Breast Thermography: A 20-Year Retrospective Review of Infra-Red Breast Thermal Imaging in New Zealand and Its Potential Role in Breast Health Management

Cases are presented to reveal how modern computerised infra-red thermal imaging has the potential to assist in early breast cancer detection. The history of thermography and some recent controversies surrounding mammography are discussed. Examples of thermal imaging combined with naturopathic interventions are described. Since 2002, more than 8000 women in New Zealand have chosen to include thermal imaging as a part of their breast health management. Breast thermal imaging combined with relevant health advice, resulted in a perceived worthwhile benefit to patients in managing overall health.

Outlier Detection in Near Infra-Red Spectra with Self-Organizing Map

A new method to detect multiple outliers in multivariate data is proposed. It is a combination of minimum subsets, resampling and self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm introduced by Kohonen,which provides a robust way with neural network. In this method, the number and organization of the neurons are selected by the characteristics of the spectra, e.g., the spectra data are often changed linearly with the concentration of the components and are often measured repeatedly, etc. So the spatial distribution of the neurons can be arranged by this characteristic. With this method, all the outliers in the spectra can be detected, which cannot be solved by the traditional method, and the speed of computation is higher than that of the traditional neural network method. The results of the simulation and the experiment show that this method is simple, effective, intuitionistic and all the outliers in the spectra can be detected in a short time. It is useful when associated with the regression model in the near infra-red research.

Near infra-red light treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers disease(AD)is a chronic neurodegenerative disease.The symptoms include memoryand spatial learning dificulties,language disorders,and loss of motivation,which get worse overtime,eventually ending in death.No ffective treatments are available for AD,currently.Currenttreatments only attenuate symptoms temporarily and are associated with severe side ffects.Nearinfra-red(NIR)light has been studied for a long time.We investigated the effect of NIR on ADusing a transgenic mouse model,which was obtained by co-injecting two vectors carrying ADmutations in amyloid precursor protein(APP)and presenilin-i(PSEN1)into C57BL/6J mice.The irradiation equipment consisted of an accommodating box and an LED array.The wave-length of NIR light emitted from LED was between 1040 nm and 1090 nm.The power densitydelivered at the level of the mice was approximately 15 mW/cm^(2),Firstly,we treated the micewith NIR for 40 days,Then,the irradiation was suspended for 28 days.Finally,another 15 daystreatment was brought to mice.We conducted Morris water maze and immunofluorescenceanalysis to evaluate the effects of treatment.Immunofuorescence analysis was based on mea-suring the quantity of plaques in mouse brain slices,Our results show that NIR light improvesmemory and spatial learning ability and reduces plaques moderately.NIR light represents apotential treatment for AD.

Infra-red Thermal Imaging of the Inner Canthus: Correlates with the Temperature of the Injured Human Brain

Introduction: Infra-red (IR) thermometry is a safe and valid method to determine internal and surface temperature in human subjects. Under conditions of brain damage (head injury or stroke) knowledge of changes in the temperature of intracranial tissue is justified because of the vulnerability of neurons to accelerated damage at temperatures at the upper end of the febrile range. Aim: To determine the temperature at the inner canthus (IC) of the eye as a potential surrogate for brain temperature. Methods: Invasive monitoring of deep brain structures, lateral ventricle and deep white matter. IR temperature readings obtained at right and left IC. Results: ?Strong correlations were evident between R and L IC and brain. Close, as well as poor, agreement between?? sites was shown in some patients and at some times. For right hemispheric lesions four had a better correlation between TbrV and TRIC when compared to TLIC.? When the correlation between TbrV and TLIC was better compared to TbrV and TRIC, four had a predominant right hemispheric lesion. Conclusions: Improved techniques for IR thermal imaging accuracy at the bedside has the potential to improve temperature measurement agreement. The predominant lesion side may have a bearing on maximum ipsilateral IC temperature Further studies are ongoing in this pilot study population.

Analyze the Impact of ITS in Improving the Efficiency of Road Tax and Fee Collection Use of Digital Technologies in the City of Bujumbura

Road transport is currently one of the most important sectors affecting sustainable development and the improvement of the population’s standard of living. In some sub-Saharan African countries, including Burundi, the transport structure is vulnerable, under attack, or even damaged or destroyed. This is prompting decision-makers to look for every possible way to enable dynamic management of the road system, as well as the collection of tax revenues attributable to this sector. To reach this stage, we postulate that the introduction of the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) into the road tax and fee collection process would make a significant contribution (road safety, zero cash on silk Safety Officers, payment of a fine, eradication of road corruption etc.) to the digitization of the various transport sectors. As far as the city of Bujumbura is concerned (our field of intervention), the applicability of the present System could thus meet the expectations of the decision-maker, certain drivers and, by the same token, contribute to the promotion of Digital Technology in Burundi.

含硫杯[4]芳烃衍生物的合成及其紫外光谱研究

:合成并表征了三个新的含硫且带醇羟基的杯 [4 ]芳烃衍生物 .核磁共振研究表明这些杯 [4 ]芳烃都是 Cone构型 .对这些化合物的紫外光谱研究表明 ,在非极性溶剂中 ,在相对高浓度中 。

Optimization and design of an aircraft's morphing wing-tip demonstrator for drag reduction at low speeds, Part II- Experimental validation using Infra-Red transition measurement from Wind Tunnel tests

In the present paper, an ‘in-house＇ genetic algorithm was numerically and experimentally validated. The genetic algorithm was applied to an optimization problem for improving the aerodynamic performances of an aircraft wing tip through upper surface morphing. The optimization was performed for 16 flight cases expressed in terms of various combinations of speeds, angles of attack and aileron deflections. The displacements resulted from the optimization were used during the wind tunnel tests of the wing tip demonstrator for the actuators control to change the upper surface shape of the wing. The results of the optimization of the flow behavior for the airfoil morphing upper-surface problem were validated with wind tunnel experimental transition results obtained with infra-red Thermography on the wing-tip demonstrator. The validation proved that the 2D numerical optimization using the ‘in-house＇ genetic algorithm was an appropriate tool in improving various aspects of a wing＇s aerodynamic performances.

Flotation of kaolinite and diaspore with hexadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride

Tertiary amine was synthesized from fatty amine and formaldehyde. And then the synthesized tertiary amine was used to react with benzyl chloride to synthesize hexadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (1627) at ambient pressure. Using the synthesized 1627 as collector,the flotation properties of diaspore and kaolinite were investigated by single mineral and mixed mineral test. The flotation mechanism of diaspore,kaolinite and 1627 was discussed based on FTIR spectra. The results show that the mass ratio of aluminum to silicate achieves 15.02 and the recovery of alumina in concentrate is 43.07% using 1627 as a collector. The 1627 is found to be a more effective and a promising collector for reverse flotation to remove aluminum-silicate minerals from bauxite.

氧分族元素双原子基团振动常数关系

由谐振动波数计算得力常数.除少数例外,力常数,谐振波数及非谐性常数的变化有规律性,且相互间是正相关性.

Temperature Measurements in Neonates: Assessing the Agreement of Two Methods

Background: Neonatal temperature response during illness is unpredictable. Whereas accurate temperature measurement is an important diagnostic step in Neonatal practice. Abnormalties in temperature pattern may be a pointer to a sinister condition especially in neonates, whose thermoregulatory mechanism is immature. There are several methods of temperature measurements and the search for a suitable thermometry method in neonates continues. This study compared the forehead non touch infra-red thermometer (NTIT) with the axilllary mercury-in-glass (MIGT) method of temperature measurement in neonates. Method: Four hundred babies aged 1 to 28 days were recruited from the immunization clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital between August 2016 and May 2017. Temperatures were taken using both NTIT and MIGT in the standard way and recorded.?Result: The mean age and SD was 5.10 ± 4.28?days. Pearson correlation showed a positive correlation between the Axillary Mercury-in-Glass and Forehead Non-Touch Infra-red thermometry readings (r?=?0.426, p??0.001). Bland-Altman method revealed a good agreement between both methods of thermometry as 95.5% of the readings were within the limits of agreement. Conclusion: Axillary Mercury-in-Glass thermometer and Forehead Non touch Infra-red thermometers have a good agreement and can be used interchangeably in neonates.

Comparative Thermometery in Paediatric Age Group: Is the Non-Touch Infrared Thermometer (NTIT) Reading Comparable to Regular Mercury-in-Glass Thermometer (MIGT) Reading?

Background: Accurate temperature measurement is a critical step in evaluating health or disease especially in children and immmunocompromised subjects;inaccurate measurement may lead to improper diagnosis, wrong treatment or inappropriate intervention. Several methods of temperature measurements exist and comparing these gives room for choosing a near ideal method in terms of speed, safety and accuracy. The study aimed to compare the forehead non touch infra-red thermometer with the axilllary mercury-in-glass method of temperature measurement in the Paediatric age-group. Methods: Study was given ethical approval as part of a larger study. Four hundred and thirty seven children aged 1 to 24 months were studied at the well-baby/immunizationclinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a 6-months period. Both non-touch infrared and theregular mercury-in-glass thermometers were used to take the body temperatures. Data were analysed with SPSS version 21. Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between the two methods of temperature measurements, while Bland-Altman method was used to test for level of agreement between them. Results: The mean age and SD was 5.81 ± 4.04 months. Pearson correlation showed a positive correlation between the axillary mercury-in-glass and forehead non-touch infra-red thermometry readings (r = 0.281, p < 0.001). Also, Bland-Altman method revealed a good agreement between both methods of thermometry as 96% of the readings were within the limits of agreement. Mean difference was 0.09°C (95% confidence interval 0.05 - 0.13). Conclusion: Axillary mercury-in-glass thermometer and forehead non touch infra-red thermometers have a good agreement and can be used interchangeably.

Re-Thinking Biology—I. Maxwell’s Demon and the Spontaneous Origin of Life

A hypothesis is advanced in which life began from a Darwinian selection among a diversification of molecular species containing the phosphate moiety which broke the constraints implicit in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, discussed famously by Schrodinger, by obtaining energy from specific infrared frequencies located in the phosphorus-oxygen vibration at a frequency around 1000 cm-1. We propose the source of this energy was from the internal conversion of solar broadband energy by the phosphate mineral Apatite, present at the bottom of a primitive biogenesis pond. In this scenario, life is re-defined as being hotter than its environment and as using its excess energy, supplied by infra-red conversion, to react with its molecular environment and pump itself up the “entropy slope” thereby;replication is through breakages of increasingly large phosphate containing biopolymers. The idea has implications for modern explanations of living systems.

Evaluation of the Performance of Infrared Thermography for On-Line Condition Monitoring of Rotating Machines

This study evaluated the possibility of infrared thermography to measure accurately the temperature of elements of a rotating device, within the scope of condition monitoring. The tested machine was a blower coupled to a 500 kW electric motor, that operated in multiples regimes. The thermograms were acquired by a fixed thermographic camera and were processed and recorded every 15 minutes. Because the normal temperature variations could easily mask a drift caused by a failure, a corrected temperature was computed using autorecursive models. It was shown that an efficient temperature correction should compensate for the variations of the process, and for the ambient temperatures variations, either daily or seasonal. The standard deviation of the corrected temperature was of a few tenth of degree, making possible the detection of a drift of less than one degree and the prediction of potential failure.

Pharmaceutical Applications of Gas Chromatography

Gas chromatography is an analytical tool for the separation of compounds in complex mixtures based on the polarity of compounds. Separation is achieved only for compounds that are volatile or that can be made volatile on derivatization of the compound using derivatizing agents. This is one of the widely accepted tools for the separation of compounds because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and effectiveness. The principle of separation of compounds depends on the partitioning behaviour difference between mobile and stationary phase, the sample is carried by a moving gas stream through a tube packed with a finely divided solid or may be coated with a film of a liquid. Different types of columns having a various composition of stationary phase are been used for the separation of different classes of compounds mixture or sample in a suitable solvent is introduced through the injector maintained at higher temperature which is capable of volatilizing the compound into the column.

Using Thermoelastic Stress Analysis to Detect Damaged and Hot Spot Areas in Structural Components

This paper discusses the suitability of using TSA （thermoelastic stress analysis） as an advanced tool to detect damaged areas and highly stressed （hot spot） areas in structural components. Such components can be, for example, parts of large structural panels built of welded metallic or composite materials. Besides detecting hot spot areas, it is expected that stresses in these areas can be suitably quantified and processed in order to predict crack initiation and propagation due to in-service loads. The paper starts with references to selected review and application articles on the subject. Two simple laboratory experiments are presented which illustrate the quality of the results that can be achieved using TSA. In the first experiment, a stainless steel T-joint designed to model a welded structural component is analysed. The T-joint had a machine-notched crack-like flaw close to the component＇s weld toe. The qualitative and quantitative experimental results determined along four specified areas of the T-joint model showed that TSA can indeed be used as a tool to detect loaded cracks and hot spots in large metallic structures, and that stresses can be accurately evaluated. In the second experiment, a prismatic bar made of CFRE （carbon fibre-reinforced-epoxy） was tested to locate three subsurface areas of damage introduced beforehand into the component. Two of these inside damaged areas were detected to be 3.1 mm and 7.1 mm from the observed surface. The positive results achieved with the two lab experiments, along with a review of the selected research publications, indicate that TSA application can be extended to the real-world field of structural components. Topics to be addressed in this research field should have to do with components that work under random or quasi-cyclic service loading, problems where adiabatic conditions do not prevail, and reduction of the cost of infra-red cameras.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in renal malignancy: The past, present and future

Sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） is now an establishedtechnique in penile and pelvic cancers, resulting in alower mortality and morbidity when compared withthe traditional lymph node dissection. In renal cancer however, despite some early successes for the SLNB technique, paucity of data remains a problem, thus lymph node dissection and extended lymph node dissection remain the management of choice in clinically node positive patients, with surveillance of lymph nodes in those who are clinically node negative. SLNB is a rapidly evolving technique and the introduction of new techniques such as near infra-red fuorescence optical imaging agents and positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans, may improve sensitivity. Evidence in support of this has already been recorded in bladder and prostate cancer.Although the lack of large multi-centre studies and issues around false negativity currently prevent its widespread use, with evolving techniques improving accuracy and the support of large-scale studies, SLNB does have the potential to become an integral part of staging in renal malignancy.

Study on the Adsorption of Preservatives by Eyeliner Pen Packaging Materials

In order to study adsorption of preservatives by eyeliner pen package,the chemical compositions of the commercially available Eyeliner package were analyzed by infrared spectrometer.It was found that these package components were PP,PET,modified PP,modified PET,ABS,nylon,PU and so on.The adsorption effects of these components on three preservatives,i.e.phenoxyethanol,Methyl paraben and Propyl paraben have been further studied by high performance liquid chromatography.The results demonstrated that the four chemical materials PET,PP,modified PP and ABS had no adsorption on the above three preservatives.However,the component named of water diversion core which was composed of modified PET,and nylon-made cotton head have been observed of slight adsorption in this study.And components as the function of preventing liquid leakage,which was made of PU,have presented the most serious adsorption on these three preservatives,with the adsorption order as Propyl Paraben>Methyl Paraben>phenoxyethanol.

Random Forest-Based Snow Cover Mapping in China Using Fengyun-3B VIRR Data

Currently,there is variability in the spectral band thresholds for snow cover recognition using remote sensing in different regions and for complex terrains.Using Fengyun-3B Visible and Infra-Red Radiometer(FY-3B VIRR)satellite data,we applied random forest(RF)methodology and selected 13 feature variables to obtain snow cover.A training set was generated,containing approximately 1 million snow and nonsnow samples obtained in China from the snow monitoring reports issued by the National Satellite Meteorological Centre and four snow cover products from the Interactive Multi-sensor Snow and Ice Mapping System(IMS),the FY-3B Multi-Sensor Synergy(MULSS),the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)snow cover product(MYD10A1),and the National Cryosphere Desert Data Center(NCDC).This training set contained many different samples of cloud types and snow under forest cover to help effectively distinguish snow and clouds and improve the recognition rate of snow under forest cover.Then,two RF snow cover recognition models were constructed for the snow and nonsnow seasons and they were used to conduct daily snow cover recognition in China from 2011 to 2020.The results show that the RF models constructed based on FY-3B VIRR data have good recognition performance for shallow snow,understory snow,and snow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.The recognition accuracy against weather stations and the spatial consistency with the IMS product are better than the MULSS,MYD10A1,and NCDC products.The overall accuracy of the RF product is 90.6%,and the recall rate is 93.8%.The omission and commission errors are 6.2%and11.1%,respectively.Unlike other existing snow cover algorithms,the established RF model skips the complicated atmospheric correction and cloud identification processes and does not involve external auxiliary data;thus,it is more easily popularized and operationally applicable to generating long-time series snow cover products.

Successes and challenges in non-destructive testing of aircraft composite structures

Composite materials are increasingly used in the aerospace industry.To fully realise the weight saving potential along with superior mechanical properties that composites offer in safety critical applications,reliable Non-Destructive Testing(NDT)methods are required to prevent catastrophic failures.This paper will review the state of the art in the field and point to highlight the success and challenges that different NDT methods are faced to evaluate the integrity of critical aerospace composites.The focus will be on advanced certificated NDT methods for damage detection and characterization in composite laminates for use in the aircraft primary and secondary structures.

IR-transparent MgO-Gd_(2)O_(3) composite ceramics produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and spark plasma sintering

A glycine–nitrate self-propagating high-temperature synthesis(SHS)was developed to produce composite MgO-Gd_(2)O_(3) nanopowders.The X-ray powder diffraction(XRD)analysis confirmed the SHS-product consists of cubic MgO and Gd_(2)O_(3) phases with nanometer crystallite size and retains this structure after annealing at temperatures up to 1200℃.Near full dense high IR-transparent composite ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering(SPS)at 1140℃and 60 MPa.The in-line transmittance of 1 mm thick MgO-Gd_(2)O_(3) ceramics exceeded 70%in the range of 4–5 mm and reached a maximum of 77%at a wavelength of 5.3 mm.The measured microhardness HV0.5 of the MgO-Gd2O3 ceramics is 9.5±0.4 GPa,while the fracture toughness(KIC)amounted to 2.0±0.5МPa·m1/2.These characteristics demonstrate that obtained composite MgO-Gd_(2)O_(3) ceramic is a promising material for protective infra-red(IR)windows.