Development of headspace-gas chromatography-flame ionization detection procedure to determine volatile fatty acids in zoo organic waste leachates

In order to determine volatile fatty acids (short chain monocarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 carbon atoms in a molecule) in leachates formed in organic waste piles a procedure based on static headspace (HS) coupled with gas chromatography (GC) have been proposed and optimized. The conditions of HS extraction and sample introduction into a gas chromatograph as well as of chromatographic separation were considered. Using flame ionization detection LODs were of the order of 0.02-0.37 mg/L. The analyzed leachate collecting on and close to a zoo organic waste pile contained VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids) at a concentration ranging from 5.5 mg/L to 0.88 g/L and from below LOD to 10.1 mg/L for pool water at some distance from the pile, respectively.     

Enhanced fluorescent immunoassays on silver fractal-like structures

Using the effect of the fluorescence enhancement in close proximity to metal nanostructures, we have been able to demonstrate ultrasensitive immunoassays suitable for the detection of biomarkers. Silver fractal-like structures have been grown by electrochemical reduction of silver on the surface of glass slides. A model immunoassay was performed on the slide surface with rabbit IgG (antigen) noncovalently immobilized on the slide, and rhodamine red-X-labeled antirabbit IgG conjugate was subsequently bound to the immobilized antigen. The fluorescence signal was measured from the glass-fractal's surface using a confocal microscope, and the images were compared to the images from the same surface not coated with fractals. Our results showed significant enhancement (more than 100-fold) of the signal detected on fractals compared to bare glass. We thus demonstrate that such fractal-like structures can assist in improving the signals from assays used in medical diagnostics, especially those for analytes with molecular weight under 100 kDa.     

Automatic method for detection of characteristic areas in thermal face images

The use of thermal images of a selected area of the head in screening systems, which perform fast and accurate analysis of the temperature distribution of individual areas, requires the use of profiled image analysis methods. There exist methods for automated face analysis which are used at airports or train stations and are designed to detect people with fever. However, they do not enable automatic separation of specific areas of the face. This paper presents an algorithm for image analysis which enables localization of characteristic areas of the face in thermograms. The algorithm is resistant to subjects’ variability and also to changes in the position and orientation of the head. In addition, an attempt was made to eliminate the impact of background and interference caused by hair and hairline. The algorithm automatically adjusts its operation parameters to suit the prevailing room conditions. Compared to previous studies (Marzec et al., J Med Inform Tech 16:151–159, 2010), the set of thermal images was expanded by 34 images. As a result, the research material was a total of 125 patients’ thermograms performed in the Department of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Neurology in Katowice, Poland. The images were taken interchangeably with several thermal cameras: AGEMA 590 PAL (sensitivity of 0.1 °C), ThermaCam S65 (sensitivity of 0.08 °C), A310 (sensitivity of 0.05 °C), T335 (sensitivity of 0.05 °C) with a 320?×?240 pixel optical resolution of detectors, maintaining the principles related to taking thermal images for medical thermography. In comparison to (Marzec et al., J Med Inform Tech 16:151–159, 2010), the approach presented there has been extended and modified. Based on the comparison with other methods presented in the literature, it was demonstrated that this method is more complex as it enables to determine the approximate areas of selected parts of the face including anthropometry. As a result of this comparison, better results were obtained in terms of localization accuracy of the center of the eye sockets and nostrils, giving an accuracy of 87 % for the eyes and 93 % for the nostrils.     

Modern Electrical Power Source on New System of Dissipation and Renewable Energies Sources

This paper presents some solutions of modem renewable energy system applied actually in dissipation energy source： wind turbine, solar panel battery charge, SSS （support set system）, and standby diesel generator cooperated in series, parallel and hybrid system with main energy system. Its solution enable obtain independent individual energy source in different work exploitations. One of problems concerned with alternative energy source is changes of output voltages and output power dependence of climatic conditions. Possible solution is application of decoupled adjustable speed generation system in renewable energy generation. The decoupled generation system consists of： alternative energy source, internal combustion engine drives permanent magnet generator and DC/AC, or AC/AC converter. Performance of single decoupled generation set is discussed supported by results of laboratory tests. To provide high quality voltage is applied an additional energy storage, made from super capacitor and bidirectional DC/DC convert. Such system performs very stiff voltage in any load condition. Integration of solar battery panels or renewable wind energy system is provided via DC link of the variable speed decoupled autonomous generation system. Results of computer simulation and laboratory experiments are presented in the paper.     

Quantum conductance of silicon-doped carbon wire nanojunctions

Unknown quantum electronic conductance across nanojunctions made of silicon-doped carbon wires between carbon leads is investigated. This is done by an appropriate generalization of the phase field matching theory for the multi-scattering processes of electronic excitations at the nanojunction and the use of the tight-binding method. Our calculations of the electronic band structures for carbon, silicon, and diatomic silicon carbide are matched with the available corresponding density functional theory results to optimize the required tight-binding parameters. Silicon and carbon atoms are treated on the same footing by characterizing each with their corresponding orbitals. Several types of nanojunctions are analyzed to sample their behavior under different atomic configurations. We calculate for each nanojunction the individual contributions to the quantum conductance for the propagating σ, Π, and σ^∗electron incidents from the carbon leads. The calculated results show a number of remarkable features, which include the influence of the ordered periodic configurations of silicon-carbon pairs and the suppression of quantum conductance due to minimum substitutional disorder and artificially organized symmetry on these nanojunctions. Our results also demonstrate that the phase field matching theory is an efficient tool to treat the quantum conductance of complex molecular nanojunctions.     

Heat transfer to longitudinal laminar flow between thin cylinders

The forced-convection longitudinal flow of a viscous and heat-conducting fluid in a system of thin parallel cylinders, arranged in regular patterns, is studied. The aim of the study is to determine both the velocity field and temperature field between the system of thin cylinders. A new way of calculating i.e. the use of a complex number is proposed. The final results are analytical formulas for determining the longitudinal permeability and the Nusselt number of the fluid and the system of thin cylinders.     

On Nonparametric Identification of Wiener Systems

In this paper, a new method for the identification of the Wiener nonlinear system is proposed. The system, being a cascade connection of a linear dynamic subsystem and a nonlinear memoryless element, is identified by a two-step semiparametric approach. The impulse response function of the linear part is identified via the nonlinear least-squares approach with the system nonlinearity estimated by a pilot nonparametric kernel regression estimate. The obtained estimate of the linear part is then used to form a nonparametric kernel estimate of the nonlinear element of the Wiener system. The proposed method permits recovery of a wide class of nonlinearities which need not be invertible. As a result, the proposed algorithm is computationally very efficient since it does not require a numerical procedure to calculate the inverse of the estimate. Furthermore, our approach allows non-Gaussian input signals and the presence of additive measurement noise. However, only linear systems with a finite memory are admissible. The conditions for the convergence of the proposed estimates are given. Computer simulations are included to verify the basic theory     

Patterns of primary and heterotrophic productivity in an arid lowland river

Three river conceptual models make differing predictions about the major source of primary production in lowland rivers, acknowledging the importance of primary productivity in the ecology and management of lowland rivers. Patterns of primary production in lowland rivers are still an area of considerable uncertainty. The objective of this study was to examine the major sources and transformations of organic matter in an Australian lowland river and compare them to the predictions of existing models. The broad approach adopted was to quantify the contribution from the major ecosystem components and compare these with estimates of system metabolism determined using open water measures of diel oxygen change. Three 4‐km river reaches were selected to represent the extent of variation found along the free‐flowing lowland sections of the Murray River, one of Australia's largest and most regulated rivers. Annual open water gross primary production (GPP) estimates for the Murray R. during this study ranged from 221 to 376 gC m^?2 y^?1 and were similar to other large rivers. Examination of the net contribution of organic matter to the channel indicates that primary productivity in the Murray R. is derived from a combination of phytoplankton, riparian vegetation and macrophytes, but that the major source varies both spatially and temporally. The present study confirms that the River Continuum Concept (RCC), the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC) and Riverine Productivity Model (RPM) all have some application to Australian lowland rivers, but that synthesis of the models will be difficult until we can incorporate the extent, causes and consequences of primary production variability. This study also highlights the importance of the microbial loop and macrophytes in the ecology of the Murray R. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dynamic stability of a crane standing on soil during the rotation of the boom

In this work the influence of flexible soil foundation on the dynamic stability of the boom crane is presented. This analysis was made during the rotation of the boom, such that variable pressure on the soil and other deformations could be taken into account. The rheological deformation of the soil as a function of the changing strain in time has been described by an equation, which is the Duhamel integral. After accepting the discrete model of the considered system dynamic equations of motion were elaborated, which because of their nonlinearity and complexity were solved numerically. Appointed were the dynamic displacements of each of the supports for different rotational speeds of the boom, showing the influence of the rheological deformation of the soil on the behaviour of the whole crane. As well the trajectories of the motion of the weight hoisted were presented for different rotational speeds of the boom, which enabled the analysis of the precision of the positioning of the weight being hoisted (minimization of oscillation).     

Violations of chemotherapy protocols for ovarian cancer--reasons and consequences

In times when colony-stimulating factors were not available, delays of treatment or dose reductions were necessary, to assure that chemotherapy could be safely administered. In a retrospective analysis the effects of chemotherapy protocol violations on the survival of patients with ovarian cancer was evaluated. The serial courses of leukocyte counts were often the determinants for a protocol adequate chemotherapy in contrary to the thrombocytes but the serial platelet counts had no influence on protocol violations. Only time-related protocol violations have been found in 7.6% of the cases. There seems to be no apparent influence on patients' survival. However, accomplishment of treatment schedules, which may be regarded as a reaction towards unsatisfactory tumour response, at the initial visit alone or in combination with time-related protocol violations as well as tumour stage, course of tumour markers (CA 125) had a strong impact on survival while higher dosage levels produces only a trend towards improved survival. The use of growth factors will probably reduce the percentage of protocol violations caused by neutropenia, but it is questionable if it will reduce mortality due to tumour progression.