193 research outputs found
An image reconstruction algorithm based on the semiparametric model for electrical capacitance tomography
AbstractElectrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is considered as a promising tomography technology, and exactly reconstructing the original objects is highly desirable in real applications. In this paper, a generalized image reconstruction model that simultaneously considers the inaccurate property in the measured capacitance data and the linearization approximation error is presented. A generalized objective function, which has been developed using a combinational M-estimation and an extended stabilizing item, is proposed. The objective function unifies six estimation methods into a concise formula, where different estimation methods can be easily obtained by selecting different parameters. The homotopy method that integrates the beneficial advantages of the alternant iteration scheme is employed to solve the proposed objective function. Numerical simulations are implemented to evaluate the numerical performances and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, and the numerical results reveal that the proposed algorithm is efficient and overcomes the numerical instability in the process of ECT image reconstruction. For the reconstructed objects in this paper, a dramatic improvement in accuracy and spatial resolution can be achieved, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is a promising candidate for solving ECT inverse problems
Aerosol particles at a high-altitude site on the Southeast Tibetan Plateau, China: Implications for pollution transport from South Asia
Bulk aerosol samples were collected from 16 July 2008 to 26 July 2009 at Lulang, a high-altitude (>3300m above sea level) site on the southeast Tibetan Plateau (TP); objectives were to determine chemical characteristics of the aerosol and identify its major sources. We report aerosol (total suspended particulate, TSP) mass levels and the concentrations of selected elements, carbonaceous species, and water-soluble inorganic ions. Significant buildup of aerosol mass and chemical species (organic carbon, element carbon, nitrate, and sulfate) occurred during the premonsoon, while lower concentrations were observed during the monsoon. Seasonal variations in aerosol and chemical species were driven by precipitation scavenging and atmospheric circulation. Two kinds of high-aerosol episodes were observed: one was enriched with dust indicators (Fe and Ca2+), and the other was enhanced with organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), SO42−, NO3−, and Fe. The TSP loadings during the latter were 3 to 6 times those on normal days. The greatest aerosol optical depths (National Centers for Environmental Protection/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis) occurred upwind, in eastern India and Bangladesh, and trajectory analysis indicates that air pollutants were transported from the southwest. Northwesterly winds brought high levels of natural emissions (Fe, Ca2+) and low levels of pollutants (SO42−, NO3−, K+, and EC); this was consistent with high aerosol optical depths over the western deserts and Gobi. Our work provides evidence that both geological and pollution aerosols from surrounding regions impact the aerosol population of the TP
Effects of Exogenous Cellulase Source on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics and Methane Production of Crop Straws and Grasses
In vitro fermentation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 3 sources of
exogenous cellulase products (EC) at 4 dose rates (DR) (0, 12, 37 and 62 IU/g of DM) on degradation
of forage and methane production by mixed rumen micro-organisms of goats. The maximum gas
production (Vf) of grasses was higher (P<0.001) in Neocallimastix patriciarum (NP) group than those in
Trichoderma reesei (TR) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (TL) groups. Quadratic increases in dry
matter degradation (DMD) of forage and neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) of straw were observed for all
EC, with optimum DR in the low range. Supplementation of EC originated from TR and NP increased
(P<0.001) DMD of forage compared to that from TL. Addition of EC originated from TR and NP also
decreased pH value, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and methane (CH4) production compared to that from
TL. Quadratic decreases in pH value, NH3-N and CH4 of forage were noted for EC of TR and NP, and
with optimum DR in the low range. For short chain fatty acid, the EC of NP increased total volatile
fatty acid (TVFA) and acetate concentration and the ratio of acetate to propionate of forage compared
with EC of TL and TR, and with optimum DR in the low to medium range. It was concluded that the
source of EC differed in fiber degradation and methane emission, and with optimum DR of TR in the
low range (from 12 to 37 U/g DM) in improving fiber degradation and decreasing methane emission
Study of Thermal Properties of Graphene-Based Structures Using the Force Constant Method
The thermal properties of graphene-based materials are theoretically
investigated. The fourth-nearest neighbor force constant method for phonon
properties is used in conjunction with both the Landauer ballistic and the
non-equilibrium Green's function techniques for transport. Ballistic phonon
transport is investigated for different structures including graphene, graphene
antidot lattices, and graphene nanoribbons. We demonstrate that this particular
methodology is suitable for robust and efficient investigation of phonon
transport in graphene-based devices. This methodology is especially useful for
investigations of thermoelectric and heat transport applications.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl
Partial Wave Analysis of
BES data on are presented. The
contribution peaks strongly near threshold. It is fitted with a
broad resonance with mass MeV, width MeV. A broad resonance peaking at 2020 MeV is also required
with width MeV. There is further evidence for a component
peaking at 2.55 GeV. The non- contribution is close to phase
space; it peaks at 2.6 GeV and is very different from .Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, Submitted to PL
Measurements of the Mass and Full-Width of the Meson
In a sample of 58 million events collected with the BES II detector,
the process J/ is observed in five different decay
channels: , , (with ), (with
) and . From a combined fit of all five
channels, we determine the mass and full-width of to be
MeV/ and
MeV/.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures and 4 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.
A Measurement of Psi(2S) Resonance Parameters
Cross sections for e+e- to hadons, pi+pi- J/Psi, and mu+mu- have been
measured in the vicinity of the Psi(2S) resonance using the BESII detector
operated at the BEPC. The Psi(2S) total width; partial widths to hadrons,
pi+pi- J/Psi, muons; and corresponding branching fractions have been determined
to be Gamma(total)= (264+-27) keV; Gamma(hadron)= (258+-26) keV, Gamma(mu)=
(2.44+-0.21) keV, and Gamma(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (85+-8.7) keV; and Br(hadron)=
(97.79+-0.15)%, Br(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (32+-1.4)%, Br(mu)= (0.93+-0.08)%,
respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Nitric oxide and cyclic nucleotides: Their roles in junction dynamics and spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is a highly complicated process in which functional spermatozoa (haploid, 1n) are generated from primitive mitotic spermatogonia (diploid, 2n). This process involves the differentiation and transformation of several types of germ cells as spermatocytes and spermatids undergo meiosis and differentiation. Due to its sophistication and complexity, testis possesses intrinsic mechanisms to modulate and regulate different stages of germ cell development under the intimate and indirect cooperation with Sertoli and Leydig cells, respectively. Furthermore, developing germ cells must translocate from the basal to the apical (adluminal) compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. Thus, extensive junction restructuring must occur to assist germ cell movement. Within the seminiferous tubules, three principal types of junctions are found namely anchoring junctions, tight junctions, and gap junctions. Other less studied junctions are desmosome-like junctions and hemidesmosome junctions. With these varieties of junction types, testes are using different regulators to monitor junction turnover. Among the uncountable junction modulators, nitric oxide (NO) is a prominent candidate due to its versatility and extensive downstream network. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Three traditional NOS, specified as endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS), and one testis-specific nNOS (TnNOS) are found in the testis. For these, eNOS and iNOS were recently shown to have putative junction regulation properties. More important, these two NOSs likely rely on the downstream soluble guanylyl cyclase/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling pathway to regulate the structural components at the tight junctions and adherens junctions in the testes. Apart from the involvement in junction regulation, NOS/NO also participates in controlling the levels of cytokines and hormones in the testes. On the other hand, NO is playing a unique role in modulating germ cell viability and development, and indirectly acting on some aspects of male infertility and testicular pathological conditions. Thus, NOS/NO bears an irreplaceable role in maintaining the homeostasis of the microenvironment in the seminiferous epithelium via its different downstream signaling pathways
- …