MRI-based strain and strain rate analysis of left ventricle: A modified hierarchical transformation model

Background Different from other indicators of cardiac function, such as ejection fraction and transmitral early diastolic velocity, myocardial strain is promising to capture subtle alterations that result from early diseases of the myocardium. In order to extract the left ventricle (LV) myocardial strain and strain rate from cardiac cine-MRI, a modified hierarchical transformation model was proposed. Methods A hierarchical transformation model including the global and local LV deformations was employed to analyze the strain and strain rate of the left ventricle by cine-MRI image registration. The endocardial and epicardial contour information was introduced to enhance the registration accuracy by combining the original hierarchical algorithm with an Iterative Closest Points using Invariant Features algorithm. The hierarchical model was validated by a normal volunteer first and then applied to two clinical cases (i.e., the normal volunteer and a diabetic patient) to evaluate their respective function. Results Based on the two clinical cases, by comparing the displacement fields of two selected landmarks in the normal volunteer, the proposed method showed a better performance than the original or unmodified model. Meanwhile, the comparison of the radial strain between the volunteer and patient demonstrated their apparent functional difference. Conclusions The present method could be used to estimate the LV myocardial strain and strain rate during a cardiac cycle and thus to quantify the analysis of the LV motion function.

A modified pseudolikelihood approach for analysis of longitudinal data

We consider the analysis of longitudinal data when the covariance function is modeled by additional parameters to the mean parameters. In general, inconsistent estimators of the covariance (variance/correlation) parameters will be produced when the "working" correlation matrix is misspecified, which may result in great loss of efficiency of the mean parameter estimators (albeit the consistency is preserved). We consider using different "Working" correlation models for the variance and the mean parameters. In particular, we find that an independence working model should be used for estimating the variance parameters to ensure their consistency in case the correlation structure is misspecified. The designated "working" correlation matrices should be used for estimating the mean and the correlation parameters to attain high efficiency for estimating the mean parameters. Simulation studies indicate that the proposed algorithm performs very well. We also applied different estimation procedures to a data set from a clinical trial for illustration.

Die Großstadt als Gegner? : Zur Wahrnehmung Berlins in Literatur, Film und Hörspiel der späten Weimarer Republik

Tässä tutkielmassa tarkastellaan, miten Berliinin suurkaupunki vaikutti Weimarin tasavallan loppuaikoina yksilöön. Tutkimusaineistona on Alfred Döblinin romaani Berlin Alexanderplatz sekä Walter Ruttmannin elokuva Berlin. Die Sinfonie der Großstadt ja kuunnelma Weekend. Teoreettisena taustana hyödynnetään kulttuuri- ja mediahistorian mentaliteetti- ja sosiaalihistoriaa. Aihetta käsitellään myös historiallis-temaattisesta lähtökohdasta, eli työssä tutkitaan todellisen Berliinin asemaa kyseisenä aikana, modernin metropolin olemusta, modernin ajan murrosvaihetta sekä uusasiallisen taidesuuntauksen vaikutusta teoksiin. Weimarin tasavallan aikana Saksassa elettiin murroksen keskellä. Toisaalta yhteiskunta oli poliittisesti pirstoutunut ja taloudellisesti epävakaa, mutta toisaalta kulttuurielämä oli lyhyen aikaa rikasta. Suurkaupungin asukkailla oli enemmän vapaa-aikaa ja mahdollisuuksia toteuttaa itseään omassa ympäristössään. Toisaalta ajan ristiriitaisuus kuitenkin vaikeutti yksilöllisen elämäntavan toteutumista; ihmiset odottivat murroskauden päättymiseltä materiaalista tyydytystä, jolloin henkiselle kehitykselle jäi vähän tilaa. Tärkein kysymyksenasettelu koskee suurkaupungin roolia oman aikansa tuotteena: missä määrin kaupunki oli ihmisen todellinen vastustaja ja missä määrin sen asema oli kuviteltua? Todellisen Berliinin suhdetta reflektoidaan fiktiiviseen suurkaupunkiympäristöön. Ensin tarkastellaan Berliiniä toimijana murroskaudella ja sitten käsitellään ajan ja tilan havainnointia. Koska teokset ovat fiktiivisiä, erityisen tarkastelun kohteena on todellisuuden, fiktion ja simulaation suhde. Tässä yhteydessä tarkastellaan myös kaupungin ja maaseudun välistä problematiikkaa. Kolmannessa osassa esille nousee yksilön ja massan välinen suhde, joka sekin vaikuttaa ihmisen ja suurkaupungin väliseen vastakkainasetteluun. Ilmensikö koneiden ja liikenteen dominoiva asema futuristista asetelmaa? Lisäksi käsitellään alamaailman ja kultaisen 20-luvun välistä kuilua. Kaikkia kolmea teosta yhdistää 24 tunnin aikakäsite; ajalla on selkeästi rajattu alku ja loppu, ja myös tilan käsite on tarkastelussa tärkeä. Kaikissa teoksissa on hyödynnetty montaasitekniikkaa. Kohtaukset vaihtuvat hyvinkin nopeasti, jolloin lukija, katsoja tai kuulija vieraantuu varsinaisesta kohteestaan. Montaasi vaikuttaa ratkaisevasti myös kaupungin ja yksilön suhteen kuvaukseen. Suurkaupungista muotoutuu lähes hirviömäinen, personifioitu subjekti, joka konemaisella olemuksellaan pyrkii nujertamaan pienen ihmisen. Döblinin romaanissa kertoja toimii ikään kuin yksilöä vastaan liittämällä kerronnan väliin uutisaiheita, säätiedotuksia ja kohtalokertomuksia. Elokuvassa ja kuunnelmassa teknologisen kehityksen ihannointi on noussut etualalle: ihmiset muistuttavat sekä yksilöinä että massana koneita, jotka liikkuvat hektisen mekaanisesti eteenpäin kuin liikennevälineet. He eivät kyseenalaista ympäristöään eivätkä koe olevansa oravanpyörässä. Romaanin päähenkilö on heijastanut omat pelkonsa konkreettisesti suurkaupungin infrastruktuuriin, kerrostaloihin, jotka tuntuvat kaatuvan hänen päälleen. Yksilöllinen kehitys on vaarassa pysähtyä, sillä koneistuminen tekee yksilöistä massaa. Elokuvassa ja kuunnelmassa kamppailu suurkaupunkiorganismin ja ihmisten välillä jatkuu, mutta romaanissa kamppailu päättyy päähenkilön parantumiseen. Hänestä tulee mallikansalainen - vaiennettu ja kuuliainen. Kaikkien kolmen teoksen hahmoja kuvataan modernin ajan uhreina. Heiltä puuttuu mekanismi, jolla he voisivat käsitellä kokonaisuuksia. Modernin ajan hahmojen elämä on lopulta kuin tanssia tulivuoren päällä - epävarmaa ja riskialtista.

Morphological Characteristics of Genetically-Modified Pineapple Fruit

Genetic engineering is an attractive method for changing a single characteristic of ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple, without altering its other desirable attributes. Techniques used in pineapple transformation, however, such as tissue culture and biolistic-mediated or Agrobacterium-mediated gene insertion are prone to somaclonal variation, resulting in the production of several morphological mutations (Smith et al., 2002). Fruit mutations can include distortion in fruit shape (round ball, conical, fan-shaped), reduced fruit size, multiple crowns, crownless fruit, fruitless crowns, and spiny crown leaves (Dalldorf, 1975; Sanewski et al., 1992). The present paper describes the variability in fruit-shape mutations between transgenic and non-transgenic fruit, and its subsequent impact on organoleptic characteristics.

Depth profile composition studies of thin film CdS: Cu,S solar cells using XPS and AES

Surface composition and depth profile studies of hemiplated thin film CdS:CuzS solar cells have been carried out using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) techniques. These studies indicate that the junction is fairly diffused in the as-prepared cell. However, heat treatment of the cell at 210°C in air relatively sharpens the junction and improves the cell performance. Using the Cu(2p3p)/S(2p) ratio as well as the Cu(LVV)/(LMM) Auger intensity ratio, it can be inferred that the nominal valency of copper in the layers above the junction is Cut and it is essentially in the CUSS form. Copper signals are observed from layers deep down in the cell. These seem to appear mostly from the grain boundary region. From the observed concentration of Cd, Cu and S in these deeper layers and the Cu(LVV)/(LMM) ratio it appears that the signals from copper essentially originate partly from copper in CuS and partly from Cu2t trapped in the lattice. It is significant to note that the nominal valence state of copper changes rather abruptly from Cut to Cuz+ across the junction.

When film, fashion & interiors collide: Designing the After Darkly Graduate Fashion Show

In 2013 QUT Interior Design and Fashion Disciplines partnered to design the Catwalk for the QUT After Darkly Graduate Fashion Show. The ephemeral work (catwalk canopy and cinematic affects) was developed through collaboration between the authors based upon an undergraduate interior design unit ‘Filmic Interiors’ in which students were tasked with designing a fashion show. Filmic Interiors exploited the potential of film to influence, understand, and develop novel interior spaces through consideration of mise-en-scene, cinematic effects and atmospheric design strategies engaged by key film directors Jean Pierre Jeunet and Darren Aronofsky. The design outcome represents a hybridisation of student design proposals, contemplating both film and emerging collections from graduate fashion students. The work explored a number of iterations each testing material qualities and immaterial cinematic affects, as a means to develop new space. The process was led by experimentation undertaken by the designers through previous studio explorations surrounding the theme of ‘Strange Space’ and design practice ‘Making Strange’(Lindquist & Pytel, 2012). In doing so, the work paralleled the material formations of ‘obsessive collections’ and ‘making do’ evident in Jeunet’s scenography, rendering uncanny hybrid space (Ezra, 2008). Evocation of the immaterial found in much of director Aronofsky’s work, also became critical in the atmospheric experience intended for the show. This paper explores the process of collaboration and material experimentation in design, approached through a filmic lens. It provides insight into what happens when one enters into what can be termed an ‘ecology of production’, whereby the experimental making becomes the collaborative agent between designers, disciplines, and between stage and spectators. Finally it underlines the importance of ‘finding the work’ through material making and testing rather than through more controlled formalistic responses.

Trimming studies on polymer thick-film resistors

PVC-graphite polymer thick-film resistors were trimmed by a conventional air abrasive technique and the post-trim drift in resistance with time was found to be negative. The net decrease in resistance of trimmed resistors in a given time was found to be a function of resistor composition, cutting speed and temperature. Detailed studies showed this decrease to be due to a decrease in cut width with time. Two new methods, namely bombardment trimming and radiation trimming, were also tried for adjusting the resistance of these resistors and the results were compared with those obtained from abrasive trimming studies.

China, film coproduction and soft power competition

This thesis investigates China's film internationalism and coproduction strategy based on three cases: Hong Kong and China film coproduction; US and China without any state-level agreements; Australia and China based on an official coproduction treaty. It investigates the evolution of coproduction in the film industry, the process of coproduction, foreign film companies' strategies of adjustment to state policies, and the culture and complexities that hinder coproduction. It surveys the current environment for China film coproduction and investigates the degree to which film coproduction has been - to this stage - a contributor to China's global cultural presence – its soft power.

Film cooling at hypersonic Mach numbers using forward facing array of micro-jets

Experimental investigations are carried out in the IISc hypersonic shock tunnel on film cooling effectiveness of a single jet (diameter 2 mm and 0.9 mm), and an array forward facing of micro-jets (diameter 300 mu m each) of same effective area (corresponding to the respective single jet). The single jet and the corresponding micro-jets are injected from the stagnation zone of a blunt cone model (58, apex angle and nose radius of 35 mm). Nitrogen and Helium are injected as coolant gases. Experiments are performed at freestream Mach number 5.9, at 0 degrees angle of attack, with a stagnation enthalpy of 1.84 MJ/kg, with and without injections. The ratios of the jet stagnation pressure to the freestream pitot pressure used in the present study are 1.2 and 1.45. Up to 50% reduction in surface heat transfer rate was observed with the array of micro-jets, compared to that of the respective single jet with nitrogen as the coolant, while the corresponding eduction was up to 37% for helium injection, with the schlieren flow visualizations showing no major change in the shock standoff distance, and thus no major changes in other aerodynamic aspects such as drag.

Implementation of a modified CVSD coder

This paper describes the implementation of the modified continuously variable slope delta modulator (MCVSD), in which the basic step size δ0 is made to vary as a function of input signal level. The information needed to carry out this is extracted at the local decoder output so that the coder and the decoder track each other. The result is a significant improvement in the dynamic range (about 15dB) as compared to CVSD coder without degrading the peak signal to noise ratio.