Low-cost approaches to robust temperature compensation in near-infrared calibration and prediction situations

The traditional way of handling temperature shifts and other perturbations in calibration situations is to incorporate the non-relevant spectral variation in the calibration set by measuring the samples at various conditions. The present paper proposes two low-cost approaches based on simulation and prior knowledge about the perturbations, and these are compared to traditional methods. The first approach is based on augmentation of the calibration matrix through adding simulated noise on the spectra. The second approach is a correction method that removes the non-relevant variation from new spectra. Neither method demands exact knowledge of the perturbation levels. Using the augmentation method it was found that a few, in this case four, selected samples run under different conditions gave approximately the same robustness as running all the calibration samples under different conditions. For the carbohydrate data set, all robustification methods investigated worked well, including the use of pure water spectra for temperature compensation. For the more complex meat data set, only the augmentation method gave comparable results to the full global model.     

Characteristic sequence motifs at the breakpoints of the hybrid genes FUS/CHOP, EWS/CHOP and FUS/ERG in myxoid liposarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia

We have sequenced the breakpoint regions in one acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(16;21)(p11;q22) resulting in the formation of a FUS/ERG hybrid gene and in four myxoid liposarcomas (MLS), three of which had the translocation t(12;16) (q13;p11) and a FUS/CHOP fusion gene and one with t(12;22;20)(q13;q12;q11) and an EWS/CHOP hybrid gene. The breakpoints were localized to intron 7 of FUS, intron 1 of CHOP, an intronic sequence of ERG and intron 7 of EWS. In two MLS cases with t(12;16) and in the AML, the breaks in intron 7 of FUS had occurred close to each other, a few nucleotides downstream from a TG dinucleotide repeat region. The break in the two MLS had occurred in the same ATGGTG hexamer and in the AML 40 nucleotides upstream from the hexamer. The third case of t(12;16) MLS had a break upstream and near a TC-dinucleotide repeat region and a sequence similar to the chi bacterial recombination element was found to flank the breakpoint. In the MLS with the EWS/ CHOP hybrid gene, the break in intron 7 of EWS had occurred close to an Alu sequence. Similarly, in all 4 MLS, the breaks in intron 1 of CHOP were near an Alu sequence. No Alu or other repetitive sequences were found 250 bp upstream or downstream from the break in the ERG intron involved in the AML case. In the AML, the MLS with ESW/CHOP and in one MLS with FUS/CHOP there were one, two and six, respectively, nucleotide identity between the contributing germline sequences in the breakpoint. In the other two MLS cases, two and three extra nucleotides of unknown origin were inserted between the FUS and CHOP sequences. At the junction and/or in its close vicinity, identical oligomers, frequently containing a trinucleotide TGG, were found in both partner genes. Our data thus show that all four genes-FUS, EWS, CHOP and ERG-contain characteristic motifs in the breakpoint regions which may serve as specific recognition sites for DNA-binding proteins and have functional importance in the recombination events taking place between the chromosomes. Different sequence motifs may, however, play a role in each individual case.     

Frequency domain accuracy of identified 2-D causal AR-models

The author studies parametric estimation of 2-D autoregressive models using the least squares method. The analysis is concentrated on the frequency domain accuracy of the estimated models. First results for the accuracy of the parameter estimates are discussed. The estimates are asymptotically Gaussian distributed. The variance of the estimated model evaluated in the frequency domain can be expressed using these results for the parameters. This, however, gives no insight of the dependence on the true transfer function. An illuminating result is obtained if one lets the model order tend to infinity. The limiting results show good correspondence with Monte-Carlo simulations even for small data sets, using low model orders     

A parameter‐reduced volterra model for dynamic RF power amplifier modeling based on orthonormal basis functions

A nonlinear dynamic behavioral model for radio frequency power amplifiers is presented. It uses orthonormal basis functions, Kautz functions, with complex poles that are different for each nonlinear order. It has the same general properties as Volterra models, but the number of parameters is significantly smaller. Using frequency weighting the out‐of‐band model error can be reduced. Using experimental data it was found that the optimal poles were the same for different input powers and for the different nonlinear orders. The optimal poles were also the same for direct and inverse models, which could be explained theoretically to be a general property of nonlinear systems with negligible linear memory effects. The model can be used as either a direct or inverse model with the same model error for power amplifiers with negligible linear memory effects. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2007.     

Electronic control of Ca2+ signalling in neuronal cells using an organic electronic ion pump

Cells and tissues use finely regulated ion fluxes for their intra- and intercellular communication. Technologies providing spatial and temporal control for studies of such fluxes are however, limited. We have developed an electrophoretic ion pump made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) to mediate electronic control of the ion homeostasis in neurons. Ion delivery from a source reservoir to a receiving electrolyte via a PEDOT:PSS thin-film channel was achieved by electronic addressing. Ions are delivered in high quantities at an associated on/off ratio exceeding 300. This induces physiological signalling events that can be recorded at the single-cell level. Furthermore, miniaturization of the device to a 50-microm-wide channel allows for stimulation of individual cells. As this technology platform allows for electronic control of ion signalling in individual cells with proper spatial and temporal resolution, it will be useful in further studies of communication in biological systems.     

Non-destructive determination of fat,moisture and protein in salmon fillets by use of near-infrared diffuse spectroscopy

Near infrared (NIR) diffuse spectroscopy was used to determine the fat, moisture and protein contents in whole and ground farmed atlantic salmon fillets. A remote fibre-optic probe was used for NIR measurements on 50 whole salmon fillets. The constituent ranges were: 91-205 g kg^?1 fat, 599-709g kg^?1 moisture and 186-209 g kg^?1 protein. Principal component regression resulted in the following prediction errors for ground salmon fillets, expressed as root mean square error of cross validation: 6.6 g kg-1 fat, 3.8 g kg^?1 moisture and 2.0 g kg^?1 protein. The corresponding prediction errors for non-destructive measurements on whole salmon fillets were 10.8 g kg^?1 fat, 8.5 g kg^?1 moisture and 3.7 g kg^?1 protein. Regression models using the 760-1100 m range gave lower prediction errors than models using the 1100-2500 mm or 760-2500 nm ranges. The results show that fibre-optic probe NIR instruments are suited to determine fat and moisture in whole salmon fillets non-destructively.     

Customized baseline correction

Baseline correction is an important pre-processing technique used to separate true spectroscopic signals from interference effects or remove background effects, stains or traces of compounds, e.g. in 2D gel electrophoresis. In some cases parts of the spectra or images need correction using rigid baselines (limited curvature) while other parts need more flexible baselines (more curvature). Often one has to make a compromise that is not optimal over the whole spectral range, or focus on one part and let the rest be treated sub-optimally. A customizing wrapper is proposed that rescales the spectrum abscissa and therefore makes the baseline correction algorithm behave right in all parts of the spectra. Improvements are demonstrated both visually and through regression using recently reported Raman spectra on melted fat from pork adipose tissue.     

Measurement of the influence of sliding velocity on oil film thickness in an elastohydrodynamic point contact

Experiments have been carried out to measure the film thickness between a sapphire disc and a polished steel ball when slippage is permitted between the two surfaces. The velocity sum of the two surfaces was kept constant during the measurements. The method used to determine the oil film thickness in the contact zone is optical interferometry. It was observed that the change in minimum film thickness was slight. When the sliding velocity was increased, the decrease in central film thickness was considerably larger than that of the minimum film thickness. In addition, the two side lobes, in which the minimum film thickness area occurs, were observed to become flatter as the sliding velocity was increased.