY/Al₂O₃ coatings made by air plasma spray and composite NiCrAlY/graphite coatings made by laser cladding were studied as possible high-temperature abradable seal on shroud. Oxidation and thermal fatigue resistance of the coatings were assessed by means of isothermal and cyclic oxidation tests. Tested CoNiCrAlY/Al₂O₃ and NiCrAlY/graphite coatings after 1000 h at 1100 °C do not show noticeable microstructural modification. The oxidation resistance of the new composite coatings satisfied original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications. Thick and porous TBC systems passed the thermal fatigue test according to the considered OEM procedures. According to the OEM specifications for abradable coatings, the hardness evaluation suggests that these kinds of coatings must be used with abrasive-tipped blades. Thick and porous TBC coating has shown good abradability using tipped blades.     

A contribution to the surface analysis and characterisation of HVOF coatings for petrochemical application

The appropriate selection of bulk materials and coatings of valve components is an important factor for the economic success of oil and gas production activities in the petrochemical field. Materials and coatings are important because particle erosion and surface wear are associated to corrosion by hydrogen sulphide during oil and gas flow. The wear of high pressure valves of gas system will lead to pollution, safety problems and cost increases. The most common solution of these problems is the deposition of hard materials as tungsten carbide or chromium carbide by thermal spray. These coatings are deposited by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process to obtain a very high hardness with excellent cohesion and adhesion. Tungsten carbide cobalt–chromium based coating, chromium carbide nickel–chromium coating as well as Inconel 625 have been adopted in the specifications of petrochemical companies and their behaviour and wear, erosion and corrosion properties are reported in the literature.

This paper addresses the experimental study, surface analysis and functional characterisation of HVOF coatings innovative for the specific application such as NiAl and composite material WC/intermetallic compounds containing Ni, Cr, Co and Mo. These coatings have been systematically submitted to corrosion and functional tests based on the determination of the behaviour of the coatings in H₂S and CO₂ atmosphere and to wear and erosion according to standard ASTM G75-95 (slurry test); material loss and surface damage have been determined; the coatings have been completely characterised from the point of view of the structure (morphology, porosity, hardness, wear) and of the surface properties by means of a prototype 3-dimensional (3-D) stylus micro-geometrical surface analysis system; their corrosion and functional behaviour have been compared with the behaviour of the above mentioned coatings.

The slurry test allows a clear discrimination among the performances of analysed coatings. Namely, WC/Mo compound, because of its carbide content, shows fairly good behaviour in an erosive environment and higher erosion resistance than Inconel 625 and NiAl; all the tested coatings show similar behaviour in a corrosive environment.     

Epigenetics and Helicobacter pylori

Epigenetics regulates gene expression, cell type development during differentiation, and the cell response to environmental stimuli. To survive, bacteria need to evade the host immune response. Bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori (Hp), reach this target epigenetically, altering the chromatin of the host cells, in addition to several more approaches, such as DNA mutation and recombination. This review shows that Hp prevalently silences the genes of the human gastric mucosa by DNA methylation. Epigenetics includes different mechanisms. However, DNA methylation persists after DNA replication and therefore is frequently associated with the inheritance of repressed genes. Chromatin modification can be transmitted to daughter cells leading to heritable changes in gene expression. Aberrant epigenetic alteration of the gastric mucosa DNA remains the principal cause of gastric cancer. Numerous methylated genes have been found in cancer as well as in precancerous lesions of Hp-infected patients. These methylated genes inactivate tumor-suppressor genes. It is time for us to complain about our genetic and epigenetic makeups for our diseases.     

GaAs X-ray detector characterization through a 3D finite element model

In this paper the characterization of a GaAs X-ray pixel detector is presented. The performance is obtained experimentally by a detector using a Schottky diode on a semi-insulating, Vertical Gradient Freeze, (100) oriented single crystal GaAs substrate. Moreover, a new 3D Model based on the Finite Element Method is shown which takes into account the carrier trapping and emission phenomena. The model analyzes the single event upset for a photon hitting the pixel surface in any direction. The main advantage of the model used is its ability to determine the influence of both the position of the impact point and of the slope of the particle trajectory with respect to the pixel surface on the detector performance. The numerical simulations obtained confirm the experimental values and permit the indirect evaluation of the charge collection efficiency through a preliminary determination of the real trap distribution and transport parameters depending on the electric field.     

The detector system of the BigSol spectrometer at Texas A & M

The detector system used at the first focus of the BigSol superconducting solenoid beam line at the Texas A & M superconducting cyclotron is presented. The system is composed of a position sensitive PPAC followed by an ionization chamber (IC) with a YAP(Ce) array in its back plane. The position sensitivity of the PPAC as well the energy resolution of the IC is investigated as a function of the counting rate. Pulse height, pulse height resolution and time resolution of the YAP(Ce) crystals are studied for a variety of heavy ion beams ranging from ²⁰Ne to ¹⁹⁷Au at energies from 15 AMeV to 40 AMeV. The pulse shape discrimination method using a Flash ADC is also explored, in order to identify decay products (alpha particles and electron/gamma) from the fragments implanted in the scintillator.