Evaluating colour image difference metrics for gamut-mapped images

The quality of several colour image difference metrics, pixelwise CIELAB Δ E _ab , S-CIELAB, iCAM, Structural Similarity Index, Universal Image Quality and the hue-angle algorithm, have been investigated. These results were compared with the results from a psychophysical experiment in which the perceptual image difference was evaluated. Six original images were reproduced using six different colour gamut-mapping algorithms. The results of our experiment indicate that perceptual image difference cannot be directly related to colour image difference calculated by current metrics. Therefore, it is currently not possible to evaluate colour gamut mapping quality using colour image difference metrics.     

Phase-field modeling of gas bubbles and thermal conductivity evolution in nuclear fuels

A phase-field model was developed to simulate the accumulation and transport of fission products and the evolution of gas bubble microstructures in nuclear fuels. The model takes into account the generation of gas atoms and vacancies, and the elastic interaction between diffusive species and defects as well as the inhomogeneity of elasticity and diffusivity. The simulations show that gas bubble nucleation is much easier at grain boundaries than inside grains due to the trapping of gas atoms and the high mobility of vacancies and gas atoms in grain boundaries. Helium bubble formation at unstable vacancy clusters generated by irradiation depends on the mobilities of the vacancies and He, and the continuing supply of vacancies and He. The formation volume of the vacancy and He has a strong effect on the gas bubble nucleation at dislocations. The effective thermal conductivity strongly depends on the bubble volume fraction, but weakly on the morphology of the bubbles.     

3-Pyridinylidene Derivatives of Chemically Modified Lupane and Ursane Triterpenes as Promising Anticancer Agents by Targeting Apoptosis

Cancer persists as a global challenge due to the extent to which conventional anticancer therapies pose high risks counterbalanced with their therapeutic benefit. Naturally occurring substances stand as an important safer alternative source for anticancer drug development. In the current study, a series of modified lupane and ursane derivatives was subjected to in vitro screening on the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel. Compounds 6 and 7 have been identified as highly active with GI₅₀ values ranging from 0.03 µM to 5.9 µM (compound 6) and 0.18–1.53 µM (compound 7). Thus, these two compounds were further assessed in detail in order to identify a possible antiproliferative mechanism of action. DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining revealed that both compounds induced nuclei condensation and overall cell morphological changes consistent with apoptotic cell death. rtPCR analysis showed that both compounds induced upregulation of proapoptotic Bak and Bad genes while downregulating Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 antiapoptotic genes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that both compounds exhibited high scores for Bcl-XL inhibition, while compound 7 showed higher in silico Bcl-XL inhibition potential as compared to the native inhibitor ATB-737, suggesting that compounds may induce apoptotic cell death through targeted antiapoptotic protein inhibition, as well.     

Determination of the complexing properties of drinking waters toward copper(II) and aluminium(III) by ligand titration

The complexing capacity of some drinking waters for aluminium(III) and copper(II) is determined by a ligand titration with metal ions based on the use of complexing resins. The resins used in the titration are the iminodiacetic resin Chelex 100, the carboxylic resin Amberlite CG50 and the anionic exchange resin AG1X8. They allow the detection of ligands forming complexes of different stability with the metal ions used for the titration, since they have different sorbing properties. After equilibration with the resin, the concentration of the free metal ion in solution is evaluated from the concentration of sorbed metal ion and from the quantity K^*, which is the ratio of the concentration of the metal ion sorbed on the resin to the free metal ion in solution. It strongly depends on the conditions, but it can be evaluated, at the considered conditions, from the sorption equilibria of the metal ion on the resin. The concentration of the ligands in solution and the conditional stability constant are obtained from the Ruzik linearization procedure. Very strong ligands of copper(II) and aluminium(III) were detected in a tap water sample at concentrations ranging from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁶ mol kg⁻¹, and forming complexes having conditional complexation constants K_cI=2.3×10¹⁷ (pH=6.77) and 4.5×10¹⁶ (pH=6.24), respectively, for copper(II) and aluminium(III). Weaker ligands were detected using the less strongly sorbing resins Amberlite CG50 and AG1X8, but at a concentration equal to that of the strong ligands. This was ascribed to the presence of competing metals in solution, not sorbed by the weak resins. Two other drinking waters had completely different complexing properties both towards copper(II) and aluminium(III), containing much weaker ligands.     

Edible Electronics: Biocompatible and Biodegradable Materials for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors (Adv. Funct. Mater. 23/2010)

Biocompatible‐ingestible electronic circuits and capsules for medical diagnosis and monitoring are currently based on traditional silicon technology. Organic electronics has huge potential for developing biodegradable, biocompatible, bioresorbable, or even metabolizable products. An ideal pathway for such electronic devices involves fabrication with materials from nature, or materials found in common commodity products. Transistors with an operational voltage as low as 4–5 V, a source drain current of up to 0.5 μA and an on‐off ratio of 3–5 orders of magnitude have been fabricated with such materials. This work comprises steps towards environmentally safe devices in low‐cost, large volume, disposable or throwaway electronic applications, such as in food packaging, plastic bags, and disposable dishware. In addition, there is significant potential to use such electronic items in biomedical implants.     

Decision support for marketing research and corporate planning

Marketing research and corporate planning are enhanced by an effective decision support system. A system developed and implemented in an insurance company is used to illustrate how computer cartography and statistical procedures can be combined as powerful analytical tools. It also demonstrates how a nonprocedural language (SAS with SASGRAPH) can be used to create modules of systems that are efficiently implemented and easily maintained by analysts with limited programming capabilities.