Software for non-parametric image registration of 2-photon imaging data

Functional 2-photon microscopy is a key technology for imaging neuronal activity. The recorded image sequences, however, can contain non-rigid movement artifacts which requires high-accuracy movement correction. Variational optical flow (OF) estimation is a group of methods for motion analysis with established performance in many computer vision areas. However, it has yet to be adapted to the statistics of 2-photon neuroimaging data. In this work, we present the motion compensation method Flow-Registration that outperforms previous alignment tools and allows to align and reconstruct even low signal-to-noise ratio 2-photon imaging data and is able to compensate high-divergence displacements during local drug injections. The method is based on statistics of such data and integrates previous advances in variational OF estimation. Our method is available as an easy-to-use ImageJ/FIJI plugin as well as a MATLAB toolbox with modular, object oriented file IO, native multi-channel support and compatibility with existing 2-photon

Application of Argon Plasma Jet for Methane Hydrate Decomposition by Radio Frequency Irradiation

In this study, decomposition of methane hydrate using argon plasma jet was investigated in the pressure range of 0.1MPa to 2.0MPa. The plasma was successfully generated under high-pressure condition, which is difficult to achieve when using radio frequency (RF) plasma in liquid method. Using emission spectrometer analysis, the excitation temperature is found to increase as the gas pressure increases, whereas, it decreases as the argon flow rate increases. During the process of plasma irradiation, the required basic reactions for methane hydrate decomposition i.e. methane hydrate dissociation (MHD), steam methane reforming (SMR), and methane cracking reaction (MCR) were not completely satisfied due to an insignificant amount of methane. The gas chromatograph analysis confirmed that the methane cracking reaction (MCR) was only occurred to generate hydrogen and the C(s), due to the absence of C2H2 and C2H4 as the byproducts. In comparison with the other basic reactions of methane hydrate decomposition, steam methane reforming reaction became dominant in converting methane into hydrogen. Although the hydrogen production efficiency is less than that of radio frequency plasma in liquid, the reduction of CO2 by the thermal decomposition of Teflon from CO making it possible to be considered as an advanced promising technique in the future

Decomposition of Methane Hydrate by Argon Plasma Jet at Higher Pressures

The purpose of this study is to decompose methane hydrate into hydrogen gas by the in-liquid plasma method under conditions similar to those on the seabed. In previous studies, an experiment using the radio frequency (RF) in-liquid plasma jet method generated stable plasma at low temperature and high pressure, which has also had satisfactory results in decomposition of methane hydrate under severe conditions. In the present study, by performing the experiment under higher pressures, there is an improvement in the mechanism for the electrode to withstand increased pressure changes and to generate more stable plasma. At the present, this electrode can generate stable plasma under pressures ranging from 0.1MPa to 5MPa. In addition, as part of the ultimate goal, mixed gases of argon and CO2 were used to generate a plasma jet that is generated stably at higher pressure levels. This would enable the conversion of methane hydrate into CO2 hydrate under specific conditions such as those found at extremely low temperatures and high pressures. This suggests that this method could be used to solidify CO2 or other carbon components on the ocean floor

A COMPARISON OF METHANE HYDRATE DECOMPOSITON USING RADIO FREQUENCY PLASMA AND MICROWAVE PLASMA METHODS

Methane hydrate might create a great interest with regard to resource potential for its large occurrence and content of methane. In the present study, two methane hydrate decomposition methods using radio frequency wave (RF) and microwave (MW) plasma in-liquid is conducted to investigate the extent of how is the relationship between gas production rate and CH4 conversion ratio on producing hydrogen. The objective of this research is also to develop a process to use methane hydrate plasma decomposition to produce fuel gas. Thermal decomposition is dominant in methane conversion into hydrogen. With this method, the methane hydrate is broken down and collected as hydrogen gas, with the carbon content being solidified in the ocean floor. In practical application, since electrical power is needed for generating the plasma, the key is determining which renewable energy to incorporate into this system

One-step phenol production from a water – toluene mixture using radio frequency in-liquid plasma

The objectives of this research were to understand the process of converting toluene into phenol in a one-step process directly from a water–toluene mixture using the plasma in-liquid method. Experiments were conducted using 27.12 MHz radio frequency (RF) in-liquid plasma to decompose a solution of 30% toluene. Based on the experimental results as evaluated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), along with additional analysis by the Gaussian calculation, density functional theory (DFT) hybrid exchange–correlational functional (B3LYP) and 6-311G basis, the phenol generated from toluene was quantified including any by-products. In the experiment, it was found that OH radicals from water molecules produced using RF in- liquid plasma play a significant role in the chemical reaction with toluene. The experimental results suggest that phenol can be directly produced from a water–toluene mixture. The maximum phenol yields were 0.0013% and 0.0038% for irradiation times of 30 s and 60 s, respectively, at 120 W

Decomposition of methane hydrate for hydrogen production using microwave and radio frequency in-liquid plasma methods

This research involves two in-liquid plasma methods of methane hydrate decomposition, one using radio frequency wave (RF) irradiation and the other microwave radiation (MW). The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a practical process for decomposition of methane hydrate directly at the subsea site for fuel gas production. The mechanism for methane hydrate decomposition begins with the dissociation process of methane hydrate formed by CH4 and water. The process continues with the simultaneously occurring steam methane reforming process and methane cracking reaction, during which the methane hydrate is decomposed releasing CH4 into H2, CO and other by-products. It was found that methane hydrate can be decomposed with a faster rate of CH4 release using microwave irradiation over that using radio frequency irradiation. However, the radio frequency plasma method produces hydrogen with a purity of 63.1% and a CH conversion ratio of 99.1%, which is higher than using microwave plasma method which produces hydrogen with a purity of 42.1% and CH4 conversion ratio of 85.5%

Fuel Gas Production from Biomass Sources by Radio Frequency In-Liquid Plasma Method

Cellulose is a kind of saccharide that is the main component in cell walls of plants and therefore is the organic compound that exists in the largest amount in nature. The purpose of this experiment is to convert cellulose to a fuel. Radio frequency (RF) in-liquid plasma is generated in a cellulose distributed solution and a glucose solution, and the generation gas rate is measured. While hydrogen is the main gas generated by the plasma breakdown, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and low-grade flammable gases are also produced. In the glucose water solution or the glucose distributed solution, the solution itself evaporates and decomposes inside the plasma but since the saccharides are non-volatile, they cannot penetrate into the plasma and are not decomposition. However, when the cellulose is at concentrations of 30 wt% or more, it becomes granular and can directly enter the plasma as a solid, where the plasma decomposes the cellulose itself, significantly increasing the amount of gas generated. In addition, the spectrometry of the plasma emission shows the solution after the creation of plasma has the ability to absorb ultraviolet light

Development and validation of the short version of metacognitions questionnaire-Insomnia

Waine, Broomfield, Banham, & Espie (2009) developed and validated the Metacognitions Questionnaire-Insomnia (MCQ-I) to assess metacognition about sleep, which was hypothesized to have a two-factor structure consisting of metacognitive belief about sleep, and metacognitive plans about sleep. However, it is unclear if the MCQ-I reflects metacognition about sleep as hypothesized because no item analysis or factor analysis was conducted. The present study was designed to develop a short version of MCQ-I using selected items and investigate its reliability and validity. A cross-sectional survey using the MCQ-I was conducted with undergraduates (N=330) and 27 patients with chronic insomnia disorder. Results of factor analysis and item analysis of their responses indicated that MCQ-I has a two-factor structure as hypothesized, and 25 items had high internal consistency. Moreover, the MCQ-I-25 was correlated with metacognition about worry, comprehensive dimensions of cognitive arousal, and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, the MCQ-I-25 score was higher in insomnia patients than healthy students. These results suggest that MCQ-I-25 reflects metacognition about sleep and could predict cognitive arousal and insomnia

Effect of day-to-day variations in adrenal cortex hormone levels on abdominal symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is known to be related to abdominal symptoms, and the relationship between abdominal pain and cortisol secretory patterns has been previously investigated using a cross-sectional approach. Here, we investigated the effect of day-to-day variations in salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels on abdominal symptoms in healthy individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eleven college students (4 males and 7 females) participated in this study. The participants were asked to collect their saliva immediately after awakening and before bedtime for eight consecutive days. They also completed a questionnaire about abdominal symptoms before bedtime. The linear mixed model was applied to analyze the effects of the day-by-day variability or the 8-day average adrenal hormone level (at awakening, before bedtime, slope from awakening to bedtime) on abdominal symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The day-to-day variability of cortisol levels before bedtime was negatively related with loose stool, while the day-to-day variability of the cortisol slope was positively correlated with loose stool. A low 8-day average dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate level at awakening was positively related with frequent bowel movements, loose stool, and long bouts of severe abdominal pain. Likewise, a low 8-day average dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate slope was positively related with long bouts of abdominal pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Low cortisol levels before bedtime and a steeper diurnal cortisol slope during the day may be related to bouts of diarrhea during the day.</p