Impact of Perturbations on Watersheds

We find that watersheds in real and artificial landscapes can be strongly affected by small, local perturbations like landslides or tectonic motions. We observe power-law scaling behavior for both the distribution of areas enclosed by the original and the displaced watershed as well as the probability density to induce, after perturbation, a change at a given distance. Scaling exponents for real and artificial landscapes are determined, where in the latter case the exponents depend linearly on the Hurst exponent of the applied fractional Brownian noise. The obtained power-laws are shown to be independent on the strength of perturbation. Theoretical arguments relate our scaling laws for uncorrelated landscapes to properties of invasion percolation.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

High Field magnetospectroscopy to probe the 1.4eV Ni color center in diamond

A magneto-optical study of the 1.4 eV Ni color center in boron-free synthetic diamond, grown at high pressure and high temperature, has been performed in magnetic fields up to 56 T. The data is interpreted using the effective spin Hamiltonian of Nazar\'e, Nevers and Davies [Phys. Rev. B 43, 14196 (1991)] for interstitial Ni$^{+}$ with the electronic configuration $3d^{9}$ and effective spin $S=1/2$. Our results unequivocally demonstrate the trigonal symmetry of the defect which preferentially aligns along the [111] growth direction on the (111) face, but reveal the shortcomings of the crystal field model for this particular defect.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, submitted to PR

Estimation of the rigid-body motion from three-dimensional images using a generalized center-of-mass points approach

We present an analytical method for the estimation of rigid-body motion in sets of three-dimensional (3-D) SPECT and PET slices. This method utilizes mathematically defined generalized center-of-mass points in images, requiring no segmentation. It can be applied to compensation of the rigid-body motion in both SPECT and PET, once a series of 3-D tomographic images are available. We generalized the formula for the center-of-mass to obtain a family of points comoving with the object\u27s rigid-body motion. From the family of possible points we chose the best three points which resulted in the minimum root-mean-square difference between images as the generalized center-of-mass points for use in estimating motion. The estimated motion was used to sum the sets of tomographic images, or incorporated in the iterative reconstruction to correct for motion during reconstruction of the combined projection data. For comparison, the principle-axes method was also applied to estimate the rigid-body motion from the same tomographic images. To evaluate our method for different noise levels, we performed simulations with the MCAT phantom. We observed that though noise degraded the motion-detection accuracy, our method helped in reducing the motion artifact both visually and quantitatively. We also acquired four sets of the emission and transmission data of the Data Spectrum Anthropomorphic Phantom positioned at four different locations and/or orientations. From these we generated a composite acquisition simulating periodic phantom movements during acquisition. The simulated motion was calculated from the generalized center-of-mass points calculated from the tomographic images reconstructed from individual acquisitions. We determined that motion-compensation greatly reduced the motion artifact. Finally, in a simulation with the gated MCAT phantom, an exaggerated rigid-body motion was applied to the end-systolic frame. The motion was estimated from the end-diastolic and end-systolic images, and used to sum them into a summed image without obvious artifact. Compared to the principle-axes method, in two of the three comparisons with anthropomorphic phantom data our method estimated the motion in closer agreement to the Polaris system than the principal-axes method, while the principle-axes method gave a more accurate estimation of motion in most cases for the MCAT simulations. As an image-driven approach, our method assumes angularly com plete data sets for each state of motion. We expert this method to be applied in correction of respiratory motion in respiratory gated SPECT, and respiratory or other rigid-body motion in PET. © 2006 IEEE

An Assessment of a Low-Cost Visual Tracking System (VTS) to Detect and Compensate for Patient Motion during SPECT

Patient motion is inevitable in SPECT and PET due to the lengthy period of time patients are imaged and patient motion can degrade diagnostic accuracy. The goal of our studies is to perfect a methodology for tracking and correcting patient motion when it occurs. In this paper we report on enhancements to the calibration, camera stability, accuracy of motion tracking, and temporal synchronization of a low-cost visual tracking system (VTS) we are developing. The purpose of the VTS is to track the motion of retro-reflective markers on stretchy bands wrapped about the chest and abdomen of patients. We have improved the accuracy of 3D spatial calibration by using a MATLAB optical camera calibration package with a planar calibration pattern. This allowed us to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters for stereo-imaging with our CCD cameras. Locations in the VTS coordinate system are transformed to the SPECT coordinate system by a VTS/SPECT mapping using a phantom of 7 retro-reflective spheres each filled with a drop of Tc(99m). We switched from pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) network cameras to fixed network cameras to reduce the amount of camera drift. The improved stability was verified by tracking the positions of fixed retro-reflective markers on a wall. The ability of our VTS to track movement, on average, with sub-millimeter and sub-degree accuracy was established with the 7-sphere phantom for 1 cm vertical and axial steps as well as for an arbitrary rotation and translation. The difference in the time of optical image acquisition as decoded from the image headers relative to synchronization signals sent to the SPECT system was used to establish temporal synchrony between optical and list-mode SPECT acquisition. Two experiments showed better than 100 ms agreement between VTS and SPECT observed motion for three axial translations. We were able to track 3 reflective markers on an anthropomorphic phantom with a precision that allowed us to correct motion such that no loss in visual quality was noted in motion corrected slices relative to motion free slices

High frequency magnetic oscillations of the organic metal θ\theta-(ET)4_4ZnBr4_4(C6_6H4_4Cl2_2) in pulsed magnetic field of up to 81 T

De Haas-van Alphen oscillations of the organic metal $\theta$-(ET)$_4$ZnBr$_4$(C$_6$H$_4$Cl$_2$) are studied in pulsed magnetic fields up to 81 T. The long decay time of the pulse allows determining reliable field-dependent amplitudes of Fourier components with frequencies up to several kiloteslas. The Fourier spectrum is in agreement with the model of a linear chain of coupled orbits. In this model, all the observed frequencies are linear combinations of the frequency linked to the basic orbit $\alpha$ and to the magnetic-breakdown orbit $\beta$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Wavelength-scale stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry

Spectrometry is a general physical-analysis approach for investigating light-matter interactions. However, the complex designs of existing spectrometers render them resistant to simplification and miniaturization, both of which are vital for applications in micro- and nanotechnology and which are now undergoing intensive research. Stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry (SWIFTS)-an approach based on direct intensity detection of a standing wave resulting from either reflection (as in the principle of colour photography by Gabriel Lippmann) or counterpropagative interference phenomenon-is expected to be able to overcome this drawback. Here, we present a SWIFTS-based spectrometer relying on an original optical near-field detection method in which optical nanoprobes are used to sample directly the evanescent standing wave in the waveguide. Combined with integrated optics, we report a way of reducing the volume of the spectrometer to a few hundreds of cubic wavelengths. This is the first attempt, using SWIFTS, to produce a very small integrated one-dimensional spectrometer suitable for applications where microspectrometers are essential

Nutrients limitation of primary productivity in the Southeast Pacific (BIOSOPE cruise)

Revue sans Comité de lectureInternational audienceIron is an essential nutrient involved in a variety of biological processes in the ocean, including photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen fixation. Atmospheric deposition of aerosols is recognized as the main source of iron for the surface ocean. In high nutrient, low chlorophyll areas, it is now clearly established that iron limits phytoplankton productivity but its biogeochemical role in low nutrient, low chlorophyll environments has been poorly studied. We investigated this question in the unexplored southeast Pacific, arguably the most oligotrophic area of the global ocean. Situated far from any continental aerosol source, the atmospheric iron flux to this province is amongst the lowest of the world ocean. Here we report that, despite low dissolved iron concentrations (~0.1 nmol l-1) measured across the whole gyre (3 stations situated in the center, the western and the eastern edge), photosynthesis and primary productivity are only limited by iron availability at the border of the gyre, but not in the center. The seasonal stability of the gyre has apparently allowed for the development of populations acclimated to these extreme oligotrophic conditions. Moreover, despite clear evidence of nitrogen limitation in the central gyre, we were unable to measure nitrogen fixation in our experiments, even after iron and/or phosphate additions, and cyanobacterial nifH gene abundances were extremely low compared to the North Pacific Gyre. The South Pacific gyre is therefore unique with respect to the physiological status of its phytoplankton populations

Linear magnetoresistance caused by mobility fluctuations in the n-doped Cd3As2

Cd3As2 is a candidate three-dimensional Dirac semi-metal which has exceedingly high mobility and non-saturating linear magnetoresistance that may be relevant for future practical applications. We report magnetotransport and tunnel diode oscillation measurements on Cd3As2, in magnetic fields up to 65 T and temperatures between 1.5K to 300K. We find the non-saturating linear magnetoresistance persist up to 65T and it is likely caused by disorder effects as it scales with the high mobility, rather than directly linked to Fermi surface changes even when approaching the quantum limit. From the observed quantum oscillations, we determine the bulk three-dimensional Fermi surface having signatures of Dirac behaviour with non-trivial Berry's phase shift, very light effective quasiparticle masses and clear deviations from the band-structure predictions. In very high fields we also detect signatures of large Zeeman spin-splitting (g~16).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Review of recent issues on humor field

The paper presents a brief review of some original issues in English, gained by the main argument-the theme of humor from the standpoint of different scientific approaches, and from the perspective of various aspects of the consideration of humor. Humor occupies a significant place in the spiritual life of social communities and all spheres of society are permeated by this phenomenon. The papers of both established scholars and novice ones from different countries are summarized. An attempt is made to differentiate the works according to the research areas and to present them in the light of general research lines and further perspectives in the study of humor