A method of smoothing digital thematic maps

A method has been developed for the smoothing of digital thematic maps such as those derived from LANDSAT data. The method permits one to specify a minimal area for each feature represented on the map. After application of the method all the regions belonging to any given feature have areas equal to or greater than the minimum for the feature. In this report the results are presented for a particular example.     

Spatial-time dynamics of the discharge pumping and lasing in a XeClexcimer laser

Spatial-time density distributions of excited components (Xe*, He*, Xe⁺*, XeCl*, free electrons) and the lasing intensity were measured by the pulse-dye-laser absorption (gain) probing of the active medium of a XeCl discharge laser. Some general regularities of the local deposition rate dynamics and active medium formation processes have been obtained. The influence of the electric field and preionization nonuniformities on the discharge profile is discussed. It is shown that the spatial profile, for the number of plasmochemical reactions leading to the formation of this component. The effect of the discharge layering is explained on the basis of the density gradients of excited on the basis of the density gradients if excited components and the oscillating pumping     

Rapid measurement of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) derived perfusion fraction for clinical magnetic resonance imaging

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the reliability of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model derived parameters D and f and their dependence on b value distributions with a rapid three b value acquisition protocol.

Materials and methods

Diffusion models for brain, kidney, and liver were assessed for bias, error, and reproducibility for the estimated IVIM parameters using b values 0 and 1000, and a b value between 200 and 900, at signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) 40, 55, and 80. Relative errors were used to estimate optimal b value distributions for each tissue scenario. Sixteen volunteers underwent brain DW-MRI, for which bias and coefficient of variation were determined in the grey matter.

Results

Bias had a large influence in the estimation of D and f for the low-perfused brain model, particularly at lower b values, with the same trends being confirmed by in vivo imaging. Significant differences were demonstrated in vivo for estimation of D (P = 0.029) and f (P < 0.001) with [300,1000] and [500,1000] distributions. The effect of bias was considerably lower for the high-perfused models. The optimal b value distributions were estimated to be brain_500,1000, kidney_300,1000, and liver_200,1000.

Conclusion

IVIM parameters can be estimated using a rapid DW-MRI protocol, where the optimal b value distribution depends on tissue characteristics and compromise between bias and variability.

     

Stabilization of marginal aggregates with hydraulic and puzzolanic binders based on waste materials

Natural sand deposits and waste screenings from gravel pits and quarries are abundant in parts of Sweden. Investigations have been made to stabilize such materials with binders based on waste materials. Both laboratory work and test roads have been performed. In the latter case, mainly secondary roads have been strengthened with a plant-mixed bases. Good results have been achieved with a binder made of milled granulated blast furnace slag, activated with lime or especially with both lime and waste gypsum. Sand and screenings from gravel often contain organic material, deleterous with the binders studied. In such cases, the gypsum addition also seems to counteract the negative effect of the organic material. Fly ash has recently been available in Sweden. Tests made with fly ash-lime, as often used for stabilization abroad, have shown too slow binding for a rather cold climate. Addition of waste gypsum, calcium chloride, alkali-salts or use of an alkali-rich cement kiln dust instead of commercial lime can improve the binding properties. Different fly ashes, however, react in different ways. It is often more suitable to use fly ash-cement as a binder, especially with poorly graded aggregates. The fly ash, added in an optimum amount, work as a filler and high immediate stabilities can be achieved at a correct water content. The puzzolanic properties of the fly ash, at the same time, makes it possible to reduce the cement content considerably in comparison with the case when only portland cement is used as a binder. Promising laboratory work has also been done with binders consisting of condensed silica fume or ash from fluidized bed coal combustion, both in combination with lime.     

Untargeted Metabolite Profiling of Abalone Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Abalone meat is a delicacy worldwide, fetching high prices and a valuable source of income for the many countries farming and exporting this commodity. The quality of abalone is based on its unique sensory properties and an analytical metabolomics method for determining the compounds related to this would serve as a valuable tool for ensuring quality and consumer satisfaction. Metabolomics is a promising “omics” tool which can be applied towards this goal; however, widely applicable parameters for the evaluation of an untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomic approach is still lacking. GC-MS is a popular and suitable metabolomics method due to its high separation power, reproducible retention times, and selective mass detection. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable untargeted GC-MS method for analyzing firstly a standard compound mixture consisting of 10 compounds representing various compound classes and secondly applying the method in an untargeted manner to abalone muscle samples. Using a standard compound mixture with a concentration range of 1 to 100 μg/mL, the limit of detection (LOD) ranged between 0.01 and 3.30 μg/mL, the limit of quantification (LOQ) resulted in values between 0.02 and 9.49 μg/mL, the accuracy determined was <1.5 μg/mL, and the precision displayed a coefficient of variance (CV) <25 %. When evaluating the method in terms of biological samples harvested, the repeatability and intermediate precision showed CV values <50 % for most compounds measured, allowing application of this method for metabolite profiling of abalone to answer important biological questions.     

Tempering of Low-Temperature Bainite

Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atom probe tomography have been used to identify the changes which occur during the tempering of a carbide-free bainitic steel transformed at 473 K (200 °C). Partitioning of solute between ferrite and thin-films of retained austenite was observed on tempering at 673 K (400 °C) for 30 minutes. After tempering at 673 K (400 °C) and 773 K (500 °C) for 30 minutes, cementite was observed in the form of nanometre scale precipitates. Proximity histograms showed that the partitioning of solutes other than silicon from the cementite was slight at 673 K (400 °C) and more obvious at 773 K (500 °C). In both cases, the nanometre scale carbides are greatly depleted in silicon.

     

Hypothermia Alleviates Reductive Stress,a Root Cause of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Ischemia reperfusion injury is common in transplantation. Previous studies have shown that cooling can protect against hypoxic injury. To date, the protective effects of hypothermia have been largely associated with metabolic suppression. Since kidney transplantation is one of the most common organ transplant surgeries, we used human-derived renal proximal tubular cells (HKC8 cell line) as a model of normal renal cells. We performed a temperature titration curve from 37 °C to 22 °C and evaluated cellular respiration and molecular mechanisms that can counteract the build-up of reducing equivalents in hypoxic conditions. We show that the protective effects of hypothermia are likely to stem both from metabolic suppression (inhibitory component) and augmentation of stress tolerance (activating component), with the highest overlap between activating and suppressing mechanisms emerging in the window of mild hypothermia (32 °C). Hypothermia decreased hypoxia-induced rise in the extracellular lactate:pyruvate ratio, increased ATP/ADP ratio and mitochondrial content, normalized lipid content, and improved the recovery of respiration after anoxia. Importantly, it was observed that in contrast to mild hypothermia, moderate and deep hypothermia interfere with HIF1 (hypoxia inducible factor 1)-dependent HRE (hypoxia response element) induction in hypoxia. This work also demonstrates that hypothermia alleviates reductive stress, a conceptually novel and largely overlooked phenomenon at the root of ischemia reperfusion injury.