Optical Raytracing Analysis of a Scheffler Type Concentrator

The Scheffler type concentrator is a curved metal reflector particularly suitable for solar thermal systems with a receiver fixed to the ground. Its operating principle is to deform the reflector throughout the year to optimize its performance in collecting sunlight. This study analyses the optical performance of a Scheffler reflector during the year. A CAD software tool is utilized to reproduce the mechanical deformations of a real Scheffler concentrator and the shape of the light spot on the receiver is analyzed by means of raytracing simulations. The starting configuration is the equinoctial paraboloid, which produces a point-like spot on the two equinox days only. On all other days of the year, this paraboloid is deformed in a suitable way in order to keep the spot as small as possible, but, even so, it is no longer a point-like spot. In the present work the simulated light distributions on the receiver, generated by the paraboloids (deformed or original), are compared. The results confirm the working principle of the Scheffler type concentrator and allow correctly sizing the receiver.

Sub-Frame Evaluation of Frame Synchronization for Camera Network Using Linearly Oscillating Light Spot

Precisely evaluating the frame synchronization of the camera network is often required for accurate data fusion from multiple visual information. This paper presents a novel method to estimate the synchronization accuracy by using inherent visual information of linearly oscillating light spot captured in the camera images instead of using luminescence information or depending on external measurement instrument. The suggested method is compared to the conventional evaluation method to prove the feasibility. Our experiment result implies that the estimation accuracy of the frame synchronization can be achieved in sub-millisecond order.

Value of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Pleural Effusion: Analysis of 582 Cases

Background: By comparing the different ultrasonographic manifestations in exudate and transudate, we intend to explore the value of ultrasound in auxiliary diagnosis of pleural effusion.Methods: The ultrasonic image features, including echo, separation, light spot, pleural thickness, of 275 exudative pleural effusion (EPE) cases and 307 transudate pleural effusion (TPE) cases confirmed by laboratory examination were retrospectively analyzed.Results: In 275 cases of EPE, the main primary diseases were pneumonia and tuberculous exudative pleurisy, the majority was unilateral (214 cases, 77.8%). Ultrasound showed 47.6% cases had septum, 58.5% cases had echo and those pleural thickness more than 3mm cases accounted for 39.6%. By contrast, in 307 patients with TPE, the major diseases were heart failure, cirrhosis and nephrotic syndrome. Most of the pleural effusions were bilateral, accounting for 97.1%. Ultrasound displayed echo in 3 cases (1.0%), separation in 8 cases (2.6%), light spot in 9 cases (2.9%), and pleural thickening (> 3mm) in 6 cases (2.0%). These positive findings in TPE were statistically less than its counterpart (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound is valuable for auxiliary diagnosis of pleural effusion. Some sonographic features of pleural effusion, like echo, septum and pleural thickening, may indicate a high possibility of EPE.

Power Phase Apodization Study on Compensation Defocusing and Chromatic Aberration in the Imaging System

We performed a detailed comparative study of the parametric high degree (cubic, fourth, and fifth) power phase apodization on compensation defocusing and chromatic aberration in the imaging system. The research results showed that increasing the power degree of the apodization function provided better independence (invariance) of the point spread function (PSF) from defocusing while reducing the depth of field (DOF). This reduction could be compensated by increasing the parameter α; however, this led to an increase in the size of the light spot. A nonlinear relationship between the increase in the DOF and spot size was shown (due to a small increase in the size of the light spot, the DOF can be significantly increased). Thus, the search for the best solution was based on a compromise of restrictions on the circle of confusion (CoC) and DOF. The modeling of color image formation under defocusing conditions for the considered apodization functions was performed. The subsequent deconvolution of the resulting color image was demonstrated.

Highlights on the Golden Mushroom Cantharellus cibarius and unique Shaggy ink cap Mushroom Coprinus comatus and Smoky Bracket Mushroom Bjerkandera adusta Ecology and Biological Activities

Mushrooms are generous source of nutritional and medicinal compounds, and medicinal uses of the mushrooms still need to be worked out for their biological activities. This review aims to put golden mushroom Cantharellus and shaggy ink cap mushroom Coprinus and smoky bracket mushroom Bjerkandera under light spot through describing their morphology and ecology especially of the most common species, Cantharellus cibarius; Coprinus comatus and Bjerkandera adusta. Moreover discussing important secondary metabolites and biological activities exerted by ever one. Cantharellus cibarius; Coprinus comatus and Bjerkandera adusta are able to produce many novel and potent secondary metabolites that exerted different bioactivities especially as antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammation activities and others. Further studies and investigations are fortified in order to find more about these interesting mushrooms.

POSITION-SENSITIVE PHOTODETECTOR ARRAY FOR OPTICAL COORDINATOR

New position-sensitive matrices for an optical coordinator and a method for determining the coordinates of a light spot for micromovements are presented, an analysis of the topologies and direction-finding characteristics of the proposed matrices is shown.