Analysis of GPS ionospheric scintillation signal amplitude fading characteristics at low latitude

The received satellite signal amplitude is attenuated greatly due to the strong ionospheric scintillation for lowlatitude regions, which causes the GPS tracking loop＇s loss of lock, the positioning errors to increase, and navigation to be interrupted. To solve the above problems, a novel signal processing algorithm is proposed based on the GPS L1 software receiver during strong ionospheric scintillation using the multi-channel intermediate frequency（IF） data sampling system. Tens of thousands of fading events are obtained based on the signal intensity measurement. The amplitude fading characteristics in the lowlatitude region are analyzed,including fading duration, time separation between fades and the numbers of signal intensity fading events. The fading thresholds are set to be 15 and 10 dB, respectively. The main fading time is very short in- 15 dB fading threshold, which generally is less than 20 ms. The main time separation between fades is less than 2 s in a single one-hour period from the time 23： 00 to 24： 00. Therefore, it has the characteristic of a short reacquisition time for the receiver designed to reduce the probability of simultaneous loss of lock for some satellites.Subsequently, the acquisition, tracking and PVT（position,velocity and time） calculations are completed by the customdesigned software receiver. The results show that the impact analysis of ionospheric scintillation on GPS amplitude attenuation in the lowlatitude region is helpful for designing the advanced tracking algorithm and to improve the robustness and accuracy of the GPS receiver.

Models for amplitude fluctuation of underwater acoustic narrow band signal based on modified modal scintillation index

A self-normalized statistic the modified modal scintillation index MMSI is proposed and defined as the variance of the modulus of modal excitation normalized by the square of its expected value over some observation intervals.It is proved in an analytical form that the MMSI is a depth dependent signature and independent of the source level and the source range under the condition of the ideal waveguide while the classical modal scintillation index MSI depends on both the source level and the source range.The MSI and the MMSI in the Pekeris waveguide at 70 Hz are simulated with different source levels and source ranges by the Kraken normal mode model.The simulation results are consistent with the theoretical deduction.The MMSI probability density functions PDFs of different normal modes for surface and submerged sources are calculated using the mode filtering methods with the same variations of vertical motions.It is indicated that the PDFs can be used to separate the submerged and the surface sources except for the fourth mode.

Is there a role for Tc-99m (V) DMSA scintigraphy in ischemic colitis?

AIM: To evaluate the role of pentavalent Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid [Tc-99m (V) DMSA] in the diagnosis of ischemic colitis. METHODS: Fourteen patients with endoscopically and histologically confirmed ischemic colitis were included in the study. Tc-99m (V) DMSA scintigraphy was performed within 2 d after colonoscopy. Images were considered positive when an area of increased activity was observed in the region of interest and negative when no abnormal tracer uptake was detected. RESULTS: In 3 out of the 14 patients, Tc-99m (V) DMSA images showed moderate activity in the bowel. The scintigraphic results corresponded with the endoscopic findings. In the other 11 patients, no abnormal tracer uptake was detected in the abdomen. CONCLUSION: Besides the limited number of patients, Tc-99m (V) DMSA could not be considered as a useful imaging modality for the evaluation of ischemic colitis.

Enlarged accessory spleen presenting stomach submucosal tumor

A 62-year-old man presented with upper abdominal discomfort underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastroscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a submucosal tumor (SMT) with homogenous echogenicity originated from extragastric organs. An abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed that the well-marginated ovoid mass, approximately 6 cm in diameter, enhanced homogenously to a similar degree as splenic parenchyma. 99mTechnetium sulfur colloid scintigraphy revealed the splenic nature of the mass. A diagnosis of accessory spleen mimicking gastric SMT was made. Subsequent follow-up was uneventful without performing splenectomy.

The motion analysis of fire video images based on moment features and flicker frequency

In this paper, motion analysis methods based on the moment features and flicker frequency features for early fire flame from ordinary CCD video camera were proposed, and in order to describe the changing of flame and disturbance of non-flame phenomena further more, the average changing pixel number of the first-order moments of consecutive flames has been defined in the moment analysis as well. The first-order moments of all kinds of flames used in our experiments present irregularly flickering, and their average changing pixel numbers of first-order moments are greater than fire-like disturbances. For the analysis of flicker frequency of flame, which is extracted and calculated in spatial domain, and therefore it is computational simple and fast. The method of extracting flicker frequency from video images is not affected by the catalogues of combustion material and distance. In experiments, we adopted two kinds of flames, i. e. , fixed flame and movable flame. Many comparing and disturbing experiments were done and verified that the methods can be used as criteria for early fire detection.

Scintigraphic evaluation of gallbladder motor functions in H pylori positive and negative patients in the stomach with dyspepsia

AIM:To evaluate the relationship between gallbladder (GB) motor function and H pylori infection in the stomach. METHODS: All cases (86) underwent the 14C urea breath test (UBT). 14C-UBT was found as positive in 58 and negative in 28 dyspeptic patients. 14C- UBT was accepted as a gold standard test. Clo test and histopathologic examination were compared with the results of 14C-UBT in cases who tolerated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure. Cholescintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin was used to determine the parameters of GB motor function (GB filling and emptying time, half of the emptying time, ejection fraction at 30th and 60th min) in all patients. RESULTS: We found the sensitivity and specificity as 88% and 86% for Clo test and as 89% and 80% for histologic evaluation, respectively. The parameters of GB function were not significantly different in H pylori positive and negative patients. The GB emptying was normal in both groups. Minimum GB filling time was 30 min in 34 of 86 cases (39.5%), filling was not observed in 2 cases. The GB ultrasonography (USG) results were normal for all cases and bile composition abnormality was not determined.CONCLUSION: Our study showed that 14C-UBT is highly reliable method to detect the presence of H pylori. The presence of H pylori infection does not directly affect the GB function.

Seabed scene simulation and its realization in extending Vega

Realistic simulation of underwater scene is always difficult because of the special and complex vision effects in underwater space. Seabed is an important part of underwater environment. This paper describes the methods for seabed scene simulation based on OpenGL. It includes construction of fluctuant terrain based on the random sinusoidal algorithm, simulation of seabed flicker effect by means of circular texture mapping and generation of turbidity effect by using fog techniques. For the application based on the leading high level 3D development environment - Vega, underwater scene simulation is still a difficulty since there is no module for it. Rased on the analysis of Vega software and the research on seabed scene simulation methods, a Vega extending module named 'Underwater Space' was created through developing module class and extending lynx interface. The module class was designed through developing DLL written in C + + . The Lynx was extended through developing keyword configure file, GUI configure file and lynx plug-in DLL. The problem that Vega can't simulate underwater space, is elementarily resolved. The results show that this module is efficient, easy using, and the seabed scene images are vivid.

Significance of scintigraphy for the localisation of obscure gastrointestinal bleedings

AIM： To determine the role of scintigraphy in patients with gastrointestinal （GI） bleeding of unknown Iocalisation. METHODS： We performed retrospective analyses on 92 patients receiving scintigraphies from 1993 to 2000 in the University of Regensburg hospital, which were done for Iocalisation of GI bleeding as a diagnostic step after an unsuccessful endoscopy. In addition to the scintigraphies, further diagnostic steps such as endoscopy, angiography or operations were performed. In some of the scintigraphies with negative results, a provocation test for bleeding with heparinisation was carried out. RESULTS： 73% of all scintigraphies showed a positive result. In 4.5% of the positive results, the source was located in the stomach, in 37% the source was the small bowel, in 25% the source was the right colon, in 4.5% the source was the left colon, and in 20% no clear Iocalisation was possible. Only 4% of all scintigraphies were false positive. A reliable positive scintigraphy was independent of the age of the examined patient. A provocation test for bleeding with heparin resulted in an additional 46% of positive scintigraphies with a reliable Iocalisation in primary negative scintigraphies. CONCLUSION- Our results show that scintigraphy and scintigraphy with heparin provocation tests are reliable procedures. They enable a reliable Iocalisation in about half of the obscure GI-bleeding cases. Scintigraphy is superior to angiography in locating a bleeding. It is shown that even in the age of video capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy, scintigraphy provides a reliable and directed localization of GI bleeding and offers carefully targeted guidance for other procedures.

Per rectal portal scintigraphy as a useful tool for predicting esophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients

AIM: To investigate potential roles of per rectal portal scintigraphy in diagnosis of esophageal varices and predicting the risk of bleeding.METHODS: Fifteen normal subjects and fifty cirrhotic patients with endoscopically confirmed esophageal varices were included. Patients were categorized into bleeder and non-bleeder groups according to history of variceal bleeding. All had completed per rectal portal scintigraphy using 99mTechnetium pertechnetate. The shunt index was calculated from the ratio of 99mTechnetium pertechnetate in the heart and the liver. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test and receiver operating characteristics.RESULTS: Cirrhotic patients showed a higher shunt index than normal subjects (63.80 ± 25.21 vs 13.54 ± 6.46, P < 0.01). Patients with variceal bleeding showed a higher shunt index than those without bleeding (78.45 ± 9.40 vs 49.35 ± 27.72, P < 0.01). A shunt index of over 20% indicated the presence of varices and that of over 60% indicated the risk of variceal bleeding.CONCLUSION: In cirrhotic patients, per rectal portal scintigraphy is a clinically useful test for identifying esophageal varices and risk of variceal bleeding.

Spontaneous rupture of a type IVA choledochal cyst in a young adult during radiological imaging

A case of a 24-year-old male with jaundice and epigastric pain is reported. The patient underwent a thorough clinical, laboratory, and imaging investigation. Computerized tomography revealed a 9 cm×10 cm choledochal cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic cholangiopancreatography were performed, during which he developed an ＂acute abdomen＂ with radiological evidence of bUiary peritoneal leak. Urgent surgery revealed rupture of the distended malformed common bile duct. A peritoneal drain was instilled and a more definitive surgical procedure was accordingly scheduled. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy following surgery verified these findings, as well as confirmed the adequacy of the urgent surgery. A combination of radiological and nuclear medicine techniques substantially contributes to the diagnosis of choledochal cyst rupture and the adequacy of surgical intervention.

Somatostatin receptor subtype 2-mediated scintigraphy and localization using ^(99m)Tc-HYNIC-Tyr^3-octreotide in human hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing nude mice

AIM: To investigate the uptake of 99mTc-HYNIC-Tyr3-octreotide (99mTc-HYNIC-TOC) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which can provide the localizable diagnosis in hepatic carcinoma. METHODS: The expression of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) messenger RNA (mRNA) in human HCC cell line HepG2 was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Uptake of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC was evaluated in the human HCC implanted into BALB/c nude mice. ANMIS2000 nuclear medicine analysis system was used to calculate the ratio of 99mTc uptake between tumor tissue and vital organs. RESULTS: We demonstrated the expression of SSTR2 mRNA in human HCC cell line HepG2 by RT-PCR. The size of the RT-PCR products was 364 bp detected by sequence analysis of the human SSTR2 mRNA. Scintigraphy proved that 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC was uptaken in the tumor tissue, liver and kidney of the tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: Based on expression of the SSTR2 mRNA in human HCC, 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC can markedly bind with and be uptaken by human HCC tissues as compared with normal liver tissue. The significant retention of radionudide in kidney and bladder is probably related to non-specific peptide uptake in the tubulus cells of kidney and possibly due to excretion by kidney. Our results show that localizable diagnosis and targeting radiotherapy with radionuclide-labeled somatostatin analog for HCC are of great value to be further studied.

Effects of flashing green on driver's stop/go decision at signalized intersection

The primary objective of this work is to explore how drivers react to flashing green at signalized intersections. Through video taping and data procession based on photogrammetry, the operating speeds of vehicles before and after the moment when flashing green started was compared using paired-samples T-test. The critical distances between go and stop decisions was defined through cumulative percentage curve. The boundary of dilemma zone was determined by comparing stop distance and travel distance.Amber-running violation was analyzed on the basis of the travel time to the stop line. And finally, a logistic model for stop and go decisions was constructed. The results shows that the stopping ratios of the first vehicles of west-bound and east-bound approaches are 41.3% and 39.8%, respectively; the amber-light running violation ratios of two approaches are 31.6% and 25.4%, respectively;the operating speed growth ratios of first vehicles selecting to cross intersection after the moment when flashing green started are26.7% and 17.7%, respectively; and the critical distances are 48 m and 46 m, respectively, which are close to 44 m, the boundary of dilemma zone. The developed decision models demonstrate that the probability of go decision is higher when the distance from the stop line is shorter or operating speed is higher. This indicates that flashing green is an effective way to enhance intersection safety,but it should work together with a strict enforcement. In addition, traffic signs near critical distance and reasonable speed limitation are also beneficial to the safety of intersections.

Reactive Flash Simulation of the Continuous Melt Transesterification Process of Polycarbonate

A model of the continuous melt transesterification process of bisphenol-A and diphenyl carbonate in a continuous stirred tank reactor to produce polycarbonate is presented. The model is developed by using the molecular species model of polycarbonate melt polycondensation and the modeling method of reactive flash. Liquid phase is treated as perfect mixed flow and the vapor phase is assumed following the ideal gas law. With this model, the continuous melt transesterification process of bisphenol-A and diphenyl carbonate is examined with respect to different orocess parameters.

Geant4 Comparative Study of Affecting Different Parameters on Optical Photons Related to the Plastic Scintillation Detector

In this research, different parameters of plastic scintillator detector were investigated by Geant4 simulation toolkit. These parameters consisted of radius, length and position of PMT as well as surface reflective type and finish options. Furthermore, response time distributions of two organic plastic materials were studied. The results indicated that collecting optical photons has a linear relationship with PMT radius head. Also, the vertical location of PMT has a non-linear relationship with the optical photons collection. However, the collection decreased by increasing PMT length or moving PMT head horizontal position. The response functions of two plastic scintillator materials were in good agreement with experimental published results. Also, Geant4 radiation transport code can simulate incident radiation photon and predict subsequent events to the PMT head very well. The results indicated that BC-404 has faster scintillation properties versus BC-400 organic scintillator materials. Comparison between Geant4 outputs illustrates that the best reflector material and surface finish type for optical photons is ground TiO2.

Natural history of major complications in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis evaluated by per-rectal portal scintigraphy

AIM: To examine the correlation between the porto-systemic hypertension evaluated by portal shunt index (PSI) and life-threatening complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver failure (Child-Pugh stage progression), and esophagogastric varices. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve consecutive subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis (LC-C) underwent per-rectal portal scintigraphy. They were allocated into three groups according to their PSI: group Ⅰ, PSI≤10%; group Ⅱ, 10%<PSI<30%; and group Ⅲ, 30%≤PSI. Of these, selected 122 Child-Pugh stage A (Child A) subjects were included in analysis (a mean follow-up period of 5.9±5.4 years, range 6 mo-21 years). RESULTS: No significant correlation between PSI and cumulative probability of HCC incidence was observed. Cumulative probability of Child A to B progression was tended to be higher in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ, and significantly higher in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅱ (62% vs 34%, 62% vs 37%; P = 0.060, <0.01; respectively). Cumulative probability of varices tended to be higher in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ (31% vs 12%, P = 0.090). On multivariate analyses, significant correlation between PSI and Child A to B progression was observed, and no significant correlation between PSI and HCC incidence or varices progression was observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with LC-C of Child A will progress to Child B rapidly after their PSI reaches 30% or higher. PSI can be used to predict occult progressive porto-systemic shunting and liver failure non-invasively. It indicates that PSI may play an important role in follow-up of the porto-systemic hypertension gradient for outpatients with LC unlike hepatic venous catheterization.

A Novel Automatic Method for Removal of Flicker in Video

Intensity flicker is a common form of degradation in archived film. Most algorithms on this distortion are complicated and uncontrolled. This paper presented a discrete mathematical model of flicker, designed a block-based estimation method of the model＇s parameters according to their features of intensity variation in large area. With this estimation result it constructed a compensation model to repair the current frame. This restoration approach is full automatic and the repair process of current frame does not need the information of frames behind it. The algorithm was realized to establish a simple and adjustable repair system. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can remove most intensity flicker and preserve tho wanted effects.

A “false positive” octreoscan in ileal Crohn’s disease

We present a case report of a patient with a suspicious ileal carcinoid tumour. Clinical examination as well as computer tomograghy (CT) scan suggested a tumour. Octeotride scan showed uptake in the same bowel loop reported as pathological in CT. The patient underwent surgery and biopsy which reported Crohn’s disease (CD). The interest in the case is due to the fact that this is, to the best of our knowledge, the second report of Crohn’sdisease as a cause of false positive octeotride scan. Unfortunately, no somatostatin recptors could be found in the sample, so further studies should be performed.

One-Branch Zero-IF Wireless Receiver Topology with Multiphase Local Oscillator

This paper proposes a one-branch zero-IF receiver topology, which samples the I and Q signals of the modulated RF carrier with one signal path by means of a multiphase local oscillator. The suggested one-branch re- ceiver works without matching problem, and it is also capable of cancelling out the flicker noise and DC-offset when the local oscillator is configured to the four-phase mode. The one-branch receiver saves much area and power com- pared with the traditional two-branch ones. All of the advantages above make the one-branch receiver topology a promising architectural candidate for low-power and low-cost RF CMOS receiver designs. Keywords： RF CMOS; zero-IF; flicker noise; image rejection; low-power; IQ matching

Nickel Sulfide/Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Composites as Electrode Material for the Supercapacitor Application in the Sea Flashing Signal System

This work presents NiS/graphene/carbon nanotube （NiS/GNS/CNT） composites as electrode material for the supercapacitor application in sea flashing signal systems. NiS nanosheets were closely anchored on the conductive GNS-CNT networks. As a result, the NiS/GNS/CNT electrode showed a high specific capacitance of 2 377 F.g^-1 at 2 mV.s^-1 and good cycling stability compared with the pure NiS （1 599F.g^-1）. The enhanced electrochemical performances are attributed to the synergetic effect between the conductive carbon and the pseudo-capacitive NiS. The high performance supercapacitor may provide application in the sea flashing signal system.

Seasonal Variation of Tritium and Major Elements in Snow and Precipitation in Niigata, Japan

In order to evaluate seasonal and regional variations in precipitation in Niigata City, 65 hourly precipitation samples were collected from October 2009 to June 2011 including two snow events. In this work, major ions （Na＋, K＋, Ca2＋, Mg2＋, NH4＋, SO4^2-, NO3- and Cl-） were combined with tritium （^3H or T） concentration （T specific activity） in both precipitation and snow, and transformation patterns of polluted air mass in Niigata region were revealed. The low level tritium in precipitation was measured by a distillation process and an electrolytic enrichment process. Each tritium concentration in the precipitation sample thus obtained was measured by liquid scintillation counter. On the basis of the above measurement and analysis, it was found that the tritium and nss （non-sea-salt） calcium concentrations showed a seasonal variation with a highest value in spring over one year.