FabIO:easy access to two-dimensional X-ray detector images in Python

FabIO is a Python module written for easy and transparent reading of raw two-dimensional data from various X-ray detectors. The module provides a function for reading any image and returning a fabioimage object which contains both metadata (header information) and the raw data. All fabioimage objects offer additional methods to extract information about the image and to open other detector images from the same data series.</jats:p

Line shape diagnostics for solid density plasmas produced by ultra intense subpicosecond laser

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87325/2/158_1.pd

Raman spectroscopic analysis of cell differentiation and death modes

Raman spectroscopy provides opportunities for non-invasive, non-destructive, label-free analysis of cell states based on changes in the biochemical composition of cells. We are investigating the suitability of Raman spectroscopy to assess the stages of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation towards pancreatic insulin-positive cells. Raman microspectrometry analysis has revealed macromolecular composition differences over time that distinguished cell populations differentiating to pancreatic cell types, such as by an increase in the protein-to-nucleic acid signal ratio and to distinguish the presence of insulin. Added insight into these macromolecular changes were provided by principal component analysis (PCA) of the data. However, the application of PCA can be difficult to interpret. The usefulness of non-negative matrix factorization was explored to improve the interpretability of overlapping Raman bands. We demonstrated the utility of this procedure by analyzing spectra to determine the cellular insulin or glucagon content. Thus, Raman spectroscopy can detect such differences in cells to detect the desired product as well as the potential to detect residual hESCs or the emergence of unwanted cells. We also investigated the suitability of Raman spectroscopy to detect the onset and types of cell death. Apoptotic, necrotic or autophagic Chinese Hamster Ovary cells were compared to uninduced cultures using Raman spectroscopy and PCA. Furthermore, uninduced cells were compared to cells sorted at different stages of apoptosis to determine how early the onset of apoptosis could be detected. Changes were observed in several peaks during the course of cell death, with repeated changes observed in nucleic acid- and lipid-associated peaks, enabling the distinction of cell death modes. Application of such death monitoring capabilities to cellular therapy cultures should be even more useful, given the need for more process analytical technologies to address the often more variable performance of these cultures, especially when adaptive control is needed for primary cell derived manufacturing

Interaction of Dendritic Cells with Skin Endothelium: A New Perspective on Immunosurveillance

The goal of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which dendritic cells (DCs) in blood could interact with endothelium, a prerequisite to extravasation into tissues. Our results indicate that DCs express both HECA-452–reactive and nonreactive isoforms of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1) and can tether and roll efficiently on E- and P-selectin under flow conditions in vitro. Freshly isolated blood DCs were further observed to roll continuously along noninflamed murine dermal endothelium in vivo. This interaction is strictly dependent on endothelial selectins, as shown by experiments with blocking antibodies and with E- and P-selectin–deficient mice. We hypothesize that DCs in blood are constitutively poised at the interface of blood and skin, ready to extravasate upon induction of inflammation, and we showed that cutaneous inflammation results in a rapid recruitment of DCs from the blood to tissues. We propose that this is an important and previously unappreciated element of immunosurveillance

Анализ и разработка способов повышения эффективности работы Томской ГРЭС-2 в летний период

Одно из главных направлений повышения эффективности топливоиспользования на ТЭС – внутристанционная оптимизация режимов паротурбинных установок. Оптимизация режимов абсолютно эффективна, так как в этом случае достигается значительная экономия топлива без дополнительных капитальных вложений. В данной работе предполагается повышение эффективности Томской ГРЭС-2 в летний период, за счёт оптимизации режимов работы и снятия ограничений установленной мощности при увеличении объёмов отпускаемой тепловой энергии внешним потребителям.One of the main directions of improving the efficiency of fuel use at TPP is the internal optimization of the modes of steam turbine plants. Optimization of modes is absolutely effective, since in this case significant fuel savings are achieved without additional capital investments. In this work, it is planned to increase the efficiency of the Tomsk ГРЭС-2 in the summer, due to the optimization of operating modes and the removal of restrictions on the installed power with an increase in the volume of thermal energy available to external consumers

X‐ray spectroscopy of hot solid density plasmas produced by subpicosecond high contrast laser pulses at 1018–1019 W/cm2

Analysis is presented of K‐shell spectra obtained from solid density plasmas produced by a high contrast (1010:1) subpicosecond laser pulse (0.5 μm) at 1018–1019 W/cm2. Stark broadening measurements of He‐like and Li‐like lines are used to infer the mean electron density at which emission takes place. The measurements indicate that there is an optimum condition to produce x‐ray emission at solid density for a given isoelectronic sequence, and that the window of optimum conditions to obtain simultaneously the shortest and the brightest x‐ray pulse at a given wavelength is relatively narrow. Lower intensity produces a short x‐ray pulse but low brightness. The x‐ray yield (and also the energy fraction in hot electrons) increases with the laser intensity, but above some laser intensity (1018 W/cm2 for Al) the plasma is overdriven: during the expansion, the plasma is still hot enough to emit, so that emission occurs at lower density and lasts much longer. Energy transport measurements indicate that approximately 6% of the laser energy is coupled to the target at 1018 W/cm2 (1% in thermal electrons with Te≊0.6 keV and 5% in suprathermal electrons with Th≊25 keV). At Iλ2=1018 W μm2/cm2 (no prepulse) around 1010 photons are emitted per laser shot, in 2π srd in cold Kα radiation (2–9 Å, depending on the target material) and up to 2×1011 photons are obtained in 2π srd with the unresolved transition array (UTA) emission from the Ta target. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69900/2/PHPAEN-2-5-1702-1.pd

Thermal Infrared Imaging Experiments of C-Type Asteroid 162173 Ryugu on Hayabusa2

The thermal infrared imager TIR onboard Hayabusa2 has been developed to investigate thermo-physical properties of C-type, near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu. TIR is one of the remote science instruments on Hayabusa2 designed to understand the nature of a volatile-rich solar system small body, but it also has significant mission objectives to provide information on surface physical properties and conditions for sampling site selection as well as the assessment of safe landing operations. TIR is based on a two-dimensional uncooled micro-bolometer array inherited from the Longwave Infrared Camera LIR on Akatsuki (Fukuhara et al., 2011). TIR takes images of thermal infrared emission in 8 to 12 μm with a field of view of 16×12∘ and a spatial resolution of 0.05∘ per pixel. TIR covers the temperature range from 150 to 460 K, including the well calibrated range from 230 to 420 K. Temperature accuracy is within 2 K or better for summed images, and the relative accuracy or noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) at each of pixels is 0.4 K or lower for the well-calibrated temperature range. TIR takes a couple of images with shutter open and closed, the corresponding dark frame, and provides a true thermal image by dark frame subtraction. Data processing involves summation of multiple images, image processing including the StarPixel compression (Hihara et al., 2014), and transfer to the data recorder in the spacecraft digital electronics (DE). We report the scientific and mission objectives of TIR, the requirements and constraints for the instrument specifications, the designed instrumentation and the pre-flight and in-flight performances of TIR, as well as its observation plan during the Hayabusa2 mission