A Color Appearance Model Applicable in Mesopic Vision

We propose a color vision model that can be used to predict color appearance in mesopic vision as well as photopic and scotopic vision. It is based on a two-stage model which consists of the cone and opponent stages and it assumes rod intrusion at the opponent stage. The model has the following features to describe the color appearance in mesopic vision. First, it includes a gradual and nonlinear shift in spectral luminous efficiency from V (LD) to V (LD) to cope with the spectral sensitivity difference between photopic and scotopic vision and the nonlinearity of rod influence on the luminance channel. Second, the model assumes decrease of the chromatic component with decreasing illuminance to explain the reduction of saturation at low illuminance levels. Third, it assumes that red/green and yellow/blue components change with illuminance levels independently, thus explaining hue shifts with decreasing illuminance. We applied the model for color appearance simulation of natural scenes in a mesopic visual environment.     

Water vapor adsorption onto activated carbons prepared from cattle manure compost (CMC)

Activated carbons were prepared from cattle manure compost (CMC) using zinc chloride activation. The structural and surface chemical characteristics of CMC-based activated carbons were determined by N₂ adsorption-desorption and Boehm titration, respectively. The water vapor adsorption properties of the prepared activated carbons with various pore structure and surface nature were examined, and the mechanism of water adsorbed onto activated carbon was also discussed. The results show that the adsorption of water vapor on carbons begins at specific active sites at low relative humidity (RH), followed by micropore filling at medium RH through the formation of pentamer cluster of water molecules in the narrow micropores. The water vapor adsorption capacity of activated carbon is predominantly dependent on its pore volume and surface area. Although capillary condensation is not the mechanism for water adsorption onto activated carbon, water can adsorb on narrow mesopore to some extent.     

Detection and grading for esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver damage: comparison of gadolinium-enhanced and unenhanced steady-state coherent MR images

The purpose of this study was to compare observer interpreted steady-state coherent coronal images and gadolinium-enhanced axial images in terms of the detection and grading of esophageal varices. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed within 2 weeks in 90 patients with chronic liver damage, including 55 with untreated esophageal varices, for periodic screening purposes. Two blinded readers retrospectively reviewed T1- and T2-weighted images with gadolinium-enhanced (gadolinium image set) and steady-state coherent (coherent image set) images. Sensitivity for the detection of esophageal varices was higher (P<.001) in the gadolinium image set (76%) than in the coherent image set (35%); on the other hand, specificity was higher (P<.001) in the coherent image set (91%) than in the gadolinium image set (66%). Furthermore, area under the ROC curve was higher for the gadolinium image set (Az=0.823) than the coherent image set (Az=0.761) (P=.48). Moderate and weak positive correlations with endoscopic grades were found for the gadolinium image (r=0.48, P<.01) and coherent image sets (r=0.34, P=.018). The addition of steady-state coherent imaging to the current routine liver imaging protocol did not improve the detection or grading of esophageal varices, whereas gadolinium-enhanced imaging was found to be potentially valuable. Nevertheless, endoscopy was confirmed to be mandatory in patients with esophageal varices suspected by MRI of the liver.     

Achievement of a 920-MHz high resolution NMR

We have developed a 920-MHz NMR system and performed the proton NMR measurement of H(2)O and ethylbenzene using the superconducting magnet operating at 21.6 T (920 MHz for proton), which is the highest field produced by a superconducting NMR magnet in the persistent mode. From the NMR measurements, it is verified that both homogeneity and stability of the magnet have a specification sufficient for a high resolution NMR.     

Exceptional Laurent biorthogonal polynomials through spectral transformations of generalized eigenvalue problems

A formulation is given for the spectral transformation of the generalized eigenvalue problem through the decomposition of the second-order differential operators. This allows us to construct some Laurent biorthogonal polynomial systems with gaps in the degree of the polynomial sequence. These correspond to an exceptional-type extension of the orthogonal polynomials, as an extension of the Laurent biorthogonal polynomials. Specifically, we construct the exceptional extension of the Hendriksen–van Rossum polynomials, which are biorthogonal analogs of the classical orthogonal polynomials. Similar to the cases of exceptional extensions of classical orthogonal polynomials, both state-deletion and state-addition occur.     

Birefringent side-hole fiber for use in strain sensor

Novel birefringent single-mode fibers are fabricated with a vacant hole on either side of the central elliptical core, referred to as side-hole fiber, and their intrinsic and tension-induced modal birefringences are measured to know their characteristic properties for the purpose of making a strain sensor. Five sampled side-hole fibers are prepared for measurements. The sensitivity of the strain sensor is primarily determined by two parameters, tension-induced and intrinsic modal birefringences. Tension-induced modal birefringence is controllable by optimal arrangement of the size and location of the side-holes in the cross-section of the fiber. A sensitivity diagram for designating and fabricating side-hole fibers is presented.     

Nanoparticles in Emissions and Atmospheric Environment: Now and Future

Journal of Nanoparticle Research -     

Measurement on Spot Size Dependence of Dense WDM Dielectric Multilayer Filters

We present the spot size dependence of dielectric multilayer filters for use in dense WDM systems. We found large dependences of filter performances on the spot size and the incident angle of input light, which should be important for miniaturizing multi-channel add/drop filters.     

Intersecting brane models and F-theory in six dimensions

We analyze six-dimensional supergravity theories coming from intersecting brane models on the toroidal orbifold T⁴/_Z2$T^4/{\mathbb{Z}}_2$. We use recently developed tools for mapping general 6D supergravity theories to F-theory to identify F-theory constructions dual to the intersecting brane models. The F-theory picture illuminates several aspects of these models. In particular, we have some new insight into the matter spectrum on intersecting branes, and analyze gauge group enhancement as branes approach orbifold points. These novel features of intersecting brane models are also relevant in four dimensions, and are confirmed in 6D using more standard Chan–Paton methods.