Frequency- and depth-dependent compensation of ultrasonic signals

The resolution in ultrasonic images decreases with depth when using traditional time-gain compensation (TGC) of the received signal. To reduce this effect, both frequency-dependent and depth-dependent compensation is introduced. A time-varying digital filtering method is presented for this purpose, which is based on Wiener filtering. Images obtained from a simulated tissue equivalent are presented and the frequency-compensated images are compared to conventional TGC-compensated images. It is shown that the improvement in resolution using frequency-dependent compensation is considerable when the signal-to-noise ratio in the received signal is high.     

Atraumatic shoulder instability. Discussion of classification and results after capsular imbrication

AIMS/BACKGROUND: We studied the fate of hepatocytes in the rat liver after D-galactosamine injury by genetic labeling using recombinant retroviruses carrying the Escherichia coli lacZ gene coupled to a nuclear localization signal. METHODS: Hepatocytes were either labeled by direct injection of 2.5 ml high-titer retrovirus-containing medium in the regenerating liver parenchyma after administration of a single dose of D-galactosamine. Alternatively hepatocytes were pre-labeled, 24 h after a two-thirds hepatectomy, by injecting the same volume of retroviral solution in the portal vein and D-galactosamine was administered 15 days later. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and beta-galactosidase activities were assessed on cryostat sections, along with localization of the hepatocyte-specific HES6 antigen. RESULTS: Morphological observations, as well as beta-galactosidase activity detection, showed that hepatocytes actively divide as early as 1 day after D-galactosamine injection. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity was detected in biliary cells, but also in mature hepatocytes, pre-labeled with beta-galactosidase before D-galactosamine administration. CONCLUSIONS: These experiments demonstrate that hepatocytes can divide to restore the liver mass after D-galactosamine liver injury. Furthermore, we also show that gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, which has been reported to be expressed only by fetal or preneoplastic hepatocytes, can be re-expressed by mature hepatocytes during the recovery process.     

Amylose Content and Chain Profile of Amylopectin from Normal,High Amylose and Waxy Barleys

The amylose content and the chain profile of amylopectin from normal, waxy and high amylose barley starches were determined after enzymatic debranching and gel permeation chromatography and the degree of branching of the amylopectin was analysed by 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The normal barley starch contained around 30%, the high amylose around 40% and the waxy starch 9% amylose. The amylopectin of the high amylose starches had longer chains than those of the normal or waxy starches, especially in the molecular weight interval 5,400-8,000, but less of those below 2,400 in molecular weight. The chain length of amylopectin from high amylose barley was on average 5 units longer than those of normal or waxy barleys.     

Nonintrusive measurements of the telephone channel

Algorithms for a system which performs in-service nonintrusive measurements of telephone line parameters such as echo path delay, echo attenuation, speech and noise levels are presented. It forms the theoretical background of a hardware implementation of the ITU-T P.561 recommendations for nonintrusive assessment of quality of a telephone network for voice transmissions. The type of input signal to the echo path, whether it is speech, fax, or data, has to be determined during the measurement procedure. In the system, the relevant parameters are estimated by means of frequency-domain block-processing algorithms and the estimation process is controlled by algorithms monitoring the signal flow. The complexity of the echo path estimation algorithm is determined and compared to a standard procedure based on the adaptive normalized least mean square (NMLS) algorithm. Simulations showing the performance of the system in single-and double-talk situations are presented. Examples of results from the hardware real-time implementation operating on an international connection are also shown     

Vision-guided mobile robots for design competitions

We present the Teaching system integration in engineering curricula at universities via popular and effective robot-design competitions. In this article, we first present the robot kit we use and discuss the experiences we gained in, and shortcomings of, our robot competitions. We then present the low-cost color vision system, developed especially for our course. We also discuss our experiences in the 1998 competition, where we first made use of the system, and the 2001 competition. Finally, we present the results of a questionnaire given to students who have completed the course.     

Multidisciplinary shape optimization of ductile iron castings by considering local microstructure and material behaviour

During the casting process and solidification of ductile iron castings, a heterogeneous microstructure is formed throughout the casting. This distribution is strongly influenced by the item geometry and the process related factors, as chemical composition and local solidification conditions. Geometrical changes to the geometry of the casting thus alters the local mechanical behavior and properties, as well as the distribution of stresses and strains when the casting is subjected to load. In order to find an optimal geometry, e.g. with reduced weight and increased load-bearing capacity, this interdependency between geometry and local material behavior needs to be considered and integrated into the optimization method. In this contribution, recent developments in the multidisciplinary integration of casting process simulation, solidification and microstructure modelling, microstructure-based material characterization, finite element structural analyses with local material behavior and structural optimization techniques are presented and discussed. The effect and relevance of considering the local material behavior in shape optimization of ductile iron castings is discussed and evidenced by an industrial application. It is shown that by adopting a multidisciplinary optimization approach by integration of casting simulation and local material behavior into shape optimization, the potential of the casting process to obtain components with high performance and reliability can be enabled and utilized.     

Methane oxidation over PdO x : on the mechanism for the hysteresis in activity and oxygen content

A conceptual picture is developed to explain the peculiar kinetic features of methane oxidation over supported Pd catalysts (observed by several investigators), notably the hysteresis in activity accompanying temperature cycles. Experiments were performed with supported Pdcatalysts to illustrate these features. The activity hysteresis is closely coupled with a hysteresis in oxygen content. The latter is in turn attributed to the properties of the PCT-diagram of the involved three-phase system; gas phase O₂ and the two solid phases, Pd and PdO_x. The two main ingredients in the mechanism are: (i) the so-called absorption and decomposition plateau pressures for the O₂-Pd-PdO _x system are different, i.e., show a hysteresis, (ii) these pressures are not independent ofx, but increase with increasing oxygen content. Both features are deviations from the ideal three-phase system and are frequently observed for H₂-metalmetal hydride systems.     

Studies of arginine-arene interactions through synthesis and evaluation of a series of galectin-binding aromatic lactose esters

Aromatic lactose 2-O-esters were synthesized and used to probe arene-arginine interactions with the galectin family of proteins. They were found to be low microM inhibitors of galectin-1, -3, and -9N-terminal domain and moderate inhibitors of galectin-7, but not inhibitors of galectin-8N-terminal, which lacks an arginine residue close to the critical, esterified lactose 2-O-position. Molecular modeling of galectins in complex with aromatic lactose 2-O-esters, as well as binding studies with a galectin-3 R186S mutant, confirmed that the inhibitory efficiency of the lactose 2-O-esters was due to the formation of strong interactions between the aromatic ester moieties and the arginine guanidinium groups of galectin-1 and -3. An important common feature shared by galectin-1 and -3 was that the arginines formed in-plane ion pairs with two side-chain carboxylates, which resulted in extended planar pi-electron surfaces that did not require solvation by water; these surfaces were ideal for stacking with aromatic moieties of the ligands. The results provide a basis for the design of lectin inhibitors and drugs that exploit interactions with arginine side-chains via aromatic moieties, which are involved in intramolecular protein salt bridges.