A hardware architecture using finite-field arithmetic for computing maximum-likelihood estimates in emission tomography

A special-purpose hardware architecture is proposed to implement the expectation-maximization algorithm to compute, in clinically useful times, the maximum-likelihood estimate of a radionuclide distribution for a positron-emission tomogram from time-of-flight measurements. Two-dimensional convolutions required for forming the estimate are converted into a series of one-dimensional convolutions that can be evaluated in parallel. Each one-dimensional convolution is evaluated using a number-theoretic transform. All numerical calculations are performed using finite-field arithmetic. To avoid the use of large finite fields and to increase parallelism, each convolution is performed by a series of convolutions with small digits in a Galois field. The hardware architecture allows a two-dimensional convolution of dimension NxN to be formed with O(N) operations, permitting one iteration of the expectation-maximization algorithm to be formed in approximately 100 ms when N=128 and the number of view angles is 32.     

An algorithm for noise suppression in dual energy CT material density images

Dual-energy material density images obtained by prereconstruction-basis material decomposition techniques offer specific tissue information, but they exhibit relatively high pixel noise. It is shown that noise in the material density images is negatively correlated and that this can be exploited for noise reduction in the two-basis material density images. The algorithm minimizes noise-related differences between pixels and their local mean values, with the constraint that monoenergetic CT values, which can be calculated from the density images, remain unchanged. Applied to the material density images, a noise reduction by factors of 2 to 5 is achieved. While quantitative results for regions of interest remain unchanged, edge effects can occur in the processed images. To suppress these, locally adaptive algorithms are presented and discussed. Results are documented by both phantom measurements and clinical examples.     

Magnetism in Solid Oxygen Studied by High-Pressure Neutron Diffraction

A systematic modification of the entropy trajectory (\(S_\mathrm{m}(T)\)) is observed at very low temperature in magnetically frustrated systems as a consequence of the constraint (\(S_\mathrm{m}\ge 0\)) imposed by the Nernst postulate. The lack of magnetic order allows to explore and compare new thermodynamic properties by tracing the specific heat (\(C_\mathrm{m}\)) behavior down to the sub-Kelvin range. Some of the most relevant findings are: (i) a common \(C_\mathrm{m}/T|_{T\rightarrow 0} \approx 7\) J/mol K\(^2\) ‘plateau’ in at least five Yb-based very-heavy-fermions (VHF) compounds; (ii) quantitative and qualitative differences between VHF and standard non-Fermi-liquids; (iii) entropy bottlenecks governing the change of \(S_\mathrm{m}(T)\) trajectories in a continuous transition into alternative ground states. A comparative analysis of \(S_\mathrm{m}(T\rightarrow 0)\) dependencies is performed in compounds suitable for adiabatic demagnetization processes according to their \(\partial ^2 S_\mathrm{m}/\partial T^2\) derivatives.     

Digital flashing tomosynthesis: a promising technique for angiocardiographic screening

A system for digital flashing tomosynthesis (DFTS) consists of four ECG-gated simultaneously flashed X-ray tubes, a 14-in image intensifier, a unit for digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a PC-hosted transputer network for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction as well as for quantitative coronary angiography and ventriculography, a display unit, and an individual digital archive. A presentation of DFTS tomoangiograms as a single slice or multiple slices of arbitrary thickness is available. DFTS also offers rotating and stereographic presentation of 3-D images. DFTS represents a system for standardized digital angiocardiography with digital archiving, and assures optimal reproducibility and safety. This system is feasible for both an ambulatory basis to allow high-volume cardiovascular angiographic screening by only one X-ray snapshot, and for quantification of natural progression or potential regression of coronary artery disease resulting from interventional or pharmacological therapy.     

The fate of forage plant DNA in farm animals: a collaborative case-study investigating cattle and chicken fed recombinant plant material

 The fate of ingested recombinant plant DNA in farm animals (cattle and chicken) being fed a diet containing conventional maize or recombinant Bacillus thuringiensis toxin-maize (Bt-maize) is described. The probability of the detection by polymerase chain reaction of chloroplast-specific gene fragments of different lengths (199 bp and 532 bp) and a Bt-maize-specific fragment [truncated version of CryIA(b)] is shown. First data indicated that only short DNA fragments (<200 bp) derived from plant chloroplasts could be detected in the blood lymphocytes of cows. In all other cattle organs investigated (muscle, liver, spleen, kidney) plant DNAs were not found, except for faint signals in milk. Furthermore, Bt-gene fragments possibly recording the uptake of recombinant maize, were not detected in any sample from cattle. However, in all chicken tissues (muscle, liver, spleen, kidney) the short maize chloroplast gene fragment was amplified. In contrast to this, no foreign plant DNA fragments were found in eggs. Bt-gene specific constructs originating from recombinant Bt-maize were not detectable in any of these poultry samples either. Received: 23 February 2000 / Revised version: 20 March 2000     

Analyse des Schädigungs- und Erholungsverhaltens trockenlaufender Friktionspaarungen

Forschung im Ingenieurwesen - Die Reib- und Verschleißeigenschaften trockenlaufender Friktionspaarungen werden mithilfe neuer Methoden bestimmt, um deren Schädigungs- und...     

Effects of weaning and ionophore supplementation on selected blood metabolites and growth in dairy calves

Dairy calf weaning results in blood ketone concentrations in excess of mature rates of use and can result in excretion of ketones in urine representing a loss of energy. Lasalocid is frequently supplemented as an anticoccidial agent in calf starters; however, in mature ruminants it is known to alter molar ratios of ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA). Effects of weaning transition and postweaning ionophore supplementation on body weight, dry matter (DM) intake, average daily gain (ADG), and blood concentrations of glucose, acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), lactate, pyruvate, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), VFA, insulin, and glucagon were examined using Jersey bull calves (n = 24) over 16 wk. Calves were blocked into groups of 2 according to birth date and weight and randomly assigned to receive either a commercial pelleted starter (control), or the same diet containing lasalocid (TRT; 83 mg/kg of DM). Calves were fed milk replacer from d 3 to 34 (d 3 to 20 = 454 g/d at 12% solids; d 21 to 34 = 568 g/d at 15% solids), from d 35 to 48 calves received both replacer (d 35 to 41 = 454 g/d; d 42 to 38 = 227 g/d) and free access to control or TRT starter, and from d 49 to 112 received ad libitum control or TRT. Body weight and jugular blood metabolite concentrations were measured and recorded weekly. Postweaning DM intake, average daily gain, and feed:gain did not differ between control and TRT calves. Glucose and NEFA concentrations did not differ between control and TRT, but declined with age. Insulin and glucagon concentrations did not differ between control and TRT, but glucagon concentrations increased with weaning. Total VFA significantly increased following introduction of solid feed at d 35 in both groups with an apparent 1-wk lag in TRT VFA increases compared with control. Jugular acetate and butyrate concentrations were greater in control calves than TRT calves during wk 7. Propionate concentrations did not differ between control and TRT at any time following weaning. Blood BHBA concentrations were greater in control than TRT during wk 8 and 9. Thus, consumption of starter supplemented with lasalocid delayed peak acetate and butyrate and lowered peak BHBA concentrations. However, supplementation at concentrations currently recommended for control of coccidiosis did not appear to be sufficient to enhance growth or efficiency during the wk 7 to 16 postweaning interval for this sample size.     

Thermophysical Properties of Platinum-Copper Alloys

Platinum and copper along with their alloys have been used in a broad range of applications including jewelry, coinage, electrical and electronic devices, and many others. Their thermophysical properties play an important role in casting processes and are required as input data for casting simulation. The focus of this work was to investigate these properties by different methods. Platinum, copper, and four platinum-copper alloys, namely, Pt96Cu04, Pt68Cu32, Pt50Cu50, and Pt25Cu75, were investigated within this work. The melting range and thermal expansion were measured at fem by differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometry, respectively. At TU Graz, wire-shaped samples were investigated by an ohmic pulse heating technique. This technique delivers thermophysical properties of electrically conducting materials far into the liquid phase. These measurements allow the calculation of specific heat capacity and the temperature dependencies of electrical resistivity, enthalpy, and density of these alloys in the solid and liquid phases. Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity as a function of temperature are estimated from resistivity data using the Wiedemann?CFranz law at the end of the solid phase and at the beginning of the liquid phase. The results are compared with the available literature values.