Three-dimensional motion tracking of coronary arteries in biplane cineangiograms

A three-dimensional (3-D) method for tracking the coronary arteries through a temporal sequence of biplane X-ray angiography images is presented. A 3-D centerline model of the coronary vasculature is reconstructed from a biplane image pair at one time frame, and its motion is tracked using a coarse-to-fine hierarchy of motion models. Three-dimensional constraints on the length of the arteries and on the spatial regularity of the motion field are used to overcome limitations of classical two-dimensional vessel tracking methods, such as tracking vessels through projective occlusions. This algorithm was clinically validated in five patients by tracking the motion of the left coronary tree over one cardiac cycle. The root mean square reprojection errors were found to be submillimeter in 93% (54/58) of the image pairs. The performance of the tracking algorithm was quantified in three dimensions using a deforming vascular phantom. RMS 3-D distance errors were computed between centerline models tracked in the X-ray images and gold-standard centerline models of the phantom generated from a gated 3-D magnetic resonance image acquisition. The mean error was 0.69 (+/- 0.06) mm over eight temporal phases and four different biplane orientations.     

Effects of psychotherapy on significant others.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate some of the ways in which one partner in a relationship is affected by the other partner's therapy. Twenty significant others (SOs), never in therapy themselves, whose spouse or live-in heterosexual partner was currently engaged in psychotherapy, were administered a 20-question interview and the 40-item Likert-type Spouse's Perception of Therapy Scale. Results indicated that most SOs harbored conflicted feelings about their partners' therapy. On the positive side, SOs felt that their partners were more empathic and open, that communication in their relationship had improved, and that they themselves were more introspective and better able to understand their partners. On the negative side, the privacy of the therapist–patient relationship inspired feelings in SOs of exclusion, resentment, and inadequacy. Most SOs also reported displeasure with the cost of therapy. It is suggested that therapy initiates a process of change not only in the patient, but in the SO and their relationship as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Imprint of Electropolymerized Polyphenol Films on Electrodes by Donor‐Acceptor Interactions: Selective Electrochemical Sensing of N,N′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridinium (Methyl Viologen)

Polyphenol is electropolymerized on a Au electrode in the presence of N,N′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridinium, methyl viologen, MV²⁺, to yield an imprinted film for MV²⁺. The association and dissociation of MV²⁺ to and from the imprinted sites is studied by electrochemical means and compared to the interactions of MV²⁺ with the non‐imprinted polymer. Donor‐acceptor interactions provide the driving force for the formation of the imprinted sites. The imprinted polymer reveals selectivity toward the association of MV²⁺, and the polymer‐bound MV²⁺ enables vectorial electron transfer between the electrode and redox label dissolved in the bulk electrolyte solution.     

Evaluation of the performance of catalytic oxidation of VOCs by a mixed oxide at a semi‐pilot scale†

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the main contributors to air pollution. To reduce anthropogenic emissions, it is necessary to improve existing techniques such as catalytic oxidation through the development of new cost‐effective catalysts. Although many studies deal with the development and testing of new materials, most are performed at laboratory scale, of which only a few study mixtures of VOCs. To assess their viability for industrial applications, further tests are required, namely, mixture tests at intermediate scale in relevant environment and extrapolated on an industrial scale. In this work, the catalytic performance of a new mixed oxide Co‐Al‐Ce was investigated towards the oxidation of the n‐butanol and toluene on a semi‐pilot scale (TRL 4). Single component and mixture experiments were performed for several concentrations at a fixed flow rate. A commercial catalyst Pd/γ‐Al₂O₃ was used as the benchmark to evaluate the performance of the mixed oxide. The Co‐Al‐Ce catalyst enables complete oxidation of n‐butanol at the same temperature as the reference catalyst. Moreover, it provides a better selectivity for n‐butanol, while providing an equivalent one for the oxidation of toluene. In mixtures, the presence of n‐butanol promotes the oxidation of toluene for both catalysts but more significantly for the Co‐Al‐Ce catalyst. The presence of toluene inhibits the oxidation of n‐butanol for the Co‐Al‐Ce and promotes it for high conversions of n‐butanol for the Pd/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

PlastiVan Rolls Into the Motor City

Briana Young is one of the newest PlastiVan Educators, hired to help roll out the new PlastiVideo program in her hometown of Detroit. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and has over 12 years of experience in research and innovation involving material and environmental science and agricultural engineering.     

Issues in motorcycle sensory and cognitive conspicuity: The impact of motorcycle low-beam headlights and riding experience on drivers’ decisions to turn across the path of a motorcycle

Background

Crashes involving a passenger car and a motorcycle, where the car is turning across the path of the motorcycle, are a major crash type of motorcycle riders. It has been proposed that the incidence of such crashes could be reduced through improvements in motorcycle conspicuity. Operation of low-beam headlights on motorcycles has been discussed as one approach for improving the “sensory conspicuity” of motorcycles during daylight hours, whilst previous experience as a rider may serve to heighten “cognitive conspicuity” through raised awareness of motorcyclists on our roads.

Method

Twenty-three experienced car drivers with no riding experience (“drivers”) and 20 experienced car drivers who were also motorcycle riders (“driver–riders”) completed a series of trials in a driving simulator where their task in each trial was to turn ahead of an oncoming vehicle if they felt that they had sufficient room to do so safely. A key manipulation across trials was whether the oncoming vehicle was a motorcycle with headlights on, or a motorcycle with headlights off. Time gap (short, medium, long) was also manipulated.

Results

Results indicate that, at time gaps defined in the current study as short, low-beam headlights may confer some benefit in gap acceptance by encouraging drivers to accept fewer gaps ahead of a motorcycle with headlights on than ahead of a motorcycle with headlights off. No statistically significant differences in gap acceptance between the headlight conditions were found at either the medium or long time gaps. Irrespective of time gap, driver–riders were found to adopt a more efficient turn strategy than drivers with no direct riding experience.

Conclusions

Overall, the present research provides support for the use of low-beam headlights and riding experience as tools through which to augment the sensory and cognitive conspicuity of motorcycles, respectively. It is proposed that further research aim to explore directly the precise mechanisms underlying the observed effects.     

合作中国共同创造

今天,任何有野心的个人、公司或国家都迫切希望与正在迅速发展的中国建立某种关系。但是,他们并不完全正确。或许更有意义的是与中国合作并共同创造,而非单纯的建立联系。未来并不只是简单的交流,而是在全球舞台上就我们共同面对的问题展开合作。