Improving tangential resolution with a modified delay-and-sum reconstruction algorithm in photoacoustic and thermoacoustic tomography

Spatial resolution in photoacoustic and thermoacoustic tomography is ultrasound transducer (detector) bandwidth limited. For a circular scanning geometry the axial (radial) resolution is not affected by the detector aperture, but the tangential (lateral) resolution is highly dependent on the aperture size, and it is also spatially varying (depending on the location relative to the scanning center). Several approaches have been reported to counter this problem by physically attaching a negative acoustic lens in front of the nonfocused transducer or by using virtual point detectors. Here, we have implemented a modified delay-and-sum reconstruction method, which takes into account the large aperture of the detector, leading to more than fivefold improvement in the tangential resolution in photoacoustic (and thermoacoustic) tomography. Three different types of numerical phantoms were used to validate our reconstruction method. It is also shown that we were able to preserve the shape of the reconstructed objects with the modified algorithm. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

Adaptive evolution of a novel avian-origin influenza A/H7N9 virus

In China, the recent outbreak of novel influenza A/H7N9 virus has been assumed to be severe, and it may possibly turn brutal in the near future. In order to develop highly protective vaccines and drugs for the A/H7N9 virus, it is critical to find out the selection pressure of each amino acid site. In the present study, six different statistical methods consisting of four independent codon-based maximum likelihood (CML) methods, one hierarchical Bayesian (HB) method and one branch-site (BS) method, were employed to determine if each amino acid site of A/H7N9 virus is under natural selection pressure. Functions for both positively and negatively selected sites were inferred by annotating these sites with experimentally verified amino acid sites. Comprehensively, the single amino acid site 627 of PB2 protein was inferred as positively selected and it function was identified as a T-cell epitope (TCE). Among the 26 negatively selected amino acid sites of PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP, NA, M1 and NS2 proteins, only 16 amino acid sites were identified to be involved in TCEs. In addition, 7 amino acid sites including, 608 and 609 of PA, 480 of NP, and 24, 25, 109 and 205 of M1, were identified to be involved in both B-cell epitopes (BCEs) and TCEs. Conversely, the function of positions 62 of PA, and, 43 and 113 of HA was unknown. In conclusion, the seven amino acid sites engaged in both BCEs and TCEs were identified as highly suitable targets, as these sites will be predicted to play a principal role in inducing strong humoral and cellular immune responses against A/H7N9 virus. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, molecular docking and anti-mycobacterial evaluation of new imidazo1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives

New anti-tubercular agents, imidazo1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives (5a-q) have been designed and synthesized. The structural considerations of the designed molecules were further supported by the docking study with a long-chain enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA). The chemical structures of the new compounds were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, HRMS and elemental analysis. In addition, single crystal X-ray diffraction has also been recorded for compound 5f. Compounds were evaluated in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, and cytotoxicity against HEK-293T cell line. Amongst the tested compounds 5j, 5l and 5q were emerged as good anti-tubercular agents with low cytotoxicity. The structure-anti TB activity relationship of these derivatives was explained by molecular docking. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Properties of the chalcogenide-carbon nano tubes and graphene composite materials

Composite can deliver more than the individual elemental property of the material. Specifically chalcogenide- multi walled carbon nano tubes and chalcogenide- bilayer graphene composite materials could be interesting for the investigation, which have been less covered by the investigators. We describe micro structural properties of Se55Te25Ge20, Se55Te25Ge20 + 0.025% multi walled carbon nano tubes and Se55Te25Ge20 + 0.025% bilayer graphene materials. This gives realization of the alloying constituents inclusion/or diffusion inside the multi walled carbon nano tubes and bilayer graphene under the homogeneous parent alloy configuration. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/Visible spectroscopy and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy have also been carried out under the discussion. A considerable core energy levels peak shifts have been noticed for the composite materials by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optical energy band gaps are measured to be varied in between 1.2 and 1.3 eV. In comparison to parent (Se55Te25Ge20) alloy a higher infrared transmission has been observed for the composite materials. Subsequently, variation in physical properties has been explained on the basis of bond formation in solids. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Effects of hydrogen bonding on amide-proton chemical shift anisotropy in a proline-containing model peptide

Longitudinal relaxation due to cross-correlation between dipolar ((HN-1H alpha)-H-1) and amide-proton chemical shift anisotropy (H-1(N) CSA) has been measured in a model tripeptide Piv-(L)Pro-(L)Pro-(L)Phe-OMe. The peptide bond across diproline segment is known to undergo cis/trans isomerization and only in the cis form does the lone Phe amide-proton become involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The strength of the cross correlated relaxation interference is found to be significantly different between cis and trans forms, and this difference is shown as an influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the amide-proton CSA. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Forebody Compressibility Research of Hypersonic Vehicle

Three kinds of forebody model of hypersonic vehicles were studied with numerical simulation method. It shows that the two- order compressive ramp model is the best selection among the three for its good evaluative parameters value at the cowl of the inlet . This model can provide higher value of flux coefficient and total pressure recovery coefficient and lower average Mach number compared with those of the other two models . Simultaneously different compressive angles may have different effects . The configuration which the firstorder of compressive angle is 4°and the second 5°is the optimum combination. Furthermore factors such as attack angle were concerned. Better result may be obtained with a range of attack angles . Based on the work above the integrated design for forebodyPinlet of a hypersonic vehicle was performed. The numerical result shows that this integrated model provides good flow field quality for inlet and engine work.

凝聚态物质振动-平动能量弛豫过程的分子动力学模拟

本文利用分子动力学计算机模拟方法,研究了稠密态双原子分子振动-平动弛豫速率与分子离解能、密度和温度的关系。发现振动弛豫速率随着分子离解能的增高而下降。这一现象与由光谱数据得到的结果是一致的。它可以用振动频率的下降来解释;分子振动弛豫速率随密度增大而加快,在我们所作的范围内,似乎看不到弛豫速率与温度有关。

磁压缩器的设计

<正>大功率准分子、铜蒸气等激光器都是大体积、高气压脉冲型激光器,要提高它们的效率,需要提供足够窄的放电脉冲.七十年代以前,大功率闸流管一直是理想的主要开关元件.但是,放电能量越大,峰值电流越高,上升时间越短,闸流管的寿命也就越短.七十年代后期,先后报道了利用磁材料的饱和性质压缩放电脉冲的结果.目前,国外在百瓦级准分子激光器中已广泛使用磁材料来压缩放电脉冲了.

非轴对称的磁流体静力学平衡

本文用摄动展开的方法分析了一类磁流体静力学的平衡,其中基态是轴对称的,并具有强的环向磁场分量,扰动态是非轴对称的.这就在扰动态的环向动量守衡关系中,引进了环向的Lorentz力分量.可以组建两类太阳黑子模型,一类的半影纤维内磁场较强,另一类的磁场较弱.后者尽管早有观测报道,但一直缺乏理论的解释.

Initial development of microdamage under impact loading

In this paper, the initial development of microdamage in material subjected to impulsive loading was investigated experimentally and analytically with controllable short-load duration. Based on a general solution to the statistical evolution of a one-dimensional system of ideal microcracks, a prerequisite to experimental investigation of nucleation of microcracks was derived. By counting the number of microcracks, the distribution of nucleation of microcracks was studied. The law of the nucleation rate of microcracks can be expressed as a separable function of stress and cracksize. It is roughly linear dependence on loading stress. The normalized number density of microcracks is in agreement with that of a second-phase particle.

Temperature transformation in relativistic thermodynamics

This paper reviews conflicting results on relativistic transformation formula for tem-perature obtained by different authors in the last half century, discusses the proper expres-sion for elementary work done under reversible processes, and presents a correct derivationof the transformation formula, rather similar in spirit to that of Einstein. It is pointed outthat the point of view adopted by Eddington, Ott, Mφller and Landsberg are erroneous,and that by correctly carrying out detailed analysis for Mφller's working model, which wasoriginally proposed to disprove Planck-Einstein result, we have arrived instead at a result incomplete agreement with that of Planck-Einstein. Thercupon this long standing controversyover the temperature transformation dilemma for relativistic thermodynamics is clarified.

流体力学与国土安全

国土安全涉及到流体力学的广泛应用,并为其研究发展提供了诸多机遇.本评论选择列举了流体力学在反恐领域的各类课题,还建议了今后的研究方向.课题范围从防备、遏制策划中的恐怖袭击,一直到探测、应对和恢复.具体的内容则包括飞机加固,爆炸缓冲,传感器取样,爆炸物探测,微流控和芯片实验室,城市环境中化学羽流弥散以及建筑物通风等.此外,本文还讨论了蒸气羽流与远距探测,非致命武器,疾病空气传播,人员防护装备以及污染移除问题.涉及这类的应用,要求流体力学家跨越传统领域的边界,进行交叉学科研究,特别是要结合化学、生物学、气溶胶学与大气科学协同工作.