Optimal rebinning of time-of-flight PET data

Time-of-flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) scanners offer the potential for significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lesion detectability in clinical PET. However, fully 3D TOF PET image reconstruction is a challenging task due to the huge data size. One solution to this problem is to rebin TOF data into a lower dimensional format. We have recently developed Fourier rebinning methods for mapping TOF data into non-TOF formats that retain substantial SNR advantages relative to sinograms acquired without TOF information. However, mappings for rebinning into non-TOF formats are not unique and optimization of rebinning methods has not been widely investigated. In this paper we address the question of optimal rebinning in order to make full use of TOF information. We focus on FORET-3D, which approximately rebins 3D TOF data into 3D non-TOF sinogram formats without requiring a Fourier transform in the axial direction. We optimize the weighting for FORET-3D to minimize the variance, resulting in H(2)-weighted FORET-3D, which turns out to be the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE) under reasonable approximations and furthermore the uniformly minimum variance unbiased (UMVU) estimator under Gaussian noise assumptions. This implies that any information loss due to optimal rebinning is as a result only of the approximations used in deriving the rebinning equation and developing the optimal weighting. We demonstrate using simulated and real phantom TOF data that the optimal rebinning method achieves variance reduction and contrast recovery improvement compared to nonoptimized rebinning weightings. In our preliminary study using a simplified simulation setup, the performance of the optimal rebinning method was comparable to that of fully 3D TOF MAP.     

Physiological parameter monitoring from optical recordings with a mobile phone

We show that a mobile phone can serve as an accurate monitor for several physiological variables, based on its ability to record and analyze the varying color signals of a fingertip placed in contact with its optical sensor. We confirm the accuracy of measurements of breathing rate, cardiac R-R intervals, and blood oxygen saturation, by comparisons to standard methods for making such measurements (respiration belts, ECGs, and pulse-oximeters, respectively). Measurement of respiratory rate uses a previously reported algorithm developed for use with a pulse-oximeter, based on amplitude and frequency modulation sequences within the light signal. We note that this technology can also be used with recently developed algorithms for detection of atrial fibrillation or blood loss.     

An algorithm used for ventricular fibrillation detection without interrupting chest compression

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the primary arrhythmic event in the majority of patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Attention has been focused on this particular rhythm since it is recognized that prompt therapy, especially electrical defibrillation, may lead to a successful outcome. However, current versions of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) mandate repetitive interruptions of chest compression for rhythm analyses since artifacts produced by chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preclude reliable electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythm analysis. Yet, repetitive interruptions in chest compression are detrimental to the success of defibrillation. The capability for rhythm analysis without requiring "hands-off" intervals will allow for more effective resuscitation. In this paper, a novel continuous-wavelet-transformation-based morphology consistency evaluation algorithm was developed for the detection of disorganized VF from organized sinus rhythm (SR) without interrupting the ongoing chest compression. The performance of this method was evaluated on both uncorrupted and corrupted ECG signals recorded from AEDs obtained from out-of-hospital victims of cardiac arrest. A total of 232 patients and 31,092 episodes of either VF or SR were accessed, in which 8195 episodes were corrupted by artifacts produced by chest compressions. We also compared the performance of this method with three other established algorithms, including VF filter, spectrum analysis, and complexity measurement. Even though there was a modest decrease in specificity and accuracy when chest compression artifact was present, the performance of this method was still superior to other reported methods for VF detection during uninterrupted CPR.     

Surface myoelectric signal analysis: dynamic approaches for change detection and classification

Toward the goal of elbow and wrist prostheses control by characterizing events in surface myoelectric signals, this paper presents a dynamic method to simultaneously detect and classify such events. Dynamic cumulative sum of local generalized likelihood ratios using wavelet decomposition of the myoelectric signal is used for on-line detection. Frequency as well as energy changes are detected with this hybrid approach. Classification is composed of using multiresolution wavelet analysis and autoregressive modeling to extract signal features while polynomial classifiers are used for pattern modeling and matching. The results of detecting and classifying four elbow and wrist movements show that, in average, 91% of the events are correctly detected and classified using features obtained from multiresolution wavelet analysis while 95% accuracy is achieved with AR modeling. The classification accuracy decreases, however, if short prostheses response delay is desired. This paper also shows that the performance of the polynomial classifiers is better than that of the commonly used neural networks since it gives higher classification accuracy and consistent classification outcomes. In comparison to the well known support vector machine classification, the polynomial classifier gives similar results without the need to optimize and search for classifier parameters.     

Spectral restoration and energy resolution improvement of electron energy-loss spectra by Pixon reconstruction: II. Application to practical ELNES analysis of low SNR

We applied Pixon deconvolution as introduced in Part I to several practical, examples of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), electron energy-loss spectra with a goal toward restoring their fine spectral features and/or improving the energy resolution. We demonstrate that by directly fitting the two-dimensional spectral data recorded on the CCD; the method enables us to reveal fine spectral structures. Consequently, Pixon reconstruction extends the ability to probe electronic states in very spatially localized areas, a capability currently unique to our method.     

由紧凑型高dI／dt门极驱动单元驱动的新型对称门极换流晶闸管

在工业大功率应用领域已经推出了多种类型（对称，非对称以及逆向导通）的门极换流晶闸管（GCT）器件，为了用它来实现更高性能、更加合适的系统，人们期望对门极换流晶闸管展开进一步的研究，本文提出了对称门极换流晶闸管的一种新方案。     

A high-precision contrast injector for small animal x-ray digital subtraction angiography

The availability of genetically altered animal models of human disease for basic research has generated great interest in new imaging methodologies. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) offers an appealing approach to functional imaging in small animals because of the high spatial and temporal resolution, and the ability to visualize and measure blood flow. The micro-injector described here meets crucial performance parameters to ensure optimal vessel enhancement without significantly increasing the total blood volume or producing overlap of enhanced structures. The micro-injector can inject small, reproducible volumes of contrast agent at high flow rates with computer-controlled timing synchronized to cardiopulmonary activity. Iterative bench-top and live animal experiments with both rat and mouse have been conducted to evaluate the performance of this computer-controlled micro-injector, a first demonstration of a new device designed explicitly for the unique requirements of DSA in small animals. Injection protocols were optimized and screened for potential physiological impact. For the optimized protocols, we found that changes in the time-density curves for representative regions of interest in the thorax were due primarily to physiological changes, independent of micro-injector parameters.     

An ultrastructural study of age-related changes in mouse olfactory epithelium

Transmission and scanning electron microscopic examinations were undertaken to detail changes in the olfactory epithelium (OE) resulting from the ageing process. Samples were prepared from 3% glutaraldehyde/1% formaldehyde perfused mice aged 6 months and 29-30 months. Compared to OE from young adults, a number of striking changes were apparent in tissue from older animals. The most obvious of these were extensive local accumulations of large inclusion bodies, totally disrupting the normal morphology of such affected areas of olfactory epithelium. Even in areas where these deposits were absent, other significant signs of ageing were noted in the seemingly unaffected OE of all older mice studied. Quantitative analysis of semi-thin resin sections revealed that the OE of aged mice was significantly reduced in thickness, and with significantly fewer olfactory sensory neurons, irrespective of whether or not inclusions were present. In addition, pale cells, which have been suggested to be a form of degenerating cells, were more abundant in aged OE. The straight, sharp boundary between respiratory and olfactory epithelia which is seen in young adults became irregular and disrupted with age due to an intermingling of the respiratory and olfactory cells. Such structural alterations may parallel olfactory dysfunction reputed to occur in older mammals.     

日本烧酒厂糟液的半连续酒精发酵

开发出了日本传统烧酒厂排放糟液的有效利用系统。从新式真空低压蒸馏法（３５～４０℃）排出的大麦烧酒糟液中，含有大量的活酵母（７×１Ｏ￣６细胞／ｍｌ），葡萄糖淀粉酶活性（１９．７ｕ／ｍｌ），酸性蛋白酶活性（９４０ｕ／ｍｌ）和中性蛋白酶活性（４２Ｏｕ／ｍｌ）。以葡萄糖作唯一碳源，与大麦烧酒糟液混合进行酒精发酵。酒精发酵结束后，在３５～４０℃进行真空蒸馏，剩下的非挥发性糟液再进行酒精发酵。从而开发出１０轮次以上的半连续式酒精发酵系统。结果表明，即使在第８轮发酵醪的馏液中，仍含有酒精７．９％，乙酸乙酯３．３×１０￣（－５）（３３．０ｐｐｍ），异丁醇２．８５×１０￣（－５）（２８．５ｐｐｍ）和其它芳香化合物。此半连续式酒精发酵系统适用于烧酒厂糟液的处理。     

Nanochannel electroporation delivers precise amounts of biomolecules into living cells

Many transfection techniques can deliver biomolecules into cells, but the dose cannot be controlled precisely. Delivering well-defined amounts of materials into cells is important for various biological studies and therapeutic applications. Here, we show that nanochannel electroporation can deliver precise amounts of a variety of transfection agents into living cells. The device consists of two microchannels connected by a nanochannel. The cell to be transfected is positioned in one microchannel using optical tweezers, and the transfection agent is located in the second microchannel. Delivering a voltage pulse between the microchannels produces an intense electric field over a very small area on the cell membrane, allowing a precise amount of transfection agent to be electrophoretically driven through the nanochannel, the cell membrane and into the cell cytoplasm, without affecting cell viability. Dose control is achieved by adjusting the duration and number of pulses. The nanochannel electroporation device is expected to have high-throughput delivery applications.