Solar hard X-ray imaging by means of Compressed Sensing and Finite Isotropic Wavelet Transform

This paper shows that compressed sensing realized by means of regularized deconvolution and the Finite Isotropic Wavelet Transform is effective and reliable in hard X-ray solar imaging. The method utilizes the Finite Isotropic Wavelet Transform with Meyer function as the mother wavelet. Further, compressed sensing is realized by optimizing a sparsity-promoting regularized objective function by means of the Fast Iterative Shrinkage-Thresholding Algorithm. Eventually, the regularization parameter is selected by means of the Miller criterion. The method is applied against both synthetic data mimicking the Spectrometer/Telescope Imaging X-rays (STIX) measurements and experimental observations provided by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). The performances of the method are compared with the results provided by standard visibility-based reconstruction methods. The results show that the application of the sparsity constraint and the use of a continuous, isotropic framework for the wavelet transform provide a notable spatial accuracy and significantly reduce the ringing effects due to the instrument point spread functions

Fast spectral fitting of hard X-ray bremsstrahlung from truncated power-law electron spectra

<p><b>Context:</b> Hard X-ray bremsstrahlung continuum spectra, such as from solar flares, are commonly described in terms of power-law fits, either to the photon spectra themselves or to the electron spectra responsible for them. In applications various approximate relations between electron and photon spectral indices are often used for energies both above and below electron low-energy cutoffs.</p> <p><b>Aims:</b> We examine the form of the exact relationships in various situations, and for various cross-sections, showing that empirical relations sometimes used can be highly misleading especially at energies below the low-energy cutoff, and consider how to improve fitting procedures.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> We obtain expressions for photon spectra from single, double and truncated power-law electron spectra for a variety of cross-sections and for the thin and thick target models and simple analytic expressions for the non-relativistic Bethe-Heitler case.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> We show that below the low-energy cutoff Kramers and other constant spectral index forms commonly used are very poor approximations to accurate results, but that our analytical forms are a good match; and that above a low-energy cutoff, the Kramers and non-relativistic Bethe-Heitler results match reasonably well with results for up to energies around 100 keV.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Analytical forms of the non-relativistic Bethe-Heitler photon spectra from general power-law electron spectra are good match to exact results for both thin and thick targets and they enable much faster spectral fitting than evaluation of the full spectral integrations.</p&gt

Feature augmentation for the inversion of the Fourier transform with limited data

We investigate an interpolation/extrapolation method that, given scattered observations of the Fourier transform, approximates its inverse. The interpolation algorithm takes advantage of modeling the available data via a shape-driven interpolation based on variably scaled Kernels (VSKs), whose implementation is here tailored for inverse problems. The so-constructed interpolants are used as inputs for a standard iterative inversion scheme. After providing theoretical results concerning the spectrum of the VSK collocation matrix, we test the method on astrophysical imaging benchmarks

Count-based imaging model for the Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) in Solar Orbiter

The Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) will study solar flares across the hard X-ray window provided by the Solar Orbiter cluster. Similarly to the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), STIX is a visibility-based imaging instrument that will require Fourier-based image reconstruction methods. However, in this paper we show that as for RHESSI, count-based imaging is also possible for STIX. Specifically, we introduce and illustrate a mathematical model that mimics the STIX data formation process as a projection from the incoming photon flux into a vector consisting of 120 count components. Then we test the reliability of expectation maximization for image reconstruction in the case of several simulated configurations that are typical of flare morphology

Enzymatic synthesis of γ-glutamyl derivatives catalyzed by a new mutant γ-glutamyltransferase with improved transpeptidase activity

Despite their potential applicative interest as biologically active compounds and as flavor enhancers, \u3b3-glutamyl derivatives are commercially underexploited compounds. This is mainly due to the difficulties connected with their supply at a reasonable cost. As a consequence, enzymatic approaches to their preparation, based on the use of \u3b3-glutamyltransferases (GGTs), have been proposed1 to circumvent both the low-yielding extractive procedures from natural sources and the troublesome chemical synthesis, rendered uneconomical by the need of protection and deprotection steps. GGTs catalyze the transfer of a \u3b3-glutamyl moiety from a donor substrate (e.g. glutathione) to the primary amino group of an acceptor compound in a so-called transpeptidation reaction, through the formation of a \u3b3-glutamyl-enzyme intermediate. However, also the use of GGTs as biocatalysts is not free from drawbacks. In addition to the transpeptidase activity, GGTs show a non-negligible hydrolase activity towards both the donor substrate and the newly formed transpeptidation product, affording irreversibly glutamic acid.2 In our ongoing studies on bacterial GGTs, we found that the presence of the lid loop \u2013 a short amino acids sequence covering the active site in most of the known GGTs \u2013 not only affects substrate selection, but also modulates hydrolase/transpeptidase activities.3 Within the TailGluTran Project,4 aimed at the development of mutant GGTs with improved transpeptidase activity, is currently under investigation a mutant enzyme obtained by inserting the sequence of the lid loop on the structure of a GGT naturally lacking it. The mutant enzyme shows promising high transpeptidase activity with respect to wild type counterparts and represents a starting point for further modifications in the search of a suitable biocatalyst intended for preparative purposes

Determination of the Acceleration Region Size in a Loop-structured Solar Flare

In order to study the acceleration and propagation of bremsstrahlung-producing electrons in solar flares, we analyze the evolution of the flare loop size with respect to energy at a variety of times. A GOES M3.7 loop-structured flare starting around 23:55 on 2002 April 14 is studied in detail using \textit{Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager} (\textit{RHESSI}) observations. We construct photon and mean-electron-flux maps in 2-keV energy bins by processing observationally-deduced photon and electron visibilities, respectively, through several image-processing methods: a visibility-based forward-fit (FWD) algorithm, a maximum entropy (MEM) procedure and the uv-smooth (UVS) approach. We estimate the sizes of elongated flares (i.e., the length and width of flaring loops) by calculating the second normalized moments of the intensity in any given map. Employing a collisional model with an extended acceleration region, we fit the loop lengths as a function of energy in both the photon and electron domains. The resulting fitting parameters allow us to estimate the extent of the acceleration region which is between $\sim 13 \rm{arcsec}$ and $\sim 19 \rm{arcsec}$. Both forward-fit and uv-smooth algorithms provide substantially similar results with a systematically better fit in the electron domain.The consistency of the estimates from these methods provides strong support that the model can reliably determine geometric parameters of the acceleration region. The acceleration region is estimated to be a substantial fraction ($\sim 1/2$) of the loop extent, indicating that this dense flaring loop incorporates both acceleration and transport of electrons, with concurrent thick-target bremsstrahlung emission.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysics journa

The Hough Transform and the Impact of Chronic Leukemia on the Compact Bone Tissue from CT-Images Analysis

Computational analysis of X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) images allows the assessment of alteration of bone structure in adult patients with Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (ACLL), and may even offer a powerful tool to assess the development of the disease (prognostic potential). The crucial requirement for this kind of analysis is the application of a pattern recognition method able to accurately segment the intra-bone space in clinical CT images of the human skeleton. Our purpose is to show how this task can be accomplished by a procedure based on the use of the Hough transform technique for special families of algebraic curves. The dataset used for this study is composed of sixteen subjects including eight control subjects, one ACLL survivor, and seven ACLL victims. We apply the Hough transform approach to the set of CT images of appendicular bones for detecting the compact and trabecular bone contours by using ellipses, and we use the computed semi-axes values to infer information on bone alterations in the population affected by ACLL. The effectiveness of this method is proved against ground truth comparison. We show that features depending on the semi-axes values detect a statistically significant difference between the class of control subjects plus the ACLL survivor and the class of ACLL victims

Validación y ajuste del modelo hidrogeológico conceptual de un humedal de la Llanura Pampeana, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Comprender el funcionamiento hidrológico y la interacción de los diferentes cuerpos de agua presentes en un área específica son temas esenciales a la hora de planificar el uso racional del recurso hídrico. El objetivo de este trabajo es validar y ajustar el modelo hidrogeológico conceptual de un humedal de la llanura Pampeana Bonaerense mediante técnicas hidrogeoquími­cas e isotópicas. Se ha seleccionado la cuenca de la laguna La Brava (53.6 km2). La misma es una laguna permanente y somera con una superficie de 4.0 km2 y una profundidad máxima de 4.57 m. Se tomaron muestras para análisis fisicoquímico e isotópico en el agua subterránea, en la laguna y en los arroyos afluente y e.fluente a la misma. Para el muestreo en la laguna se diseñó una malla de muestreo regular en la cual se midieron in situ los principales parámetros fisicoquímicos a 5 profundidades diferentes y se tomaron muestras. La composición química del agua de la cuenca es de tipo bicarbonatada sódica. El carácter efluente-influente de este humedal pudo ser confirmado a través de las mediciones isotópicas e hidroquími­caso El análisis de la conductividad eléctrica en el humedal a diferentes profundidades hace pensar en una zona de recarga preferencial en el contacto de la laguna con el faldeo oriental de la Sierra La Brava, donde se evidencia una disminución importante de este parámetro. La información obtenida indica que la recarga al acu(fero en esta zona es influenciada por: la precipitación, la descarga proveniente del humedal, la concentración del escurrimiento superficial desde el frente montañoso hacia las depresiones interserranas y el aporte de agua proveniente del sistema de jisuras presente en las ortocuarcitas.Understanding the hydrological functioning and the interaction among the different water bodies present in a specific area are essential when planning the rational use of the hydric resource. The aim of the present paper is to validate and adjust the conceptual hydrogeological model for a wetland of the Buenos Aires Pampa Plain through hydrochemical and isotopic techniques. La Brava Wetland Basin (53.6 km2) has been selected. La Brava is a shallow and permanent wetland with an area of 4.0 km2 and a maximum depth of 4.57 m. Samples for physicochemical and isotopic analyses were taken from groundwater, the wetland, and in the inflow and outflow streams. A regular grid was designed for the wetland sampling to measure in situ the main physical and chemical parameters at 5 different depths. The chemical composition of the water in the basin is of sodium bicarbonate type. Hydrochemical and isotopic data allowed the confirmation of the effiuent-influent behavior of this wetland. Electrical conductivity analysis in the wetland at different depths shows a possible preferential recharge zone in the contact of the wetland with La Brava Hill, where an important decrease in this parameter was detected. The information obtained indicates that the recharge to the aquifer is influenced by: the rainfall, the wetland discharge, the concentration of surface ron-off from the range fringes to inter-range depressions and water input from the fault system present in the quartzites

The use of mobile phones for skin tumor screening

A lot of importance is attributed to mobile telemedicine these days, a topic that encompasses a wide and ever growing range of applications. Small, handheld devices such as camera mobile phones have come into every day use providing technically sophisticated tasks on a user-friendly level and can therefore be easily used in various fields of telemedicine. Dermatology is a perfect candidate for the use of telemedicine tools in general, as well as mobile devices in particular. The unique aspect of mobile teledermatology is that this system represents a filtering, or triage system, allowing a sensitive approach for the management of patients with emergent skin diseases. In order to investigate the feasibility of teleconsultation using a new generation of cellular phones, a clinical study to evaluate the accuracy of online diagnosis of skin tumours was conducted. Teledermoscopy represents a recent development of teledermatology that might add up additional information in the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. Teledermatology, mobile as well as stationary, can advance the reliability of diagnosis by expert consultations without expensive and time-consuming relocations. Consequently, the quality of patient's care can be raised and the costs of the health care system can be reduced