Inaccuracies in helium isotope measurements

The results of mass-spectrometric measurements of the helium isotope content in aluminum samples obtained at different times and under different conditions and also of the helium isotope content in iron-manganese concretions are presented. The measurement accuracy of the helium isotope content in aluminum depends on various measuring-technique-related factors: vacuum conditions, gas inleakage and escape in the mass analyzer and/or gas extraction system, the device memory effect as applied to any of the helium isotopes, preparation accuracy of reference samples, their persistence, etc. In the given case, the statistical processing of measurement data with different criteria indicates that the variances diverge considerably but does not discover the sources of divergence. To measure the helium isotope content in iron-manganese concretions, a powdered sample is placed in a metallic capsule, which is then thrown into a heated crucible in vacuum, where gases to be tested liberate. Our statistical analysis of measuring data confirms the supposition that, if the capsule is made of low-melting aluminum and the capsule with a fine powder is thrown into a heated crucible, the variance grows and measuring data are underestimated. This seems to be associated with rapid melting of the capsule, emission of fine particles of the sample out of the hot zone of the reactor, and their loss. When the capsule is made of nickel, a much higher melting material than aluminum, it does not melt and the test material is not ejected from the hot zone. That is what follows from the results of the statistical analysis in our opinion.     

Stable isotope geochemistry of calcrete nodules and septarian concretions in a Quaternary 'red clay' paleovertisol from Hungary

Calcrete nodules and concretions in unusually large amounts are embedded in the Quaternary clay-rich (Vertisol-type) 'red clay' soil-sedimentary complex at the pediment of the Mátra Mountains (Hungary). Stable isotope signatures were studied in nodules and septarian concretions, uncommon due to their several millimeter sized calcite crystals filling voids and fractures, to reveal their origin. The isotope composition of calcrete covers a wide range: delta18O=-5.9 to-10.4 per thousand and delta13C=-8.9 to-12.3 per thousand (vs. V-PDB). Isotope compositions support pedogenic (sensu stricto) and/or shallow groundwater origin for the calcrete nodules and concretions, the role of 'evolved' (isotopically modified) groundwaters in the formation of secondary carbonate was possibly subordinate. Late-stage, large, Mn-rich euhedral calcite crystals in concretions have the lowest delta13C values, which are interpreted as a result of larger contribution of isotopically light organic carbon due to decomposition of organic matter under reducing conditions. Precipitation of late calcite crystals in concretions occurred in early diagenetic environment after shallow burial of the 'red clay' paleovertisol.     

Quantitative estimation of the microstructural inhomogeneity of biological fluid facies

The types of microstructural inhomogeneity of biofluid facies are considered. Approaches to the systematization and quantitative analysis of the structural inhomogeneity are described. An algorithm for estimating the microstructural inhomogeneity of blood serum is presented for a system of concretions.     

The midgut of Cephalotes ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae): Ultrastructure of the epithelium and symbiotic bacteria

The ultrastructural analysis of the midgut of Cephalotes atratus, C. clypeatus, and C. pusillus reveled that the midgut epithelium lays on a basal lamina and is composed basically of three cell types: digestive cells, regenerative cells, and goblet cells. In these ants, the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in addition to producing digestive enzymes, is involved in the formation of concretions and ion storage in specialized vacuoles present in the midgut. These concretions are spherocrystals and may contribute to stabilize the pH and to maintain symbiotic bacteria found between microvilli. The ultrastructure analysis of these bacteria revealed the presence of a double envelope typical of gram-negative bacteria. For the three species examined, the ultrastructure similarities are conspicuous, suggesting that this may be the pattern for the genus Cephalotes. Details of the relationship between bacteria and microvilli were examined.     

An57Fe Mössbauer study of iron concretions in weathered,nickeliferous Cuban crust

A study of iron concretions of the highest stratum in cuban weathering crust using⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been performed. Goethite, hematite and maghemite are reported as main phases of these concretions. The density distribution function of the effective magnetic field in the Fe nuclei,p(H _n) showed a greater reduction of the effective magnetic field in the Fe nuclei of goethite than in the hematite ones and a broadening of Mössbauer lines for goethite spectrum as a consequence of a greater influence of relaxation effects.     

Mössbauer study of iron ore from El Hobo,Huila, Colombia

Iron ore from the El Hobo municipality located in the Huila department in Colombia (2^°35^′7^″N 75^°13^′27^″E) was studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The material was quite inhomogeneous, consisting of light brown and dark brown concretions of up to about a centimeter in size, and a sandy fraction. Mössbauer spectra at ambient temperature and at 4.2 K were taken of the two kinds of concretions and the sandy fraction. The concretions contain iron mainly as goethite with only a few percent of hematite. The sandy fraction contains goethite and hematite in roughly equal amounts and a minor fraction of divalent iron that splits magnetically at 4.2 K and may be an impure kind of siderite.     

Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity in Malpighian tubules of Triatoma infestans Klug

Mg(2+)-dependent ATPases were investigated in Malpighian tubules of the blood-sucking insect, Triatoma infestans, with cytochemical procedures for light and electron microscopy. The aim was to establish patterns of enzyme occurrence in the blood-sucking insect under control rearing conditions for further comparisons with animals subjected to the action of stress factors. Enzyme activity was found in laminated "concretions" present in distal cells, in edges of urate crystals at the lumen of the proximal region of tubules, in the basement membrane of proximal cells, and variously distributed in plasmalemma invaginations of both distal and proximal cells. Presence of ATPases in the "concretions" and urate crystals is presumed to be due to engulfment of other ATPase-containing components during formation of these structures. Cytochemical reactivity in the basement membrane and plasmalemma invaginations is assumed to be involved with active transport of waste molecules from and to hemolymph and differs as a function of the Malpighian tubule region. This paper provides a basic understanding of the enzyme occurrence in the blood sucking insects, and can be used as a pattern for comparative means of the staining patterns among Triatominae species.     

Fat body of Prorhinotermes simplex (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): ultrastructure, inter-caste differences and lipid composition

Ultrastructure of the fat body was studied in following castes and developmental stages of Prorhinotermes simplex: larvae of the first and the second instar, pseudergates, presoldiers, soldiers, nymphs, imagoes and mature ergatoid neotenic reproductives of both sexes. Fat body always consists of two principal cell types: adipocytes and urocytes. Adipocytes are characterized by a presence of large amounts of storage substances, namely lipid droplets, glycogen rosettes and proteins in the form of either biocrystals or vacuoles. Proportion of these components strongly varies during ontogeny. Adipocytes are equipped by a large central vacuole in which lipid droplets may resolve. Cytoplasm of urocytes contain glycogen rosettes and spherical or irregular concretions, other organelles are rare. Only adipocytes change their inner structure in the course of ontogeny: amount of glycogen decreases during the postembryonic development, it is the major kind of inclusion in the larvae but lacks in nymphs and imagoes; opposite trend is performed by lipids. The changes in protein content are less obvious but are explained and discussed. The total amount of triacylglycerols (TAGs) was found to be roughly 100microg in a pseudergate, 250microg in a nymph, and 30microg in a soldier. The most abundant fatty acids in TAGs are oleic (O), stearic (S), palmitic (P) and linoleic (L) acid. TAGs form a complex mixture with OOO, OPO, OLO and OOS being the most abundant isomers. Only negligible differences exist among the castes.     

Possibilities of Using Combined Optical and AFM Investigations of Albumin

The results of a complex study of 10% aqueous solution of human serum albumin using methods of optical and atomic force microscopy have been presented. The fine structure of main structures of albumin facies (vitreous matrix and concretions) has been revealed and some observed structural effects have been interpreted from the viewpoint of polymer materials science.

     

三种浙产特色药材炮制前后微量元素与重金属的含量研究

用微波消解-电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)同时测定了3种浙产特色药材炮制前后Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Cd, Pb的含量。该方法的加样回收率在95.2％～106.3％之间,相对标准偏差RSD在0.69％～2.34％之间。试验结果显示,3种药材炮制前后对人体有益的微量元素Mn, Fe, Zn的含量均较高;而有害重金属元素Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, As的含量均低于《中国药典》的限量标准,炮制加工均使其中的微量元素及重金属含量有所变化,不同的炮制方法在个别元素含量上存在差异。炮制后除Pb的含量明显下降,Cu, As, Cd基本不变外,其他元素的含量均有不同程度的增加,这种差异可能与药材的炮制方法有关。该测定结果为进一步探讨3种浙产特色药材的炮制方法与其功效的相关性提供了科学依据。     

Determination of uranium contents in rock samples from Kakul phosphate deposit, Abbotabad (Pakistan), using fission-track technique

Some times high uranium contents are present in the phosphate rocks used for the manufacturing of fertilizer. In view of the harmful effects on human health due to the processing and use of such fertilizers in agriculture, it is important to analyse phosphate rocks for uranium content determination. Ten representative rock samples from Kakul phosphate deposit exposed near Abbotabad, Pakistan which are used for the manufacturing of fertilizers were studied for uranium content determination with the help of fission track and neutron activation analysis techniques. Each sample was split into three parts. The first and second parts (solid slabs and pellets) were subjected to fission track analysis, while the third part was analysed using neutron activation analysis technique for comparison. On the average a uranium content of 37 ppm was found in the phosphate rocks. The results of uranium content determinations with the help of fission track and neutron activation analysis techniques show a remarked resemblance up to ±0.1%. This indicates that the fission track analysis technique of uranium content determination is a reliable method inspite of its simplicity. The uranium content in the Kakul deposits is within the permissible limit allowed for the mining and processing of the phosphate rocks for the manufacturing of fertilizers.     

QRDA: Quantum Representation of Digital Audio

Multimedia refers to content that uses a combination of different content forms. It includes two main medias: image and audio. However, by contrast with the rapid development of quantum image processing, quantum audio almost never been studied. In order to change this status, a quantum representation of digital audio (QRDA) is proposed in this paper to present quantum audio. QRDA uses two entangled qubit sequences to store the audio amplitude and time information. The two qubit sequences are both in basis state: |0〉 and |1〉. The QRDA audio preparation from initial state |0〉 is given to store an audio in quantum computers. Then some exemplary quantum audio processing operations are performed to indicate QRDA’s usability.     

Identification and spectra–structure determination of soil minerals: Raman study supported by IR spectroscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction

Raman and IR spectroscopy were used for the characterization of several minerals in morphologically similar vertisol sequences from Kiževak (Serbia). It helped us to establish the surface layer transition going from calcic vertisols (containing gypsum and calcite) to calcimagnesic vertisols (containing aragonite, magnesium‐calcite and dolomite) derived from peridotite and serpentinite. The observed band positions are found to be solely characteristic for each carbonate mineral and are used to discuss the main structural features of carbonates and sulfates present in the studied soil. It was found that the dolomite, calcite and aragonite concretions are present in the deepest layer of the soil, whereas the gypsum is found in the topsoil. The identification was confirmed of the carbonates having calcite and aragonite structure, and the representative from the sulfate group (gypsum) was confirmed by X‐ray powder diffraction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution of selected elements in atherosclerotic plaques of apoE/LDLR‐double knockout mice assessed by synchrotron radiation‐induced micro‐XRF spectrometry

Apolipoprotein E and LDL receptor double‐knockout (apoE/LDLR^?/?) mice represent a reliable experimental model of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to examine the elemental content of atherosclerotic plaques using synchrotron radiation‐induced micro x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Numerous essential and trace elements were detected in cross‐sections of aortic roots collected from 6‐month‐old apoE/LDLR^?/? mice fed with chow diet. Two‐dimensional maps of the elemental distribution and point recordings were compared with images of consecutive sections stained histologically, allowing precise localization of the analyzed elements in morphologically defined areas of aortic lesion. The sulphur was detected in areas occupied by macrophages and smooth muscle cells. Iron was observed in high concentrations in cardiac and smooth muscle, blood clots and in adjacent coronary vessels. Lower concentrations of iron were seen in the regions of plaques rich in macrophages and lipids. Copper was detected in higher amounts only in cardiac muscle and its concentration in plaques was very low. There was a quite high content of calcium in aortic plaque areas containing lipids and macrophages. Much higher concentrations of calcium were observed in mineral deposits, mostly located in the aortic media. Similar distribution was also characteristic for phosphorus. Zinc was observed in moderately low concentrations in atheromas. Higher content of zinc was seen in smooth musculature, in cardiac muscle and in mineral concretions. The presented results provide a substantial morphological and physicochemical background for further investigations aiming to evaluate pharmacological and dietary treatment of atherosclerosis in an apoE/LDLR^?/? mouse model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

语言声学与内容理解研究进展

本文对语言声学与内容理解研究的最新进展进行综述。首先介绍人类的言语的产生、感知以及声学分析方面的进展,接着分别介绍采用计算机来对语音中的各种信息进行抽取(包括语音、说话人和语种识别)和内容分析与理解(包括文档内容分析和理解与对话)的最新成果,最后对语言声学与内容理解的研究进行了总结和展望。     

多孔介质体干燥过程中含水率分布的可视化研究

工业中应用广泛的食品干燥等干燥现象,多是含水多孔介质体的干燥。本文利用可视化实验,研究了含水多孔介质体的干燥现象。并利用实验拍摄的数字图像进行分析和含水率计算,提出干燥过程中含水率分布图像化的方法,并讨论了将此图像化方法应用于含水多孔介质体干燥的可行性。     

微分算法的艾比湖湿地自然保护区土壤有机质多光谱建模

针对以往利用高光谱数据来来反演土壤有机质（SOM）的可行性与可靠性,结合微分处理对光谱数据信息提取的高效性,提出了直接对多光谱遥感影像进行微分处理就可得出SOM建模研究,旨在为今后SOM速测提供参考。采用Landsat 8_OLI 多光谱遥感影像数据,对多光谱遥感影像进行辐射定标、几何校正、大气校正、镶嵌和裁剪,运用IDL软件对影像进行一阶微分处理和二阶微分处理,发现一阶微分图像能够更好地表达地物的真实情况,更好地区别水体与土壤。原始遥感影像包含大量的信息其中还包括噪声,通过微分处理后的遥感影像剔出了原始影像中反射率值突兀变化的部分。在研究区采用五点法采集土壤样品。室内实验用重铬酸钾氧化-容量法测得SOM数据。多光谱数据结合地面实测SOM数据,分析SOM与多光谱数据反射率的关系,发现一阶微分处理后的遥感数据与SOM含量的相关性存在敏感波段,说明一阶微分处理可以将原始遥感图像数据在多光谱范围内的一些隐含的土壤有机质信息释放出来。选取相关性高的数据建立基于原始遥感数据、一阶微分数据、二阶微分数据的单波段多光谱线性模型和多波段多光谱线性模型,选取最优模型来估算和反演土壤有机质含量。结论如下：（1）通过对原始影像进行微分处理发现,微分处理后的影像变化明显,一阶微分处理的影像噪声降低,更加突出了影像中土壤有机质隐藏的信息。二阶微分处理的影像抑制了土壤有机质信息。（2）原始遥感影像各波段数据对土壤有机质含量的相关性较低,一阶微分处理后的遥感影像数据反映出土壤有机质敏感波段即部分波段数据相关性明显高于原始数据,二阶微分处理后的遥感影像各波段数据对土壤有机质含量的相关性较弱。（3）多波段建模效果要优于单波段建模;一阶微分多波段模型预测精度最优,其模型的决定系数和模型拟合的决定系数分别为0.898和0.854,该模型对估算研究区内的SOM含量效果较好;综合比较了单波段模型和多波段模型的拟合精度,发现无论在单波段模型还是多波段模型一阶微分处理后的模型都具有更好的预测能力。（4）基于一阶微分多波段模型对研究区SOM进行反演,反演结果与实际情况相符合,对干旱区SOM含量制图提供了切实可行的方法和参考。     

Laser processing integrated into machine tools — design,applications, economy

In the last few years, lasers have found new applications in production engineering as tools for surface treatment, cutting, welding, drilling and marking. So far, the laser has mainly been used in special laser processing machines (laser-only) directly integrated into a production line or serving as stand-alone stations in the workshop. By combining conventional metal cutting technologies with laser processes in one machine, complete processing of a workpiece with different technologies in one setting can be realized. The main advantages are a reduction of the material flow between the production machines, which leads to a reduction in processing time and logistics, and an enhancement of manufacturing quality due to the processing in one setting. In addition to this approach, new processing technologies such as laser-assisted machining are possible.Applications of laser caving, hardening, welding and drilling of production parts in combination with the cutting process in one setting have been investigated with the aim of adapting these technologies to the characteristics of the machines and the typical parts spectra. Furthermore, various technical solutions for the integration of lasers into milling centres and lathes have been elaborated. In both situations the laser tool is handled like a standard tool and can be exchanged automatically. The main results will be reported, together with a brief discussion of the economic aspects of laser processing integrated into machine tools.This article is based on an invited paper presented at LANE '94, Erlangen, 12–14 October 1994.     

负二进制编码小波变换

提出了种新的数学编码方法来计算小波变换，并利用非相干光学相关器进行实验，结果与理论分析相符。这种算法原理简单。，操作方便且精度可望达到极高。     

Effects of image processing on the noise properties of confocal images

The effects on the noise content of producing a projection from a stack of confocal images are investigated. Processing by retaining either the mean or peak pixel value is found to reduce noise, with the former giving more noise reduction. Gaussian noise, shot noise and speckle are considered. The effects of processing on the perception of the images are discussed.