Contrast matching in a sequence of images by histogram normalization

Variations in contrast between digital light microscopy images of a video sequence can be filtered out by matching the contrast of each individual image in the sequence to a reference image using the principle of histogram matching. This ensures the reliability of grey-scale threshold values in each frame within an image sequence. Here we describe examples of digital image-to-image contrast matching as applied to video light microscopy.     

岩石料层冲击粉碎细观损伤观测及分析

采用ＡＳＭ６８Ｋ 半自动图象分析系统观测花岗岩料层动态粉碎产品的细观损伤特性， 分别从唯象和分形的角度研究了料层材料动态损伤的演化规律。研究结果表明：料层粉碎产品的损伤程度随冲击速度的提高而增加， 动态损伤分布具有分形特征， 分维数是反映料层动态损伤程度的一个特征量，用分维数定义的损伤变量与料层应变率呈近似的线性关系     

Isotopic analysis of eggs: Evaluating sample collection and preparation

Egg traceability/authenticity is a worldwide concern. Stable isotope techniques have been suggested as a tool to address this issue. To further validate the use of these techniques, a research project was undertaken to evaluate what effect sample collection and preparation have on the measured isotopic composition of egg components. The timing of egg collection, the timing of egg preparation after collection, and the use of pasteurisation were investigated. The C, N, O, and S isotopic compositions of egg components from 7 different production systems were measured. Two sets of eggs were collected (4 months apart). It was found that the ‘isotopic fingerprint’ of a particular production system was maintained over time, and that it may be possible to trace liquid egg products based on isotopic data from fresh eggs. The findings from this study support the integration of stable isotope techniques in egg traceability/authenticity systems.     

Silica and alumina impregnated with dimethylformamide solutions of molybdophosphoric or tungstophosphoric acids for hydrotreatment reactions

Heteropolyacid (HPA) based catalysts were prepared by impregnation of silica and alumina with dimethylformamide solutions of molybdophosphoric and tungstophosphoric acids. This solvent allows the preservation of the Keggin unit during the impregnation independently of the nature of the support. Ni-promoted catalysts were prepared by impregnation with nickel nitrate solutions of the supported HPA. The stronger interaction of the HPA with alumina than with silica allows a better dispersion of the polyoxometallate species on the former one whereas the formation of bulk oxides is observed on silica. The performance of these HPA–Ni/support catalysts for hydrodenitrogenation and hydrodesulfurization reactions is related to the precursor–support interaction.     

Novel micro-PIV study enables a greater understanding of nanoparticle suspension flows: nanofluids

Significant research efforts are currently focused upon investigating the potential of nanoparticles for enhancing performance in numerous diverse research fields. These range from developing energy efficient heating/cooling technologies to advanced in vivo drug delivery systems. In these applications, nanoparticles are suspended in fluid mediums, coined “nanofluids”, and empirical investigations have shown that their transport properties are far superior to those anticipated from conventional prediction models. Most research efforts to date have focused upon understanding the bulk properties of these fluids, but it is noted that accurate models cannot be developed without knowledge of how embedded particles affect local flow phenomena. This letter describes the novel application of micro-particle image velocimetry in attaining such measurements within nanofluids and demonstrates how these can lead to developing theories based on observed flow physics or to validate/negate many of the recently proposed theories attempting to elucidate the mechanisms at play in nanofluids.     

暗藏玄机Radeon HD6850显卡改造谈

AMD HD6000系列显卡刚问世不久，有关HD6850的改造传言又冒出来了。是的，似乎AMD每代显卡都会有意无意地给大家留点后门，调动大家的积极性。那么这次HD6000是不是也会这么干呢？     

A finite state machine based on topology coordinates for wrestling games

This paper proposes a new framework to simulate the real‐time attack‐and‐defense interactions by two virtual wrestlers in 3D computer games. The characters are controlled individually by two different players—one player controls the attacker and the other controls the defender. A finite state machine of attacks and defenses based on topology coordinates is precomputed and used to control the virtual wrestlers during the game play. As the states are represented by topology coordinates, which is an abstract representation for the spatial relationship of the bodies, the players have much more degree of freedom to control the virtual characters even during attacks and defenses. Experimental results show the methodology can simulate realistic competitive interactions of wrestling in real time, which is difficult by previous methods. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Batch scheduling problem for a machinery factory with fixed-position layout

We consider a batch scheduling problem for a two-stage flow shop with fixed-position layout. In the first stage, a fixed number of jobs are assembled on a batch machine with a family batch setup time and a common processing time. In the second stage, the assembled jobs are individually performed for system integration on a discrete machine. The finished job is immediately packed and shipped if the payment has been made; otherwise, it is moved to a temporary storage area, incurring additional removal time. This study develops a mixed integer programming (MIP) to solve the problem of minimising the total completion time and proposes two heuristics for large-size problems. Computational results show that the proposed methods can be applied to resolve real-world problems similar to those in this study.     

Highly controlled synthesis of nanometric gold particles by citrate reduction using the short mixing, heating and quenching times achievable in a microfluidic device

Homodispersed 1.8 nm gold nanoparticles were obtained reproducibly in high yields using the classical Turkevich protocol at a high concentration in a continuous flow capillary reactor. The microfluidic reactor made from commercially available items permitted short mixing, heating and quenching times which are the key parameters of this synthesis.