9,192 research outputs found
A Statistical Model for Simultaneous Template Estimation, Bias Correction, and Registration of 3D Brain Images
Template estimation plays a crucial role in computational anatomy since it
provides reference frames for performing statistical analysis of the underlying
anatomical population variability. While building models for template
estimation, variability in sites and image acquisition protocols need to be
accounted for. To account for such variability, we propose a generative
template estimation model that makes simultaneous inference of both bias fields
in individual images, deformations for image registration, and variance
hyperparameters. In contrast, existing maximum a posterori based methods need
to rely on either bias-invariant similarity measures or robust image
normalization. Results on synthetic and real brain MRI images demonstrate the
capability of the model to capture heterogeneity in intensities and provide a
reliable template estimation from registration
Light, stratification and zooplankton as controlling factors for the spring development of phytoplankton in Lake Constance
The patterns of phytoplankton growth and decline during the spring bloom and the following clear-water phase in Lake Constance have been studied on the basis of cell counts with short-term sampling intervals and related to light climate, stratification and zooplankton pressure
Cold guided beams of water isotopologs
Electrostatic velocity filtering and guiding is an established technique to
produce high fluxes of cold polar molecules. In this paper we clarify different
aspects of this technique by comparing experiments to detailed calculations. In
the experiment, we produce cold guided beams of the three water isotopologs
H2O, D2O and HDO. Their different rotational constants and orientations of
electric dipole moments lead to remarkably different Stark shift properties,
despite the molecules being very similar in a chemical sense. Therefore, the
signals of the guided water isotopologs differ on an absolute scale and also
exhibit characteristic electrode voltage dependencies. We find excellent
agreement between the relative guided fractions and voltage dependencies of the
investigated isotopologs and predictions made by our theoretical model of
electrostatic velocity filtering.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures; small changes to the text, updated reference
High efficiency thermionic converter studies
The objective is to improve thermionic converter performance by means of reduced interelectrode losses, greater emitter capabilities, and lower collector work functions until the converter performance level is suitable for out-of-core space reactors and radioisotope generators. Electrode screening experiments have identified several promising collector materials. Back emission work function measurements of a ZnO collector in a thermionic diode have given values less than 1.3 eV. Diode tests were conducted over the range of temperatures of interest for space power applications. Enhanced mode converter experiments have included triodes operated in both the surface ionization and plasmatron modes. Pulsed triodes were studied as a function of pulse length, pulse potential, inert gas fill pressure, cesium pressure, spacing, emitter temperature and collector temperature. Current amplifications (i.e., mean output current/mean grid current) of several hundred were observed up to output current densities of one amp/sq cm. These data correspond to an equivalent arc drop less than 0.1 eV
Electrostatic extraction of cold molecules from a cryogenic reservoir
We present a method which delivers a continuous, high-density beam of slow
and internally cold polar molecules. In our source, warm molecules are first
cooled by collisions with a cryogenic helium buffer gas. Cold molecules are
then extracted by means of an electrostatic quadrupole guide. For ND the
source produces fluxes up to molecules/s with
peak densities up to molecules/cm. For
HCO the population of rovibrational states is monitored by depletion
spectroscopy, resulting in single-state populations up to .Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, changes to the text, updated figures and
reference
Domain size effects in Barkhausen noise
The possible existence of self-organized criticality in Barkhausen noise is
investigated theoretically through a single interface model, and experimentally
from measurements in amorphous magnetostrictive ribbon Metglas 2605TCA under
stress. Contrary to previous interpretations in the literature, both simulation
and experiment indicate that the presence of a cutoff in the avalanche size
distribution may be attributed to finite size effects.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted so Physical Review
High efficiency thermionic converter studies
Research in thermionic energy conversion technology is reported. The objectives were to produce converters suitable for use in out of core space reactors, radioisotope generators, and solar satellites. The development of emitter electrodes that operate at low cesium pressure, stable low work function collector electrodes, and more efficient means of space charge neutralization were investigated to improve thermionic converter performance. Potential improvements in collector properties were noted with evaporated thin film barium oxide coatings. Experiments with cesium carbonate suggest this substance may provide optimum combinations of cesium and oxygen for thermionic conversion
Velocity-selected molecular pulses produced by an electric guide
Electrostatic velocity filtering is a technique for the production of
continuous guided beams of slow polar molecules from a thermal gas. We extended
this technique to produce pulses of slow molecules with a narrow velocity
distribution around a tunable velocity. The pulses are generated by
sequentially switching the voltages on adjacent segments of an electric
quadrupole guide synchronously with the molecules propagating at the desired
velocity. This technique is demonstrated for deuterated ammonia (ND),
delivering pulses with a velocity in the range of and a
relative velocity spread of at FWHM. At velocities around
, the pulses contain up to molecules each. The data are
well reproduced by Monte-Carlo simulations, which provide useful insight into
the mechanisms of velocity selection.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
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