The Minimal Structure and Motion Problems with Missing Data for 1D Retina Vision

In this paper we investigate the structure and motion problem for calibrated one-dimensional projections of a two-dimensional environment. The theory of one-dimensional cameras are useful in several areas, e.g. within robotics, autonomous guided vehicles, projection of lines in ordinary vision and vision of vehicles undergoing so called planar motion. In a previous paper the structure and motion problem for all cases with non-missing data was classified and solved. Our aim is here to classify all structure and motion problems, even those with missing data, and to solve them. In the classification we introduce the notion of a prime problem. A prime problem is a minimal problem that does not contain a minimal problem as a sub-problem. We further show that there are infinitely many such prime problems. We give solutions to four prime problems, and using the duality of Carlsson these can be extended to solutions of seven prime problems. Finally we give some experimental results based on synthetic data.     

Effects of shade nettings,sowing time and storage on baby spinach flavonoids

Flavonoids are important in plant interactions with the environment and may have positive effects on human health. Effects of light quality and quantity on flavonoid concentration were studied in baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivated under three types of shade netting differing in transmittance of UV‐B and PAR, at two times during the season. Leaves harvested at two growth stages for each sowing were subjected to different post‐harvest storage conditions. Shade nettings had a relatively small effect on flavonoid concentration in baby spinach. The largest effect was found when radiation was most intense. The nettings then decreased total flavonoid concentration by 15–24% at the normal commercial growth stage at harvest. Radiation and plant growth both affected flavonoid concentration, in opposite or similar directions depending on time of season. This variation was reflected in the statistical analysis, showing significant interactions among the factors. There were large differences (up to 100%) in flavonoid concentration between the different times of the season, in shaded as well as unshaded spinach. Flavonoid concentration and composition changed during storage, but no consistent difference was found between the shaded and unshaded leaves. In most cases, total flavonoid concentration increased significantly during the first 6 days of storage. In conclusion, the use of shade netting is acceptable for production of baby spinach as regards flavonoid concentration and composition. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hangover Frequency and Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders: Evidence From a Longitudinal High-Risk Study.

Data from a prospective high-risk study (N=489; 51% with a family history of alcoholism) were used to test whether family history is associated with greater hangover proneness and whether hangover is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders. Hangover was more frequent in family-history-positive participants during the college years. Persons with an alcohol diagnosis showed excess hangover before earning a diagnosis. Year 1 hangover predicted alcohol use disorders at Years 7 and 11, even when family history, sex, Year 1 diagnoses, and Year 1 drinking were statistically controlled. Several nonhangover drinking symptoms failed to predict later diagnoses. Taken together, the findings suggest a need for further research and theory on the role of hangover in the etiology of drinking problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Different Packaging Methods on Quality and Shelf Life of Fresh Reindeer Meat

The impact of different packaging methods [vacuum, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) (60% CO₂ and 40% N₂) and MAP + CO₂ emitter] on the quality of fresh reindeer meat (M. semimembranosus) stored at 4°C for 21 days was investigated. Colour and odour of the meat, drip loss, pH, microbial content, antioxidant capacity and cooking loss were measured. The MAP + CO₂ emitter resulted in prolonged microbial shelf life compared with vacuum and MAP without CO₂ emitter as lower level of total viable counts was detected after 13 and 17 days. Samples stored with CO₂ emitter also had lower drip loss. Samples stored in vacuum had significant lower L*‐value, higher a*‐value and lower intensity of freshness (odour and colour) compared with those stored in MAP and MAP with CO₂ emitter. However, MAP with a gas‐to‐product volume ratio of 1 : 1 seems to be too low in quality preserving. Increased partial pressure by adding a CO₂ emitter improved bacterial inhibition compared with vacuum and traditional MAP. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vivo toxicity and biodistribution of intraperitoneal and intravenous poly-l-lysine and poly-l-lysine/poly-l-glutamate in rats

The combination of two differently charged polypeptides, poly-l-lysine (PL) and poly-L-glutamate (PG), has shown excellent postsurgical antiadhesive properties. However, the high molecular, positively charged PL is toxic in high doses, proposed as lysis of red blood cells. This study aims to elucidate the in vivo toxicity and biodistribution of PL and complex bound PLPG comparing intravenous and intraperitoneal administration. Fifty-six Sprague–Dawley rats were used in a model with repeated blood samples within 30 min examining blood gases and blood smears. Similarly, FITC labelled PL were used to track bio distribution and clearance of PL, given as single dose and complex bound to PG after intravenous and intraperitoneal administration. Tissue for histology and immunohistochemistry was collected. Blood gases and blood smears as well as histology points to a toxic effect of high dose PL given intravenously but not after intraperitoneal administration. The toxic effect is exerted through endothelial disruption and subsequent bleeding in the lungs, provoking sanguineous lung edema. FITC-labelled PL experiments reveal a rapid clearance with differences between routes and complex binding. This study advocates a new theory of the toxic effects in vivo of high molecular PL. PLPG complex is safe to use as antiadhesive prevention based on this toxicity study given that PL is always intraperitoneally administered in combination with PG and that the dose is adequate.     

Molecular‐Scale Hybridization of Clay Monolayers and Conducting Polymer for Thin‐Film Supercapacitors

Development of electrode materials with well‐defined architectures is a fruitful and profitable approach for achieving highly‐efficient energy storage systems. A molecular‐scale hybrid system is presented based on the self‐assembly of CoNi‐layered double hydroxide (CoNi‐LDH) monolayers and the conducting polymer (poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate), denoted as PEDOT:PSS) into an alternating‐layer superlattice. Owing to the homogeneous interface and intimate interaction, the resulting CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS hybrid materials possess a simultaneous enhancement in ion and charge‐carrier transport and exhibit improved capacitive properties with a high specific capacitance (960 F g^–1 at 2 A g^–1) and excellent rate capability (83.7% retention at 30 A g^–1). In addition, an in‐plane supercapacitor device with an interdigital design is fabricated based on a CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS thin film, delivering a significantly enhanced energy and power output (an energy density of 46.1 Wh kg^–1 at 11.9 kW kg^–1). Its application in miniaturized devices is further demonstrated by successfully driving a photodetector. These characteristics demonstrate that the molecular‐scale assembly of LDH monolayers and the conducting polymer is promising for energy storage and conversion applications in miniaturized electronics.     

Stochastic Energy Source Access Management: Infrastructure-integrative modular plant for sustainable hydrogen-electric co-generation

The proposed Stochastic Energy Source Access Management (SESAM) comprises renewable energy sources coupled via a direct current bus with storage modules of complementary characteristics to achieve co-generation of hydrogen and electric power on a continuous duty basis. As complementary solutions, hydrogen energy storage to provide a large capacity and access-oriented storage based on magnetic, electric or kinetic energy with less capacity but a faster response time are considered. These are arranged to form a multi-level storage that can compensate stochastic fluctuations of power over diverse time scales. The developed energy management coordinates the operation of the diverse storage modules. In this context, the access-oriented storage acts as a shock absorber in order to shield fuel cells and electrolysers from fast fluctuations of wind power and load. The functions of the plant are validated through simulation using meteorological information obtained from the National Wind Technology Center in the USA. The plant is shown to provide the scheduled output of hydrogen and electric power. Since seen from its terminals SESAM behaves in the same way as a power plant with controlled fuel input, it can be readily integrated with given infrastructures.     

An efficient decision feedback equalizer for the ATSC DTV receiver

In this paper an efficient decision feedback equalizer is presented for the equalization of the received signal in the eight level vestigial sideband, Advanced Television Systems Committee, digital television system, adopting a novel detection rule for symbol detection at the output of the equalizer. The conventional hard limiter is replaced by an efficient symbol detection algorithm, based on the underlying trellis coded modulated coding of the transmitted symbols. The proposed decision device has a marginal computational cost and it can be implemented using simple combinatorial and sequential logic circuitry. When the equalizer operates in the decision directed mode, the normalized least mean squared algorithm is utilized for the adaptation of the equalizer coefficients, in a “stop-and-go” like mode, triggered by a reliability signal associated to the detected symbols. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated by typical computer simulation.     

In situ analysis of three-dimensional electrolyte convection evolving during the electrodeposition of copper in magnetic gradient fields

A novel three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry technique was used to examine the flow during electrodeposition of Cu. For the first time electrode-normal, circumferential, and radial velocities were spatially resolved during deposition in superimposed low and high magnetic gradient fields. In this way the complex interaction of magnetic field gradient force and Lorentz force induced convective effects could be measured and analyzed. Magnetic field gradient force induced electrolyte flow was detected only in high gradient magnetic fields, and it was found to be directed toward regions of gradient maxima. Since this electrode-normal flow causes enhanced transport of Cu(2+) ions from the bulk electrolyte to those regions of the working electrode where maxima of magnetic gradients are present, a structured deposit is formed during diffusion-limited electrodeposition. Lorentz force driven convection was observed during deposition in the low and the high magnetic gradient experiments. The overall fluid motion and the convection near the working electrode were determined experimentally and discussed with regard to the acting magnetic forces and numerical simulations.     

Caloric Restriction and Hypothalamic Leptin Gene Therapy Have Differential Effects on Energy Partitioning in Adult Female Rats

Dieting is a common but often ineffective long-term strategy for preventing weight gain. Similar to humans, adult rats exhibit progressive weight gain. The adipokine leptin regulates appetite and energy expenditure but hyperleptinemia is associated with leptin resistance. Here, we compared the effects of increasing leptin levels in the hypothalamus using gene therapy with conventional caloric restriction on weight gain, food consumption, serum leptin and adiponectin levels, white adipose tissue, marrow adipose tissue, and bone in nine-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats (n = 16) were implanted with a cannula in the 3rd ventricle of the hypothalamus and injected with a recombinant adeno-associated virus, encoding the rat gene for leptin (rAAV-Lep), and maintained on standard rat chow for 18 weeks. A second group (n = 15) was calorically-restricted to match the weight of the rAAV-Lep group. Both approaches prevented weight gain, and no differences in bone were detected. However, calorically-restricted rats consumed 15% less food and had lower brown adipose tissue Ucp-1 mRNA expression than rAAV-Lep rats. Additionally, calorically-restricted rats had higher abdominal white adipose tissue mass, higher serum leptin and adiponectin levels, and higher marrow adiposity. Caloric restriction and hypothalamic leptin gene therapy, while equally effective in preventing weight gain, differ in their effects on energy intake, energy expenditure, adipokine levels, and body composition.