Laser Light Diffraction, Spatial Filtering, and Reconstruction of Medical Radiographic Images: A Pilot Study

Using a laser light source, an optical bench, transform lenses, and spatial filters in a system called LaserScan,1 we are studying laser light diffraction, spatial filtering, and reconstruction of medical radiographic images, with the help of GTS Corporation, whose laboratories house the laser computer. Medical radiographs are minified to a 35 mm second-generation transparency, then transilluminated by monochromatic, coherent, collimated light from a helium-neon gas laser. A first transform lens produces a Fourier Transform of the minified image in the form of a diffraction pattern that is photographed on Polaroid film, and/or viewed with a CCTV system. Spatial filtering is accomplished in the plane of the diffraction pattern by using various opaque elements of appropriate geometric form to filter undesired spatial frequencies. Spatial filters take the form of ``wires,' ``sector-wedges,' and circular apertures, as well as other empirically determined shapes. A second lens performs an inverse Fourier transform on the diffraction pattern producing a reconstructed, filtered, real image of the minified film. This reconstructed image is also photographed on Polaroid film or viewed on the CCTV screen. One of our goals is to remove certain unnecessary pattern detail from particular radiographic images so that characteristic patterns of diagnostic picture detail might be more readily identified and diagnosed. Experimental results, including photographs of diffraction patterns and some filtered reconstructed images, are presented.     

Selectivity in exposure to information.

2 hypotheses, derived from Festinger's theory of cognitive differences were tested: following a decision, persons tend to seek information that favors the chosen alternative and to avoid information that favors the rejected alternative; and the more important the decision, the greater is the subsequent selectivity in exposure to information. The method involved eliciting attitudes from college students as to various conditions regarding examination procedures. The hypotheses were supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Graft copolymers of polysaccharides: 1. Graft copolymers of alginic acid

Copolymers of alginic acid with acrylonitrile, methylacrylate, methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate have been prepared and characterized by i.r. spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. Evidence is presented to indicate that the products are graft-copolymers and not simple mixtures of the two polymers.     

Determination of plasma tocopherols by gas liquid chromatography

A method is described for the separation and determination of plasma tocopherols by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Proteins in 0.1 g samples of plasma were precipitated with ethanol containing a known amount of 5,7-dimethyltocol which served as an internal standard. Tocopherols were extracted into petroleum ether, purified by thin layer chromatography and analyzed as trimethylsilyl ethers by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) on 0.5% Apiezon L. Recoveries of α- and γ-tocopherols averaged 100% and 93%, respectively. The mean total tocopherol content of eight human plasma samples was 8.5 μg/g by GLC and 9.9 μg/g by a ferric chloride-α,α′-dipyridyl method. The α- and γ-tocopherol contents of 16 human plasma samples ranged from 4.0 to 12.3 μg/g and 0.6 to 2.1 μg/g, respectively.     

Studies in the lightfastness of nitrodiphenylamine dyes

Studies of the photofading of nitrodiphenylamine dyes have been made in ethanolic solution. It has been shown that the presence of oxygen during photoirradiation of the solution acts as an inhibitor, causing an induction period before degradation commences. The results suggest that the intermediate in the degradation is a triplet state, and this is quenched by oxygen. The “deactivated” oxygen molecules, so formed, can be reactivated by collision with “normal” oxygen molecules. The enhancement of photodegradation in the presence of hydrogen donors suggests that the degradation mechanism is reductive in nature. The influence of the positions of the nitro-groups in the diphenylamine derivatives supports the postulate that the reaction proceeds via quinonoid forms. The absence of brown degradation products suggests that the mechanism of degradation is not the same as that occurring on solid substrates, although the order of dye stability is the same in both cases.     

Comparison of transsynaptic viral labeling of central nervous system structures from the uterine horn in virgin, pregnant, and lactating rats

Using the transneuronal viral tracing method, the central nervous system (CNS) connections of the uterine horn were studied in virgin, pregnant, and in lactating rats. The frequency of viral labeling in the brain and the distribution of virus-infected neurons from the uterine horn were compared among groups. There was a marked difference in the frequency of viral labeling in the brain stem. In virgin rats more than half of the brain stems (5 out of 9) were labeled. In contrast, in pregnant animals viral-labeled neurons were detected in only a few cases (3 out of 16) and almost each brain stem of the lactating group was labeled (12 out of 13). A similar, less marked difference was observed in the hypothalamus. The pattern of distribution of infected neurons was similar in each group. In the brain stem, the nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, area postrema, gigantocellular and paragigantocellular nucleus, ventrolateral medulla, A5 cell group, and caudal raphe nuclei were the most frequently labeled structures. In the diencephalon, viral-infected neurons were detected primarily in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. The telencephalon was devoid of infected cells. Data suggest that the CNS control of the uterine horn varies depending on reproductive status. The low frequency of brain labeling in pregnant rats may be related to the almost complete lack of sympathetic fibers in the uterus prior to parturition and the very high frequency of labeling in lactating animals to the postpartum hyperinnervation of the uterus.     

城市供水管网系统分区改造模式的研究

通过分析我国城市供水管网的现状，阐述了管网分区的含义，指出分区供水是提高供水优化调度效率的基础，并介绍了以供水分界线和节点压力为依据的分区方法，以及区域内部、区域间的规划。通过管网分区，各管段的功能明确，易于区域计量及压力控制。整个管网系统便于优化调度，减小管网的漏失，提高经济效益。     

A validity study of functionally-based behavioral consultation with students with emotional/behavioral disabilities.

Eighteen students (K-11th grade) with emotional/behavioral disorders who were at-risk for change of placement to more restrictive settings participated. Construct validity of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) was assessed with a multifunction-multimethod matrix that showed excellent convergent and divergent agreement with combined FBA methods and functional analysis results. Treatment validity was assessed with random assignment to either a FBA with consultation condition (FBC) or to a behavioral consultation without FBA condition (BC). Growth curve analysis showed a significant decrease in inappropriate behavior from baseline to treatment for both treatment groups compared to a control group. The efficiency of teachers' implementation effected treatment validity. Effect sizes showed that regardless of treatment condition that interventions with good fidelity realized the largest effect (d = -1.14). Social and habilitative validity was assessed with telephone interviews conducted a year after treatment. Sixty-five percent attributed the students' problem behaviors to their thoughts or feelings, whereas only 25% attributed it to classroom variables. Many (57%) indicated the most helpful intervention would be individual counseling, whereas only 14% indicated a more involved classroom management plan would be useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)