Signal differentiation through a Green''s function approach

We introduce a new approach for the design of differential operators, based on the Green's function solution to a signal matching equation. Its use is illustrated by the construction of step-edge enhancement filters whose performance figures are comparable, and even superior, to those reported in the literature.     

High Explosives Mixtures Detection Using Fiber Optics Coupled: Grazing Angle Probe/Fourier Transform Reflection Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy operating in Reflection–Absorption mode has been demonstrated as a potential spectroscopic technique to develop new methodologies for detection of chemicals deposited on metallic surfaces. Mid-IR transmitting optical fiber bundle coupled to an external Grazing Angle Probe and an MCT detector together with a bench Michelson interferometer have been used to develop a highly sensitive and selective methodology for detecting traces of organic compounds on metal surfaces. The methodology is remote sensed, in situ and can detect surface loading concentrations of nanograms/cm² of most target compounds. It is an environmentally friendly, solvent free technique that does not require sample preparation. In this work, the ever-important task of high explosives detection, present as traces of neat crystalline forms and in lab-made mixtures, equivalent to the important explosive formulation Pentolite, has been addressed. The sample set consisted of TNT, PETN (both pure samples) and the formulation based on them: Pentolite, present in various loading concentrations. The spectral data collected was subjected to a number of statistical pre-treatments, including first derivative and normalization transformations to make the data more suitable for the analysis. Principal Components Analysis combined with Linear Discriminant Analysis allowed the classification and discrimination of the target analytes contained in the sample set. Loading concentrations as 220 ng/cm² were detected for each explosive in neat form and the in the simulated mixture of Pentolite.     

Coherence- and correspondence-driven work domains: implications for systems design

A distinction is made between coherence- and correspondence-driven work domains. This novel domain taxonomy is used to argue that the widely accepted goal of making the interface representation compatible with the user's mental model is not always appropriate. For correspondence-driven domains, it is more meaningful to constrain design from the side of the work domain rather than from that of the user. The implications of the coherence/correspondence distinction for the modelling of work domains, for interface design in computer supported co-operative work, and for the development of a multidimensional taxonomy of work domains are also briefly pointed out. The discussion suggests that the correspondence/coherence taxonomy provides a powerful conceptual tool for addressing fundamental issues in human-computer interaction.     

The (1–3, 1–4)‐β‐Glucanases in Malting Barley: Enzyme Survival and Genetic and Environmental Effects

Eighteen barley genotypes used in Brazilian malting barley breeding programs were characterized in relation to (1–3, 1–4)‐β‐glucanase activity in green and kilned malt. They were tested to determine the loss of enzyme activity during kilning in the malting process and the environmental effects on enzyme activity were measured. The genotypes analyzed showed great variation regarding the enzyme activity in both kinds of malt, in a range from 531.94 to 934.31 U/kg in green malt, and from 187.02 to 518.40 U/kg in dry malt. The mean enzyme activity loss during kilning was close to 60%, very similar to the results obtained in other studies. The loss among genotypes varied from 8.04% to 71.54%. The enzyme activity varied significantly under the different environments tested, showing existence of environmental effects on the genotypes analyzed. Embrapa 127 was the genotype that exhibited the highest enzyme activity in finished malt although it had shown a low activity in green malt, reflecting a negligible loss of activity during kilning. The data indicate promising results to malting barley breeding due to the wide variability exhibited by genotypes as to enzyme activity and levels of isoenzyme with high thermostability.     

Contaminant metals in black scabbard fish (Aphanopus carbo) caught off Madeira and the Azores

Total mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations were measured in black scabbard fish (Aphanopus carbo), caught off Madeira and the Azores archipelagos (Portugal). The metal contents were expressed in mg kg⁻¹ wet weight. The mean mercury levels in liver were 4.50 and 2.37 whereas, in skin, such values were 0.59 and 0.36 (Madeira and Azores, respectively). On average, the muscle content was around 0.9 in fish from both areas. Cadmium maximum levels in muscle and skin were found in Azores samples (0.09 and 0.11, respectively). Mean lead contents in all samples were always below than 0.10. In general, the results obtained did not allow the establishment of any relationship between metal accumulation and fish weight or length. According to the permissible WHO and FAO levels, these results, suggest that this species does not represent a risk for human consumption if the liver is excluded and the edible part consumed with moderation.     

Electrochemical sensor array made from bisphthalocyanine modified carbon paste electrodes for discrimination of red wines

A new sensor system devoted to the discrimination of red wines is presented. It consists of an array of electrochemical sensors made from carbon paste electrodes modified with three rare-earth bisphthalocyaninate compounds, including lutetium(III), gadolinium(III) and praseodymium(III) bisphthalocyaninates. The sensor responses have been evaluated either by cyclic voltammetry or by square wave voltammetry, and demonstrate that such voltammetric sensors show a rich response when immersed in red wines. In addition, this response can be tuned by changing the central metal atom of the double-decker complexes, obtaining sensing units with high cross-selectivity.

The sensor array is exposed to six Spanish red wines made from the same grape variety, prepared using a similar vinification method, but belonging to three different geographic origins and ageing stages. The voltammograms indicate that each sensing unit provides a particular response to each class of wine.

Finally, the signals coming from each sensor are combined and the system’s discrimination capability is evaluated by using principal component analysis (PCA), where a windowed slicing pre-processing method has been developed to capture the information throughout the global response. The PCA score plots of the obtained data show the discrimination of the tested wines with a good-quality performance.     

Honey-Bees Mating Optimization (HBMO) Algorithm: A New Heuristic Approach for Water Resources Optimization

Over the last decade, evolutionary and meta-heuristic algorithms have been extensively used as search and optimization tools in various problem domains, including science, commerce, and engineering. Their broad applicability, ease of use, and global perspective may be considered as the primary reason for their success. The honey-bees mating process may also be considered as a typical swarm-based approach to optimization, in which the search algorithm is inspired by the process of real honey-bees mating. In this paper, the honey-bees mating optimization algorithm (HBMO) is presented and tested with few benchmark examples consisting of highly non-linear constrained and/or unconstrained real-valued mathematical models. The performance of the algorithm is quite comparable with the results of the well-developed genetic algorithm. The HBMO algorithm is also applied to the operation of a single reservoir with 60 periods with the objective of minimizing the total square deviation from target demands. Results obtained are promising and compare well with the results of other well-known heuristic approaches.     

泵浦用大功率半导体激光器研制与应用发展状况

详尽地介绍了当前可以使用半导体泵浦的固体激光器泵浦要求，相应的半导体泵浦源的发展状况，存在的问题，最后介绍了列阵和耦合两种提高半导体泵浦源功率，改善其光束质量的方法。     

Trypanosoma cruzi: effect of immunization on the risk of vector-delivered infection in guinea pigs

The protective effect of experimental immunization was studied in guinea pigs exposed to vectorial infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. Immunized animals received an inoculum of live-attenuated T. cruzi epimastigotes into a granuloma previously induced by Freund's complete adjuvant in the hind footpad. Seven days later, a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction was triggered by reinjection of the parasites in the front footpad. The animals were then placed in Triatoma infestans-colonized corrals and exposed to vectorial T. cruzi transmission of the parasite for up to 200 days. The effectiveness of this immunizing protocol was controlled in terms of the number of bites necessary for infection (NBNI) in immunized as compared with control animals. Periodic entomological census allowed for the determination of vector biting and infection rates and the calculation of NBNI. Although this measurement was quite variable between yards, an overall average of 4,973 bites was enough to infect a control guinea pig in 4 separate experiments. The corresponding figure for the experimental group was 21,307 bites, implying that immunized animals could resist a 4.28-fold increase (range: 1.99-8.32) in the number of vector bites before becoming infected.     

Performance of several Cr and Yb analytical techniques applied to samples of different biological origin (digesta or faeces)

This paper compares the performance, in terms of Cr (liquid phase marker) and Yb (solid phase marker) recovery from spiked samples, of five mineralization procedures applied to faeces, whole duodenal digesta, particulate and liquid phases of duodenal digesta, whole ruminal digesta and ruminal fluid from cattle. Two Holstein–Friesian heifers, fitted with permanent ruminal and duodenal cannulae, and fed twice daily on barley straw and a concentrate (15:85), were used as sample donors. Cr and Yb were added to the samples at 5, 25, 125 and 625 µg g^?1 dry matter, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. There were differences in marker recovery (p = 0.0481) depending on the mineralization procedure utilized but their performance was not affected by marker type (p = 0.6143). The interaction between type of sample and digestion procedure was statistically significant (p = 0.0290) and the results showed that homogeneous samples (whole duodenal digesta, the particulate phase of duodenal digesta and faeces) allowed the more even distribution of the marker and an easier and more complete mineralization. In contrast, heterogeneous samples (whole rumen digesta and rumen fluid) resulted in either a lesser attachment of markers to the particles and/or incomplete mineralization of the samples, which resulted in a higher variability between procedures. The interaction between type of sample and marker was also significant (p = 0.0426), with Cr recovery being more affected by type of sample than Yb. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry