Fast maximum likelihood algorithm for localization of fluorescent molecules

A common task in microscopy is to fit an image of a fluorescent probe to a point spread function (PSF) in order to estimate the position of the probe. The PSF is often approximated as a Gaussian for mathematical simplicity. We show that the separable property of the Gaussian PSF enables a reduction of computational time from O(L2) to O(L), where L is the width (in pixels) of the image. When tested on realistic simulated data, our algorithm is able to localize the probes with precision close to the Cramér-Rao lower bound.     

Electrochemically switchable polymerization from surface-anchored molecular catalysts

Redox-switchable polymerizations of lactide and epoxides were extended to the solid state by anchoring an iron-based polymerization catalyst to TiO₂ nanoparticles. The reactivity of the molecular complexes and their redox-switching characteristics were maintained in the solid-state. These properties resulted in surface-initiated polymerization reactions that produced polymer brushes whose chemical composition is dictated by the oxidation state of the iron-based complex. Depositing the catalyst-functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles on fluorine-doped tin oxide resulted in an electrically addressable surface that could be used to demonstrate spatial control in redox-switchable polymerization reactions. By using a substrate that contained two electrically isolated domains wherein one domain was exposed to an oxidizing potential, patterns of surface-bound polyesters and polyethers were accessible through sequential application of lactide and cyclohexene oxide. The differentially functionalized surfaces demonstrated distinct physical properties that illustrated the promise for using the method to pattern surfaces with multiple, chemically distinct polymer brushes.

Patterns of multiple polymer brushes on surfaces are obtained through application of an electrical potential to a surface functionalized with redox-switchable polymerization catalysts.     

Ramanujan-type congruences for broken 2-diamond partitions modulo 3

The notion of broken k-diamond partitions was introduced by Andrews and Paule.Let△k(n)denote the number of broken k-diamond partitions of n.Andrews and Paule also posed three conjectures on the congruences of△2(n)modulo 2,5 and 25.Hirschhorn and Sellers proved the conjectures for modulo 2,and Chan proved the two cases of modulo 5.For the case of modulo 3,Radu and Sellers obtained an infinite family of congruences for△2(n).In this paper,we obtain two infinite families of congruences for△2(n)modulo 3 based on a formula of Radu and Sellers,a 3-dissection formula of the generating function of triangular number due to Berndt,and the properties of the U-operator,the V-operator,the Hecke operator and the Hecke eigenform.For example,we find that△2(243n+142)≡△2(243n+223)≡0(mod 3).The infinite family of Radu and Sellers and the two infinite families derived in this paper have two congruences in common,namely,△2(27n+16)≡△2(27n+25)≡0(mod 3).     

Incidence of supraglottic activity in males and females: a preliminary report

Supraglottic activity was rated from flexible endoscopic video recordings of subjects with normal laryngeal structure and function as they sustained vowels and repeated syllables and sentences. Judges rated these recordings for false vocal fold (FVF) adduction and anterior-to-posterior (A-P) compression at the initiation of the speech task, throughout the whole speech task (static supraglottic activity), and as brief individual adductions within a speech task (dynamic supraglottic activity). Significant differences in A-P (p < 0.0003) and FVF (p < 0.0000001) compression were found between tasks. Dynamic FVF activity was associated with glottal stops. Static A-P and FVF activities were present in males significantly more (p < 0.0001) than females. FVF activity associated with speech initiation was found in females significantly more (p = 0.0256) than males. Supraglottic activity plays a role in normal speech production, and should not necessarily be considered suggestive of a voice use pattern with excessive muscle tension.     

Preparation and performance of a perovskite-type tubular membrane for the partial oxidation of methane

Thin-walled (∼200 μm) tubular membranes intended for the catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas have been manufactured from La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ (LSCF) powders using viscous plastic processing technology. The perovskite-type powders were synthesised using various conventional and novel techniques. The tubes have been characterised using a custom-built gas analysis rig with on-line mass spectrometry. Porosity levels of the membranes were found to be very low (<0.5%) as calculated using a mass spectrometry leakage test. This was confirmed by microstructural analysis of polished cross-sections using SEM. The spontaneous oxygen flux across the tubular membranes was determined as a function of temperature. Oxygen permeation rates were found to range from 0.1 to 0.3 μmol cm⁻²s⁻¹ at 1273 K. Paper presented at the 9th EuroConference on Ionics, Ixia, Rhodes, Greece, Sept. 15 – 21, 2002.