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Keywords
- avalanche (1)
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of moving organs requires synchronization with physiological motion or flow, which dictate the viable window for data acquisition. To meet this challenge, this study proposes an acoustic gating device (ACG) that employs acquisition and processing of acoustic signals for synchronization while providing MRI compatibility, immunity to interferences with electro-magnetic and acoustic fields and suitability for MRI at high magnetic field strengths. The applicability and robustness of the acoustic gating approach is examined in a pilot study, where it substitutes conventional ECG-gating for cardiovascular MR. The merits and limitations of the ACG approach are discussed. Implications for MR imaging in the presence of physiological motion are considered including synchronization with other structure- or motion borne sounds.
The sandfish (Scincus scincus) is a lizard having the remarkable ability to move through desert sand for significant distances. It is well adapted to living in loose sand by virtue of a combination of morphological and behavioural specializations. We investigated the bodyform of the sandfish using 3D-laserscanning and explored its locomotion in loose desert sand using fast nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. The sandfish exhibits an in-plane meandering motion with a frequency of about 3 Hz and an amplitude of about half its body length accompanied by swimming-like (or trotting) movements of its limbs. No torsion of the body was observed, a movement required for a digging-behaviour. Simple calculations based on the Janssen model for granular material related to our findings on bodyform and locomotor behaviour render a local decompaction of the sand surrounding the moving sandfish very likely. Thus the sand locally behaves as a viscous fluid and not as a solid material. In this fluidised sand the sandfish is able to “swim” using its limbs.
Rationale: Previous studies [Topolnik et al., Cereb Cortex 2003; 13: 883; Schindler et al., Brain 2007; 130: 65] indicate that the termination of focal onset seizures may be causally related to an increase of global neuronal correlation during the second half of the seizures. This increase was observed to occur earlier in complex partial seizures than in secondarily generalized seizures. We here address the question whether such an increase of neuronal correlation prior to seizure end is indeed a global phenomenon, involving both hemispheres or whether there are side-specific differences. Methods: We analyzed 20 focal onset seizures (10 complex partial, 10 secondarily generalized seizures) recorded in 13 patients who underwent presurgical evaluation of focal epilepsies of different origin. EEG was recorded intracranially from bilaterally implanted subdural strip and intrahippocampal depth electrodes. Utilizing a moving window approach, we investigated the evolution of the maximum cross correlation for all channel combinations during seizures. For each moving window the mean value of the maximum cross correlation (MCC) between all electrode contacts was computed separately for each hemisphere. After normalization of seizure durations, MCC values of the ipsi- and contralateral hemisphere for all seizures were determined. Results: We observed that the MCC of the contralateral hemisphere in complex partial seizures increased during the first half of the seizure, whereas, for the same time interval, the MCC of the ipsilateral hemisphere even declined below the level of the pre-seizure period. In contrast, no significant differences between both hemispheres could be observed for secondarily generalized seizures where both hemispheres showed a simultaneous increase of MCC during the second half of the seizures. The level of MCC for the contralateral hemisphere was higher for complex partial seizures than for secondarily generalized seizures during the first half of the seizure. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there are indeed lateralized differences in the evolution of global neuronal correlation during complex partial and secondarily generalized seizures. The observed contralateral increase of neuronal correlation during complex partial seizures might indicate an emerging self-organizing mechanism for preventing the spread of seizure activity.
Due to the interfering effects of acetic acid in many fermentation processes, a gas-diffusion technique was developed for the online determination of acetic acid. The measurements were accomplished with a flow diffusion analysis (FDA) unit from the TRACE Analytics GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany. The diffusion analysis is based on the UV-absorbance of acetic acid at 205 nm. The measurement was achieved by the separation of an acceptor and a carrier stream (acidified fermentation broth) using a gas permeable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, whereby broth constituents that would otherwise disturb the UV-measurement of acetic acid, are held back efficiently. Merely, the fermentation by-products, e.g. formic acid, is capable of diffusing through the membrane. While formic acid can disturb the measurement, carbon dioxide does not absorb at 205 nm. The method operates with time-dependent sample enrichment. During the analysis, a small volume of the acceptor stream is stopped for a defined time interval in the acceptor chamber. During this period, the gaseous acetic acid diffuses through the membrane and is enriched in the acceptor chamber. Subsequently after the enrichment, the acceptor stream flows through a UV-detector. The intensity of the signal is proportional to the acetic acid concentration. Online measurements in bioreactors via a sterile filtration probe have been accomplished. A linear calibration in the range of 0.5–5.0 g/L acetic acid with a relative standard deviation of <5 % was obtained. A sampling rate of 8 samples per hour was possible. The system was applied for the determination of acetic acid in E. coli fermentation broth. The instrument is easy to clean, very user-friendly and does not require any toxic or expensive reagents.
Investigation of TRPV1 loss-of-function phenotypes in transgenic shRNA expressing and knockout mice
(2008)
Tool supported requirements analysis for the user centered development of mobile enterprise software
(2008)
A user centered development method has proved satisfactory for the development of mobile enterprise software. To make use of this method, detailed information about the user and the place where the user interacts with his mobile device is required. This article describes how both can be modeled by a stereotypical and conceptual extended UML extension. Finally, a software tool is presented that supports the developed UML extension.
Optimization of the reaeration potential on embankment stepped spillways in skimming flow regime
(2008)
Solar tower power plants
(2008)
Enterprise SOA Roadmap
(2008)
Time-of-flight (ToF) sensors have become an alternative to conventional distance sensing techniques like laser scanners or image based stereo. ToF sensors provide full range distance information at high frame-rates and thus have a significant impact onto current research in areas like online object recognition, collision prevention or scene reconstruction. However, ToF cameras like the photonic mixer device (PMD) still exhibit a number of challenges regarding static and dynamic effects, e.g. systematic distance errors and motion artefacts, respectively. Sensor calibration techniques reducing static system errors have been proposed and show promising results. However, current calibration techniques in general need a large set of reference data in order to determine the corresponding parameters for the calibration model. This paper introduces a new calibration approach which combines different demodulation techniques for the ToF- camera 's reference signal. Examples show, that the resulting combined demodulation technique yields improved distance values based on only two required reference data sets.
Beyond ClearPET: Next Aims
(2008)
The CRYSTAL CLEAR collaboration, in short CCC, is a consortium of 12 academic institutions, mainly from Europe, joining efforts in the area of developing instrumentation for nuclear medicine and medical imaging. In the framework of the CCC a high performance small animal PET system, called ClearPET, was developed by using new technologies in electronics and crystals in a phoswich arrangement combining two types of lutetium- based scintillator materials: LSO:Ce and LuYAP:Ce. Our next aim will be the development of hybrid image systems. Hybrid MR-PET imaging has many unique advantages for brain research. This has sparked a new research line within CCC for the development of novel MR-PET compatible technologies. MRI is not as sensitive as PET but PET has poorer spatial resolution than MRI. Two major advantages of PET are sensitivity and its ability to acquire metabolic information. To assess these innovations, the development of a 9.4T hybrid animal MR-PET scanner is proposed based on an existing 9.4T MR scanner that will be adapted to enable simultaneous acquisition of MR and PET data using cutting- edge technology for both MR and PET.
Plant growth and transport processes are highly dynamic. They are characterized by plant-internal control processes and by strong interactions with the spatially and temporally varying environment. Analysis of structure- function relations of growth and transport in plants will strongly benefit from the development of non-invasive techniques. PlanTIS (Plant Tomographic Imaging System) is designed for non-destructive 3D-imaging of positron emitting radiotracers. It will permit functional analysis of the dynamics of carbon distribution in plants including bulky organs. It will be applicable for screening transport properties of plants to evaluate e.g. temperature adaptation of genetically modified plants. PlanTIS is a PET scanner dedicated to monitor the dynamics of the 11C distribution within a plant while or after assimilation of 11CO2. Front end electronics and data acquisition architecture of the scanner are based on the ClearPETTM system [1]. Four detector modules form one of two opposing detector blocks. Optionally, a hardware coincidence detection between the blocks can be applied. In general the scan duration is rather long (~ 1 hour) compared to the decay time of 11C (20 min). As a result the count rates can vary over a wide range and accurate dead time correction is necessary.
Numerical models have become an essential part of snow avalanche engineering. Recent
advances in understanding the rheology of flowing snow and the mechanics of entrainment and
deposition have made numerical models more reliable. Coupled with field observations and historical
records, they are especially helpful in understanding avalanche flow in complex terrain. However, the
application of numerical models poses several new challenges to avalanche engineers. A detailed
understanding of the avalanche phenomena is required to specify initial conditions (release zone
dimensions and snowcover entrainment rates) as well as the friction parameters, which are no longer
based on empirical back-calculations, rather terrain roughness, vegetation and snow properties. In this
paper we discuss these problems by presenting the computer model RAMMS, which was specially
designed by the SLF as a practical tool for avalanche engineers. RAMMS solves the depth-averaged
equations governing avalanche flow with first and second-order numerical solution schemes. A
tremendous effort has been invested in the implementation of advanced input and output features.
Simulation results are therefore clearly and easily visualized to simplify their interpretation. More
importantly, RAMMS has been applied to a series of well-documented avalanches to gauge model
performance. In this paper we present the governing differential equations, highlight some of the input
and output features of RAMMS and then discuss the simulation of the Gatschiefer avalanche that
occurred in April 2008, near Klosters/Monbiel, Switzerland.
Usability engineering
(2008)